JPH09107432A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the facsimile equipment easily using communication management information. SOLUTION: In the case of making facsimile communication by a facsimile equipment 201 connecting to a LAN, the communication management information is set to a preset terminal equipment among server/user terminal equipments 202 to 205, 207 on the LAN. The terminal equipment receiving the information or the communication management information itself is designated by the user as desired information. Furthermore, a condition as a tact of transmission of the communication management information is communication by a prescribed number of times of communication or a time reaching a prescribed time. The conditions are set by the user as desired conditions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a facsimile machine,
In particular, it relates to a facsimile machine having a LAN interface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile machine having a LAN interface, communication result, communication time, communication time, number of communication, destination number, destination abbreviation, billing information,
Also, the communication management information such as the number of communications is managed by a fixed server on the LAN or the facsimile machine itself.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, for example, a user who wants to manage only the communication result increases extra information and wastes a memory or a storage device such as a fixed disk. Will be lost. In addition, for example, the facsimile apparatus has a LAN interface that is inconvenient for a user who wants to manage accounting information by an accounting server and manage other information by another server.

Thus, when specific information is extracted from the communication management information and handled, or when the communication management information is desired to be used by another terminal connected to the LAN, the desired information is sent to the desired terminal. I couldn't give it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of giving desired communication management information to a desired terminal and flexibly responding to a user's request. .

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the facsimile apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a facsimile device that performs facsimile communication to generate communication management information thereof, and a connection unit for connecting to a local area network, and a predetermined device connected on the local area network when predetermined conditions are satisfied. A notification means for notifying the terminal of the communication management information.

More preferably, it further comprises terminal setting means for setting the terminal for notifying the communication management information by the notifying means from the terminals on the local area network.

More preferably, it further comprises an information designating means for designating the information to be notified from the communication management information.

More preferably, it further comprises terminal setting means for specifying information to be notified from the communication management information for each terminal set by the terminal setting means.

More preferably, the notifying means notifies all of the communication management information to the terminal on the local area network.

More preferably, it further comprises counting means for counting the number of times of communication performed by facsimile communication, and the condition is that the number of times of communication counted by the counting means reaches a predetermined value.

More preferably, it further comprises means for setting a predetermined value of the number of times of communication.

More preferably, it further comprises a time measuring means for measuring the time, and the condition is that the time measured by the time measuring means reaches a predetermined time.

More preferably, it further comprises means for setting the predetermined time.

More preferably, the condition further comprises means for selecting whether the number of times of communication reaches a predetermined number or a predetermined time.

More preferably, it further comprises storage means for storing the condition, data of the condition is received via the local area network, and the received data is stored in the storage means.

More preferably, the storage means stores, as a condition, a destination terminal to which the notification means notifies, and a type of communication management information to be notified.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a CPU 101 is a system control unit and controls the entire apparatus. ROM102 is
It stores a control program for the CPU. RAM
Reference numeral 103 denotes an SRAM or the like for storing program control variables and the like. The set values registered by the operator, management data of the apparatus, and various work buffers are also stored in the RAM 103. The storage memory 104 is composed of a DRAM or the like and stores image data. The resolution conversion processing unit 105 performs resolution conversion control such as millimeter-inch conversion of raster data.

The communication coding / decoding processing unit 106 performs coding for communication when the coding system at the time of reading and recording and the coding system at the time of communication are different. Read /
The recording encoding / decoding processing unit 107 performs encoding / decoding processing of image data at the time of reading and recording. MODE
M108 modulates and demodulates a transmission / reception signal of a facsimile, and the NCU 109 transmits a selection signal (dial pulse or tone dialer) to the wired communication line 120 via the wired line i / f117 or to the wireless line i / f1.
It has a function of sending to the wireless communication line 121 via 18, and also performs an automatic incoming call operation by detecting a ringing tone. The wired / wireless line control unit 119 controls the wired line i / f 117 and the wireless line i / f 118.

