JP2003179716A - Communication apparatus with web server function and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To handle a document or to set a document reserving period by the same operation as performing access from a client machine to a home page while using a web server. <P>SOLUTION: Facsimile receiving or electronic mail receiving of data is performed via a telephone line or network line and the file of the received data is stored in an external storage part 4. Afterwards, the stored data are printed by a printer 5. Besides, a setting picture file for setting whether the data are to be printed by the printer 5 or to be maintained in a state of storage in the external storage part 4 is stored in an HTML file. Corresponding to a request from a connected terminal, a WWW server part 12 transmits the setting file to the terminal. When setting is instructed through the setting file in the terminal, according to this instruction, it is distinguished and controlled whether the data are to be printed or the state of storage in the external storage part 4 as a file is to be maintained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device such as a network facsimile device capable of transmitting and receiving facsimile data and electronic mail data by connecting to a network such as a telephone line network, the Internet or a LAN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, personal computers, workstations, FAX servers, etc. have been connected to a network to perform e-mail, homepage browsing, and facsimile transmission / reception.

FIG. 18 shows a system configuration when facsimile transmission / reception is performed using a FAX server. The reception operation at the client machine (personal computer) is as follows. First, the FAX modem 1001 receives image data when a telephone line is received,
Pass it to the X server 1002. The FAX server software running on the FAX server 1002 receives the image data and stores it as an image data file in the file server 1003 via the network.
The storage of the facsimile reception data is completed by this point.

In order to load the received image data into the client machine 1004, the user activates a dedicated application on the client machine 1004 and reads the image data file from the file server 1003 via the network.

Recently, Internet FAX and W
A method of reusing facsimile reception data in combination with a WW server has also been proposed. This utilizes the function of the Internet FAX to convert the data received from the telephone line into an electronic mail.

FIG. 19 shows the Internet FAX and WWW.
The system configuration for sending and receiving facsimiles using a server is shown below. The reception operation on the client machine will be described.

First, the image data received by the Internet FAX 1101 via the telephone line is converted into an attached file format of an electronic mail within the Internet FAX and is attached to the WWW server 1 as an attached file of the electronic mail.
Sent to 103.

The electronic mail transferred from the Internet FAX 1101 is received by the electronic mail server 1102 via the network. E-mail server 11
The e-mail received by 02 is transferred again to the WWW server 1103 which is the destination via the network.

The WWW server 1103 stores the attached file of the electronic mail as image data and links it to the home page for facsimile reception. The storage of the facsimile reception data is completed by this point.

The received data is sent to the client machine 1104.
In order to import into
Start WWW browser on 04 and start WWW server 11
Access the 03 fax reception home page.
Then, the image data file is read from the WWW server 1103 to the client machine 1104 via the network.

When the image data downloaded to the client machine 1104 is broadcasted to a plurality of other terminals, the user performs the following work. G3
In the case of broadcast transmission to the terminal of the facsimile device, the image is transferred from the client machine 1104 to the printer, a print instruction is issued, the image printed out from the printer is set in the facsimile device, and the telephone number of the broadcast destination is input. After that, press the send button. Also, when sending a broadcast to the terminal of the e-mail device, set multiple e-mail addresses of the broadcast destination to the destination on the e-mail software,
You will need to attach the image data to the mail body and press the send button.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a network facsimile apparatus which can reduce network traffic due to data transfer and can be easily broadcast by only an instruction from a client machine. .

[0013]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a receiving means for receiving data from the outside via a line, a storing means for storing the data received by the receiving means, and a storing means. Printing means for printing data,
A setting screen file for setting whether to print in the printing unit or to maintain the state of being stored in the storing unit is stored as a structured description document, and the setting is performed according to a request from a connected terminal. The web server means for transmitting the screen file to the terminal, and the control means for controlling the accumulating means and the printing means according to the instruction when setting is instructed via the setting screen file in the terminal .

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, a storage means for storing a communication result report and a communication result report are sent to the terminal when a display instruction of the communication result report is received by a connection from the terminal. And a sending means for doing so.

According to this structure, the result sent by the instruction from the client is sent to the client as a communication result report, so that the user can know his own sending result on the client.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a storage means for storing the communication result report and a menu screen for displaying the communication result report, and a menu screen sent from the storage means to the terminal by connection from the terminal, When receiving an instruction to display the communication result report via the menu screen,
And a sending means for sending the communication result report.

