JP6540247B2 - Mobile terminal and fax program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fax program that causes a fax apparatus to fax image data, and a portable terminal that executes the fax program.

  A program that can be installed on a portable terminal and causes a fax apparatus connected to the portable terminal to execute fax transmission is conventionally known. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses a portable terminal which causes a user to designate a desired telephone number out of telephone numbers registered in the portable terminal, and transmits the designated telephone number to the FAX apparatus. Then, the FAX apparatus having received the telephone number from the portable terminal executes FAX transmission processing to the external apparatus specified by the telephone number.

JP, 2004-236031, A

  However, the format of the telephone number used by the portable terminal that communicates through the mobile communication line may be different from the format of the telephone number used by the FAX apparatus that transmits faxes through the fixed telephone line. As a result, even if the telephone number registered in the portable terminal is transmitted to the FAX apparatus, the FAX apparatus may not correctly recognize the telephone number. If the FAX machine can not correctly recognize the telephone number, there is a possibility that the FAX transmission process itself can not be executed or the FAX transmission process is executed to an external device different from the device corresponding to the telephone number.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to transmit a fax to an external apparatus specified by a telephone number designated by a portable terminal when the fax apparatus executes fax transmission processing. An object of the present invention is to provide a FAX program of a portable terminal in which transmission failure and erroneous transmission are suppressed.

  (1) The FAX program described in the present specification can be read by a portable terminal including an operation unit, a storage unit, a telephone unit, and a communication unit. The storage unit stores a plurality of telephone numbers of a first format each identifying an external device. The telephone unit transmits and receives an audio signal through the first telephone line to and from the external device specified by the first type telephone number. The communication unit can be electrically connected to the FAX apparatus. The FAX apparatus transmits content data to the external device specified by the telephone number of the second format different from the first format, according to the FAX protocol, through the second telephone line different from the first telephone line. Do. The FAX program receives, through the operation unit, a user operation for specifying target data that is the content data to be sent by FAX, and any one of the plurality of telephone numbers stored in the storage unit. A second reception process for receiving a user operation specifying the target telephone number, which is the target telephone number, through the operation unit; a conversion process for converting the target telephone number from the first format to the second format; The portable terminal is caused to execute FAX instruction processing for transmitting FAX instruction information including the target telephone number of the second format to the FAX apparatus through the communication unit. The FAX instruction information is information for causing the external device specified by the target telephone number to FAX-transmit the target data.

  According to the above configuration, since the target telephone number converted into the second format is included in the FAX instruction information, the FAX apparatus can correctly recognize the external apparatus specified by the target telephone number. As a result, it is possible to suppress FAX transmission failure and erroneous transmission.

  (2) Preferably, the telephone number stored in the storage unit may include a first control symbol of the first type between a plurality of numerals constituting the telephone number. The first control symbol is a control symbol indicating the timing of sending a number signal to the first telephone line. The numeral signal is a signal corresponding to each numeral constituting the telephone number. The telephone unit transmits the numeral signal to the first telephone line at a timing indicated by the first control symbol. The FAX program performs a first determination process of determining whether the target telephone number includes the first control symbol, and the determination according to the first determination process that the target telephone number includes the first control symbol. The portable terminal is caused to execute the conversion process of replacing the first control symbol with a second control symbol. The second control symbol is the control symbol of the second type that indicates timing equivalent to that of the first control symbol.

  According to the above configuration, the FAX apparatus can transmit the numeral signal indicated by the target telephone number to the second telephone line in the correct procedure. As a result, FAX transmission failure and erroneous transmission are suppressed.

  (3) Preferably, the FAX program includes a first inquiry process of transmitting first inquiry information inquiring the control symbol of the second format to the FAX apparatus through the communication unit, and the second control symbol. Causing the portable terminal to execute a first reception process of receiving first answer information from the FAX machine through the communication unit, and in the conversion process, the first control symbol included in the target telephone number is Replace with the second control symbol included in the answer information.

  According to the above configuration, even when different control symbols are adopted for each FAX machine, it is possible to convert the target telephone number into a format that can be correctly recognized by each FAX machine.

  (4) Preferably, the portable terminal includes a display unit. The fax machine stores a plurality of the telephone numbers including the second control symbol. The FAX program includes: a second reception process for receiving the telephone number stored in the FAX machine from the FAX machine through the communication unit; a plurality of the telephone numbers stored in the storage unit; The mobile terminal is caused to execute list display processing for displaying a list of the plurality of telephone numbers received in the reception processing on the display unit. The telephone number received in the second reception process is displayed on the display unit in a state in which the second control symbol is replaced with the first control symbol. The FAX program receives, through the operation unit, a user operation for specifying the target telephone number from among the plurality of telephone numbers displayed in a list in the list display processing in the second reception processing.

  According to the above configuration, a user who views a plurality of telephone numbers displayed in a list on the display unit can select a desired telephone number without being aware of the difference between the first format and the second format.

  (5) For example, the fax program displays the list display process as an inverse conversion process in which the second control symbol included in the telephone number received in the second reception process is replaced with the corresponding first control symbol. The mobile terminal executes the process, and in the conversion process, the first control symbol included in the target telephone number is replaced with the second control symbol.

  However, the reverse conversion process is not limited to being performed by the mobile terminal, and may be performed by the FAX apparatus. Alternatively, the second control symbol may be replaced with the first control symbol only on the display, and the telephone number received from the FAX apparatus may be temporarily stored in the storage unit while the second control symbol is included.

  (6) Preferably, the FAX apparatus is capable of storing an additional symbol, and when the FAX transmission is performed to the external apparatus identified by the telephone number designated through the operation unit of the FAX apparatus, The additional symbol is added to the beginning of the telephone number. The FAX program transmits a second inquiry process in which second inquiry information inquiring whether or not the additional symbol is stored to the FAX machine through the communication unit, and a second reply from the FAX machine through the communication unit A third reception process for receiving information, a second determination process for determining whether or not the additional symbol is included in the second answer information, and the second determination process if the additional symbol is included In response to the determination, the mobile terminal is caused to execute the conversion process of adding the additional symbol to the beginning of the target telephone number.

  According to the above configuration, since the FAX apparatus is connected to the external apparatus in the planned procedure, FAX transmission failure and erroneous transmission are suppressed. The additional symbol may be, for example, “0”, which switches from an extension to an extension, or a number for identifying a telecommunications carrier.

  (7) Preferably, in accordance with the fact that the FAX program determines in the second determination processing that the additional symbol is included, whether or not the additional symbol is added to the beginning of the target telephone number. The conversion processing is executed in response to reception of a user operation indicating that a user operation to be added is to be performed in the third reception process.

  This can prevent the addition of unnecessary additional symbols.

  (8) Preferably, the storage unit can store the telephone number to which the first prefix of the first format is added. The first prefix is a prefix indicating that the first country transmits to the second country different from the first country through the first telephone line. According to the third determination processing of determining whether the target telephone number includes the first prefix and the determination that the FAX program includes the first prefix, the FAX program determines that the target telephone number includes the first prefix. The acquisition processing for acquiring the second prefix of the second form is executed by the portable terminal. The second prefix is a prefix indicating that the first country transmits to the second country through the second telephone line. In the conversion process, the FAX program replaces the first prefix included in the target telephone number with the second prefix obtained in the acquisition process.

  According to the above configuration, transmission failure and erroneous transmission of the FAX can be suppressed when transmitting the FAX to an external device installed overseas.

  (9) Preferably, the second prefix may include a designation that designates one of a plurality of carriers in the first country. The FAX program causes the portable terminal to execute a fourth reception process of receiving, through the operation unit, a user operation specifying one of the plurality of second prefixes acquired in the acquisition process, and in the conversion process, The first prefix included in the target telephone number is replaced with the second prefix designated in the fourth reception process.

  According to the above configuration, the content data can be faxed to an external device installed abroad through the communication carrier desired by the user.

