JP2001202313A - Data distributing terminal equipment, data receiving terminal equipment, data printing terminal equipment, system and method for data communication and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide data distributing terminal equipment and a control method therefor, with which image information can be safely distributed without being illegally utilized except for a permitted user. SOLUTION: Concerning the data distributing terminal equipment to be used for a data communication system constituted by connecting a plurality of terminal equipment including the data receiving terminal equipment and the data printing terminal equipment through a communication line, this equipment is prevented from being utilized without a permission from the owner of terminal equipment to become the transfer destination or from being illegally utilized for sending unwanted information, which troubles a regular user, without permission. Thus, the transfer of image data and image printing can be safely performed even in a utilization environment connected to the Internet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a data distribution terminal device, a data receiving terminal device, a data printing terminal device, a data communication system, a data communication method, and a storage medium, and more particularly, to transferring image data to an arbitrary image communication device. It is suitable for use in printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, WWW (World Wid) using a computer communication network as an image information communication system has been developed.
The de Web system has attracted attention due to the spread of the Internet.

[0003] The WWW system is a client / server system based on a communication protocol called TCP / IP, similar to an Internet application such as electronic mail, and has a GUI (graphical user interface) called a WWW browser. It has been developed as an information search / browsing system realized by communicating not only image information but also data handled on a computer, such as text, audio, and moving images, between a WWW server application.

While various services using such a WWW system have been proposed and realized,
Various new attempts have been made in the field of image transmission using facsimile machines and electronic mail.

[0005]

However, when the transfer printing service from the receiving side to the apparatus arbitrarily designated as the transfer destination is used as described above, the following problems may occur.

[0006] In other words, there is a risk of unauthorized use of the transfer destination terminal device, such as the unauthorized use of the terminal device by the owner without permission, or the sending of unnecessary information that may be annoying to the authorized user without permission. was there. Such a risk of unauthorized use is attributable to distribution means using a WWW server.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to safely distribute image information in a use environment connected to the Internet without unauthorized use by anyone other than authorized users. And a control method thereof.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a data distribution terminal device for use in a data communication system in which a plurality of terminal devices including a data receiving terminal device and a data printing terminal device are connected via a communication line. A distribution terminal device, comprising: image data conversion means for converting image data to be transmitted to the data receiving terminal device into image data of a plurality of different image qualities; and image data of a first image quality converted by the image data conversion means Image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data to the data receiving terminal device based on an image transfer request from the data receiving terminal device, and a print instruction request transmitted from the data receiving terminal device. Authentication information extracting means for extracting authentication information for the transfer destination; and authentication information extracted by the authentication information extracting means. A print request transmitting unit for transmitting a transfer print request to the transfer destination data printing terminal device; a permission response recognizing unit for recognizing a response of permitting the transfer print request transmitted from the print request transmitting unit; And a first image data transmitting means for transmitting image data of a second image quality to the data printing terminal device based on the permission response recognized by the permission response recognizing means. According to another feature of the present invention, the first image quality image data is coarse image data to be displayed on a display device, and the second image quality image data is a high-definition image for printing. It is characterized by being data.

A data printing terminal device according to the present invention includes a print request receiving means for receiving a transfer print request sent from a data distribution terminal device connected via a communication line, and a transfer print request received by the print request receiving means. Authentication information matching means for matching authentication information included in the request, and when the result of the matching by the authentication information matching means is determined to be permitted,
Transfer permission transmitting means for transmitting a transfer permission to the data distribution terminal device which has transmitted the transfer print request, and data distribution transmitting the transfer print request in response to the transfer permission transmitted from the transfer permission transmission means Image data output means for receiving and outputting image data transferred from the terminal device. Another feature of the present invention is that, when the authentication information to which the permission response has been given by the authentication information collating means is used again in the transfer print request after the transfer processing is completed, the It is characterized by no permission.

A data receiving terminal device of the present invention is a data receiving terminal device used in a data communication system in which a plurality of terminal devices including a data distribution terminal device and a data printing terminal device are connected via a communication line. Image data receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from the data distribution terminal device, and a print instruction for transmitting a print instruction request for image data relating to the image data received by the image data reception device to the data distribution terminal device Request transmission means.

