JP2002318760A - Server device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a server device capable of referring to image data corresponding to the ability of a client PC. SOLUTION: A facsimile server device 20 is a server device connected through a communication line such as LAN 70 to client PC 30-1 to 30-N and a hard disk drive 9 is provided with a program area 9a equipped with an image converting function for storing image data received or scanned by the facsimile equipment 20 and converting the images of the stored image data to the form of prescribed image data on the basis of instruction message data from the client device, a display function for performing the thumbnail display of the stored image data and a download function for downloading the converted image data to the client PC 30-1 to 30-N.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a server device having a web server function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a facsimile server device connected to a communication line such as a public telephone line and having a facsimile transmission / reception function and a client device such as a personal computer are connected to a local area network (hereinafter referred to as "L").
It is called AN. A facsimile system connected via a) has been put to practical use. In this conventional facsimile system, a facsimile server device transmits image data to a destination via a communication line by transmitting a transmission instruction signal including image data and destination information from a client device to a facsimile server device. On the other hand, when the facsimile server device receives the image data, the client device receives the image data by transmitting the image data to a predetermined client device.

In the prior art, a facsimile server device is provided with a web (WEB) server function so that a client personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a client PC) has a browser (for example, via a communication line such as the Internet or a LAN). A reading program for reading and displaying data stored in the WEB server device, or for inputting, setting, or monitoring and controlling the data.) Means for holding image data received by facsimile, A reference has been made.

[0004]

However, a PDA (Personal Digit) which is a small personal computer is used.
al Assistant) and their client PC
Cannot refer to the image data according to the ability of the user.
For example, a PDA can handle only a TIFF file, but cannot receive image data such as a display when receiving image data in the MH format.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a server device capable of referring to image data according to the capability of a client PC.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a server device connected to a client device via a communication line stores image data received or scanned, and stores the image data from the client device. HTTP server means having image conversion means for converting the stored image data into a predetermined image data format based on the instruction message data is provided.

[0007] In the server device, the server device is preferably a facsimile server device, and further includes a facsimile server unit that receives or scans image data and outputs the image data to the HTTP server unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server device connected to a client device via a communication line, the server device being received or scanned based on instruction message data from the client device, and then another server device. And image conversion means for converting the stored image data into a predetermined image data format.

[0009] In the server device, the conversion means preferably further comprises a download means for downloading the image data, which has been subjected to image conversion, to the client device based on instruction message data from the client device. And

In the server device, the conversion means preferably converts the stored image data into at least one of a sheet size, a resolution, an encoding method, and a file format. It is characterized by doing.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile system including a facsimile server device 20 having a Web server (also referred to as a WWW server) function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Here, the Web server function refers to client PCs 30-1 to 30-N (hereinafter, collectively referred to as 30) for data described in, for example, an HTML language for a so-called homepage. ) To execute a predetermined HTTP task.
The HTTP task includes, for example, a task of transferring database data to the client PCs 30-1 to 30-N and displaying the data, and executing a predetermined process such as conversion and download of image data format. The facsimile system according to this embodiment includes a plurality of N client PCs 3
0-1 to 30-N, a facsimile server device 20 connected to the public telephone network 80 via the public telephone line L,
The mail server device 50 and a router device 60 connected to the Internet 90 are connected via a LAN 70.

The facsimile server device 20 according to this embodiment is a server device having a facsimile function connected to the client PCs 30-1 to 30-N via a communication line such as a LAN 70 or a public telephone network 80, and has a facsimile function. The image data received or scanned by the server device 20 is stored, and each client PC 30-1
30-N, an image conversion function of converting the stored image data into a predetermined image data format based on the instruction message data using the HTTP browser, and displaying the stored image data as a thumbnail. The hard disk drive 9 is characterized in that a program area 9a having a display function and a download function of downloading the converted image data to the client PCs 30-1 to 30-N is provided. here,
In the image conversion function, the stored image data is converted into a paper size, a resolution, an encoding method, and a file format on an HTTP browser of the client PCs 30-1 to 30-N as shown in FIG. Image conversion of at least one of the above.

In FIG. 1, a mail server device 50 comprises:
When received from a destination mail server device (not shown) via the Internet 90 and the LAN 70 and the received e-mail includes image data encoded in MIME format, the e-mail including the image data is held. I do. At this time, the e-mail including the image data is transferred to the facsimile server device 20 and subjected to decryption processing, and then the image data is held in the image memory 8 of the facsimile server device 20.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the client PC 30 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, a client PC 30 is a known personal computer, and executes processes such as generation and recording of image data and character data. In the present embodiment, the client PC 3
0 is used, for example, as a terminal device for transmitting or receiving facsimile image data. Main control unit 10
1 is specifically configured by a CPU, which is connected to the following hardware units via a bus 113 to control them and execute various software functions to be described later. In the client PC 30, an image reading unit 102 and an image recording unit 103 are provided as an option. The image reading unit 102 reads an original with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data converted into binary black and white. The image recording unit 103 is, for example, a printer device of an electrophotographic system or the like, and prints out and records image data received from another facsimile server device by facsimile communication as a hard copy, or records character data. The display unit 104 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operation state of the client PC 30 and displays image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data. The operation unit 105 is, for example, a keyboard for inputting character data and instruction commands.

The ROM 106 stores the client PC 3
0 are stored in advance, which are various software programs necessary for the operation of No. 0 and executed by the main control unit 101.
The RAM 107 includes an SRAM, a DRAM, an SDRA
M is used as a working area of the main control unit 101 and stores temporary data generated when the program is executed.

Further, the hard disk drive 108
Is a storage device having a built-in recording medium, and stores an application program to be executed and an image memory. For example, a browser program for accessing WWW web data is stored in a browser program area 108a in the hard disk drive 108. By instructing and executing the browser program in the browser program area 108a from the operation unit 105,
H in the facsimile server device 20 via the LAN 70
An HTTP request message for executing the TTP task is transmitted, and an HTTP response message is received in response to the HTTP request message. Alternatively, another web server device (not shown) is transmitted via the router device 60 and the Internet 90. ), And transmits an HTTP request message for executing another HTTP task by operating using the operation unit 105. In response to the HTTP request message, an HTTP response message is received. Information and data are downloaded and stored in, for example, the hard disk drive 108. Note that LA
The N interface 112 is connected to the LAN 70,
While receiving signals and data from the LAN 70,
Signals and data are transmitted to the CPU 70 to perform interface processing such as signal conversion and protocol conversion.

FIG. 3 shows the facsimile server apparatus 2 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a 0. In FIG. 3, the facsimile server device 20 has a web server function, an image conversion function, an image thumbnail display function, and an image data download function in addition to a conventional facsimile communication function such as the G3 system. The main control unit 1 is specifically a CPU
And is connected to the following hardware units via the bus 13 to control them and execute various software functions to be described later.

The image reading section 2 reads an original with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data converted to binary black and white. The image recording unit 3 is, for example, a printer device of an electrophotographic system or the like, and prints out a hard copy of image data received from another facsimile device or a facsimile device by facsimile communication and records it, or records character data.

The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a CRT display. The display unit 4 displays the operation state of the facsimile server device 20, and outputs image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data. Is displayed. The operation unit 5 includes character keys, dial numeric keys, speed dial keys, one-touch dial keys, and the like necessary for operating the facsimile server device 20.
And various function keys. The display unit 4 may be configured to be a touch panel type so that some or all of the various keys of the operation unit 5 can be substituted.

The ROM 6 stores various software programs necessary for the operation of the facsimile server device 20 and executed by the main control unit 1 in advance. R
The AM 7 is composed of an SRAM, a DRAM, an SDRAM, or the like, and is used as a working area of the main control unit 1 and stores temporary data generated when a program is executed. When a flash memory is used as the RAM 7, even if the power is cut off due to a power failure, a movement of the apparatus, or the like, the contents of the data are not lost. The image memory 8 is composed of a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted or received image data. Further, the hard disk drive 9 is a storage device having a built-in recording medium, and includes a program area 9a for storing a web server function for a web server, an image conversion function, an image thumbnail display function, and an image data download function.
In the present embodiment, the hard disk drive 9 is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a RAM or a compact flash (registered trademark) memory.

The fax modem 10 is connected to a public telephone line L
And has the function of a fax modem for normal facsimile communication. An NCU (Network Control Unit) 11 is a hardware circuit that performs closing and opening operations such as a DC loop of an analog public telephone line L and has an automatic dial function. To the public telephone line L. Here, the NCU 11 detects an ID receiving terminal activation signal and a normal telephone call signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service, and transmits a primary response signal and a secondary response signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service as necessary. can do. The NCU 11 may be connected to a baseband transmission type digital line (for example, an ISDN line) via a predetermined terminal adapter and a DSU (Digital Service Unit).

Further, the LAN interface 12
While being connected to the LAN 70 and receiving signals and data from the LAN 70, it transmits signals and data to the LAN 70 and executes interface processing such as signal conversion and protocol conversion.

The facsimile server device 20 configured as described above has a web server function such as an ordinary G3 system,
It has an image conversion function, an image thumbnail display function, and an image data download function. In the facsimile communication function, each of the client PCs 30-1 to 30-N
The dot image data transferred from the printer or the dot image data read by the image reading unit 2 is coded by software in accordance with a coding method such as MH, MR, MMR, etc., which is defined in the standard of facsimile communication, and then the other party. While the data is transmitted to the destination facsimile device, the encoded data received from the destination facsimile device is also decoded into image data by software.
The image data is stored in the image memory 8 and printed by the image recording unit 3 as needed.

In this embodiment, the facsimile encoding and decoding processes are executed by the facsimile server device 20, but the client PCs 30-1 to 30-N
May have a program for facsimile encoding and decoding processing, and the facsimile encoding and decoding processing may be executed by each of the client PCs 30-1 to 30-N. In this case, the image data transmitted through the LAN 70 and the image data stored in the image memory 8 are coded image data. This encoded image data is
Not limited to facsimile encoded image data, GIF, J
The image data may be in a predetermined image data format such as PEG or PDF, and the facsimile server device 20 may convert the image data in these formats into a facsimile encoding format.

FIG. 4 shows the facsimile server apparatus 2 of FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a screen of “received facsimile image data” displayed when accessing the web server of No. 0; The image data received by the facsimile server device 20 via, for example, the public telephone network 80 or scanned and read by the image reading unit 2 is stored in the hard disk drive 9, and then a notification report to that effect is sent by e-mail. Is notified together with the URL to be referred to the corresponding client PC 30 in the following format. When the notified client PC 30 clicks the URL to be referred to,
The web browser is automatically started, and a corresponding display screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, for example. FIG. 4 shows a list of the contents of “received facsimile image data”, and shows the reception date and time, the telephone number of the transmission source, the number of pages, and the read / unread status of each image data. Here, when the read or unread state is clicked, the display screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed.

FIG. 5 shows a screen displayed when the user clicks on “read” or “unread” in “received facsimile image data” in FIG. 4. The received facsimile image data is displayed as a thumbnail and downloaded. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a screen for generating an instruction signal for instructing conversion of an image format at the time.

When the thumbnail display of the image on the fourth line in FIG. 5 is clicked, the image data of the two pages is displayed on the screen in a thumbnail format. In the image conversion column, for each page, you can specify whether to download or not, and specify the paper size, resolution, encoding method, and file format. Is.). Here, after instructing the image conversion format,
When the download column at the bottom is clicked, the corresponding image data is image-converted by the image conversion function provided in the program area 9a in FIG. 3 and downloaded to the client PC.

As described above, when the HTTP task of the facsimile server device 20 is executed from each client PC 30, an HTTP (Hypertext Transcript) known as a procedure is used.
sferProtocol).

In this embodiment, the facsimile server device 20 shown in FIG. 3 has an HTTP server function,
A server device with multiple functions such as functions, e-mail functions, and print functions is configured, and received facsimile image data and e-mail are stored in the server.
It is possible to access the WEB browser on the client PC 30 to browse or download those received originals and use them. In this case, the user can browse or download the original by creating a link with the title of the received image data as a key sort, thumbnail display, transmission source information and the like, and clicking on the link.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
The user can select the page number of the document to download or format conversion on the GI program, and input the paper size, resolution, and encoding method from the browser to the server side. Can convert and download images. In this way, weak mobile terminals and PDAs
For example, when acquiring data for itself from outside, the size can be reduced, or only necessary parts can be acquired.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the facsimile server device 20 is connected to the client PC.
A server device with a facsimile function, which is connected to 30-1 to 30-N via a communication line such as a LAN 70 or a public telephone network 80, and the facsimile server device 2
0, stores the received or scanned image data, and converts the stored image data into a predetermined image data format based on instruction message data using an HTTP browser from each of the client PCs 30-1 to 30-N. A program area 9a having an image conversion function for image conversion, a display function for displaying the stored image data as thumbnails, and a download function for downloading the image converted image data to the client PCs 30-1 to 30-N. It is provided in the hard disk drive 9. Therefore, even a terminal device such as a PDA or a portable terminal, which has a lower capacity than a personal computer, can refer to the image data in an optimal state by performing image conversion on the image data.

<Modification> In the above embodiment, the example of the facsimile server device 20 has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to communication terminal devices including, for example, telephones, data communication devices, and the like, connected to a public network such as a public telephone network or a public digital line network.

In the above embodiment, the facsimile server device 20 has both a web server function and an image conversion function. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the facsimile server device 20 has a facsimile communication function. A web server function for storing image data,
The image conversion function may be provided in another web server device. Further, the facsimile server device 20 may be configured to have only a facsimile communication function and an image conversion function, and to have a web server function for storing image data in another web server device.

[0036]

As described above in detail, according to the server device of the present invention, the server device connected to the client device via the communication line stores the received or scanned image data, and HTTP server means provided with image conversion means for converting the stored image data into a predetermined image data format based on the instruction message data from the server. Therefore, according to the present invention, even in a terminal device such as a PDA or a portable terminal having a lower capability than a personal computer, image data can be converted into an image and referred to in an optimal state. .

Further, in a server connected to the client via a communication line, based on instruction message data from the client, image data stored in another server after receiving or scanning is stored in a predetermined location. Image conversion means for converting the image into the image data format. Therefore, according to the present invention, for example, PDA,
Even a terminal device such as a portable terminal having a lower capability than a personal computer can refer to the image data in an optimal state by performing image conversion on the image data.

Further, the conversion means preferably further comprises a download means for downloading the image data, which has been subjected to the image conversion, based on the instruction message data from the client device, to the client device. This allows you to download the image after converting it,
The subsequent image processing can be executed by the client device.

Further, the conversion means preferably converts the stored image data into at least one of a sheet size, a resolution, an encoding method, and a file format. Therefore, the image can be converted into a desired format by the client device, and the subsequent image processing can be executed by the client device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile system including a facsimile server device 20 having a web server function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a client PC 30 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the facsimile server device 20 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a WEB of the facsimile server device 20 of FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a screen of “received facsimile image data” displayed when accessing the server.

5 is a screen displayed when clicking “read” or “unread” in “Received facsimile image data” in FIG. 4, wherein the received facsimile image data is displayed as a thumbnail and when downloaded. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a screen for generating an instruction signal for instructing image format conversion.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main control part, 2 ... Image reading part, 3 ... Image recording part, 4 ... Display part, 5 ... Operation part, 6 ... ROM, 7 ... RAM, 8 ... Image memory, 9 ... Hard disk drive, 9a ... Program area Reference numeral 12: LAN interface, 20: facsimile server device, 30, 30-1 to 30-N: client personal computer (client PC), 60: router device, 70: local area network (LAN), 90: Internet, 101: Main control unit, 102: image reading unit, 104: display unit, 105: operation unit, 106: ROM, 107: RAM, 108: hard disk drive, 108a: browser program area, 112: LAN interface.

Claims (5)

[Claims] A server device connected to a client device via a communication line stores image data received or scanned, and stores the stored image data based on instruction message data from the client device. A server device comprising HTTP server means having image conversion means for converting an image into a predetermined image data format. 2. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the server device is a facsimile server device that receives or scans the image data and performs the
2. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising facsimile server means for outputting to the P server means. 3. A server device connected to a client device via a communication line, based on instruction message data from the client device, receives and scans, and after receiving or scanning, stores image data stored in another server device in a predetermined format. A server device provided with an image conversion means for converting an image into a format of the image data. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conversion means further comprises a download means for downloading the image data, which has been subjected to the image conversion, to the client device based on instruction message data from the client device. 3. The server device according to any one of 3. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit converts the stored image data into at least one of a sheet size, a resolution, an encoding method, and a file format. 5. The server device according to any one of 1 to 4.