JP2001169036A - System for communicating image information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image information communication system in which a receiver and a plurality of personal computers are connected to a LAN and a transmitter transmits facsimile information to the receiver and that easily confirms whether or not the receiver has a routing function in the case of designating a plurality of personal computers to which reception notification should be transmitted at the same time with the transmission of the facsimile information. SOLUTION: The receiver has a means notifying the transmitter of the existence/absence of the routing function and a reception notifying means notifying the personal computers connected to the LAN of the reception in accordance with designation from the transmitter, and the transmitter has a means respectively designating a plurality of desired personal computers and a designating method selecting means that selects a method designating a plurality of desired personal computers in accordance with the existence/absence of the routing function in the receiver.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to a facsimile apparatus connectable to a LAN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a plurality of personal computers and a conventional facsimile apparatus are connected to a LAN and the facsimile apparatus receives facsimile information via the PSTN, one of the personal computers connected to the LAN is transmitted. There is a first conventional example capable of designating and sending a reception notification to the designated personal computer.

Here, when a facsimile apparatus on the transmitter side transmits image information to the facsimile apparatus (facsimile apparatus on the receiver side), the facsimile apparatus on the transmitter side is connected to a personal computer on the receiver side (connected to the LAN). The logical number of the personal computer that is being used can be specified. However, it is possible to specify only the logical number of one personal computer in one communication.

Further, as a second conventional example, there is known an apparatus which uses a memory box provided in a facsimile apparatus on the receiver side to send a reception notification to a personal computer. Here, the memory box outputs a plurality of logical numbers corresponding to the sub-address signal when the sub-address signal is input, and when the facsimile machine on the transmitter side specifies a desired sub-address signal, the memory box Among them, a memory box corresponding to the above-mentioned sub-address signal is selected, and for example, a logical number “01, 0” is selected.
3, 05 "is output from the memory box, and a reception notification is sent to three personal computers respectively corresponding to the logical numbers" 01, 03, 05 ".

[0005]

However, in the first conventional example, when the facsimile apparatus on the transmitter side transmits image information to the facsimile apparatus on the receiver side, it is connected to the facsimile apparatus on the receiver side via a LAN. Can be sent to a personal computer that has received image information from the facsimile machine on the receiver side, but the reception notification can only be sent to one personal computer per communication. There is. In other words, in one communication,
There is a problem that the receipt notification cannot be sent to multiple personal computers.

In the second conventional example, since a memory box is used, when a facsimile apparatus on the transmitter side specifies a sub-address signal, the facsimile apparatus according to the logical number corresponding to the specified sub-address signal is used. It is convenient to send a notification to multiple computers,
The premise is that the operator of the facsimile machine on the transmitter side uses the mailbox unless the operator confirms that the facsimile apparatus on the receiver side has a memory box (has a routing function). Therefore, it is not possible to send a reception notification to a plurality of personal computers in one transmission, and it is troublesome to check whether or not the receiving side has a mailbox every time transmission is performed.

According to the present invention, a receiving-side facsimile apparatus and a plurality of personal computers are connected to a LAN, and a transmitting-side facsimile apparatus transmits facsimile information to the receiving-side facsimile apparatus via a PSTN. ,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image information communication system in which when a plurality of personal computers to which a reception notification is to be sent are specified, it is easy to check whether or not the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side has a mailbox.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a plurality of personal computers connected to a LAN, and a plurality of personal computers connected to the LAN,
In a video information communication system having a receiver for receiving facsimile information and a transmitter for transmitting facsimile information to the receiver, the receiver has a routing function, a means for notifying the transmitter, In response to a designation from a transmitter, the personal computer connected to the LAN has reception notifying means for notifying that the receiver has received facsimile information, while the transmitter has
Means for individually specifying a desired plurality of personal computers among the plurality of personal computers, and a method for specifying a desired plurality of personal computers among the plurality of personal computers according to the presence or absence of a routing function in the receiver And a designation method selecting means for selecting the image information.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an image information communication system C according to one embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows S1.

The image information communication system CS1 includes a transmitting facsimile apparatus FS1, a PSTN 2a, a receiving facsimile apparatus FS2, and a receiving facsimile apparatus FS2.
And the personal computers PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4, and PC connected to the LAN 602.
5, PC6.