The scanner 111 is a CS image sensor,
It is composed of a document transport mechanism or the like, which reads a document optically and converts it into electrical image data. The image processing unit 110 performs correction processing on the read image data and outputs high-definition image data.

The operation unit 112 is composed of a keyboard or the like, and is used by the operator to perform various input operations. The external display unit 113 is used to notify the user of the display by using an LCD, an LED, or the like. The printer formatter 114 analyzes the printer description language and converts it into image data when printing file data from a workstation or the like. Printer 115
Is an apparatus for recording a received image and file data on a recording sheet. Wired LAN i / f122 is wired LAN125
The wireless LAN i / f123 is an interface for connecting a facsimile device to the wireless LAN 126, and includes a wired LAN i / f122 and a wireless LAN i / f12.
3 is controlled by the wired / wireless LAN control unit 124. The LAN control unit 116 is a wired LAN or a wireless L.
It processes data in order to exchange data with a server or terminal on the AN.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a connection form of the facsimile apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 201 denotes the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 1, which is a facsimile machine which can be directly connected to a wired or wireless LAN.

Reference numeral 202 denotes a LAN server machine to which the facsimile apparatus 201 is connected.
Manages files on AN.

Reference numerals 203 and 204 denote client machines (information processing terminals) connected to the wired LAN.

Reference numeral 205 denotes a printer server which controls a print request from a client machine and outputs the print request to a printer. Reference numeral 206 denotes a printer which outputs print image data.

Reference numeral 207 is a client machine connected to the wireless LAN.

Reference numeral 208 is a facsimile which communicates with the facsimile apparatus 201 through a telephone line.

A wireless base station 209 performs facsimile communication with the facsimile apparatus 201 through a wireless line.

Reference numeral 210 is a line network, and 211 is a line network 21 including the facsimiles 201 and 208 and the radio base station 209.
0 is a telephone line connected to.

Reference numeral 212 denotes a facsimile machine 201 having a wireless LAN interface and a client machine 20.
7 is a wireless LAN.

A wireless line 213 connects the facsimile apparatus 201 and the wireless base station 209 via a wireless line interface.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an example of processing for notifying the LAN server and LAN user of all communication management information for each predetermined number of times of communication in the communication system configured as described above. explain. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure by which the facsimile apparatus 201 notifies the communication management information, which is realized by the CPU 101 executing the program stored in the ROM 102.

In step S301, when a communication request is issued to the facsimile device in the communication standby state (step S302), the facsimile device 201 performs communication (steps S303 and S304). As a cause of the communication request at this time, L via the LAN control unit 116
An instruction from a terminal (LAN server, LAN user, etc.) on the AN, an instruction by an operation from the operation unit 112,
And incoming calls from the NCU 109.

When the communication is completed in step S304, communication result, communication time, communication time, number of communication, communication destination number, communication destination abbreviation, billing information, and communication management information such as communication number are stored and stored in the RAM 103 ( Step S
305).

The number of communications counter for calculating the number of communications provided in the RAM 103 is incremented by 1 (step S306),
The number of times of communication for notifying the communication management information, which is registered in advance, is compared (step S307).

As a result of the comparison in step S307, if the communication number counter does not reach the number of times of communication for notifying the communication management information, the communication standby state is entered (step S312).

As a result of the comparison in step S307, when the communication number counter reaches the number of times of communication for notifying the communication management information, a decision is made prior to communication in order to notify the LAN server or LAN user of the communication management information. The notification destination LAN server or LAN user is selected (step S308), and the notification destination LAN server or LAN user is inquired via the LAN control unit 116 as to whether communication management information can be transferred (step S309).
The address of the LAN server or the LAN user of the communication destination is registered in the RAM 103 in advance by an operator or the like.

If the transfer of the communication management information is denied in step S309, the process waits until the notification destination LAN server or LAN user can transfer the communication management information (step S313).