[0011] A data communication system according to the present invention comprises: image data conversion means for converting image data to be transmitted to a data receiving terminal device into image data of a plurality of different image qualities; and a first image quality converted by the image data conversion means. Image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data to the data receiving terminal device based on the image transfer request from the data receiving terminal device; and a print instruction request transmitted from the data receiving terminal device. An authentication information extracting means for extracting authentication information for the transfer destination, and transmitting a transfer print request to the data transfer terminal device of the designated transfer destination based on the authentication information extracted by the authentication information extraction means. Print request transmitting means, and permission response recognizing means for recognizing a response to the effect that the transfer print request transmitted from the print request transmitting means is permitted. A data distribution terminal device comprising: first image data transmitting means for transmitting image data of a second image quality to the data printing terminal device based on the permission response recognized by the permission response recognition means; Print request receiving means for receiving a transfer print request sent from a data distribution terminal device connected via a communication line, and authentication information collation for collating authentication information included in the transfer print request received by the print request reception means Means, when the result of the verification by the authentication information verification means is determined to be permitted,
Transfer permission transmitting means for transmitting a transfer permission to the data distribution terminal device which has transmitted the transfer print request, and data distribution transmitting the transfer print request in response to the transfer permission transmitted from the transfer permission transmission means A data printing terminal device having image data output means for receiving and outputting image data transferred from the terminal device; an image data receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from the data distribution terminal device; At least a data receiving terminal device having a print instruction request transmitting unit for transmitting a print instruction request of image data relating to image data received by the data receiving unit to the data distribution terminal device is provided.

According to the data communication method of the present invention, there is provided an image data converting process for converting image data to be transmitted to a data receiving terminal into a plurality of image data having different image quality, and a first image quality converted by the image data converting means. Image data transmitting process for transmitting the image data of the image data to the data receiving terminal device based on the image transfer request from the data receiving terminal device, and based on a print instruction request transmitted from the data receiving terminal device. An authentication information extracting process for extracting authentication information for a transfer destination, and a print request for transmitting a transfer print request to a data transfer terminal device at a designated transfer destination based on the authentication information extracted by the authentication information extraction process. Transmission processing, permission response recognition processing for recognizing a response indicating permission to the transfer print request transmitted by the print request transmission processing, The data distribution terminal device performs an image data transmission process of transmitting image data of the second image quality to the data printing terminal device based on the permission response recognized by the consent response recognition process, and connects via the communication line. A print request receiving process for receiving a transfer print request sent from the data distribution terminal device being performed, an authentication information matching process for checking authentication information included in the transfer print request received by the print request receiving process, and the authentication information A transfer permission transmission process for transmitting a transfer permission to the data distribution terminal device that has transmitted the transfer print request when a result of the verification by the verification process is determined to be permitted; and a transfer transmitted from the transfer permission transmission means. An image data output process for receiving and outputting image data transferred from the data distribution terminal device that transmitted the transfer print request in response to the permission; The data printing terminal device performs an image data receiving process of receiving image data transmitted from the data distribution terminal device, and a request to print image data relating to the image data received by the image data receiving unit. It is characterized in that the data receiving terminal device performs a print instruction request transmitting process to be transmitted to the distribution terminal device.

[0013] The storage medium of the present invention is characterized in that a program constituting each of the above means is stored so as to be readable from a computer. Another feature of the storage medium of the present invention is that a program for executing the above data communication method is stored so as to be readable from a computer.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a data distribution terminal, a data receiving terminal, a data printing terminal, a data communication system, a data communication method and a storage medium according to the present invention. .

First, as an example of a data communication system in which the present invention is performed, an example of a WWW system and an image transmission system using electronic mail will be described below. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image transmission system.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 61 denotes an image communication device used for transmission, and 62 denotes an image communication device used for outputting a received image. The image communication devices 61 and 62 have an image input and image output function, a communication function via the network 63, a WWW server / client function, and an e-mail transmission / reception function.

Reference numeral 64 denotes an image transmission destination terminal device, which is a computer terminal device (CP) connected to the network 63.
U section, a memory, a display section, etc.).

Next, an operation flow in the image transmission system configured as described above will be described. First, an operator who performs image transmission sets a transmission document in the image input unit of the image communication device 61, performs various settings such as a transmission destination, and then causes the image communication device 61 to read the transmission document.

