JP2000134265A - Control method for internet facsimile communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a real time type facsimile communication system with respect to a facsimile equipment connecting to a digital network by adopting the configuration such that a receiver side Internet gateway uses a telephone number of a receiver side facsimile equipment informed from a transmitter side gateway so as to make dialing to the receiver side facsimile equipment. SOLUTION: The system is provided with Internet gateways GW1, GW2 having a function of facsimile communication between facsimile equipments FG1, FG2 and a function of conducting real time transmission protocol via the INternet INET. Then a transmitter side facsimile equipment informs a transmitter side gateway of a telephone number of a receiver side gateway at dialing. The transmitter side gateway extracts the telephone number of the receiver side facsimile equipment and informs the receiver side gateway of the telephone number of the receiver side facsimile equipment and the receiver side gateway uses the telephone number of the receiver side facsimile equipment that is informed so as to make dialing to the receiver side facsimile equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plurality of real-time Internet gateway devices having a function of exchanging image information with a facsimile machine via a digital public network and a function of exchanging information via the Internet. And a method for controlling an Internet facsimile communication system for realizing facsimile communication between the facsimile apparatuses in real time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a communication system for communicating facsimile image information using electronic mail exchanged on the Internet (hereinafter, referred to as a "mail-type Internet facsimile communication system") has come into practical use. . For such communication systems, the IE
TF (Internet Engineering T
Ask Force), an RFC issued by an organization that summarizes technical content related to the Internet.
(Request For Comments) 230
The technical contents are defined by 1-2306.

However, in this mail type Internet facsimile communication system, the transmitting facsimile apparatus and the final destination facsimile apparatus do not directly communicate with each other, so that it is not possible to immediately confirm the communication capability between the facsimile apparatuses. Then, a situation arises in which image information communication using various functions (resolution, image processing capability, etc.) of the facsimile apparatus cannot be performed. Further, since the notification of the communication result cannot be performed immediately, it takes time until the communication result is notified to the transmission side user, and a countermeasure in a case where the necessity of retransmission or the like arises is delayed.

Therefore, as a facsimile communication system using the Internet, a plurality of real-time Internet gateway devices having a function of exchanging image information with a facsimile device via a public network and a function of exchanging information via the Internet are provided. Using two real-time Internet gateway devices,
A real-time Internet facsimile communication system for realizing facsimile communication between facsimile apparatuses via the Internet in real time has been proposed.

[0005] In such a real-time Internet facsimile communication system, the transmitting facsimile machine sends a call to the receiving real-time Internet gateway device to notify the destination telephone number. For the gateway device,
The destination telephone number notified from the transmitting facsimile machine is notified, and a connection request is made.

[0006] The remote-side real-time Internet gateway device calls the notified destination telephone number,
When the line is established, a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is started with the receiving facsimile apparatus, and a predetermined real-time transmission procedure is started.

[0007] Thereby, the reception-side real-time Internet gateway device starts a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure with the transmission-side group 3 facsimile device, and executes a predetermined real-time transmission procedure with the remote-side real-time Internet gateway device. Execute.

As a result, the transmitting-side facsimile apparatus can perform real-time facsimile communication with the receiving-side facsimile apparatus via the receiving-side real-time Internet gateway apparatus, the Internet, and the remote-side real-time Internet gateway apparatus. Image information can be transmitted.

Therefore, in this real-time type Internet facsimile communication system, since the communication capability between the facsimile devices can be confirmed in real time, the transmitting facsimile device can transmit image information according to the communication capability of the receiving facsimile device. In addition, since the communication result is obtained immediately, retransmission operation and the like can be performed quickly.

[0010]