According to this structure, the user can input the display instruction of the communication result report via the menu screen, and the user can know the transmission result of himself / herself on the client.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a storage means for storing a communication result report and a menu screen for displaying the communication result report in an HTML file are connected to the storage means by inputting a URL from the terminal. A menu screen is sent to the terminal, and a sending means is provided for sending the communication result report when a display instruction of the communication result report is received via the menu screen.

According to this configuration, the user can input the display instruction of the communication result report in the home page format, and the user can know the transmission result of himself / herself on the client.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the transmitting device of the above aspect, a communication means for communicating data, and an HT stored in the storage means each time the communication means communicates.
And an updating unit for updating the communication result report formed by the ML file.

With this configuration, the communication result report can be updated in real time.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the transmitter of the above aspect, the communication means performs facsimile transmission.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the transmission device of the above aspect, the communication means performs electronic mail transmission.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the transmission device of the above aspect, the menu screen includes an instruction screen for setting an address book.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows functional blocks of the network facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment. ROM2, RA in CPU1 operating on the operating system
The M3 and the external storage unit 4 are connected to the CPU 1 so that they can be accessed. Various programs such as a server side processing program are stored in the ROM 2, and the RAM 3 is stored in the RO 3.
It is used as a work area for programs stored in M2. The external storage unit 4 also stores compressed image data, HTML files, and the like.

Further, the network facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment includes a scanner section 5, a printer section 6, a panel section 7, a compression / expansion section 8, a FAX / voice communication section 9 and a network control section 10. These components are configured to operate under the control of the CPU 1.

In this network facsimile apparatus, the scanner unit 5 reads image data such as a document, and the printer unit 6 prints the read image data or the received image data. In addition, the panel unit 7 allows the user to perform operations such as image reading instructions and input of destinations of the transmission destination.
The decompression unit 8 decompresses the image data received or compresses the read image data. The FAX / voice communication unit 9 is connected to a telephone line to perform facsimile communication and voice communication, and the network control unit 10 is connected to a network to perform electronic mail communication.

The program stored in the ROM 2 contains H
Each program of the TML file generation unit 11, the WWW server unit 12, the electronic mail communication unit 13, and the TIFF conversion unit 14 is included. HTML file generator 11, WW
The W server unit 12, the electronic mail communication unit 13, and the TIFF conversion unit 14 are functions provided by the CPU 1 executing these programs, but for convenience of explanation, they are added to the program itself as shown in FIG. Reference numerals are used to describe their functions.

The HTML file generation unit 11 is a functional block that converts a list of image data received by FAX and email and the like into an HTML file that can be browsed on a home page and performs server registration.

The WWW server section 12 communicates with the WWW browser according to the HTTP protocol,
Provides a server function such as delivery of home page data (HTML file).

The e-mail communication unit 13 sends and receives e-mails via the network and also functions as an e-mail server. Further, the TIFF conversion unit 14 converts the encoded facsimile data and document file data into T
Provides a function to convert to IFF format. When the scanner unit 5 or the stored facsimile data is transmitted by e-mail, the TIFF conversion unit 14 converts the data into the TIFF format, and creates an e-mail including this TIFF file as an attachment file. That is, the TIFF file is text-coded and put in the data part of the composite structured mail such as MIME. On the other hand, when the data received by e-mail is transmitted by facsimile, the electronic file portion of the e-mail is converted from the text code into a TIFF file by binary conversion. In addition, the TIFF conversion unit 14
Extract the F file. If uncompressed, the compression / decompression unit 8 further transmits data to which compression processing such as MH is added.

FIG. 2 shows a system configuration when the network facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment is connected to a telephone line and a network. In FIG. 2, the network facsimile apparatus 201 is connected to a telephone line and is also connected to a network via a network interface. WW on the client machine 202
By operating the W browser, the home page provided on the network facsimile apparatus 201 can be browsed.

In FIG. 3, the HTML file generator 11, W
WW server section 12, e-mail communication section 13, TIFF
The functional blocks of the conversion unit 14 and the FAX / voice communication unit 9 and the flow of data processing between the blocks are shown.

In the WWW server section 12, the WWW server communication section 31 communicates with the WWW browser operating on the client machine 202 according to the HTTP protocol. The WWW server communication unit 31 is the client machine 2
The command received from 02 is the CGI string parser 3
Analyzed in 2.

