JPH11215292A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow facsimile equipment, that sends a facsimile document through a public line network or the Internet, to automatically select a route through the public line network when a mail server at a 1st relay point via the Internet is not in operation. SOLUTION: A one-touch key, to which both a telephone number and a mail address are registered, is used to select a destination. In the case that the facsimile equipment is going to send a document to the mail address, the PING is used to confirm whether or not a mail server is in operation (S310). If the mail server is in operation (S310: YES), the mail server reads an original, read data are compressed in the G3 format and the format is converted into that of an electronic mail and header information being added to the data, the resulting data are sent to the Internet (S320-S390). On the other hand, in the case that the operation of the mail server cannot be confirmed by the PING (S310: NO), a telephone number registered for the selected destination is set to a transmission destination (S400), and the facsimile document is sent via the public line network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of performing facsimile communication from both a public line network and the Internet (in the following detailed description and drawings, "facsimile" will be referred to as "facsimile"). Abbreviated as "fax" or "FAX".)

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent spread of the Internet, several proposals have been made for an Internet facsimile apparatus capable of performing facsimile communication via the Internet (for example, JP-A-8-242326, JP-A-9-149189). No.).

[0003] Among them, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-149189.
According to the Internet fax apparatus described in the official gazette, when a telephone number is specified as a destination, fax transmission is performed via a public network, and when an e-mail address is specified as a destination, fax transmission is performed via the Internet. It is possible to execute.

[0004]

However, when sending a fax via the Internet,
If the mail server serving as the first relay point is not operating, there is a problem that a fax cannot be transmitted to the other party.

Therefore, according to the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus capable of performing facsimile transmission from both the public line network and the Internet, a case where a mail server serving as a first relay point for performing a facsimile transmission via the Internet is not operating. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which can switch to fax transmission via a public line network.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus for performing a facsimile transmission via a public line network and a facsimile transmission via the Internet. Internet fax transmission means, and when an electronic mail address is specified as a destination, and when the Internet fax transmission means intends to execute fax transmission, it is determined whether or not a mail server which can be a first relay point of the fax transmission is operating. A mail server operation check unit for checking in advance, and an Internet for executing fax transmission by the Internet fax transmission unit when the mail server operation check unit confirms that the mail server that can be the first relay point is operating. fuck When the execution means and the mail server confirmation means confirm that the mail server which can be the first relay point is not operating, whether or not the designated destination is a destination capable of receiving a fax via a public network. Determining means for determining whether or not the destination is a facsimile-receivable destination via the public line network, and switching to the public line facsimile transmitting means for the destination via the public line network And transmission path switching means for performing facsimile transmission.

[0007] According to the facsimile apparatus of the first aspect,
When performing fax transmission via the Internet, before performing fax transmission, the mail server operation check unit checks whether a mail server that can be the first relay point is operating. Then, when it is confirmed that the mail server is operating, the Internet fax executing means operates to execute the fax transmission by the Internet fax transmitting means. However, if the mail server operation confirmation means confirms that the mail server that is to be the first relay point is not in operation, the destination that attempted to send a fax via the Internet is a destination that can receive faxes via the public line network. The determination means determines whether or not the destination is a facsimile receivable destination via the public line network, and activates the transmission path switching means to switch to the public line facsimile transmission means to perform fax transmission. As a result, even when the mail server that is to be the first relay point for fax transmission via the Internet is not operating, fax transmission via the public network is automatically executed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus for performing a facsimile transmission via a public line network, and an Internet facsimile transmission for performing a facsimile transmission via the Internet. Means and a telephone number for performing a fax transmission to the destination via a public line network in addition to the electronic mail address of the destination when the fax transmission is to be executed by the Internet fax transmission means. A destination designating unit, and whether or not a mail server that can be a first relay point for the fax transmission is operating when attempting to perform a fax transmission by the Internet fax transmission unit to the e-mail address designated by the destination designation unit. To confirm in advance Internet server fax execution means for executing fax transmission by the Internet fax transmission means when the mail server operation confirmation means confirms that the mail server which can be the first relay point is operating. And when the mail server confirming means confirms that the mail server that can be the first relay point is not operating, the telephone number specified by the destination specifying means as a destination, and the public line fax transmitting means Transmission path switching means for switching and performing fax transmission to the telephone number via the public line network.

