JP2002135259A - Network system and terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network system and terminal equipment capable of acquiring start request data more simply. SOLUTION: Network facsimile equipment FX, connected to a local area network LAN, can execute smooth communication operation by receiving an electronic mail(e-mail), after restoring from an energy saving mode to a normal power supply mode. Since each of work station devices WS1 to WSn can execute e-mail receiving operation immediately after starting it, smooth communication operation can be attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a network system in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected to a LAN, and
The present invention relates to a terminal device connected to a LAN and having a function of exchanging information via the LAN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a terminal device which is connected to a LAN and has a function of exchanging information via the LAN, the
When a predetermined activation request data is received via the Internet, a terminal having a function of activating the terminal itself has been put into practical use.

[0003] LAN is IEEE (American Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 8
In the case where the semiconductor device is constructed by 02.3 (Ethernet (registered trademark) (Ethernet (registered trademark)), such a function can be realized by using, for example, a semiconductor device for a LAN interface of AMD in the United States. . In this case, the activation request data includes the MAC (Media Ac) in the data field of the Ethernet packet.
A start request packet in which a (Session Control) address is repeatedly arranged 16 times is applied.

[0004]

However, when such an activation request packet is used, it is necessary to know in advance the MAC address of the terminal device to be activated. As a result, the workability is poor, and when an erroneous input is made, the intended start-up operation is not performed.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a network system and a terminal device capable of more easily acquiring activation request data.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in a network system in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected to a LAN, when each of the terminal devices detects activation request data addressed to the own terminal received via the LAN, It has a function to start up, notifies the terminal of the start-up information to the other terminal device by e-mail, and receives an e-mail notifying the start-up information from the other terminal device, In association with storing the notified start-up information, when transferring the information to another terminal device, prior to the transfer, the start request data to which the start-up information stored for the other terminal device is applied is transmitted to the LAN. Is transferred to another terminal device via the Internet. Further, the terminal device includes an operation button for activating an operation of notifying the other terminal device of activation information.

Further, in a terminal device connected to a LAN and having a function of exchanging information via the LAN,
It has a function to start when it detects the start request data addressed to its own terminal received via the AN, notifies the start information of its own terminal to other terminal devices by e-mail, and sends the start information from the other terminal device. When receiving the e-mail notifying the terminal device, while storing the notified start-up information in association with the identification information of the terminal device, when transferring the information to another terminal device,
Prior to this, boot request data to which boot information stored for other terminal devices is applied is transferred to the other terminal devices via the LAN. Further, an operation button for activating an operation of notifying the other terminal device of the activation information is further provided.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a local area network LAN is constructed in accordance with, for example, IEEE 802.3. The local area network LAN includes a plurality of workstations WS1 to WS
Sn, the mail server device SM, and the network facsimile device FX are connected, and also connected to the Internet via the router device RT. Therefore, the workstation devices WS1 to WSn, the mail server device SM, and the network facsimile device FX can exchange data with other appropriate terminal devices via the Internet.

Here, the mail server device SM collects well-known e-mails for users using the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and for the network network facsimile device FX. It provides distribution services.

Also, a local area network LAN
Are connected to the Internet via a router device RT, whereby the workstation devices WS1 to WS
The Sn, the mail server device SM, and the network facsimile device FX can exchange various data with a host device or the like connected to another local area network or the like.

Further, the workstation devices WS1 to WSW
Various programs such as facsimile application software for creating, displaying, and outputting facsimile image information, and various software for exchanging various data via a local area network LAN are installed in Sn. Is used by the user. Here, the specific user is
There may be one or more users.

A network facsimile machine FX
Is an e-mail processing function for exchanging image information and various reports as e-mail, and image information transmission by a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure by connecting to a public network (PSTN) and using the public network as a transmission path. It has a transmission function to perform

Further, a network facsimile machine FX
Is equipped with an energy-saving function. When any of the energy-saving return factors occurs, the energy-saving mode is released and the mode returns to the normal power mode.

FIG. 2 shows a network facsimile apparatus F
3 shows an example of the configuration of X.

In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 controls each unit of the network facsimile machine FX.
The system memory 2 stores various control processes such as a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The system memory 2 stores a control process program executed by the system control unit 1 and various data necessary for executing the process program. The parameter memory 3 stores various kinds of information unique to the network facsimile machine FX. The clock circuit 4 stores current time information. Is output.

