JP2002135479A - Network facsimile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide network facsimile terminals that share files stored among the network facsimile terminals on the same network so as to link files stored in the different network facsimile terminals and transmit the linked files thereby reducing the communication cost. SOLUTION: Upon the receipt of a transmission request of files from an operation section 19, a main control section 11 acquires a management ID for the files to link the files to be transmitted, and when the files of the transmission request are stored in another terminal on the network, the main control section 11 acquires the files via a network control section 24 and transmits the acquired files.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to a network facsimile apparatus connected to a network and communicating with other apparatuses in the network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile machines having a network function have been introduced in offices and used by connecting to office networks. Such network facsimile apparatuses are often provided with a large-capacity storage device, and read image data and documents created by a personal computer are stored in this storage device and shared in the office for use. I have.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional network facsimile apparatus,
When a plurality of network facsimile machines are connected on the network, the files to be transmitted to the same destination are stored in the storage devices of different network facsimile machines because the files in the storage device are individually managed. In such a case, each network facsimile apparatus has to transmit the data individually, and there is a problem that the communication cost increases.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention is to share files stored between network facsimile apparatuses on the same network so that files stored in different network facsimile apparatuses are connected and transmitted. An object of the present invention is to provide a network facsimile apparatus capable of reducing communication costs.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems A first method for solving the above problems is described below.
The invention of the present invention manages a network control unit that controls communication with another device on the network by controlling a predetermined network protocol, and manages a data file to be transmitted by facsimile stored in a file system of the own device. A communication file management unit that acquires a data file, wherein the communication file management unit also acquires the data file stored in another device on a network via the network control unit, and It is characterized in that data files are linked and transmitted by one facsimile communication. According to the present invention, data files stored in other devices on the network are also transmitted in a concatenated manner.

According to a second aspect of the invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the communication file management unit is stored in its own file system in response to a request from another device on the network. The data file is transferred to the device. According to the present invention, the data file stored in the own device is transferred to another device on the network.

According to a third aspect of the invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, the communication file management unit transmits the data file stored in another device on the network. When the request is received, a transmission reservation instruction for the data file is transmitted to another device on the network.

According to the present invention, when a request for transmitting a data file stored in another device on the network is received, a transmission reservation instruction is transmitted to the device. Therefore, another device on the network notifies that the transmission has been reserved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the second or third aspect, the communication file management section transmits the stored data file from another device on the network. Upon receiving the reservation instruction,
The modification and deletion of the data file is prohibited. According to the present invention, a data file reserved for transmission from another device on the network is prohibited from being changed or deleted.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the fourth aspect, the communication file management unit is configured to, when the data file for which the transmission reservation is instructed is changed or deleted, execute the It is characterized by notifying all devices in the network that a file has been changed or deleted. According to the present invention, when a data file reserved for transmission from another device on the network is changed or deleted, all the devices in the network are notified.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, in addition to the configuration of the third to fifth aspects, the communication file management unit is configured such that the data file for which the transmission reservation is instructed is changed or deleted. Is notified, the transmission of the data file is canceled. According to the present invention, when a data file reserved for transmission to another device on the network is changed or deleted, transmission of the data file is canceled.

A seventh aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is the communication file management unit according to the fourth aspect of the invention, wherein the communication file management unit is connected to another device in the network when the power of the apparatus main body is turned on. The information of the reservation status of the data file whose reservation is instructed by the device is notified to all the devices in the network, and the information of the transmission reservation status of other devices is returned, and the reservation status is returned based on the returned information. Cancels an inconsistent reservation. According to the present invention, when the power of the apparatus main body is turned on, the inconsistent reservation is canceled by comparing the transmission reservation state of another apparatus on the network with the reservation state of the own apparatus.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, in addition to the configuration of the third to seventh aspects, the communication file management unit transmits the information on the reservation status of the data file from another device in the network. Upon receipt, transmissions whose transmission reservation status is inconsistent are canceled based on the information. According to the present invention, the transmission status mismatched by comparing the reservation status received from another device in the network with the transmission reservation status of the own device is canceled.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a network facsimile apparatus 10 includes a main control unit (communication file management unit) 11
OM (Read Only Memory) 12, RAM (Random Acces)
s Memory) 13, communication control unit 14, plotter 15, modem 16, compression / expansion unit 17, scanner 18, operation unit 19,
A display unit 20, an image memory 21, a line buffer 22, an internal switch 23, and a network control unit 24 are connected via a bus 30.

