JP2002271549A - Facsimile automatic distribution system and facsimile automatic distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system that can simply send an application file via fax. SOLUTION: A client 1 and a FAX server 2 are connected in an intercommunication enabled way, and the FAX server 2 gives the client 1 a FAX transmission picture, by which prescribed information can be selected and entered. When the client 1 selects and enters the prescribed information on the FAX transmission picture and depresses a FAX button, the client 1 creates electronic mail to the main text of which the selected and entered information and information of a user who is the sender are fetched, attaches the application file to the electronic mail and faxes the resulting electronic mail to the FAX server 2. The FAX server 2 analyzes the main text of the received electronic mail, to generate a transmission tag file, converts the transmission tag file and the attached application file into a prescribed file form and faxes the converted file.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an automatic facsimile distribution system and an automatic facsimile distribution method for automatically transmitting a facsimile transmission application file created on a computer by facsimile. Further, the present invention relates to a client terminal and a FAX server used in the automatic facsimile distribution system and a program for executing the automatic facsimile distribution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Facsimile (FAX) and e-mail are highly convenient because information can be transmitted to a destination at any time, but the format of data to be transmitted is different. In FAX, information (image) obtained by optically reading a document is transmitted, and in e-mail, for example, electronic information created on a computer is transmitted. For this reason, electronic information created on a computer, such as electronic mail, cannot be directly transmitted by FAX.

[0003] Electronic information created on a computer is converted to FA
When transmitting by X, usually, an application file storing the electronic information is opened once, the contents are printed, and the printed paper (original) is sent to a transmission form in which destination information and sender information are described. FAX transmission is performed in such a procedure that the user sets the fax machine on the facsimile machine and dials the fax number of the facsimile machine of the other party. F
After the AX transmission is completed, the paper (original) on which the electronic information is printed is discarded.

[0004] When the electronic information created on the computer is transmitted by facsimile in the above procedure, a facsimile apparatus is required not only on the receiver side but also on the sender side, and the electronic information is printed one by one. Since it is necessary to set on the facsimile machine and input the FAX number, it is very troublesome. Also, the printed paper is wasted.

[0005] Therefore, there has been proposed an apparatus in which electronic information created on a computer can be transmitted to a facsimile apparatus of a destination without printing. As an example,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-217069 discloses a facsimile message for an electronic mail apparatus in which, when it is difficult for the receiving side to receive an electronic mail, electronic information created as an electronic mail is faxed to a facsimile apparatus on the receiving side. A conversion device is described. FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration thereof.

Referring to FIG. 8, this apparatus includes a mail separating unit 102, a header information storage unit 103, a message body storage unit 104, a user information storage unit 105, a header processing unit 106, a transmission method determination unit 107, an e-mail transmission Unit 108, format storage unit 109, format selection unit 110, transmission form creation unit 111, message processing unit 11
2. Facsimile transmission unit 113, error notification processing unit 11
4.

[0007] The mail separating unit 102 separates the electronic mail for which the transmission instruction is received into header information and a message body, outputs the header information to the header information storage unit 103 and the header processing unit 106, and stores the message body in the message body. Output to the unit 104. The separated header information is stored in the header information storage unit 103, and the separated message body is stored in the message body storage unit 104. The header information and the message body can be separated by extracting a specific character string from the character information created as the e-mail.

[0008] The user information storage unit 105 stores predetermined information (for example, a user address for identifying a destination user, a company name of a user, a department name, a name, a mail address, FAX numbers, style files, etc.) are stored in advance. Header processing section 106 extracts destination information and sender information from the header information separated by mail separation section 102, and outputs them to transmission method determining section 107. The destination information and the caller information can be extracted based on a specific character string.

When receiving the destination information and the sender information from header processing section 106, transmission method determining section 107 first determines whether the received destination information matches any of the user addresses stored in user information storage section 105. It is checked whether they match, and if they match, various information of the corresponding user is fetched from the user information storage unit 105. Next, it is checked whether the address of the other party's e-mail is included in the acquired various information. If the address of the other party's e-mail is included, it is determined that the e-mail can be transmitted. The transmission request of the e-mail transmission unit 10
8 is output. If the e-mail address of the destination is not included, it is checked whether the fax number of the destination is included. If the fax number of the destination is included, the fax should be transmitted. And FA
The destination information and the sender information received from the header processing unit 106 together with the X transmission request are output to the transmission form creation unit 111. If the fax number of the other party is not included, it is determined that neither e-mail nor fax transmission is possible,
An error notification request is output to the error notification processing unit 104.

The format storage unit 109 stores a format of a facsimile transmission slip in advance,
The format selection unit 110 selects a corresponding format format from the format formats stored in the format storage unit 109 in response to a request. Transmission form creation unit 111
Receives the destination information and the caller information from the transmission method determining unit 107, checks whether the received destination information matches any of the user addresses stored in the user information storage unit 105, and determines Receives the user's various information from the user information storage unit 105, receives the relevant format from the format selection unit 110, and creates a FAX transmission form using the received various information and the format. At the same time, the transmission form creation unit 111 outputs to the message processing unit 112 the FAX number corresponding to the destination information among the various information of the corresponding user received from the user information storage unit 105 and the created FAX transmission form.

The message processing unit 112 converts the message body stored in the message body
The FAX file is converted into an X file, and the FAX transmission form received from the transmission form creation unit 111 is attached to the FAX file. At the same time, the message processing unit 112 converts the FAX number received from the transmission form
The file is output to facsimile transmission section 113.

A facsimile transmission unit 113 transmits a facsimile file with a transmission slip and a facsimile from the message processing unit 112.
When the number is received, the received fax file with the transmission form is faxed to the received fax number.

The error notification processor 114 receives an error notification request from the transmission method determiner 107 or, if the receiving facsimile apparatus cannot receive a message, notifies the sender of the fact.

In the above-described facsimile message converter for an e-mail device, it is determined whether to transmit an e-mail or a facsimile based on predetermined information stored in the user information storage unit 105 in advance. If it is determined, a fax transmission form is automatically created and the content of the e-mail is faxed.

In addition to the above, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-3320 discloses a facsimile-type e-mail apparatus which transmits and receives image information read by a scanner as an attached file of e-mail and can communicate with a well-known facsimile apparatus. A proposed system has been proposed. This system includes a first facsimile-type e-mail device as a transmission source, a second facsimile-type e-mail device as a repeater to which a facsimile device as a destination is connected via a telephone line, and a route information table. And a server provided with each other via a network. In the path information table, the mail address and the receiving capability (image processing capability) of the repeater (the second facsimile-type electronic mail device), the support data format, the fax number of the facsimile device as the destination, and the like are registered in advance.

In the above system, when transmitting from the first facsimile-type electronic mail device to the destination facsimile device, first, a facsimile is read by designating a transmission destination, and then connected to a server for relaying. Inquire about the machine's email address. The inquiry about the mail address is performed by notifying the destination FAX number by a predetermined message command in the electronic mail. The server searches the route information table based on the notified destination FAX number, and notifies the first facsimile-type electronic mail device of information such as the mail address, reception capability, and support data format of the corresponding repeater.

The first facsimile type electronic mail device is
Upon receiving the information required for transmission from the server (e-mail address of the repeater, reception capability, support data format, etc.),
The mail address of the received repeater, and therefore, the destination fax to the second facsimile-type electronic mail device
The relay transfer instruction command including the number is transmitted by e-mail, and the image information read from the facsimile document is transmitted by e-mail as an attached file suitable for the received reception capability and support data format.

The second facsimile type e-mail device is:
When the relay transfer instruction command and the attached file are received, the image information of the received attached file is format-converted into a data format that can be processed by the destination facsimile machine. And fax-transmits the image information whose format has been converted. When sending this fax,
The second facsimile-type electronic mail device converts the header information of the received electronic mail into a data format that can be processed by the destination facsimile device and transmits the data.

[0019]

However, the conventional communication method as described above has the following problems.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-217069 discloses a method of performing facsimile transmission when it is difficult to receive an e-mail, and a method of transmitting electronic information created as an e-mail by facsimile. Each time, it is necessary to change predetermined information stored in advance in the user information storage unit 105 so as to be determined to be a fax transmission, which is troublesome.
Neither e-mail transmission nor FAX transmission can be performed.

In the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-3320, a facsimile-type electronic mail device which always serves as a repeater is required at the other end, so that the cost increases. Further, it is difficult to apply the present invention to a system that does not use a facsimile electronic mail device.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic facsimile distribution system and an automatic facsimile distribution method capable of solving the above-mentioned problem and facilitating facsimile transmission of an application file for facsimile transmission created on a computer. is there. Another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile server and a client terminal used in such an automatic facsimile distribution system and a program capable of executing such automatic facsimile distribution.

[0023]

To achieve the above object, an automatic facsimile distribution system according to the present invention is a facsimile automatic distribution system in which a client terminal and a facsimile server are connected to each other via a network so that they can communicate with each other. When the user inputs an access request to the FAX server by the user, the client terminal selectively inputs destination information and transmission slip image information required for FAX transmission to the FAX server. Requesting provision of a facsimile transmission screen, wherein the facsimile server
In response to a request for providing a FAX transmission screen from the client terminal, the requested FAX transmission screen is provided to the client terminal.
A fax transmission screen provided by the AX server is displayed, and when the destination information and the information of the transmission form image are selectively input on the displayed fax transmission screen and an input to perform fax transmission is made. Automatically creating an e-mail in which the input information and the information of the user who is the sender are incorporated in the text and attaching at least one application file for facsimile transmission prepared in advance to the e-mail. To the FAX server, and
When the AX server receives the e-mail addressed to the own FAX server transmitted from the client terminal, the AX server extracts the destination information, the information of the transmission form image and the information of the user from the body of the received e-mail, and extracts the extracted information. The transmission form file necessary for FAX transmission is created based on the above, and the transmission form file and the application file attached to the received e-mail are respectively converted into predetermined file formats to create an FA transmission file. The FAX transmission file is transmitted by facsimile to a FAX number specified by destination information extracted from the body of the electronic mail.

An automatic facsimile distribution method of the present invention is an automatic facsimile distribution method performed in a system in which a client terminal and a facsimile server are communicably connected to each other via a network. When an input to request access to the FAX server is made, the FAX server is requested to provide a FAX transmission screen on which destination information and transmission form image information necessary for FAX transmission can be selectively input. A second step in which the FAX server provides the requested FAX transmission screen to the client terminal in response to a FAX transmission screen providing request from the client terminal; Displays the fax transmission screen provided by the fax server, In FAX transmission screen, the destination information and the information of the transmission form images are selectively inputted FA
When an input to perform X transmission is made, an electronic mail in which the input information and the information of the user who is the sender are incorporated in the text is created, and at least one FAX created in advance in the electronic mail. A third step of attaching an application file for transmission to the FAX server and transmitting the received E-mail to the FAX server, the FAX server receiving the e-mail addressed to the FAX server transmitted from the client terminal; Of the destination information, the information of the transmission form image, and the information of the user from the body of the document, create a transmission form file necessary for FAX transmission based on the extracted information, and generate the transmission form file and the received e-mail. Each of the attached application files is converted into a predetermined file format, and It was created, characterized in that it comprises a fourth step of FAX transmission to the FAX number designated by the destination information retrieved the FA transmission file from the body of the e-mail.

[0025] The client terminal of the present invention is a client terminal that is connected to a FAX server via a network so as to be able to communicate with each other, and when a user inputs an input requesting access to the FAX server, Requests a FAX server to provide a FAX transmission screen capable of selectively inputting destination information and transmission form image information required for FAX transmission, and in response to the request, a FAX transmission screen provided from the client terminal On the FAX transmission screen displayed by the browser and the FAX transmission screen displayed by the browser, when the destination information and the information of the transmission form image are selectively input and the facsimile transmission is performed, these input are performed. Automatically create an e-mail with information and information of the user who is the sender in the body of the message, and create the e-mail in advance And having a mailer to send the attach at least one of the FAX application file for transmission to the FAX server addressed.

The FAX server according to the present invention is connected to a client terminal via a network so as to be communicable with each other.
An AX server, which receives a request for access from the client terminal;
Facsimile transmission screen providing means for providing a facsimile transmission screen capable of selectively inputting destination information and transmission form image information required for transmission; and the destination information and the destination information input on the facsimile transmission screen from the client terminal. When the information of the transmission form image and the information of the user who is the sender are captured in the text, and an e-mail attached with at least one application file for facsimile transmission is received, the address of the received e-mail is read from the text of the received e-mail. The information of the information and the transmission form image and the information of the user are taken out, the transmission form file necessary for FAX transmission is created based on the taken out information, and the transmission form file and the application file attached to the received e-mail. Is converted to a predetermined file format to create an FA transmission file. And having a FAX transmitting means for FAX transmission to the FAX number addressed specified by the destination information retrieved files from the body of the e-mail.

The program according to the present invention, when an input requesting access to the FAX server computer is made, selectively sends destination information and transmission form image information necessary for FAX transmission to the FAX server computer. Processing for requesting a FAX transmission screen that can be input to the FAX server computer;
An X transmission screen is displayed. When the destination information and the information of the transmission form image are selectively input on the displayed FAX transmission screen and an input to perform a FAX transmission is made, the input information is transmitted. And creating an e-mail in which the information of the user who is the sender is incorporated in the text, attaching at least one application file for facsimile transmission prepared beforehand to the e-mail, and transmitting the e-mail to the facsimile server computer. A third process for causing a client computer to execute a second process and, in response to a request for providing a fax transmission screen from the client computer, providing the requested fax transmission screen to the client computer; The e-mail addressed to your FAX server computer sent from The destination information, the information of the transmission form image and the information of the user are extracted from the body of the received e-mail, a transmission form file necessary for FAX transmission is created based on the extracted information, and the transmission form file and the Each of the application files attached to the received e-mail is converted into a predetermined file format to create an FA transmission file, and the FA transmission file is faxed to a FAX number designated by destination information extracted from the body of the e-mail. And transmitting the fourth process to the FAX server computer.

In the present invention as described above, the facsimile
On the transmission screen, an input indicating that fax information is transmitted by selectively inputting the destination information and the information of the transmission form image (for example, “FA
Specifying and clicking on the portion displayed as "X Send" using the mouse) automatically creates an e-mail with the selected and input information and the information of the sender user incorporated in the text, An application file for fax transmission is attached to the created electronic mail and transmitted to the fax server. When the FAX server receives the e-mail with the application file, the contents of the e-mail are analyzed and a transmission form file necessary for FAX transmission is created. At the same time, the created transmission form file and the attached application file are created. Are respectively converted into predetermined file formats, and an FA transmission file is created. This FA transmission file is faxed to a fax number obtained by analyzing the contents of the mail. As described above, according to the present invention, the user
To send an application file for X transmission by facsimile, it is only necessary to select and input necessary information on the facsimile transmission screen and input that facsimile transmission is to be performed. It is not necessary to check the phonebook or the like in which) is registered.

Further, according to the present invention, the application file for facsimile transmission is attached to an e-mail and
Since the data is transferred to the AX server, converted into a format that can be transmitted by FAX and transmitted to the destination FAX terminal, there is no need to provide a FAX machine on the caller side, and it is not necessary to print an application file.

[0030]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an automatic facsimile distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system uses client 1 and WWW FAX
The server 2 is communicably connected via a network. Client 1 and WWW FAX server 2
Are computer systems having communication functions, such as storage devices for storing programs and the like, input devices such as keyboards and mice, display devices such as CRTs and LCDs, communication devices such as modems for communicating with external devices, and printers. And a control device that receives input from an output device and an input device and controls operations of the communication device, the output device, and the display device.

The client 1 is a WWW FAX server 2
A predetermined WWW browser for requesting and obtaining predetermined information and predetermined e-mail software for exchanging e-mails (here, RFC2368 "The mailto URL schem
e "e-mail software)
r) is pre-installed. Here, RFC2368 is a part of RFC (Request For Comments) that describes all the standards of TCP / IP, which is an Internet protocol, and is used to specify an Internet mail address.

The WWW FAX server 2 has a WWW section 2a and a FAX section 2b. The WWW unit 2a transmits a facsimile transmission screen to the client 1 in response to a request from the WWW browser, and “mai” defined by RFC2368 between the WWW browser and the mailer in the client 1
exchange data using the "lto" function. FAX
The unit 2b creates a file that can be faxed (fax transmission file) from the e-mail transmitted from the client 1, and faxes the created fax transmission file.

In this automatic facsimile distribution system,
To perform FAX transmission, the user first activates the WWW browser of the client 1, inputs a user ID and a password, and makes a login request. If the user is an authorized user, the WWW FAX server 2 sends the F
The AX transmission screen is passed to the WWW browser, and the FAX transmission screen is displayed on the screen of the client 1. This F
On the AX transmission screen, a list of FAX transmission slips (hereinafter, referred to as transmission slips) information and a list of destination information are displayed, and a field for inputting a title, a comment, and the like, and a “FAX transmission” button are displayed. .

When the facsimile transmission screen is displayed, the user selects desired transmission form information and destination information on the facsimile transmission screen, inputs a title, a comment, and the like.
Press the “FAX transmission” button. When the “FAX transmission” button is pressed, the mailer starts up, and the “mailto” function automatically imports the transmission form information and destination information selected on the FAX transmission screen, and the input title and comment. Each is displayed at a predetermined position in the body of the e-mail. The user adds the fax created on the client 1 in advance to the email created in this way.
Attach the application file you want to send and WWW
Send it to FAX server 2.

In the WWW FAX server 2, when receiving the e-mail from the client 1, the FAX unit 2b creates a transmission form based on the contents of the text of the received e-mail, and creates the transmission form and the reception form. A file format that allows the attached file of the e-mail to be faxed (for example, TIFF (Tag Image File Forma
t)), and automatically fax it.

As described above, according to the automatic facsimile distribution system of the present embodiment, the user selects a transmission form, a destination, and inputs a comment and the like on the WWW browser,
After pressing the "X Send" button, the fax can be automatically sent to the destination facsimile machine simply by attaching the application file to be faxed to the mail.

Next, the configuration and operation of the automatic facsimile distribution system of the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the automatic facsimile distribution system shown in FIG. In the system of the present example, a client 1, a WWW FAX server 2, and a mail server 3 are connected to be able to communicate with each other via a network. The mail server 3 is a computer system having a known communication function. The client 1 and the WWWFAX server 2 have basically the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 1, but in this example, the e-mail transmitted by the client 1 is temporarily stored in the server 3 and the WWWFAX server 2 Fetches an e-mail addressed to itself from the server 3.

The WWW FAX server 2 has a WWW unit 2a,
It consists of a FAX section 2b and a DB section 2c. WWW section 2a
Provides a FAX transmission screen to the WWW browser, WWW
Transfers necessary data from the browser to a mailer compliant with RFC2368. The DB unit 2c includes a user information database 21 for managing user information using the WWW FAX server 2, a destination information database 22 for managing a facsimile destination of the user,
A transmission form database 23 for managing transmission forms used for X transmission. The FAX unit 2b includes a mailbox management unit 24, a mail data analysis unit 25, a FAX data creation unit 26, and a communication management unit 27.

The mail box management unit 24 periodically polls the mail box of the mail server 3 to check whether there is any mail addressed to the WWW FAX server 2. If the mail exists, the mail data is taken out of the mailbox and passed to the mail data analysis unit 25.

The mail data analysis unit 25 analyzes the contents of the mail data passed from the mailbox management unit 24, extracts data necessary for FAX transmission and an attached application file, and extracts the data from the FAX data creation unit 2.
Pass the processing to 6.

The FAX data creation unit 26 makes an inquiry to the DB unit 2c based on the data passed from the mail data analysis unit 25, acquires necessary information, and creates a transmission form file. Further, the FAX data creation unit 26 converts the created transmission form file and application file into a TIFF format FAX transmission file, and passes this to the communication management unit 27.

The communication management unit 27 has an F prepared in advance.
The FAX transmission file in the TIFF format passed from the FAX data creation unit 26 is sent out to the FAX line 4 using the AX transmission dedicated software.

Next, the facsimile transmission operation of the automatic facsimile distribution system of this embodiment will be described in detail. FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a facsimile transmission procedure of the automatic facsimile distribution system illustrated in FIG. 2. The facsimile transmission procedure will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The FAX transmission procedure is divided into two processes: creation of an e-mail for facsimile transmission by the client 1 and facsimile transmission of the e-mail for facsimile transmission by the WWW FAX server 2.

(1) Creation of E-mail for FAX Transmission:
First, the user inputs a user ID and a password on the client 1 to make a login request. In the WWW FAX server 2 that has received the login request, the WWW unit 2a searches the user information database 21 based on the user ID and the password passed from the client 1, and determines whether the user who has made the login request is a valid user. to decide. In the user information database 21, for example, “user ID”, “password”,
“Name”, “Company name”, “Phone number”, “FAX number” and “Mail address” are registered in advance, and WW
When receiving the login request, the W unit 2a determines whether the user is a valid user based on whether the user ID and the password passed from the client 1 match the data registered in the user information database 21. I do. If the user who made the login request is a valid user, WWW
The unit 2a provides a FAX transmission screen to the WWW browser of the client 1. The processing up to this point is the processing in step S1 shown in FIG. In order to further enhance security, it is possible to confirm whether the user is a legitimate user by using information such as biometrics.

When the FAX transmission screen is provided to the WWW browser, the FAX transmission screen is displayed on the screen of the client 1. On the FAX transmission screen, a list of transmission form information and a list of destination information are displayed, and a column for inputting a title and a comment and a “FAX transmission” button are displayed. The user selects desired transmission form information from the list of transmission form information on the FAX transmission screen, selects desired destination information from the list of destination information, and inputs information such as a title and a comment.

When the user presses the “FAX transmission” button to activate the mailer after the input of all the information for FAX transmission is completed, the “mailto” function causes
X: transmission form information and destination information selected on the transmission screen,
The entered titles and comments are automatically included in the body of the e-mail. The processing up to this point is the processing of step S2 shown in FIG. Here, the mailer activation is FA
This is done by pressing (specifying with the mouse and clicking) the "FAX transmission" button displayed on the X transmission screen.
The mailer may be activated when a specific key input is performed on an input device such as a keyboard.

The user attaches a previously created facsimile transmission application file to the e-mail created as described above, and sends it to the WWW FAX server 2 by e-mail (e-mail for facsimile transmission). To the mail server 3. The processing so far is the processing of step S3 shown in FIG. The facsimile transmission application file can be created by creating or editing ordinary text or images on a computer.

(2) FAX of E-mail for FAX Transmission
Transmission: The mail transmitted to the mail server 3 in the above-described steps S1 to S3 is stored in the mailbox. The WWW FAX server 2 takes out the facsimile transmission e-mail (mail addressed to its own server) stored in the mailbox of the mail server 3 as follows, and transmits it by facsimile.

The mailbox management unit 24 periodically monitors the mailbox of the mail server 3 and confirms the presence of a mail from the client 1 addressed to the WWW FAX server 2 (step S4 in FIG. 2). If a mail addressed to the WWWFAX server 2 exists in the mailbox of the mail server 3, the mailbox management unit 24
Retrieves the mail and passes it to the mail data analysis unit 25 (step S5 in FIG. 2).

The mail data analysis unit 25 extracts the mail sender address, title, comment, user ID, transmission slip number to be used, FAX destination ID, and attached file from the mail passed from the mailbox management unit 24.
It is passed to the mail data creation unit 26 (step S6 in FIG. 2).

The mail data creation unit 26 creates a FAX transmission file based on the information passed from the mail data analysis unit 25. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a facsimile transmission file by the mail data creation unit 26. Hereinafter, the procedure for creating a FAX transmission file will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The mail data creation unit 26 includes a mail sender address, a transmission slip number, a fax destination ID, a title,
When a comment, a user ID, a transmission form number to be used, a facsimile destination ID, and an attached file are received from the mail data analysis unit 25 (step S11), first, the user information database 21 is searched from the user ID, and user information (name, A company name, a telephone number, a FAX number, etc.) are obtained (step S12). Next, the transmission slip database 22 is searched from the transmission slip number to acquire the image file of the transmission slip to be used and the coordinates for combining the character strings (step S1).
3). Next, the destination information database 23 is searched from the destination ID of the facsimile to obtain the destination information (name, company name, telephone number, facsimile number, etc.) (step S14). As soon as all of the processes in steps S12 to S14 are completed, the transmission file is created by combining the data (character string) acquired in the processes in steps S12 and S14 with the image file selected in the process in step S13 ( Step S15). Next, the FAX transmission file is created by converting the created transmission form file and the attached file of the mail acquired from the mail data analysis unit 25 into TIFF, which is a file format that allows FAX transmission (step S1).
6). Lastly, the destination fax number acquired in step S14 and the fax transmission file created in step S16 are passed to the communication management unit 27.

The communication management unit 27 includes the mail data creation unit 2
When the destination FAX number and the FAX transmission file are received from FAX 6, the received FAX transmission file is transmitted by facsimile to the facsimile terminal having the destination FAX number (step S8 in FIG. 2). FAX of this FAX transmission file
For transmission, software dedicated to fax transmission prepared in advance is used.

Next, the facsimile transmission operation of the automatic facsimile distribution system shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to a more specific example.

FIG. 5 is an example of user information registered in the user information database 21. As the user information, “user ID”, “password”, “name”, “company name”, “telephone number”, “FAX number”, and “mail address” are registered. In the example of FIG. As an example, “user ID” is “aaa”, “password”
Is "***", "Name" is "####", "Company name" is "@", and "Phone number" is "99-9999-TTT".
T "and" FAX number "are" 99-9999-FFF "
F ", and the user information whose" mail address "is" aaa@ccc.ddd "is registered.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the destination information registered in the destination information database 22. Destination information database 2
2, destination information ("destination ID", "name", "company name", "telephone number", "FAX number") concerning a plurality of destinations is registered for each user. In the example of FIG. 6, as an example, as the destination information regarding the user whose user ID is “aaa” shown in FIG. 5, “Destination ID” is “001”.
~ About "010", "Name",
Information of “company name”, “telephone number”, and “FAX number” is registered. For example, where the "destination ID" is "003", the "name" is "&&&" and the "company name" is "$".
＄ ”,“ Phone number ”is“ 00-0000-TTTT ”,
Information in which “FAX number” is “00-0000-FFFF” is registered.

FIG. 7 shows an example of information on a transmission form registered in the transmission form database 23 and usable for FAX transmission. In this example, transmission slip numbers “1001” to “100”
The information of eight types of transmission slips of "8" is registered, and information of an image file name, sender name coordinates, and sender address coordinates is registered for each transmission slip number. Here, the image file name indicates the name of the file in which the transmission form style image is stored, and the sender name coordinates and the sender address coordinates indicate the name and address of the sender in the transmission form style image, respectively. Position (coordinates).

Now, when a user who is a legitimate user inputs his / her user ID “aaa” and password “***” on the client 1 and makes a login request, W
In the WWWAX server 2, the WWW unit 2a inquires the user information database 21 of the DB unit 2c to confirm whether the user who has made the login request is a legitimate user. As shown in FIG. 5, the user information database 2
In “1”, since “***” is registered as the password of the user with the user ID “aaa”, the WWW unit 2a determines that the user who has made the login request is a legitimate user, and displays the FAX transmission screen on the client. 1 to the WWW browser.

In the client 1, the WWW unit 2a sends
When the AX transmission screen is provided to the WWW browser, the provided FAX transmission screen is displayed on the display screen. The FAX transmission screen includes ten pieces of destination information with destination IDs “001” to “010” acquired from the destination information database 22 shown in FIG. 6 and a transmission form acquired from the transmission form database 23 shown in FIG. Numbers "1001" to "100"
8), eight kinds of image samples (transmission form information), a field for inputting a title and a comment, and a “FAX transmission” button are displayed.

Here, the user specifies the destination ID “003” and the transmission slip number “1002” to be used, describes “XXXXX” in the title and “YYYYY” in the comment, and then presses the “FAX transmission” button. I do. Then, a mailer is started on the client 1 and “M” specified by RFC2368
ailto ”function, the destination of the activated mailer is W
"Fax@ccc.dd" which is the e-mail address of the WWWAX server
d ", the email title is" XXXXX ", and the email body is" Comment = YYYYY, UserID = aaa, SendID = 003, FaxShee
The description “t = 1002” is automatically added. The user
The application file (file name vvvvv.www) to be faxed is attached to this e-mail and sent.
The e-mail created and transmitted in this manner is stored in the mailbox of the mail server 3.

The mailbox management unit 24 of the WWW FAX server 2 periodically monitors the mailbox of the mail server 3, and when a mail addressed to “fax@ccc.ddd” is stored in the mailbox, the mail is Is taken out of the mailbox and passed to the mail data analysis unit 25.

The mail data analysis unit 25 acquires the mail sender address “aaa@ccc.ddd” and the mail title “XXXXX” from the mail addressed to “fax@ccc.ddd” received from the mailbox management unit 24. And the body of the email "Comment = YYYYY, UserID = aaa, SendID = 00
3, FaxSheet = 1002 ”, comment“ YYYYY ”, user I
D “aaa”, destination ID “003”, transmission slip number “10
02 ", and the attached file" vvvvv.www "is extracted, and the information is passed to the FAX data creation unit 26.

The FAX data creation unit 26 creates a FAX transmission file in the following procedure based on each information received from the mail data analysis unit 25. First, the user information database 21 shown in FIG. 5 is searched with the user ID “aaa” received from the mail data analysis unit 25, and the corresponding user name “###”, company name “\\\”, telephone number Acquire "99-9999-TTTT" and FAX number "99-9999-FFFF". Next, the destination information database 22 shown in FIG. 6 is searched with the destination ID “003” of the fax received from the mail data analysis unit 25, and the name “&&
&", Company name" $$$ ", phone number" 00-0000-TTTT ", FA
Get the X number “00-0000-FFFF”. Next, the transmission slip number “10” used from the mail data analysis unit 25 is used.
02 "in the transmission form database 23 shown in FIG.
The image file name “1002.FILE” of the transmission form to be used and the coordinate information for writing data to the file are acquired. Then, the coordinates of the file “1002.FILE” (35,5
9) the sender ’s name, the sender ’s address at coordinates (120,50),
Information is written one after another to create a transmission form file. The transmission slip file “1002. FILE” and the attached file “vvvvv.www” in which the information on the sender and the receiver are written at predetermined positions (coordinates) in this manner
Is converted to TIFF, which is a file format that can be faxed, and the file names are changed to "FILE0001.TIFF", "FIL
E0002.TIFF ”.

The facsimile data creation unit 26 sends the transmission files “FILE0001.TIFF”, “FILE0002.TI”
FF "and the destination FAX number" 99-9999-FFFF "are passed to the communication management unit 27. The communication management unit 27 uses predetermined FAX transmission software prepared in advance by the communication management unit, and transmits the transmission file “FILE0001.TIF” received from the FAX data creation unit 26 to the destination FAX number “99-9999-FFFF”.
F ”and“ FILE0002.TIFF ”by fax.

(Program) In the facsimile automatic distribution system according to the above-described embodiment, a series of processing for facsimile transmission of an application file (step S1 in FIG. 2)
To S8, steps S11 to S17 in FIG. 6)
Is a program (including browser and e-mail software)
Control. Recording media on which this program is recorded include a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, and the like.

Basically, when an input requesting access to the FAX server computer is made, this program sends the FAX server computer a FAX
First processing for requesting provision of a FAX transmission screen capable of selectively inputting destination information and transmission form image information required for transmission, and F provided from the FAX server computer
When the AX transmission screen is displayed, and the destination information and the information of the transmission form image are selectively input on the displayed FAX transmission screen and an input to perform the FAX transmission is made, the input information is transmitted. And creating an e-mail in which the information of the user who is the sender is incorporated in the text, attaching at least one application file for facsimile transmission prepared in advance to the e-mail, and transmitting the e-mail to the facsimile server computer. And causing the client computer to execute the second process, and in response to a request to provide a fax transmission screen from the client computer,
A third process for providing the requested FAX transmission screen to the client computer, and upon receiving an e-mail addressed to the own FAX server computer transmitted from the client computer, receiving the destination information from the text of the received e-mail. Then, the information of the transmission form image and the user information are taken out, a transmission form file necessary for FAX transmission is created based on the taken out information, and the transmission form file and the application file attached to the received e-mail are copied. Each of them is converted into a predetermined file format to create an FA transmission file, and the F
A fourth process of faxing the A transmission file to the FAX number specified by the destination information extracted from the body of the electronic mail is executed by the FAX server computer.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The user can transmit the application file to the destination FAX terminal only by a simple operation such as selecting and inputting necessary information on the FAX transmission screen and inputting that the FAX transmission be performed. There is an effect that a better product can be provided.

Also, according to the present invention, a fax is sent to the sender.
Since there is no need to provide a terminal and no need to print an application file, an advantage can be provided in terms of cost that is more advantageous than the conventional one.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an automatic facsimile delivery system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the automatic facsimile delivery system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an F of the automatic facsimile distribution system shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an AX transmission procedure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of creating a facsimile transmission file by a mail data creating unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of user information registered in the user information database shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of destination information registered in the destination information database illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is registered in the transmission form database shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of information on a transmission form that can be used for FAX transmission.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile message conversion device for an electronic mail device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-217069.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Client 2 WWW FAX Server 2a WWW Unit 2b FAX Unit 2c DB Unit 21 User Information Database 22 Destination Information Database 23 Transmission Form Database 24 Mailbox Management Unit 25 Mail Data Analysis Unit 26 FAX Data Creation Unit 27 Communication Management Unit

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. An automatic facsimile distribution system in which a client terminal and a facsimile server are connected to each other via a network so as to be able to communicate with each other, wherein the client terminal inputs an instruction to request access to the facsimile server by a user. Is performed, the FAX server requests the FAX server to provide a FAX transmission screen capable of selectively inputting destination information and transmission form image information required for FAX transmission. FA
In response to a request to provide an X transmission screen, the requested FAX
Providing a transmission screen to the client terminal, the client terminal displaying a facsimile transmission screen provided from the facsimile server, and selecting the destination information and the information of the transmission form image on the displayed facsimile transmission screen When a fax transmission is performed and an input to send a fax is made, an e-mail is automatically created in which the input information and the information of the user who is the sender are incorporated in the text, and the e-mail is included in the e-mail. At least one previously created F
An application file for AX transmission is attached and transmitted to the FAX server.
When an e-mail addressed to the X server is received, the destination information, the information of the transmission form image and the information of the user are extracted from the text of the received e-mail, and a transmission form file necessary for FAX transmission is extracted based on the extracted information. At the same time, the transmission form file and the application file attached to the received e-mail were respectively converted into predetermined file formats to create an FA transmission file, and the FA transmission file was extracted from the body of the e-mail. An automatic facsimile distribution system for performing facsimile transmission to a facsimile number specified by destination information. 2. The fax server is a database that manages information of users who use the fax server.
The client terminal has a user information database in which different user IDs and passwords are registered for each user, and the client terminal transmits a user ID and a password input by the user when a request for providing a FAX transmission screen is transmitted to the FAX server. Upon receiving the user ID and the password from the client terminal, the server determines whether the user is a valid user based on whether the received user ID and password are registered in the user information database, and determines whether the user is a valid user. The facsimile automatic distribution system according to claim 1, wherein a facsimile transmission screen is provided to the client terminal only when the user is a user. 3. A FAX server in which a plurality of destination IDs are registered for each user, a destination information database in which information of facsimile-transmittable destinations is registered for each destination ID, and a plurality of transmission form numbers are registered. FAX for each of these transmission slip numbers
A transmission form database in which image information necessary to create a transmission form used for transmission is further registered;
If the user who has requested the provision of the X transmission screen is a valid user, all the destination IDs registered in the destination information database of the user, information on the destinations, and all the registrations in the transmission form database A fax transmission screen on which the transmission slip number and the image information thereof are respectively displayed as list information and a desired information can be selectively input from the list information to the client terminal. Item 3. An automatic facsimile delivery system according to Item 2. 4. The client terminal selects and inputs a desired destination ID and transmission form number from the list information on the displayed fax transmission screen, and inputs a user ID.
When an input to perform FAX transmission is made, an e-mail is created in which information including the inputted destination ID, transmission form number and user ID is taken in the text, and an application file is attached to the e-mail. When the FAX server receives the e-mail addressed to the own FAX server transmitted from the client terminal, the FAX server extracts the destination ID, transmission form number and user ID from the text of the received e-mail. Take out, take out destination I
D, a destination information database, a transmission form database and a user information database are respectively searched based on the transmission form number and the user ID to obtain the destination information, the transmission form image and the user information, and the FAX number of the destination is obtained. The automatic facsimile distribution system according to claim 3. 5. A fax transmitted from a client terminal
A mail server having a mailbox for storing an e-mail addressed to the server; wherein the facsimile server periodically checks the mailbox of the mail server, and the e-mail addressed to the own facsimile server exists in the mailbox. The facsimile automatic delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electronic mail is configured to receive the electronic mail from the mail server. 6. An automatic facsimile distribution method performed in a system in which a client terminal and a FAX server are communicably connected via a network, wherein the client terminal requests a user to access the FAX server. A first step of requesting the FAX server to provide a FAX transmission screen capable of selectively inputting destination information required for FAX transmission and information of a transmission form image; The FAX server receives the FA from the client terminal.
In response to a request to provide an X transmission screen, the requested FAX
A second step of providing a transmission screen to the client terminal, wherein the client terminal displays a facsimile transmission screen provided from the facsimile server, and the destination information and the transmission form are displayed on the displayed facsimile transmission screen. When the information of the image is selectively input and an input indicating that the facsimile transmission is performed is made, an e-mail in which the input information and the information of the user who is the sender are incorporated in the body is created, and the e-mail is generated. A third step of attaching at least one application file for facsimile transmission prepared in advance to the mail and transmitting the file to the facsimile server, wherein the facsimile server transmits the electronic mail to the own facsimile server transmitted from the client terminal. Upon receiving the mail, the destination information and the information of the transmission form image from the body of the received e-mail and User information, and creates a transmission slip file required for FAX transmission based on the extracted information, and converts the transmission slip file and the application file attached to the received e-mail into predetermined file formats, respectively. Converting the FA transmission file into a FAX number designated by the destination information extracted from the body of the e-mail, and transmitting the FAX file to the FAX number specified by the destination information. Method. 7. The fax server is a database that manages information of users who use the fax server,
A fifth user information database having a user information database in which different user IDs and passwords are registered for each user, wherein the client terminal transmits the user ID and password input by the user at the time of requesting the provision of the FAX transmission screen to the FAX server; Receiving the user ID and the password transmitted by the client terminal in the fifth step, and determining whether the received user ID and the password are registered in the user information database. And a sixth step of determining whether the user is a valid user. Only when the provision of the fax transmission screen in the second step is determined to be a valid user in the sixth step, 7. The file according to claim 6, wherein Shimiri automatic delivery method. 8. A facsimile server, a plurality of destination IDs are registered for each user, a destination information database in which information of facsimile-transmittable destinations is registered for each destination ID, and a plurality of transmission form numbers are registered. FAX for each of these transmission slip numbers
A transmission form database in which image information necessary for creating a transmission form to be used for transmission is further registered, and when the second step is determined to be a valid user in the sixth step On the other hand, all the destination IDs registered in the destination information database of the user, information of the destinations, and all transmission form numbers and image information registered in the transmission form database are displayed as list information, respectively. 8. The automatic facsimile distribution method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of providing a facsimile transmission screen on which the desired information can be selectively input from the list information to the client terminal. 9. A third step is to select and input a desired destination ID and transmission form number from the list information on the displayed fax transmission screen, input a user ID, and
When an input to perform AX transmission is made, an e-mail is created in which information including the input destination ID, transmission form number, and user ID is incorporated in the text, and an application file is attached to the e-mail. And transmitting the message to the FAX server. The fourth step is to transmit the destination I from the text of the e-mail addressed to the own FAX server transmitted in the third step.
D, the transmission form number and the user ID are taken out, the destination information database, the transmission form database and the user information database are respectively searched based on the retrieved destination ID, the transmission form number and the user ID, and the destination information, the transmission form image, and the user are retrieved. Obtain information and create a transmission form file necessary for FAX transmission, and convert the transmission form file and the application file attached to the received e-mail into a predetermined file format to create an FA transmission file, The facsimile automatic distribution method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of facsimile transmitting the FA transmission file to a facsimile number included in the acquired destination information. 10. A client terminal connected to a facsimile server via a network so as to be able to communicate with each other, and when a user inputs an input requesting access to the facsimile server, the facsimile server , F
A request for providing a FAX transmission screen capable of selectively inputting destination information and transmission slip image information required for AX transmission, and a FAX provided from the client terminal in response to the request.
A browser for displaying a transmission screen; and, on the facsimile transmission screen displayed by the browser, when the destination information and the information of the transmission form image are selectively input and a facsimile transmission is performed, the input is performed. Automatically creates an e-mail in which the received information and the information of the user who is the sender are incorporated in the text, and attaches at least one pre-created facsimile transmission application file to the e-mail, A client terminal having a mailer for sending to a server. 11. A facsimile server connected to a client terminal via a network so as to be communicable with each other, and when receiving an access request from the client terminal, destination information and transmission required for facsimile transmission to the client terminal. Facsimile transmission screen providing means for providing a facsimile transmission screen capable of selectively inputting information of a vote image; and information on the destination information and transmission form image input from the client terminal on the facsimile transmission screen, and a sender. Is received in the body of the message, and when an e-mail attached with at least one application file for facsimile transmission is received, the information of the destination information and the transmission slip image and the information of the transmission form image are obtained from the body of the received e-mail. Retrieves user information and transmits necessary for fax transmission based on the retrieved information As well as creating a file, to create a FA transmit files, applications files attached to the e-mail received the with the transmission form file each converted into a predetermined file format, the F
And FAX transmission means for performing FAX transmission of the A transmission file to a FAX number designated by destination information extracted from the body of the electronic mail.
X server. 12. A database for managing user information, comprising: a user information database in which a different user ID and password are registered for each user; Requesting the user ID and password of the user who requested the access, and determining whether the user is a valid user based on whether the user ID and password transmitted from the client terminal in response to the request are registered in the user information database. 12. The fax server according to claim 11, wherein the fax server determines whether the user is a valid user and provides a fax transmission screen to the client terminal only when the user is a valid user. 13. A destination information database in which a plurality of destination IDs are registered for each user, destination information in which facsimile transmission is possible is registered for each destination ID, and a plurality of transmission form numbers are registered. Every F
A transmission form database in which image information necessary for creating a transmission form used for AX transmission is further registered; and a FAX transmission screen providing unit, when the user who has requested access is a valid user, All the destination IDs registered in the destination information database of the user and the information of the destinations and all the transmission form numbers and the image information registered in the transmission form database are displayed as list information, respectively, and 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a FAX transmission screen on which desired information can be selectively input from the list information is provided to the client terminal.
AX server. 14. A facsimile transmitting means, wherein a destination ID, a transmission form number and a user ID input on a facsimile transmission screen are fetched from a client terminal into a text, and at least one facsimile transmission application file is attached. Receiving the received e-mail, retrieves the destination ID, transmission form number and user ID from the text of the received e-mail, and based on the retrieved destination ID, transmission form number and user ID, a destination information database and transmission form database 14. The fax server according to claim 13, wherein the fax server obtains the destination information, the transmission form image, and the user information by respectively searching the user information database and the fax number of the destination. 15. A facsimile transmission means for monitoring a mailbox of a mail server having a mailbox for storing an e-mail transmitted from a client terminal,
The electronic mail system according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein when an electronic mail addressed to the own fax server exists in the mailbox, the electronic mail is received from the mail server. FAX server. 16. When an input requesting access to a FAX server computer is input, destination information and information on a transmission form image required for FAX transmission can be selectively input to the FAX server computer. A first process of requesting provision of a fax transmission screen; displaying a fax transmission screen provided by the fax server computer; and selecting the destination information and transmission slip image information on the displayed fax transmission screen. When a fax transmission is performed and an input indicating that the fax is to be transmitted is made, an electronic mail in which the input information and the information of the user who is the sender are incorporated in the body of the electronic mail is created, and the electronic mail is created in advance in the electronic mail. A second process of attaching at least one application file for fax transmission and transmitting the file to the fax server computer. Be executed by the Ian preparative computer, in response to the request for providing FAX transmission screen from the client computer, a third process for providing the requested FAX transmission screen to the client computer, the self-FAX transmitted from the client computer
When an e-mail addressed to the server computer is received, the destination information, the information of the transmission form image and the information of the user are extracted from the text of the received e-mail, and the transmission form file necessary for FAX transmission is extracted based on the extracted information. At the same time, the transmission form file and the application file attached to the received e-mail were respectively converted into predetermined file formats to create an FA transmission file, and the FA transmission file was extracted from the body of the e-mail. And a fourth process for performing facsimile transmission to a facsimile number designated by the destination information by the facsimile server computer.