According to the second aspect of the fax machine,
When specifying a destination by the destination specifying means when transmitting a fax via the Internet, a telephone number for performing a fax transmission via the public line network via the public line network can be specified in addition to the e-mail address. . As a result, when the mail server operation confirming means confirms that the mail server which is to be the first relay point when performing a fax transmission via the Internet is not operating, the transmission path switching means causes the destination designating means to transmit the fax data. The designated telephone number is set as the destination, and the fax is transmitted to the telephone number via the public line network by switching to the public line fax transmission means. In this way, the apparatus according to claim 2 simply designates a telephone number in addition to an e-mail address at the time of designation of a destination, and automatically switches over to the public line network when the mail server is not operating, and performs fax transmission. Can be sent.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus for performing a facsimile transmission via a public line network, and an internet facsimile transmission for performing a facsimile transmission via the Internet. Means, destination information registering means capable of registering both a telephone number and an e-mail address for the same destination as the destination information, and an e-mail address from the destinations registered in the destination information registering means. A mail server operation confirmation unit for confirming in advance whether a mail server which can be a first relay point of the fax transmission is operating when a destination is selected to execute the fax transmission by the Internet fax transmission unit; The first relay point by the mail server operation confirmation means When it is confirmed that the possible mail server is operating, the Internet fax executing means for executing the fax transmission by the Internet fax transmitting means, and the mail server which can be the first relay point by the mail server confirming means, When it is confirmed that the telephone is not operating, if the telephone number is also registered in the destination information registering means for the destination to be transmitted by the Internet fax transmitting means, the telephone is switched to the public line fax transmitting means and the telephone Transmission path switching means for performing facsimile transmission on the number via the public line network.

According to the third aspect of the fax machine,
The destination registering means can register both a telephone number and an e-mail address for the same destination as destination information. Therefore, when a destination having an e-mail address is selected from the destinations registered in the destination registration unit and an attempt is made to execute the fax transmission by the Internet fax transmission unit, the mail server operation confirmation unit executes the fax transmission. When it is confirmed that the mail server which can be one relay point is operating, the Internet fax executing means executes the fax transmission via the Internet. On the other hand, even if it is confirmed by the mail server operation confirmation means that the mail server that can be the first relay point when transmitting a fax via the Internet is not operating, the destination information registration is performed for the destination from which the fax is to be transmitted. When the telephone number is also registered in the means, the transmission path switching means operates to switch to the public line facsimile transmission means and execute the facsimile transmission to the telephone number via the public line network. By registering not only the e-mail address but also the telephone number for the same destination in the destination information registration means, even when the mail server to be the first relay point is not in operation, The fax can be sent first.

The fax machine according to claim 1, further comprising destination information registering means capable of registering both a telephone number and an e-mail address for the same destination as the destination information, Using the specified e-mail address as a search key, the destination information registration unit searches for a corresponding destination to determine whether or not there is a corresponding destination. It may be configured as means for determining that the destination specified by the e-mail address is a destination capable of receiving a fax via a public line network.

According to the facsimile apparatus having such a configuration, even if only an e-mail address is specified as a destination at the time of fax transmission, if the destination cannot be fax-transmitted via the Internet to the destination. It is possible to determine that a fax can be transmitted via a public line network based on whether or not a destination in which both a telephone number and an e-mail address are registered from the destination information registration means is specified.

Further, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, when the mail server confirming means confirms that the mail server which is to be the first relay point is not in operation, the telephone number is determined by the mail server confirming means. Is input, and when a telephone number is input in accordance with the instruction, it can be configured as means for determining that there is a destination that can receive a fax via the public line network.

According to the facsimile apparatus having such a configuration, when a facsimile cannot be transmitted via the Internet because the mail server is not operating, an instruction to input a telephone number is issued to the same destination via the public line network. You can switch to fax transmission.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the mail server operation confirming means includes a first relay of the fax transmission by the Internet fax transmitting means. When there are a plurality of mail servers that can be a point, when all of the plurality of mail servers are not operating, it is configured to confirm that the mail server that can be the first relay point is not operating. Good to put. This is because, for example, when contracts are made with several providers, fax transmission via the Internet can be performed if a mail server is operating in any of the providers.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the mail server confirmation operating means includes a ping (pin)
g) may be used as means for confirming the operation state of the mail server. Ping is well known as a tool for checking the connection status of the Internet, and is suitable for checking the operation status of a mail server.

