JP2002232510A - Internet facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide Internet facsimile equipment that can connect pleasantly with an ISP(Internet Service Provider) to transfer data thereto and efficiently reduce the communication cost. SOLUTION: In the Internet facsimile equipment that makes dialup connection to the ISP to transmit/receive a facsimile document via the Internet, a communication control section 18 stores a preceding communication speed and a preceding communication standard by which the facsimile equipment has been connected to the ISP at a highest connection rate to a parameter memory 14 and a CPU 11 controls the connection of the communication control section 18 such that the communication control section 18 makes a connection to the ISP at a lower communication speed lower than the connection rate stored in the parameter memory 14 at the succeeding connection control to the ISP or with a proper communication standard when the connection to the ISP exceeds the setting time or is failed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an Internet facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus capable of completing facsimile communication at low cost.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a facsimile apparatus which transmits / receives a document image by performing facsimile communication with a destination connected to a communication line, and this facsimile apparatus has been widely used in recent years. Some have realized transmission and reception of facsimile documents via the Internet.

[0003] This type of Internet facsimile apparatus is described in, for example, JP-A-11-88651 and JP-A-11-331474.
This Internet facsimile apparatus contracts with an Internet service provider (hereinafter, simply referred to as an ISP) that provides a connection service with the Internet, and performs a dial-up connection to the ISP through a public line, for example. The user can exchange e-mail with a facsimile document attached and print out the facsimile document. Via the Internet, the contract fee with the ISP and the ISP
Communication costs can be reduced up to public line usage fees.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional Internet facsimile apparatus, a data modem to be mounted performs training with the ISP to try to connect at the highest possible connection rate. Depending on the characteristics of both data modems, the connection control that tries to connect at the highest connection rate or compromises at a certain level of connection rate is performed every time a dial-up connection is executed In addition, when data transfer fails, data retransmission is similarly repeated, resulting in a problem that communication costs cannot be reduced efficiently.

[0005] Further, even when a dial-up connection is made to an ISP at a set time and a data transfer request is made and a facsimile document is received, if the set time is a time zone where public lines are busy, the same applies. Problems occur.

Even if the set value is changed in order to avoid this repetition, the cause of the problem may be transient, so that the setting that can use the original ability is better. It may be effective in reducing communication costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an Internet facsimile apparatus which can connect to an ISP comfortably and perform data transfer and can reduce communication costs efficiently.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems A first method for solving the above problems is described below.
The invention of the present invention provides an Internet facsimile apparatus which transmits / receives a facsimile document via the Internet by dial-up connection with an Internet service provider and has a function of connecting to a destination so that data can be transmitted / received at a plurality of communication speeds or communication standards. Communication control means for connecting to the Internet service provider at the highest connection rate and executing data communication, connection rate storage means for storing the connection rate at which connection with the Internet service provider was attempted, and Internet service -If the connection with the provider exceeds a preset time or fails, the next connection with the Internet service provider will have a lower connection rate communication speed or communication value than the value stored in the connection rate storage means. standard It is characterized in that and a connection control unit for controlling the connection of the communication control means to connect.

According to the present invention, after the control for connecting to the ISP at the highest connection rate is performed, the highest connection rate is stored, and at the next connection, the communication speed and the communication standard at the highest connection rate are used. On the other hand, when the connection time exceeds the set time or fails, the connection is started from the control to connect to the ISP at a communication speed or communication standard lower than the maximum connection rate to be stored. And the highest connection rate is updated to the connected connection rate. Therefore, IS
Each time control is performed to connect to the P, it is possible to immediately connect to the ISP at the highest connectable connection rate without trying from connecting at a connection rate full of the capacity provided, and to reduce communication costs required for connection control. be able to. Further, when connection is made at a connection rate full of capacity, retransmission may occur due to a failure in data transfer or the like. By lowering the connection rate, total communication costs can be reduced.