  (10) Preferably, the prefix code includes a partner country code indicating the second country in which the external device specified by the telephone number is installed. The fax program causes the portable terminal to execute a fourth determination process of determining a country in which the fax apparatus is installed, and the fourth determination process determines that the fax apparatus is installed in the first country. In the conversion process in the case, the first prefix symbol included in the target telephone number is replaced with the second prefix symbol, and it is determined in the fourth determination process that the FAX apparatus is installed in the second country. In the conversion process, the first prefix included in the target telephone number is replaced with a third prefix. The third prefix is the prefix commonly used for transmission between devices installed in the second country.

  According to the above configuration, even when the portable terminal is used overseas, transmission failure or erroneous transmission of FAX is suppressed.

  (11) Preferably, the FAX apparatus is connected to the Internet via a communication apparatus. The FAX program acquires the global IP address assigned to the communication device in the fourth determination processing, and determines the country to which the global IP address is assigned.

  (12) Preferably, the portable terminal further includes a position output unit that outputs position information indicating a current position. The FAX program determines a country indicated by the position information output from the position output unit in the fourth determination process.

  (13) More preferably, the portable terminal includes a proximity communication unit that transmits and receives a wireless signal compliant with the proximity wireless communication protocol. In the fourth determination process, the fax program determines that the fax machine is installed in the country indicated by the position information in response to receiving the wireless signal from the fax machine through the proximity communication unit. Do.

  By combining the above methods, the possibility of correctly determining the country in which the fax machine is installed can be improved.

  (14) The mobile terminal described in the present specification includes an operation unit, a storage unit, a call unit, a communication unit, and a control unit. The storage unit stores a plurality of telephone numbers of a first format each identifying an external device. The telephone unit transmits and receives an audio signal through the first telephone line to and from the external device specified by the first type telephone number. The communication unit can be electrically connected to the FAX apparatus. The FAX apparatus transmits content data to the external device specified by the telephone number of the second format different from the first format, according to the FAX protocol, through the second telephone line different from the first telephone line. Do. The control unit is configured to receive, through the operation unit, a user operation for specifying target data that is the content data to be transmitted by facsimile, and any of the plurality of telephone numbers stored in the storage unit. A second reception process for receiving a user operation specifying the target telephone number, which is the target telephone number, through the operation unit; a conversion process for converting the target telephone number from the first format to the second format; FAX instruction processing for transmitting FAX instruction information including the target telephone number of the second format to the FAX apparatus through the communication unit is executed. The FAX instruction information is information for causing the external device specified by the target telephone number to FAX-transmit the target data.

  According to the present invention, since the target telephone number converted into the second format is included in the FAX instruction information, the external apparatus specified by the target telephone number can be correctly recognized by the FAX apparatus. As a result, it is possible to suppress FAX transmission failure and erroneous transmission.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a FAX system 100 according to the present embodiment. 2A is a block diagram of the multi-function device 10, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram of the portable terminal 50. As shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows an example of information stored in the data storage area 62B, where (A) is a destination list registered in the MFP 10, (B) is a prefix number registered in the MFP 10, C) shows a destination list registered in the portable terminal 50. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the FAX instruction process. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the format conversion process 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the format conversion process 2. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the format conversion process 3. FIG. 8 is a display example of the display unit 53, in which (A) shows a data selection screen and (B) shows a preview screen. FIG. 9 is a display example of the display unit 53, and shows (A) a destination selection screen and (B) a confirmation screen. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of the provider selection screen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a FAX system 100 in the present embodiment. The fax system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a multifunction machine 10 and a portable terminal 50. The multifunction peripheral 10 and the portable terminal 50 are electrically connected. The multifunction machine 10 and the portable terminal 50 may be connected through a communication network, or may be connected by a USB (abbreviation of Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like. The specific example of the communication network is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, the Internet 101, a wired LAN (abbreviation of Local Area Network), the wireless LAN 102, or a combination thereof. The state in which a plurality of devices can communicate is an example of a state in which a plurality of devices are “electrically connected”.

  The MFP 10 and the portable terminal 50 belong to the wireless LAN 102 as shown in FIG. The wireless LAN 102 is connected to the Internet 101 through the router 102A. Note that “belonging to the wireless LAN 102” indicates that the setting for belonging to the wireless LAN 102 is made and that communication with another device belonging to the wireless LAN 102 is possible. More specifically, the same SSID as the access point (not shown) is set to the MFP 10 and the portable terminal 50, and a network address assigned to the wireless LAN 102 is assigned. The router 102A is an example of a communication device.

[MFP 10]
As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the MFP 10 stores the printer unit 11, the scanner unit 12, the FAX unit 13, the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, the communication unit 25, the CPU 31, and the storage. The unit 32 and the communication bus 33 are mainly provided. The components constituting the multi-function device 10 are mutually connected through the communication bus 33. The multifunction machine 10 is an example of a fax machine. The FAX apparatus according to the present embodiment is not limited to the multifunction machine 10, and may be a FAX single-function machine that does not have the printer unit 11 or the scanner unit 12.

[Printer unit 11, Scanner unit 12, Fax unit 13]
The printer unit 11 executes a printing operation for recording an image indicated by image data on a recording sheet. The recording sheet is an example of a sheet or a recording medium. As a recording method of the printer unit 11, a known method such as an inkjet method or an electrophotographic method can be adopted. The scanner unit 12 executes a scan operation of reading an image recorded on a document and generating image data. The FAX unit 13 executes a FAX transmission operation and a FAX reception operation for transmitting and receiving content data by a method conforming to a FAX protocol. The scan data generated by the scanner unit 12 is an example of content data. Data obtained by converting scan data for FAX transmission is an example of content data. The image data received from the external device through the communication unit 25 is an example of content data.

  FAX unit 13 faxes content data to an external device using a telephone number selected through operation unit 24 among the telephone number received through operation unit 24 or the telephone number stored in data storage area 32B. Send. That is, the external device of the FAX transmission destination is specified by, for example, the telephone number of which the input is received through the operation unit 24 or the telephone number stored in the data storage area 32B. The telephone number is configured by combining a plurality of numbers. For example, the FAX unit 13 transmits an external signal through the base station 103 by transmitting a number signal corresponding to each number constituting a telephone number to a fixed telephone line (hereinafter, may be referred to as “outgoing”). Connecting. The fixed telephone line is, for example, an example of a second telephone line for connecting the MFP 10 and the base station 103 by wire.

[Display 23]
The display unit 23 includes a display screen for displaying various information. As the display unit 23, a liquid crystal display (abbreviation of Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL display (abbreviation of Organic Electro-Luminescence Display), or the like can be adopted.

[Operation 24]
The operation unit 24 receives an operation of a user who selects an object displayed on the display screen of the display unit 23. Specifically, the operation unit 24 has a button, and outputs various operation signals associated with the pressed button to the CPU 31. Furthermore, the operation unit 24 may have a film-like touch sensor superimposed on the display screen of the display unit 23. That is, the display unit 23 may be configured as a touch panel display.

  Note that “object” refers to an image that can be selected by the user operating the operation unit 24. As an example, the object is a character string displayed on the display unit 23. One of the objects is highlighted when the direction key of the operation unit 24 is pressed, and high when the determination button of the operation unit 24 is pressed. An object displayed in light may be selected. As another example, the object when the operation unit 24 is a touch panel may be an icon, a button, a link, or the like displayed on the display unit 23, and an object displayed at the touch position may be selected.

  The operation unit 24 realized as a touch panel receives a user operation of touching the display screen of the display unit 23. The operation unit 24 also outputs position information indicating the position on the display screen touched by the user. The position information can be expressed, for example, as coordinates (x, y) on the xy plane with the upper left end of the display screen as the origin, the right direction as the positive direction of the x axis, and the downward direction as the positive direction of the y axis. A well-known system such as an electrostatic capacity system or a resistive film system can be adopted as the touch sensor.

  Note that “touch” in the present specification includes all operations for causing an input medium to contact a display screen. That is, a tap operation to separate the touched input medium from the display screen within a predetermined time, a long touch operation to stop the touched input medium on the display screen, a slide operation to slide the touched input medium on the display screen, the display screen Flick operation where the acceleration of the input medium sliding on the top is above the threshold, pinch-in operation to slide the two input media touched at different positions on the display screen towards each other, two touched at different positions on the display screen A pinch out operation or the like in which the input media are slid away from each other is an example of a touch.

