JP2002335368A - Network facsimile equipment and facsimile system, and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide network facsimile equipment and a facsimile system the operation efficiency of both of which is not lowered with respect to many simultaneous transmission reception requests and to provide a control method therefor. SOLUTION: Upon the receipt of a connection request from a 1st sender, a LAN I/F unit 7 receives electronic mail when the connection request is a 1st request. When a connection request comes from a 2nd transmission source on the way of the reception of the electronic mail, the LAN/IF unit 7 informs a system control unit 1 about the connection request and an IP address of the 2nd transmission source. Since the system control unit 1 is already under reception processing and the reception processing from the 2nd transmission source cannot immediately conducted, a particular destination table stored in a memory unit 4 is checked to confirm whether or not the IP address of the 2nd transmission source is registered. When registered, a reject packet is reported to the connection request from the 2nd transmission source to reject the connection.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus, a facsimile system, and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile system for transmitting and receiving image information via a network, and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of computers and LANs (Local Area Networks), not only has image information read and transmitted via a public network (PSTN), but also
A network facsimile apparatus which attaches image information to an e-mail and transmits / receives it via a network such as a LAN is becoming widespread. Some of these network facsimile apparatuses can transmit and receive e-mails directly as well as transmit and receive e-mails via a mailbox of a mail server. In such a network facsimile apparatus, if an e-mail is directly transmitted to the network facsimile apparatus, there is no need to access a mail server.

[0003] However, in a network facsimile apparatus, when an unspecified number of recipients simultaneously receive a mail reception request, it is difficult from a resource point of view to perform multiplex reception processing like a mail server. Therefore, for a reception request having a multiplex reception processing capacity or more, there are a case where only connection is performed and processing is sequentially performed when reception processing is enabled, and a case where connection is not newly performed when reception is performed with the maximum number of receptions. .

As a conventional network facsimile apparatus, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei.
No. 1-132308 (JP-A-2000-324293). This is to notify the user of a transmission error when the e-mail transmission operation cannot be performed normally.

[0005]

However, in the conventional network facsimile apparatus, when only a connection is made for a reception request having a multiplex reception processing capability or more, the communication processing is performed if the transmission source information device cannot multiplex the mail transmission. The processing is suspended and the progress of the processing is locked. This state continues until the communication processing ends or the timeout occurs. Unlike the transmission of image information via the public network, the timeout period for e-mail transmission over the network is set to be long, which significantly reduces the operation efficiency of the source information device. .

In the case where a new connection is not made when receiving data at the maximum number of receptions, there is a problem that the operation efficiency is reduced for a device capable of multiplexing mail transmission.

Further, the network facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-132308 notifies a user of a transmission error when an e-mail transmission operation cannot be performed normally, and cannot directly improve the operation efficiency. Was.
That is, the purpose and method were different from those of the present invention.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has the following objects. A first object is to preliminarily store the address information of a transmission source (source information device) that cannot perform a multiplexing operation of transmission processing (e-mail transmission or the like) (or has a low multiplex transmission processing capability of simultaneously transmitting image information). By registering (storing), when a reception request exceeding the multiplex reception processing capacity is generated, a connection is not made to a reception request from a registered transmission source or immediately after connection is made. Disconnect control is performed so that the efficiency of the transmission process of the transmission source is not impaired. That is, it is an object of the present invention to provide a network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile system which do not impair the operation efficiency in response to a reception request from an unspecified large number, and a control method therefor.

A second object is to provide a source (source information equipment) that cannot perform multiplexing operations for transmission processing (such as e-mail transmission) in advance (or has a low multiplex transmission processing capability for simultaneously transmitting image information). By registering (storing) the address information and the priority, when a reception request exceeding the multiplex reception processing capability occurs, the connection is suspended and registered in the reception waiting table (reception waiting address information storage function unit). If the transmission source is registered in a specific destination table (source address information storage function unit), the reception waiting table is sorted based on its priority,
The purpose of this is to perform reception control for performing reception processing in the order of the priority so that priority processing of reception can be performed. That is, in response to a reception request from an unspecified majority, the order in which the reception processing of the transmission source registered in the specific destination table is performed is rearranged in the reception waiting table so that the transmission source is earlier, and the operation is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide a network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile system that do not impair efficiency and a control method thereof.

A third object is that, when transmitting image information (e.g., transmitting an e-mail), even if the receiving information device suspends the communication process due to the generation of a reception request having a multiplex reception processing capability or more, If there is no image information (file) to be newly transmitted (in a standby state), a response is kept waiting until reception processing is started or timeout occurs, and a request for transmission of new image information is accepted during that time. In this case, the transmission of the image information is efficiently performed by disconnecting the currently held connection and performing transmission control for transmitting the newly received image information. In other words, in transmission to a receiving-side information device having a low multiplex reception processing capability for simultaneously performing reception processing of image information, even if a certain period of time has elapsed since a reception request such as a connection request has been issued, there is no command response. Another object of the present invention is to provide a network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile system that do not impair the operation efficiency and a control method thereof.

