JP2001333243A - Facsimile server device and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile server device and a control method for the same, with which a facsimile polling instruction from a transmitting source is received and the relevant polling received result can be returned to the transmitting source. SOLUTION: Reference numeral 1 is a communication network A, and a client 1a, a mail server 1b, a FAX server 1c and a router 1e are connected to a LAN 1d. The client 1a and the FAX server 1c exchange electronic mail through the LAN 1d. Besides, the FAX server 1c and each of G3FAX 3a-3c mutually perform facsimile communication through a PSTN 2. When polling reception of picture data is requested from the client 1a, an electronic mail describing such a request is transmitted to the G3FAX 3a and the picture data of the received result are attached to electronic mail and returned to the client 1a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine configured to receive a facsimile polling instruction from a transmission source and return the polling reception result to the transmission source.
The present invention relates to a control method of a facsimile server and a facsimile server.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent development of communication technology and computer technology, various forms of communication networks have been proposed. As an example, a local area network (hereinafter, LA) is used.
Abbreviated as N. ), A personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer)
Abbreviated as PC. ) And a number of clients, which are data processing devices, and a facsimile server device (hereinafter referred to as FAX).
Abbreviated as server. ) May be connected to form a communication network.

A large number of facsimile apparatuses which transmit and receive image data by a facsimile transmission procedure using a group 3 (hereinafter abbreviated as G3) facsimile server connected to such a communication network. (Hereinafter abbreviated as G3FAX) and a public telephone network (PSTN; Public Su).
bscriber Telephone Network
k) and perform facsimile communication with each other.

As described above, the facsimile server has a G3 facsimile communication function, but is provided with an electronic mail communication function, and is connected to a communication network such as a LAN as described above to be connected to an electronic mail. Mail can be sent and received. When an e-mail is received from the sender via the LAN,
G3 based on the communication conditions set in the fax server
Fax and facsimile communication can be performed.

[0005] The FAX server performs various communication processes based on commands from the data processing device as the client. Also, the fax server is G3F if necessary.
It requests the AX to receive the polling of the image data.

[0006]

As described above, various communication processes are performed between the client and the fax server provided on the communication network. However, in the conventional configuration, the source client sends
There is a problem that the AX server is instructed to receive polling of image data, that is, facsimile polling, and it is not possible to obtain a polling reception result based on the instruction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention receives a facsimile polling instruction from a transmission source,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile server apparatus and a control method of the facsimile server apparatus, which can return a ring reception result to a transmission source.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile server having a facsimile communication function and an electronic mail communication function. Receiving an electronic mail in which facsimile polling instruction information is described from a transmission source, and receiving image data based on the instruction information by polling from the designated facsimile apparatus, and receiving the image data. This is achieved by a configuration in which the result is sent back to the source by e-mail.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile server apparatus according to the first aspect, it is determined that the transmission source is qualified for a polling reception instruction, and the polling reception result is determined. The electronic mail is sent back to the sender.

In a third aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a facsimile server device having a facsimile communication function and an electronic mail communication function includes receiving an electronic mail transmitted from a transmission source. Recognizing facsimile polling instruction information described in the electronic mail, and receiving image data from the designated facsimile apparatus based on the instruction information by polling; Attaching the image data to an electronic mail and returning it to the sender.

According to the feature of the invention according to claim 1,
Using the electronic mail communication function, the transmission source can instruct facsimile server apparatus to perform facsimile polling, and obtain the polling reception result from the facsimile server apparatus.

In the invention according to claim 2, the polling reception result is returned to the transmission source by electronic mail only when the transmission source is qualified for the polling reception instruction. For this reason, since the use of the facsimile polling reception function from an unqualified source is eliminated, the security of communication can be enhanced.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3,
Using the electronic mail communication function, the facsimile server device receives the facsimile polling instruction information from the transmission source, attaches the polling received image data to the electronic mail, and transmits the information. Has been sent back. This eliminates the need for a new communication line for transmitting polled image data to the transmission source, thereby reducing communication costs.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a facsimile server apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing one form of a communication network in which a facsimile server apparatus of the present invention is used. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a communication network A, which connects a client 1a, a mail server 1b, a facsimile server 1c, and a router 1e to a LAN 1d.

The client 1a is a data processing device such as a client PC, and is installed at only one place in FIG.
Many can be connected to d. Communication network A
Is constructed where a large number of clients such as factories, offices and stores are installed.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a PSTN, and reference numerals 3a to 3c denote G3 FAXs. FAX server 1 installed on communication network A
c and the G3 FAXes 3a to 3c are connected by the PSTN 2 and perform facsimile communication with each other. In addition, in the example of FIG. 1, G3FAXs are installed at three places, but any number of G3FAXs can be installed and connected to the PSTN 2.

4 is an internet, 5 is a communication network.
This is B. Communication network B is also communication network A
Client, mail server, fax server
A configuration in which the router and the router are connected to the LAN can be adopted. Thus, a communication network provided with a mail server is provided.
By connecting the network A and the communication network B via the Internet 4, electronic mail can be transmitted and received between clients and facsimile servers provided in the respective communication networks. SMTP (Simple Mail T) is a protocol for transmitting and receiving electronic mail.
transfer Protocol, POP3 (Po
st Office Protocol).

