JP2002009816A - Electronic mail/fax conversion system and fax/electronic mail conversion system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system by which a load on toll charging and procedures caused when a user of an electronic mail terminal transmits an electronic mail to a FAX terminal can be reduced. SOLUTION: An incoming call recording management section 3 manages a transmission recording when an electronic mail from an electronic mail terminal 6 is converted in a FAX form by a gateway 2 and the gateway 2 transmits the resulting mail to a FAX terminal 7. A toll charging management section 4 uses the transmission recording to manage billing on a FAX terminal user and informs the FAX terminal 7 about the communication charge on the basis of the charging. Through the configuration above, since an electronic mail transmission charge is billed on the FAX terminal user, it is not required for the electronic mail terminal user to make a contract of charging on transmission of electronic mails with a network operating enterprise.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an e-mail / FAX conversion system for converting an X-format and transmitting it, and a FAX-e-mail conversion system for converting a FAX to an e-mail format and transmitting it.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an e-mail terminal user who wants to transmit an e-mail to a facsimile terminal (hereinafter, referred to as a "FAX terminal") is connected to a network such as an Internet service provider (ISP). FAX the e-mail operated by the operator
An e-mail / FAX conversion system that converts the data into a format and sends it is used.

[0003] In general, the communication fee when using a FAX terminal is charged to the sender side, so the user of the e-mail terminal negotiates a contract for charging the e-mail transmission in advance with a network operator. It was necessary to connect with

[0004] Further, a user of a facsimile terminal who wants to transmit a facsimile to an e-mail terminal (a personal computer, a portable terminal, or the like) converts the facsimile into an e-mail format and transmits the facsimile.
An X-email conversion system is used.
In such a case, the user of the FAX terminal applies for the e-mail address of the communication destination and the corresponding registration number to the network operator in advance, registers the e-mail address in the FAX / e-mail conversion system, and transmits the FAX. Sometimes the registration number was entered.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the facsimile conversion system, the user of the e-mail terminal is required to transmit the e-mail to the facsimile terminal.
In terms of charge management, there is a problem that transmission cannot be handled in the same manner as transmission to a general e-mail terminal that does not need to go through such a system.

[0006] In addition, as a user of the FAX terminal,
There has been a problem that the communication destinations that can convert X to an e-mail format and send them are limited to those who have applied for registration themselves.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an e-mail / fax conversion system capable of reducing the burden on an e-mail terminal user regarding charging and procedures. Is to do.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile / email conversion system that can reduce the burden of e-mail address registration procedures for a user of a facsimile terminal.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile / email conversion system according to a first aspect of the present invention converts an e-mail from an e-mail terminal into a facsimile format and sends it to the facsimile terminal. An e-mail / FAX conversion system having a transmission unit, comprising: a storage unit for storing a transmission record of the transmission unit; and a management unit for managing billing for a user of the FAX terminal using the transmission record. Features.

[0010] According to the present invention, the communication fee when the user of the e-mail terminal transmits the e-mail to the FAX terminal is charged to the FAX terminal user and charged. User does not need to conclude a billing contract for the transmission of e-mail, and therefore transmits the e-mail without being aware that the communication destination is a FAX terminal, as in the case of general e-mail transmission. be able to.

[0011] A billing means for billing the user of the FAX terminal a fee based on the billing may be provided.

A facsimile-to-email conversion system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the facsimile-to-email conversion system having transmission means for converting a facsimile from a facsimile terminal into an e-mail format and transmitting the e-mail to the e-mail terminal Receiving means for receiving an e-mail address from a mail server that manages the e-mail address of the e-mail terminal;
Storage means for storing the received e-mail address and the corresponding registration number; and storing the e-mail address corresponding to the registration number when a facsimile having the specified registration number is received from the facsimile terminal. Extracting means for extracting the fax from the means, and means for causing the transmitting means to transmit the facsimile to the extracted e-mail address.

