JP2002252736A - Network facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a delivery confirming method suitable for a network facsimile machine. SOLUTION: Since the network facsimile machine adopts an optional facsimile number, an incoming sub address and an F code for transmission destination information of an response mail of an MDN(message disposition notification), the network facsimile terminal can quickly inform of a transmission result in a flexible form.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a public network,
A facsimile function for communicating image information using a public network,
The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus having a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using electronic mail via the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using electronic mail via the Internet have been provided. A network facsimile apparatus provided with the apparatus is in practical use. Further, in such a network facsimile apparatus, a technical recommendation regarding a network facsimile function for communicating image information using electronic mail is described in ITU-I.
Recommendation T. 37 applies.

[0003]

When image information is transmitted using electronic mail, the following problems occur.

First, in facsimile communication using a public network, a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal are directly connected via a public network, and the communication is of a real-time type. Confirmation as to whether or not reception has been completed can be received from the partner terminal (receiving terminal) immediately after the end of transmission.

[0005] On the other hand, since the electronic mail takes a storage-type communication form, it cannot be directly confirmed from the transmitting terminal whether or not the transmitted image information can be normally received by the partner terminal.

[0006] On the other hand, in an e-mail system using the Internet, a mechanism for confirming delivery is an MDN (Message Dispostoin).
Notification) is defined, and transmission confirmation can be performed by using this MDN in a network facsimile apparatus.

[0007] However, since the delivery confirmation using the MDN is performed using an electronic mail, there is a problem that the promptness is lacking.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a delivery confirmation method suitable for a network facsimile apparatus.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network, connecting to the Internet,
In a network facsimile apparatus having a network facsimile function of communicating image information using e-mail, when transmitting image information using e-mail, a predetermined format for a delivery confirmation request is applied and communication result notification is performed. The information for notifying the facsimile number for the e-mail is included in the e-mail.

[0010] Further, a facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using e-mail via the Internet are provided. In the network facsimile apparatus, when transmitting image information using electronic mail, a predetermined format for a delivery confirmation request is applied, and information for notifying a facsimile number and an F-code value for communication result notification is transmitted to the electronic facsimile apparatus. This is included in the email.

[0011] Further, a facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using electronic mail via the Internet are provided. In the network facsimile apparatus, when transmitting image information using e-mail, a predetermined format for a delivery confirmation request is applied, and information for notifying a facsimile number and a sub-address value for communication result notification is transmitted to the e-mail. Is included.

[0012] Further, a facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using electronic mail via the Internet are provided. In the network facsimile apparatus, when receiving the image information using the e-mail, if the e-mail is a delivery confirmation request and the facsimile number for communication result notification is notified, A notification report for notifying the reception result of the mail is created, and the notification report is transmitted to the destination of the facsimile number.

A facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using electronic mail via the Internet are provided. In a network facsimile machine, when receiving image information using an e-mail, if the e-mail is for a delivery confirmation request and the facsimile number and the F-code value for communication result notification are notified, Creates a notification report for notifying the reception result of the electronic mail, transmits the notification report to the destination of the facsimile number, and notifies the destination of the F-code value at the time of the transmission.

A facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using e-mail via the Internet are provided. In the network facsimile apparatus, when receiving the image information using the e-mail, if the e-mail is a delivery confirmation request and the facsimile number for communication result notification is notified, A notification report for notifying the reception result of the mail is created, the notification report is transmitted to the destination of the facsimile number, and the sub address value is notified to the destination at the time of the transmission.

[0015]

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 includes a plurality of workstation devices WS1 to WS1.
WSn, the mail server device SM, and the network facsimile device FX are 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.

Further, 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.

Further, a network facsimile machine FX
Is an electronic mail processing function for exchanging image information and various reports as electronic mail, and is connected to an analog public telephone network PSTN, and a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is performed using the analog public telephone network PSTN as a transmission path. Group 3 facsimile communication function for transmitting image information, and facsimile communication function for connecting to a digital public line network ISDN and transmitting image information according to a group 3/4 facsimile transmission procedure using the digital public line network ISDN as a transmission path. It has.