The real-time Internet facsimile communication system as described above defines a case where a group 3 facsimile apparatus using an analog network as a public network executes facsimile communication using the Internet. And a facsimile machine using a digital network, for example, a group 3 / group 4 facsimile machine directly connected to the ISDN or a TA (terminal adapter).
Group 3 facsimile machines connected to SDN include:
Not applicable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a control method of an Internet facsimile communication system capable of providing a real-time facsimile communication system to a facsimile apparatus connected to a digital network. It is intended to be.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a real-time Internet gateway device having a function of exchanging image information with a facsimile apparatus via a digital public network and a function of exchanging information via the Internet. In a control method of an Internet facsimile communication system that realizes facsimile communication between the facsimile apparatuses in real time via the facsimile apparatus, the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side makes a call to the real-time Internet gateway apparatus on the transmitting side, At least the address information of the real-time Internet gateway device on the receiving side and the file information on the receiving side are transmitted to the real-time Internet gateway device using the user / user information element of the call control procedure signal. While notifying the telephone number of the facsimile apparatus, the real-time Internet gateway apparatus on the transmission side transmits the reception-side Internet information based on the contents of the user / user information element included in the call control procedure signal received from the transmission-side facsimile apparatus. The address information of the gateway device and the telephone number of the receiving facsimile device are extracted, a connection request is made to the extracted receiving Internet gateway device, and the extracted telephone number of the receiving facsimile device is notified. The Internet gateway device uses the telephone number of the receiving facsimile device notified from the transmitting Internet gateway device to make a call to the receiving facsimile device.

The address information of the real-time Internet gateway device on the receiving side may be an IP address or a host domain name.

The real-time Internet gateway device further includes an authentication table in which a set of a user ID and a password for authenticating a registered user is registered, and the user-user information element includes Wherein the transmitting real-time Internet gateway device comprises:
User I extracted from received user / user information element
Based on D and the password, an authentication process with reference to the authentication table may be performed, and the operation may be continued only when the user is confirmed as a registered user.

[0015]

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

FIG. 1 shows an example of a real-time Internet facsimile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This real-time type Internet facsimile communication system comprises a group 3 / group 4 facsimile apparatus FG1, F2 connected to a digital network ISDN.
G2, a function for performing facsimile communication between the group 3 / group 4 facsimile apparatuses FG1 and FG2 connected to the digital network ISDN, and a function for performing a predetermined real-time transmission procedure via the Internet INET connected to the Internet INET. GW1 and GW2.

Here, the group 3 / group 4 facsimile apparatus FG1 and the real-time internet gateway apparatus GW1 are installed in the same area, and the group 3 / group 4 facsimile apparatus FG2 and the real-time internet gateway apparatus GW2 are installed in the same area. And their installation areas are mutually remote areas.

Therefore, in this case, for the group 3 / group 4 facsimile apparatus FG1, the real-time Internet gateway apparatus GW1 provides a communication service, and for the group 3 / group 4 facsimile apparatus FG2, the real-time Internet gateway apparatus GW2 Provides communication services.

The group 3 / group 4 facsimile apparatuses FG1 and FG2 have a group 3 facsimile transmission function and a group 4 facsimile transmission function, and execute a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure or a group 4 facsimile transmission procedure via the digital network ISDN. And a function of transmitting image information.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the real-time Internet gateway device GW (GW1, GW2).

In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each unit of the real-time Internet gateway device, a facsimile transmission control procedure process, and a real-time transmission control procedure process. Reference numeral 2 stores a control processing program to be executed by the system control unit 1 and various data necessary for executing the processing program, and constitutes a work area of the system control unit 1. Is for storing various kinds of information unique to the real-time Internet gateway device, and the clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.

The encoding / decoding section 5 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. It is mainly used for error detection during reception. The image storage device 6 is for storing a large number of image information in a coded and compressed state.

The group 3 facsimile modem 8 is for realizing a group 3 facsimile modem function. The group 3 facsimile modem 8 is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals, and mainly exchanges image information. High-speed modem function (V.17 modem, V.17
34 modem, V.34. 29 modem, V.29. 27ter modem etc.).

The ISDN interface circuit 10 connects the group 4 facsimile apparatus to the ISDN, and performs a signal processing function of layer 1 and a signal of D channel (signal channel) and two B channels (information channel).
The D-channel transmission control unit 11 has a function of integrating / separating signals such as call setup / call release procedure processing.
This is for executing signal processing on the D channel of the DN, and the B channel transmission control units 12 and 13 are for realizing a group 4 facsimile transmission procedure function performed on the B channel.

The local area network interface circuit 14 is for connecting the real-time Internet gateway device to the local area network LAN.
Communication control processing (e-mail transmission / reception processing and point-to-point communication) of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with other data terminal devices via
Point communication processing).

The control unit 1, the system memory 2,
The parameter memory 3, the clock circuit 4, the scanner 5, the plotter 6, the operation display unit 7, the encoding / decoding unit 8, the image storage device 9, the D-channel transmission control unit 10, and the B-channel transmission control units 12 and 13 It is connected to a network transmission control unit 15 and a system bus 16, and data exchange between these components is mainly performed via the system bus 16.