The scanner 5 is for reading an original image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 7 is a network facsimile apparatus. It is used to operate the FX, and includes various operation keys and various display devices.

The encoding / decoding section 8 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal.
This is for storing a large number of image information in a coded and compressed state.

The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing a group 3 facsimile modem function, and is a low speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals and mainly exchanging image information. High-speed modem function (V.17 modem,
V. 34 modem, V.34. 29 modem, V.29. 27ter modem etc.).

The network control device 11 is for connecting the network facsimile machine FX to the analog public network PSTN, and has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The local area network interface circuit 12 is connected to the network facsimile machine F
X is connected to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 13
This is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with other data terminal devices.

The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, image storage device 9, group 3 facsimile modem The network controller 10, the network controller 11, and the local area network transmission controller 13 are connected to an internal bus 14. Data exchange between these elements is mainly performed via the internal bus 14. I have.

Data exchange between the network controller 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is directly performed.

The above-mentioned energy-saving return factors include:
For example, when a document is set on the scanner 5, when an energy saving release command is issued from the operation display unit 7, when the network controller 11 detects an incoming call, when the local area network interface circuit 12 receives a predetermined activation request packet, etc. There is.

Therefore, in the energy saving mode,
Only the part related to the energy saving release of the system control unit 1, the document set detection means of the scanner 5, the energy saving cancellation operation means of the operation display unit 7, the incoming call detection means of the network control device 11, and the energy saving power supply to the local area network interface circuit Is supplied.

In addition, when any of the above-mentioned energy-saving return factors occurs in the energy-saving mode, an interrupt signal to the system control unit 1 is generated from the corresponding detecting means, whereby the system control unit 1 sets the energy-saving mode. Cancel,
Power on the entire system and transition to normal standby mode.

FIG. 3 shows a workstation device WS (W
S1 to WSn).

In FIG. 1, a CPU (central processing unit) 2
Reference numeral 1 denotes an operation control of the workstation WS, and a ROM (read only memory) 22
Is a memory for storing a program executed by the CPU 21 at the time of startup, necessary data, and the like. A RAM (random access memory) 23 is for configuring a work area and the like of the CPU 21.

The character generator 24 is for generating display data of graphic characters, and the clock circuit 2
5 is for outputting the current date and time information, and the local area network interface circuit 26
This is for connecting the workstation device WS to a local area network LAN.

The magnetic disk device 27 includes various application programs, work data, file data,
The CRT screen display device 27 is for storing various data such as image information data. The CRT screen display device 27 is for displaying a screen for operating the workstation device WS. CRT screen display device 2
7 for controlling the display content.

The keyboard device 30 is used to perform various key operations on the workstation device WS. The screen instruction device 31 performs an operation such as instructing an arbitrary point on the CRT screen display device 28. The input control unit 32 is for taking in input information of the keyboard device 30 and the screen instruction device 31, for example.

These CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM
23, character generator 24, clock circuit 25, local area network interface circuit 26,
The magnetic disk device 27, the display control unit 29, and the input control unit 32 are connected to a bus 33, and data exchange between these components is mainly performed via the bus 33.

The workstation device WS
Has a so-called LAN wake-up function, which is activated when the local area network interface circuit 26 receives a predetermined activation request packet from the power-off state.

In order to realize the LAN wake-up function, when the power is off, the standby power is
It is supplied to the PU 21 and elements around the CPU related to the LAN wake-up function, and to the local area network interface circuit 26.

Here, in this embodiment, basically,
Data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is a so-called TCP / I
This is performed by applying a combination (a so-called protocol suite) of a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called P and a communication protocol of a higher layer than that. For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, SMTP (Simple) is used as the upper layer communication protocol.
A communication protocol called Mail Transfer Protocol is applied.

The protocol applied by each terminal to the mail server device SM for confirming the receipt of an electronic mail addressed to the user and for requesting the acquisition is a so-called POP.
(Post Office Protocol) or the like can be applied.

Communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, and POP, and the data format and data structure of electronic mail are specified by RFC documents issued by the IETF. For example, TCP is RFC793, IP is RFC793, SM
TP is RFC821, E-mail format is RFC82
2, RFC1521, RFC1522 (MIME (Mu
lti PurposeMail Extension
n) format).