According to the present invention, an e-mail address is received from a mail server and stored in association with a registration number, and a fax is transmitted from a user of the facsimile terminal after designating the registration number. If so, the FA
By converting X to an e-mail format and sending it to the e-mail address corresponding to the designated registration number, the user of the FAX terminal can register the e-mail address of the communication destination without performing the registration procedure. Can send a fax to an electronic mail terminal.

With this configuration, it is also possible to eliminate the necessity for the user of the electronic mail terminal to perform the registration procedure of the electronic mail address of the communication destination.

Here, it is preferable that when the e-mail address is given to the user of the e-mail terminal from the mail server, the receiving means receives the e-mail address from the mail server.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an e-mail / FAX conversion system 1 according to the present embodiment and a use form thereof.

The e-mail / FAX conversion system 1 is connected to the e-mail terminal 6 via the Internet 8 and to the FAX terminal 7 via the telephone network 9.

The e-mail / FAX conversion system 1 converts the e-mail received from the e-mail terminal 6 into a facsimile format and sends it to the facsimile terminal 7;
An incoming call record management unit 3 that manages a transmission record to the AX terminal 7 as an incoming call record in the FAX terminal 7; a charging management unit 4 that manages charging for the FAX terminal user using the transmission record; And a contractor database 5 in which a contractor number and the like are registered.

This e-mail / FAX conversion system 1
Is operated by a network operator, and the network operator provides a service of converting an e-mail into a facsimile format and transmitting it.

In the contractor database 5, in addition to the contractor number of the FAX terminal user, the FAX number of the contractor and the corresponding e-mail address are registered. This registration is performed by an application from a FAX terminal user. The facsimile terminal user notifies the e-mail terminal user of the registered e-mail address in advance.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing procedure in the electronic mail / FAX conversion system 1. Here, as an example, the contractor number of the FAX terminal user is “001”,
The fax number of the fax terminal 7 is "number1" and the fax
Enter the e-mail address corresponding to the number as "number1@xxx.n
e.jp ".

First, at step d1, the e-mail terminal 6
To e-mail / FAX conversion system 1
er1@xxx.ne.jp "(d1).

At step d2, the gateway 2 of the e-mail / FAX conversion system 1 receives the e-mail and converts it into FAX format.

In step d 3, the gateway 2 sends the e-mail address “number” from the contractor database 5
The fax number “number1” corresponding to “1@xxx.ne.jp” is extracted, and the FA in which the fax number “number1” is registered is extracted.
FAX is transmitted to X terminal 7.

At step d4, the incoming call record management unit 3
The transmission record when the FAX is transmitted to the AX terminal 7 is collected via the gateway 2 and stored in the contractor database 5 in association with the contractor number. The transmission record corresponds to the number of transmitted pages, the type of sender, the content thereof, and the like.

In step d5, the accounting management unit 4 manages the accounting for the FAX terminal user having the contractor number "001" according to the number of transmitted pages, the type of the sender, the content thereof, and the like.

In step d 6, the charging management unit 4 sends a fee based on the charging to the FAX via the gateway 2.
The facsimile terminal 7 of the number “number1” is notified. Thereby, a fee is charged to the FAX terminal user of the contractor number 001.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the fee for transmitting an e-mail from the e-mail terminal 6 to the FAX terminal 7 is charged to the FAX terminal user and charged. As a user, there is no need to conclude a billing contract with the network operator for the transmission of e-mail, so as with general e-mail transmission, the user does not need to be aware that the communication destination is a FAX terminal user. An e-mail can be transmitted to a FAX terminal user.

In the present embodiment, the billing management unit 4 notifies the FAX terminal 7 of the billing request via the gateway 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be provided, and the billing unit may notify the FAX terminal 7 of the billing fee directly without passing through the gateway 2.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile / email conversion system 31 according to the present embodiment and a mode of use thereof.

In the figure, the mail server 38 connects the electronic mail terminal 6 and the FA via the Internet 8.
It is connected to the X / e-mail conversion system 31. The mail server 38, when receiving an application from a person who intends to use the e-mail and issuing an e-mail address, notifies the e-mail address to the e-mail terminal 6 and sends it to the FAX / e-mail conversion system 31. You are notified.