Further, the real-time Internet gateway device GW is provided with an authentication table including authentication information as shown in FIG. 3 for each user who can use the real-time type Internet facsimile communication system. In the authentication table, the above-described authentication information is registered for all registered users.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a transmission procedure executed by the group 4 facsimile apparatus using the digital network ISDN when transmitting image information.

First, the originating terminal sends a call setup message SETUP designating the intended destination terminal as the destination to ISDN to request a call setup with the destination terminal.
Sends a call setting acceptance message CALL_PROC for notifying the call setting status to the calling terminal, and sends a call setting message SETUP to the designated destination terminal to make a call.

When the called terminal answers the incoming call, it sends a response message CONN to the ISDN.
Sends a response acknowledgment message CONN_ACK to the terminating terminal to confirm the response of the terminating terminal, at which point a B channel for data transmission is established between the calling terminal and the terminating terminal. The terminating terminal starts a transmission procedure on the B channel.

First, the calling terminal sends a command SABM to request setting of a link layer, and the called terminal responds with a response UA, whereby the link layer is set.

Next, the calling terminal sends out a signal SQ in order to establish a network layer end to end.
The called terminal sends out a signal SF to accept it,
Next, the calling terminal sends out a signal CR for a call request, and the called terminal responds to the signal CA to accept the call, whereby the network layer is set.

Next, the originating terminal sends out a signal TCR to set the transport layer, and the destination terminal sends out a signal TCA to accept it, whereby the transport layer is set up.

Then, the originating terminal sends a session start command CSS to set a session layer connection, and the destination terminal responds with a session start acknowledgment response RSSP, whereby the session layer is started. .

Next, the calling terminal sends out a document function list command CDCL to negotiate the transmission function to be used, and the called terminal sends out a document function list acknowledgment RDCLP, thereby confirming the receiving capability. Adjustments are made. Here, the document function list command CDCL is provided with a parameter “private”, and by using this parameter “private”, the calling terminal can transmit any information to the called terminal. The document function list affirmative response RDCLP is provided with a parameter “private”, and by using this parameter “private”, the destination terminal can transmit any information to the calling terminal.

When the preparation for image information transmission is completed in this way, the originating terminal starts a document including various information for managing document information to be transmitted, such as a document reference number for distinguishing the document to be transmitted. Following the command CDS, a plurality of document user information commands CDUI
, The image information for one document is transmitted, and when the transmission is completed, a document end command CDE is sent out to send 1
Notifies the end of document image information. Here, the document start command CDS is provided with a parameter “private”, and by using this parameter “private”, the calling terminal can send any information to the receiving terminal, for example, the details of the transmission document. Important information and attribute information can be notified.

The destination terminal receives image information of one document by a plurality of document user information commands CDUI,
Next, when the document end command CDE is received, a document end acknowledgment RDEP indicating that the reception of the document at this time has been normally ended is transmitted.

When one document includes a plurality of pages, except for the last page, when the transmission of the image information of each page is completed, the calling terminal issues a document page boundary command indicating the end of one page. The destination terminal sends out a document page boundary acknowledgment RDPBP indicating that the image information of one page at this time has been normally received.

When the transmission of the image information for one document is completed in this manner, the calling terminal sets the session end command CSE
And the destination terminal sends a session end positive response RS
The EP is transmitted to release the connection of the session layer.

The originating terminal then sends a signal CQ of the network layer, whereas the terminating terminal sends a signal CF, whereby the network layer is released and the calling terminal transmits a command of the link layer. DIS
C, the destination terminal sends a response UA, thereby releasing the link layer.

In this way, when the link (call) on the B channel is released, the calling terminal sets the disconnection message DI
Send SC to ISDN to request release of B channel,
ISDN sends a release message REL to the calling terminal to notify the B channel of recovery. On the other hand, the ISDN sends a disconnection message DISC to the called terminal to request the release of the B channel, and the called terminal sends the release message REL to the ISD
N to notify the recovery of the B channel.

As a result, the originating terminal sends a release completion message REL_COMP for notifying the completion of channel disconnection to IS
Respond to the DN, thereby releasing the B channel between the calling terminal and the ISDN. At the same time, ISDN
A release completion message REL_COMP is sent to the destination terminal, whereby the B channel between the ISDN and the destination terminal is released. As a result, the B channel set between the calling terminal and the called terminal is completely released.