A second invention for solving the above problems is an Internet facsimile apparatus which transmits / receives a facsimile document via the Internet by dial-up connection with an Internet service provider, and transmits / receives data at a plurality of communication speeds or communication standards. Internet service with a function to connect to the destination
Communication control means for connecting to the provider at the highest connection rate and performing data communication, and internet service
Connection rate storage means for storing a connection rate at which connection with the provider was attempted, transfer rate setting means for presetting a data transfer rate according to the connection rate, and calculated transfer calculated from data transfer time and data size If the rate is lower than the transfer rate set in the transfer rate setting means, the next connection with the Internet service provider connects at a communication rate or communication standard of a connection rate lower than the value stored in the connection rate storage means. Control means for controlling the connection of the communication control means,
It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, after the control for connecting to the ISP at the highest connection rate is performed, the highest connection rate is stored, and at the next connection, the communication speed and the communication standard at the highest connection rate are used. If the calculated transfer rate executed after the connection is lower than the set transfer rate while the control is started from the connection to the ISP, the ISP is connected to the ISP at a communication speed or communication standard lower than the highest connection rate to be stored. Starting from the control to connect, the highest connection rate is updated to the connected connection rate. Therefore, every time connection to the ISP is performed, connection is prevented at a connection rate at which data can be transferred at an original rate by avoiding connection at a connection rate at which retransmission or the like frequently occurs and a transfer rate is reduced. Can be
Communication costs for data transfer can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, in addition to the specific features of the first or second aspect, the connection control means includes a communication speed or a communication speed of a maximum connection rate provided at a preset timing. It is characterized in that the connection of the communication control means is controlled so that a connection is attempted from a standard.

According to the present invention, even when the setting is changed so as to connect to the ISP at a connection rate lower than the provided capacity, the setting timing is performed from the control for connecting at the newly provided highest connection rate. Therefore,
Even if the setting has been changed to connect to the ISP at a low connection rate due to temporary factors, a connection that makes effective use of the ability provided when the factor has been resolved without the need for serviceman's operation It is possible to connect to the ISP at a rate, and it is possible to efficiently reduce communication costs.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, in addition to the specific features of the first to third aspects, a counting means for counting the number of times of failure in connection with an Internet service provider, And a notifying means for creating a message prepared in advance when the number of times exceeds a preset number of failures and notifying the user of the message.

In the present invention, since facsimile communication is performed via the Internet, for example, it is often set so that facsimile reception is performed late at night when communication charges are low.
Since this time zone is also a time zone in which the number of dial-up connections of personal computers increases rapidly,
Even if the connection with P is repeatedly attempted, the connection may not be established due to the line busy condition, etc. If the number of failed connections has reached the set number, a message notifying the fact is printed out to the user and the like. Notified. Therefore, the setting can be changed so that facsimile reception is performed during a time period in which connection does not repeatedly fail, and IS
In addition to being able to connect to P, it is possible to avoid delay or inability to obtain a facsimile document.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems, in addition to the specific features of the first to fourth aspects, a limit rate setting means for presetting a limit of a data transfer rate, a data transfer time and a data transfer Counting means for counting the number of times the calculated transfer rate calculated from the size falls below the limit transfer rate in the limit rate setting means, and is prepared in advance when the counted number of times of underrun exceeds the number of times of underrun set in advance. Notification means for creating a message and notifying the user of the message.

In the present invention, since facsimile communication is performed via the Internet, for example, it is often set so that facsimile reception is performed late at night when communication charges are low.
Since this time zone is also a time zone in which the number of dial-up connections of personal computers increases rapidly,
Even when a connection can be established with the P, the data transfer may take a long time due to circumstances such as a telephone line and network traffic on the ISP side, but the calculated transfer rate executed after the connection repeatedly repeats the set transfer rate. If the number falls below the predetermined number of times, the user is notified by printing out a message to that effect. Therefore, the setting can be changed so that facsimile reception is performed during a time period in which the transfer rate does not decrease, and communication costs required for data transfer can be reduced.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of an Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an Internet facsimile apparatus has a CPU 11 which controls various parts of the apparatus according to a control program and executes various processes of the present invention.
A ROM 12 for storing the control program, a RAM 13 for storing data necessary for operating as a work area, and a parameter memory 14 for storing various information such as driving conditions and management data of each unit of the apparatus. LCD and LE to display various information such as device status and input information
An operation display unit 15 provided with various operation keys such as numeric keys and function keys for inputting settings and instructions by an operator together with a display such as D, image data (facsimile document) to be transmitted, and various procedure signals A communication control unit 18 that controls a modem 16 that modulates and demodulates and transmits and receives image data via a network control device 17 that performs predetermined line control at the time of outgoing and incoming calls to connect or disconnect the telephone line; An encoding / decoding unit 19 for compressing and encoding the image data to be transmitted while expanding and decoding the received image data, an image memory 20 for storing / accumulating the read / received image data, A scanner 21 that reads image data from a document image to be read, and records a recording medium such as toner or ink on recording paper based on the read / received image data. A plotter 22 for outputting an image Te,
A timer 23 is provided for measuring the current time and used at the time of designated time transmission.