[0018]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of a fax transmission / reception system assumed in the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, an Internet facsimile apparatus 1 on the transmitting side according to the present embodiment includes an in-house personal computer (PC) 3, a printer 4, a mail server 5, and a network router via a local area network (LAN) 2. 6 is connected.
In the present embodiment, the same Internet fax device 11 and G3 fax device 21 are assumed as the receiving side. The Internet fax device 11 on the receiving side, like the Internet fax device 1 on the transmitting side, connects the PC 1 in the company via the LAN 12.
3. It is connected to the printer 14, the mail server 15, and the network router 16, and is configured to be capable of transmitting and receiving faxes via the public line network 32. The Internet facsimile apparatus 1 and the Internet facsimile apparatus 11 are configured to be capable of transmitting and receiving a facsimile via the Internet 31 via network routers 6 and 16 connected to the respective LANs 2 and 12. Further, the G3 fax device 21 assumed as a receiving side is connected to the Internet fax device 1 by a public line network 32. The receiving-side Internet fax device 11 has basically the same configuration as the transmitting-side Internet fax device 1.

Next, the configuration of the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The Internet fax machine 1 includes a CPU 41, a ROM 43, a RAM 45, a scanner 4
7, encoder 49, printer 51, decoder 53, operation panel 55, LCD 57, modem 59, line controller 61, P
A C interface 63, a mail control unit 65, and a LAN control unit 67 are provided. Then, while being connected to the public line network 32 via the modem 59 and the line control unit 61,
It is connected to LAN2 via LAN control section 67.

The CPU 41 controls the control of the apparatus 1 and executes various control processes such as facsimile transmission / reception, destination registration, title registration and the like according to a control program stored in the ROM 43. The ROM 43 has a CPU 4
The control processing program executed by the control unit 1 and necessary data are stored in advance. As shown in FIG. 3A, the RAM 45 stores the work memory 4 in the fax transmission / reception control.
5a and the transmission / reception data storage unit 45b, as well as the destination information storage unit 45c. The scanner 47 is for reading an original when transmitting a fax. The encoder 49 performs an encoding process to convert the image data read by the scanner 47 into image data in a fax format, for example, G3 compression format. Also, the decoder 53
Conversely decodes image data in the fax format. The printer 51 prints out image data decoded by the decoder 53 on recording paper. The operation panel 55 is used to input operations for various processes such as registration of a destination and selection of a destination. The LCD 57 is provided for displaying various messages such as operation procedures and error messages. In addition, the LCD 57 can display a one-touch key and can function as a touch panel when designating a destination or registering destination information.

The modem 59 transmits and receives a fax to and from the public line network 32 via the line control unit 61. The line control unit 61 performs operations such as sending a dial signal to the public line network 32 and responding to a call signal from the public line network 32. The PC interface 63 is used when connecting and using the PC and the apparatus 1.

The mail control unit 65 transmits a fax as an electronic mail via the Internet.
An e-mail format image capable of transmitting fax-format image data as e-mail by converting the binary image data encoded by the encoder 49 into text-encoded image data and adding header information such as a destination mail address. It performs format conversion to data, or reversely converts e-mail format image data received via the Internet to fax format image data. The data which has been reverse-format-converted into fax format image data by the mail control unit 65 is decoded into image data which can be output by the printer 51 by the decoder 53 and then printed out on recording paper. The LAN control unit 67
2 for controlling input and output when performing facsimile transmission / reception using image data in an e-mail format with the MFP 2.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, the destination information storage section 45c of the RAM 45 stores both a telephone number and a mail address for one destination. It is configured so that destination information can be registered. Therefore, when the destination can receive a fax from both the public line network 32 and the Internet 31, both the telephone number and the mail address can be registered together with one address.

Next, a description will be given of the contents of the main processing for executing facsimile transmission and reception in the Internet facsimile apparatus 1.