The facsimile / email conversion system 31
A registration receiving unit 37 for registering the e-mail address received from the mail server 38 via the gateway 32 in the contractor database 35 in association with the registration number;
A gateway 32 for converting a fax received from the X terminal 7 into an e-mail format and transmitting it to the e-mail terminal 6;
An authentication unit 36 for authenticating whether or not the FAX terminal user who transmitted the AX is a contractor; a transmission record management unit 33 for managing transmission records from the FAX terminal 7; and a FAX terminal using the transmission records A billing management unit 34 for managing billing for the user, and a subscriber database 35 for registering a subscriber number, a password, and the like of the FAX terminal user in addition to the e-mail address and the corresponding registration number. Configuration.

This facsimile / email conversion system 31
Is operated by a network operator, and a service is provided by the network operator to convert a facsimile into an e-mail format and send it.

In addition, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing procedure for registering an e-mail address in the FAX / e-mail conversion system 31.

In step d11, the person who intends to use the e-mail sends the e-mail terminal 6 to the mail server 3
8. Apply for an e-mail address.

In step 12, the mail server 38
An e-mail address is issued, and the e-mail address is registered in correspondence with the e-mail user.

In step 13, the mail server 38
The e-mail address is notified to the e-mail terminal 6. The notification of the e-mail address is not limited to automatic notification, and may be performed by mail of the administrator of the mail server 38.

In step 14, the mail server 38
The e-mail address is notified to the FAX / e-mail conversion system 31.

At step 15, the registration receiving section 37 of the FAX / e-mail conversion system 31 stores the e-mail address received via the gateway 32 in the contractor database 35 in association with the registration number. This registration number is used by the FAX terminal user as a number for the electronic mail address of the communication destination. The registration number may be determined using only numbers in consideration of the fact that some fax terminals do not have an English character input function.

In step 16, the registration receiving section 37 notifies the electronic mail terminal 6 of the registration number via the gateway 2. The notification of the registration number is not limited to automatic,
The operator who operates the AX / e-mail conversion system 31 may perform the mailing or the like.

The e-mail user who has been notified of the registration number notifies the FAX terminal user of the registration number. Alternatively, the registration receiving unit 37 may notify the FAX terminal 7 designated by the e-mail user of the registration number.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing procedure in the FAX / E-mail conversion system 31. Here, as an example, the e-mail address of the e-mail terminal 6 is changed to “name”.
@ xxx.ne.jp ", and the registration number registered by the registration receiving unit 37 in correspondence with this e-mail address is" 05 ".
Also, the contractor number of the FAX terminal user is set to “001”.

First, in step d21, the FAX terminal user who wants to send a FAX sends identification information such as a contractor number "001" and a password in accordance with an authentication procedure instructed by the FAX / email conversion server 31. After transmitting the registration number “05” of the communication destination,
Send AX. The instruction of the authentication procedure may be performed by voice using a voice response device (not shown).

In step d22, the authentication unit 36 checks the personal identification information received via the gateway 32 with the information registered in the contractor database 35,
It is determined whether the FAX terminal user is a contractor. If it is determined that the user is a contractor, the process proceeds to step d23. If it is determined that the user is not a contractor, for example, the fact is notified to the FAX terminal user, and the subsequent processing is stopped.

At step d23, the gateway 32
The received fax is converted into an email format.

At step d24, the gateway 32
An e-mail address "name@xxx.ne.jp" corresponding to the registration number "05" is extracted from the contractor database 35, and an e-mail is transmitted to this e-mail address.

At step d25, the transmission record management section 33
Collects, via the gateway 32, a transmission record when the FAX terminal 7 transmits a facsimile, and stores it in the contractor database 35 in association with the contractor number. The transmission record corresponds to the number of pages transmitted, the type of sender, the contents thereof, and the like.