The image data read by the image communication device 61 is stored in the storage unit as a file with a plurality of image qualities. Here, each image quality refers to the display capability (number of displayable dots) and printing capability (recording resolution) of the terminal device and the output image communication device on the receiver side, and It is used as a display image for displaying a received image on a terminal device or as a print image transferred as print data.

Further, the location of the display and print image data file stored here is stored in a URL (Uniform Resource
Locator), creates and saves a file described in HTML (HyperText Markup Language) that embeds the display layout and print instruction means, and stores a description indicating the location of the HTML file in the e-mail according to the e-mail format. The document is transmitted to the transmission destination as a transmission document, and delivered to the transmission destination terminal device 64.

Here, the URL is a unitary representation of information resources on the Internet, and its general format is shown below. resource # type: // host. Domain / path The resource # type above indicates the protocol or service to be used. Here, HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
l) is specified. Other examples include gopher, ftp, and nntp, but the description of each is omitted.

In the host. domain indicates the Internet address of the server to be accessed, and is specified in the form of an IP address or a domain name.
Here, the IP address of the WWW server in the device is specified. In other words, domain indicates a name that is uniquely determined to identify a company, organization, school, or other organization on the Internet, and is managed by the Network Information Center (JPNIC) in Japan.

The domain names are managed hierarchically. For example, if it is a company, it will be □□□ .co.jp. First, there are organization names □□□, such as companies and organizations, with attributes separated by periods, and jp indicating Japan separated by periods. Attributes are determined by JPNIC,
Co for companies, ac for universities, e for high and junior high schools
d, ne for network service providers such as providers, and go for government agencies.

The path indicates the location of the file on the server. For example, the image for display
When saved in JPEG format, the location of this file is represented as follows: http: // Server # address / ▲▲▲ / ×××. jpg

Further, the terminal device of the transmission destination that has received the e-mail determines whether or not to check the image based on the information added to the e-mail.
From the description of the URL indicating the location of the HTML file, the image can be confirmed by a WWW browser.

Further, in this image transmission system, after confirming the display image by the e-mail receiver, it is possible to instruct to print out a high-quality print image, which is the same as the display of the display image. A means (button for clicking with a mouse or the like) for instructing whether or not to print out a print image is provided on the screen, and this instruction is transmitted to the image communication device 61 to realize the present invention.

The function of the WWW browser can be used for this instruction and transmission means, which will be described below. In a WWW system, an input from a client (WWW browser) is transmitted to a server, and the input is processed by an external program.
A mechanism called CGI (Common Gateway Interface) is provided.

The operation flow of the CGI will be briefly described below. (1) A request including data indicating a CGI program to be started from the browser to the server and data (query character string) to be passed to the program is transmitted. (2) The server receiving the request activates the corresponding CGI program and passes the query character string included in the request. (3) The CGI program processes this and returns the result to the server. (4) The server that has received the result transmits the result to the requesting browser.

The above-described transfer printing instruction transmitting means is provided by the CG
It is realized by using I. For example, an object (text / bitmap data, etc.) for instructing printout of a print image is embedded in an HTML document displayed on a WWW browser, and when the object is selected, the prepared instruction content is transferred to the server. To

The server receiving the instruction can analyze the instruction and activate a program for transferring and printing the print data. Further, if CGI is used, not only the instruction content prepared in advance but also data input by the operator can be transmitted. Therefore, if this is used, it is possible to instruct transfer and printout of a print image not only to a specific image communication device but also to any image communication device based on the input data.

In this way, the image communication device 61 that has received the print instruction transfers the print image to a previously specified image communication device or an image communication device based on the data input by the operator, and transfers the image. The image communication device 62, which is the destination, performs printing processing of the received image data.

According to the above-described system, before printing an image to be sent, its outline can be confirmed by displaying it on a display, and it is possible to determine whether or not the recipient performs the printing process. For this reason, it is possible to reduce unnecessary printing cost and communication cost, and has a feature that cannot be obtained by a conventional facsimile apparatus or image communication means such as attaching an image to an electronic mail.

Also, since an enormous amount of print image data is not included in the e-mail itself, it has a high affinity with existing systems such that a large load is not imposed on the e-mail system or the data receiving terminal device. It is expected to be widely used from the intranet to the Internet.