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 switched telephone network PSTN, and has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The ISDN interface circuit 12 connects the network facsimile apparatus FX to the digital public line network ISDN, and performs a layer 1 signal processing function and a D channel (signal channel) signal and two B signals.
It has a function of integrating / separating channel (information channel) signals, and the D-channel transmission control unit 13 is for executing signal processing on the ISDN D-channel such as call setup / call release procedure processing. The B channel transmission control unit 14 is for realizing a group 4 facsimile transmission procedure function performed on the B channel, and the B channel transmission control unit 15 is for implementing a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure function performed on the B channel. The group 3 facsimile modem 16 is for realizing a facsimile modem function when the B channel transmission control unit 15 performs group 3 facsimile communication, and is similar to the group 3 facsimile modem 10. Low-speed modem function,
And it has a high-speed modem function.

The local area network interface circuit 17 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 18
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 10,1
6. The network control device 11, the D-channel transmission control unit 13, the B-channel transmission control units 14 and 15, and the local area network transmission control unit 18 are connected to an internal bus 19, and are connected between these elements. Data exchange
It is performed mainly via the internal bus 19.

Data exchange between the network controller 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10, and
Data exchange between the B-channel transmission control unit 15 and the group 3 facsimile modem 16 is directly performed.

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 reception of an e-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).

Then, the network facsimile machine F
X transmits the read document image to another group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network PSTN, or a local area network LAN (further, the Internet)
Image data received from other group 3/4 facsimile machines via the analog PSTN or digital PSTN ISDN while transmitting to the users of the workstations WS1 to WSn and other network facsimile machines FX via the network. To the transfer destination information specified at that time by using e-mail or facsimile communication, or to specify the image information received (by e-mail) from the workstation WS of the local area network LAN. Of the analog PSTN PSTN and ISDN ISDN group 3 /
It has a transfer service function for transferring data to four facsimile machines.

For an electronic mail received at its own terminal, image information arranged in the body information is extracted and recorded and output.

Here, the facsimile image information is binary data, and the electronic mail cannot directly include the binary data. Therefore, a predetermined conversion method (for example,
After being converted into readable information (7-bit character code) by applying the Base64 encoding method, it is included in the electronic mail. Such a format of the body information of the electronic mail is called a MIME format.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an e-mail used when transmitting facsimile image information.

This electronic mail is a multi-part MIME electronic mail having a plurality of body parts, and includes identification information of the electronic mail (“Message-ID:” field), transmission date (“Date:” field), and destination. A mail header section including predetermined information such as a mail address (“To:” field), a source mail address (“From” field), a text part section for carrying text data, and a facsimile image information The binary part includes a MIME part obtained by converting facsimile image information into MIME.
ME encoded data is arranged.

The network facsimile machine FX
Then, in the “Message-ID:” field, the value of the file number (described later) is usually set.

The facsimile image information carried by e-mail is obtained by compressing the original image data by MH coding and converting it to a TIFF-F format.
Mime-converted IFF-F data is arranged.

Here, in the TIFF-F format,
Since image data of a plurality of pages can be collected as one file, data of one transmission image information file including a plurality of pages can be arranged in one binary part.

Further, in the network facsimile machine FX, every time image data transmission and reception operations are performed, communication history information representing the results of the transmission and reception operations is created and stored in the parameter memory 3. I have. FIG. 4A shows an example of this communication history information.

The communication history information includes a file number for identifying each communication, a communication date and time, a communication mode indicating an operation mode for a transmission operation and a reception operation,
Destination information indicating the destination of the transmission operation and the reception operation, an MDN request flag for storing whether or not the communication has performed the MDN request, a number indicating the number of pages of the transmitted and received image information file, a communication result, and When transmission / reception image information is stored in the image storage device 9, the image storage device 9 includes image management information necessary for reading the transmission / reception image information.