In this way, the B channel is set between the calling terminal and the called terminal, data transmission is performed according to the group 4 facsimile transmission procedure, and when the data transmission ends, the B channel is released. .

FIG. 5 shows a digital network I via the TA.
An example of a transmission procedure when a group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to the SDN or a facsimile apparatus directly connected to the digital network ISDN and having a group 3 / group 4 facsimile function performs group 3 facsimile communication is shown. .

First, the originating terminal sends a call setup message SETUP designating the intended destination terminal as the destination to the ISDN to request a call setup with the destination terminal.
Sends a call setting acceptance message CALL_PROC for notifying the call setting status to the calling terminal, and sends a call setting message SETUP to the designated destination terminal to make a call.

When the called terminal answers the incoming call, it sends a response message CONN to the ISDN, whereby the ISDN
Sends a response acknowledgment message CONN_ACK to the terminating terminal to confirm the response of the terminating terminal, at which point a call for data transmission is established on the B channel between the calling terminal and the terminating terminal, The originating and terminating terminals initiate a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure on the B channel.

That is, the calling terminal transmits a predetermined tone signal CNG which is a calling signal of the group 3 facsimile transmission procedure.
And the receiving terminal that has received the tone signal CNG,
In addition to responding to the predetermined tone signal CED, it sends out a signal DIS for notifying the standard transmission function of its own terminal to the calling terminal.

Thus, the calling terminal receives the received signal D
Based on the transmission function information included in the IS, a transmission function such as a modem speed and an image line density to be used at that time is determined, and a predetermined signal DCS is transmitted to the destination terminal to notify the determined transmission function. At the same time, a signal TCF is sent to the destination terminal to perform modem training at the modem speed determined at that time.

The destination terminal sets the transmission function of its own terminal based on the received signal DCS, and receives the signal TCF at the set modem speed. The signal CFR is sent to the calling terminal.

When signal CFR is returned from the receiving terminal, the transmitting terminal transmits the transmission image information PIX1 to PIXn in the order of pages, and when transmission of each page is completed, if there is a subsequent page, signal MPS is transmitted. If there is no subsequent page, the signal EOP is transmitted to the destination terminal as a post-transmission signal.

When the receiving terminal receives the image information PIX1 to PIXn, it checks the contents of the post-transmission signal to determine whether there is a subsequent page. If the signal EOP has been received, the process proceeds to a termination procedure.

When transmission of the image information of all pages is completed, the calling terminal sends a predetermined signal DCN to the called terminal, thereby ending the call established on the information channel. Upon receiving the signal DCN, the terminating terminal terminates the call established on the information channel.

When the call on the B channel is terminated in this way, the calling terminal sends a disconnect message DISC to the ISD
N to request the release of the B channel, ISDN
A release message REL is sent to the calling terminal to notify that the B channel has been restored. On the other hand, ISDN sends a disconnection message DISC to the called terminal to request release of the B channel,
The terminating terminal sends a release message REL to ISDN to notify that the B channel has been restored.

As a result, the originating terminal sends a release completion message REL_COMP for notifying the completion of channel disconnection to IS
Respond to the DN, thereby releasing the B channel between the calling terminal and the ISDN. At the same time, ISDN
A release completion message REL_COMP is sent to the destination terminal, whereby the B channel between the ISDN and the destination terminal is released. As a result, the B channel set between the calling terminal and the called terminal is completely released.

In this way, the B channel is set between the calling terminal and the called terminal, data transmission is performed according to the group 4 facsimile transmission procedure, and when the data transmission ends, the B channel is released. .

As shown in FIG. 6A, each message for setting up a call in the digital network ISDN is a protocol for identifying a protocol specification (format, sequence, etc.) for defining a layer 3 call control message. An identifier, a call number for identifying which call the message is involved in, a message type for identifying the content of each message, a mandatory information element which is always added to each message, and And additional information elements that are added to the message as needed. Note that 0, 1, or a plurality of essential information elements are set according to the message type, and 0, 1, or a plurality of additional information elements are arranged according to the situation.

The call setup message SETUP has "communication capability" as an essential information element, as shown in FIG.
The additional information elements include, for example, "calling number",
"First sub address", "Destination number", "Destination sub address", "Lower layer compatibility", "Higher layer compatibility",
And it has information elements such as "user".

