JPH11164122A - Control method for data communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To know whether or not a final destination terminal has actually received image information at a transmission-source facsimile equipment by having a data communication device generate a reception confirmation report as to a recipient user whose reception has been confirmed and send it to the transmission source. SOLUTION: An electronic mail is received by work station devices WS1 to WSn that recipient users use, and a user having confirmed the contents operate an operation button. Consequently, the work station devices WS1 to WSn send connection requests to a multifunctional peripheral device MFP and transmit reception confirmation information. The multifunctional peripheral device MFP sets the resending confirmation flag of recipient information of the main address notified with the reception confirmation information to be confirmed and generates a reception confirmation report on the reception confirmation by the user of the mail address, and sends image information of the reception confirmation report to the telephone number of send-back destination information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data according to a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network. The present invention relates to a control method for a data communication system having a data communication device that distributes received image information to a destination terminal notified from the local terminal via a local area network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data according to a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network are provided. A data communication system having a data communication device that distributes received image information to a destination terminal via a local area network has been put to practical use.

The use of such a data communication system is very convenient because image information can be transmitted from a facsimile machine connected to a public network to a destination terminal connected to a local area network.

[0004]

However, in such a data communication system, there is no means for the source facsimile apparatus to know whether or not the final destination terminal has actually received the image information, which is inconvenient in operation. there were.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a control method for a data communication system in which a source facsimile apparatus can know whether or not image information has actually been received at a final destination terminal. It is intended to provide.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data according to a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network, and has a function of transmitting data at the time of facsimile reception. To the destination terminal notified from the facsimile machine,
In a control method of a data communication system having a data communication device that distributes received image information via a local area network, the destination terminal notifies the data communication terminal device that the received image information is distributed when the received image information is distributed, The data communication terminal device, upon receiving the distribution notification of the received image information from the destination terminal, notifies the transmission source facsimile device that the distribution of the image information to the destination terminal has been completed. .

When a plurality of the destination terminals are specified, when the distribution notification of the received image information is received from all the destination terminals, it is notified that the distribution of the image information to the destination terminals is completed.
The transmission source facsimile apparatus is notified.

In the case where a plurality of destination terminals are specified, a distribution notification is received when a distribution notification of the received image information is received from all the destination terminals or when a predetermined time has elapsed from the reception time. The transmission of the image information to the destination terminal is notified to the transmission source facsimile apparatus. Further, the predetermined time can be designated by the transmission source facsimile machine.

Further, the notification that the delivery of the image information to the destination terminal to the transmission source facsimile apparatus has been completed is made by transmitting the image information of the notification report indicating the fact to the transmission source facsimile apparatus. It is good to

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a data communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a data communication system includes a local area network LAN and a public network PS.
Group 3 facsimile machine FX connected to TN
A plurality of workstation devices WS1 to WSn, a mail server device SM, and a multifunction peripheral device MFP are connected to the local area network LAN.

Multifunction peripheral device MFP is connected to public network PSTN, and performs image information transmission / reception operations with another group 3 facsimile device FX connected to public network PSTN.

Here, the mail server apparatus SM collects well-known e-mails for users using the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and for the multifunction peripheral apparatus MFP. It provides distribution services.

The workstation devices WS1 to WSW
Sn transmits and receives and displays e-mail, a function of transmitting data for confirming reception of image information to multifunction peripheral device MFP, and various functions provided by multifunction peripheral device MFP (scanner function, It has various functions such as a function using a printing function, a G3 FAX communication function, and the like, and is used by a specific user. Here, typically, the specific user may be one or more users.

The multi-function peripheral device MFP is connected to a public network PSTN via a local area network LAN, an electronic mail processing function for exchanging image information as electronic mail, and uses the public network PSTN as a transmission path. Transmission function for transmitting image information according to the group 3 facsimile transmission procedure, and an external device (in this case, the workstation device WS1
~ WSn), scanner function, printing function, G3FA
It has a function of providing an X communication function and the like.

FIG. 2 shows a group 3 facsimile machine FX.
Is shown.