  Further, even if the input medium does not touch the display screen, bringing the input medium close to a position where the distance to the display screen is very small may be included in the concept of “touch” described above. Furthermore, the input medium may be a finger of the user, a touch pen, or the like. Hereinafter, tapping of the position of the icon displayed on the display unit 53 will be described as an example of user operation for selecting the icon.

[Communication unit 25]
The communication unit 25 is an interface for communicating with an external device through a communication network. That is, the MFP 10 outputs various information to the portable terminal 50 through the communication unit 25, and receives various data or information from the portable terminal 50 through the communication unit 25. Although the specific communication procedure of the communication unit 25 is not particularly limited, for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance) can be adopted. The multifunction device 10 may have an interface for attaching a USB cable or the like, instead of the communication unit 25.

[CPU31]
A CPU (abbreviation of Central Processing Unit) 31 controls the overall operation of the multifunction machine 10. The CPU 31 acquires various programs to be described later from the storage unit 32 based on various information output from the operation unit 24 and various information acquired from an external device through the communication unit 25 and executes the programs. That is, the CPU 31 and the storage unit 32 constitute an example of a control unit.

[Storage unit 32]
The storage unit 32 has a program storage area 32A and a data storage area 32B. The program storage area 32A stores an OS (abbreviation of Operating System) 34 and a control program 35. The program in the present specification may be a single program or a collection of a plurality of programs. Data or information necessary for the execution of the control program 35 is stored in the data storage area 32B.

  Note that "data" and "information" in the present specification are common in that they are bits or bit strings that can be handled by a computer. "Data" refers to data that can be handled without the computer taking into consideration the semantic content indicated by each bit. On the other hand, "information" indicates that the operation of the computer branches depending on the meaning content indicated by each bit. Furthermore, the "instruction" is a control signal for prompting the destination apparatus to perform the next operation, which may include information, and itself has an information property. There is also.

  Also, "data" and "information" have the same data and information as long as they are recognized as having the same semantic content even if the format (for example, text format, binary format, flag format, etc.) is changed for each computer. Treated as For example, information indicating "two" is held as text information of "0x32" in ASCII code in one computer, and held in binary notation of "10" in binary notation in another computer. It may be done.

  However, the above distinction between "data" and "information" is not strict, and exceptional handling is also permitted. For example, data may be temporarily treated as information, or information may be temporarily treated as data. Also, what is treated as data in one device may be treated as information in another device. Furthermore, information may be extracted from the data, and data may be extracted from the information.

  The storage unit 32 includes, for example, RAM (abbreviation of Random Access Memory), ROM (abbreviation of Read Only Memory), EEPROM (abbreviation of Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), HDD (abbreviation of Hard Disk Drive), and CPU 31. It is configured by a buffer or the like, or a combination thereof.

  The storage unit 32 may be a computer readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. The non-transitory medium also includes a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, etc. in addition to the above example. In addition, non-transitory media are tangible media. On the other hand, an electrical signal carrying a program downloaded from a server or the like on the Internet is a computer readable signal medium, which is a type of computer readable medium, but a non-transitory computer readable storage. It is not included in the medium.

  The programs stored in the program storage area 32A are executed by the CPU 31. However, in the present specification, the operation of each program may be described with the CPU 31 omitted. That is, in the following description, the description that "the program A executes the process A" may indicate that "the CPU 31 executes the process A described in the program A". The same applies to the portable terminal 50 described later.

  The program stored in the program storage area 32A determines an event and operates according to the determination result. However, in the present specification, the operation of each program may be described by omitting judgment. That is, in the following description, the description that "the control program executes the process A according to the condition A" determines whether the control program is the condition A. The control program makes a positive determination. May be referred to as “performing process A”.

  The program stored in the program storage area 32A identifies, extracts, or selects data and the like. When the program specifies data etc., for example, data that meets the condition is specified from among a plurality of data etc., and the data itself etc. or information for identifying the data etc. is stored in a predetermined storage area Point to processing. The information for identifying data or the like is, for example, identification information for identifying the data or the like, an index of an array in which the data or the like is stored, a pointer of a storage area in which the data or the like is stored, or the like. The same applies to processing in which the program extracts or selects data and the like.

  The program stored in the program storage area 32A acquires data and the like. The program acquiring data or the like may indicate, for example, a process of reading data from a storage area in which the data is stored. The program acquiring data and the like may indicate, for example, a process of receiving data transmitted from an external device. The program may acquire data or the like by, for example, requesting external data to return data and receiving data returned from the external device. The program acquiring data and the like may indicate, for example, a process of receiving data output from another program such as the OS. The program acquiring data and the like may indicate, for example, a process of requesting another program to output data and receiving data output from the other program.

  The OS 34 is an API (Application Programming Interface) for controlling the printer unit 11, the scanner unit 12, the FAX unit 13, the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, the communication unit 25, etc. Is a basic program that provides That is, each of the above programs controls each hardware by calling an API provided by the OS 34. However, in this specification, the OS 34 may be omitted to explain the operation of each program. That is, in the following description, the description that “the program B controls the hardware C” may indicate that “the program B controls the hardware C through the API of the OS 34”. The same applies to the portable terminal 50 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the data storage area 32B stores a destination ID and name information and a telephone number associated with the destination ID. Hereinafter, the information shown in FIG. 3A may be collectively referred to as “destination list”, and each record shown in FIG. 3A may be referred to as “destination record”. That is, the destination list can include multiple destination records. The destination ID is an example of identification information that identifies a destination record. The name information indicates the name indicating the person or organization that owns the external device specified by the corresponding telephone number. The telephone number stored in the data storage area 32B is an example of the second format. The destination record is set by the user through the operation unit 24, for example. The destination list shown in FIG. 3A is stored in the non-volatile area of the data storage area 32B. That is, even if the power of the multifunction machine 10 is turned off, the destination list remains stored in the data storage area 32B.

  In the present specification, "telephone number" may refer to only a digit string specifying an external device, or may indicate a combination of the digit string and various symbols. That is, the telephone number in this specification may refer to what added various symbols to the digit string generally called a telephone number. In addition, "symbol" may be composed only of numbers or digit strings, and is composed of symbols other than numbers (for example, ",", "@", "-", "P", etc.) Or a combination of these.

Further, in the present specification, a telephone number including a symbol unique to the MFP 10 or the fixed telephone line is referred to as " second type telephone number", and a telephone including a symbol unique to the portable terminal 50 or the mobile telephone line The number may be referred to as " first type telephone number". The "unique symbol" indicates that the correspondence between the symbol and its semantic content is determined independently for each device or line. In other words, it means that the symbols indicating the same semantic content may be different for each device or for each line.

  Furthermore, in the present specification, "-" between telephone numbers or various symbols is given for convenience to clarify the configuration of telephone numbers. That is, "-" in the present specification is not stored in the data storage areas 32B and 62B as actual data, and is not transmitted and received between the multifunction peripheral 10 and the portable terminal 50. However, although not described in detail in the present specification, "-" may be used as a control symbol. "-" Used as a control symbol is included as actual data in the telephone number. That is, the telephone number including the control symbol "-" may be stored in the data storage areas 32B and 62B, and may be transmitted and received between the MFP 10 and the portable terminal 50.

  The telephone number "aa-aaa-aaaa, aaa" corresponding to the destination ID "001" includes a second control symbol "," between a plurality of numbers constituting the telephone number. The second control symbol "," is an example of a second type of control symbol that controls the transmission timing of the numeral signal. More specifically, the second control symbol "," is a PAUSE symbol indicating pause control. In addition, the specific example of a PAUSE symbol is not limited to ",", For example, "-" etc. may be sufficient. The pause control may be, for example, control to make the transmission interval of two consecutive number signals corresponding to the numbers located before and after the second control symbol longer than the transmission interval of other two consecutive number signals. . Also, the difference between the sending intervals may be, for example, 3 seconds.

  However, the specific example of the second control symbol is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a WAIT symbol indicating weight control, a FLASH symbol indicating flash control, or the like. The weight control corresponds to a number located after the second control symbol in response to reception of a predetermined user operation after transmitting a number signal corresponding to a number located before the second control symbol. It is control which sends out a number signal. The flash control sends out a number signal corresponding to the number located before the second control symbol and then sends a predetermined signal, and then sends out the number signal corresponding to the number located after the second control symbol Control. The predetermined signal sent out by flash control may be called a flash signal. The second control symbol “,” may be a symbol unique to the multifunction machine 10, for example.