Further, as described above, it is possible to specify the transfer destination of the image from the receiving side, so that the receiver can browse and display or print from the outside. By using such a feature, for example, it is possible to confirm an image while going out, and to directly transfer and print the image from a distribution destination using a device installed in an office to be visited.

Next, in the data communication system as described above, the data distribution terminal device, the data reception terminal device, the data printing terminal device, the data communication system, and the data communication terminal device of the present invention capable of avoiding the danger of unauthorized use. An embodiment using a communication method and a storage medium will be described.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the image communication apparatus of the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU unit which controls each unit of the apparatus. Reference numeral 12 denotes a display unit for performing various displays such as a display of a device status and a prompt for an operator's operation.
Reference numeral 13 denotes an operation unit for inputting an instruction from an operator in accordance with the display content of the display unit 12, and a key input button, a pointing device such as a mouse, a touch panel, or the like (not shown) is an input device of the operation unit 13. Used as

A storage unit 14 stores data such as input images as a file. A communication control unit 15 controls connection with a network outside the apparatus. 16
Denotes an image conversion unit for converting image quality such as resolution. The image input unit 18 and the image output unit 19 are connected to the image input / output control unit 17, and these are connected to the CPU unit 11
Is controlled according to the instructions of

In the data distribution terminal device, the CPU 11 causes the image data conversion unit, the first image data transmission unit, the authentication information extraction unit, the print request transmission unit, the permission response recognition unit, Second image data transmitting means is configured.

The image data converting means converts the image data to be transmitted to the data receiving terminal into a plurality of image data having different image qualities. The first image data transmitting means transmits the image data of the first image quality converted by the image data converting means.

The authentication information extracting means is for extracting authentication information for a transfer destination based on a print instruction request sent from the data receiving terminal device. The print request transmitting means is for transmitting a transfer print request to the designated destination data printing terminal device based on the authentication information extracted by the authentication information extracting means.

The permission response recognizing means is for recognizing a response to the effect that the transfer print request transmitted from the print request transmitting means is permitted. The second image data transmitting means is for transmitting image data of a second image quality to the data printing terminal device based on the permission response recognized by the permission response recognizing means.

In the data receiving terminal device, the CPU 11 constitutes a print request receiving means, an authentication information collating means, a transfer permission transmitting means, and an image data output means.

The print request receiving means is for receiving a transfer print request sent from a data distribution terminal connected via a communication line. Further, the authentication information collating means collates the authentication information included in the transfer print request received by the print request receiving means.

The transfer permission transmitting means transmits the transfer permission to the data distribution terminal device which has transmitted the transfer print request when the result of the verification by the authentication information verification means is determined to be permitted. . The image data output means receives and outputs image data transferred from the data distribution terminal device which has transmitted the transfer print request in response to the transfer permission transmitted from the transfer permission transmission means.

In the above data printing terminal device, the image data receiving means and the print instruction request transmitting means include a CPU.
It is constituted by a unit 11. The image data receiving means is for receiving image data transmitted from the data distribution terminal device. The print instruction request transmitting means transmits a print instruction request for image data relating to the image data received by the image data receiving means to the data distribution terminal device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an image communication system to which the image communication device of the present embodiment is connected.

In FIG. 2, reference numerals 21 and 22 denote the image communication devices shown in FIG. 1, and for the sake of simplicity, here, 21 is treated as an image communication device used for transmission.
2 is treated as an image communication device used to output a received image. In addition, it goes without saying that the relationship between transmission and reception may be reversed, and there is no difference between the configurations.

The image communication devices 21 and 22 have an image input and image output function, a network communication function by TCP / IP connection, a WWW server / client function, and an e-mail transmission / reception function, respectively. The image communication device 22 and the image communication device 22 are connected to the Internet 28 via an Internet connection unit 27, respectively.

The portable communication terminal device 23 is the image communication device 2
1 is a portable computer terminal device (information processing device such as a personal computer including a CPU unit, a memory, and a display unit) having a built-in wireless communication function registered as an image transmission destination from the wireless connection service base station 24. By communicating with, it is connected to the Internet 28 via the Internet connection unit 26.