The main control section 11 controls each section of the apparatus according to a program stored in the ROM 12 to execute a predetermined operation of the network facsimile apparatus.

The RAM 13 stores various information such as driving conditions of each unit of the apparatus and management data and also stores data necessary for operation. The RAM 13 has volatile and non-volatile storage contents. ing.

The communication control unit 14 has a public switched telephone network (PSTN).
tched Telephone Network)
A predetermined transmission operation and a predetermined reception operation are performed by transmitting a selection signal as a transmission destination telephone number, detecting an incoming call, and the like.

The plotter 15 records and outputs an image on recording paper based on image data, and also outputs various reports. The modem 16 modulates and demodulates image data and transmits the data via the communication control unit 14, and also transmits various procedure signals in a transmission control procedure.
The compression / expansion unit 17 encodes and compresses the read image data to be transmitted, and decodes and expands the received compressed image data. Scanner 18
Is for reading an image of a document to be transmitted and converting it into image data.

The operation unit 19 performs various operations on the apparatus, and the display unit 20 displays the state of the apparatus and operation guidance. The image memory 21 stores the image data read by the scanner 18 and the communication control unit 14.
To store the image data such as the image data received. The line buffer 22 temporarily stores image data. The internal switch 23 performs various settings for the device. The network control unit 24 is connected to a network, and controls a protocol of the network to perform communication with another device connected to the same network.

This network facsimile machine 10
Is stored in the image memory 21 or the like as an image file (data file) as image files (data files), which are connected to a network and read image data, documents on a personal computer (PC) connected to the same network, and data obtained by converting images into facsimile images. The image data is stored in a medium, and the image file can be designated for facsimile transmission.

Also, a plurality of image files can be linked and transmitted in one communication, and other network facsimile apparatuses of the same function connected to the same network can be stored in a storage medium such as an image memory. The stored image files can be shared with each other, and an image file stored in another device in the network can be designated and transmitted as an image file to be transmitted.

Such a facsimile transmission request for a plurality of image files is managed as a job by a table as shown in FIG. The table shown in FIG. 2 is stored in the non-volatile RAM 13, and its contents are not lost even when the power is turned off.

In FIG. 2, an ID management table (SM
T) 41 is the network facsimile machine 1
As many as the number of jobs (transmission requests) that can be processed with 0 are prepared, and their use status is managed by a flag (for example, empty is “1” and in use is “0”) in the file control table (FCT) 43. The number of free SMTs, the number of SMTs in use, and the like are also managed. A number (multiple file management ID) is assigned to each of the SMTs 41. When a transmission request for a plurality of files (immediate transmission, time-specified transmission, etc.) is received, an empty SMT 41 is acquired and used, and the plurality of file management IDs are used. Identifies and processes the job.

In the SMT 41, the telephone number of the destination to be transmitted, the identification of the sender, and the reservation time if the time is specified, are registered, and the file information table (FIT) is stored in the FIT link.
Reference numeral 42 is linked, and information of an image file to be transmitted is set in the FIT 42. In the FIT 42, when there is an image file to be continuously transmitted, a FIT link for setting a link of the FIT 42 of the image file, a file ID which is identification information of the image file to be transmitted, the number of pages of the image file to be transmitted, The transmission order of the image files, the file system type for identifying the file system in which the image files are stored (the type of storage medium in the own device, the address in the network for other devices), and the like are set. You. The FIT 42 also manages the free FIT, the number of free FITs, and the number of in-use FITs in the file control table 43, and the free FIT is linked to the free FIT 42.

Further, in order to grasp the usage status of the image file, a file usage status table (FMT) 44 is set in advance for each device that can share the image file, and the number of transmissions of the image file is reserved for each file ID. Is to be held.

Next, processing of a facsimile transmission request for a plurality of image files will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, when the user operates the operation unit 19 and requests transmission of the stored image files, the main control unit 11 acquires the file ID of the image files stored in the own device. At the same time, the information of the image file stored in the network control unit 24 is acquired for another device in the network set in advance, and the address of the device and the file ID are displayed on the display unit 20 from the information. , The user selects an image file desired to be transmitted.