In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each unit of the facsimile machine FX and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. Stores a control processing program to be executed, various data necessary for executing the processing program, and the like, and constitutes a work area of the system control unit 1. The facsimile apparatus F
The clock circuit 4 is for storing various information specific to X, and outputs current time information.

The scanner 5 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 7 is a facsimile machine FX. , And comprises various operation keys and various display devices.

The encoding / decoding section 8 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal.
This is for storing a large number of image information in a coded and compressed state.

The group 3 facsimile modem 10 implements a group 3 facsimile modem function, and exchanges transmission procedure signals (a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem)) and mainly exchanges image information. High-speed modem function (V.17 modem,
V. 34 modem, V.34. 29 modem, V.29. 27ter modem etc.).

The network control device 11 is for connecting the facsimile machine FX to the public network PSTN, and has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, image storage device 9, group 3 facsimile modem The network controller 10 and the network controller 11 are connected to an internal bus 12, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed through the internal bus 12.

Data exchange between the network controller 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is directly performed.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the multifunction peripheral device MFP.

In FIG. 1, a system control unit 21 performs various control processes such as a control process of each unit of the multifunction peripheral device MFP and a facsimile transmission control procedure process.
2 stores a control processing program executed by the system control unit 21 and various data necessary for executing the processing program.
The parameter memory 23 is for storing various information unique to the multifunction peripheral device MFP, and the clock circuit 24 is for outputting current time information. .

The scanner 25 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 26 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 27 is a multi-function peripheral. The device is used to operate the device MFP, and includes various operation keys and various display devices.

The encoding / decoding section 28 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal.
Is for storing a large number of image information in a coded and compressed state.

The group 3 facsimile modem 30 is for realizing a group 3 facsimile modem function. The group 3 facsimile modem 30 has a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals and mainly exchanges image information. High-speed modem function (V.17 modem,
V. 34 modem, V.34. 29 modem, V.29. 27ter modem etc.).

The network control device 31 is for connecting the multifunction peripheral device MFP to the public network PSTN, and has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The local area network interface circuit 32 is for connecting the multifunction peripheral device MFP to a local area network LAN.
The communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with other data terminal devices via the communication terminal.

The system control unit 21, system memory 22, parameter memory 23, clock circuit 24, scanner 25, plotter 26, operation display unit 27, encoding / decoding unit 28, image storage device 29, group 3 facsimile modem The network control device 30, the network control device 31, and the local area network transmission control unit 33 are connected to an internal bus 34, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed through the internal bus 34. I have.

Data exchange between the network controller 31 and the group 3 facsimile modem 30 is directly performed.

In this embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is based on TCP / IP.
This is performed by applying a combination (a so-called protocol suite) of a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called a transport layer and a communication protocol of a higher layer than that. For example, a multifunction peripheral device M
In the exchange of e-mail data used when the FP distributes received image information to a destination user, SMTP (Simple Mail Tr) is used as an upper layer communication protocol.
transfer protocol) is applied.

However, the electronic mail cannot directly include binary data such as image information data and image data, and the readable information (7-bit data) is applied by applying a predetermined conversion method (for example, Base64 encoding method). The character code is included in the electronic mail. The format of such an e-mail is MIME (Multipur
pose Internet Mail Extensions
ions (multipurpose mail); RFC (described later) 1521,
Refer to RFC 1522).

As a protocol applied by each terminal to the mail server device SM for confirming reception of an e-mail addressed to a user or requesting transmission, a so-called POP is used.
(Post Office Protocol) or the like can be applied.

Further, regarding communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP and POP, and data formats and data structures of electronic mails, IETF (In)
ternet Engineering Task F
orce), an RFC (Request) issued by an organization that summarizes technical content related to the Internet.
st For Comments) document. For example, TCP is RFC793, IP is RFC
793, SMTP is RFC821, E-mail format is RFC822, RFC1521, RFC1522,
POP is specified in RFC1725.

In this case, upon receiving the image information, the multifunction peripheral device MFP creates and stores the file management information as shown in FIG.