The internet connection units 25 to 27 provide e-mail and WWW services to the devices connected to the internet connection units, respectively.
Can provide the same service to the mobile communication terminal device 23 by wireless communication.

Next, the processing procedure in the image communication system of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to flowcharts in FIGS. Note that these flowcharts are the flow of control performed by the CPU unit 11 based on the program data stored in the memory of each device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing performed by the operator of the image communication device 21 performing a transmission operation and transmitting an e-mail to the portable communication terminal device 23 as the transmission destination. .

In FIG. 3, first, in step S101, the transmission operator sets a transmission original in the image communication device 21, and
In step S102, the operation unit 13 is operated in accordance with the content displayed on the display unit 12 to set a transmission destination.

At this time, it is also possible to add an input of a fixed phrase or comment prepared in advance. In addition, in case it is troublesome to input the transmission destinations one by one, an electronic address book may be prepared on a storage medium, and the transmission destination may be selected from the address book.

In any case, after confirming the input setting of the transmission destination, the process proceeds to step S103. Step S
In step 103, the process waits for a key input to start transmission, and the process proceeds to step S1 according to an instruction to start transmission by the operator.
Go to 04.

In step S104, the image communication device 21
Reads an original to be transmitted from an image input unit 18 connected to an image input / output control unit 17 in accordance with an instruction from a CPU unit 11, converts image data into a plurality of image qualities by an image conversion unit 16, Save the file. Note that a plurality of image qualities are obtained, for example, by performing thinning processing from read image data (highest quality image) at different thinning intervals of one pixel interval and two pixel intervals. .

The image files having different image qualities created and stored in this manner include a display image for displaying the received image on the terminal device of the receiver and a display image for the receiver to further confirm the display image. After confirmation, it is used as a print image transferred as print data.

Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S105, in which a file in which information on the location of the display image and the print image file created and stored so far is described in HTML is created and saved.

Next, the process proceeds to step S106, where the HTML file created and stored in step S105 is received by the recipient of the e-mail, which is the transmission destination set in step S102, so that the receiving URL can be securely received. Is generated separately.

The receiving URL is generated in a format using the above-mentioned CGI, and is, for example, as follows. http: // Server # address / ▲▲▲ / ○○○ id = □□□

Here, “Server # address / ▲▲▲ /”
Indicates the IP address (or domain name) of the server and the path where the CGI program is stored, as mentioned in the above description of the URL.

Further, “OO” indicates a CGI program, and “id = □□□” following “question mark” (not shown) is a query character string passed to the program. Indicates that □□□ was given to the variable.

Further, when a plurality of variables are given as a query character string, a plurality of “variable names = data” are separated by & and are passed. Therefore, if this receiving URL is requested, the HTML file created in step S105 previously associated with the data “□□□” given to the variable “id” by the program “○○○” is referred to. , It can be sent back to the browser via the server.

Further, the process proceeds to step S107,
Attach the information included in the e-mail to the transmission destination, such as the address information, fixed phrase, and comment input of the transmission destination set in step S102, and the receiving URL created in step S106 to the transmission document of the e-mail. The e-mail transmitted to the destination designated by the transmission function is delivered to the mobile communication terminal device 23.

Next, the process of receiving the e-mail from the image communication device 21 by the portable communication terminal device 23, confirming the display image, and giving the transfer printing instruction to the image communication device 21 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This will be described in detail.

In FIG. 4, first, in step S111, the recipient of the e-mail confirms the contents of the e-mail received by the mail client application. This e-mail is sent by the image transmission service using the image communication device of the present embodiment, a message prompting the WWW browser to access the attached URL, information about the sender, Is described, but the description is not limited thereto.

In step S112, the recipient of the e-mail determines whether or not to confirm the image based on the described contents, and when confirming the image, gives an instruction to that effect (for example, in the e-mail, The process proceeds to step S113). In this case, W
If an e-mail client application having a function of starting a WW browser is used, an image can be checked immediately.

In step S113, the WWW browser requests the HTML file stored in the image communication device 21 indicated by the receiving URL. Image communication device 21
Has a WWW server function and transfers an HTML file specified in response to a request from the WWW browser to the WWW browser, that is, the portable communication terminal device 23 which is the terminal device that has received the mail.

Further, the WWW browser analyzes the HTML file and requests again a display image, which is a source object to be displayed described in the text, according to the described URL.