The outline of these information elements will be described.

The “transmission capability” information element indicates whether the content of information to be transmitted is voice, unrestricted digital information, restricted digital information, 3.1 KHz audio, 7 KHz audio, or video. Capability, transfer mode indicating whether the switching function used is circuit switching or packet switching, information transfer speed indicating information transfer speed, information indicating information transfer mode, information indicating user information protocol, etc. Consists of

The “calling number” information element is the ISDN of the calling terminal.
The "calling sub-address" information element indicates the sub-address of the calling terminal, and the "calling number" information element indicates the sub-address of the calling terminal.
Indicates the ISDN number of the terminating terminal. "Destination subaddress"
The information element indicates a subaddress of the destination terminal.

[0062] The "lower layer consistency" information element is to be used for a communication possibility check with the partner terminal.
The basic content is the same as the "communication capability" information element. Further, the "lower layer consistency" information element includes more detailed contents.

The “higher layer compatibility” information element is used for checking the compatibility with the partner terminal, and includes, for example, telephone, group 2 / group 3 facsimile, group 4 facsimile, mixed mode, teletex,
Displays which terminal function is provided among terminal functions such as Videotex, Telex, Audio-Visual, and Message Handling System.

The “user / user” information element is used for transmitting information between users, and the content of the “user / user” information element is transmitted transparently without being interpreted by ISDN. It is transmitted to the other user.

The “reason indication” information element is a message including the information element (in this case, the release completion message REL_
(COMP) is generated, and diagnostic information indicating the reason for the error that occurred during the call setup procedure and the like is notified.

The "display" information element is for displaying various display information from the ISDN to the user.

With the above configuration, the group 3 / group 4 facsimile apparatus FG1 (hereinafter referred to as "transmitting facsimile") uses this real-time type Internet facsimile communication system to perform group 3 / group 4 transmission.
A case in which image information is transmitted to and from a facsimile apparatus FG2 (hereinafter, referred to as a "receiving FAX") will be described.

First, the transmitting-side FAX is connected to the real-time Internet gateway device GW1 (hereinafter referred to as “transmitting-side G
W ". When a call is sent by sending a call setup message SETUP to ()), information as shown in FIG. 7 is set in the “user / user” information element. That is, the "IP address of the opposite GW" for designating the real-time Internet gateway device GW2 (hereinafter, referred to as "receiving GW") which is a corresponding gateway, and the group 3 / group 4 facsimile device FG2 (hereinafter, referred to as "final destination").
This is referred to as “receiving fax machine”. )), The “reception-side FAX number”, the “user ID” and the “password” input by the transmitting user at that time.

On the other hand, the transmitting GW is a digital network ISDN.
Of the call setup message SETUP received from
“IP address of opposite GW”, “FAX number of receiving side”, “user ID”, and “password” are respectively extracted from the “user” information element.

Then, the extracted “user ID” is registered in the authentication table of the terminal itself, and it is checked whether or not the password registered in the registered “user ID” matches the extracted password. If they do not match, it recognizes that the access is unauthorized and rejects the call at that time.

If they match, it is recognized that the access is normal, and a call with the sending FAX is established.
Thereby, an information channel is established between the transmitting-side FAX and the transmitting-side GW.

The authentication result of the transmitting GW is transmitted as a procedure signal (authentication OK) from the transmitting GW to the transmitting FAX as “authentication result” information as shown in FIG.
In this case, the response message CONN is used, and in the case of authentication NG, the disconnection message DISC is used. ) Is set in the “user / user” information element and notified to the sending FAX.

At the same time, the transmitting GW sets the “opposed GW
Requesting a connection for communication to the receiving GW using the “IP address”, and when the receiving GW accepts the connection and confirms the connection, the receiving GW notifies the “receiving FAX number”.

Further, the receiving GW receives a connection confirmation response from the transmitting GW when a connection is requested, and sends the received “receiving FA
A call is made to the "X number" to establish a call with the receiving FAX, thereby establishing an information channel between the receiving GW and the receiving FAX.