The file management information includes a file number for distinguishing each file, a communication date and time, a communication mode, transmission source information indicating information on a transmission source facsimile apparatus, and a reply destination for replying a reception confirmation notice (described later). Reply destination information indicating a telephone number, and destination information formed for each specified destination.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the destination information becomes a reply confirmation flag for storing the mail address of the destination user and whether or not the reception confirmation has been received from the destination user.

With the above configuration, the group 3 facsimile machine FX to the multifunction peripheral device MF
When transmitting image information to P, a transmission procedure as shown in FIG. 6 is applied. In the figure, the transmitting side is the group 3 facsimile machine FX, and the receiving side is the multifunction peripheral device MFP.

The transmitting side makes a call to the receiving side, and when the receiving side detects an incoming call, it sends out a predetermined called station identification signal CED and sends a non-standard function identification signal NSF for notifying the transmission function of its own terminal to the transmitting side. respond. In this case, the non-standard function identification signal NSF includes information indicating that the non-standard function identification signal NSF has a function of distributing image information to a user in the local area network LAN.

The transmitting side notifies the transmission function to be used at that time, and the non-standard function setting signal for notifying the mail address of the destination user and the return destination telephone number (usually the telephone number of the terminal itself) of the reception confirmation. Transmit the NSS, and then perform modem training on the sender and receiver to determine the modem speed to use.

Next, the transmitting side transmits the image information, and the receiving side receives and stores the image information. Thereafter, a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed on the transmission side and the reception side, the line is restored, and a series of image information communication operations ends.

In this way, when the distribution image information is received, the multi-function peripheral device MFP
The stored delivery image information is converted into text information of the e-mail, an e-mail for transmitting the text information to the designated mail address is created, and transmitted to the mail server device SM. At the same time, for the distribution image information, the above-described file management information is created and stored.

Here, the e-mail carrying the delivery image information is
In the “Subject” field of the header information, for example, “FAX Message. F. No. 012”
345 ", a display indicating that the content of the e-mail is facsimile image information and a display indicating the file number of the facsimile image information are included.

Thus, the application software for transmitting / receiving and displaying the e-mails at the workstations WS1 to WSn that have received the e-mails, the contents of the received e-mails are facsimile image information, and the file number You can know if there is.

The electronic mail is received by the workstations WS1 to WSn used by the destination user, and the workstations WS1 to WSn notify the destination user that the electronic mail has been received. Thereby, the destination user causes the contents of the e-mail to be displayed.

Here, on the display screen of the e-mail,
An operation button for operating the destination user to confirm that the content of the image information has been confirmed is provided, and the destination user who has confirmed the content of the image information operates the button.

Accordingly, the workstation device WS
1 to WSn send a connection request to the multi-function peripheral device MFP, receive confirmation that the reception has been confirmed, the mail address of the user whose reception has been confirmed, and the reception confirmation information including the file number of the image information whose reception has been confirmed, into the multi-function peripheral device MFP. Send to

Thus, the multifunction peripheral device MFP sets, in the file management information of the file number notified by the received reception confirmation information, the reply confirmation flag of the destination information of the notified mail address to “confirmed”. Then, a reception confirmation report for notifying that the user of the mail address has confirmed reception is created, and the image information of the reception confirmation report is stored.

Then, a call is made to the telephone number of the reply destination information stored in the file management information of the notified file number, and the image information of the stored reception confirmation report is transmitted.

In this way, multifunction peripheral device MFP creates a reception confirmation report for the destination user whose reception has been confirmed and transmits the report to the reply destination. Therefore, the user of group 3 facsimile machine FX on the transmission side, or The administrator of the facsimile communication can know that the image information has been reliably delivered to the destination user, and can realize a reliable facsimile communication.

FIG. 7 shows an example of processing executed by the multi-function peripheral device MFP when a call is made from the public network PSTN.

When an incoming call is detected (the result of decision 101 is YE
S), multifunction peripheral device MFP
Responds to an incoming call (process 102), executes a predetermined pre-transmission procedure, sets a transmission function and the like, and receives the mail address of the destination user of the distribution destination (process 103),
Next, a predetermined modem training procedure is executed to determine a modem speed to be used at that time (process 104).