As the above-mentioned activation request packet, the data field of the Ethernet packet includes MA
The one in which the C address is repeatedly arranged 16 times is applied.
Also, in this start request packet, the M is set in the local area network interface circuit 12 of the network facsimile machine FX to which the start request is to be made or the local area network interface circuit 26 of the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn.
Since the AC address is applied, it is necessary to know this MAC address.

For this purpose, the network facsimile machine FX and the work stations WS1 to WS
In n, an activation information table as shown in FIG. 4A is stored.

This activation information table is a table in which activation information is registered for the network facsimile machine FX and the workstations WS1 to WSn other than the terminal itself, and the activation information is as shown in FIG. The target device email address indicating the target device email address and the MAC applied to the target device
Consists of an address.

With the above configuration, in this embodiment, when connected to the local area network LAN, the network facsimile apparatus FX and the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn notify the other terminal apparatuses of their own MAC addresses. To send a MAC address notification e-mail.

As the MAC address notification mail,
For example, in the “Subject” field of the header information, “Power management key i
s. . . ”, And
Information in which the MAC address of the terminal itself is arranged in the body information can be adopted.

The other terminal device that has received the MAC address notification mail obtains the source mail address and the MAC address of the MAC address notification mail received at that time, creates the above-described boot information, and generates the boot information. Register in the table.

On the other hand, when sending an e-mail to another terminal device, for example, an e-mail to the mail server device SM, before transmitting the e-mail, the above-mentioned activation request packet is sent to another terminal device as a destination at that time. Send to

Thus, the other terminal devices start up by receiving the start-up request packet and perform a predetermined start-up operation. If the terminal device is ready to receive an e-mail at that time, the mail server device Receive e-mail from SM.

Thus, the network facsimile machine FX connected to the local area network LAN returns from the energy saving mode to the normal power mode and receives the e-mail, so that a smooth communication operation can be performed. Further, the workstation devices WS1 to WSW
Since the Sn can perform an e-mail receiving operation immediately after activation, a smooth communication operation can be performed.

In particular, the network facsimile machine FX
Is equipped with an SMTP function equivalent to that of the mail server device SM and is in a state capable of directly receiving e-mail, the function of this embodiment allows the network facsimile device FX to synchronize with the reception of e-mail and save energy. Since the mode can be restored, the energy saving function of the network facsimile machine FX can be effectively used, which is very convenient.

FIG. 5 shows a network facsimile apparatus F
X shows an example of a process for transmitting a MAC address notification mail. This process is started by a MAC address notification activation switch (not shown).

When transmission of the MAC address notification mail is requested (step 101), the local area network L
The e-mail address of another terminal device connected to the AN is operated and input (step 102, NO loop of judgment 103).

When the operation of the mail address is completed, judgment 1
If the result of step 03 is YES, the above-described MAC address notification mail is created (step 104), and the created MA
The C address notification mail is transmitted to the mail server device SM (process 105), and this process ends.

FIG. 6 shows a network facsimile apparatus F
4 shows an example of processing relating to data reception of the X local area network interface circuit 12.

When data is received from the local area network LAN (the result of determination 201 is YES), a predetermined data monitoring process for monitoring the received data is performed (process 202), and whether a start request packet addressed to the terminal itself is received. It is checked whether it is (determination 203).

If the received data is a start request packet addressed to the terminal itself, and the result of determination 203 is YES, an interrupt signal for a start request is issued to the system control unit 1 (process 204). ), And return to decision 201.

If the received data is not a start request packet addressed to the terminal itself and the result of the judgment 203 is NO, it is checked whether the received data is addressed to the terminal itself (decision 205), and the judgment is made. When the result of step 205 is YES, a predetermined data receiving process is executed (process 2).
06), returning to the decision 201;

When the received data is not destined for the terminal itself and the result of decision 205 is NO, the received data at that time is ignored and the process returns to decision 201.

FIG. 7 shows a network facsimile apparatus F
13 shows an example of a process when X receives an e-mail.

When an e-mail is received (process 301),
The header information is analyzed (process 302), and “Power ma” is entered in the “Subject” field of the header information.
name key is. . . It is checked whether or not the mail is a MAC address notification mail in which a predetermined character string "" is set (determination 304).

If the received e-mail is not a MAC address notification mail and the result of determination 304 is NO, a normal reception process is executed (process 305), and this process ends.