  The telephone number "0101-bb-bbb-bbbb" corresponding to the destination ID "002" includes the second prefix symbol "0101" at the beginning of the telephone number. The second prefix symbol "0101" is an example of a second type second prefix symbol or an international prefix symbol indicating that the first country is to be transmitted to the second country different from the first country through the fixed telephone line. The second prefix symbol "0101" includes an international telephone identification number "010" and a country code "1" of the second country (hereinafter referred to as "the partner country code"). The second prefix symbol in the present embodiment is a prefix symbol when transmitting from Japan, which is an example of the first country, to the United States, which is an example of the second country. However, specific examples of the first country and the second country are not limited to these. The second prefix symbol "0101" may be, for example, a symbol unique to a fixed telephone line.

  Also, the second prefix symbol may further include a designation symbol that designates one of a plurality of carriers in the first country. The designation symbol is uniquely assigned to the communication carrier, for example, “0033”, “001”. The second prefix symbol including the designation symbol is represented as, for example, “0033-0101” and “001-0101”. The addition of the designation symbol is optional and can be omitted.

  In addition, the data storage area 32B can store a prefix number as shown in FIG. 3 (B). The prefix number is an example of an additional symbol commonly added to the beginning of a telephone number. The prefix number in the present embodiment is “0”, which indicates that outside line transmission is performed when the MFP 10 is connected to the base station 103 through the extension switch. However, a specific example of the prefix number is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a carrier identification number such as “0077” indicating use of the domestic telephone service of a specific carrier. The prefix number is set by the user through the operation unit 24, for example.

  The control program 35 adds the prefix number shown in FIG. 3B to the beginning of the telephone number designated through the operation unit 24, and transmits the FAX transmission operation to the FAX unit 13 using the telephone number to which the prefix number is added. Run it. The phrase "designated through the operation unit 24" may include both direct input of a telephone number and designation of a telephone number included in the destination list. On the other hand, when the control program 35 receives FAX instruction information described later from the portable terminal 50 through the communication unit 25, the control program 35 uses the telephone number without adding a prefix number to the telephone number included in the FAX instruction information. The fax unit 13 is caused to execute a fax transmission operation.

[Mobile terminal 50]
As shown in FIG. 2B, the portable terminal 50 mainly includes a display unit 53, an operation unit 54, a communication unit 55, a telephone unit 56, a CPU 61, a storage unit 62, and a communication bus 63. Prepare for The display unit 53, the operation unit 54, the communication unit 55, the CPU 61, the storage unit 62, and the communication bus 63 included in the portable terminal 50 are included in the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, the communication unit 25, the CPU 31, Since the same as the storage unit 32 and the communication bus 33, the description thereof will be omitted. The CPU 61 and the storage unit 62 are an example of a control unit. The mobile terminal 50 is, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a tablet terminal.

[Phone 56]
The telephone unit 56 implements a call function of transmitting and receiving audio data to and from an external device. For example, a microphone (not shown) and a speaker (not shown) of the portable terminal 50 are further used to realize the call function. That is, the portable terminal 50 transmits voice data indicating voice collected by a microphone (not shown) to an external device through the telephone unit 56, and a voice represented by voice data received from the external device through the telephone unit 56 is not shown. Output through the speaker.

  The telephone unit 56 uses the telephone number selected through the operation unit 54 among the telephone number received through the operation unit 54 or the telephone number stored in the data storage area 62B to communicate with the external device. Send and receive data. That is, the external device with which the telephone unit 56 transmits and receives voice data is specified by, for example, the telephone number of which the input is received through the operation unit 54 or the telephone number stored in the data storage area 62B. Then, the telephone unit 56 can connect to an external device through the base station 104 by transmitting numerical signals corresponding to the respective numbers constituting the telephone number to the mobile communication line. The mobile communication line is an example of a first telephone line for wirelessly connecting the portable terminal 50 and the base station 104, for example.

  An OS 64 and a fax program 65 are stored in a program storage area 62A of the storage unit 62. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the data storage area 62B stores the destination list. The basic data structure of the destination list may be the same as that in FIG. The data storage areas 32B and 62B may store destination records including the same telephone number. The destination list shown in FIG. 3C is stored in the non-volatile area of the data storage area 62B. That is, even if the portable terminal 50 is powered off, the destination list remains stored in the data storage area 62B. Furthermore, the data storage area 62B may be provided with a content data folder in which content data is stored. The content data may be, for example, image data, picture data, document data, spreadsheet data, or presentation data.

The telephone number "xx-xxx-xxxx @ xxx" corresponding to the destination ID "101" includes the first control symbol "@" between a plurality of numbers constituting the telephone number. The first control symbol "@" is an example of a first type of control symbol for controlling the transmission timing of the numeral signal. Transmission timing of the first control symbol "@" digit signal represented by the first form, the second control Symbol in the second format "," which is equivalent to. The first control symbol “@” may be a symbol unique to the portable terminal 50, for example.

  The telephone number "+1-zz-zzz-zzzz" corresponding to the destination ID "103" includes the first prefix symbol "+1" at the beginning of the telephone number. The first prefix symbol “+1” is an example of a first type first prefix symbol or an international prefix symbol indicating that the first country transmits to the second country different from the first country through the mobile communication line. The first prefix symbol “+1” includes an international call identification number “+” and a partner country symbol “1”. The first prefix symbol in the present embodiment is a prefix symbol when transmitting from a country other than the United States to the United States. The first prefix symbol "+1" may be, for example, a symbol unique to a mobile communication line.

  Note that both the control symbol and the prefix symbol may be added to the telephone numbers stored in the data storage areas 32B and 62B. Alternatively, for the telephone numbers stored in the data storage areas 32B and 62B, the telephone number "cc-ccc-cccc" corresponding to the destination ID "003" and the telephone number "yy-yyy corresponding to the destination ID" 102 ". It is not necessary to add both a control symbol and a prefix symbol, such as “yyyy”. The telephone numbers not including both the control symbol and the prefix symbol may have a common format in the first format and the second format.

[Operation of FAX System 100]
The operation of the FAX system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 10. In the FAX system 100, the portable terminal 50 receives specification of target data and a target telephone number, and the MFP 10 FAX-transmits the target data to an external device specified by the target telephone number.

  First, the FAX program 65 of the portable terminal 50 causes the display unit 53 to display a data selection screen (S11). FIG. 8A shows an example of the data selection screen. The data selection screen shown in FIG. 8A includes a plurality of data icons 111, 112, 113. The data icons 111 to 113 are examples of data objects corresponding to content data that can be specified as target data. Data icons (for example, file names) of corresponding content data are described in data icons 111 to 113. The content data corresponding to the data icons 111 to 113 may be stored in the content data folder, or may be stored in a server (not shown) that can communicate through the communication unit 55.

  Next, the FAX program 65 receives the selection of the icon included in the data selection screen through the operation unit 54 (S12). Then, the FAX program 65 temporarily stores the content data corresponding to the selected data icon as the target data in the data storage area 62B. Alternatively, the FAX program 65 may temporarily store information for specifying target data (hereinafter referred to as “target data ID”) in the data storage area 62B, instead of the target data itself. The target data ID may be, for example, information indicating a storage location of the target data, or may be a URL indicating the target data. The process of step S12 is an example of a first reception process. Selection of the data icons 111 to 113 is an example of a user operation to specify target data. In the present embodiment, assuming that the data icon 111 is selected, the following description will be continued.

  Next, in response to the selection of the data icon 111 being accepted through the operation unit 54 (S12: Yes), the FAX program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display a preview screen (S13). FIG. 8B is an example of the preview screen. The preview screen shown in FIG. 8B includes a preview image 115, a text box 116 displaying a target telephone number, a [destination] icon, and a [send] icon. Further, the FAX program 65 receives the selection of the icon included in the preview screen through the operation unit 54 (S14).