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, a mail server 1b is installed in the communication network A, so that the client 1
a and the FAX server 1c can send and receive electronic mail via the LAN 1d. As described above, the fax server 1c and the G3 faxes 3a to 3c
Facsimile communication is performed mutually via N2.

By the way, the electronic mail communication system and G3
Since the communication system is different from the facsimile communication system, the image data cannot be transmitted by the electronic mail communication system in its original form. However, in recent years, a method of converting image data such as image data into an electronic mail format, for example, a TIFF (Tagged Image)
File Format) has been developed. By using such a conversion method, a file of image data can be attached to an electronic mail and transmitted / received to / from a client.

In the present invention, a technique is used in which a file of image data is attached to the electronic mail and transmitted. By using such a technique, a facsimile server returns the polling reception result to the sender who has instructed facsimile polling by electronic mail.

Next, an example of communication processing performed between the respective devices in the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described. Here, the facsimile server 1c responds to the instruction from the client 1a to the G3
An example in which image data is polled and received from the FAX 3a will be described. In (Ia), the client 1a describes its own e-mail address and an instruction for polling and receiving image data from the G3 FAX 3a, and sends an e-mail addressed to the FAX server 1c. Transmit to the server 1b. The e-mail is transmitted via the LAN 1d.
The transmission of the e-mail of the LAN 1d is omitted in the figure.

In (Ib), the FAX server 1c accesses the mail server 1b and checks the mail box.
The electronic mail transmitted from the client 1a is downloaded to a storage unit. Next, in the processing of (Ic) and (Id), between the fax server 1a and the G3 fax 3a,
A communication protocol for facsimile polling is set via the PSTN 2, and the facsimile server 1c sets the G3 FAX 3
The image data is received by polling from a and stored in the storage unit.

In (Ie), the FAX server 1c sends the mail address of the client 1a and an electronic mail describing the result of polling reception to the mail server 1b. At this time, the FAX server 1c creates the image data received by polling from the G3 FAX 3a as an attached file of an electronic mail.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration in which the facsimile server 1c sends mail to the mail server.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure of an electronic mail transmitted to a bar 1b. In FIG. 3, part A is a header, part B is an electronic mail text describing the contents of an attached file, and part C is image data created as an attached file.
In this way, the FAX server 1c converts the polling-received image data into an electronic mail format, attaches it to the electronic mail, and transmits the electronic mail to the mail server 1b.

At (If), the client 1a accesses the mail server 1b and checks the mail box.
The electronic mail transmitted from the FAX server 1c is obtained. At this time, the client 1a can obtain the image data from the G3 FAX 3a which instructed the FAX server 1c to receive the polling.

In the example of FIG. 1, the fax server 1c and the G
Although facsimile communication is performed with the 3FAX3a via the PSTN2, the FAX server 1c and the G3FAX3
b, or (Ig) and (Ih) facsimile communication can be performed between the FAX server 1c and the G3 FAX 3c via the PSTN 2. In addition, communication networks
A is a communication network B via the Internet 4.
Are connected to each other, (Ii), (I)
The electronic mail can be transmitted / received in j).

FIG. 2 shows the client 1a, mail server 1b, FAX server 1c, G3 FAX 3a,
This is a flowchart showing a procedure of a communication process between the devices. Next, this flowchart will be described. (Ia) to (If) in FIG. 2 correspond to (Ia) to (Ia) in FIG.
(If).

(1) The client 1a creates an electronic mail (process 51), and sends this electronic mail to the mail server 1b.
(Process 52). The FAX server 1c receives the electronic mail from the mail server 1b (step 53).
Next, referring to the user table (process 55), the electronic mail
The main text is analyzed (process 54). The processing 54 sets communication security so that only a specific client can use the polling reception function.

(2) The facsimile server 1c determines whether or not the transmission source client 1a is eligible for a polling reception instruction based on the result of the text analysis (processing 5).
6). If the determination result is No, an e-mail describing that polling cannot be received is sent to the e-mail server 1b.
(Step 57). The client 1a receives this electronic mail from the mail server 1b (process 5).
8).

(3) If the result of the determination in the above step 56 is Yes, the FAX server 1c and the G3 FAX 3a
A predetermined facsimile communication is performed via the PSTN,
The AX server 1c polls and receives image data from the G3 FAX 3a (steps 59 and 60).

(4) The FAX server 1c creates an electronic mail of the communication result after polling the image data, that is, an electronic mail with the file of the image data attached to the body. Then, the message is transmitted to the mail server 1b (process 62). The client 1a receives the electronic mail from the mail server 1b (step 58), and obtains image data instructed to receive polling.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing, in a sequence, a communication protocol when polling image data is received. F
AX server 1c is a facsimile machine on the calling side, G3FA
X3a corresponds to the called facsimile machine. In the following description, the "calling side facsimile machine" and the "calling side facsimile machine" are abbreviated and simply expressed as "calling side" and "called side".