In step S114, the WWW browser displays the display image by transferring the display image requested by the WWW browser. As a result, the recipient of the e-mail transmits the image transmitted from the image communication device 21 to the portable terminal. This can be confirmed on the display device of the communication terminal device 23. After the e-mail recipient confirms the display image, the process proceeds to step S115.

In the image communication system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to request the transfer of a high-quality print image and the printout to the designated device at the same time as confirming the image on the display of the portable communication terminal device 23. It is.

In step S115, means for transferring the print image and instructing whether or not to print out is provided on the same screen as the display of the display image, and the contents of the instruction are transmitted to the image communication apparatus 21. Via HTTP above
Performed by CGI request. An example is shown below, and each component will be described.

Http: // source # address / ▲▲▲ / ○○○ i
d = □□□ & mode = print & dest = http: // dest # address / ××× / ◎◎◎ & key =
“Here,“ Server # address / ▲▲▲ / ● ○ id = □□□ ”(omitting the question mark before id) is the same as the URL for reception generated in step S106. Shows the server address (or domain name) and CG of the distribution source
A variable “id” given to specify the storage location of the I program and the distribution information is shown.

Further, subsequently, information for instructing transfer printing as shown in the following table is added. As a means for setting each variable, for example, a method of inputting data using a keyboard using an HTML form tag, a method of selecting a check box or the like by a click operation using a pointing device, or the like can be used.

Further, by clicking a button provided on the same screen separately from the above, each variable set here can be transmitted to the image communication apparatus 21 as the above-mentioned CGI request.

[0076]

[Table 1]

The variable “mode” specifies the requested processing content, and the set value “print” indicates a request for transfer of a print image and print processing. Also, the URL indicating the CGI program that is the reception request destination of the transfer destination device is given to the variable “dest”.

Further, a character string to be used as an authentication key for the transfer destination apparatus to determine the permission of reception is set in the variable “key”. Here, the authentication key set in the variable “key” is
It is information that can be obtained only by a person who is previously authorized by the administrator of the transfer destination device, and is given as a combination of character strings that is difficult for other persons to easily guess. Therefore, the transfer destination device checks the authentication key at the time of receiving the request, and can prevent unauthorized use by an unauthorized user.

In the case where the image is directly transferred and printed from the distribution destination by using the device installed in the visited office while the user is out of the office, the administrator of the transfer destination device obtains permission to perform special authentication. By obtaining the use key, a request for transfer printing processing can be made. In this case, the authentication key given in this case permits the transfer destination device to perform the transfer printing process only once, and the request for the process using the same authentication key is rejected by the request destination device.

Therefore, even if this authentication key is obtained illegally by any method, it is possible to prevent the use of the transfer destination device that abuses this service. Further, the process proceeds to step S116, in which the instruction request information is transmitted to the image communication device 21 by the above-described instruction and transmission unit, and the process ends if the instruction to print out the print image is not issued.

Next, the process from when the image communication device 21 receives the above-mentioned instruction contents to when the contents are analyzed and the print image is transferred to the designated image communication device will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. .

In FIG. 5, first, in step S121,
The image communication device 21 extracts information related to the instruction request from the received CGI request, and further, in step S122,
The variable “id” for specifying the request format and the distribution information is collated. If the request is not recognized as a valid request, the process proceeds to step S123.

In step S123, the CGI program stores data (HTML format) indicating that the request has been rejected,
The request is returned to the requesting terminal device via the WWW server, and the process ends. If the data is evaluated as valid in step S122, the process proceeds to step S124, and the transfer printing is performed to the image communication device 22, which is the transfer destination of the print image, according to the setting of each variable extracted from the CGI request. Send the requested CGI request and wait for a response.

The CGI request generated here is shown below. HYPERLINK http: // dest http: // dest # address / ××
× / ◎◎◎ mode: print & key = ◇◇◇ Further, the process proceeds to step S125, and if the response to the CGI request is to reject the transfer print request,
The process proceeds to step S126.

In step S 126, data (HTML format) indicating that the requested transfer print instruction has been rejected by image communication device 22 is returned to the requesting terminal device via the WWW server, and the process ends. .