In step d26, the accounting management unit 34 manages the accounting for the FAX terminal user having the contractor number "001" according to the number of transmitted pages, the type of the sender, the contents thereof, and the like.

In step d27, the charging management unit 34 notifies the FAX terminal 7 of the FAX terminal user having the contractor number "001" via the gateway 32 of the charging based on the charging.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the notification of the e-mail address is received from the mail server 38 and stored in association with the registration number, and the FAX designated by the FAX terminal user receives the FAX whose registration number is designated. When the fax is sent, the fax is converted into an email format and sent to the email address corresponding to the registration number, so that the fax terminal user can perform the registration procedure of the email address of the communication destination. The fax can be transmitted to the e-mail terminal without performing.

In addition, the user of the electronic mail terminal does not need to perform the registration procedure of the electronic mail address.

Further, when an e-mail address is notified from the mail server 38 to a person who intends to use the e-mail, the FAX / e-mail conversion system 3
By accepting the notification even in the case 1, the management of the e-mail address relating to the newly subscribed e-mail terminal user can be completely automated.

[Application Examples to Other Embodiments] In each of the above embodiments, a system for converting an electronic mail into a facsimile format and a system for converting a facsimile into an electronic mail format are independently implemented. Although shown as a form,
These may be integrated into a system for mutually converting electronic mail and facsimile. In such a case, the effects of each of the above embodiments can be achieved with one system.

[0058]

As described above, according to the e-mail / FAX conversion system of the first aspect of the present invention, the e-mail can be transmitted to the FAX terminal in the same manner as a general e-mail. For the user of the e-mail terminal, it is possible to reduce the burden of charging and the trouble of the procedure.

According to the facsimile / e-mail conversion system of the second aspect of the present invention, the e-mail address of the communication destination is notified from the mail server. It is possible to reduce the work of registering the e-mail address of the terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an e-mail / FAX conversion system 1 according to a first embodiment and a use mode thereof.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing procedure in the electronic mail / FAX conversion system 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile / email conversion system 31 according to a second embodiment and a use mode thereof;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing procedure when registering an e-mail address in the facsimile / e-mail conversion system 31;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing procedure in the facsimile / email conversion system 31;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 E-mail / FAX conversion system 2, 32 Gateway 3 Incoming call record management part 4, 34 Billing management part 5, 35 Contractor database 6 E-mail terminal 7 FAX terminal 8 Internet network 9 Telephone network 31 FAX / E-mail conversion system 33 Transmission Record management unit 36 Authentication unit 37 Registration reception unit 38 Mail server

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/32 F term (Reference) 5C062 AB38 AB40 AB42 AC22 AC38 AF03 BD09 5C075 BA08 CA90 CD07 CD25 GG01 GG09 5K030 GA17 HA06 HB08 HC01 HD03 JA11 JT02 JT05 KA06 5K101 KK01 KK02 LL01 MM07 NN03 NN06 NN18 NN21 NN48 PP03 QQ07 TT06 UU19 UU20

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electronic mail from an electronic mail terminal is sent to an FA
An e-mail / fax conversion system having transmission means for converting the data into an X format and transmitting the data to a facsimile terminal, storage means for storing a transmission record by the transmission means, and charging the user of the facsimile terminal using the transmission record An e-mail / fax conversion system, comprising: a management unit that manages the e-mail and the facsimile. 2. A facsimile / email conversion system having a transmitting means for converting a facsimile from a facsimile terminal into an e-mail format and transmitting the converted e-mail to an e-mail terminal, wherein the mail server manages an e-mail address of the e-mail terminal Receiving means for receiving an e-mail address; storage means for storing the received e-mail address and a registration number corresponding to the received e-mail address; A facsimile / email conversion system, comprising: an extraction unit for extracting an e-mail address corresponding to the e-mail address from the storage unit; and a unit for causing the transmission unit to transmit the facsimile to the extracted e-mail address. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said receiving means receives the e-mail address when an e-mail address is given from the mail server to a user of the e-mail terminal.・ Email conversion system.