Then, the image information is received and stored (process 1).
05), when the reception of the image information ends, a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (step 106), and the line is restored (step 10).
7).

Here, it is checked whether or not the transfer destination is notified from the transmission source facsimile machine (decision 10).
8) In the case where the transfer destination is notified from the transmission source facsimile apparatus and the result of determination 108 is YES, the stored delivery image information is converted into the e-mail body information and the body information is designated. An e-mail to be transmitted to the designated mail address is created (step 109), and the e-mail is transmitted to the mail server SM (step 11).
0). Then, the image information whose distribution has been completed is deleted (step 111). At the same time, with respect to the distribution image information, the above-described file management information is created and stored (processing 11).
2) End this operation.

In a case where the transfer destination is not notified from the transmission source facsimile apparatus, the result of decision 108 is N
When it becomes O, the received image information is
8 to obtain the original image data (process 113).
The image of the image data is recorded and output by the plotter 26 (process 114), the image information for which the recording and output has been completed is deleted (process 115), and this operation ends.

FIG. 8 shows the workstation devices WS1 to WS1.
An example of a process executed by the multifunction peripheral device MFP when a connection request is made from WSn is shown.

One of the workstation devices WS1
To WSn (when the result of determination 201 is Y
ES), a connection response is made (process 202), and a connection is established with the partner terminal (process 203).

Next, the reception confirmation from the partner terminal,
The reception confirmation information including the mail address of the user whose reception has been confirmed and the file number of the image information whose reception has been confirmed is received (step 204), and the contents of the reception confirmation information are analyzed (step 205).

Then, among the file management information of the file number notified by the reception confirmation information, the reply confirmation flag of the destination information of the notified mail address is set to “confirmed” and the file management information is updated (process 206). Then, a reply process for notifying that the user of the mail address has confirmed the reception is activated (process 207), and this process ends. Here, at the time of starting the reply process, the file number for performing the reply operation and the mail address of the destination user are specified.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the reply process.

First, the file management information of the file number specified at the time of startup is taken out, and a reply report for notifying that the image information distribution operation to the mail address of the destination user specified at the time of startup has been completed is created ( (Process 301) Creates and stores reply image information (facsimile image information) corresponding to the reply report (Process 30)
2).

Next, the return destination information is extracted from the extracted file management information, and a call is made to the return destination (process 3).
03), a predetermined pre-transmission procedure is executed to set a transmission function and the like (step 304), and a predetermined modem training procedure is executed to determine a modem speed to be used at that time (step 305).

Then, the stored reply image information is read and transmitted (step 306). When the reception of the reply image information is completed, a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (step 307), and the line is restored (step 308).

FIG. 10 shows an example of the processing of the workstations WS1 to WSn when an electronic mail is received.

When the e-mail is received (result of determination 401 is YES), the e-mail is received and stored (step 40).
2), the header information is analyzed (process 403). In the “Subject” field of this header information, for example, “FAX Message. F. No. 0123”
For example, in the case where the display indicating that the content of the e-mail is facsimile image information and the display indicating the file number of the facsimile image information are not included, such as "45", A normal e-mail receiving process is executed (process 405), and this process ends.

Further, the "Subject" field of the header information of the received e-mail includes a display indicating that the content of the e-mail is facsimile image information and a display indicating the file number of the facsimile image information. In this case, if the result of the determination 404 is YES, image information is created from the body information of the e-mail (process 40).
6) While displaying the contents of the image information, it is monitored whether the user operates the reception confirmation button or performs the display end operation (NO loop of processing 407, judgments 408, 409).

When the user operates the reception confirmation button and the result of determination 408 is YES, a connection request is made to multifunction peripheral device MFP (process 411), and the fact that reception has been confirmed and the user who has confirmed the reception have received a request. The reception confirmation information including the mail address and the file number of the image information whose reception has been confirmed is transmitted to the multi-function peripheral device MFP (step 41).
2) Return to processing 407.

When the user performs a display end operation and the result of determination 409 is YES, the display at that time is ended (process 413), and this operation is ended.