In the facsimile apparatus FS1, NCU
(Network control unit) 2 connects the telephone network to a terminal of the line in order to use the telephone network for data communication and the like, controls connection of a telephone exchange network, switches to a data communication path, and holds a loop. Is what you do. If the signal level (signal line 20a) from the control circuit 20 is "0", the NCU 2 connects the telephone line (PSTN) 2a to the telephone,
If the signal level is "1", the telephone line 2a is connected to the facsimile machine side. In the normal state,
The telephone line 2a is connected to the telephone 4 side.

The hybrid circuit 6 separates the signal of the transmission system from the signal of the reception system, and converts the signal from the addition circuit 12 into an NC signal.
The signal is transmitted to the telephone line 2a via the U2, the signal from the other party is received via the NCU 2, and the modem 8 is transmitted via the signal line 6a.
To send to.

The modulator / demodulator 8 is based on ITU-T Recommendation V. 8,
V. 21, V.I. 27ter, V.I. 29, V.I. 17, V.I.
34, a modulator and a demodulator that performs modulation and demodulation based on C.34.
Each transmission mode is specified by the signal line 20c. The modulator / demodulator 8 receives the signal output on the signal line 20b, outputs modulated data to the signal line 8a,
a, and outputs the demodulated data to the signal line 8b.

The circuit 10 for transmitting the ANSam signal transmits the ANSam signal to the signal line 10a when the signal of the signal level "1" is output to the signal line 20d, and outputs the signal level "0" to the signal line 20d. No signal is output to the signal line 10a when the signal is output.

The addition circuit 12 receives the information of the signal line 8a, the information of the signal line 10a, and the information of the signal line 22a, and outputs a result of the addition to the signal line 12a.

The read circuit 14 transmits read data to a signal line 14.
output to a.

The recording circuit 16 sequentially records information output to the signal line 20e line by line.

The memory circuit 18 is used for storing raw information or encoded information of read data, and for storing received information or decoded information.

When a calling command pulse is generated on the signal line 20f, the calling circuit 22 inputs the telephone number information output on the signal line 20g, and outputs a DTMF selection signal on the signal line 22a.

The logical number designation button 24 of the personal computer designates the logical number of the personal computer connected to the LAN by a button pressed on the transmitter side. When the logical number designation button of the personal computer is pressed, a pressing pulse is generated on the signal line 24a.

The operating section 26 has a one-touch dial, abbreviated dial, numeric keys, * / # keys, a start key, a stop key, a set key, and other function keys. Pressed information is output to a signal line 26a.

Network board 28, signal line 20h of the Bicentro interface, signal line 2 of Ethernet
8a are provided.

Also, a personal computer PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4, PC5, PC
6. PC 7 (server) is connected.

In the facsimile apparatus connected to the LAN, the control circuit 20 designates a personal computer connected to the LAN and notifies the reception of the facsimile reception information. Means for notifying the facsimile apparatus on the transmitter side from the receiver side of the presence / absence of the routing function based on F.33, means for individually specifying a plurality of personal computers connected to the LAN on the receiver side from the transmitter side, This is an example of a means for changing a method of designating a plurality of personal computers connected to the receiver via the LAN according to the capability of the receiver from the transmitter to the receiver.

More specifically, according to ITU-T Recommendation T. If the receiver-side facsimile apparatus has a routing function based on the ITU-T Recommendation T.33, the receiver-side facsimile apparatus has a routing function based on the ITU-T Recommendation T.33. Three
3 to perform a routing transmission based on
Further, the logical numbers of a plurality of personal computers are transmitted by the subaddress signal, and the ITU-T Recommendation T.30 is used. If the receiver-side facsimile apparatus does not have a routing function based on the ITU-T Recommendation T.33, the receiver-side facsimile apparatus does not have the routing function based on the ITU-T Recommendation T.33. Notify that routing transmission based on No. 33 is not executed, and specify the logical number of the personal computer (PC connected to the LAN of the receiver) specified by the transmitter by transmitting one sub-address signal for each communication Then, the same information is transmitted the same number of times as the number of logical numbers of the plurality of personal computers input.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the control operation of the control circuit 20 in the facsimile apparatus FS1.

At S2, a signal of signal level "0" is output to the signal line 20a, and the CML is turned off.

In S4, a signal of signal level "0" is output to the signal line 20d, and the ANSam signal is not transmitted.

