JP2000287008A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce communication cost required when a facsimile document is transferred via a line switching network by means of a gateway function of the facsimile equipment. SOLUTION: Upon the receipt of a FAX main that designates execution of an off-ramp gateway via the Internet 7, a CPU 11 stores image data denoted by the FAX mail to an off-ramp image storage area of an image storage section 15. Furthermore, the CPU 11 stores communication information denoting a destination or the like through the off-ramp gateway to a communication information storage area of an information storage section 14. Then the CPU 11 transmits the image data stored in the off-ramp image storage area of the image storage section 15 to the destination designated by the communication information stored in the communication information storage area of the information storage section 14 via a PSTN 3, in response to the current time denoted by a clock part 25 reached the preset transmitting time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a PSTN (Public).
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus for performing image communication by using a circuit switching network such as a switched telephone network and a computer network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of communicating an image with a remote place,
A facsimile machine using PSTN or ISDN is generally used. This type of facsimile machine is widely used not only in the business field but also in homes because it is easy to operate and can convey a task even when no partner is present.

A facsimile communication standard using PSTN or ISDN is based on ITU (International Telecommunications).
ion Union) as standard recommendations for G3 facsimile and G4 facsimile.

The advantages of such a conventional facsimile are as follows.
The ability to transfer data at the fastest communication speed allowed by the bandwidth of the communication line by securing a communication line with the facsimile on the direct receiving side. Being able to confirm that data has been transmitted reliably by communicating directly with the other party. Alternatively, in order to perform capability negotiation for confirming whether the format of data to be transmitted is an acceptable format on the receiving side, data can be reliably transmitted.

On the other hand, with the generalization of the Internet, services using the Internet instead of the conventional circuit-switched network have become popular.

In particular, when the transmission distance and the data amount are large, transmission over the Internet can reduce the communication cost. Therefore, a function of transmitting and receiving images via the Internet is provided by a normal facsimile apparatus. A facsimile machine equipped in addition to the functions of the FAX has appeared.

[0007] Such a facsimile apparatus once receives facsimile data arriving via one of the networks, utilizing the fact that facsimile communication can be performed using both the circuit switching network and the Internet. Then, a so-called gateway function of transferring the facsimile data to another terminal via the other network is realized.

If such a gateway function is used, even when facsimile communication is performed between facsimile apparatuses not having a function of performing communication via the Internet, the facsimile apparatuses are installed at positions relatively close to the respective facsimile apparatuses. By interposing a facsimile machine having a gateway function, facsimile communication via the Internet can be performed. In this case, the transmission distance by the circuit switching network can be shortened depending on conditions, and the communication cost can be reduced.

[0009]

However, in a facsimile apparatus having such a gateway function, conventionally, when facsimile data for which execution of gateway processing is specified is received, the facsimile data is immediately transmitted to the specified transmission. It was to be sent to the previous terminal.

For this reason, when a request for gateway processing for transmission to a circuit-switched network, that is, a request for so-called off-ramp gateway processing is made at a time when the unit price of the charge for the circuit-switched network is high, the high line is used. Facsimile communication has to be performed, and the communication cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the communication cost when performing facsimile transfer via a circuit switching network by a gateway function. It is to provide a facsimile machine which can be used.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides facsimile communication via a predetermined circuit switching network such as PSTN and a predetermined computer network such as the Internet. In a facsimile machine capable of, a storage means for storing facsimile data, for example, an off-ramp image storage area set in an image storage unit, and to a predetermined destination terminal via the circuit switching network When facsimile data to be transmitted arrives, the facsimile data is stored in the storage means, for example, facsimile data storage control means such as an off-ramp image storage control means realized by software processing of a CPU, and the storage means For stored facsimile data That manages the destination terminal, for example, communication information storage device is set in the information storage unit and the CP
A transmission destination management unit composed of a communication information management unit realized by software processing of U and a timer transmission timing detection unit realized by software processing of a clock unit and a CPU for monitoring arrival of a preset distribution timing, for example. Distribution timing monitoring means, and when the arrival of the distribution timing is detected by the distribution timing monitoring means, the facsimile data stored in the storage means is managed by the transmission destination management means with respect to the facsimile data. Transfer control means, such as timer transmission control means, which is implemented by software processing of the CPU, for example, to transmit to a destination terminal.