First, the registration processing of the destination information will be described. This process is executed when the destination information registration process is instructed using the operation panel 55. The outline is as shown in the flowchart of FIG. When this process is started, the one-touch keys of the addresses 1 to n are
It is displayed on D57 (S10). At this time, the LCD 57
Can be selected by scrolling up and down with a scroll key or the like on the operation panel 55.

The user selects one of the one-touch keys displayed on the LCD 57 by pressing a key for which destination information is to be registered (S20). Then, in a column corresponding to the address 1 to address n in FIG. 3B, a name or a name for specifying the other party such as a person name or a company name is input (S30). Subsequently, the telephone number and the e-mail address of the fax machine relating to the name or the destination of the name are sequentially inputted (S40 to S40).
S70).

At this time, if the destination can receive a fax via the public line network (S40: YES), the telephone number is entered (S50). If the fax cannot be received via the public line network (S40: NO). ), The process of S50 is passed, and the process proceeds to S60. If the destination has an e-mail address (S60: YES), the e-mail address is entered (S70). If the destination does not have an e-mail address (S60: NO), S70 is passed. It is needless to say that either the telephone number only, the e-mail address alone, or both the telephone number and the e-mail address must be input by the processing of S40 to S70.

When the input of the necessary information as the destination information is completed, the input contents are displayed on the LCD 57 (S80), and an inquiry is made as to whether or not the contents can be registered (S90). If "YES", the name or the like input for the one-touch key selected in S20 is registered (S100). On the other hand, in the case of "NO", the process returns to S30 and the input of the name and the like is performed again.

Next, the contents of the fax transmission processing will be described. This process is configured by the procedures shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 7, and is started when a fax transmission instruction is input from the operation panel 55.

First, a message is displayed on the LCD 57 inquiring whether the destination is specified by direct input or one-touch key (S210). Here, when the designation using the one-touch key is selected, a list of addresses is displayed as a one-touch key for destination designation according to the registered contents of the destination information storage unit 45c (S220), and the user waits for a selection (S230). The user specifies a destination by pressing any one-touch key from the list of addresses. At this time, if a list of all addresses is not displayed on the LCD 57, the user operates the operation panel 55 so that a desired address is displayed by operating a scroll key or the like.

When the destination is designated by the one-touch key in this manner, the registered contents of the destination are displayed on the LCD 57.
(S240). At this time, if both the phone number and the e-mail address are registered destinations,
The display on the LCD 57 is performed in the order of the telephone number and the e-mail address. If both are registered (S2
50: YES), an inquiry is made as to whether to select a telephone number or an e-mail address (S260).

First, the processing when a telephone number is selected will be described. In this case, a document set is instructed (S
270). Then, the original is read by the scanner 47 (S280), and the image data read from the original is encoded into image data in the G3 compression format by the encoder 49 (S290), and transmitted to the destination via the modem 59 and the line controller 61. The facsimile transmission to the G3 facsimile apparatus 21 on the recipient side via the public line network 32 is executed (S300).

Next, processing when an e-mail address is selected will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, first, whether or not the mail server 5 is in operation is confirmed by ping (S310). As a result of this confirmation, when the mail server 5 is in operation (S31
0: YES), an instruction to set a document is issued (S320), and the document is read by the scanner 47 (S330).
The image data is encoded into the compressed image data (S340).
Up to this point, the operation is the same as when the telephone number is selected. However, the image data in the G3 compression format cannot be transmitted to the Internet 31 as an e-mail as it is. Then, subsequently, the image data in the G3 compression format is input to the mail control unit 65, and the format is converted into text-coded image data that can be transmitted to the Internet 31 (S350). Also, the mail control unit 65 creates header information including the selected e-mail address, data representing the sender, information necessary for the receiver to perform printout or display on the viewer (S360). . Then, the text-coded image data to which the header information is attached is provided to the LAN control unit 67, and is output to the LAN 2 (S370). The data output to the LAN 2 is once taken into the mail server 5 (S38).
0), Internet 3 via network router 6
1 (S390).

On the other hand, if it is confirmed by ping that the mail server 5 is not in operation (S310: N
O) Although the e-mail address is selected in S260, the telephone number registered for the destination is forcibly set as the transmission destination (S400).
The process proceeds to 270 and below, and switches to fax transmission via the public line network to execute fax transmission.