As the communication mode, G3 transmission representing a transmission operation by group 3 facsimile communication, and G3 transmission representing a transmission operation by group 4 facsimile communication.
4 transmission, e-mail transmission representing transmission operation by e-mail communication, G3 reception representing reception operation by group 3 facsimile communication, G4 reception representing reception operation by group 4 facsimile communication, and electronic representing reception operation by e-mail communication There are six types of mail reception. The transfer function is classified into a transmission operation.

The network facsimile machine FX has a plurality of transfer functions. This transfer function is a call transfer function for automatically transferring to a registered transfer destination when a call arrives at a pre-registered called number, and is registered in advance when a call is received via a digital public line network ISDN. There is a destination sub-address transfer function for automatically transferring to a registered destination when a given destination sub-address is specified, and an F-code transfer function using a reception box in which a so-called F-code number is registered.

FIG. 4 shows the call transfer function.
A transfer operation is performed based on the incoming call transfer setting information shown in FIG. 3B, and a transfer operation is performed based on the called sub address transfer setting information shown in FIG. As for the transfer function, the transfer operation is performed based on the F code management information shown in FIG.

The incoming call transfer setting information includes an incoming telephone number indicating an incoming facsimile number registered to perform the transfer operation, a delivery mode designating which communication function to use for the transfer operation, and a delivery destination. Is composed of distribution destination information. When the distribution mode is G3 (group 3 facsimile), the analog public telephone network PSTN
Alternatively, the telephone number of the digital public line network ISDN is registered as distribution destination information, and the distribution mode is G4 (group 4).
Facsimile), digital public line network ISD
The telephone number of N is registered as distribution destination information, and when the distribution mode is e-mail (e-mail), the mail address is registered as distribution destination information.

The incoming sub-address transfer setting information includes a destination sub-address indicating a destination sub-address number registered to perform a transfer operation, a delivery mode designating which communication function to use for the transfer operation, and a delivery destination. Is composed of distribution destination information. When the distribution mode is G3 (group 3 facsimile), the telephone number of the analog public telephone network PSTN or digital public network ISDN is registered as the distribution destination information, and the distribution mode is G4.
In the case of (group 4 facsimile), the telephone number of the digital public network ISDN is registered as distribution destination information, and when the distribution mode is e-mail (e-mail), the mail address is registered as distribution destination information. You.

The F code management information includes an F code indicating a registered F code value, mode information indicating an operation mode registered in a reception box of the F code, and an operation mode corresponding to the mode information. It consists of additional information necessary for processing. As the mode information, transfer indicating a transfer box, confidential indicating a confidential box, and the like are set. In the case of a transfer box, as the additional information, the same distribution mode as the above-described incoming transfer setting information and destination sub-address transfer setting information is set. And distribution destination information are registered.

In the present embodiment, when image information is transmitted using electronic mail, the user can specify whether or not to make a delivery confirmation request. This delivery confirmation request
This is performed using the MDN as described above.

Here, the MDN is defined in RFC2298, and the delivery confirmation request by the MDN is included in the mail header of the e-mail with “Disposition-
Notification-To: "is described. In the value of this field, the mail address of the destination of the response mail of the MDN is arranged. For example, "ifax-a @ abcdc
db. co. jp ".

On the other hand, since there is a possibility of receiving an e-mail for which a delivery confirmation is requested, the MUA to which MDN is applied
(Mail User Agent; a network facsimile machine in the case of the present invention) receives the e-mail, examines the mail header portion of the e-mail, and checks "Dispositi."
If the “on-Notification-To:” field is included, it is determined that the delivery confirmation request by the MDN has been made.

Then, a response mail representing the transmission result of the e-mail received at that time is created by a method specified in MDN, and the response mail is created in the field “D”.
isposition-Notification-T
o: "to the e-mail address notified.