In S6 and S8, it is determined whether transmission or reception is selected. If transmission is selected, the process proceeds to S12. If reception is selected, the process proceeds to S52. , S10, and other processing is performed.

In S12, the information of the signal lines 24a and 26a is input, and it is determined whether or not the communication by designating the personal computer connected to the LAN by the receiver FS2 is selected. If not, the process proceeds to S14.

At S14, a signal of signal level "1" is output to the signal line 20a, and the CML is turned on.

In S16, the calling circuit 22 is used to make a call to the designated destination.

Step S18 shows a pre-procedure, in which no sub-address signal is transmitted.

S20 represents reading / transmission of an image signal, and S22 represents a post-procedure.

In step S24, the logical number of the personal computer to which the reception notification is to be transmitted among the personal computers connected to the LAN is input and stored. For example, the logical number 0 of the personal computer
It is assumed that transmission to 1, 02, and 05 has been selected.

In S26, a signal of signal level "1" is output to the signal line 20a, and the CML is turned on.

Step S28 indicates that a call is made to the designated destination using the calling circuit 22.

S30 shows a pre-procedure, in which information on whether or not the facsimile apparatus FS2 on the receiver side has a function of receiving a subaddress signal and information on whether the ITU-T Recommendation T.30 is used.
33, and stores information as to whether or not it has a routing function based on S.33.

In S32, it is determined whether or not the receiver-side facsimile apparatus FS2 has the function of receiving the sub-address signal.
Proceeding to step 8 and having no sub-address signal receiving function,
Proceed to S34.

In S34, a signal of signal level "0" is output to the signal line 20a, and the CML is turned off.

In S36, the display unit (not shown) displays on the partner receiver that no communication is performed because there is no sub address signal receiving function. This display is turned off by any key operation.

In S38, the ITU-T Recommendation T. 33, a facsimile apparatus FS on the receiver side
It is determined whether or not the packet has the routing function. If the packet has the routing function, the process proceeds to S40. If the packet does not have the routing function, the process proceeds to S46.

S40 shows the remaining pre-procedure, where
The transmission to the LAN-connected personal computer (the personal computer corresponding to the logical number 01, 02, 05) is notified by the sub-address signal. Specifically, information of “01 # 02 # 05” is transmitted as a sub-address signal. Furthermore, ITU-T Recommendation T. Notify that the routing based on S.33 will be performed.

In step S42, the image signal is read / transmitted, and in step S44.
Represents a post-procedure.

S46 represents the remaining pre-procedure. The logical number corresponding to one of the personal computers connected to the LAN is designated by the sub address signal.

Specifically, if not transmitted to the personal computer with the logical number 01, the logical number 01 is transmitted as a sub-address signal. The data is transmitted to the personal computer with the logical number 01, and if not transmitted to the personal computer with the logical number 02, the logical number 02 is transmitted as a sub-address signal. The logical number 05 and the personal computer with the logical number 02 are transmitted together, and if not transmitted to the personal computer with the logical number 05, the logical number 05 is transmitted as a sub-address signal. At the same time, ITU-T Recommendation T. Notify not to perform routing based on S.33.

S48 indicates reading / transmission of an image signal.
Reference numeral 50 denotes a post-procedure.

In S50-1, the CML is turned off, and in S50-
If the transmission to the logical numbers of all the personal computers is not completed in 2, the wait is performed for 60 seconds in S50-3.

In S52, a signal of signal level "1" is output to the signal line 20a, and the CML is turned on.

S54 shows a pre-procedure, in which a sub-address signal receiving function is provided. 33
Notify that there is a routing function based on.

In S56, it is determined whether or not the personal computer is designated by the sub-address signal from the transmitter FS1. If designated, the process proceeds to S62, and if not, the process proceeds to S58.

S58 indicates reception / recording of an image signal.
Reference numeral 60 denotes a post-procedure.

At S62, the ITU-T Recommendation T. It is determined whether or not the designation of the routing transmission based on 33 is performed by the transmitter FS1. If it is specified, the process proceeds to S74, and if not, the process proceeds to S64.

Step S64 represents the remaining pre-procedure. Here, the information of the sub address signal is input, for example,
If "03" has been input, it is stored when a reception notification is sent to the personal computer PC3 corresponding to the logical number "03".