By taking such means, when facsimile data to be transmitted via the circuit switching network arrives at a predetermined destination terminal, the facsimile data is stored and the facsimile data is stored. The destination terminal of the data is managed. Then, when a preset distribution timing arrives, the stored facsimile data is transmitted to the destination terminal.
Therefore, regardless of the timing at which the facsimile data arrives, the transmission of the facsimile data via the circuit switching network is performed at a preset transmission timing.

[0014] Further, the present invention further comprises the transfer control means, wherein when the delivery timing monitoring means detects the arrival of the delivery timing, the facsimile data stored in the storage means has the same destination terminal. When there is a plurality of data, the plurality of facsimile data are transmitted by one line connection.

By taking such means, when transmitting facsimile data at a preset distribution timing, if there are a plurality of stored facsimile data having the same destination, The plurality of pieces of facsimile data are transmitted in a line by one line connection. Therefore, if there are a plurality of stored facsimile data having the same destination, the communication procedure for transmitting the facsimile data is simplified.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment.

In this figure, the portion denoted by reference numeral 1 is the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment. The facsimile apparatus 1 has a CPU 11, a ROM 12, an R
AM 13, information storage unit 14, image storage unit 15, encoding /
Decoding unit 16, scanner 17, printer 18, modem 1
9, NCU 20, telephone control unit 21, line signal detection unit 2
2, a LAN interface 23, an operation / display unit 24, and a clock unit 25.

Then, CPU 11, ROM 12, RAM
13, information storage unit 14, image storage unit 15, encoding / decoding unit 16, scanner 17, printer 18, modem 19,
The NCU 20, the line signal detector 22, the LAN interface 23, the operation / display unit 24, and the clock unit 25 are connected to each other via a system bus 26. Also NCU
A modem 19 and a telephone control unit 21 are connected to 20, and a line signal detection unit 22 is connected to the telephone control unit 21, respectively.

The CPU 11 realizes an operation as a facsimile apparatus by performing a control process for comprehensively controlling each unit based on a control program stored in the ROM 12.

The ROM 12 stores a control program for the CPU 11 and the like.

The RAM 13 is used to store various information required for the CPU 11 to perform various processes.

The information storage unit 14 is, for example, a flash memory or the like, and stores various setting information and other information. A part of the storage area of the information storage unit 14 is set as a transmission time storage area for storing a transmission time for performing timer transmission. Information storage unit 14
A part of the storage area is set as a communication information storage area for storing communication information such as a transmission destination regarding image data to be subjected to timer transmission.

The image storage unit 15 is, for example, a large-capacity DRA.
M, a hard disk device, or the like, and temporarily stores received image data and image data waiting to be transmitted. A part of the storage area of the image storage unit 15 is set as an off-ramp image storage area for storing image data for which execution of the off-ramp gateway is specified.

The encoding / decoding section 16 performs encoding processing for redundancy compression on image data and decodes image data that has been encoded for redundancy compression. is there.

The scanner 17 reads a transmission original and generates image data indicating the transmission original.

The printer 18 prints an image indicated by the image data on a recording sheet.

The modem 19 modulates image data to generate a facsimile transmission signal or modulates a command given from the CPU 11 to generate a command transmission signal.
Send to TN subscriber line 2. In addition, the modem 19
The facsimile transmission data arriving via the TN subscriber line 2 and given via the NCU 20 is demodulated to reproduce image data, or the command transmission signal is demodulated to reproduce a command.

The NCU 20 is connected to the PSTN subscriber line 2 housed in the PSTN 3. And NCU2
0 performs status monitoring, transmission processing to a network, and the like for the connected PSTN subscriber line 2. In addition, NCU20
Sets the level while equalizing the facsimile transmission signal transmitted to the PSTN subscriber line 2.

The external telephone 4 is connected to the telephone control unit 21 as needed. Then, the telephone control unit 21 performs a known control process for enabling a telephone call via the PSTN subscriber line 2 using the connected external telephone 4.

Line signal detecting section 22 receives a signal arriving via PSTN subscriber line 2 via NCU 20 and telephone control section 21 and detects the arrival of a predetermined signal.