Here, the response mail of the MDN includes the “Final-Recipient:” field in the header information, and further includes the “Original-Message”.
-ID: "field. "Final-Reci
The value of the “pient:” field indicates whether the user can view or process the e-mail, or
A content indicating that the processing is automatically performed in A is arranged. In addition, "Original-Message-I
In the “D:” field, the value of the “Message-ID:” field of the e-mail requesting the MDN is arranged.

Therefore, if the “Final-Recipient:” field is included in the mail header of the received e-mail, the network facsimile machine FX as the MUA determines that the e-mail is a response mail of the MDN. In addition, the "Original-Message-I"
By searching for the communication history information having the same file number as the value of the "D:" field, it is possible to determine which image information transmission e-mail the response mail corresponds to.

In this embodiment, when the delivery confirmation request mail is issued, the transmission destination for transmitting the response information corresponding to the response mail is set to “Disposition-Notify”.
and "cation-To:" field. In this case, a facsimile number, destination address information, and an F-code value can be set.

In these transmission destination information, the facsimile number is indispensable, and the destination subaddress information and the F code value are arbitrary information. The facsimile number is carried by the “X-FaxNumber:” field, and the destination subaddress information is “X-Sub”.
Address: "field, and the F-code value is carried by the" X-Fcode: "field.

On the other hand, on the receiving side, when the delivery confirmation request mail is received, if the “X-FaxNumber:” field is added, the contents of the response mail are created,
After converting the contents into image information, "X-FaxNumb
er: "field and transmit the converted image information.

The received delivery confirmation request mail contains "X
When the “SubAddress:” field is added, when transmitting the call setup message SETUP to the digital public network ISDN, the content of the “X-SubAddress:” field is set in the “destination subaddress” information element. .

Also, the received delivery confirmation request mail contains “X
When the “-Fcode:” field is added, the content of the “X-Fcode:” field is notified as an F code in the pre-transmission procedure.

When the value of the "destination sub-address" information element and the value of the F-code are notified, the operation registered in each destination sub-address and F-code is performed at the destination. For example, a transfer operation is performed. Further, when the call transfer function is set, the call is automatically transferred.

When the facsimile number specified in the “X-Fax Number:” field in the delivery confirmation request mail is the digital public line network ISDN, “user / user” used for the call control signal of the digital public line network ISDN is used. It is also possible to specify that the contents of the response mail be transmitted using the "UUI". If the contents of the response mail can be transmitted using the “user / user” information element, a delivery confirmation system can be constructed at a very low cost without any communication cost.

As described above, in this embodiment, any facsimile number, destination subaddress, and F-code can be applied as the destination information of the response mail of the MDN, so that the transmission result can be quickly notified. can do.

Further, the call can be transferred to an arbitrary transfer destination by using the call transfer function, the destination sub-address transfer function, and the transfer function of the (F code) reception box. The transmission result can be received, which is very convenient in the operation management of the network facsimile machine FX.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a process for transmitting image information using electronic mail.

The user sets the transmission document on the scanner 5 (process 101), inputs a destination (process 102), and turns on a start key (not shown) (the result of determination 103 is YES). It is checked whether a delivery confirmation request has been made (decision 104).

If the result of determination 104 is YES, an "X-Fax Number:" field is added to the header information, and the facsimile number of the terminal is set as the value of the field (process 105).

Next, it is checked whether or not the F code has been designated (decision 106). If the result of decision 106 is YES, an "X-Fcode:" field is added to the header information, and the value of the field is designated. The F code value is set (process 107).

Next, it is checked whether or not the destination subaddress has been designated (decision 108). If the result of decision 108 is YES, "X-SubAddress" is added to the header information.
An "s:" field is added, and the destination subaddress value specified as the value of the field is set (process 109).
The destination subaddress is specified when the facsimile number specified in the process 105 is the digital public line network ISDN.