  The preview image 115 indicates an image in which the target data is transmitted by fax and the image indicated by the target data is recorded on the recording sheet in the apparatus that has received the fax. The preview image 115 shown in FIG. 8B is obtained by adding a FAX header to the image indicated by the target data ID “photograph. JPEG”. The FAX header includes, for example, a name indicating a FAX transmission source and a FAX transmission time. In the text box 116, a target telephone number selected in destination selection processing described later or a target telephone number directly input is displayed. The [destination] icon corresponds to the process of causing the user to specify a target telephone number among the telephone numbers included in the destination list. The “send” icon corresponds to an instruction to cause the MFP 10 to execute the FAX transmission operation for the target data.

  Then, in response to reception of the selection of the text box 116 through the operation unit 54, the FAX program 65 displays, for example, a software keyboard (not shown) on the display unit 53, and the telephone number input through the software keyboard Displayed in the text box 116. Then, the FAX program 65 temporarily stores the telephone number displayed in the text box 116 in the data storage area 62B as the target telephone number.

  Further, when the FAX program 65 receives the selection of the [destination] icon through the operation unit 54 (S14: [destination] icon), the fax program 65 receives the destination list from the MFP 10 through the communication unit 55 (S15). For example, the fax program 65 transmits list request information to the MFP 10 through the communication unit 55. The list request information is information for requesting transmission of the destination list stored in the data storage area 32B. Then, the FAX program 65 receives the destination list stored in the data storage area 32 B from the MFP 10 through the communication unit 55. The process of step S15 is an example of a second reception process.

  Then, the FAX program 65 temporarily stores the received destination list in the data storage area 62B. As an example, “temporarily storing the destination list in the data storage area 62B” may be storing the destination list in the volatile area of the data storage area 62B. As another example, “temporarily store the destination list in the data storage area 62B” is the destination list on the premise that the FAX program 65 deletes the address after sending the FAX instruction information in step S21. May be stored in the data storage area 62B.

  Next, the FAX program 65 replaces the second control symbol "," included in the telephone number received in step S15 with the first control symbol "@" (S16). Specifically, the FAX program 65 compares the comparison symbol “,” to be compared with each symbol included in the telephone number received in step S15. Then, the fax program 65 replaces the symbol with the first control symbol "@" in response to having determined that the symbol corresponding to the comparison symbol "," is included in the telephone number. Then, the FAX program 65 overwrites the telephone number in the destination list temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B with the telephone number with the control symbol replaced. The process of step S16 is an example of the inverse conversion process performed prior to the list display process.

  The comparison symbol “,” may be coded in advance in the FAX program 65 itself. The fax program 65 may be defined in a setting file read at startup or the like. The setting file may be stored in the data storage area 62B, for example, when the FAX program 65 is installed in the portable terminal 50. Further, the FAX program 65 may download the comparison symbol “,” from a server (not shown) and store it in the setting file. Furthermore, the FAX program 65 may receive the comparison symbol “,” from the multifunction machine 10 together with the telephone number by further executing processing corresponding to steps S26 and S27 described later in step S15.

  The second control symbol may differ depending on the model of the multifunction machine 10 as described above. More specifically, the second control symbol may differ depending on the country of destination of the multifunction machine 10 or the region of destination. Therefore, the FAX program 65 may store a plurality of comparison symbols representing the same meaning (for example, PAUSE control) in association with model information indicating the model of the multifunction machine 10. Further, the fax program 65 may receive the model information of the MFP 10 together with the destination list in step S15. Then, in step S16, the FAX program 65 may compare the comparison symbol corresponding to the received model information with the symbol included in the telephone number in the received destination list.

  Next, the FAX program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the destination selection screen (S17). FIG. 9A shows an example of the destination selection screen. The destination selection screen illustrated in FIG. 9A includes destination icons 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126. The destination icons 121 to 126 are destination records in the destination list acquired from the MFP 10 and temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B in step S15, and the destination list stored in the nonvolatile area of the data storage area 62B. Correspond to the destination record in That is, the destination icons 121 to 126 correspond to the destination record shown in FIG. 3 (A) and the destination record shown in FIG. 3 (C). In the destination icons 121 to 126, a name and a telephone number indicated by name information included in the corresponding destination record are described. The process of step S17 is an example of a list display process.

  A destination record including the destination ID “001” is associated with the destination icon 121. However, in the destination icon 121, the second control symbol "," of the telephone number "aa-aaa-aaaa, aaa" included in the corresponding destination record is described with the first control symbol "@" being substituted. ing. That is, in step S17, the FAX program 65 describes the telephone number temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B, that is, the telephone number with the control symbol replaced, in the corresponding destination icon.

  Next, the FAX program 65 receives the selection of the destination icons 121 to 126 displayed in a list on the destination selection screen through the operation unit 54 (S18). Then, when the FAX program 65 receives one selection of the destination icons 121 to 126 through the operation unit 54 (S18: Yes), the destination record corresponding to the destination icon is used as a target destination record as a data storage area. It temporarily stores in 62B (S19). In addition, the FAX program 65 temporarily stores information indicating the acquisition destination of the target destination record in the data storage area 62B. Selection of the destination icons 121 to 126 is an example of a user operation for specifying a target telephone number. The telephone number included in the target destination record is an example of the target telephone number. The process of step S18 is an example of a second reception process.

  Next, the FAX program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the preview screen again (S13). The preview screen after steps S15 to S19 are different from the preview screen shown in FIG. 8B in that the target telephone number is displayed in the text box 116. Then, the FAX program 65 executes format conversion processing (S20) in response to the reception of the selection of the [send] icon through the operation unit 54 (S14: [send] icon). The format conversion process is a process of converting the target telephone number from the first format to the second format. The details of the format conversion process will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  Then, the FAX program 65 transmits FAX instruction information to the MFP 10 through the communication unit 55 (S21). The fax instruction information is information for causing the external device specified by the target telephone number to fax the target data. The FAX instruction information includes target data and a target telephone number of the second format. Note that the FAX instruction information may include target data IDs such as a URL instead of the target data itself. In addition, when the acquisition destination of the target destination record is the MFP 10, the FAX instruction information may include the destination ID included in the target destination record instead of the target telephone number. The process of step S21 is an example of the FAX instruction process.

  On the other hand, the control program 35 of the MFP 10 receives the FAX instruction information from the portable terminal 50 through the communication unit 25. Then, the control program 35 causes the FAX unit 13 to execute the FAX transmission operation according to the received FAX instruction information. That is, the FAX unit 13 transmits the numeral signal corresponding to the target telephone number of the second format included in the FAX instruction information to the fixed telephone line, thereby the external unit specified by the target telephone number and the base station 103. Connecting. Then, the FAX unit 13 FAX-transmits the target data included in the FAX instruction information to the external apparatus through the fixed telephone line.

  Next, the format conversion processes 1 to 3 executed in step S20 will be described with reference to FIGS. The FAX program 65 can execute part or all of the format conversion processing 1 to 3 in step S20. Although the above-mentioned example explained the example which chooses one of destination icons 121-126, a plurality of destination icons may be chosen. In this case, the format conversion process (S20) is executed on the target telephone number corresponding to each of the plurality of selected destination icons, and the plurality of target telephone numbers of the second format are included in the above-mentioned FAX instruction information.

[Format conversion process 1]
The format conversion process 1 shown in FIG. 5 is a process of replacing the first control symbol "@" included in the target telephone number with the second control symbol ",". First, the FAX program 65 determines whether the target telephone number includes the first control symbol "@" (S25). In the present embodiment, when the destination icons 121 and 124 are selected in step S18, it is determined that the target telephone number includes the first control symbol "@" (S25: Yes). The process of step S25 is an example of a first determination process.

  Next, when the FAX program 65 determines that the target telephone number includes the first control symbol "@" (S25: Yes), it transmits the first inquiry information to the MFP 10 through the communication unit 55 (S25: Yes). S26). Then, the FAX program 65 receives the first reply information from the MFP 10 through the communication unit 55 (S27). The process of step S26 is an example of the first inquiry process, and the process of step S27 is an example of the first reception process. When the processing corresponding to steps S26 and S27 is executed at the timing of step S15 or when the FAX program 65 stores the second control symbol "," in advance, steps S26 and S27 in the format conversion processing 1 are performed. Can be omitted.