The Internet 7 is connected to the LAN interface 23 via the LAN line 5 and the mail server 6. And the LAN interface 23
Data transmission via the Internet 7 is performed.

The operation / display unit 24 is provided by a user CPU.
A key input unit for receiving various instruction inputs to the CPU 11 and various information to be notified to the user
It has a display unit and the like for displaying under the control of Eleven.

The clock section 25 always performs a timekeeping operation and outputs current time information indicating the current time.

The control means realized by the CPU 11 operating based on the control program stored in the ROM 12 includes an off-ramp image storage control means, a communication means, It has information management means, timer transmission timing detection means, and timer transmission control means.

Here, the off-ramp image storage control means, when receiving the FAX mail in which the execution of the off-ramp gateway is specified in a state where the timer transmission mode is set, converts the image data indicated in the FAX mail into an image. It is stored in the off-ramp image storage area of the storage unit 15.

The communication information management means manages communication information indicating the destination of the image data stored in the off-ramp image storage area of the image storage unit 15 using the communication information storage area of the information storage unit 14. I do.

The timer transmission timing detecting means detects the arrival of the timer transmission timing based on the transmission time indicated by the transmission time information stored in the transmission time storage area of the information storage unit 14 and the current time output by the clock unit 25. Is detected.

The timer transmission control means designates the image data stored in the off-ramp image storage area of the image storage unit 15 in response to the timer transmission timing detection means detecting the arrival of the timer transmission timing. Processing for transmitting to the destination terminal is performed.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus configured as described above will be described.

First, the facsimile apparatus 1 can naturally perform one-to-one facsimile communication with another facsimile terminal via the PSTN or the Internet, but the operation in that case is the same as that of a conventional facsimile apparatus. Therefore, the description is omitted here. Further, the facsimile apparatus 1 also has a function of an on-ramp gateway for transmitting image data indicated by FAX mail arriving via the Internet 7 to another terminal via the PSTN 3, and the operation in that case is also a conventional facsimile. Since it is the same as the device, the description is omitted here.

Since the characteristic operation of the facsimile apparatus 1 is an operation relating to the off-ramp gateway,
Hereinafter, the operation regarding the off-ramp gateway will be described.

When the facsimile machine is ready for facsimile reception, the CPU 11
When the fax mail arrives via the line 5, a process when the fax mail arrives as shown in FIG. 2 is executed.

In the processing when the FAX mail arrives, the CP
U11 first receives the incoming fax mail according to a well-known procedure (step ST1).

Subsequently, the CPU 11 determines whether or not execution of the off-ramp gateway is specified for the fax mail received in step ST1 (step ST2).

If the execution of the off-ramp gateway is not specified, the received fax mail is addressed to its own device, and the CPU 11 prints the image indicated by the fax mail on the printer 18. (Step ST3). When the printing process is completed, the CPU 11 terminates the current process when the FAX mail arrives.

On the other hand, when the execution of the off-ramp gateway is specified, the CPU 11 subsequently checks whether or not the timer transmission mode is set as the mode of the off-ramp gateway (step ST4).

If the timer transmission mode is not set, the CPU 11 transmits the image data indicated by the FAX mail received in step ST1 to the specified destination via the PSTN 3 according to the G3 procedure (step ST5). ). Then, when the facsimile transmission processing is completed, the CPU 11 terminates the current processing when the FAX mail arrives.

However, if the timer transmission mode is set, the CPU 11 extracts the image data and the communication information such as the telephone number of the transmission destination from the FAX mail received in step ST1, and stores the image data in the image. Part 1
5, and the communication information is stored in the communication information storage area of the information storage unit 14 (step ST6). Then, after that, the CPU 11 ends the process when the current FAX mail arrives.

As described above, when the timer transmission mode is set, when a fax mail designating the off-ramp gateway arrives, the image data indicated in the fax mail is stored in the off-ramp image in the image storage unit 15. It is stored in the storage area. Further, communication information for managing the stored image data is set in the communication information storage area of the information storage unit 14.

The image data thus stored is transmitted by a stored data distribution process described later every time the set transmission time is reached.

The transmission time is set by the operator of the facsimile machine 1.