This Internet facsimile machine
It can function as a general facsimile apparatus for directly transmitting and receiving a facsimile document to / from a destination via a telephone line, and dial an Internet service provider (ISP) via a telephone line in accordance with an input instruction from the operation display unit 15. Up-connect to send an e-mail with attached image data, or when the time measured by the timer 23 reaches a preset time (time or interval), dial-up to the ISP and prepare the mail server The e-mail addressed to the user is transferred from the mailbox, and the attached image data is temporarily stored in the image memory 20 as facsimile reception data, and can be recorded and output by the plotter 19.

The communication control unit 18 has a function of performing data communication at various communication speeds or communication standards so that data can be transmitted / received to / from the other party. By exchanging a protocol signal with the other party in accordance with the command, data communication is performed by connecting to the other party so that data can be transmitted at the highest connection rate.

At this time, the parameter memory 14 stores in advance a communication speed and a communication standard at which data transfer can be performed at the highest connection rate as a default connection rate, and the communication control unit 18 actually connects to the ISP. When the control is performed, the communication speed and the communication standard at that time are stored, and the connection rate is stored and updated.

On the other hand, when controlling the connection with the ISP, the CPU 11 transfers the data at the highest connection rate according to the communication speed and the communication standard stored in the parameter memory 14 which was able to transmit and receive data the previous time. As you do,
The communication speed and the communication standard are read out from the parameter memory 14 and the connection control with the ISP is started, and the time required by the timer 23 to complete the connection with the ISP is set in advance. If the time is exceeded, the communication control unit 18 connects to the ISP at the next connection control with the ISP at the next connection control with the ISP at a connection rate lower than the communication rate stored in the parameter memory 14 and the communication rate according to the communication standard. Is controlled.
That is, the communication control unit 18 constitutes communication control means, the parameter memory 14 constitutes connection rate storage means, and the CPU 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes connection control means.

More specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the CPU 11 has reached a preset time for receiving a facsimile document via the Internet when in an idle state waiting for an instruction command. At this time, or when there is a command to transmit a facsimile document via the Internet from the operation display unit 15, control for dial-up connection to the ISP is started, and the control is first stored in the parameter memory 14. The communication speed and the communication standard are read, connection control with the ISP is started, and at the same time as the ISP is called, the timer 23 is started to monitor (measure) the connection time (steps S11 and S12). Next, when the ISP responds, the exchange of a protocol control signal for performing modem training or the like is started (step S13). When the ISP is connected after the completion of the modem training (step S14), the result data coming from the modem 16 rises. The communication rate and the communication speed adopted at that time are stored in the parameter memory 14 according to (code data or the like), and the connection rate for data transfer is stored (step S1).
5).

Thereafter, data transfer processing of the e-mail attached with the image data is performed (step S16), and after the data transfer processing is completed, the line is disconnected (step S17), and at the same time, the timer 23 is stopped and connected. The time measurement is terminated, and the connection monitoring timer value is temporarily stored (step S19). Next, it is confirmed whether or not the connection monitoring timer value is within a preset time (set value) (step S20). If the connection cannot be established within the time, the communication standard in the parameter memory 14 is changed to the previous V.V. V.90 lower than 90. At 34, it is stored and updated so as to connect to the ISP, and returns to the idle state (step S21). At this time, the communication speed may be updated so that the communication speed is lower than the previous communication speed and the connection to the ISP is established.

Therefore, for example, when the calling ISP responds and shifts to modem training, it takes time for the modem training due to various conditions.
In addition, there is a case where reconnection or retraining occurs during data transfer due to connection at a high connection rate with full capacity, and it takes more time. In such a case, it is assumed that connection to the ISP at a high connection rate is made. As a result, it takes time to complete the data transfer, so in the next connection, reduce the retransmission and retrain at the time of data transfer by connecting at a communication speed and communication standard that is lower than the connection rate Thus, it is possible to immediately connect to the ISP and reduce the time required for substantial data transfer and save communication costs.