As described above, after editing the value of each field to be added to the header information, the header information is created,
It is stored (process 110). Note that the result of determination 104 is N
When it becomes O, an “X-FaxNumber:” field, an “X-SubAddress:” field,
Also, the “X-Fcode:” field is not added. When the result of the determination 106 is NO, the “X-Fcode:” field is not added. When the result of the judgment 108 is NO,
The “X-SubAddress:” field is not added.

Next, in order to create text information, the scanner 5 is operated to read the image of the transmission original (step 11).
1) The image data obtained thereby is encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 8
In step 11, the image data is encoded and compressed by a predetermined encoding method, and the transmission image information obtained thereby is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 11).
2).

Next, the transmission image information stored in the image storage device 9 is subjected to MIME conversion or the like to create body information (step 113), and the header information created in step 110 and the processing 11
The e-mail including the body information created in step 3 is transmitted (step 114), and communication history information on the transmission operation at this time is created and stored (step 115).

FIGS. 6 to 9 show an example of processing executed when an electronic mail is received.

First, when an e-mail is received (Process 20)
1), the header information is analyzed (process 202), and it is checked whether the mail is a delivery confirmation request mail (decision 203).

When the result of the judgment 203 is NO,
It is checked whether the received mail is a response mail of MDN (decision 204). When the result of the determination 204 is NO, since it is a normal electronic mail, the body information is extracted (step 205), the MIME information is converted into the corresponding image information, and then decoded and converted into recording data (step 20).
6) Record and output the received document from the plotter 6 (Process 20).
7) Communication history information is created and stored for the reception operation at that time (process 208).

If the result of determination 204 is YES, the body information is extracted (step 209), and the MD
The communication history information is acquired for the original communication corresponding to the N response mails, the content of the communication result of the communication history information is updated (process 210), and the operation at this time ends.

If the received e-mail is a delivery confirmation request mail and the result of determination 203 is YES, first, the body information is extracted (process 211), and the MIM
After the E information is converted into the corresponding image information, it is decoded and converted into recording data (processing 212), the received document is recorded and output from the plotter 6 (processing 213), and communication history information is created for the receiving operation at that time. And save (processing 21
4).

Next, "Disposition-No.
The transmission destination address in the "Tifiation-To:" field and the facsimile number in the "X-FaxNumber:" field are stored (process 215).

Then, it is checked whether or not the "X-Fcode:" field has been added (decision 216). If the result of decision 216 is YES, the value of the F code is stored (process 217).

Further, it is checked whether or not the “X-SubAddress:” field has been added (determination 21).
8) If the result of determination 218 is YES, the value of the destination subaddress is stored (process 219).

Next, the facsimile number obtained in the process 215 is checked to determine whether it is an ISDN number (decision 221). If the result of decision 221 is YES, a check is made in step 219 as to whether the value of the destination subaddress is stored (decision 225), and if the result of decision 225 is YES, the call setting message SET
Add a “destination subaddress” information element to the UP (Process 2
26).

Next, it is checked whether the use of the "user / user" information element is set (decision 22).
7) If the result of determination 227 is YES, the text data corresponding to the response mail is edited and created as the content of the “user / user” information element (process 22).
8) Add the contents of the "user / user" information element to the call setup message SETUP and call the specified destination (process 229).

Then, it waits until a call setting acceptance message CALL_PROC is received from the digital public line network ISDN (NO loop of decision 230), and when the result of decision 230 becomes YES, a predetermined line release procedure is executed (processing 231). ), And the process at this time ends.

If the result of determination 227 is NO, the contents of the response mail are transmitted using the image information. In this case, first, notification image information corresponding to the contents of the response mail is created and stored (process 232). And processing 2
In step 17, it is checked whether the F code is stored (determination 2).
33) When the result of the determination 233 is YES, F
A code is generated (process 234).

Next, a call setup message SETUP is sent to the digital public line network ISDN to make a call to the destination, and a predetermined call setup procedure is executed to establish an information channel (B channel) with the partner terminal. (Processes 235 and 236).