When the operator specifies that the transmission time is to be set by a predetermined instruction operation on the operation / display unit 24, the CPU 11 executes a transmission time setting process as shown in FIG.

In the transmission time setting process, the CPU 11
First, an operator designates a transmission time specified by a predetermined instruction operation on the operation / display unit 24 (step ST11).

Then, the CPU 11 stores the transmission time indicating the transmission time specified in the transmission time storage area of the information storage unit 14 (step ST12). At this time, if the transmission time information is already stored in the transmission time storage area of the information storage unit 14, the setting of the transmission time is updated by overwriting the new transmission time information.

When the facsimile reception is possible, the CPU 11 repeatedly executes the stored data distribution process as shown in FIG. 4 at a predetermined cycle.

In this stored data distribution process, the CPU 1
First, the current time information output from the clock unit 25 is compared with the transmission time information stored in the transmission time storage area of the information storage unit 14 to check whether the set transmission time has arrived. (Step ST21). If the transmission time has not yet arrived, the CPU 11 terminates the current stored data distribution process.

However, if the transmission time has arrived, the CPU 11 subsequently checks whether the communication information has been set in the communication information storage area of the information storage unit 14 (step ST22).

Here, if the communication information is set in the communication information storage area of the information storage unit 14, the CPU 11 takes out one of the communication information (step ST2).
3) The NCU 20 is controlled to perform a calling process using the telephone number of the transmission destination indicated in the communication information (step ST24).

Subsequently, in response to the calling process in step ST24, the CPU 11 confirms whether or not a line has been established (step ST25). If the line has not been established, the processes in and after step ST22 are repeated, and the same processing is performed. Or try calling another destination.

When the line is established according to the calling process, the CPU 11 reads out the image data corresponding to the extracted communication information from the off-ramp image storage area of the image storage unit 15 and transmits the read image data according to the G3 procedure. (Step ST26).

After the transmission of the image data is completed, the CPU 11 deletes the transmitted image data and the communication information relating to the image data from the image storage unit 15 and the information storage unit 14 (step ST27).

Subsequently, the CPU 11 confirms whether or not the communication information destined for the other party to which the line is currently established is included in the communication information stored in the communication information storage area of the information storage unit 14 ( Step ST28).

If there is the corresponding communication information, C
The PU 11 repeats the processing from step ST26 on with respect to the communication information, thereby converting the image data of the same destination into a line signal and transmitting the image data.

When there is no longer any communication information with the destination of which the current line is established as a destination, the CPU 11 controls the NCU 20 to disconnect the established line (step ST29), and then the step ST22. The subsequent processing is repeated.

Thus, if communication information indicating another transmission destination remains in the communication information storage area of the information storage unit 14,
Facsimile transmission is performed based on the communication information. Then, when there is no more communication information stored in the communication information storage area of the information storage unit 14, the CPU 11 ends the current stored data distribution process.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, if the timer transmission mode is set as the mode of the off-ramp gateway, the image data designated to execute the off-ramp gateway is stored and transmitted at an arbitrarily set transmission time. Is done.

Therefore, even if the request of the off-ramp gateway arrives in a time zone where the unit price of the PSTN 3 is high, such as during the daytime, the PSTN 3 according to the request is received.
Facsimile transmission over the PS, such as at night
Since it can be performed during a time period when the unit price of the TN3 is low, the communication cost can be reduced.

Further, the timing of performing facsimile transmission via the PSTN 3 is determined by the settings of the facsimile apparatus 1 irrespective of the intention of the requester of the off-ramp gateway, so that facsimile transmission via the PSTN 3 is ensured. Can be performed at appropriate timing. That is, for example, the requester of the off-ramp gateway is often not in a position to bear the PSTN3 usage fee, and without considering the unit price of the PSTN3 usage fee,
It is conceivable that the off-ramp gateway is specified in a time zone where the unit price of the PSTN3 is high, but even in such a case, the facsimile transmission via the PSTN3 is surely performed in a time zone where the unit price of the PSTN3 is low. It can be carried out.

Further, according to the present embodiment, if there are a plurality of pieces of stored image data in which the same destination is designated, the plurality of pieces of image data are queued during one line establishment. Since the data is transmitted after being transmitted, the communication time can be reduced as compared with the case where the communication procedure is individually executed for these image data. Therefore, the communication cost can be further reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the transmission time is set to 1
Although only one transmission time can be set, a plurality of transmission times may be set.