When the file information such as the file ID of the selected image file is received from the operation unit 19 (), the main control unit 11 activates a scheduler task program and reads the scheduler task program from the multiple file management table as shown in FIG. S
The MT 41 is acquired and its multiple file management ID is acquired (). Then, the destination telephone number, the identification of the sender, and the reservation time if the time is specified are registered in the SMT 41 of the acquired ID, and the FITs corresponding to the number of the selected image files to be transmitted are acquired from the free FIT. And a file ID, the number of pages, a file system type, a transmission order, and the like are set in the linked FITs ().

Next, the main controller 11 sets the file I of the selected image file in the file usage table
One is added to the value of D (). Thereafter, in the case of immediate transmission, a plurality of file management IDs are immediately set as parameters and the transmission job task program is started. In the case of time-specified transmission, a plurality of file management IDs are registered in the timer management program so that they are notified at a specified time. When notified, the program of the transmission JOB task is started using the notified plurality of file management IDs as a parameter. Yes ().

Next, the main control unit 11 executes a program of the transmission JOB task to execute a plurality of file management IDs of parameters.
From the FIT link,
With reference to the IT 42, a file and page read open instruction is issued from the file system type to the file system in which the image file exists. At this time, if a network address is set as the file system type, the image file is transferred to and acquired from the address using a file transfer protocol such as FTP.
After that, the communication control unit 14 adds the sender identification information and the like to the destination telephone number registered in the SMT 41.
Facsimile transmission via (). When the transmission is completed, the information of the transmission result is notified to the program of the scheduler task, and the process ends.

Next, the main control unit 11 uses a scheduler task program to subtract 1 from the value of the file use status table 44 of the transmitted image file based on the information of the transmission result, and stores the management table such as the SMT 41 and the FIT 42. release().

As described above, in the present embodiment, the image file stored in another network facsimile device on the network is connected to the image file stored in its own device and facsimile transmission is performed. Need only be performed once, and communication costs can be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. In addition,
The present embodiment is configured in substantially the same manner as the above-described embodiment, and only the characteristic portions will be described using the drawings.

In the present embodiment, when there is a request to transmit an image file stored in another device, the device is notified of a reservation for transmission of the image file, and the change / deletion of the image file is disabled. It is characterized by.

More specifically, when the main control unit 11 executes the program of the scheduler task and acquires a plurality of file management IDs from the plurality of file management tables, the main control unit 11 stores the plurality of file management IDs in the image file selected by the transmission request. Determines whether there is an image file stored, and if there is an image file stored in another device, notifies the device of a transmission reservation instruction including the file ID of the image file and the network address of the time device. I do.

The apparatus notified of the transmission reservation instruction changes the attribute of the notified file ID to write open disabled, and stores the associated network address in association with the notified network address. On the other hand, the main controller 11 of the device that has notified the transmission reservation
Then, similarly to the above-described embodiment, various information is registered in the SMT 41 of the acquired plural file management IDs,
Then, the FIT 42 is acquired and linked to the FIT link of the SMT 41, and file information is set in each of the linked FITs 42.

Next, the main controller 11 sets the file I of the selected image file in the file
One is added to the numerical value of D, and a plurality of file management IDs of the job transmitting the image file are stored in association with each other. Thereafter, as in the above-described embodiment, the transmission JOB task program is started immediately for immediate transmission, and the transmission JOB task program is started at a specified time for time-specified transmission.

Next, the main control unit 11 obtains an image file using the program of the JOB task, facsimile-transmits it to the destination telephone number via the communication control unit 14 in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and executes the scheduler task. The program is notified of the transmission result information and the process ends.

Next, the main control unit 11 uses the program of the scheduler task to subtract 1 from the value of the file usage table 44 of the transmitted image file based on the information of the transmission result, and If the image file becomes 0 and the image file is an image file stored in another device, a transmission reservation cancellation instruction including the file ID is notified to the storing device via the network control unit 24. I do. When this process is completed for all transmitted image files, SMT
41, release management tables such as FIT42.

