JP2001036684A - Internet facsimile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an internet facsimile terminal with excellent user-friendliness that immediately informs a transmitter side about normal reception upon receiving data from an internet channel. SOLUTION: Upon the receipt of data, an internet FAX terminal discriminates whether or not the data are received via the internet channel (step S401). When the data are received via the internet channel (in the case of 'Yes'), first an internet address at the transmitter side is acquired (step S403). Succeedingly a data table is referenced on the basis of the address to call a corresponding FAX number or telephone number (step S405). When the data are normally received, the normal reception using the telephone line is noticed to the transmitter side on the basis of the called FAX number or telephone number (step S407).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an Internet facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to an Internet facsimile apparatus that notifies a transmission result after a communication is completed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as the use of the Internet has increased, Internet facsimile apparatuses (hereinafter abbreviated as "Internet FAX apparatuses") capable of transmitting and receiving data not only through telephone lines but also through Internet lines have been spreading. is there. This Internet FA
The X device can realize the use of the line according to the case, for example, transmitting and receiving via the Internet line when the telephone line is in use, and can increase the reliability of data communication. I was

[0003]

However, in the Internet FAX apparatus of the prior art, when data is transmitted using an Internet line, it is impossible to immediately know whether or not the data was successfully transferred to the destination after transmission. Was.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a state of data transfer between Internet facsimile apparatuses according to the prior art via an Internet line. As shown in the figure, in the data transfer system using the Internet, an Internet FAX device 61 on the transmitting side and an Internet FAX device 62 on the receiving side have a
They are connected by internet lines.

Then, when data is transmitted from the Internet FAX device 61 to the Internet FAX device 62 via the Internet line (solid arrow a), the Internet FAX device 62 on the receiving side confirms that the data is normally received and transmits the data to the Internet line. (The dotted arrow b). In other words, the Internet FAX device 62 on the receiving side is not certain whether or not to return the normal reception to the transmitting side.
If so, the time was not clear.

For this reason, the Internet FAX on the transmitting side
As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-32194, the device 61 divides a predetermined time after transferring data, and performs transmission again when there is no reply notification of normal reception from the receiving side after the predetermined time. I had to take the method.

[0007] Therefore, since it cannot be determined whether the reception is normal or not until a predetermined time has passed, the transmission side is subject to various restrictions before the process proceeds to subsequent processing.
Further, in the case where there is no reply notification, data transfer may be wasted, for example, data may be retransmitted after a predetermined time even if the data is normally received.

The present invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to notify the transmitting side immediately that data is normally received when data is received from the Internet line, thereby improving usability. To provide a good Internet facsimile machine.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is connected to an Internet line and a telephone line, and has communication means for transmitting and receiving data via the Internet line or the telephone line; FAX to Internet address
Storage means for storing numbers and telephone numbers in association with each other;
Judgment means for judging the presence or absence of reception from the Internet line, and reading means for reading a FAX number or telephone number from the storage means based on the Internet address of the transmission side when the judgment means judges that there is reception from the Internet line. And a reply unit that returns a message indicating normal reception via a telephone line based on the read fax number or telephone number.

According to the present invention, when there is a reception from the Internet line, it is possible to immediately notify the transmission side of normal reception to the transmission side, so that it is possible to provide a more convenient Internet facsimile apparatus. .

[0011]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an Internet FAX device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. With reference to this figure, Internet FAX machine 1
Document feed tray 10 for supplying a document image for transmission
1, a document discharge tray 103 for discharging a document image after reading, and a recording paper supply tray 105 for supplying recording paper for printing out received data.
And a recording paper discharge tray 107 for discharging the printed out recording paper, and an operation panel 109 for operating the Internet FAX machine 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of Internet FAX apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The Internet facsimile apparatus 1 has a central control unit 201 for controlling the entire apparatus, an operation unit (operation panel) 109 for designating and registering a transmission destination, and setting various modes, and the like. A reading unit 203 for reading, a communication control unit 205 for transmitting data read by the reading unit 203 and receiving data, and outputting the data received by the communication control unit 205 at a predetermined resolution Print unit 207 for
And a reply destination storage unit 2 for storing a fax number or a telephone number in association with the Internet address of the transmission side.
11 and a memory unit 213 which is a work area of the central control unit 201 and stores a control program, received data, and the like.

Here, the communication control unit 205 determines that the telephone line A
And is connected to the Internet line B, and transmits / receives data using an appropriate line depending on the case.
When data is received, the communication control unit 205 determines whether the data is received via the Internet line, and outputs the determination result to the central control unit 201. The telephone line referred to here includes an extension used in a company or the like in addition to a public telephone line.