Thus, the transmitting-side FAX and the transmitting-side GW,
Communication paths are established between the transmitting GW and the receiving GW, and between the receiving GW and the receiving FAX, respectively.
A communication path from X to the receiving FAX is established.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG.
A communication operation is performed in which a transmission procedure signal exchanged between the AX and the reception-side FAX is relayed by the transmission-side GW and the reception-side GW via the Internet INET, respectively.
The image information is transmitted from the transmitting FAX to the receiving FAX.

In this case, each procedure signal is
The packet data carrying these are exchanged between the sending GW and the receiving GW via the Internet INET. FIG. 10 shows an example of the signal format of the packet data.

When this image information communication is completed, the transmission side GW and the transmission side GW are connected between the transmission side FAX and the transmission side GW.
The communication paths between the W and the receiving GW and the receiving FAX are terminated by an appropriate procedure.

In this way, the transmitting FAX can transmit image information to the receiving FAX using the real-time type Internet facsimile communication system.

Note that the transmitting FAX and the receiving FAX execute the group 3 facsimile transmission procedure to transmit the image information, and the transmission FAX and the reception FAX execute the group 4 facsimile transmission procedure to transmit the image information. Almost the same operation is performed except for a general protocol.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the group 3 / group 4 facsimile transmission procedure can be executed using the digital network ISDN.
A group 3 / group 4 facsimile apparatus using a DN can realize image information transmission using a real-time type Internet facsimile communication system,
Very convenient.

FIG. 11 shows an example of processing at the time of transmission by the transmission-side FAX.

The user sets the transmission original (Step 10
1) Input a destination (process 102), and depress a start key (not shown) to instruct transmission start (process 10).
3) The contents to be set in the “user / user” information element of the call setup message SETUP as described above, that is, “IP address of opposite GW”, “FAX number of receiving side”, “user ID” and “password” Created (process 104), and the pre-registered sending GW
A call setup message SETUP is sent to the digital network ISDN in order to originate a call (step 105). Here, the transmission-side FAX requests the user to input a user ID and a password when inputting a destination, and holds the request.

Next, it is checked whether a response message CONN has been received from the digital network ISDN (decision 1).
06). If the result of the determination 106 is YES, it means that the transmitting GW has succeeded in user authentication, and the real-time Internet facsimile communication system can be used.

Therefore, it is checked whether the operation mode set at that time is the group 4 facsimile mode (decision 107), and if the result of decision 107 is YES, a predetermined group 4 facsimile transmission process (process 1)
08) to transmit the transmission image information to the destination, and when the set operation mode is the group 3 facsimile mode and the result of the determination 107 is NO, the predetermined group 4 facsimile transmission processing (processing 109) to transmit the transmission image information to the destination.

When the transmission of the image information is completed in this way, the call established with the transmitting GW is released and disconnected (process 110), and this process ends.

On the other hand, when the response message CONN cannot be received from the digital network ISDN and the disconnection message DISC has been received, and the result of the determination 106 is YES, the transmitting GW has failed in user authentication.
Therefore, a release message REL is transmitted (process 11).
1) Sends a release completion message REL_COMP (process 112), releases the call, and displays an error indicating that the user authentication failed and image information could not be transmitted (process 11).
3), this process ends in error.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the processing of the transmitting GW.

The call setup message SETUP received from the digital network ISDN is analyzed (process 20), and among the elements extracted from the “user / user” information element, stored using the “user ID” and the “password”. With reference to the authentication table that is being accessed, it is checked whether or not the access is normal (process 202).

In the authentication process of process 202, when it is determined that “authentication is OK”, and when the result of determination 203 is YES, “OK” is contained in the “user / user” information element in the digital network ISDN. A response message CONN in which the authentication result information is set
4) establish a call with the sending FAX,
Using the “IP address of the opposing GW”, a connection request is made to the receiving GW (process 205), and a connection using the Internet INET is established with the receiving GW (process 20).
6).

Next, a transmission procedure signal exchanged between the transmitting-side FAX and the receiving-side FAX is transmitted to the transmitting-side GW, respectively.
Then, the transmission side GW process which is a communication operation (see FIG. 9) in a mode in which the reception side GW relays via the Internet INET is executed (process 207).

When the image information transmission operation between the transmission-side FAX and the reception-side FAX is completed, and the transmission-side GW is terminated, the connection with the reception-side GW on the Internet INET is terminated (step 208). The call between and is disconnected and released (process 209), and this operation ends.