If it is determined in step S250 that only one of the telephone number and the mail address is registered in the destination selected by the one-touch key, it is determined which registration has been made (S25).
5) If it is a telephone number, the process proceeds to S270 and below, and if it is a mail address, the process proceeds to S410 of FIG. 7A.

In S410, first, it is confirmed whether or not the mail server 5 is operating by ping. As a result of this confirmation, when the mail server 5 is in the operating state (S410: YES), the process proceeds to S320 and thereafter to execute the fax transmission via the Internet (S32).
0 to S390). On the other hand, when it is confirmed by ping that the mail server 5 is not in operation (S410: N
O), a message for inputting a telephone number is displayed on the LCD 5
7 (S420), and if a telephone number has been entered (S430: YES), the process proceeds to S270 and subsequent steps to execute fax transmission via the public line network. But,
If the telephone number has not been entered (S430: N
O) A message indicating that fax transmission via the Internet is not possible due to the mail server going down is displayed, and the process ends (S440).

If the direct input is selected in S210, the process proceeds to S225 to determine whether the directly input destination is a telephone number or a mail address. If it is determined that the telephone number is a telephone number, the process proceeds to S270 and the following steps to execute fax transmission via the public line network (S27).
0 to S300).

On the other hand, if the mail address is directly input, the process proceeds to S510 in FIG. 7B.
First, it is confirmed whether or not the mail server 5 is operating by ping. As a result of this confirmation, the mail server 5
Is in operation (S510: YES), S32
The fax transmission via the Internet is executed by proceeding to 0 or less (S320 to S390).

On the other hand, when it is confirmed by ping that the mail server 5 is not in operation (S510:
NO), the registered content of the destination information storage unit 45c is searched using the directly input mail address as a search key (S52).
0), it is determined whether there is a corresponding destination (S53).
0). If there is a corresponding destination (S530: YE
S), it is determined whether a telephone number is also registered for the destination (S540). If the telephone number is also registered (S540: YES), the telephone number is set as the destination (S550), and the process proceeds to S270 and thereafter to execute the fax transmission via the public line network (S2).
70 to S300). However, if there is no corresponding destination (S530: NO) or the telephone number has not been registered (S540: NO), the process proceeds to S420 to instruct the input of the telephone number, and thereafter, the telephone number is input. If the telephone number has been input (S430: YES), the process proceeds to S270 and the following steps to execute fax transmission via the public network, but if no telephone number has been entered (S430: N).
O) A message to the effect that fax transmission via the Internet is not possible due to the mail server going down is displayed, and the process ends (S440).

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment, facsimile transmission can be performed by any method via the Internet and a public line network. In addition, if the mail server 5 serving as the first relay point is not operating when attempting to send a fax via the Internet, the destination whose telephone number is also registered in the destination information storage unit 45c is Since fax transmission can be automatically performed by switching to the public network, there is no possibility that fax transmission cannot be performed because the mail server is not operating. In addition, since this switching is performed automatically, the user does not have to take time. Also, when the destination is an address where only an e-mail address is registered, or when the destination is not stored in the destination information storage unit 45c, the user is notified by mail server down that fax transmission cannot be performed unless through a public network. Since the user is instructed to input a telephone number, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a fax has not been delivered to the other party if the user intends to send a fax via the Internet.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various other forms can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

For example, instead of the system configuration as shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 8, the Internet fax device 1 on the transmitting side and the Internet fax device 11 on the receiving side are respectively connected via a public line network. Provider 7
1 and 72, and a system configuration in which facsimile transmission and reception by the Internet 31 via the providers 71 and 72 can be adopted. In this case, the confirmation of the mail server operation state by ping is performed by the provider 71,
72.

Also, as shown in FIG. 9, the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 on the transmitting side is provided with a plurality of providers 81 and 8.
If the connection with the Internet server 2 is possible, the mail server operation status is checked by ping for both providers 81 and 82, and if either one is operating, the Internet 31 is connected via the mail server of the provider. It can be configured to send a fax to.

[0044]

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus capable of performing facsimile transmission from both the public line network and the Internet, a mail server serving as a first relay point when performing facsimile transmission via the Internet is provided. If not, it is possible to switch to fax transmission via the public line network.