If the transfer print request is granted in step S125, the process proceeds to step S127, in which the request based on the requested transfer print instruction is granted by the image communication device 22, and the transfer process is started. The data (HTML format) is returned to the requesting terminal device via the WWW server.

Further, the processing proceeds to step S128,
The print image file is transferred to the image communication device 22, and the process ends. On the other hand, the image communication device 22 transmits the received print image to the image output unit 19 via the image input / output control group 17.
And print processing is performed.

Further, after confirming that the printing process has been performed, if the authentication data used for the permission determination of the transfer printing request is limited to the above-described one-time transfer printing, the subsequent processing is performed. This authentication data is invalidated for a print request.

This is performed, for example, by changing a flag added to a data table stored in the storage unit 14 for collating the authentication data. Note that it is confirmed by inquiry of “ID” that the operations shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 5 are all a series of communication for the same image.

The image communication apparatus according to the present embodiment is applicable to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), and is applicable to a device including a single device. Is also good.

Further, in order to operate various devices in order to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, an apparatus connected to the various devices or a computer in the system includes:
The present invention also includes a software program code for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments, which is implemented by operating the various devices according to a program stored in the system or a computer (CPU or MPU). included.

In this case, the program code of the software implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program to the computer, for example, the program code The stored recording medium constitutes the present invention.

As a recording medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk,
Hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-
ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM
Etc. can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer, or another program. Needless to say, even when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with the application software or the like, the program code is included in the embodiment of the present invention.

After the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is stored in the expansion board or the function expansion unit based on an instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention includes a case where a provided CPU or the like performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0096]

As described above, according to the present invention, even in a use environment connected to the Internet, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use by anyone other than authorized users. This makes it possible to safely distribute the image information, and the sender can reliably transmit the image information to a specific personal destination. Further, the recipient controls the display device by the computer terminal device that has received the e-mail, displays the received image on the display device and confirms that the image is a necessary image, and then prints the image on any image communication device. To be printed on a medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an entire system illustrating a communication system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure during transmission of the communication system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure at the time of reception of the communication system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure at the time of transfer of the communication system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image communication system of a reference example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 CPU unit 12 display unit 13 operation unit 14 storage unit 15 communication control unit 16 image conversion unit 17 image input / output control unit 18 image input unit 19 image output unit 21 image communication device 22 image communication device 23 portable communication terminal device 24 wireless connection Service base station 25, 26, 27 Internet connection unit 28 Internet 61 Image communication device 62 Image communication device 63 Network 64 Destination terminal device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/173 640 H04L 9/00 673B 5J104 F-term (Reference) 5B021 AA01 BB02 CC05 EE01 5B089 GA21 GB04 HA10 JA22 JA31 JA33 JB03 JB22 KA17 KB07 KB13 KC58 LB12 LB14 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA13 AA29 AB20 AB22 AB23 AC04 AC26 AC43 BC03 5C064 BA01 BA07 BB01 BB07 BC06 BC16 BC18 BC20 BC22 BD02 BD07 BD08 BD09 CA14 CB01 CC04 5C0 0A04 AB04