On the other hand, in process 202, the sending FAX
In this case, the authentication of the “user ID” and the “password” notified by the user has failed, and it is determined that “authentication is OK”.
A disconnection message DIS in which authentication result information having "NG" in the "user / user" information element is set in the DN.
C is sent to the digital network ISDN (process 210).

Thereafter, the release message REL is received from the digital network ISDN (process 211), and the digital network I
A release completion message REL_COMP is sent to the SDN (process 212), and the process at this time ends.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the processing of the receiving GW.

When a connection request is sent from the transmitting GW, a connection confirmation is sent to the transmitting GW to establish a connection on the Internet INET with the transmitting GW (step 30).
1), "Receiver FAX number" notified by the sender GW
Call using the digital network ISDN (step 30)
2), response message CONN from digital network ISDN
Is received (process 303), and a call is established with the receiving-side FAX.

[0097] Thereafter, the sending FAX and the receiving FAX
The transmission side GW and the reception side GW each execute a reception side GW process as a communication operation (see FIG. 9) in which the transmission side signal and the reception side GW are relayed via the Internet INET (process 304).

When the image information transmission operation between the transmitting FAX and the receiving FAX is completed and the receiving GW is completed, the connection with the transmitting GW on the Internet INET is terminated (step 305), and The call during is disconnected and released (process 306), and this operation ends.

[0099]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A group 3 / group 4 facsimile transmission procedure can be performed using the digital network ISDN, and a group 3 / group 4 facsimile apparatus using the digital network ISDN can use the real-time type Internet facsimile communication system to transmit image information. Transmission can be realized, and the effect that it is very convenient is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a real-time Internet facsimile communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a real-time Internet gateway device GW (GW1, GW2).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of authentication information.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an example of a transmission procedure executed by the group 4 facsimile apparatus using the digital network ISDN when transmitting image information.

FIG. 5 shows a group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to a digital network ISDN via a TA or a digital network I;
6 is a time chart showing an example of a transmission procedure when a facsimile apparatus directly connected to the SDN and having a group 3 / group 4 facsimile function performs group 3 facsimile communication.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a signal format of a call setup message of the layer 3 of the digital network ISDN.

FIG. 7: “User / User” of setup message
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of information set in an information element.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of “authentication result” information.

FIG. 9 shows a transmission procedure signal exchanged between a transmission-side FAX and a reception-side FAX, respectively.
6 is a time chart showing an example of a communication operation in a mode in which the communication is relayed via the Internet INET.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a signal format of the packet data.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by a transmitting-side FAX when transmitting.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of a transmission-side GW.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed by a receiving GW.

[Explanation of symbols]

GW, GW1, GW2 Real-time Internet gateway device

Continued on front page F-term (reference)

Claims (4)

[Claims] A plurality of real-time Internet gateway devices having a function of exchanging image information with a facsimile device via a digital public network and a function of exchanging information via the Internet are provided. In a control method of an Internet facsimile communication system for realizing facsimile communication in real time, the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side makes a call to the real time Internet gateway on the transmitting side, and makes a call to the real time Internet gateway on the transmitting side. At least the address information of the real-time Internet gateway device on the receiving side and the telephone number of the facsimile device on the receiving side using the user / user information element of the control procedure signal. On the other hand, based on the contents of the user / user information element included in the call control procedure signal received from the transmitting facsimile apparatus, the real-time Internet gateway apparatus on the transmitting side transmits address information of the receiving Internet gateway apparatus and The telephone number of the receiving facsimile apparatus is extracted, a connection request is made to the extracted receiving Internet gateway apparatus, and the extracted telephone number of the receiving facsimile apparatus is notified. A method for controlling an Internet facsimile communication system, wherein a call is made to the receiving facsimile apparatus using the telephone number of the receiving facsimile apparatus notified from the transmitting Internet gateway apparatus. 2. The control method for an Internet facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the address information of the receiving-side real-time Internet gateway device is an IP address. 3. The control method for an Internet facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the address information of the receiving-side real-time Internet gateway device is a host domain name. 4. The real-time Internet gateway device further includes an authentication table in which a set of a user ID and a password for authenticating a registered user is registered, and the user-user information element includes an input transmission-side user. The transmitting real-time Internet gateway device performs an authentication process with reference to the authentication table based on the user ID and password extracted from the received user / user information element, and confirms with the registered user. 4. The control method for an Internet facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the operation is continued only when it is possible.