  The first inquiry information is information for inquiring control symbols of a second format. More specifically, the first inquiry information may be information for inquiring a PAUSE symbol of the second format, or may be information for inquiring a list of control symbols of the second format used in the MFP 10. Good. The first response information at least includes a second control symbol ",". Alternatively, the first response information may include a list of control symbols of the second type used in the multifunction machine 10. The first answer information is transmitted by the multifunction machine 10 as a response to the first inquiry information.

  Next, the FAX program 65 replaces the first control symbol "@" included in the target telephone number with the second control symbol "," included in the answer information (S28). Then, the FAX program 65 overwrites the target telephone number temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B with the target telephone number after replacement. The process of step S28 is an example of the conversion process. On the other hand, when the FAX program 65 determines that the target telephone number does not include the first control symbol "@" (S25: No), the process of steps S26 to S28 is skipped, and the format conversion process 1 is performed. finish.

[Format conversion process 2]
Format conversion processing 2 shown in FIG. 6 is processing for adding a prefix number to the target telephone number. First, the FAX program 65 transmits the second inquiry information to the MFP 10 through the communication unit 55 (S31). Further, the FAX program 65 receives the second answer information from the MFP 10 through the communication unit 55 (S32). Further, the FAX program 65 determines whether the received second reply information includes a prefix number (S33). The process of step S31 is an example of the second inquiry process, the process of step S32 is an example of the third reception process, and the process of step S33 is an example of the second determination process.

  The second inquiry information is information for inquiring whether a prefix number is stored in the data storage area 32B. The second inquiry information may be information for requesting transmission of the prefix number stored in the data storage area 32B. The second answer information indicates that the prefix number is registered when the prefix number is stored in the data storage area 32B, and includes the prefix number. On the other hand, when the prefix number is not stored in the data storage area 32B, the second answer information indicates that the prefix number is not registered, and does not include the prefix number. The second answer information is transmitted by the multifunction machine 10 as a response to the second inquiry information.

  Next, in response to determining that the second response information includes the prefix number (S33: Yes), the FAX program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display a confirmation screen (S34). FIG. 9B is an example of the confirmation screen. The confirmation screen shown in FIG. 9B includes a message of “Do you want to add prefix number“ 0 ”?”, A “Yes” icon, and a “No” icon. Then, the FAX program 65 receives the selection of the icon included in the confirmation screen through the operation unit 54 (S35). The processes of steps S34 and S35 are an example of the third reception process.

  Next, in response to the selection of the [Yes] icon being accepted through the operation unit 54 (S35: [Yes] icon), the FAX program 65 adds a prefix number “0” to the beginning of the target telephone number (S36). ). Then, the FAX program 65 overwrites the target telephone number temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B with the target telephone number to which the prefix number is added. The process of step S36 is an example of the conversion process. Also, selection of the [Yes] icon is an example of a user operation indicating that a prefix number is added to the beginning of the target telephone number.

  On the other hand, when the FAX program 65 receives the selection of the [NO] icon through the operation unit 54 (S35: [NO] icon), the process of step S36 is skipped and the format conversion process 2 is ended. The selection of the [No] icon is an example of the user operation indicating that the prefix number is not added to the beginning of the target telephone number. That is, when the [No] icon is selected, no prefix number is added to the beginning of the target telephone number. Furthermore, when it is determined that the second response information does not include the prefix number (S33: No), the FAX program 65 skips the processing of steps S34 to S36 and ends the format conversion processing 2.

[Format conversion process 3]
The format conversion process 3 shown in FIG. 7 is a process of replacing the first prefix symbol “+1” included in the target telephone number with the second control symbol “0101”. First, the FAX program 65 determines whether the target telephone number includes the first prefix symbol, more specifically, the recognition number "+" of the international call (S41). In the present embodiment, when the destination icon 126 is selected in step S18, it is determined that the target telephone number includes the recognition number "+" of the international call (S41: Yes). The process of step S41 is an example of a third determination process.

  Next, according to the FAX program 65 determining that the target telephone number includes the recognition number "+" of the international call (S41: Yes), the external device specified by the target telephone number and the MFP 10 It is judged whether it is installed in the same country (S42). The external device specified by the telephone number “+ 1-zz-zzz-zzzz” corresponding to the destination icon 126 is installed in the United States indicated by the other country code “1”. That is, in step S42, the FAX program 65 may identify the country in which the MFP 10 is installed (hereinafter referred to as "installed country"), and determine whether the installation country is the United States. The process of step S42 is an example of a fourth determination process.

  For example, in step S42, the FAX program 65 may acquire a global IP address assigned to the router 102A of the wireless LAN 102 to which the MFP 10 belongs, and specify the country to which the global IP address is assigned as the installation country. The method of acquiring the global IP address assigned to the router 102A and the method of specifying the country to which the global IP address is assigned are not particularly limited, but can be realized, for example, by the following method.

  First, the FAX program 65 transmits, for example, a request message to the server (not shown) connected to the Internet 101 through the router 102A. The router 102A relaying the request message sets the global IP address assigned to itself to the source address of the IP packet including the request message. The server that receives the IP packet including the request message acquires the global IP address set in the source address of the IP packet. Then, the server transmits a reply message including the global IP address to the portable terminal 50 through the router 102A. The fax program 65 receives a reply message from the server through the router 102A, and acquires the global IP address contained in the received reply message.

  Further, the FAX program 65 may store in advance in the data storage area 62B range information indicating the range of the global IP address assigned to each country. Alternatively, the FAX program 65 may receive range information from the server through the communication unit 55 together with or separately from the global IP address. Also, the server may determine the installation country from the acquired IP address and the range information stored in advance. That is, the FAX program 65 may transmit a request message inquiring the installation country to the server, and may receive a reply message including information indicating the installation country from the server. In the present embodiment, assuming that the installation country is Japan, the following description will be continued.

  Next, when it is determined that the installation country is not the United States (S42: No), the FAX program 65 acquires a second prefix symbol that can be used when transmitting from Japan, which is the installation country (S43). The fax program 65 may store the second prefix symbol in the data storage area 62B in advance. Alternatively, the FAX program 65 may receive the second prefix symbol from the MFP 10 or the server through the communication unit 55. The FAX program 65 transmits, for example, a request message including information indicating the installation country to the server through the communication unit 55, and transmits a reply message including a list of second prefix symbols usable when originating from the installation country to the communication unit 55. May be received from the server through The process of step S43 is an example of an acquisition process.

  The second prefix symbol obtained in step S43 may or may not include one or both of the partner country symbol "1" and the designated symbol. That is, the fax program 65 may obtain at least a part of the second prefix symbol in step S43. If the second prefix symbol includes the designated symbol, the FAX program 65 may further acquire the name of the business operator indicated by the designated symbol. Furthermore, the number of second prefix symbols acquired in step S43 may be one or more. If there is one acquired second prefix symbol, steps S44 and S45 described later can be omitted. In the present embodiment, the following description will be continued, assuming that two second prefix symbols “0033-010” and “001-010” have been acquired.

  Next, the FAX program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display an operator selection screen (S44). FIG. 10 is an example of a business operator selection screen. The operator selection screen shown in FIG. 10 includes a message of “Please select an international call carrier” and a carrier icon 131, 132. The business operator icons 131 and 132 correspond to the second prefix symbols “0033-010” and “001-010” acquired in step S43. In the business operator icons 131 and 132, the corresponding second prefix symbol and the name of the business operator indicated by the designation symbol included in the second prefix symbol are described. Then, the FAX program 65 receives the selection of the icon included in the business operator selection screen through the operation unit 54 (S45). The processes of steps S44 and S45 are an example of a fourth reception process. Further, selection of the provider icons 131 and 132 is an example of a user operation of designating one of the plurality of second prefix symbols.

  Then, when the FAX program 65 receives the selection of one of the business operator icons 131 and 132 through the operation unit 54 (S45: Yes), the first prefix symbol included in the target telephone number is used as the business operator icon. To the second prefix symbol corresponding to (S46). When the second prefix symbol does not include the opposite country symbol, the fax program 65 replaces the recognition number "+" of the international call included in the first prefix symbol with the second prefix symbol in step S46. On the other hand, when the second prefix symbol includes the opposite country symbol, the fax program 65 replaces the first prefix symbol "+1" with the second prefix symbol in step S46. The process of step S46 is an example of the conversion process.