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A data distribution terminal device used in a data communication system in which a plurality of terminal devices including a data receiving terminal device and a data printing terminal device are connected via a communication line. Image data conversion means for converting image data to be transmitted into a plurality of image data of different qualities; and converting the first image quality image data converted by the image data conversion means into an image transfer request from the data receiving terminal device. First image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data to the data receiving terminal device, and authentication information extracting means for extracting authentication information for a transfer destination based on a print instruction request sent from the data receiving terminal device Based on the authentication information extracted by the authentication information extracting means, a transfer printing request to the designated destination data printing terminal device. Print request transmitting means for transmitting a print request transmitted from the print request transmitting means, a permission response recognizing means for recognizing a response to the effect that the transfer print request is permitted, and a permission response recognized by the permission response recognizing means. And a second image data transmitting means for transmitting image data of a second image quality to the data printing terminal device. 2. The image data of the first image quality is coarse image data to be displayed on a display device, and the image data of the second image quality is high-definition image data for printing. The data distribution terminal device according to claim 1. 3. A print request receiving means for receiving a transfer print request sent from a data distribution terminal device connected via a communication line, and authentication information included in the transfer print request received by the print request receiving means. Authentication information collating means for collating, and transfer permission transmitting means for transmitting a transfer permission to the data distribution terminal device that transmitted the transfer print request when a result of the collation by the authentication information collating means is determined to be permitted. Image data output means for receiving and outputting image data transferred from the data distribution terminal device which transmitted the transfer print request in response to the transfer permission transmitted from the transfer permission transmission means. Characteristic data printing terminal device. 4. After the transfer process is completed, if the authentication information provided with the permission response by the authentication information collating means is used again in the transfer print request, this is not permitted. 4. The data printing terminal device according to 3. 5. A data receiving terminal device used in a data communication system in which a plurality of terminal devices including a data distribution terminal device and a data printing terminal device are connected via a communication line, wherein: Image data receiving means for receiving the transmitted image data; and print instruction request transmitting means for transmitting a print instruction request for image data relating to the image data received by the image data receiving means to the data distribution terminal device. A data receiving terminal device characterized by the above-mentioned. 6. An image data converting means for converting image data to be transmitted to a data receiving terminal device into image data of a plurality of different image qualities, and converting the image data of the first image quality converted by the image data converting means into First image data transmitting means for transmitting to the data receiving terminal device based on an image transfer request from the data receiving terminal device; and a transfer destination based on a print instruction request transmitted from the data receiving terminal device. Authentication information extracting means for extracting authentication information corresponding to the authentication information, and print request transmitting means for transmitting a transfer print request to a data transfer terminal device at a designated transfer destination based on the authentication information extracted by the authentication information extracting means. A permission response recognizing means for recognizing a response to the effect that the transfer print request transmitted from the print request transmitting means is permitted; and a permission response recognizing means. A data distribution terminal device having first image data transmitting means for transmitting image data of a second image quality to the data printing terminal device based on the recognized license response; Print request receiving means for receiving a transfer print request sent from the data distribution terminal device, and authentication information matching means for checking authentication information included in the transfer print request received by the print request receiving means; A transfer permission transmitting means for transmitting a transfer permission to the data distribution terminal device which has transmitted the transfer print request when a result of the verification by the verification means is determined to be permitted; and a transfer transmitted from the transfer permission transmitting means. Image data output means for receiving and outputting image data transferred from the data distribution terminal device which transmitted the transfer print request in response to the permission. A data printing terminal device, image data receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from the data distribution terminal device, and a request for a print instruction for image data relating to the image data received by the image data receiving means. A data communication system comprising at least a data receiving terminal device having a print instruction request transmitting means for transmitting to a device. 7. An image data conversion process for converting image data to be transmitted to a data receiving terminal device into a plurality of image data of different qualities, and an image data of the first image quality converted by the image data conversion process, Image data transmission processing to be transmitted to the data receiving terminal device based on an image transfer request from the data receiving terminal device, and based on a print instruction request sent from the data receiving terminal device,
Authentication information extraction processing for extracting authentication information for the transfer destination, and print request transmission for transmitting a transfer print request to the designated transfer destination data printing terminal device based on the authentication information extracted by the authentication information extraction processing. Processing, a permission response recognizing process for recognizing a response to the effect that the transfer print request transmitted by the print request transmitting process is permitted, and the data printing terminal based on the permission response recognized by the permission response recognizing process. A data distribution terminal device for performing image data transmission processing for transmitting image data of the second image quality to the device, and receiving a transfer print request transmitted from the data distribution terminal device connected via the communication line Request reception processing, authentication information collation processing for collating the authentication information included in the transfer print request received by the print request reception means, and authentication information collation A transfer permission transmission process of transmitting a transfer permission to the data distribution terminal device that transmitted the transfer print request when a result of the comparison by the means is determined to be permitted;
An image data output process for receiving and outputting image data transferred from the data distribution terminal device that has transmitted the transfer print request in response to the transfer permission transmitted by the transfer permission transmission process. Performing image data reception processing for receiving image data transmitted from the data distribution terminal device, and transmitting a request for an instruction to print image data relating to the image data received by the image data receiving means to the data distribution terminal device. A data communication method, wherein the data reception terminal device performs a print instruction request transmission process. 8. A storage medium storing a program constituting each means according to claim 1 so as to be readable from a computer. 9. A storage medium storing a program for executing the data communication method according to claim 7 so as to be readable from a computer.