JP2000134406A - Facsimile equipment and e-mail server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use many kinds of melody patterns without needing a huge capacity memory in a facsimile main body by allowing an E-mail server to store many kinds of melody data and allowing a facsimile equipment to download a melody preferred by the user as required. SOLUTION: The E-mail server 200 is connected to the facsimile equipment through a public line 110. A melody data storage device 201 stores melody data of the E-mail server 200 such as incoming call tone bell and holding tone melody data. The facsimile terminal uses an entry device 104 to select melody data desired to be downloaded from the melody data storage device 201 and requests downloading to the E-mail server 200. The E-mail server 200 transmits the requested melody data to the facsimile terminal. Then the facsimile terminal stores the melody data to a RAM 103 and allows a speaker 107 to sound the data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having an e-mail function and an e-mail server.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a melody used in a facsimile apparatus, a multi-function melody such as an incoming call ring, a hold melody and the like is used. In order to store various types of melody patterns by function in the facsimile main body, an enormous memory is required, and it is very difficult to realize a low-cost facsimile.

Recently, the convenience of the e-mail function has been evaluated, and the number of companies using the e-mail function has been increasing. A personal computer is generally used for use, but it is also considered that the image information is sent from the facsimile apparatus via the e-mail server to the Internet using the function of an e-mail server connected to the Internet network. I have. Further, the e-mail server can provide not only image information but also various information in response to a request from the facsimile machine.

[0004]

In order to use various types of melodies in a facsimile apparatus, a large memory for storing the melody data is required in the facsimile body. In the case of the fixed melody pattern, the number of melodies that can be selected is limited, and there is a problem that the user must use an undesired melody.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which can use various types of melody patterns without having a huge memory in the facsimile main body.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, various types of melody data are stored in an e-mail server, and a desired melody of a user is downloaded to the facsimile as needed. Accordingly, various types of melody patterns can be used in a facsimile having only a small storage memory. The facsimile machine includes means for downloading melody data stored in the server from the server, means for storing melody data to be downloaded, and means for selecting melody data downloaded.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a melody pattern can be downloaded from an e-mail server in a facsimile apparatus connected to an e-mail server connected to the Internet network via a public line. This is a facsimile machine characterized by the fact that the user can select and use a favorite melody from various types of melody data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the melody data is connected to the Internet network and a public line, is connected to a storage device for storing a plurality of melody data, and transmits the melody data in response to a request from the facsimile machine. An e-mail server characterized by transmitting to a facsimile machine via a line, and can be supplied from various types of melody data according to the user's preference.

(Embodiment 1) In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a CPU for controlling a facsimile apparatus; 102, a ROM in which programs and melody data are stored;
Reference numeral 103 denotes a RAM for storing data and the like. 10
Reference numeral 4 denotes an input device used for various operations. 105 is a line control unit for connecting to a telephone line, 106 is a display device,
107 is a speaker. A communication control unit 108 controls data exchange between the terminal and the e-mail server.

Reference numeral 200 denotes an e-mail server; 201, a storage device for storing melody data of the e-mail server;
It stores various melody data such as ringtones and held melody. The e-mail server 200 is connected by a 110 public line.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the input device 104. 10
9 is a function expansion button, 111 is an e-mail button for instructing an e-mail function, 112 is a domain button, 11
Reference numeral 3 denotes a transmission button for instructing the start of transmission.

For example, FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for downloading a ringing bell. Hereinafter, description will be made based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the user presses the “function extension” button 109 shown in FIG. 2 to instruct a function extension (step 500). The facsimile apparatus of the present invention makes a dial call over a public line to connect to a server, and upon completion of the connection, returns a response to the terminal. The user selects a melody download item from the function expansion items displayed on the display device 106 using the input device 104 (step 501). Then, the type of melody data is selected using the input device 104 (step 502). For example, select to download a ringing bell.

Next, the melody data 201 to be downloaded is selected from the melody data 201 of the server using the input device 104 (step 503), and the facsimile apparatus requests the server to download. Accordingly, the server transmits the melody data 201 to the facsimile machine, and the facsimile machine stores the data in the RAM 10.
3, the melody data 201 is stored in the speaker 1 simultaneously.
07. If the download is successful, return an OK response.

The user listens to the incoming call bell downloaded from the server through the speaker 107 (step 50).
4) If the confirmation is "OK", the downloaded melody data is set as the ring tone. If the confirmation is "NO", the process returns to step 503.

In the above, an example of downloading a ringing bell has been described. However, other melodies such as a held melody can be downloaded in the same manner. It is also possible to select between melody data downloaded and stored in the RAM 103 and melody data stored in the ROM 102 in advance. The transmission and reception of data between the terminal and the server are controlled by the communication control unit 108 and are performed using DTMF signals.

In this example, an item displayed on the display device 106 is selected by the input device 104.
A method of selecting according to a voice guide is also possible.

Although the embodiment has been described above, the type of input device (for example, voice input) and the type of storage device (for example, flash ROM) are not limited.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, various types of melody patterns can be used with only a small storage memory in the facsimile main body, so that the user can also receive a service with high expandability.

Further, the user does not need to be aware of the melody pattern of the server, and the user does not need to perform complicated operations when downloading melody data from the server. There is an effect that a facsimile apparatus that can reliably connect can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram using a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an input device used in the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the facsimile machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 CPU 102 ROM 103 RAM 104 Input device 105 Line control unit 106 Display device 107 Speaker 110 Public line 200 E-mail server 201 Melody data

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 11/08 (72) Inventor Yoshinori Ikeguchi 1006 Odakadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72 Inventor Shinya Hiroki 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 5K101 KK01 KK02 MM04 MM05 MM07 NN02 NN25 NN36 RR12 TT02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus connected via a public line to an e-mail server connected to an Internet network, wherein the melody pattern of the facsimile can be downloaded from the e-mail server. 2. A ringing bell of the facsimile machine from a melody pattern downloaded from an e-mail server.
2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile apparatus has a function of selecting a reserved melody or the like. 3. A facsimile machine connected by a public line to an e-mail server connected to the Internet network, a storage unit for storing data and the like, an input device used for various operations, and a telephone line. A line control unit, a function button for instructing various functions, and a speaker. When the user operates the function button and selects the melody download function, a dial call is made on the public line. When the user selects the type of melody data, the user requests a download to the e-mail server, stores the melody data transmitted from the e-mail server in the storage unit, and connects the speaker to the e-mail server. Control means for setting to use the melody data at that time according to the instruction by the user for the reproduction by the user A facsimile machine characterized by having: 4. Connected to the Internet and a public line,
Connected to a storage device that stores multiple melody data,
An e-mail server for transmitting melody data to a facsimile apparatus via a public line in response to a request from the facsimile apparatus.