  On the other hand, the FAX program 65 opens the first prefix symbol "+1" included in the target telephone number according to the determination that the installation country is the United States (S42: Yes), the domestic release of the United States, which is the second country, The number is replaced with "1" (S47). The domestic opening number is an example of a third prefix commonly used for transmission between devices installed in the United States. The process of step S47 is an example of the conversion process.

[Operation and effect of this embodiment]
According to the above embodiment, since the target telephone number converted into the second format is included in the FAX instruction information, the multi-function device 10 can correctly recognize the external apparatus specified by the target telephone number. As a result, it is possible to suppress FAX transmission failure and erroneous transmission.

  As one example, by replacing the control symbol which differs for each device with the format conversion processing 1, the multi-function device 10 can send the numeral signal indicated by the target telephone number to the fixed telephone line in the correct procedure. At this time, the second control symbol included in the telephone number registered in the multifunction machine 10 is replaced with the first control symbol and displayed on the destination selection screen, thereby making the user aware of the difference between the first type and the second type. The desired telephone number can be selected without being

  However, the process of step S16 is not essential. For example, the fax program 65 may temporarily store the destination list received in step S15 in the data storage area 62B as it is. Then, the FAX program 65 may describe the telephone number in which the second control symbol "," is replaced with the first control symbol "@" only on the destination icon. Also, the control symbol displayed on the destination selection screen is not limited to being unified to the first control symbol "@", but may be unified to the second control symbol "," or the first control symbol And the second control symbol may be unified to a common symbol such as "P". In this case, the control symbol of the telephone number in the data storage area 62B may not be replaced, and the replaced telephone number may be displayed only on the destination selection screen.

  As another example, by adding a prefix symbol commonly added to the telephone number by the multi-function device 10 in the format conversion processing 2, the multi-function device 10 can be connected to an external device according to a scheduled procedure. As a result, FAX transmission failure and erroneous transmission are suppressed. In addition, since the user is made to select whether or not to add the prefix symbol on the confirmation screen, it is possible to prevent the unnecessary prefix symbol from being added.

  Further, as another example, by replacing the international prefix symbol with the format conversion processing 3, transmission failure or erroneous transmission of the FAX is suppressed when transmitting to an external device installed overseas. In particular, the portable terminal 50 may be used in a plurality of countries, while the multifunctional device 10 hardly changes in the installation location. Therefore, by causing the portable terminal 50 to execute the above-described process, the MFP 10 can correctly execute fax transmission based on fax instruction information from the portable terminal 50 brought in from overseas.

  The method of determining the installation country of the multifunction machine 10 is not limited to the above-described example. For example, the portable terminal 50 may further include a position output unit that outputs position information indicating the current position. The position output unit receives a radio wave transmitted by a GPS satellite (not shown), calculates position information based on the radio wave, and outputs the calculated position information. The position information may be, for example, a combination of latitude and longitude. That is, the FAX program 65 can specify the country in which the portable terminal 50 exists based on the position information acquired from the position output unit. Then, assuming that the MFP 10 as the transmission destination of the FAX instruction information is installed near the portable terminal 50, the FAX program 65 assumes that the country in which the portable terminal 50 exists is the installation country of the MFP 10. May be

  In addition to the above processing, the multifunction peripheral 10 and the portable terminal 50 may further include a proximity communication unit that transmits and receives a wireless signal compliant with the proximity wireless communication protocol. The proximity wireless communication protocol is, for example, NFC (abbreviation of Near Field Communication), Bluetooth (registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.), Bluetooth low energy, Bluetooth Smart, iBeacon (registered trademark of Apple Inc.), etc. It is also good.

  The proximity communication unit transmits a radio wave of a predetermined radio wave intensity. The radio wave propagates in the air while being attenuated gradually. Therefore, the FAX program 65 determines whether the radio wave transmitted from the proximity communication unit of the multifunction machine 10 can be received through the proximity communication unit of the portable terminal 50. Then, in response to having determined that the radio wave sent from the multifunction device 10 has been received, the FAX program 65 may simulate the country in which the portable terminal 50 is present as the country in which the multifunction device 10 is installed. Also, this process may be substituted depending on whether the sound of the predetermined volume output from the speaker of the multifunction device 10 can be collected by the microphone of the portable terminal 50 or not.

  Further, in the MFP 10 and the portable terminal 50 of the above embodiment, the control unit of the present invention is executed by the CPUs 31 and 61 executing various programs stored in the program storage areas 32A and 62A of the storage units 32 and 62. An example has been described in which each process executed is realized. However, the configuration of the control unit is not limited to this, and part or all of the control unit may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit (also referred to as an IC (abbreviated as Integrated Circuit)).

  Furthermore, the present invention can be realized not only as the MFP 10 and the portable terminal 50, but also as a program that causes the MFP 10 and the portable terminal 50 to execute processing. Then, the program may be provided by being recorded on a non-transitory recording medium. The non-transitory recording medium may include, in addition to a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, etc., a storage unit mounted on a server connectable to the multifunction machine 10 and the portable terminal 50 through a communication network. Then, the program stored in the storage unit of the server may be distributed as information or a signal indicating the program through a communication network such as the Internet.

10: MFP 13: FAX unit 25, 55: Communication unit 31, 61: CPU
32, 62 ... storage unit 35 ... control program 65 ... FAX program 50 ... mobile terminal 53 ... display unit 54 ... operation unit 56 ... telephone unit

Claims (12)