In (1), after the called party responds to the incoming call and closes the DC circuit of the line, the called side transmits a called terminal identification signal (CED) to the calling side. Next, in (2), the non-standard function identification signal (NSF), the called terminal identification signal (CSI), and the digital identification signal (DIS) relating to the capability of the facsimile apparatus are transmitted from the called side to the calling side.

In step (3), the calling side transmits a password (PWD), a selection polling (SEP), a calling terminal identification information (CIG), and a self-call receiving side to the called side. A signal (DTC) indicating the capability of the device is transmitted. Next, in (4), page information (DC) for transmitting source information (TSI) and facsimile manuscript (image data) from the called side to the calling side.
Send S). In step (5), a training check (TCF) is started from the called side to the calling side.

In step (6), the calling side transmits a reception preparation confirmation signal (CFR) to the called side. Next, at step (6), the facsimile original (image data PIX) is polled from the called side to the calling side. When the transmission of the facsimile original is completed, a page end signal (EOP) is transmitted from the called side to the calling side in (7). From the calling side, at (8)
A transmission confirmation signal (MCF) is transmitted to the called side, and the called side transmits a disconnection command signal (DCN) to the calling side in (9) to terminate the communication.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a control device 20 provided in a facsimile server applied to the present invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 21 denotes a central processing unit (hereinafter abbreviated as MPU) for processing various signals and data;
Reference numeral 2 denotes a ROM for storing data and programs necessary for various operations of the communication terminal device, and reference numeral 23 denotes a RAM for storing management data and the like.

A printer 24 outputs the received facsimile data on recording paper.
A reading unit 26 outputs facsimile data, which is image data of a value, and an operation unit 26 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The communication terminal device is connected to the LAN 1d via a network interface (I / F) 27. F
The AX server is connected to an integrated services digital network (ISDN) via an interface (I / F) 28 and a digital circuit termination unit (DSU) 29. Also, it is connected to the PSTN via a line control unit (NCU) 30.

Numeral 31 modulates facsimile data transmitted / received to / from a facsimile apparatus of the other party via the PSTN. This is a modem for demodulation, and the modem 31 and the NCU 30 are connected by an analog signal line 31a.

The encoding / decoding unit 32 encodes facsimile data to be transmitted and decodes the received facsimile data. The graphic character generation unit 33 converts the character code data into image data. 34 is a cathode ray tube (CRT)
And a display unit using a liquid crystal display (LCD); 35 is a clock unit used for writing date and time on facsimile data;
Reference numeral 6 denotes a hardware for storing a communication management record and facsimile data.
A hard disk (HD) 37 is an internal bus. If the storage capacity is not so required, an image memory is used instead of the hard disk (HD).

[0040]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the sender instructs the facsimile server apparatus to perform facsimile polling by using the electronic mail communication function. The polling reception result can be obtained from the server device.

In the invention according to the second aspect, the polling reception result is returned to the transmission source by electronic mail only when the transmission source is qualified for the polling reception instruction. For this reason, since the use of the facsimile polling reception function from an unqualified source is eliminated, the security of communication can be enhanced.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3,
Using the electronic mail communication function, the facsimile server device receives the facsimile polling instruction information from the transmission source, attaches the polling received image data to the electronic mail, and transmits the information. Has been sent back. This eliminates the need for a new communication line for transmitting polled image data to the transmission source, thereby reducing communication costs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of connecting a facsimile server according to an embodiment of the present invention to a communication network.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a communication process in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a data configuration of an electronic mail.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing, in a sequence, a communication protocol used when polling image data is received.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control device of the facsimile server device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Communication Network A 1a Client 1b Mail Server 1c FAX Server 1d LAN 2 PSTN 3a-3c G3 FAX 4 Internet 5 Communication Network B 21 Central Processing Unit (CPU) 23 RAM 26 Operation Unit 34 Display 37 Internal bus

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/32 F term (Reference) 5B021 AA05 BB01 BB02 BB05 5C062 AA02 AA13 AA27 AA29 AA30 AC29 AC35 AE14 AF01 AF13 BA01 BD09 5C075 AA02 AB90 BB11 CA01 CA90 FF90 GG09 5K030 GA17 HA06 HB04 HC02 HC14 HD03 HD06 JT05 KA06

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile server device having a facsimile communication function and an e-mail communication function, comprising: receiving an e-mail in which facsimile polling instruction information is described from a transmission source; Receiving polling of image data from the designated facsimile apparatus based on the instruction information;
A facsimile server device which returns a reception result to the transmission source by electronic mail. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the source determines that the receiver is qualified for a polling reception instruction, and transmits a polling reception result to an electronic mail.
2. Returning to the transmission source by a file
2. A facsimile server device according to claim 1. 3. A step of receiving an electronic mail transmitted from a transmission source, a step of recognizing facsimile polling instruction information described in the electronic mail, and an instruction based on the instruction information. Polling image data from the selected facsimile apparatus, and transmitting the image data by electronic mail.
A method of controlling a facsimile server device having a facsimile communication function and an electronic mail communication function.