By the way, when a plurality of destination users are designated by the transmission source group 3 facsimile machine FX, the reception confirmation notification is not sent to the reply destination when the reception confirmation is obtained from each destination user. It is preferable that a notification of reception confirmation is sent to the reply destination when reception confirmation is obtained from all destination users.

That is, in this manner, the administrator of the transmission source group 3 facsimile machine FX can know that the image information distribution to the designated destination user has been completed with a single reception confirmation notification. , Convenient.

In that case, the workstation device WS
FIG. 11 shows an example of a process executed by the multifunction peripheral device MFP when a connection request is made from 1 to WSn.

One of the workstation devices WS1
To WSn (when the result of determination 501 is Y
ES), a connection response is made (process 502), and a connection is established with the partner terminal (process 503).

Next, the reception confirmation is received from the partner terminal,
The reception confirmation information including the mail address of the user whose reception has been confirmed and the file number of the image information whose reception has been confirmed is received (step 504), and the contents of the reception confirmation information are analyzed (step 505).

Then, among the file management information of the file number notified by the reception confirmation information, the reply confirmation flag of the destination information of the notified mail address is set to “confirmed”, and the file management information is updated (process 506). , And this process ends.

In this case, a reply process is started by the process shown in FIG. This processing is executed at appropriate time intervals.

First, one file management information is selected (process 601), and it is checked whether or not the reply confirmation flags of all the destination information are set to “confirmed” (decision 602).
When the reply confirmation flags of all the destination information are set to "confirmed" and the result of the judgment 602 is YES, the reply process is started (process 603), and the check has been completed for all the file management information. It is checked whether it is (judgment 604). When the result of the judgment 602 is NO, the process 603 is not executed and the reply process is not started.

If all file management information has not been checked and the result of determination 604 is NO, the process returns to step 601 to check another file management information.

If all files management information have been checked and the result of determination 604 is YES, this operation ends.

Here, the reply process started in this case is as follows.
Although the same information as that shown in FIG. 9 can be applied, in this case, it is preferable to create display information for notifying that reception has been confirmed for all pieces of destination information.

In this way, the administrator of the transmission source group 3 facsimile machine FX sends a one-time reception confirmation notification
This is convenient because it is possible to know that the image information distribution to all the designated destination users has been completed.

By the way, as in the above-described embodiment, if the reception confirmation report is transmitted to the reply destination after the reception confirmation information is received from all the destination users, for example, the reception confirmation of a certain user is delayed. In such a case, a situation occurs in which the transmission of the reception confirmation report is greatly delayed.

In order to avoid such a situation, a limit is imposed on the transmission standby time of the reception confirmation report. At that time, even if the reception confirmation information has not been received from all the destination users, the transmission confirmation time is not changed. It is preferable to create a reception confirmation report to notify the administrator of the transmission source group 3 facsimile machine FX.

In this case, the file management information includes FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a reply notification time limit item is provided, and the value of the reply notification time limit is a set value or a value designated by the group 3 facsimile machine FX on the transmitting side (of course, in this case, In the transmission procedure at the time, the transmission side notifies the multifunction peripheral device MFP of the reply notification time limit.).

Then, start processing of the reply processing as shown in FIG. 14 is executed. This process is executed at appropriate time intervals.

First, one file management information is selected (process 701), and it is checked whether or not the reply confirmation flags of all the destination information have been set to confirmed (decision 702), and the result of the decision 702 is NO. In some cases, it is checked whether the reply time limit obtained by adding the reply notification time limit to the communication date and time of the file management information has passed (decision 703).

When the reply confirmation flags of all the destination information are set to “confirmed”, the result of decision 702 is YES
Or when the reply time limit has elapsed and the result of determination 703 is YES, a reply process is started (process 704).

Next, it is checked whether or not the check has been completed for all the file management information (decision 705). If the check has not been completed for all the file management information, and if the result of the decision 705 is NO, the processing is performed. Returning to step 701, another file management information is checked.

On the other hand, if the reply confirmation flags of all the destination information have not been set to “confirmed” and the result of decision 702 is NO, and if the reply time limit has not passed, decision 703 is made. If the result is NO, the reply process is not started, and the process proceeds to the judgment 705.