A fax program readable by a portable terminal comprising an operation unit, a storage unit, a telephone unit, and a communication unit,
The storage unit stores a plurality of telephone numbers of a first format each specifying an external device;
The telephone unit transmits and receives an audio signal through the first telephone line to and from the external device specified by the first type telephone number.
The communication unit can be electrically connected to a fax machine,
The fax machine
It is possible to memorize additional symbols,
For the previous SL the external device specified by the telephone number of a second type different from the first format, through the first telephone line and the different second telephone line, and FAX transmission of the content data in accordance FAX protocol,
When sending a fax to the external device identified by the telephone number specified through the operation unit of the fax machine, the additional symbol is added to the beginning of the phone number,
The fax program
A first reception process for receiving, via the operation unit, a user operation specifying target data which is the content data to be transmitted by fax;
A second reception process of receiving, via the operation unit, a user operation specifying a target telephone number that is any one of the plurality of telephone numbers stored in the storage unit;
Second inquiry processing for transmitting second inquiry information for inquiring whether or not the additional symbol is stored to the FAX apparatus through the communication unit;
Third reception processing for receiving second answer information from the FAX machine through the communication unit;
A second determination process of determining whether the second response information includes the additional symbol;
The target telephone number is converted from the first format to the second format, and the additional symbol is added to the beginning of the target telephone number according to the determination in the second determination processing that the additional symbol is included. Conversion processing to be added to
The portable terminal is caused to execute FAX instruction processing for transmitting FAX instruction information including the target data and the target telephone number of the second format to the FAX apparatus through the communication unit, and the FAX instruction information is the target A fax program which is information for causing the external device specified by a telephone number to fax the target data; A fax program readable by a portable terminal comprising an operation unit, a storage unit, a telephone unit, and a communication unit,
The storage unit may store a plurality of telephone numbers of a first format each specifying an external device, and may store the telephone number to which a first prefix of the first format is added at the beginning. Wherein the first prefix is a prefix indicating that the first country calls from a first country to a second country different from the first country,
The telephone unit transmits and receives an audio signal through the first telephone line to and from the external device specified by the first type telephone number.
The communication unit can be electrically connected to a fax machine,
The FAX apparatus transmits content data to the external device specified by the telephone number of the second format different from the first format, according to the FAX protocol, through the second telephone line different from the first telephone line. And
The fax program
A first reception process for receiving, via the operation unit, a user operation specifying target data which is the content data to be transmitted by fax;
A second reception process of receiving, via the operation unit, a user operation specifying a target telephone number that is any one of the plurality of telephone numbers stored in the storage unit;
A conversion process for converting the target telephone number from the first format to the second format;
FAX instruction processing for transmitting FAX instruction information including the target data and the target telephone number of the second format to the FAX apparatus through the communication unit;
A third determination process of determining whether the target telephone number includes the first prefix;
According to the determination in the third determination processing that the first prefix is included, the second prefix from the storage unit from the second format, or to the FAX machine or communication network through the communication unit The acquisition processing to be acquired from the connected server is executed by the portable terminal, and the FAX instruction information is information for causing the external apparatus specified by the target telephone number to transmit the target data by FAX. The second prefix is a prefix indicating that the call from the first country to the second country is made through the second telephone line,
A fax program for replacing, in the conversion process, the first prefix included in the target telephone number with the second prefix obtained in the acquisition process; The telephone number stored in the storage unit may include a first control symbol of the first format among a plurality of numerals constituting the telephone number, and the first control symbol is a numeral. A control symbol indicating a timing of sending a signal to the first telephone line, the numeral signal being a signal corresponding to each numeral constituting the telephone number;
The telephone unit transmits the numeral signal to the first telephone line at the timing indicated by the first control symbol.
The fax program
A first determination process of determining whether the target telephone number includes the first control symbol;
The portable terminal is caused to execute the conversion processing of replacing the first control symbol with a second control symbol according to the determination in the first determination processing that the first control symbol is included, and the second control is performed. The fax program according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the symbol is the control symbol of the second type for controlling the transmission timing of the numeral signal . The fax program
First inquiry processing for transmitting first inquiry information for inquiring the control symbol of the second format to the FAX machine through the communication unit;
Causing the portable terminal to execute a first reception process of receiving first reply information including the second control symbol from the FAX apparatus through the communication unit;
The FAX program according to claim 3 , wherein in the conversion process, the first control symbol included in the target telephone number is replaced with the second control symbol included in the first reply information. The portable terminal includes a display unit.
The FAX apparatus stores a plurality of the telephone numbers including the second control symbol;
The fax program
Second reception processing for receiving the telephone number stored in the FAX apparatus from the FAX apparatus through the communication unit;
The portable terminal is caused to execute a list display process of causing the display unit to display a list of the plurality of telephone numbers stored in the storage unit and the plurality of telephone numbers received in the second reception process; The telephone number received in the reception process is displayed on the display unit in a state in which the second control symbol is replaced with the first control symbol,
The FAX program, in the second reception processing, according to claim 3 or 4 a user operation for designating the target telephone number from among the plurality of the telephone numbers listed in the list display process, receives through the operation section The fax program described in. The fax program
Prior to the list display process, the mobile terminal is caused to execute an inverse conversion process of replacing the second control symbol contained in the telephone number received in the second reception process with the corresponding first control symbol,
The fax program according to claim 5 , wherein in the conversion process, the first control symbol included in the target telephone number is replaced with the second control symbol. The fax program
According to the determination in the second determination processing that the additional symbol is included, a user operation indicating whether to add the additional symbol to the beginning of the target telephone number is received through the operation unit. 3 Make the portable terminal execute the reception process,
A user operation indicating that the addition in response to reception by said third receiving process, FAX program according to claim 1 to execute the conversion processing. The second prefix may include a designation that designates one of a plurality of carriers in the first country,
The fax program
The mobile terminal is caused to execute a fourth reception process for receiving, via the operation unit, a user operation specifying one of the plurality of second prefixes acquired in the acquisition process,
3. The fax program according to claim 2 , wherein in the conversion process, the first prefix included in the target telephone number is replaced with the second prefix designated in the fourth reception process. The first prefix symbol and the second prefix symbol include a partner country code indicating the second country in which the external device specified by the telephone number is installed,
The FAX device is connected to the Internet via a communication device.
The fax program
Allowing the portable terminal to execute a fourth determination process of determining a country in which the FAX apparatus is installed;
In the conversion process when it is determined in the fourth determination process that the FAX apparatus is installed in the first country, the first prefix symbol included in the target telephone number is replaced with the second prefix symbol. ,
In the fourth determination process, a global IP address assigned to the communication device is acquired, and a country to which the global IP address is assigned is determined.
In the conversion processing when it is determined in the fourth determination processing that the FAX apparatus is installed in the second country, the first prefix symbol included in the target telephone number is replaced with a third prefix symbol, 9. The fax program according to claim 2, wherein the third prefix is the prefix commonly used for transmission between devices installed in the second country. The portable terminal further includes a position output unit that outputs position information indicating the current position, and a proximity communication unit that transmits and receives a wireless signal based on a proximity wireless communication protocol ,
The FAX program determines, in the fourth determination process, a country indicated by the position information output from the position output unit, and in response to receiving the wireless signal from the FAX machine through the proximity communication unit. 10. The fax program according to claim 9 , wherein it is determined that the fax machine is installed in a country indicated by the position information . Operation unit,
A storage unit,
The telephone department,
Communication department,
A portable terminal having a control unit;
The storage unit stores a plurality of telephone numbers of a first format each specifying an external device;
The telephone unit transmits and receives an audio signal through the first telephone line to and from the external device specified by the first type telephone number.
The communication unit can be electrically connected to a fax machine,
The fax machine
It is possible to memorize additional symbols,
Content data is faxed to the external device specified by the telephone number of the second format different from the first format according to the FAX protocol through the second telephone line different from the first telephone line.
When sending a fax to the external device identified by the telephone number specified through the operation unit of the fax machine, the additional symbol is added to the beginning of the phone number,
The control unit
A first reception process for receiving, via the operation unit, a user operation specifying target data which is the content data to be transmitted by fax;
A second reception process of receiving, via the operation unit, a user operation specifying a target telephone number that is any one of the plurality of telephone numbers stored in the storage unit;
Second inquiry processing for transmitting second inquiry information for inquiring whether or not the additional symbol is stored to the FAX apparatus through the communication unit;
Third reception processing for receiving second answer information from the FAX machine through the communication unit;
A second determination process of determining whether the second response information includes the additional symbol;
The target telephone number is converted from the first format to the second format, and the additional symbol is added to the beginning of the target telephone number according to the determination in the second determination processing that the additional symbol is included. Conversion processing to be added to
Executing FAX instruction processing for transmitting FAX instruction information including the object data and the object telephone number of the second format to the FAX apparatus through the communication unit, and the FAX instruction information is specified by the object telephone number A portable terminal that is information for causing the external apparatus to fax transmit the target data. Operation unit,
A storage unit,
The telephone department,
Communication department,
A portable terminal having a control unit;
The storage unit may store a plurality of telephone numbers of a first format each specifying an external device, and may store the telephone number to which a first prefix of the first format is added at the beginning. Wherein the first prefix is a prefix indicating that the first country calls from a first country to a second country different from the first country,
The telephone unit transmits and receives an audio signal through the first telephone line to and from the external device specified by the first type telephone number.
The communication unit can be electrically connected to a fax machine,
The FAX apparatus transmits content data to the external device specified by the telephone number of the second format different from the first format, according to the FAX protocol, through the second telephone line different from the first telephone line. And
The control unit
A first reception process for receiving, via the operation unit, a user operation specifying target data which is the content data to be transmitted by fax;
A second reception process of receiving, via the operation unit, a user operation specifying a target telephone number that is any one of the plurality of telephone numbers stored in the storage unit;
A conversion process for converting the target telephone number from the first format to the second format;
FAX instruction processing for transmitting FAX instruction information including the target data and the target telephone number of the second format to the FAX apparatus through the communication unit;
A third determination process of determining whether the target telephone number includes the first prefix;
According to the determination in the third determination processing that the first prefix is included, the second prefix from the storage unit from the second format, or to the FAX machine or communication network through the communication unit The acquisition processing for acquiring from the connected server is executed, and the FAX instruction information is information for causing the external device specified by the target telephone number to transmit the target data by FAX, and the second prefix Is a prefix indicating that the first country calls the second country through the second telephone line,
The portable terminal which replaces the said 1st prefix contained in the said object telephone number with the said 2nd prefix acquired by the said acquisition process in the said conversion process.

Images