The CPU 11 returns the communication speed and the communication standard stored in the parameter memory 14 to the default at predetermined timing, for example, at regular intervals such as one week, and connects to the ISP at the highest connection rate. For example, even if the connection has failed due to temporary factors such as maintenance of the ISP and the settings have been changed to connect to the ISP at a low connection rate, the serviceman is notified. If the cause has been resolved without requesting a resetting operation, the ISP will be connected at a connection rate that allows comfortable connection and data transfer.
Can be connected to

Further, the CPU 11 constitutes a counting means and a notifying means, and when the connection with the ISP fails, counts the number of failures by a counter function, and counts the count value to a preset failure number. When it reaches, a message report prepared in advance is created, recorded and output by the plotter 22, and notified to the user.

More specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, when calling the ISP (step S11), the CPU 11 detects whether or not the line is busy (step S31). If it is not in the state, modem training or the like is performed as usual (steps S13 and S13).
14) If the ISP can be connected (step S3)
2) The data transfer processing of the e-mail attached with the image data is performed (step S16), and the line is disconnected after the data transfer processing is completed (step S17). At some point or when the connection with the ISP fails for some reason, the counter for counting the ISP connection busy is incremented (step S33), and whether or not the ISP connection busy counter value has reached a preset value is determined. (Step S34), and when the ISP connection busy counter value has not reached the set value, an update process for lowering the communication standard or the like stored in the parameter memory 14 is performed, and the process returns to the idle state. Reaches the set value, for example, the connection with the ISP that has become busy It was such as subjecting the reason for the failure to connect together such as the execution date and time of the control, to create the message contents of the report to prompt a change of connection time plotter 22
(Step S35) and returns to the idle state.

Therefore, in general, it is often set to connect to the ISP and make an inquiry about reception of an Internet facsimile document during a time period when communication costs are low, such as at midnight, but this Internet facsimile is generally used for the Internet. Because of the same function as mail, during this time, the connection of the ISP of the personal computer etc. is frequently performed and the IS
The traffic on the P side may increase and the connectivity may decrease, and if such a situation continues, problems may occur such as the inability to receive Internet facsimile documents without taking out the e-mail from the ISP. When the preset number of connection failures has been reached, a report notifying that the reception time needs to be changed can be recorded and output as a communication report, and the administrator in charge of the report can adjust the connection time as necessary. Change settings can be made. At this time, the administrator may be notified by e-mail that the connection time needs to be changed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the ISP
Stores and updates the communication speed and communication standard of the highest connection rate that does not exceed the set time for connection with the ISP,
Connection control between the ISP and the ISP
ISP at the highest connection rate that allows comfortable connection and data transfer without having to repeat unnecessary connection control every time it is connected or connecting at a connection rate that is likely to cause retransmission etc. Can be connected. The connection rate to be stored can be reviewed and stored / updated by performing connection control so that connections can be made at the highest connection rate according to the capacity at fixed intervals, and fixed at a low connection rate Can be avoided. Also, when a time zone during which connection cannot be established due to a line busy or the like is set as the reception time, a message report for notifying the administrator of this is recorded and output, and the time zone setting for receiving a facsimile document is changed. And that the reception of the facsimile document becomes unreceivable can be avoided.

Therefore, it is possible to receive a facsimile document with efficient connection and data transfer without having a service person inspect the service, and to effectively utilize the ability to prepare and efficiently reduce communication costs required for connection control and data transfer. It can be reduced well.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. Note that, since the present embodiment is configured substantially in the same manner as the above-described embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations using FIG.

In FIG. 1, after connecting to the ISP according to the communication speed and communication standard stored in the parameter memory 14, the CPU 11 determines the time required for data transfer by a timer 2.
3, the data transfer rate is calculated from the data size of the data transfer, and the calculated transfer rate is stored in a reference table (transfer rate setting means, limit If the transfer rate is lower than the transfer rate associated with each connection rate in the (rate setting means), the connection to the ISP is made at a connection rate lower than the communication rate stored in the parameter memory 14 and the connection rate according to the communication standard. In addition, the communication control unit 18 is controlled, and the number of times the calculated transfer rate falls below the set transfer rate is counted by a counter function. When the count value reaches the set number, a message report is created and recorded and output. To notify the user.

More specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the CPU 11 sets the parameter when the reception time of the facsimile document is reached or when there is an instruction to transmit the facsimile document. The control for connecting to the ISP is started according to the communication speed and the communication standard in the memory 14 (step S41), and when the ISP responds,
The exchange of a protocol control signal for performing modem training and the like is started (step S42). After connection with the ISP that has completed the modem training and the like (step S43), the selected communication standard transmitted from the modem 16 and the selected communication standard are transmitted. The communication speed is stored in the parameter memory 14 and the connection rate for data transfer is stored (step S44),
The timer 23 is started to monitor (measure) the time required for the data transfer (step S45), and at the same time, the data transfer process of the e-mail with the image data attached is started (step S46).

After the completion of the data transfer process, the timer 23 is stopped to stop counting the data transfer time, and the timer value is temporarily stored (step S4).
7) The size of the transfer data is temporarily stored (step S48), and the line is disconnected (step S49). Next, a data transfer rate is calculated from the data transfer time and the size of the transfer data (step S50), and it is confirmed whether or not the calculated transfer rate is within a preset transfer rate setting range (step S50). S51) If the set value is equal to or more than the set value, the operation returns to the idle state. If the set value is lower than the set value, for example, the communication standard in the parameter memory 14 is set so as to lower the next connection rate. V.90 lower than 90. At 34, the connection is updated so as to connect to the ISP (step S52), and a counter for counting that the data transfer has reached a low transfer rate is incremented (step S53), and the ISP connection low data transfer rate counter value is set. To see if the value has been reached
(Step S54) When the counter value has not reached the set value, the operation returns to the idle state as it is. When the counter value has reached the set value, for example, together with the date and time of data transfer at a low transfer rate, etc. A report of a message prompting a change in the connection time, such as the transfer rate, is created and recorded by the plotter 22 (step S55), and the process returns to the idle state.

Therefore, although the connection with the ISP has been completed without any problem, when a data transfer phase such as actually receiving a facsimile document occurs, it takes a long time to complete the data transfer due to occurrence of many retransmissions and the like. In other words, if the data transfer rate based on the connection rate is lower than the original capacity (the transfer rate corresponding to each connection rate in the lookup table), even if the ISP is connected to the ISP at a high connection rate, the result is high. Since it takes time to complete the data transfer, the next connection can reduce the data retransmission by connecting at a communication speed or communication standard that is lower than the connection rate. In addition, the time required for substantial data transfer can be reduced, and communication costs can be reduced.

Further, for example, when the connection to the ISP is set during a time period when communication costs are low, such as at midnight, the number of times the transfer rate is lower than the original capacity has reached the set number of times due to an increase in traffic. In such a case, a report notifying that the reception time needs to be changed can be recorded and output as a communication report, and an administrator who looks at the report can change and set the connection time as necessary. At this time, the administrator may be notified by e-mail that the connection time needs to be changed.

Then, the CPU 11 returns the communication speed and communication standard stored in the parameter memory 14 to the default at predetermined timing, for example, at regular intervals such as one week, and connects to the ISP at the highest connection rate. For example, even if the transfer rate is reduced due to a temporary factor on the ISP side and the setting is changed to connect to the ISP at a low connection rate, the service person is notified. If the cause is eliminated without requesting a resetting operation, it is possible to connect to the ISP at a connection rate at which data transfer can be performed comfortably.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication speed and the communication standard of the highest connection rate at which data transfer can be completed at the transfer rate according to the capability are stored and updated, and the connection control with the ISP is controlled. The facsimile reception can be completed by connecting to the ISP at the highest connection rate that does not cause retransmission or the like repeatedly. The stored connection rate is reviewed at regular intervals, and connection control with the ISP can be controlled and stored / updated so that data transfer can be completed at the highest transfer rate according to the capability. It is possible to avoid being fixed at the rate. In addition, if the transfer rate cannot be obtained according to the capability, it is necessary to record and output a message report notifying the administrator of the fact and change the setting of the time zone for receiving the facsimile document. Can be encouraged.