In particular, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the mail server operation confirming means confirms that the mail server to be the first relay point is not in operation, it is attempted to transmit a fax via the Internet. The determination unit determines whether the destination is a destination that can receive a fax even via the public line network. If the destination is determined to be a destination that can receive a fax via the public line network, the transmission path switching unit is operated to activate the public path. Since the fax transmission is performed by switching to the line fax transmission means, the fax information can be transmitted to the destination as securely as possible without causing the user to take any trouble. That is, even if the mail server that is to be the first relay point is not operating when trying to send a fax via the Internet,
There is an effect that fax transmission is automatically executed via the public line network.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a destination is specified by the destination specifying means when transmitting a fax via the Internet, the fax is transmitted via the public network via the public network in addition to the electronic mail address. By specifying the telephone number when sending a fax, if fax transmission via the Internet is not possible, the fax can be automatically switched to via the public network and sent to the destination without fail. This has the effect that fax information can be reached.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, both the telephone number and the e-mail address of the same destination are registered as the destination information by the destination registering means. Similarly to the above case, even when fax transmission cannot be performed via the Internet, it is possible to switch to fax transmission via the public line network, and it is possible to ensure that the fax information can reach the destination. In particular, it is only necessary to register both the e-mail address and the telephone number in the destination information registration means, and the above-described effect can be achieved without requiring the user to perform a troublesome operation. be able to.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, there is provided a destination information registering means capable of registering both a telephone number and an e-mail address for the same destination as the destination information, and the determining means is designated. The e-mail address is used as a search key to search the destination information registration means for a corresponding destination. If a telephone number is registered with the e-mail address for the relevant destination, the destination is designated by the e-mail address. If it is configured as a means for determining that the received destination is a destination that can receive a fax via a public line network, the first relay can be performed even when the user specifies a fax via the Internet without specifying only an e-mail address. If the mail server to be used is not running, search for the specified e-mail address. As a result, the telephone number can be automatically extracted, switched to the public line network and transmitted by facsimile. Again, the same effects as those of the first to third aspects of the invention can be achieved without requiring troublesome operations. It has the effect that it can be done.

Further, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, the judging means is provided by the mail server confirming means.
If it is confirmed that the mail server to be a relay point is not in operation, the user is instructed to enter a telephone number, and when the telephone number is entered in accordance with this instruction, a destination that can receive faxes via the public network is used. If it is configured as a means to determine that the mail server is not in operation, if it is confirmed that the mail server is not in operation, it is possible to send a fax to the sender via the Internet by instructing the input of the telephone number Can be informed that
If the user intends to send a fax via the Internet, the situation where the fax information has not reached the destination can be prevented.

According to the facsimile apparatus, when a plurality of mail servers can be used as the first relay point, facsimile transmission can be performed via the Internet as much as possible, thereby reducing communication costs. And other effects required for Internet faxing.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily confirm the operation status of the mail server by using ping which is well known as a tool for confirming the Internet connection status. The effect is exhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an entire Internet fax system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system of the Internet fax device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing main storage contents of a RAM according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing contents of destination information registration processing executed in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of a fax transmission process executed in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of a fax transmission process executed in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of a fax transmission process executed in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an entire Internet fax system as a modified embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an entire Internet fax system as a modified embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,11 ... Internet fax machine, 2,1
2 ... local area network (LAN), 3,
13 Personal computer (PC), 4, 14
... Printer, 5,15 ... Mail server, 6,1
6 Network router, 21 G3 fax machine, 31 Internet, 32 Public network, 41 CPU, 43 ROM, 45.
RAM, 45a: work memory, 45b: transmission / reception data storage unit, 45c: destination information storage unit, 47
... scanner, 49 ... encoder, 51 ... printer, 53 ... decoder, 55 ... operation panel, 57 ...
· · · LCD, 59 · · · modem · 61 · · · line control unit, 63 · · · PC interface, 65 · · · mail control unit, 67 · · · LAN control unit, 71, 72, 81,
82 ... provider.

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 9, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus for performing a facsimile transmission via a public line network and a facsimile transmission via the Internet. Internet fax transmission means, and when an electronic mail address is specified as a destination, and when the Internet fax transmission means intends to execute fax transmission, it is determined whether or not a mail server which can be a first relay point of the fax transmission is operating. A mail server operation check unit for checking in advance, and an Internet for executing fax transmission by the Internet fax transmission unit when the mail server operation check unit confirms that the mail server that can be the first relay point is operating. fuck And executing means, when the mail server running <br/> mail server that can be a first relay point by confirmation means has confirmed that not running, the designated destination fax reception by via the public line network Determination means for determining whether or not the destination is possible; and when the determination means determines that the destination is capable of receiving a fax via the public line network, switching to the public line fax transmission means, and Transmission path switching means for executing facsimile transmission via a public line network.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus for performing a facsimile transmission via a public line network, and an Internet facsimile transmission for performing a facsimile transmission via the Internet. Means and a telephone number for performing a fax transmission to the destination via a public line network in addition to the electronic mail address of the destination when the fax transmission is to be executed by the Internet fax transmission means. A destination designating unit, and whether or not a mail server that can be a first relay point for the fax transmission is operating when attempting to perform a fax transmission by the Internet fax transmission unit to the e-mail address designated by the destination designation unit. To confirm in advance Internet server fax execution means for executing fax transmission by the Internet fax transmission means when the mail server operation confirmation means confirms that the mail server which can be the first relay point is operating. And the first by the mail server operation confirmation means.
When it is confirmed that the mail server which can be a relay point is not operating, the telephone number specified by the destination specifying means is set as a destination, and the telephone number is switched to the public line facsimile transmitting means, and the telephone number is switched to the public line network. Transmission path switching means for executing facsimile transmission via the communication path.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the second aspect of the fax machine,
When specifying a destination by the destination designating means when fax transmission over the Internet, can be specified together telephone numbers when performing by riff Akkusu transmitted via the public line network in addition to the e-mail address. As a result, when the mail server operation confirming means confirms that the mail server which is to be the first relay point when performing a fax transmission via the Internet is not operating, the transmission path switching means causes the destination designating means to transmit the fax data. The designated telephone number is set as the destination, and the fax is transmitted to the telephone number via the public line network by switching to the public line fax transmission means. In this way, the apparatus according to claim 2 simply designates a telephone number in addition to an e-mail address at the time of designation of a destination, and automatically switches over to the public line network when the mail server is not operating, and performs fax transmission. Can be sent.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus for performing a facsimile transmission via a public line network, and an internet facsimile transmission for performing a facsimile transmission via the Internet. Means, destination information registering means capable of registering both a telephone number and an e-mail address for the same destination as the destination information, and an e-mail address from the destinations registered in the destination information registering means. A mail server operation confirmation unit for confirming in advance whether a mail server which can be a first relay point of the fax transmission is operating when a destination is selected to execute the fax transmission by the Internet fax transmission unit; The first relay point by the mail server operation confirmation means When it obtaining mail server it was confirmed that in operation, the Internet and Internet fax execution means for executing the facsimile transmission by the facsimile transmission means, wherein the first relay by the mail server running Make <br/> sure means When it is confirmed that the mail server which can be a point is not in operation, if the telephone number is registered in the destination information registering means for the destination to be faxed by the Internet fax transmitting means, the public line fax transmission is performed. Transmission path switching means for performing facsimile transmission to the telephone number via the public line network by switching to the means.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Further, in the facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, the mail server operation confirming means determines that the mail server to be the first relay point is not in an operating state by the mail server operation confirming means. When the telephone number is input in accordance with the instruction, and when the telephone number is input in accordance with the instruction, it can be configured as a means for determining that there is a destination that can receive a fax via the public line network.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the mail server operation confirmation means includes a ping (pin)
g) may be used as means for confirming the operation state of the mail server. Ping is well known as a tool for checking the connection status of the Internet, and is suitable for checking the operation status of a mail server.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0038

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

On the other hand, if the mail address is directly input, the process proceeds to S510 in FIG. 7B.
First, it is confirmed whether or not the mail server 5 is operating by ping. As a result of this confirmation, the mail server 5
Is in operation (S510: YES), S32
The process proceeds to a process of 0 or less, and the facsimile transmission via the Internet is executed (S320 to S390).