In the above embodiment, the transmission timing is set by time. For example, a period such as "from 11:00 pm to 8:00 am", for example, a period such as "every 6 hours", or a period "from 11:00 pm to 1 until 8:00 am
It may be set in another form, such as a limited time period such as “every hour”.

In the above embodiment, the G3 system is used as a communication procedure via the PSTN 35. However, the present invention can be applied to a case where another system such as the G2 system or a unique system is used.

In the above embodiment, the PSTN 35 is used as the circuit switching network.
The present invention can be applied to a case where another network such as SDN is used.

In the above embodiment, the Internet is used as the computer network. However, the present invention can be applied to other networks such as a LAN and a WAN (Wide Area Network).

In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0077]

According to the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus capable of performing facsimile communication via a predetermined circuit-switched network and a predetermined computer network, storage means for storing facsimile data. When facsimile data to be transmitted via the circuit switching network arrives at a predetermined destination terminal, facsimile data accumulation control means for storing the facsimile data in the storage means, and stored in the storage means. Destination management means for managing a destination terminal related to the received facsimile data, distribution timing monitoring means for monitoring arrival of a preset distribution timing, and that the arrival of the distribution timing is detected by the distribution timing monitoring means. Responsive to the information stored in the storage means. Transfer control means for transmitting the facsimile data to the destination terminal managed by the destination management means with respect to the facsimile data. Is transmitted at a preset transmission timing, so if the transmission timing is set to a time period when the unit price of the circuit switching network usage fee is low, the gateway function will be used to transmit over the circuit switching network. It is possible to reduce the communication cost when performing all facsimile transfers.

Further, according to the present invention, the transmission control means may further include a transmission destination terminal included in the facsimile data stored in the storage means when the distribution timing monitoring means detects the arrival of the distribution timing. If a plurality of identical facsimile data exist, it is assumed that the plurality of facsimile data are transmitted through one line connection. For example, the communication procedure for transmitting the facsimile data is simplified, and as a result, the communication time is shortened, and the communication cost can be further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a facsimile mail arrives by a CPU 11 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of transmission time setting processing by a CPU 11 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of stored data distribution processing by a CPU 11 in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Facsimile apparatus 2 ... PSTN subscriber line 4 ... External telephone 5 ... LAN line 6 ... Mail server 7 ... Internet 11 ... CPU 12 ... ROM 13 ... RAM 15 ... Image storage unit 16 ... Encoding / decoding unit 17 ... Scanner DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 ... Printer 19 ... Modem 20 ... NCU 21 ... Telephone control part 22 ... Line signal detection part 23 ... LAN interface 24 ... Operation / display part 25 ... Clock part 26 ... System bus

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/32 9A001 F term (Reference) 2F002 AA04 FA31 GA06 GC11 GC22 5C062 AA02 AA29 AB38 AB42 AC36 AC42 AC43 AF02 BA01 5C075 BA11 CA14 DD05 5K030 HA05 HB04 HC01 HC14 JT05 KA04 KA06 KA08 KA21 LB01 LD18 LE13 5K101 KK01 LL01 NN22 RR05 RR13 RR19 9A001 CC02 JJ14

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus capable of performing facsimile communication via a predetermined circuit-switched network and a predetermined computer network, a storage means for storing facsimile data, and a predetermined destination Facsimile data storage control means for storing the facsimile data in the storage means when facsimile data to be transmitted via the circuit-switched network arrives at the terminal; and a destination for facsimile data stored in the storage means. Destination management means for managing a terminal; distribution timing monitoring means for monitoring the arrival of a preset distribution timing; and storage means in response to the arrival of the distribution timing being detected by the distribution timing monitoring means. Facsimile stored in Facsimile apparatus characterized by comprising a transfer control means for transmitting to the transmission destination terminal that is managed by the destination managing unit with regard to its facsimile data data. 2. The transfer control means according to claim 2, wherein said facsimile data stored in said storage means when the distribution timing monitoring means detects the arrival of the distribution timing has a plurality of facsimile data having the same destination terminal. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when present, the plurality of facsimile data are transmitted by one line connection.