Here, it is checked whether or not the F code is generated in the process 234 (decision 237). If the result of the decision 237 is YES, the F code is used in the pre-group 4 facsimile transmission procedure performed using the information channel. Notify (process 238), and when the result of determination 237 is NO, do not notify the F code in the group 4 facsimile pre-transmission procedure performed using the information channel (process 239).

When the pre-transmission procedure is completed in this way, a predetermined group 4 facsimile transmission procedure is executed, and the notification image information created in step 232 is transmitted (step 240). When the transmission of the image information is completed, the information channel is terminated (process 241), and a line release procedure is performed (process 24).
2), this process ends.

If the notified facsimile number is not the digital public line network ISDN and the result of determination 221 is NO, the analog public line network PST
The content of the response mail of MDN is transmitted using N.

In this case, first, notification image information corresponding to the contents of the response mail is created and stored (process 250).
Then, in step 217, it is checked whether or not the F code is stored (step 251). If the result of step 251 is YES, the F code is generated (step 252).

Next, a call is made to the destination using analog PSTN PSTN (process 252), and a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure of notifying the F code generated in process 252 is performed (process 254). , Processing 25
The notification image information created in step 0 is transmitted using a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure (step 255). When the image information transmission is completed, the line is disconnected and restored (step 256), and the processing at this time ends. .

If the result of decision 251 is NO, a call is made to the destination using the analog public switched telephone network PSTN (process 257), and a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure which does not notify the F code is performed (process 258). ), The process proceeds to step 255, the notification image information is transmitted, and the process at this time ends.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show digital public network IS
An example of processing when an incoming call is detected from a DN is shown.

First, an incoming call is answered to the digital public line network ISDN (process 301), a predetermined call setting procedure is performed, and an information channel is established (processes 302 and 303). Here, it is checked whether the incoming number is a number for which call forwarding is set (decision 304), and when the result of the decision 304 is YES, a process of distributing the MDN response result is executed (process 305). ).

When the result of the determination 304 is NO, it is checked whether or not the destination sub-address has been notified (determination 306). When the result of the determination 306 is YES, the destination sub-address is changed to the destination sub-address transfer setting. A check is made to see if the setting has been made (determination 30).
7) If the result of determination 307 is YES, the process proceeds to step 305 to perform an MDN response result distribution process.

When the result of decision 307 is NO and when the result of decision 306 is NO,
It is checked whether the "user / user" information element has been added (decision 308). If the result of decision 308 is YES, it is checked whether or not the content is an MDN response notification (decision 309).

When the result of the judgment 309 is NO and when the result of the judgment 308 is NO, a normal reception operation (including reception of the notification image information of the MDN) is performed, so that a predetermined group 4 facsimile reception is performed. After executing the procedure (process 310) and ending the receiving operation, the information channel is terminated (process 311), and the line release procedure is performed (process 3).
12), communication history information is created and stored for the reception operation at that time (process 313).

When the result of judgment 309 is YES, it is checked whether or not the distribution is designated (judgment 3).
15) When the result of determination 315 is NO, it is checked whether or not the F-code has been notified in the pre-transmission procedure (determination 316). When the result of determination 316 is NO,
The communication result of the communication history information corresponding to the response notification content of the MDN notified by the "user / user" information element at that time is updated (process 317), and this operation ends.

When the result of decision 315 is YES and when the result of decision 316 is YES, a process of distributing the MDN response result is executed (process 3).
18).

FIG. 12 shows an example of processing when an incoming call is detected from the analog public switched telephone network PSTN.

First, an incoming call response is made to the analog PSTN PSTN (process 401), and a predetermined pre-group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is executed (process 402). Then, it is checked whether or not the F code has been notified in the group 3 facsimile transmission pre-procedure (decision 403), and the decision 40
If the result of step 3 is YES, a predetermined group 3 facsimile receiving procedure is executed to accumulate the received image information (step 404), and when the receiving operation is completed, the line is restored (step 405).