Therefore, it is possible to receive a facsimile document by efficient data transfer without having a service person check the data, and to efficiently utilize the ability to prepare and efficiently reduce the communication cost required for the data transfer. it can.

It goes without saying that the present invention may be configured to have both functions of the first and second embodiments.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the highest connection rate at which the connection control with the ISP does not exceed the set time and the calculated transfer rate does not fall below the set transfer rate is stored and updated, and the connection is established. Since connection control with the ISP is started at the communication speed or communication standard that is the rate, there is no need to repeat unnecessary connection control and retransmission every time the connection to the ISP is made. It is possible to immediately connect to the ISP at the highest possible connection rate, and to perform efficient data transfer. Therefore, communication costs required for connection control and data transfer can be reduced, and communication costs can be efficiently reduced.

The connection rate to be stored can be updated at an arbitrarily set timing by starting control for connection at the highest connection rate according to the capability to be provided again, thereby reducing the ISP at a low connection rate due to temporary factors. It is possible to avoid being fixed so as to be connected to, and to effectively reduce the communication cost by effectively utilizing the provided ability without operating by a service person.

Also, when the connection time with the ISP cannot be established or the transfer rate is reduced due to the time zone in which the line busy condition occurs, etc.
By notifying the user to that effect, the setting can be changed so that facsimile reception is performed during a time period in which the connection with the ISP does not repeatedly fail and the transfer rate does not drastically decrease, and the efficiency is improved. It is possible to avoid delay or inability to obtain a facsimile document by connecting to the ISP, and reduce communication costs required for data transfer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an Internet facsimile according to the present invention, and is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration thereof.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a second embodiment of the Internet facsimile according to the present invention, and is a flowchart for explaining the operation thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 Parameter memory 15 Operation display unit 16 Modem 17 Network controller 18 Communication control unit 19 Plotter 19 Encoding / decoding unit 20 Image memory 21 Scanner 22 Plotter 23 Timer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference) HH17 HH18 HH65 MM08

Claims (5)

[Claims] An Internet facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving a facsimile document via the Internet by dial-up connection with an Internet service provider has a function of connecting to a destination so that data can be transmitted and received at a plurality of communication speeds or communication standards. Communication control means for connecting to an Internet service provider at the highest connection rate and executing data communication, connection rate storage means for storing a connection rate of an attempt to connect to the Internet service provider, If the connection with the service provider exceeds a preset time or fails, the next connection with the Internet service provider will have a lower connection rate than the value stored in the connection rate storage means, or Communication rules An Internet facsimile apparatus, comprising: connection control means for controlling the connection of the communication control means so as to make a connection. 2. An Internet facsimile apparatus which transmits / receives a facsimile document via the Internet by dial-up connection with an Internet service provider has a function of connecting to a destination so that data can be transmitted / received at a plurality of communication speeds or communication standards. Communication control means for connecting to the Internet service provider at the highest connection rate and executing data communication, connection rate storage means for storing the connection rate at which connection with the Internet service provider was attempted, and connection rate Transfer rate setting means for presetting a data transfer rate according to the data transfer time, and the next Internet when the calculated transfer rate calculated from the data transfer time and data size falls below the set transfer rate in the transfer rate setting means.・ Service Proba Connection control means for controlling connection of the communication control means so as to connect with a communication rate or a communication standard of a connection rate lower than a value stored in the connection rate storage means at the time of connection with the Internet connection. Facsimile machine. 3. The connection control means controls the connection of the communication control means such that connection is attempted at a preset timing based on a communication speed or a communication standard having a highest connection rate provided. Item 3. An internet facsimile apparatus according to item 1 or 2. 4. A counting means for counting the number of failures in connection with an Internet service provider, and a message prepared in advance when the counted number of failures exceeds a preset number of failures. 4. An Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a notifying unit for notifying a user of the Internet facsimile. 5. A limit rate setting means for presetting a limit of a data transfer rate, and a number of times that a calculated transfer rate calculated from a data transfer time and a data size falls below a limit transfer rate in the limit rate setting means. A counting means for counting, and a notifying means for creating a message prepared in advance and notifying the user when the counted number of times of underrun exceeds a preset number of underruns are provided. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1.