[0011]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following features. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network facsimile apparatus including a transmission / reception unit for transmitting and receiving image information to and from a plurality of other information devices connected via a network. Source address information storage means for storing address information of a source information device having a low multiplex transmission processing capability and / or not having the multiplex transmission processing capability for simultaneously performing the image information transmission processing, and a plurality of other information If the reception request simultaneously generated from the devices exceeds the multiplex reception processing capability of simultaneously receiving image information from a plurality of source information devices, the source address information storage unit of the plurality of source information devices Refuse the connection to the source information device in which the address information is stored,
Control means for controlling so as to suspend the connection with respect to the source information device in which the address information is not stored in the source address information storage means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network facsimile apparatus including a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving image information to / from a plurality of other information devices connected via a network. Source address information storage means for storing address information of a source information device having low multiplex transmission processing capability for simultaneously transmitting image information to an information device and / or having no multiplex transmission processing capability, and transmission process Address information of the transmission source information device in a state of being held, reception address information storage means for storing together with the order of performing reception processing by the transmission and reception means, and reception requests simultaneously generated from a plurality of other information devices, If the multiplex reception processing capability of simultaneously receiving image information from multiple source information devices is exceeded, suspend the connection In addition, for source information devices whose address information is stored in the source address information storage means, rearrangement is performed so that the order of reception processing stored in the reception waiting address information storage means is made earlier, and Control means for controlling a source information device in which the address information is not stored in the address information storage means, assuming that the order in which the reception processing is performed is earlier in the order in which the address information is stored earlier in the reception waiting address information storage means; It is characterized by the following.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a network facsimile apparatus having transmission / reception means for transmitting and receiving image information to and from a plurality of other information devices connected via a network, a transmission request is issued when image information is transmitted. If there is no command response from the receiving information device even after a certain period of time has passed and there is image information that is waiting for transmission by the transmission / reception means in addition to the image information to be transmitted, a command timeout And a control unit for controlling to transmit the image information which is in a standby state for transmission, without disconnecting the connection.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the source address information storage means is provided for a source information device having a low multiplex transmission processing capability and / or having no multiplex transmission processing capability. The address information is stored together with the priority, and the control unit determines the order in which the reception processing of the reception waiting address information storage unit is performed for the transmission source information device whose address information is stored in the transmission source address information storage unit. When rearranging the source information devices such that the source information devices are arranged earlier, the address information of the source information devices having a higher priority is set in an earlier order.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile apparatus. In the facsimile system, any one of the at least one network facsimile apparatus has a low multiplex transmission processing capability of simultaneously transmitting image information to a plurality of information apparatuses among other information apparatuses, and / or A source address information storage unit for storing address information of a source information device having no multiplex transmission processing capability, and a reception request simultaneously generated from another information device, the image information from a plurality of source information devices being received. If the multiplexed reception processing capacity for simultaneous reception processing is exceeded, the The connection is refused for the source information device whose address information is stored in the address information storage unit, and the connection is suspended for the source information device whose address information is not stored in the source address information storage unit. And control means for performing control so as to perform

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile apparatus. In the facsimile system, any one of the at least one network facsimile apparatus has a low multiplex transmission processing capability of simultaneously transmitting image information to a plurality of information apparatuses among other information apparatuses, and / or A source address information storage unit for storing address information of a source information device having no multiplex transmission processing capability; and a transmission / reception unit receiving address information of a source information device in a state where transmission processing is suspended. Receiving-waiting address information storage means for storing the information together with the order of processing, and other information devices If the simultaneous reception request exceeds the multiplex reception processing capability for simultaneously receiving image information from multiple source information devices, the connection is suspended and the address information is stored in the source address information storage means. The stored source information devices are rearranged so that the order of the reception processing stored in the reception waiting address information storage means is made earlier, and the transmission is performed when the address information is not stored in the transmission source address information storage means. The source information device is characterized by having control means for controlling that the order in which the reception processing is performed is earlier in the order of being stored earlier in the reception waiting address information storage means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile machine. In the facsimile system, any one of the at least one network facsimile apparatus, when transmitting image information, does not receive a command response from the receiving side information device even after a certain period of time has elapsed since issuing the reception request, and If there is image information that is waiting for transmission by the transmission / reception means in addition to the image information to be transmitted, the connection is disconnected even if the command timeout does not occur, and the image that is in the transmission standby state is sent. It is characterized by having control means for controlling transmission of information.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, the source address information storage means is provided for a source information device having low multiplex transmission processing capability and / or having no multiplex transmission processing capability. The address information is stored together with the priority, and the control unit determines the order in which the reception processing of the reception waiting address information storage unit is performed for the transmission source information device whose address information is stored in the transmission source address information storage unit. When rearranging the source information devices such that the source information devices are arranged earlier, the address information of the source information devices having a higher priority is set in an earlier order.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile machine. In the control method of the facsimile system, any one of the at least one network facsimile apparatus has a low multiplex transmission processing capability of simultaneously transmitting image information to a plurality of information apparatuses among other information apparatuses. And / or a source address information storage step of storing address information of a source information device having no multiplex transmission processing capability, wherein reception requests simultaneously generated from other information devices are transmitted from a plurality of source information devices. If it exceeds the multiplex reception processing capability of simultaneously receiving the image information
The connection is refused for the source information device in which the address information is stored in the source address information storage step among the plurality of source information devices, and the address information is stored in the source address information storage step. It is characterized in that the connection is suspended for the source information device that does not exist.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile apparatus. In the control method of the facsimile system, any one of the at least one network facsimile apparatus has a low multiplex transmission processing capability of simultaneously transmitting image information to a plurality of information apparatuses among other information apparatuses. And / or a source address information storing step of storing address information of a source information device having no multiplex transmission processing capability, and transmitting and receiving address information of a source information device in a state where transmission processing is suspended. A receiving waiting address information storing step of storing the order along with the order of performing the receiving process in the step. If the reception request simultaneously generated from other information devices exceeds the multiplex reception processing capability of simultaneously receiving image information from a plurality of source information devices, the connection is suspended and the source address information is For the source information device in which the address information is stored in the storage step, the order is rearranged so that the order of the reception processing stored in the reception waiting address information storage step is made earlier. For the transmission source information device in which the address information is not stored, the order in which the reception processing is performed is earlier in the order of earlier storage in the reception waiting address information storage step.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile apparatus. In the control method of the facsimile system, when any one of the at least one network facsimile apparatus transmits image information, a command response is received from the receiving side information device even after a certain period of time has elapsed after issuing a reception request. In addition, if there is image information that is waiting for transmission in the transmission / reception process in addition to the image information to be transmitted, the connection is disconnected even if the command does not time out, and the transmission is placed in the standby state. Is transmitted.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the source address information storage step, the multiplex transmission processing capability is low or / and
Also, the address information of the source information device having no multiplex transmission processing capability is stored together with the priority order, and the source information device in which the address information is stored in the source address information storage step is a reception waiting address. When the order in which the receiving process is performed in the information storage step is rearranged so that the source information device is earlier, the address information of the source information device having a higher priority is set to be earlier.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile system according to the present invention and a control method thereof will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network facsimile apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes a system control unit 1 and a scanner unit 2.
, A plotter unit 3, a memory unit 4, an operation unit 5, a public network I / F unit 6, a LAN I / F
An F unit 7 and an image conversion unit 8 are provided.