Here, the F code is checked to determine whether or not transfer is designated (decision 406). If the result of decision 405 is YES, a predetermined distribution process is performed and the image stored in process 404 is processed. The information is transmitted to the destination (process 407). Then, communication history information is created and stored for the communication operation at that time (process 408), and this operation ends.

If the result of determination 406 is NO, the image information accumulated in step 404 is decoded to create image data, and the image data is transferred to the plotter 6 to record and output the received document (processing 409). Then, the processing shifts to processing 408, where communication history information is created and stored, and this operation ends.

If the result of determination 403 is NO, a predetermined group 3 facsimile reception procedure is executed (process 410), the received image information is decoded to create image data, and the image data And the received original is recorded and output (process 411), and the line is restored (process 412).

Next, the processing shifts to processing 408, where communication history information is created and stored, and this operation ends.

[0106]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since any facsimile number, destination subaddress, and F-code can be applied as the destination information of the response mail of the MDN, the transmission result can be notified promptly and in a flexible manner. Get.

Further, it is possible to use an incoming call transfer function, a destination sub-address transfer function, and a transfer function of an (F code) reception box to transfer a call to an arbitrary transfer destination. The transmission result can be received, and the effect of being very convenient in the operation management of the network facsimile machine FX is obtained.

[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 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an electronic mail used when transmitting facsimile image information.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of communication history information, incoming call transfer setting information, destination subaddress transfer setting information, and F-code management information.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process when image information is transmitted using electronic mail.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed when an e-mail is received.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart (continued) showing an example of processing executed when an e-mail is received.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (continued) showing an example of processing executed when an e-mail is received.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart (continued) showing an example of processing executed when an e-mail is received.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when an incoming call is detected from the digital public line network ISDN.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when an incoming call is detected from the digital public line network ISDN (continued).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when a call is detected from the analog public switched telephone network PSTN.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 System control unit 2 System memory 3 Parameter memory

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using a public network, and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using e-mail via the Internet. In the network facsimile apparatus, when transmitting image information using an e-mail, a predetermined format for a delivery confirmation request is applied, and information for notifying a facsimile number for communication result notification is included in the e-mail. A network facsimile machine characterized by the above. 2. A facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network, and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using e-mail via the Internet. In the network facsimile apparatus, when transmitting image information using e-mail, a predetermined format for a delivery confirmation request is applied, and information for notifying a facsimile number and an F-code value for communication result notification is transmitted to the electronic facsimile apparatus. A network facsimile machine characterized by being included in an e-mail. 3. A facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network, and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using electronic mail via the Internet. In the network facsimile apparatus, when transmitting image information using an e-mail, a predetermined format for a delivery confirmation request is applied, and information for notifying a facsimile number and a sub-address value for communication result notification is transmitted to the e-mail. A network facsimile apparatus characterized by being included in a facsimile machine. 4. A facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network, and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using electronic mail via the Internet. When the network facsimile apparatus receives image information using an e-mail, if the e-mail is for a delivery confirmation request and a facsimile number for notification of a communication result is notified, A network facsimile apparatus for creating a notification report for notifying of a reception result of an e-mail and transmitting the notification report to a destination of the facsimile number. 5. A facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network, and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using electronic mail via the Internet. In a network facsimile apparatus, when receiving image information using an e-mail, if the e-mail is for a delivery confirmation request, and a facsimile number and an F-code value for communication result notification are notified, Generating a notification report notifying the reception result of the e-mail, transmitting the notification report to the destination of the facsimile number, and notifying the F-code value to the destination at the time of the transmission. apparatus. 6. A facsimile function for connecting to a public network and communicating image information using the public network, and a network facsimile function for connecting to the Internet and communicating image information using e-mail via the Internet. In the network facsimile apparatus, when receiving the image information using an e-mail, if the e-mail is a delivery confirmation request and a facsimile number for communication result notification is notified, A network facsimile apparatus which creates a notification report for notifying the reception result of an email, transmits the notification report to the destination of the facsimile number, and notifies the destination of the sub-address value at the time of the transmission.