If the communication management information can be transferred in step S309, all the communication management information stored in the RAM 103 is read and the transfer destination LAN is read.
Transfer of communication management information to servers and LAN users by LA
This is performed via the N control unit 116 (step S310).

When the transfer of the communication management information in step S310 is completed, the communication number counter is set to 0,
In step S305, the communication management information stored in the RAM 103 is deleted (step S311), and the communication standby state is entered (step S312).

Although the communication management information is sent to the desired terminal in this manner, the designation of the destination terminal may be fixedly set in advance, but the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is used. But you can do it.

The procedure of FIG. 5 is started when a button operation for setting the notification destination is performed from the operation unit 112.

First, the address on the LAN of the notified terminal is input (step S501). Then, the type of information to be transmitted to the input address is input corresponding to the input address (step S502). This type is
For example, all communication management information is code 0, the communication result is code 1, and so on. In the example of FIG. 3, “all data” is designated as the data to be sent for the specific notification destination.

In this way, data for one address is set and repeated as many times as necessary (step S503).

Further, the predetermined number of times of communication used in step S307 may be input after this (step S50).
4).

When all the settings have been completed in this way, the data set last is stored in the area for storing the notification destination in the RAM 103 (step S505). In step S308 of FIG. 3, the notification destination thus set is selected.

By the above-mentioned procedure, the communication management information can be sent to a desired terminal which is set in advance, and a convenient facsimile communication system can be realized.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 of a facsimile apparatus for selecting and notifying an item of communication management information to a LAN server and a LAN user for each predetermined number of times of communication. And explain.

Processing from step S301 to step S309, and step S311 to step S31
Since the processes up to 3 are the same as the processes described in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here.

Selection of communication management information in step S310 /
In the transfer, only the communication management information designated in advance is read from the communication management information stored in the RAM 103, and the communication management information is transferred via the LAN control unit 116. The communication management information designated in advance may be fixedly set, or may be designated in the procedure of FIG.

[Third Embodiment] A facsimile apparatus for notifying all communication management information to a LAN server and a LAN user at a certain specified time will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. .

The structure of the apparatus itself is the same as that shown in FIGS. However, the control procedure during communication is as shown in FIG.

In step S401, when a communication request is made to the facsimile machine in the communication standby state (step S402), the facsimile machine communicates (steps S403 and S404). The cause of the communication request at this time is that the LAN via the LAN control unit 116
In the case of an instruction from the above terminal (LAN server, LAN user, etc.), an instruction by an operation from the operation unit 112, an incoming call from the NCU 109, and the like are included.

When the communication is completed in step S404, communication result, communication time, communication time, number of communication, communication destination number, communication destination abbreviation, billing information, and communication management information such as communication number are stored and stored in the RAM 103 ( Step S
405).

The communication management information notification time set in the RAM 103 is referred to from a terminal (LAN server, LAN user, etc.) on the LAN via the LAN control unit 116 or by an operation from the operation unit 112 (step S4).
06), and compares it with the internal clock provided inside the facsimile apparatus (step S407).

The comparison result in S407 is the RAM 10
If the communication management information notification time set to 3 does not match the internal clock, the communication standby state is entered (step S4).
12).

The comparison result in step S407 is R
When the communication management information notification time set to the AM 103 and the internal clock match, in order to notify the LAN server or LAN user of the communication management information, the notification destination LAN server or LAN user that has been decided prior to communication is selected ( Step S408), notification destination LAN server or LA
The N user is inquired of whether or not the communication management information can be transferred via the LAN control unit 116 (step S409).

If the transfer of the communication management information is denied in step S409, the process waits until the LAN server or the LAN user of the notification destination can transfer the communication management information (step S413).

If the communication management information can be transferred in step S409, all the communication management information stored in the RAM 103 is read and the communication control information is transferred to the LAN server and the LAN user. (Step S410).

When the transfer of the communication management information in step S410 is completed, the communication number counter is set to 0,
In step S405, the communication management information stored in the RAM 103 is deleted (step S411), and the communication standby state is entered (step S412).