The components shown in FIG. 1 will be described below. The system control unit 1 controls the functions of the entire facsimile machine. The scanner unit 2 reads a document to be transmitted. The plotter unit 3 outputs the received data, image information stored in the memory unit 4, and the like to recording paper.

The memory unit 4 stores a system control program. Also, the system control unit 1
It is also an area for work by. That is, ROM or R
AM and the like. It is also used for storing image information. Also, destination information for functions such as one-touch dialing is stored. Also, a specific destination table 41 and a reception waiting table 42 are stored.

The specific destination table (source address information storage function unit) 41 is an IP that specifies a source that cannot perform multiplexing of mail transmission (or has a low multiplex transmission processing capability of simultaneously performing e-mail transmission processing). Stores address information such as addresses. Further, the priority order may be stored for each transmission source. Details will be described later.

The reception waiting table (reception waiting address information storage function unit) 42 stores address information such as the IP address of the transmission source for which reception processing is suspended, together with the order in which the reception processing is performed (processing order). Details will be described later.

The operation unit 5 has various keys used for transmission / reception and a display used for display and input, and performs input / output of various data. The display here may have only a display function.

The public network I / F unit 6 is a public network (PS)
TN), and controls transmission and reception via a public network.

The LAN I / F unit 7 is a connection I / F with a LAN, and transmits and receives image information to be transmitted and received as electronic mail. In other words, the electronic mail manuscript (file) stored in the memory unit 4 is converted into an electronic mail format having a mail header part, a text part part, and a binary part part, and transmitted and received. The binary part includes MIME encoded data obtained by converting image information into a MIME format.

The image conversion unit 8 compresses image information such as original data read by the scanner unit 2 for facsimile. Also restores (decompresses) compressed image information
I do. In addition, the image information is converted into the TIFF format or inversely converted. In addition, for attachment of the image information to the electronic mail, conversion according to the MIME standard (conversion to the MIME format) is performed.

Here, basically, in this embodiment,
For data exchange between terminals connected to the LAN, a combination of a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called TCP / IP and a communication protocol of a higher layer higher than that (so-called protocol suite) is applied. Done. For example, in the exchange of e-mail, SMT is used as the upper layer communication protocol.
A communication protocol called P (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied.

Further, communication protocols such as TCP / IP and SMTP, and data formats and data structures of electronic mail are described in IETF (Internet Engineering Task Foam).
RFC (Request For Co.) issued by the organization that summarizes the technical contents of the Internet
mments) document. For example, TCP is RFC793, IP is RFC793, SMTP is RFC
821, E-mail format is RFC822, RFC15
21, RFC 1522 (MIME (Multi Purpose Mail
Extension) format).

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

As described above, an e-mail used for transmitting image information is generally an e-mail in a multi-part MIME format having a plurality of body parts, and includes an e-mail transmission date (“Date” field), A mail header portion including predetermined information such as a destination mail address ("To" field) and a source mail address ("From" field), a text part portion for carrying text data, and a binary for carrying image information And a part. Image information is stored in the binary part.
MIME encoded data obtained by ME conversion is arranged.

The image information carried by e-mail is obtained by compressing the original image data by MH coding and converting it to a TIFF-F format, which is a kind of TIFF format. Is obtained by converting the TIFF-F data by MIME.

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

The electronic mail used in the present embodiment is not limited to the above-described multi-part MIME format having a plurality of body parts, but may be any other format that transmits image information.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a network system to which a network facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected. As shown in FIG.
Is connected to a plurality of network facsimile apparatuses such as apparatus B and apparatus C in addition to apparatus A which is the network facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment, and a mail server.
The mail server provides services such as transmission and reception of e-mail to users of each information device connected to the LAN. Here, the user of each information device may be one or more users. Further, each information device such as a network facsimile device connected to the LAN may be connected to the public network. The information device connected to the LAN is not limited to the above-described network facsimile device or mail server, and may be another information device.

It is assumed that three or more information devices connected to the LAN have a transmission / reception function of transmitting / receiving image information via a network. That is, a network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention and an information device which cannot perform multiplexing operations of transmission processing and reception processing (or has low multiplex transmission processing capability and multiplex reception processing capability of simultaneously transmitting and receiving image information). The three information devices that can perform multiplex operations of transmission processing and reception processing will be described as being included in the facsimile system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which communication is started between a source information device (for example, a network facsimile machine or a mail server) and a receiving information device (for example, a network facsimile device or a mail server) at the time of sending an e-mail. 5 is a time chart showing an example of exchange based on a communication protocol in FIG.