As described above, in this embodiment, when a transmission reservation instruction is received from another device on the network,
Because changing and deleting the image data is prohibited,
The image data at the time of the transmission request can be protected, and the reliability can be improved.

Next, if the file system (storage medium) itself is formatted (initialized) in the network facsimile machine 10 storing the image file reserved for transmission from another device in the network, Is notified to a device that has reserved transmission of the message.

Specifically, upon detecting that the file system has been formatted, the main control unit 11 broadcasts the file ID of the image file stored in the file system to all devices in the network. .

In the apparatus that has received the notification, the main control unit 11
The value of the file ID notified from the file use status table of the device that issued the notification is set to 0, and the SMT corresponding to the plurality of file management IDs stored in association with each other is set.
41 jobs are deleted. Then, the plotter 15 records and outputs a report indicating that the image file of the other device has been deleted, together with the destination telephone number, transmission conditions, reception time, and the like of the deleted job.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when image data is deleted due to formatting of the file system itself, the deleted file is notified to all devices on the network. An apparatus that has reserved transmission of the erased image file can know that the image file has been erased, thereby improving reliability.

In this embodiment, when another apparatus on the network is notified that the image file reserved for transmission has been deleted, the job for transmitting the image file is canceled. Therefore, a job causing a transmission error can be canceled early, and reliability can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the information of the job whose transmission has been canceled is recorded and output as a report, so that the user can be notified that the transmission has been canceled, and the convenience can be improved. .

Next, when the power is turned off in the network facsimile machine 10 storing the image file reserved for transmission from another device in the network, the other device in the reserved state of the image file deleted by the power cut-off. The inconsistency with is resolved.

More specifically, when the power is turned on, the main control unit 11 checks the information of the image file stored in the file system initialized by the power-off and the reservation status of the image file by another device. Information and information on the image file transmission reservation status of other devices are broadcast to all devices in the network.

In the device that has received the notification, the main control unit 11
From the file usage table of the device that sent the notification,
File ID of the image file that was notified that it was initialized
Is set to 0, and the job of the SMT 41 corresponding to the multiple file management ID stored in association is deleted and canceled. Further, it compares the received reservation status information and the transmission reservation status information with the transmission reservation status information and the reservation status information of its own device, and determines that the reservation in only one of them is inconsistent. Delete and cancel the job.

Next, information on the reservation status of the transmission of the image file to the device that has transmitted the notification is returned to the device.
Then, the plotter 15 records and outputs a report indicating that the image file of the other device has been deleted, together with the destination telephone number, transmission conditions, reception time, and the like of the deleted job.

On the other hand, in the device that has transmitted the notification, upon receiving a reply from the other device, the main control unit 11 compares the returned information on the transmission reservation status with the information on the reservation status of its own device, and For the image file which has a reservation in the information on the reservation status of the apparatus but is not reserved in the information on the transmission reservation status returned, it is determined that the reservation state is inconsistent, and the reservation is canceled (canceled). After receiving the replies from all the devices that issued the notification and releasing the inconsistent reservation, the image files that have not been released among the image files stored in the file system The search is performed, and if there is an image file whose reservation has not been released, the reservation is released.

Thereafter, as a power-off report, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a list of erased files is recorded and output by the plotter 15 together with a transmission result and the like. At this time, with respect to the image file whose reservation status with the other device is inconsistent (including the image file whose reservation is not canceled even if all replies are processed), the result is inconsistent and the network address of the reservation device is determined. Is added and output.

As described above, in the present embodiment, after the power is turned on, the information on the reservation status of the own device is compared with the information on the transmission reservation status of each device in the network, and the inconsistent reservation is canceled. It is possible to eliminate a reservation situation that has become inconsistent with each device in the network due to the disconnection, and improve reliability.

When information on the reservation status and transmission reservation status of the device is received from another device in the network, the information is compared with the information on the reservation status and transmission reservation status of the own device, and the job of the reservation only in one of the devices is deleted. Since it has been canceled, the reservation situation that has become inconsistent with another device in the network can be eliminated, and the reliability can be improved.

Further, since the information of the file deleted by the power interruption is output as a report, it is possible to notify the user that the file has been deleted and the transmission has been canceled, thereby improving the convenience. .