In the above procedure, the preset communication management information notification time referenced in step S407 is the first
5 is performed in the same procedure as the predetermined communication number in the embodiment of FIG.
Can be set in step S505.
Also, the setting of the notification destination can be performed by the procedure of FIG.

By setting the notification destination and the notification time of the communication management information as described above, the communication management information can be sent to the desired terminal at the desired time.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 of a facsimile apparatus for selecting and notifying an item of communication management information to a LAN server and a LAN user at a certain specified time. explain.

Processing from step S401 to step S409, and step S411 to step S41
Since the processes up to 3 are the same as the processes described in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here.

In the communication management information transfer in step S410, of the communication management information stored in the RAM 103, only the communication management information designated in advance is read and the communication result information is transferred via the LAN control unit 116. To do.

For this purpose, the information to be notified may be selected and set in step S502 in the procedure of FIG. By doing so, desired communication management information can be sent to a desired notification destination at a desired time. [Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 6 shows a control procedure at the time of communication of a facsimile apparatus in which the first or third embodiment is combined with the third or fourth embodiment. In FIG. 6, either the number of times of communication or the time can be set as a condition for notifying the terminal of the communication management information.

In FIG. 6, steps S601 to S61.
3 performs the same processing as steps S301 to S313 in FIG.

After the communication management information is stored in step S605, it is determined whether the time is a condition or the number of times of communication is a condition. This criterion is, for example, 2 when the terminal, the information type, the number of times of communication and the time are set in the procedure of FIG.
It may be specified by a value flag, stored, and used in step S605. As an example, if "0", the time is a condition, and if "1", the number of times of communication is a condition. Of course, the notification may be triggered when the logical sum of the two conditions is satisfied.

By thus designating the conditions to be notified as desired by the user, a more flexible and easy-to-use facsimile system can be constructed.

The procedure shown in FIG. 5 can be performed from the main body of the facsimile device, but can also be set from a terminal on the LAN and sent to the facsimile device via the LAN for setting.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices such as a host computer, an interface and a printer, or to an apparatus composed of a single device such as a copying machine. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is implemented by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium to the system or device, the system or device operates in a predetermined manner.

[0074]

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, desired information among various communication management information in the facsimile apparatus can be notified to a desired terminal on the LAN. Further, the notification can be performed when the number of times of communication or the time set separately is reached. Therefore, improvement of the management function using the communication management information can be expected.

[0075]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection form of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of facsimile communication according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of facsimile communication according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a communication management information notification destination setting process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a communication control procedure in the fifth embodiment.

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Kazutaka Matsueda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Koichi Matsumoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Ken Saruwatani Canon Inc. 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile device for performing facsimile communication to generate communication management information thereof, wherein the connecting device is connected to a local area network, and is connected to the local area network when predetermined conditions are satisfied. And a notification unit for notifying the predetermined terminal of the communication management information. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising terminal setting means for setting a terminal for notifying communication management information by the notifying means from terminals on the local area network. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an information designating unit that designates information to be notified from among the communication management information. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a terminal setting unit that specifies information to be notified from the communication management information for each terminal set by the terminal setting unit. . 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies all of the communication management information to a terminal on the local area network. 6. The counting means for counting the number of times of communication performed by facsimile communication is further provided, and the condition is that the number of times of communication counted by the counting means reaches a predetermined value. 5. The facsimile machine according to any one of 5 above. 7. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for setting a predetermined value of the number of times of communication. 8. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising time measuring means for measuring time, wherein the condition is that the time measured by the time measuring means reaches a predetermined time. . 9. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for setting the predetermined time. 10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising means for selecting whether the number of times of communication reaches a predetermined number of times or a predetermined time of day as the condition. Facsimile machine. 11. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the condition, wherein the data of the condition is received via the local area network, and the received data is stored in the storage means. The described facsimile machine. 12. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the storage unit stores, as a condition, a destination terminal notified by the notification unit and a type of communication management information to be notified.