If the received e-mail is a MAC address notification mail and the result of determination 304 is YES, the MAC address is extracted from the body information of the received e-mail (process 306), and the received e-mail is processed. Source email address ("From" in the header information)
(Set in the field), the MAC address is obtained, the above-described boot information is created, registered in the boot information table (process 307), and this process ends.

FIG. 8 shows a network facsimile apparatus F
X shows an example of a process executed when sending an e-mail.

When there is an electronic mail transmission request (process 40)
1) The operation of the transmission destination is performed (process 402). With respect to the mail address input in the process 402, it is checked whether the activation information is registered in the activation information table and the MAC address is registered (decision 403).

When the result of decision 403 is YES, it is checked whether or not a transmission flag permitting transmission of the activation request packet is set (decision 404). The transmission flag can be arbitrarily set / reset by the user.

When the result of the determination 404 is YES, the MAC address is obtained from the corresponding start information (step 405), and the start request packet as described above is generated (step 406). The packet is transmitted to the local area network LAN (process 407), an e-mail is transmitted (process 408), and this process ends.

When the result of the determination 404 is NO or when the result of the determination 403 is NO, a normal electronic mail transmission process (process 409) is executed, and this process ends.

In the above-described embodiment, the start request packet is a packet in which the MAC address is repeatedly arranged 16 times in the data field of the Ethernet packet. However, the format of the start request packet is not limited to this. Instead, for example, one in which a predetermined data pattern is arranged in the data field of the Ethernet packet can be applied.

In the above embodiment, the LAN is connected to the IE.
Although the case where the communication system is constructed by EE802.3 has been described, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where a communication system of another system is applied.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a network system in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected to a LAN, each terminal device has a function of starting when detecting start request data addressed to the own terminal received via the LAN, and transmits the start information of the own terminal. Notifying the other terminal device by e-mail and receiving the e-mail notifying the activation information from the other terminal device, storing the notified activation information in association with the identification information of the terminal device. When transferring information to another terminal device, prior to that, the start request data to which the start information stored for the other terminal device is applied is transferred to the other terminal device via the LAN. This allows the destination terminal device to be activated prior to the information transfer, and thus has the effect of enabling smooth information transfer.

In a terminal device connected to a LAN and having a function of exchanging information via the LAN,
It has a function to start when it detects the start request data addressed to its own terminal received via the AN, notifies the start information of its own terminal to other terminal devices by e-mail, and sends the start information from the other terminal device. When receiving the e-mail notifying the terminal device, while storing the notified start-up information in association with the identification information of the terminal device, when transferring the information to another terminal device,
Prior to this, the boot request data to which the boot information stored for the other terminal devices is applied is transferred to the other terminal devices via the LAN. Since the destination terminal device can be started, an effect is obtained that smooth information transfer is enabled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network facsimile machine FX.

FIG. 3 shows a workstation device WS (WS1 to WS
The block diagram which showed the example of a structure of n).

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a startup information table and startup information.

FIG. 5 shows a network facsimile machine FX;
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for transmitting a MAC address notification mail.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process related to data reception of the local area network interface circuit 12 of the network facsimile machine FX.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process when the network facsimile machine FX receives an electronic mail.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when sending an e-mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 FX network facsimile machine WS, WS1-WSn workstation device

Claims (4)

[Claims] In a network system in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected to a LAN, each of the terminal devices has a function of starting when detecting start request data addressed to the own terminal received via the LAN,
The start information of the own terminal is notified to other terminal devices by e-mail, and when an e-mail notifying the start information is received from the other terminal device, the e-mail is notified in association with the identification information of the terminal device. While storing the start-up information, when transferring the information to another terminal device, prior to the transfer, the start request data to which the start-up information stored for the other terminal device is applied is transmitted to the other terminal device via the LAN. A network system for transferring data to a device. 2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device includes an operation button for activating an operation of notifying the other terminal device of activation information. 3. A terminal device connected to a LAN and provided with a function for exchanging information via the LAN, comprising a function for starting when detecting start-up request data addressed to the own terminal received via the LAN. Notifying the other terminal device of the start-up information by e-mail, and receiving an e-mail notifying the start-up information from the other terminal device, relating the start-up information to the terminal device identification information, While storing the information, when transferring the information to another terminal device, prior to that, start request data to which the start information stored for the other terminal device is applied is transmitted to the LAN.
A terminal device for transferring the information to another terminal device via a terminal. 4. The network system according to claim 3, further comprising an operation button for activating an operation of notifying the other terminal device of the activation information.