Then, when all file management information has been checked, the result of decision 705 is YES
, This operation ends.

Here, the reply process started in this case is as follows.
Although the same information as that shown in FIG. 9 can be applied, in this case, it is preferable to create display information for notifying the contents of the reception confirmation flag for all destination information.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the transmission standby time of the reception confirmation report is limited, and at that time, even if the reception confirmation information has not been received from all the destination users, the transmission confirmation time is not changed. Since the reception confirmation report is created and notified to the administrator of the transmission source group 3 facsimile machine FX, for example, when the reception confirmation of a certain user is delayed, the transmission of the reception confirmation report is significantly increased. The situation of being late can be avoided.

In each of the above embodiments, the public network PS
The multifunction peripheral device MFP connected to the TN and having the group 3 facsimile communication function has been described. However, the present invention is similarly applied to the multifunction peripheral device MFP connected to the ISDN and having the group 4/3 facsimile communication function. Can be applied.

Further, from the multifunction peripheral device MFP to the workstation devices WS1 to WSn
The image information can be distributed to other means other than the e-mail.

[0097]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The data communication device, for the destination user whose reception has been confirmed,
Since the reception confirmation report is created and transmitted to the reply destination, the user of the facsimile machine on the transmission side or the administrator of the facsimile communication can know that the image information has been reliably delivered to the destination user. Thus, there is an effect that reliable facsimile communication can be realized.

Further, when the reception confirmation is obtained from all the destination users, the reception confirmation notification is sent to the reply destination. Therefore, the administrator of the transmission source facsimile apparatus has designated the reception confirmation notification once. It is possible to know that the distribution of the image information to all the destination users has been completed, and it is possible to obtain the effect of convenience.

Further, in this embodiment, the transmission standby time of the reception acknowledgment report is limited, and at that time, even if the reception acknowledgment information has not been received from all the destination users, the reception acknowledgment report in the middle of that time has been received. To notify the administrator of the sending facsimile machine, for example, if the reception confirmation of a certain user is delayed, the transmission of the reception confirmation report may be significantly delayed. There is also obtained an advantage that it can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a data communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a group 3 facsimile machine FX.

FIG. 3 is a multifunction peripheral device MFP.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of file management information.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of destination information.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing an example of a transmission procedure at the time of image information communication.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the multifunction peripheral device MFP when a call is made from the public network PSTN.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the multi-function peripheral device MFP when a connection request is made from the workstation devices WS1 to WSn.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a reply process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the workstation devices WS1 to WSn when an electronic mail is received.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating another example of processing executed by the multi-function peripheral device MFP when a connection request is issued from the workstation devices WS1 to WSn.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a startup process of a reply process.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing another example of file management information.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the start-up process of the reply process.

Claims (5)

[Claims] A destination terminal provided with a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public network, and which is notified from a transmission source facsimile apparatus at the time of facsimile reception. In a control method for a data communication system having a data communication device that distributes received image information via a local area network, the destination terminal notifies the data communication terminal device that the received image information is distributed when the received image information is distributed. The data communication terminal device, upon receiving the distribution notification of the received image information from the destination terminal, notifies the transmission source facsimile device that the distribution of the image information to the destination terminal has been completed. Control method of a data communication system to perform. 2. When a plurality of destination terminals are specified, when distribution notification of received image information is received from all destination terminals, it is notified that the distribution of image information to the destination terminals is completed. 2. The control method for a data communication system according to claim 1, wherein a notification is sent to a facsimile machine. 3. When a plurality of destination terminals are specified, a distribution notification is received when distribution notification of received image information is received from all the destination terminals or when a predetermined time has elapsed from the reception time. 2. The control method for a data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission of the image information to the destination terminal is notified to the transmission source facsimile apparatus. 4. The control method for a data communication system according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined time is designated by said transmission source facsimile machine. 5. A notification to the effect that the delivery of the image information to the destination terminal to the destination facsimile apparatus has been completed by transmitting the image information of the notification report indicating the fact to the source facsimile apparatus. The control method for a data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the control method comprises: