GB2323247A

GB2323247A - Facsimile communication system

Info

Publication number: GB2323247A
Application number: GB9726138A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Satoru Sato
Original assignee: ICUBENET Inc
Current assignee: ICUBENET Inc
Priority date: 1996-12-10
Filing date: 1997-12-10
Publication date: 1998-09-16
Also published as: GB9726138D0; JPH10173899A

Abstract

A facsimile communication system allowing facsimile machines to communicate with distant facsimile machines via regional facsimile servers at lower cost than that of traditional point to point communication between distant facsimile machines. Multiple facsimile servers are connected through a digital communication network. When a user wishes to transmit a facsimile, he sends the facsimile to a regional facsimile server at low cost. The selected facsimile server uses a previously stored database to identify a regional facsimile server near the intended destination facsimile machine. The facsimile is forwarded to the identified regional facsimile server through the digital communication network and ultimately forwarded to the destination facsimile machine. Fraud is prevented by the use of identification numbers and secret codes specifying participants in the system. Each participant has a unique identification number and each facsimile machine to which he sends images is assigned a secret number. When a participant initiates a fax, he sends both his identification number and the secret code corresponding to the intended destination. The regional facsimile server with whom the user initiates his facsimile uses the identification number and secret code to verify membership in the system and determine how to route the facsimile image to its ultimate destination.

Description

2323247 FACSIMILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, FACSIMILE SERVER, AND RECORDING

MEDIUM FOR FACSIMILE SERVER This patent application claims a conventional priority based on a Japanese patent application, HE18-344429, filed on December 10, 1996, the contents of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a facsimile image transfer system that receives a facsimile image from a facsimile machine, computer or the like and transfers the received facsimile image to another facsimile machine or the like at a different location.

2. Description of Related Arts

A facsimile image transfer system that transfers a facsimile image via a private telephone line has been proposed. In addition, there currently exit facsimile image broadcast systems that transmit images to be broadcast to a host computer, and then transmit the images from the host computer to different broadcast destinations.

However, in the conventional facsimile image transfer system, special connection apparatuses such as a dialer and the like need to be installed in the facsimile machines on the transmission and receiving sides. Consequently, in order for 1 the user to use the conventional image data transfer system, the user had to cover the cost of purchasing and installing the connection apparatuses. Moreover, in the conventional broadcast system, while the facsimile machine on the transmission side was made available at an early stage, the cost of the broadcast transmission was enormous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile communication system, a facsimile server, and a recording medium for the facsimile server by which data such as facsimile images and the like can be easily transferred to an intended destination without using a connection apparatus. It is another object of the present invention to provide a facsimile communication system, a facsimile server, and a recording medium for the facsimile server that can (1) improve the reliability and availability rate of the abovementioned data transfer system, (2) simplify the maintenance operation of the system, (3) reduce the communication cost, (4) decrease the data transmission delay time, and (5) improve the quality of the data transmission.

In order to achieve these objects, according to the first aspect of the present invention, facsimile servers are installed at each local station, by which two-way communication is possible through a digital communication network. Facsimile machines communicate through the facsimile servers and the public communication network. Each of the facsimile servers operates in the following way. A user identification storing means stores the identification number of a user who wishes to transmit an image via a source facsimile machine. The 2 communication system selects that facsimile server which can communicate with the source facsimile machine at the lowest cost.

A destination storing means stores a destination number, which indicates the destination facsimile machine to which the user wishes to transmit the image, and a secret code assigned to the facsimile machine of the destination, linking them to the identification number. A destination searching means searches for the destination number of the above-mentioned destination facsimile machine from the above-mentioned destination storing means using the identification number and secret code that have been received from the user. A server search means searches for the destination facsimile server through which the image can be transmitted to the destination facsimile machine at the lowest fee. Image transfer means transfers the image received from the source facsimile machine to the destination facsimile server that has been selected by the server search means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, each of the facsimile servers operates in the following way. An identification storing means stores the identification number of a user who wishes to use a facsimile machine whose communication fee to the facsimile server is lower than that to any other facsimile server. An identification number receiving means receives the identification number of the user and the destination number of an image from the facsimile machine. A server search means searches for the destination facsimile server through which the image can be transmitted to the destination facsimile machine at the lowest fee. Image transmitting means transmits the image that has been received 3 from the source facsimile machine to the destination facsimile server selected by the server search means, if the identification number received by the reception means has been stored in the user identification storing means.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the facsimile communication system makes the source facsimile machine transmit the identification number on the condition that a predetermined period of time has passed since a call to the facsimile server was made, and makes the facsimile server start receiving the identification number on the condition that the call has been received.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a facsimile server receives an image from a source facsimile machine, and transfers the received data to a destination server installed near a destination facsimile machine. This facsimile server operates in the following way. A destination storing means stores a destination number which indicates the destination facsimile machine to which the user of the source facsimile machine can transmit the image, and a secret code assigned to the destination facsimile machine, linking them to an identification number pre-assigned to the user. A destination searching means searches for the destination number of the destination facsimile machine from the destination storing means by using the identification number and the secret code that have been received from the user. A server search means searches for the facsimile server through which the image can be transmitted to the destination facsimile machine at the lowest cost using the destination number. Image transfer means transfers the image received from the source facsimile machine 4 to the server that has been searched by the server search means.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the facsimile server operates in the following way. An identification storing means stores an identification number that is pre-assigned to a user of the source facsimile machine. An identification reception means receives from the user the identification number of the user and a destination number indicating the destination facsimile machine. A server search means searches the facsimile server through which the image can be transmitted to the destination facsimile machine at the lowest fee using the destination number. Image transmission means transmits the image received from the source facsimile machine to the facsimile server that has been selected by the server search means if the identification number received by the reception means has been stored in the user identification storing means.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the facsimile server makes the source facsimile machine transmit the identification number if a predetermined period has passed since it made a call to the facsimile server. The facsimile server starts receiving a signal carrying the identification number if the call has been received.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a recording medium stores a program for a facsimile server that receives an image from a source facsimile machine and transfers the received image as data to a destination facsimile server that is installed near a destination facsimile machine. The program operates in the following way. An identification 1 storing means stores an identification number that is preassigned to a user of the source facsimile machine stored when the program activates the facsimile server. An identification reception means receives the identification number of the user and the number of the image destination when the program activates the facsimile server. A server search means searches for the server capable of transmitting the image to the destination facsimile machine at the lowest fee using the destination number when the program activates the facsimile server. An image transfer means transfers the image that has been received from the source facsimile machine to the server that has been selected by the server search means, when the program activates the facsimile server.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, a number is preassigned to a user of the source facsimile machine when the program activates the facsimile server. An identification reception means receives the identification number of the user and the number of the image destination when the program activates the facsimile server. A server search means selects the server capable of transmitting the image to the destination facsimile machine at the lowest fee server using the destination number when the program activates the facsimile. An image transmission means transmits the image received from the source facsimile machine to the server selected by the server search means, when the identification number received by the reception means has been stored in the user identification storing means.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the destination facsimile machine transmits the identification number on the condition that a predetermined time has passed 6 since a call to the facsimile server was made. A program activates the facsimile server and causes a signal carrying the identification number to start to be received on the condition that the call has been received.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows the configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows the configuration of facsimile servers 12a through 12d.

Fig. 3 shows the configuration of a user database 20.

Fig. 4 shows the configuration of a facsimile server database 22.

Fig. 5 shows the configuration of an image database 24.

Fig. 6 shows the configuration of an accounting database 26.

Fig. 7 shows a communication sequence in the communication system shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 illustrates a flow chart showing the operation of the facsimile server 12a.

Fig. 9 shows a communication sequence in the second embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a flow chart showing the operation of the 25 facsimile server 12a in the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be explained 30 with reference to the drawings.

1. First Embodiment 7 Fig. 1 shows the fundamental configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1, each of the facsimile machines loa through 10f (they will be called collectively a facsimile machine 10) is connected to the respective nearest facsimile servers 12a through 12d (they will be called collectively a facsimile server 12) through a public communication network 40 such as a PSTN, an ISDN, a cable television communication network or the like. Therefore, the facsimile machine 10 can communicate with the facsimile server 12 at the cost of a local telephone call or a low cost comparable to the cost of a local telephone call. Any one of the four facsimile servers 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d can communicate with the other three facsimile servers located in other countries or locales through a low cost digital network such as the internet 30, private lines, leased lines or the like.

An image received from one of the facsimile machines 10a through 10f is transferred from one of the four facsimile servers 12a through 12d to one of the other three facsimile servers. Then the image is further transferred to one of the facsimile machines 10a through 10f located at the destination. In this way, the communication fee for transmitting the image is reduced compared with that of a direct call from the originating fax machine to the destination fax machine. In order to reduce the average cost of the facsimile transfer service, it is desirable that the number of facsimile servers 12 per unit area installed in a region be proportional to the amount of facsimile communication performed in the region. example, in Europe, it may be desirable that one facsimile server 12 be installed in each country, and in the U.S., it may 8 be desirable that one facsimile server 12 be installed on the east coast, and another on the west coast.

Fig. 2 shows the configuration of a facsimile server 12. In the facsimile server 12, a CPU 14 installs a program stored in a recording medium 36 onto a hard disk drive 38, and reads out the program into a RAM 18. Moreover, the CPU 14 uses the RAM 18 as a work area and operates the RAM 18 according to a program stored in ROM 16 and the program that has been read out into the RAM 18. A PSTN interface 32, such as NCU (network control unit), performs network control of the PSTN 40, such as for example, a public cable network. A DTMF converter 28 converts a DTMF signal, which has been received via the PSTN as an example of the public cable network 40 and the PSTN interface 32, into a digital signal. The DTMF converter 28 further converts a digital signal given by the CPU 14 to a DTMF signal.

A user database 20 stores a user ID (identification number) for identifying users of the present facsimile system, respective addresses (transmission origin numbers) of the facsimile machine that the users use on the public communication network 40, and the like. A facsimile server database 22 stores country codes and country- specific area codes inside each country according to the international telephone number system, linking them with the internet address of a facsimile server 12 located closest to each of the areas. An image database 24 stores images received from the terminals 10a through 10f, linking them with the destination and the like of each of the received images. An accounting database 26 stores accounting information on each user. An Internet interface 3.4, such as a high-speed digital communication 9 interface having a TCP/IP protocol, performs operations between the Internet 30 and the facsimile servers 12a through 12d.

Fig. 3 shows the structure of the user database 20 shown in Fig. 2. Each of the users transmits a facsimile image to a predetermined facsimile server 12 closest to the facsimile machine being used by the user. The user database 20 stores the user IDs and the destination numbers of all the users who transmit images to the facsimile server 12 by linking the user IDs with the corresponding destination numbers. Thus, when a user ID that is not stored in the user database 20 is received, it can be determined that the user ID belongs to an unauthorized user.

is For each user ID, the user database 20 stores secret codes that show the destination facsimile machines to which the user intends to transmit images, and the destination facsimile numbers of the destination facsimile machines. As a secret code, for example, a two-digit number can be used. Once a user ID and a destination secret code are specified, a destination facsimile machine can is uniquely determined from the user database 20. In other words, a combination of a user ID and a secret code determines one destination number of the destination facsimile machine. The country code and the area code of the destination are included in each of the destination numbers, regardless of whether the destination is located in the same country or the same area.

Fig. 4 shows the structure of the facsimile server database 22 shown in Fig. 2. The facsimile server database 22 stores each country code according to the international telephone number system by linking it with the address of a facsimile server 12 that has the lowest communication fee to the destination facsimile machine having the country code. However, when a facsimile server 12 having the lowest communication fee to the destination cannot be specified by the country code alone, for example, when several facsimile servers are located in the same country, the facsimile server database 22 stores the country code and the first several digits of the domestic telephone numbers.

In this case, the facsimile server database 22 stores the address of a facsimile serer 12 having the lowest communication fee to the area that corresponds to the country code and the first several digits of the domestic phone number. As an example of the "first several digits" of a domestic telephone number, according to the present embodiment, area codes are stored in the facsimile server database 22. However, as an alternative, a part of the first several digits of the area codes, or the area code and the first several digits of the local telephone numbers may be stored in the facsimile server database 22.

When a facsimile image is sent from Japan to New York in the United States, for example, if a destination number is transmitted by calling from a facsimile machine 10a of a transmitter to a nearest facsimile server 12a in Japan, then the facsimile server 12a selects a facsimile server 12 nearest to the receiver based on the receiver's country code and area code as given by the transmitter. In other words, the facsimile server 12a selects a facsimile server 12b located in the northern part of the East Coast of the United States from the facsimile server database 22. According to the present 11 embodiment, each facsimile server 12 is stored in the facsimile server database 22 in the form of an address on the Internet.

Fig. 5 shows the structure of the image database 24 shown in Fig. 2. The facsimile server 12 stores a received image as an image file in the image database 24. The address on the public cable network 40 of the transmission origin (called the transmission origin number). The address on the public cable network 40 of the destination (called the destination number) The time at which the image was received, and an index of an image file are stored in a directory installed in the image database file 24 by linking them with the user ID of the user who transmitted the image. As for the image index, it stores, for example, the file number of the image file. once the 13 transmission of the image is completed, the image file is erased from the image database 24, and the data on the image that has been transmitted is erased from the directory.

Fig. 6 shows the structure of the accounting database 26 shown in Fig. 2. The accounting database 26 stores the user ID of each user, the time at which each user started the transmission of the image, the time that was required to transmit the image, the destination number, and the fee that was charged to transmit each of the images. The facsimile server 12, after receiving an image from the facsimile machine 10, calculates the charged fee upon receiving an image transmission result from the facsimile machine 10 at the destination. Then, the facsimile server 12 sorts the data shown in Fig. 6 f or each user, and inscribes the data into the accounting database 26. In addition, the facsimile server 12 sums up the transmission fees, for example once a month, and issues a bill to each of the users.

12 Fig. 7 shows a communication sequence of the facsimile transmission system according to the present embodiment. In what follows, the communication sequence will be explained by using, as an example, a case in which images are transmitted from Japan to the United States. A transmitter dials up a nearest facsimile server 12a from a facsimile machine l0a of the transmitter (S100). The facsimile server 12a receives a call from the public communication network 40 (S102), and accepts the call (S104). After a prescribed pause time t2 has passed since the completion of the dialing (SlOO), the facsimile machine 10a transmits user ID specifying the transmitter and a secret code specifying a destination facsimile, to the facsimile server 12a (S106) The user ID and the secret code may be input by the user each time an image is transmitted. Alternatively, the user ID and the secret code could be pre- stored in the RAM 18 and selected with the operation of a one-touch key.

The pause time t2 is set greater than the sum of the maximum length of time t3, that is required on the public communication network 40 from the completion of dialing by the facsimile machine 10a to the call acceptance notification to the facsimile server 12a, and the maximum length of time t4 required for the facsimile server 12a to become able to receive a DTT4F signal after it has accepted the received call (t2 > t3 + t4). The pause time t2 can be obtained by pressing the If pause key" of the facsimile machine 10a a prescribed number of times. By notifying the user, in advance, of the number of times the "pause key" needs to be pressed, the user can successfully transmit the user ID and the destination number to the facsimile server 12a. The facsimile server 12a receives the user ID and the destination number (S106), and verified whether the user ID is registered or not in the user database 20 (S108).

If the user ID is registered in the user database 20, then the destination number is searched for in the user database 20, using the user ID and the destination number (S110) Next, the facsimile server 12a requests the facsimile machine loa to transmit the facsimile (S112), and receives the image from the facsimile machine 10a (S114). At this stage, the image is transmitted as analog sound data through the public communication network 40. The facsimile server 12a receives the image data as analog sound data, demodulates the sound data, converts the analog sound data into digital data, and is stores the digital data in the image database 24 (S116). Further, the facsimile server 12a searches the facsimile database 22 for the destination facsimile server 12b nearest to the destination facsimile machine using the destination number that has been retrieved in the step S110 (S118).

Next, the destination number in the form of data and the image data are transmitted through the internet 30 to the facsimile server 12b that has been selected in step S118 (S120). In step S120, the demodulated digital image data is transmitted. In comparison with the case in which demodulated data in the voice-band is transmitted via an international telephone line, the image can be transmitted with a far smaller amount of data and at a much higher speed. The facsimile server 12b on the receiving side receives and stores the digital data (S124). Further, the facsimile server 12b on the receiving side extracts the destination number from the received data (S126), and calls to the destination facsimile machine 10b (S128).

When the destination facsimile machine 10b receives the call (S130) and accepts the call (S132), the facsimile server 12b requests the facsimile machine 10b to transmit the image (S134). Then, the facsimile server 12b converts the image into sound data, and transmits the image to the facsimile server 12b following the standard facsimile transmission procedure (S136).

When the transmission of the image is completed, the facsimile server 12b on the destination side notifies the source facsimile server of the completion of the transmission (S138).

In this way, the image can be transmitted simply by calling up the facsimile server 12a using a conventional facsimile machine, and transmitting the user ID and the destination secret code after a pause of prescribed length. Therefore, the user can transmit the image without hearing a voice instruction from the facsimile server 12a. Moreover, the user can transmit images by paying only the fee for telephone calls between the facsimile machine 10a and the nearest facsimile server 12a and between the facsimile server 12b and the facsimile terminal 10b, and the data transmission fee required to send the digital data through the Internet.

Therefore, in comparison with the conventional case in which an image is transmitted as sound data using an international telephone line, the image can be transmitted at a low cost.

Fig. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the transmitting side facsimile server 12a in the communication sequence shown in Fig. 7. All or a part of the program which executes the operations listed in the flow chart is stored in and provided from a recording medium 36. The program is preinstalled in the facsimile server 12 from the recording medium 36. When a call is received from the facsimile machine 10a (S302), the facsimile server 12a responds to the call (S304), and receives the user ID and the destination secret code (S306).

Next, it is determined whether the user ID is registered in the user database 20 (S308). If the user ID is not registered, then the operation is abnormally ended as a user ID error (S400). If the user ID is registered, it is determined whether the destination secret code received from the facsimile machine 10 is registered on the destination secret code list that corresponds to the user ID or not (S310). If the destination secret code is not registered on the destination secret code list, then the process is abnormally ended (S400). If the destination secret code is registered on the destination secret code list, then the destination secret code is searched for in the user database 20 using the destination secret code, and is read out (S312).

Next, the transmission side facsimile server 12a requests the facsimile machine loa to transmit the facsimile (S316). Then, the transmission side facsimile server 12a receives the image data as analog sound data from the facsimile machine 10a, demodulates the received data, converts the data into digital data, and stores the digital data in the image database 22 (S318). The user ID, the transmission origin number, and the destination number that have been read out in step S312, the reception time of the image, and the index of the image file are stored in the directory for the image database when the digital data is stored in the image database 22.

16 Next, using the first several digits of the destination number (for example, the country code and the area code) retrieved in step S312, the address of the destination facsimile server 12b is searched for in the facsimile server database 22 (S320). Since the address of the facsimile server having the lowest communication fee to the destination number is pre-stored in the facsimile server database 22 by having the address linked with the destination number, the facsimile server 12b that minimizes the overall transmission fee can be selected. Next, the user ID of the transmitter, the source number, the destination number, the image reception time, and the image file stored in the image database 24 are transferred as digital data to the destination facsimile server 12b through the internet 30 (S322).

Subsequently, when the destination facsimile server 12b completes the transmission of the facsimile image to the destination facsimile machine lob, the facsimile server 12a receives a transmission completion notice (S324) The transmission completion notice contains the user ID of the transmitter, the destination number, the image reception time, and the time that was required to transmit the image as data elements. Then, the facsimile server 12a stores these data in the accounting database 26 for the respective user ID (S326).

Further, the facsimile server 12a calculates the transmission fee based on the destination number and the transmission time, and records the accounting fee in the accounting database 26 for the respective user ID (S326), and ends the process.

As has been explained in the above, the facsimile communication system according to the present embodiment 17 enables the transmitter to transmit an image to the destination facsimile machine simply by (1) dialing up the nearest facsimile server 12a using a conventional facsimile machine, and (2) inputting the user ID of the transmitter and the destination numberafter a pause time of predetermined length. Moreover, the transmission fee can be greatly reduced, since unlike the conventional system in which sound data is transmitted through an international telephone line for which a high fee is charged, according to the facsimile communication system of the present embodiment, the image can be transmitted through the internet at a low cost between the transmission side facsimile server 12a and the reception side facsimile server 12b.

The facsimile machine 10 displays the transmitted DTMF signal. Hence, there is a possibility that the user ID of the transmitter will be stolen during the user ID transmission and unlawfully used by a third party. However, according to the present embodiment, since the destination number is accessed using the destination secret code, the image cannot be transmitted to any number but the destination number that is pre-registered in the user database 20. In this way, the user ID of the transmitter can be protected against unlawful use by a third party.

2. Second Embodiment According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the actual destination number is transmitted in place of the destination secret code. Since, for this embodiment, the configurations of Figs. 1 through 6 are identical to those according to the first embodiment, they will 18 not be explained again here. However, according to the present embodiment, the destination secret code and the destination number need not be registered in the user database 20.

In Fig. 9, the communication sequence in the present embodiment is shown. This communication sequence is similar to the communication sequence shown in Fig. 7. However, according to the present embodiment, the process for searching for the destination number (S110 in Fig. 7) is not needed since the destination number is received in step S106 in place of the destination secret code (S106).

When the destination number is received, the number is converted into a number that does not depend on the location of the facsimile server 12a (S109). After the destination number is converted (S109), a facsimile request is issued (S112), and the image is received (S114). The rest of the process is the same as that in the first embodiment, and hence will not be explained.

In Fig. 10, the operation of the facsimile server 12a in the present embodiment is shown. All or a part of the program that executes the operations described in this flow chart is stored in and supplied from the recording medium 36. The recording medium 36A pre-installs a program in the facsimile server 12. The present operation is similar to the one shown in Fig. 8. However, in step 306, the user ID of the transmitter and the destination telephone number are received in place of the user ID of the transmitter and the destination secret code (S306). If the user ID is registered in the user database 20 (S308), then the received destination telephone number is converted to another number (S310).

19 In step S310, it is determined whether an international telephone line access code (for example, in Japan, the access code 001 for selecting KDD (trade mark) International Telephone Line, the access code 0088 for selecting the international telephone line of "second den-den") is attached to the received destination number. If an international telephone line access code is not attached to the received destination number, then it is determined whether the area code is included in the received destination number. If even the area code is not included in the received destination number, then the destination is located in the same area in which the facsimile server 12a is installed. In this case, the country code and the area code of the area in which the facsimile server 12a is located are added to the destination number.

If the international telephone line access number is not attached, but the area code is included in the destination number, then the destination is located outside the area in the country in which the facsimile server 12a is located. In this case, the country code of the area in which the facsimile server 12a is located is included in the destination number. If the international telephone line access number is included in the destination number, then the destination is in a foreign country. In this case, the international telephone line access number is deleted from the destination number. As has been discussed in the above, since the converted destination number does not depend on the location of the facsimile server 12a, the location of the destination can be specified using only the destination number.

Next, the facsimile server 12a requests the facsimile machine 10 to transmit the facsimile (S316), and in turn receives the image (S318). Since the rest of the operation is identical to that of the first embodiment, it will not be explained. According to the present embodiment, the user ID could be stolen and used by a third party. However, it is an advantage of this embodiment that a facsimile image can be transmitted to any destination even if it is not preregistered.

3. Alternatives In the second embodiment, the facsimile machine 10 on the transmission side transmits the standard destination number to the facsimile server 12. In other words, the country code is not included in the destination number when the image is transmitted within the country, and the area code is not included in the destination number when the image is transmitted within the city. However, as another embodiment of the present invention, the facsimile machine 10 may transmit a destination number in which the country code and the area code are always included. In this case, a destination facsimile server can be selected without having the facsimile server 12 convert the destination number into another number.

Furthermore, in the first or second embodiment, the facsimile image may be transmitted by a one-touch operation after preregistering the telephone number of the nearest facsimile server 12a, the user ID, the destination number, and the like in the facsimile machine 10.

In the above embodiments, a facsimile image is transferred between facsimile machines. However, multi media information 21 including still images, sound, video images and the combination thereof can also be transferred by installing a multi media input-output apparatus, a sound input-output apparatus, a video image input-output apparatus, and the like in place of the facsimile machines, and by installing an interface to the server for these terminal apparatuses. Although the present invention has been explained through several embodiments, the scope of the invention should not be limited by these embodiments as clear from the following claims.

As has been explained in the above, the data transmission system according to the present invention can, for example, transmit an image via the internet using conventional facsimile machines. Moreover, since each facsimile machine 10 selects the nearest facsimile server 12 and transmits a facsimile image, the facsimile image can be transmitted at a low cost. Furthermore, the data transmission system according to the present invention transmits a digital signal obtained by demodulating a sound signal. Thus, in comparison with the case in which sound data are transmitted using an international telephone line, the image can be transmitted using a smaller amount of data. The present invention is particularly effective for long distance facsimile transmission.

22

Claims

CLAIMS:

A facsimile communication system, having: a) a source facsimile server; b) a plurality of destination facsimile servers, each of the source and destination facsimile servers being installed at a different locale; c) a source facsimile machine; and d) a plurality of destination facsimile machines, each of the source and destination facsimile machines being capable of communicating with one of the facsimile servers, and the source facsimile server being capable of communicating with each of the destination facsimile servers through a digital communication network; wherein the facsimile communication system is characterized by that the source facsimile server is comprising: identification number storing means for storing an identification number of a user of the source facsimile machine, communication fee from the source facsimile machine to the source facsimile server being lower than that for communicating from the source facsimile machine to destination facsimile servers; destination storing means for storing a plurality of destination numbers, each of which indicates one of the plurality of the destination facsimile machines. and a secret code assigned to the destination facsimile machine, linking the destination number and the secret code with the identification number of the user; destination search means for receiving an identification number and a secret code from the source facsimile machine and searching for one of the destination number from those stored in the destination storing means;

23 server search means for searching for one of the destination facsimile servers from which communicating fee to the destination facsimile machine is the lowest, using the destination number searched by the destination search means; and image transfer means for receiving an image from the source facsimile machine and transferring the image to the destination facsimile server selected by the server search means.
2. A facsimile communication system as claimed in claim 1, further characterized by that the source facsimile machine transmits the identification number when a predetermined period of time has passed since a call to the facsimile server was made, and the facsimile server starts receiving the identification number when the call has been received.
3. A facsimile communication system, having:

a) a source facsimile server; b) a plurality of destination facsimile servers, each of the source and destination facsimile servers being installed at a different locale; c) a source facsimile machine; and d) a plurality of destination facsimile machines, each of the source and destination facsimile machines being capable of communicating with one of the facsimile servers, and the source facsimile server being capable of communicating with each of the destination facsimile servers through a digital communication network, wherein the facsimile communication system is characterized by that the source facsimile server comprises:

24 identification number storing means which stores an identification number of a user of the source facsimile machine, communication fee from the source facsimile machine to the source facsimile server being lower than that from the source facsimile machine to destination facsimile servers; reception means which receives the identification number and a destination number from the source facsimile machine; and server search means which searches for one of the destination facsimile servers from which communication fee to the destination facsimile machine is the lowest, using the destination number, if the identification number received by the reception mean has been stored in the identification number storing means.
4. A facsimile communication system as claimed in claim 3, further characterized by that the source facsimile machine transmits the identification number when a predetermined period of time has passed since a call to the facsimile server was made, and the facsimile server starts receiving the identification number when the call has been received.
5. A facsimile server which receives an image from a source facsimile machine, and transfers the received image in the form of data to a destination server that is installed near a destination facsimile machine, characterized by comprising: destination storing means for storing a destination number which indicates the destination facsimile machine to which the source facsimile machine is capable of transmitting the image, and a secret code assigned to the destination facsimile machine, linking the destination number and secret code to an identification number that is pre-assigned to the user; destination number search means for searching for a destination number of the destination facsimile machine in the destination storing means, using the identification number and the secret code that have been received from the user; server search means for searching for the facsimile server that is capable of transmitting the image to the destination facsimile machine at the lowest fee using the destination number; and image transfer means for transferring the image that has been received from the source facsimile machine to the server that has been selected by the server search means.
6. A facsimile server as claimed in claim 5, further characterized by that the source facsimile machine transmits the identification number when a predetermined period of time has passed since the source facsimile machine made a call to the facsimile server, and that the facsimile server starts receiving a signal carrying the identification number when the call has been received.
7. A facsimile server which receives an image from a source facsimile machine, and transfers the received image in the form of data to a destination server that is installed near a destination facsimile machine, characterized by comprising: identification storing means for storing an identification number that is pre-assigned to a user of the source facsimile machine; reception means for receiving from the user an identification number of the user and a destination number indicating an image destination facsimile machine; 26 server search means for searching for the facsimile server capable of transmitting the image to the destination facsimile machine at the lowest cost, using the destination number; and image transmission means for transmitting the image that has been received from the source facsimile machine to the facsimile server that has been selected by the server search means in the case in which the identification number that has been received by the reception means has been stored in the user identification means.
8. A facsimile server as claimed in claim 7, further characterized by that: the source facsimile machine transmits the identification number when a predetermined period of time has passed since the source facsimile machine made a call to the facsimile server; and the facsimile server starts receiving a signal carrying the identification number when the call has been received.
9. A recording medium storing program code means for operating a facsimile server that receives an image from a source facsimile machine and transfers the received image in the form of data to a facsimile server that is located near a destination facsimile machine, characterized by that the program code means includes program code means for: storing a secret code that is assigned to the destination facsimile machine and a number of the destination facsimile machine to which a user of the source facsimile machine is able to transmit the image, linking the secret code and number of the destination facsimile machine with a user identification number that is pre-assigned to the user, when the program activates the facsimile server;

27 searching for a destination number of the destination facsimile machine in the destination storing means, using the identification number and the secret code that have been received from the user, when the program activates the facsimile server; searching for the facsimile server capable of transmitting the image to the destination facsimile machine at the lowest cost, using the destination number, when the program activates the facsimile server; and transferring the image that has been received from the source facsimile machine transferred to the server that has been selected by the server search means when the program activates the facsimile server.
10. A recording medium as claimed in claim 9, further characterized by that the program code means includes means for causing the destination facsimile machine to transmits the identification number on the condition that a predetermined period of time has passed since a call to the facsimile server was made, and activating the facsimile server and causing a signal carrying the identification number to be received on the condition that the call has been received.
11. A recording medium storing program code means for operating a facsimile server that receives an image from a source facsimile machine and transfers the image in the form of data to a server that is installed near a destination facsimile machine, characterized by that the program code means includes program code means for:

28 storing a user identification number that is pre-assigned to a user of the source facsimile machine when the program activates the facsimile server; receiving an identification number of the user and a number indicating the image destination, when the program activates the facsimile server; searching for the server capable of transmitting the image to the destination facsimile machine at the lowest fee, using the destination number, when the program activates the facsimile server; and transmitting the image that has been received from the source facsimile machine transmitted to the server that has been selected by the server search means when the program activates the facsimile server in the case in which the identification number that has been received by the reception means has been stored in the user identification means when the program activates the facsimile server.
12. A recording medium as claimed in claim 11, further characterized by that: the program code means includes means for causing the destination facsimile machine to transmits the identification number on the condition that a predetermined period of time has passed since a call to the facsimile server was made; and the program activates the facsimile server and causes a signal carrying the identification number start to be received on the condition that the call has been received.
13. In a facsimile communication system, having: a) a plurality of facsimile machines; b) a plurality of regional facsimile servers, each installed at a different locale; 29 c) a communication network linking the regional facsimile servers, and d) a computer software code storage medium storing program code that causes a facsimile image to be transmitted from a source facsimile machine to a destination facsimile machine, the facsimile communication system is characterized by that the program code includes program code means for: designating for each user a particular one of the regional facsimile servers to be that users source facsimile server; maintaining in each source facsimile server a database of information identifying potential destination facsimile machines and regional facsimile servers corresponding thereto; receiving at a source facsimile server from a source facsimile machine an image to be sent to a destination facsimile machine along with the information identifying the originator of the image and information identifying a destination facsimile machine intended to receive the image; searching the database stored in the source facsimile server to identify the intended destination facsimile machine and a destination facsimile server on the system that can inexpensively communicate with the intended destination facsimile machine; transmitting via the communication network the facsimile image along with information identifying the intended destination facsimile machine to the identified destination facsimile server; and transmitting the facsimile image from the destination facsimile server to the destination facsimile machine.
14. In a facsimile communication system, including: a) a plurality of facsimile machines; b) a plurality of regional facsimile servers, each installed at a different locale; c) a communication network linking the regional facsimile servers, a method of transmitting a facsimile image from a source facsimile machine to a destination facsimile machine, characterized by comprising the steps of: designating for each user a particular one of the regional facsimile servers to be that users source facsimile server; storing in each source facsimile server a database of information identifying potential destination facsimile machines and regional facsimile servers corresponding thereto; first transmitting from a source facsimile machine to its corresponding regional source facsimile server an image to be sent to a destination facsimile machine along with the information identifying the originator of the image and information identifying a destination facsimile machine intended to receive the image; searching the database stored in the source facsimile server to identify the intended destination facsimile machine and a destination facsimile server on the system that can inexpensively communicate with the intended destination facsimile machine; second transmitting via the communication network the facsimile image along with information identifying the intended destination facsimile machine to the identified destination facsimile server; and third transmitting the facsimile image from the destination facsimile server to the destination facsimile machine.

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15. A method according to claim 14 further characterized by that: information identifying a destination facsimile machine includes a secret code; and the step of first transmitting comprises the step of transmitting the secret code.
16. A method according to claim 14 further characterized by that: information identifying a destination facsimile machine is combination of the information identifying the originator and secret code; and the step of first transmitting comprises the step of transmitting the information identifying the originator and the secret code.
17. A method according to claim 14 further characterized by comprising the steps of: maintaining data related to all facsimile transmissions through the system; and preparing accounting reports indicative thereof.
18. A method according to claim 14 further characterized by that: the communication network is a digital communication network; and the second transmitting step comprises the step of transmitting a digital signal to the destination facsimile server.

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19. A facsimile machine which, when transmitting facsimile data, also transmits data identifying itself and coded data identifying the intended recipient of the facsimile data.
20. A facsimile server arranged to receive from a facsimile machine facsimile data accompanied by data identifying the facsimile machine and coded data identifying the intended recipient of the facsimile data and to transmit the facsimile data on towards the recipient depending on the validity of the coded data.
21. A facsimile machine, a facsimile server or a system substantially as described herein.

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