The CGI string analysis unit 32 analyzes the CGI string included in the received data, transfers the analysis result to the CGI application determination unit 33, and activates the corresponding CGI application 34. The CGI application 34 executes a predetermined process using the received data.
The CGI application 34 includes applications such as transmission, deletion of HTML document, editing and movement, address book generation, and device setting.

The file sending unit 35 receives the file for which a file request is issued from the client machine 202 from the file management unit 36 and passes it to the WWW server communication unit 31. In the case of a file request for which CGI processing has not been requested, the file transmission unit 35 requests the file management unit 36 for the corresponding file.

The HTML file generating section 11 includes a document list generating section 37 for generating an HTML file of a document list and an address book generating section 38 for generating an HTML file of an address book.

The document list generation unit 37 is an HTML of the reception list displaying the reception electronic mail and the reception FAX.
A file is created, and a part of the HTML file is deleted, edited, moved, etc. according to a command and received data given from the CGI application 34.

The address book generation unit 38 uses the address book CG
The HTML file of the address book is modified by the command and received data from the I application. The address book generator 38 also executes a process of incorporating the latest address table data into the HTML file of the address book when the power is turned on or when the contents of the address book are changed.

The HTML file generator 11 includes a communication result list generator 39 and a status information generator 41.
Equipped with. The communication result list generation unit 39 receives the log information indicating the communication result from the FAX / voice communication unit 9 and the electronic mail communication unit 13, and creates / updates the HTML file representing the communication result list. The status information generator 41
An HTML in which the status of each of the above sections is registered by taking in status signals indicating the status (paper jam, toner shortage, communication in progress, etc.) from the scanner section 5, the printer section 6, the panel section 7, and the FAX / voice communication section 9. Create / update files.

The FAX / voice communication unit 9 is a spooler 4
2. The communication control unit 43 and the storage processing unit 44 are provided. The spooler 42 receives a transmission processing instruction, a transmission document number or a temporary document, a FAX number of a destination terminal, etc. from the transmission CGI application. When the transmission document number is passed, the transmission data (image) of the corresponding document number is taken out from the external storage unit 4. The communication control unit 43 puts the image data passed from the spooler 42 in a transmission buffer, connects it to a telephone line, and transmits it to the FAX number of the destination terminal. In the case of broadcast transmission, a plurality of FAX numbers to be broadcast destinations are spooled from the transmitting CGI application to the spooler 42.

The e-mail communication unit 13 uses the spooler 4
5, a communication control unit 46 and a storage processing unit 47. The spooler 45 receives a transmission processing instruction, a transmission document number or a temporary document, a mail address of a destination terminal, etc. from the transmission CGI application. When the transmission document number is passed, the transmission data of the corresponding document number is taken out from the external storage unit 4. The communication control unit 43 puts the image data passed from the spooler 42 in a transmission buffer, connects to a LAN or various networks represented by the Internet by dial-up, and transmits to the address of the destination terminal. In the case of broadcast transmission, a plurality of electronic mail addresses to be broadcast destinations are spooled from the transmission CGI application to the spooler 42.

Next, the operation of the network facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, the operations of generating the reception list, broadcasting the accumulated data, setting the device, and creating the communication result report will be described separately.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart from data reception to reception list generation. The network facsimile apparatus registers the reception list of the reception data received by the FAX / voice communication unit 9 or the electronic mail communication unit 13 on the home page.

When data reception occurs, it is determined whether the reception mode is a telephone line or a network (ST401). The case where the electronic mail communication unit 13 receives the electronic mail is the reception from the network. In this case, the e-mail communication unit 13 receives the e-mail (ST402), and the attached data is TIFF (T
In the case of image data in the ag Images File Format) format, for example, “mail0001.
A file name such as “tif” is given and stored in the external storage unit 4 (ST407).
dio0001. A file name such as "wav" is given and stored in the external storage unit 4 (ST407).

On the other hand, the case where the FAX / voice communication unit 9 receives FAX data or voice data is reception from the telephone line. In the case of reception from the telephone line, the FAX / voice communication unit 9 receives image data or voice data (ST403), and determines whether the received data is voice data (ST404). When the received data is encoded image data, the TIFF conversion unit 14 is requested to convert the encoded data into the TIFF format (ST405). TI
A file name (for example, “fax0001.tif”) is given to the received data (image data) converted into the FF format and stored in the external storage unit 4 (ST407). If the received data is voice data, the voice data is digitally converted (ST406), and the voice file with the file name is stored in the external storage unit 4 (ST407).