FIG. 3 shows the reply destination storage unit 211 in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data table in which a telephone number or a FAX number is associated with an Internet address stored in the data table. Reply destination (sender) Internet F
The AX device (1) assigns the Internet address “**b@b.co.jp” to the Internet line and the FAX number or telephone number “06-6 **” to the telephone line.
* -1111 ", as shown in FIG.
A fax number or a telephone number "06-6 ***-11" is displayed next to the Internet address "**b@b.co.jp".
11 "is recorded.

Similarly, an Internet facsimile apparatus (2)
For the Internet address "**c@c.c"
o. jp "next to the FAX number or telephone number" 06-6 "
***-2222 ". The same applies to Internet FAX (3).
For a plurality of reply destinations (senders), a FAX number or a telephone number is stored in the table in association with the Internet address.

Therefore, when data is received via the Internet line, the Internet address information of the other party (transmission source) can be obtained. Therefore, F data can be obtained from the data table based on the obtained Internet address.
An AX number or a telephone number can be obtained.

Next, the flow of the receiving operation of the Internet FAX apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Internet FAX machine 1
First, when data is received, the communication control unit 205 determines whether or not the received data is data transmitted via the Internet line (step S401). If the data is not received from the Internet line ("No" in step S401), the data is received via the telephone line, so that normal processing is performed, and the transmitting side immediately determines whether the data transmission has been normally completed. You can know.

On the other hand, when data is received via the Internet line ("Y" in step S401)
es "), first, the Internet address of the transmission side is obtained (step S403).

Then, based on the obtained Internet address, the data table stored in the reply destination storage unit 211 is referred to, and the corresponding FAX number or telephone number is called (step S405).

Then, when the reception is normally performed,
Based on the called FAX number or telephone number, the transmission side is notified of normal reception using a telephone line (step S407).

The details will be described below. For example, if the Internet address is "**c@c.co.
jp "is transmitted from the Internet FAX apparatus through the Internet line. In this case, the Internet FAX apparatus 1 on the receiving side first receives the Internet address" **c@c.c. co. jp ”
Therefore, the data table shown in FIG. 3 is referred to based on the Internet address, and the FAX number “06-6 ***-22” corresponding to this address is obtained.
22 "can be called.

Then, the called FAX number "0"
By specifying "6-6 ***-2222" as the reply destination and using the telephone line, a reply to the effect that the reception is normal can be immediately sent to the transmission side.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining data transfer when the Internet FAX apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention receives data via an Internet line. As shown in this figure, Internet FA
When data is transmitted from the X device 51 to the Internet FAX device 1 via the Internet line (solid arrow a), data such as the Internet address and FAX number of the Internet FAX device 51 is previously stored in the Internet FAX device 1 on the receiving side. Since it is stored, the FAX number of the reply destination is called, and the transmission side is immediately notified of the normal reception via the telephone line (solid arrow c).

As described above, the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention uses the telephone line to notify the transmitting end that the reception has been normally completed. It is possible to know whether or not the data has been normally received. Therefore, there is no need to retransmit the data at time intervals, and it is not necessary to store transmission data unnecessarily forever in preparation for the retransmission. Can be provided.

The embodiment disclosed this time is an example in all respects, and should not be construed as limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of an Internet facsimile apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of the Internet FAX device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a telephone number and FA in the Internet address stored in the reply destination storage unit 211 in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data table in which X numbers are associated with each other.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of a receiving operation of the Internet FAX apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a state of data transfer when the Internet FAX apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention receives data via an Internet line.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of data transfer between Internet facsimile apparatuses via an Internet line according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Internet FAX machine, 101 document feed tray, 103 document discharge tray, 105 recording paper supply tray, 107 recording paper discharge tray, 109 operation unit (operation panel), 201 central control unit, 203 reading unit, 2
05 communication control unit, 207 printing unit, 211 reply destination storage unit, 213 memory unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) 9A001 (72) Inventor Keisuke Hashimoto 2-13-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Yamauchi 2-13-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd.F-term (reference) 5B089 GA26 HA02 HA03 HA10 JA05 JB03 KA05 KB06 KC15 KC28 LB12 5C062 AA02 AA29 AB42 AC22 AC35 AC40 AC42 AC43 AF02 AF03 BA04 5C075 AB90 BA08 BB05 CA14 CD25 CF01 5K030 HA04 HC02 JT05 LA02 5K101 KK01 PP09 RR15 9A001 BB02 BB03 BB04 CC03 DD10 HH23 JJ18 JJ21 JJ25 JZ35 KK42 KK56

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A communication means connected to an Internet line and a telephone line for transmitting and receiving data via the Internet line and the telephone line, a storage means for storing a FAX number or a telephone number in association with a transmitting Internet address, Determining means for determining whether or not there is reception from the Internet line; and if the determination means determines that there is reception from the Internet line, a facsimile number or telephone number from the storage means based on the Internet address of the transmitting side. An Internet facsimile machine, comprising: a reading unit that reads out a fax number or a telephone number based on the read fax number or telephone number.