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0046

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0046] Further, according to the fax machine of claim 2, when specifying a destination by the destination designating means when fax transmission over the Internet, the I riff Akkusu transmitted via the public line network in addition to the e-mail address By specifying the phone number when performing,
When fax transmission via the Internet is not possible, fax transmission can be automatically performed by switching to the public line network, and the fax information can be reliably reached at the destination.

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0049

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Further, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, the judging means is provided by the mail server operation confirming means.
If it is confirmed that the mail server to be the first relay point is not in operation, the user is instructed to input a telephone number, and when the telephone number is input in accordance with the instruction, facsimile reception via the public network is possible. If it is configured as a means to determine the destination, if it is confirmed that the mail server is not in operation, you can input a telephone number to send faxes to the sender via the Internet. It is possible to notify that the fax information cannot be sent, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which the fax information has not reached the destination when the fax is intended to be sent via the Internet.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/32

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A public line facsimile transmission means for executing facsimile transmission via a public line network, an Internet facsimile transmission means for executing facsimile transmission via the Internet, and said Internet facsimile transmission means by designating an electronic mail address as a destination Mail server operation confirming means for previously confirming whether or not a mail server which can be a first relay point of the facsimile transmission is operating when the facsimile transmission is to be executed, and the first relay by the mail server operation confirming means. Internet facsimile execution means for executing facsimile transmission by the Internet facsimile transmission means when it is confirmed that the mail server which can be a point is in operation, and the first mail server confirmation means When it is confirmed that the mail server which can be the junction is not operating, a judging means for judging whether the designated destination is a facsimile receiving destination via a public line network, A transmission path switching unit that switches to the public line facsimile transmission unit and executes facsimile transmission to the destination via the public line network when the destination is determined to be facsimile reception via the line network. Facsimile machine. 2. A public line facsimile transmission means for performing facsimile transmission via a public line network, an Internet facsimile transmission means for performing facsimile transmission via the Internet, and a facsimile transmission by the Internet facsimile transmission means. Destination specifying means for specifying, in addition to the electronic mail address of the destination, a telephone number when performing facsimile transmission to the destination via the public line network, and an electronic mail address specified by the destination specifying means. Mail server operation confirming means for confirming in advance whether a mail server that can be a first relay point of the facsimile transmission is operating when performing facsimile transmission by the Internet facsimile transmission means; When the mail server that can be the first relay point is confirmed to be operating by the authentication unit, the Internet facsimile execution unit that executes facsimile transmission by the Internet facsimile transmission unit; When it is confirmed that the mail server which can be one relay point is not operating, the telephone number specified by the destination specifying means is set as a destination, and the telephone number is switched to the public line facsimile transmitting means and the telephone number is switched to the public line. A facsimile apparatus comprising: transmission path switching means for executing facsimile transmission via a network. 3. A public line facsimile transmission means for executing facsimile transmission via a public line network, an Internet facsimile transmission means for executing facsimile transmission via the Internet, and a telephone number and an e-mail address for the same destination as destination information. Address information registering means capable of registering both of them, and selecting an address having an e-mail address from the addresses registered in the address information registering means to execute facsimile transmission by the Internet facsimile transmitting means. A mail server operation confirming means for previously confirming whether or not a mail server which can be a first relay point of facsimile transmission is operating; and a mail server which can be the first relay point is operated by the mail server operation confirming means. Is confirmed to be in When the Internet facsimile transmission means executes facsimile transmission by the Internet facsimile transmission means; and when the mail server confirmation means confirms that the mail server which can be the first relay point is not operating, the Internet facsimile transmission means If a telephone number is also registered in the destination information registering means for the destination to be facsimile-transmitted by the means, switching to the public line facsimile transmitting means and performing facsimile transmission to the telephone number via the public line network. A facsimile machine including transmission path switching means. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mail server operation check means includes a plurality of mail servers which can be a first relay point of facsimile transmission by said Internet facsimile transmission means. A facsimile apparatus characterized in that when all of the plurality of mail servers are not operating, it is confirmed that the mail server which can be the first relay point is not operating. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mail server confirmation operation means is means for confirming the operation state of the mail server by ping. Facsimile machine.