S66 represents reception of the image signal / transfer to the server, and S68 represents a post-procedure.

At S70, a signal of signal level "0" is output to the signal line 20a, and the CML is turned off.

Step S72 indicates that the personal computer designated by the sub-address signal, for example, the personal computer PC3 is notified of the reception of the fax (there is a reception notification).

S74 shows the remaining pre-procedure, where
If the information of the sub-address signal is input and, for example, "01 # 02 # 05" is input as the sub-address signal, it is stored that the personal computer PC1, PC2, or PC5 has received the reception notification.

S76 indicates reception of the image signal / transfer to the server, and S78 indicates the post-procedure.

In S80, a signal of signal level "0" is output to the signal line 20a, and the CML is turned off.

In step S82, the personal computer designated by the sub-address signal, for example, the personal computers PC1, PC2,
The PC 52 is notified of the presence of FAX reception (performs reception notification).

In the above embodiment, the transmitting facsimile apparatus transmits image information to the receiving facsimile apparatus, and at the same time as transmitting this image information, transmits a logical number using a sub-address signal. This is an example of transmitting a reception notification to the PC, but instead of transmitting the reception notification in this way, the personal computer corresponding to the above logical number is
The same image information as the image information received by the receiving facsimile apparatus may be transmitted. That is, the transmission-side facsimile apparatus may execute the relay broadcast transmission specifying a plurality of destinations using the sub-address signal.

In relay broadcast transmission in which a plurality of destinations are specified on the transmitter side by using a sub-address signal, when the distribution station (transmitting facsimile apparatus) arbitrarily specifies the destination to be transmitted, the overseas communication If the user designates a personal computer connected to the LAN connected to the facsimile device on the receiver side, the communication cost increases. The problem does not occur.

[0064]

According to the present invention, when a facsimile apparatus on the receiver side and a plurality of personal computers are connected by LAN,
The operator of the transmitter-side facsimile machine can specify a plurality of logical numbers of personal computers for the receiver-side facsimile machine.
Recommendation T. If it has a routing function based on the ITU-T Recommendation T.33, it is possible to simultaneously specify the logical numbers of a plurality of personal computers in one communication. Even if it does not have a routing function based on S.33, it is possible to transmit data to a plurality of personal computers connected to the LAN without fail.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a facsimile apparatus FS according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.

FIG. 2 is a control circuit 20 in the facsimile apparatus FS1.
5 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a control circuit 20 in the facsimile apparatus FS1.
5 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a control circuit 20 in the facsimile apparatus FS1.
5 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a control circuit 20 in the facsimile apparatus FS1.
5 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a control circuit 20 in the facsimile apparatus FS1.
5 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 CS1: image information communication system, FS1: transmission side facsimile device, FS2: reception side facsimile device, 60: LAN, PC1 to PC6: personal computer.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image information communication system comprising: a plurality of personal computers connected to a LAN; a receiver connected to the LAN for receiving facsimile information; and a transmitter for transmitting facsimile information to the receiver. Means for notifying the transmitter of the presence or absence of a routing function to the transmitter; receiving facsimile information by a personal computer connected to the LAN in accordance with designation from the transmitter; And a reception notifying means for notifying that the transmitter individually specifies a desired one of the plurality of personal computers among the plurality of personal computers; and And a designation method selection means for selecting a method of designating a desired plurality of personal computers among the plurality of personal computers. Broadcast system. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the routing function is based on ITU-T Recommendation T.30. 33. An image information communication system, wherein the image information communication system has a routing function based on the image information communication system. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of desired personal computers is specified by specifying a logical number of the personal computer specified by the transmitter by transmitting one sub-address signal for each communication. And transmitting the same information the same number of times as the number of the designated personal computers. 4. The ITU-T Recommendation T. If the receiver has a routing function based on ITU-T Recommendation T.33, 33, the transmitter notifies the receiver of the execution of the routing transmission based on the ITU-T Recommendation T.33. If the receiver does not have a routing function based on ITU-T Recommendation T.33. The transmitter notifies the receiver that the routing transmission based on No. 33 is not to be performed, and the logical number of the personal computer designated by the transmitter is designated by one subaddress signal for each communication, and the designated logical number is designated. An image information communication system wherein the same information is transmitted the same number of times as the number of logical numbers of a plurality of personal computers.