In each of the above embodiments, the facsimile is used to share an image file. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a file may be shared between a personal computer and a facsimile, or between a printer and a facsimile. You may make it.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the image file is shared has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a word processing document may be shared.

[0058]

According to the present invention, a data file stored in another device on a network is acquired, and a plurality of data files are connected and transmitted by one facsimile communication. Transmission can be performed at one time, and communication costs can be reduced.

Further, if a data file stored in its own file system is transferred to the device in response to a request from another device on the network, the data file can be shared with the other device. And convenience can be improved.

When a transmission request for a data file stored in another device on the network is received,
If a transmission reservation instruction for a data file is transmitted to another device on the network, a file to be transmitted to another device can be instructed in advance, and convenience can be improved.

When a transmission reservation instruction for a stored data file from another device on the network is received, change and deletion of the data file are prohibited, so that a transmission reservation instruction from the other device is received. The content of the file at the time of receiving the file can be guaranteed, and the reliability can be improved.

Further, when the data file whose transmission reservation is instructed is changed or deleted, the fact that the data file has been changed or deleted is notified to all the devices in the network. Even when the content of the data file has been changed, the fact can be notified to another device, and the reliability can be improved.

Further, when notified that the data file for which the transmission reservation is instructed has been changed or deleted, transmission of the data file is canceled.
Since the transmission of the changed or deleted data file can be detected and canceled at an early stage, the reliability can be improved.

When the power of the apparatus main body is turned on,
Notify the other devices in the network of the reservation status information, and return the transmission reservation status information of the other device,
By canceling a reservation whose reservation status is inconsistent based on the returned information, it is possible to eliminate the reservation inconsistency caused by the power-off of the apparatus main body and improve reliability. .

Further, when information on the reservation status of the data file is received from another device in the network, transmission with an inconsistent transmission reservation status is canceled based on the information. Can be eliminated, and the reliability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, and is a schematic block diagram thereof.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the file management table.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a flow of a facsimile transmission job.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a second embodiment of the network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, and is a power-off report.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Network facsimile apparatus 11 Main control part (communication file management part) 12 ROM (Read Only Memory) 13 RAM (Random Access Memory) 14 Communication control part 15 Plotter 16 Modem 17 Compression / decompression part 18 Scanner 19 Operation part 20 Display part 21 Image Memory 22 Line buffer 23 Internal switch 24 Network control unit 30 Bus 41 ID management table (SMT) 42 File information table (FIT) 43 File control table (FCT) 44 File usage status table (FMT)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 11/00 303 H04M 11/00 303

Claims (9)

[Claims] A network control unit that controls communication with another device on the network by controlling a protocol of a predetermined network; and manages a data file stored in its own file system and transmitted by facsimile, A communication file management unit that obtains the data file, wherein the communication file management unit also obtains the data file stored in another device on a network via the network control unit. A network facsimile apparatus wherein the data files are connected and transmitted by one facsimile communication. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication file management unit transfers said data file stored in its own file system to said apparatus in response to a request from another apparatus on a network. A network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The communication file management unit, when receiving a request to transmit the data file stored in another device on the network, transmits a transmission reservation instruction for the data file to another device on the network. 3. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 4. The communication file management unit, when receiving a transmission reservation instruction for a stored data file from another device on the network, prohibits change and deletion of the data file. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 2. 5. The communication file management unit, when the data file for which transmission reservation is instructed is changed or deleted, notifies all the devices in the network that the data file has been changed or deleted. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The communication file management unit, when notified that the data file for which the transmission reservation is instructed has been changed or deleted, cancels the transmission of the data file. 6. The network facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The communication file management unit according to claim 1, wherein when the power of the apparatus main body is turned on, the information on the reservation status of the data file whose reservation is instructed by another apparatus in the network is transmitted to all the apparatuses in the network. 7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the notification is sent to the user to return information on the transmission reservation status of another device, and the reservation whose reservation status is inconsistent is canceled based on the returned information. A network facsimile apparatus as described. 8. The communication file management unit, when receiving information on the reservation status of the data file from another device in the network, cancels the transmission whose transmission reservation status is inconsistent based on the information. The network facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein: 9. A network system comprising the network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1.