First, the transmission source information device issues a connection connection request to the reception side information device using the TCP port 25. The receiving-side information device that has received the connection connection request transmits the code “220” as a connection response.
, And an appropriate comment string (in this case, “hosta.abc.co.jp Service”).
e ready ”) to the transmission source information device. A response message to the connection request with the code “220” is called a greeting message.

The source information device that has received the connection response then uses the command “HELO” to send the host name of its own terminal (command argument, in this case, “hostb.ef”).
g. co. jp ”) to the receiving-side information device. Upon receiving the command “HELO” normally, the receiving-side information device receives a code “250” indicating a normal response and a server host name as a comment (in this case, “host”).
a. abc. co. jp ”) to the source information device.

In this way, the connection is started between the transmission source information device and the reception side information device, and thereafter the connection is completed by notifying the mail address or the like. After the connection is completed, transmission of the data body of the e-mail is started.

Next, a network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile system as a first embodiment of the present invention and a control method thereof will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the reception operation based on the SMTP reception operates only one communication at a time.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a network system according to the first embodiment and a signal flow. As shown in FIG. 4, the LAN is connected to a plurality of network facsimile apparatuses such as apparatus A, apparatus B, and apparatus C, which are network facsimile apparatuses in the present embodiment, and a mail server.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the network facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5 on the assumption that reception requests from a plurality of information devices as shown in FIG. 4 have occurred. Here, it is assumed that reception requests from a plurality of information devices are made in the order of the device B, the device C, and the mail server.

The LAN I / F unit 7 of the device A is
(Step S1), the connection request is received.
The connection request and the device B are sent to the system control unit 1.
Is notified of the IP address. When the connection request can be received, that is, when the connection request is the first (step S2; YES), the system control unit 1 notifies the LAN I / F unit 7 of the reception permission, and
The ANI / F unit 7 transmits and receives commands and data according to the communication protocol (step S3), and receives an electronic mail (step S4).

The reception of the electronic mail in the present embodiment means that the electronic mail is stored in the memory unit 4 by the LAN I / F unit 7, and is output to the recording paper by the plotter unit 3 when the storing is completed.
Alternatively, the data may be stored in the memory unit 4 and output to the recording paper by the plotter unit 3 as necessary according to the setting of the user.

When a connection request is received from the device C during the receiving process from the device B (step S1), the LANI
The / F unit 7 notifies the system control unit 1 of the connection request and the IP address of the device C as in the case of the device B. Since the system control unit 1 is already performing the receiving process, the receiving process from the device C cannot be performed immediately (step S2; NO). At this time, the system control unit 1 checks the specific destination table 41 stored in the memory unit 4, and checks the LAN I / F
It is confirmed whether the IP address of the device C notified from the unit 7 is registered (step S5). If registered (step S5; YES), a rejection packet is notified in response to the connection request from the device C, and the connection is rejected (step S6).

Here, the specific destination table 41 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the specific destination table 41 according to the present embodiment. The user registers in advance in the specific destination table 41 a mail address (IP address) of a transmission source that cannot perform the multiplexing operation of the mail transmission (or has a low multiplex transmission processing capability of simultaneously transmitting the e-mail). As a method of this registration, the user may input using the operation unit 5 such as a numeric keypad, or input from another information device via a network. Also, the input method is not limited to these,
Other methods may be used.

When there is a connection request from the mail server during the receiving process from the device B, the system control unit 1 checks the specific destination table 41 by the same operation as in the case of the device C, and the LAN I / F unit 7 It is confirmed whether or not the notified mail server IP address is registered (step S5). If not registered (step S5; NO), the system control unit 1
Makes a connection at the TCP level by the LAN I / F unit 7 (step S7) and registers it in the reception waiting table 42 of the memory unit 4 (step S8). The connection with the mail server is held until an instruction from the system control unit 1 is issued.

Here, the reception waiting table 42 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the reception waiting table 42 according to the present embodiment. When suspending the reception processing for the information device of the transmission source that has issued the reception request, the system control unit 1 stores the respective mail addresses (IP addresses) in the reception waiting table 42 together with the order in which the reception processing is performed (processing order). Remember. When the receiving process being processed by the system control unit 1 is completed, the system control unit 1 then proceeds from the source which is the earliest mail address in the order according to the order of performing the receiving process stored in the reception waiting table 42. Is performed. Receiving waiting table 4
With regard to the setting of the order of performing the receiving process in 2, the order of performing the receiving process of the transmission source that issued the receiving request earlier is set as the earlier order.

A method of suspending a connection according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 shows the case where the connection is suspended by delaying the transmission of the greeting message.
6 is a time chart showing exchange of information based on a communication protocol. After receiving the connection request from the transmission source device, the greeting message is not returned until the reception order comes. As a result, the transmission source device waits for the greeting message, and consequently waits for transmission of the e-mail.

FIG. 9 shows H sent from the transmission source device.
9 is a time chart showing exchange of information based on a communication protocol when a connection is suspended by delaying a response to an ELO command. After receiving the connection request from the transmission source device and returning a greeting message, the transmission source device subsequently proceeds to HELO.
Send a message based on the command. This HEL
The response message to the O command is not transmitted until the reception order comes. As a result, the transmission source device waits for a response message to the HELO command, and as a result, the transmission of the e-mail is suspended.

The method of suspending the connection in the present embodiment is not particularly limited. For example, the suspension method by delaying the transmission of the greeting message shown in FIG. 8 or the response to the HELO command shown in FIG. A hold method by delaying may be used.

When the above operation is performed and the process of receiving the e-mail from the device B is completed, the system control unit 1 again notifies the LAN I / F unit 7 of the reception start. Then, the system control unit 1 searches the reception waiting table 42 of the memory unit 4 and starts an e-mail reception process from the registered mail server in the next order. The device C whose connection has been refused,
Since communication fails, transmission processing is performed again at the application level.

In the present embodiment, the registration in the specific destination table 41 is based on the IP address included in the connection request packet.
Although the description has been made on the assumption that the address is used, the address information is not limited to this as long as the address information can specify the destination (transmission source). For example, a MAC address may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, it is described that before the establishment of the TCP connection, it is determined whether or not the transmission source is registered in the specific destination table 41.
When the hold method by delaying the response to the HELO command shown in FIG. 9 is used, the HE after the connection is established
The domain name, which is a parameter of the LO command, may be used to determine whether or not the sender is the specific destination. In other words, when the hold method by delaying the response to the HELO command shown in FIG. 9 is used, the domain name which is a parameter of the HELO command after the connection is established may be used for registration in the specific destination table 41. In this case, an error message is transmitted to the transmission source registered in the specific destination table 41 as a response to the HELO command, and the connection is disconnected.

Next, a network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile system according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a control method thereof will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the reception operation based on the SMTP reception operates only one communication at a time. 4, 8, and 9 are also used for description, but since they are common to the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the network facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment. In the following, it is assumed that reception requests from a plurality of information devices as shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that the reception requests from the plurality of information devices are made in the order of the device B, the device C, and the mail server.

The LAN I / F unit 7 of the device A is
(Step S1)
1) Notify the system control unit 1 of the connection request and the IP address of the device B. Upon receiving the connection request, the system control unit 1 establishes a connection by the LAN I / F unit 7 (step S1).
2). Here, when reception is possible, that is, when the connection request is the first connection request (step S13; YE
S), the system control unit 1 sets the reception permission to LANI /
It notifies the F unit 7 and receives the e-mail (step S14).

The reception of the electronic mail in the present embodiment means that the electronic mail is stored in the memory unit 4 by the LAN I / F unit 7, and is output to the recording paper by the plotter unit 3 when the storing is completed.
However, according to the setting of the user, the data may be accumulated in the memory unit and output to the recording paper by the plotter unit 3 as needed.

If there is a connection request from the device C during the receiving process from the device B (step S11), the LAN
The I / F unit 7 notifies the system control unit 1 of the connection request and the IP address of the device C as in the case of the device B. Upon receiving the connection request, the system control unit 1 establishes a connection by the LAN I / F unit 7 (step S12). Here, since the system control unit 1 is already performing the receiving process, the receiving process from the device C cannot be performed immediately (step S13; NO). At this time, the system control unit 1
Registers (adds) the IP address of the device C at the end of the reception waiting table 42 (step S15), and suspends the connection with the device C. Then, the specific destination table 41 stored in the memory unit 4 is checked to determine whether or not the IP address of the device C is registered (step S16).

Here, the specific destination table 41 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a specific destination table 41 in the present embodiment. The user sets the mail address (IP address) of the sender in the specific destination table 41 that cannot perform the multiplexing operation of the mail transmission (or has a low multiplex transmission processing capability of simultaneously performing the e-mail transmission processing) as the priority of the reception processing. And register in advance. In this notation of priority, the smaller the value in FIG. 11, the higher the priority, but other notation may be used. In addition, as a method of this registration, the user may input by using the operation unit 5 such as a numeric keypad, or may be input from another information device via a network. Also, the input method is not limited to these, and another method may be used.

When the IP address of the device C is registered in the specific destination table 41 (step S16; YE)
S), the system control unit 1 sorts the reception waiting table 42 according to the priority registered in the specific destination table 41 (step S17). In other words,
The system control unit 1 rearranges the reception waiting table 42 so that the mail address of the device C is arranged in an earlier order according to the priority order registered in the specific destination table 41. Thereafter, the communication of the device C is suspended until the device C becomes receivable, that is, until the mail address of the device C becomes the head in the reception waiting table 42 and the system control unit 1 notifies the LAN I / F unit 7 of the reception permission. A wait state is set (step S18).

Here, the reception waiting table 42 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
It is a figure showing an example of reception waiting table 42 in this embodiment.

When suspending the reception processing for the information equipment of the transmission source which has issued the reception request, the system control unit 1 waits for the reception of the respective mail addresses (IP addresses) together with the reception processing order (waiting order). Table 4
Remember at the end of 2. That is, it is registered as the latest order. Thereafter, the system control unit 1 searches the specific destination table 41 and, if registered in the specific destination table 41, rearranges the order of performing the receiving process according to the registered priority. In other words, the system control unit 1 rearranges the reception waiting table 42 so that the mail addresses of the transmission sources having the higher priority in the reception processing registered in the specific destination table 41 are arranged in the earlier order. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state where the order of performing the receiving process of the mail addresses of the transmission sources having the higher priority is unconditionally rearranged so as to be earlier.

The method of suspending the connection to the device C here is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

When a connection request is received from the mail server during the receiving process from the device B, a connection is established by the same operation as that of the device C, and the IP address of the mail server is registered in the reception waiting table 42. Here, since the mail server is not registered in the specific destination table 41 (step S16; NO), the order in which the reception processing of the reception waiting table 42 is performed is registered as the last order.
This is later than the transmission source registered in the specific destination table 41. Thereafter, the mail server suspends the communication until the mail server becomes receivable, that is, until the mail address of the mail server becomes the first in the reception waiting table 42 and the system control unit 1 notifies the LAN I / F unit 7 of the reception permission. Wait state (step S
18).

When the above-described operation is performed and the process of receiving the e-mail from the device B is completed, the system control unit 1 notifies the LAN I / F unit 7 of the reception start again. Then, the system control unit 1 searches the reception waiting table 42 of the memory unit 4 and starts an e-mail reception process from the device C registered in the next order.

In the present embodiment, the registration of the address information in the specific destination table 41 has been described as using the IP address included in the connection request packet. However, the address that can specify the destination (transmission source) is described. The information is not limited to this, and for example, a MAC address may be used.

Next, a network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile system according to a third embodiment of the present invention and a control method thereof will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the network facsimile apparatus according to the third embodiment. This embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in the processing at the time of transmission. Further, it is assumed that the network facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment cannot perform multiplex SMTP transmission. Also, the receiving information device (receiving network facsimile machine) should not be able to multiplex e-mail reception processing, and adopt a method of delaying the return of the greeting message shown in FIG. 8 when suspending the connection. And

The image information read from the scanner unit 2 and the image information received via the public network by the public network I / F unit 6 are subjected to MIME conversion by the image conversion unit 8 and then transmitted by the LAN I / F unit 7 for transmission. It is converted to an e-mail format and sent from LAN I / F unit 7 to L
It will be transmitted via the AN.

First, the LAN I / F unit 7 transmits a connection request to the information equipment on the receiving side (network facsimile apparatus on the receiving side) (step S21) and establishes a connection (step S22). At this time, if the reception-side information device has already performed the reception processing for the multiplex reception processing capability, no further reception processing is possible, and the greeting message is not transmitted (step S23; NO). The connection is put on hold.

In this state, the system control unit 1 transmits a file to be newly transmitted in the form of e-mail via the LAN after a predetermined period of time shorter than the timeout has elapsed (step S24; YES). Memory unit 4 as a standby file (in a standby state)
(Step S)
25). If a file to be newly transmitted via the LAN is input and stored in the memory unit 4 (step S25; YES), the current connection is closed (disconnected) (step S27) and newly input (standby). The process shifts to a transmission process in which the file (in a state) is in the form of e-mail.

If a file to be newly transmitted via the LAN has not been input, the system control unit 1 continues checking the memory unit 4 until a timeout occurs (step S25). If a timeout occurs (step S26; YES) without inputting the file to be transmitted (step S25; NO), the current connection is disconnected (step S27), and the transmission process is performed again as a retry process. The retransmission processing as the retry processing may be performed after a short time.

If a greeting message is transmitted during the above-described operation after the connection is established (step S23; YES), the SMT is thereafter performed as usual.
P transmission is performed (step S28).

Although the present embodiment has been described assuming that the receiving-side information device cannot multiplex e-mail reception processing, it also operates in transmission to a receiving-side information device capable of multiplex reception processing. Is similar.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the receiving-side information device suspends the connection, it has been described that the method of delaying the return of the greeting message shown in FIG. 8 is employed. However, the present invention is not limited to this method. Any of the methods described as the method of suspending the connection according to the first embodiment may be adopted.

Further, in the present embodiment, the fixed time until the system control unit 1 starts checking a new transmission file, which is shown in step S24, is set in advance. Input or numerical input.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, both the receiving operation and the transmitting operation are described as operating only one communication at the same time (multiplexing operation is not possible). The number of simultaneous communications that can be transmitted or received may be any number as long as it is a multiplex operation with a small number of communications.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the connection to the public network (PSTN) is described in addition to the LAN. However, the connection to the ISDN may be made, or the connection may be switched to both. Good.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the network to which the network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention connects is described as being a LAN. However, the network is not limited to the LAN, and may be any network. Also,
As the information equipment to be connected, any other information equipment may be connected as long as there is a network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention and information equipment capable of communicating with the apparatus.

In the embodiment of the present invention, TCP / IP is used as a protocol used for communication and SMTP is used as an upper layer. However, transmission / reception of image information via a network is possible. The protocol is not limited to these, and any protocol may be used.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the image information is transmitted and received by e-mail. However, the method is not limited to this method as long as the image information can be transmitted and received. You may.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment and the second embodiment are described separately, but a function of selecting either one by a user may be further provided.

[0090]

As is apparent from the above description, the following effects can be obtained by the network facsimile apparatus, the facsimile system, and the control method thereof according to the present invention.

When image information is directly transmitted between network facsimile machines without using a mail server (e-mail transmission, etc.), multiplexing on the receiving side poses a problem.
Unlike a mail server, it is difficult for a network facsimile to perform multiple reception processes at the same time.Therefore, if only a connection is made for the sake of the receiving side and it is kept waiting by a protocol command, the network facsimile on the sending side may be locked. is there. Therefore, by registering the destination that cannot perform multiplex transmission in advance on the receiving side and processing so that it will not be locked,
It is possible to prevent the operation efficiency (transmission processing efficiency) of the transmission source network facsimile from being impaired.

In other words, address information of a transmission source (source information device) having a low multiplex transmission processing capability for simultaneously transmitting image information is registered (stored) in advance, and the address information of the transmission source having a multiplex reception processing capability or more is registered. If a request is received, the request from the registered sender will be
By performing the reception control of not performing the connection or immediately disconnecting the connection even after the connection is performed, it is possible to prevent the efficiency of the transmission processing of the transmission source from being impaired. Also,
As described above, it is possible to provide a network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile system that do not impair the operation efficiency in response to a reception request from an unspecified large number, and a control method thereof.

Further, the network facsimile apparatus and facsimile system of the present invention and the control method therefor are provided when a reception request exceeding the multiplex reception processing capacity is generated.
Establish and maintain all connections and wait until reception is possible. However, if the transmitting apparatus knows that the multiplexing operation of the transmitting process is not possible, the transmitting side network facsimile is sorted and processed according to the priority registered in advance. It is possible to prevent the operation efficiency (transmission processing efficiency) of the device from being impaired.

In other words, the address information and the priority of a transmission source (transmission source information device) having a low multiplex transmission processing capability for simultaneously transmitting image information (e-mail transmission, etc.) are registered (stored) in advance. Accordingly, when a reception request exceeding the multiplex reception processing capability is generated, the connection is suspended and registered in the reception wait table (reception wait address information storage function unit), and the transmission source is specified in the specific destination table (transmission source address information). If it is registered in the storage function unit), it is possible to sort the reception waiting table based on the priority, perform reception control for receiving processing in order of the priority, and perform reception priority processing. Also,
In this way, in response to a reception request from an unspecified large number, the order in which the reception processing of the transmission source registered in the specific destination table (address information is stored) is performed so that the transmission source is earlier. By rearranging the reception waiting table, it is possible to provide a network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile system that do not impair the operation efficiency, and a control method thereof.

The network facsimile apparatus, facsimile system, and control method of the present invention transmit image information (perform e-mail transmission, etc.).
At this time, if the connection is suspended with the receiving device's convenience, the transmitting device will continue to be in the process of transmitting, and the file input later will not be easily transmitted. If image information (file) to be newly transmitted is input while the transmission is being performed, the operation efficiency of the network facsimile (transmission processing efficiency) is increased by first transmitting the input file later. be able to.

In other words, when transmitting the image information, even if the receiving information device suspends the communication due to the generation of a reception request exceeding the multiplex reception processing capability, the image information to be newly transmitted (in a standby state) is transmitted. If there is no (file), it continues to wait for a response until the reception process starts or a timeout occurs, and if a request for transmission of new image information is accepted during that time, disconnects the currently held connection,
By performing transmission control for transmitting newly received image information, image information can be transmitted efficiently. Further, as described above, in the case of transmission to a receiving side information device having a low multiplex reception processing capability of simultaneously performing image information reception processing, there is no command response even after a certain period of time has elapsed since a reception request such as a connection request was issued. Therefore, it is possible to provide a network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile system that do not impair the operation efficiency, and a control method thereof.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network facsimile apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network system to which a network facsimile apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention is connected.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing an example of an exchange between a transmission source information device and a reception side information device at the time of starting communication when transmitting an e-mail.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network system and a signal flow according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the network facsimile apparatus as the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a specific destination table according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reception waiting table according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a time chart showing exchanges when a connection is suspended by delaying the transmission of a greeting message.

FIG. 9 is a time chart showing an exchange when a connection is suspended by delaying a response to a HELO command sent from a transmission source device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the network facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a specific destination table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reception waiting table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the network facsimile apparatus according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System control unit 2 Scanner unit 3 Plotter unit 4 Memory unit 5 Operation unit 6 Public network I / F unit 7 LAN I / F unit 8 Image conversion unit 41 Specific destination table 42 Reception waiting table

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A network facsimile apparatus comprising a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving image information to / from a plurality of other information devices connected via a network, comprising: Low multiplex transmission processing ability to simultaneously perform information transmission processing,
And / or a source address information storage unit for storing address information of a source information device having no multiplex transmission processing capability; and a reception request simultaneously generated from the plurality of other information devices is provided with a plurality of source information. If the multiplex reception processing capability for simultaneously performing the reception processing of the image information from the device is exceeded, the transmission source information device in which the address information is stored in the transmission source address information storage unit among the plurality of transmission source information devices. Control means for rejecting the connection, and controlling to suspend the connection with respect to the source information device whose address information is not stored in the source address information storage means. Network facsimile machine. 2. A network facsimile apparatus comprising a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving image information to and from a plurality of other information devices connected via a network, wherein the image facsimile is transmitted to a plurality of information devices among the plurality of other information devices. Low multiplex transmission processing ability to simultaneously perform information transmission processing,
And / or a source address information storage unit that stores address information of a source information device that does not have the multiplex transmission processing capability; and stores the address information of the source information device in a state where transmission processing is suspended. A reception waiting address information storage unit that stores the order in which the reception processing is performed by the transmission / reception unit, and a reception request simultaneously generated from the plurality of other information devices simultaneously performs a reception process of image information from a plurality of transmission source information devices. If the multiplex reception processing capacity is exceeded, the connection is suspended and, for the source information device whose address information is stored in the source address information storage unit, the connection is stored in the reception waiting address information storage unit. And the source information is stored in the source address information storage means. Control means for controlling the order of performing the reception processing in the order stored earlier in the reception-waiting address information storage means for the source information equipment that is not present, the network facsimile apparatus comprising: . 3. A network facsimile apparatus having a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving image information to and from a plurality of other information devices connected via a network, wherein when transmitting image information, a predetermined time has elapsed since a reception request was issued. Even if there is no command response from the receiving-side information device and there is image information that is in a standby state for transmission by the transmission / reception unit in addition to the image information to be transmitted, the command timeout does not occur. A network facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit that disconnects a connection and controls transmission of image information in a state of waiting for transmission. 4. The source address information storage means stores the address information of a source information device having a low multiplex transmission processing capability and / or having no multiplex transmission processing capability, together with a priority, The control means, for a source information device whose address information is stored in the source address information storage means,
When rearranging the order of performing the reception processing of the reception waiting address information storage unit so that the source information device is earlier, the address information of the source information device having the higher priority is set to the earlier order. 3. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: 5. A facsimile system in which three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile device. Any one of the network facsimile apparatuses has a low multiplex transmission processing capability for simultaneously transmitting image information to a plurality of information apparatuses among other information apparatuses, and / or the multiplex transmission. Source address information storage means for storing address information of a source information device having no processing capability; and a reception request simultaneously generated from the other information devices, a process of receiving image information from a plurality of source information devices. If the multiplex reception processing capability to be performed simultaneously is exceeded, the transmission The connection is refused to the source information device whose address information is stored in the source address information storage unit, and the connection is denied to the source information device whose address information is not stored in the source address information storage unit. And f. A control means for controlling so as to suspend the facsimile system. 6. A facsimile system in which three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile device. Any one of the network facsimile apparatuses has a low multiplex transmission processing capability for simultaneously transmitting image information to a plurality of information apparatuses among other information apparatuses, and / or the multiplex transmission. Source address information storage means for storing address information of a source information device having no processing capability, and reception processing of the address information of the source information device in a state where transmission processing is suspended is performed by the transmission / reception means. Reception waiting address information storage means for storing the information together with the order; If the simultaneously generated reception request exceeds the multiplex reception processing capability of simultaneously receiving image information from a plurality of source information devices, the connection is suspended and the address information is stored in the source address information storage unit. The stored source information devices are rearranged so that the order of the reception processing stored in the reception waiting address information storage means is made earlier, and the address information is stored in the source address information storage means. A facsimile system comprising: a control unit that controls, as to the transmission source information device that is not present, the order in which the reception processing is performed earlier in the order in which it is stored earlier in the reception waiting address information storage unit. 7. A facsimile system in which three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile device. When transmitting image information, any one of the network facsimile devices does not receive a command response from the receiving information device even after a certain period of time has elapsed after issuing a reception request, and attempts to perform the transmission. If there is image information that is in a standby state for transmission by the transmission / reception means in addition to the image information, the connection is disconnected even if a command timeout does not occur, and the transmission of the image information in a standby state for the transmission is performed. A facsimile system having control means for controlling the facsimile operation. 8. The source address information storage means stores the address information of a source information device having a low multiplex transmission processing capability and / or having no multiplex transmission processing capability, together with a priority order, The control means, for a source information device whose address information is stored in the source address information storage means,
When rearranging the order of performing the reception processing of the reception waiting address information storage unit so that the source information device is earlier, the address information of the source information device having the higher priority is set to the earlier order. 7. The facsimile system according to claim 6, wherein: 9. A method for controlling a facsimile system in which three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile device. An arbitrary one of the at least one network facsimile apparatus has a low multiplex transmission processing capability of simultaneously transmitting image information to a plurality of information apparatuses among other information apparatuses, and / or A source address information storing step of storing address information of a source information device having no multiplex transmission processing capability, wherein a reception request simultaneously generated from the other information devices is image information from a plurality of source information devices. If the multiplex reception processing capability of simultaneously performing the reception processing is exceeded, the plurality of transmission source information devices Out of the source information device in which the address information is stored in the source address information storing step, and the source information in which the address information is not stored in the source address information storing step. A method for controlling a facsimile system, wherein a connection is held for a device. 10. A method for controlling a facsimile system in which three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile device. An arbitrary one of the at least one network facsimile apparatus has a low multiplex transmission processing capability of simultaneously transmitting image information to a plurality of information apparatuses among other information apparatuses, and / or A source address information storing step of storing address information of a source information device having no multiplex transmission processing capability, and an address information of a source information device in a state where transmission processing is suspended, A reception waiting address information storing step of storing together with the order of performing the reception processing,
When the reception request simultaneously generated from the other information devices exceeds the multiplex reception processing capability of simultaneously receiving image information from a plurality of transmission source information devices, suspending the connection and transmitting the For the transmission source information device in which the address information is stored in the source address information storage step, the transmission order is rearranged so that the order of the reception processing stored in the reception waiting address information storage step is made earlier. For the source information device in which the address information is not stored in the source address information storing step, the order in which the receiving process is performed is earlier in the order in which the information is stored earlier in the receiving waiting address information storing step. A method of controlling a facsimile system. 11. A method for controlling a facsimile system in which three or more information devices having transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving image information via a network are connected, and at least one of the information devices is a network facsimile device. Any one of the at least one network facsimile apparatus, when transmitting image information, does not receive a command response from the receiving side information device even after a certain period of time has passed since issuing the reception request, and performs the transmission. If there is image information that is in a standby state for transmission in the transmission / reception process in addition to the image information to be transmitted, the connection is disconnected even if the command timeout does not occur, and the image in the transmission standby state is set. A method for controlling a facsimile system characterized by transmitting information. 12. In the source address information storing step, the address information of a source information device having a low multiplex transmission processing capability and / or having no multiplex transmission processing capability is stored together with a priority. For the source information device in which the address information is stored in the source address information storage step, the order in which the reception process is performed in the reception waiting address information storage step is set so that the source information device becomes earlier. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein when rearranging, the address information of the transmission source information device having the higher priority is set to the earlier order.
A facsimile system control method as described in the above.