Next, a process for creating a communication result report, which will be described later, is executed (ST408). Then, referring to the device setting, it is determined whether or not only the print setting is set (ST409). The FAX / voice communication unit 9 and the E-mail communication unit 13 take out the device setting data indicating how to handle the received data from the external storage unit 4 when the power is turned on and store the device setting data. If only print is set, the received data is converted into a printable format, passed to the printer 6, and a print instruction is issued (ST410). After the printing process, the file management unit 36 is instructed to delete the received data (ST411). On the other hand, when the print only setting is not set, it is determined whether the save only setting is set (ST412). Client machine 202
When the received data is downloaded to, only saving is required and printing is not required, so that “saving only” can be specified as the device setting. When the setting is "save only", the reception list creation process is executed without executing the print process (ST414). Also,
If the "save only" setting is not made, the print processing is instructed (ST413), and then the reception list is created (S
T414).

The reception list creation processing of step ST414 is realized by the HTML file generation section 11 adding a file name to the reception list and updating the HTML file of the reception list.

The update of the HTML file of the reception list will be specifically described. The document list generation unit 37 of the HTML file generation unit 11 displays the HTM of the reception list.
Update the L file. Document list generator 37
Manages the reception list table stored in the external storage unit 4. FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the reception list management table. In the reception list table, the document numbers assigned in the order of reception, and the document file name, registration date, sender, and title are registered for each document number.

The document list generating section 37 receives the received fax / voice communication section 9 or electronic mail communication section 13.
The document file name, registration date, sender, and subject are passed from. The reception list is read out via the file management unit 36, the document number is added to the reception list, and the document file name, registration date, sender, and title are registered therein. The reception list in which the document name of the reception data is registered is returned to the reception list table, and the reception list html (HTML file of the reception list) is read.

FIG. 6 shows a source file of the reception list html created for the reception data received from the network. As shown in the figure, a comment line is inserted at the beginning of each reception list, and the identification data indicating the reception form and the document number are described at the position of the comment line.
Then, following the comment line, the document number, date and time, sender,
The title is described in an HTML document.

It should be noted that it is assumed that an HTML document list is similarly generated for a FAX reception list for image data received by FAX and a voice reception list for received voice data.

In this way, the FAX / voice communication unit 9
When the X data is received or the electronic mail communication unit 13 receives the electronic mail, the data (sender, title, etc.) necessary for creating the list is input to the document list generation unit 37, and the document list generation unit 37 receives the received list. HT
Since the ML file is read from the external storage unit 4 and added to the reception list, the client machine 202
Can access the WWW server unit 12 to provide the latest reception list in a home page format.

Next, the operation of sending the data received and accumulated by the network facsimile apparatus to the client machine 202 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The network facsimile apparatus is in a standby state until the home page address (URL address) is input.

The client machine 202 connected to the network activates the WWW browser (home page browsing software) to display the URL of the network facsimile apparatus.
Enter the address to access the homepage (ST
701).

In the accessed network facsimile machine, the WWW server section 12 starts processing through the network control section 10. The file sending unit 35 of the WWW server unit 12 receives the command requesting the file (index html) of the main screen of the home page received from the client machine 202, reads the corresponding file from the external storage unit 4, and reads the WWW of the client machine 202. Return to browser (ST702). Figure 8
A file relation table of HTML files registered in the external storage unit 4 is shown in FIG. The files required to display the home page are associated with the files on the main page of the home page.

The WWW browser of the client machine 202 uses the file (htm) on the main screen of the home page.
When l) is received, the content is analyzed and a command requesting a file necessary for displaying a home page is sent to the WWW server section 12 (ST703). For example,
If the main screen of the home page as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed, a fax reception document, Internet reception document, personal box, bulletin board document, address book,
Files required for displaying icons of the communication result report, user settings, and setting list (sdoc.
gif, kdoc. gif etc.) WWW server section 1
Request for 2.

When the WWW server section 12 receives a file request required to display the main screen of the home page, it sends the file stored in the external storage section 4 to the WWW browser of the client machine 202 (ST7).
04). As a result, the home page of the network facsimile apparatus is displayed on the screen of client machine 202 (ST705). The network facsimile machine stands by until the next selection is made.

It waits until the icon desired by the user is selected on the client machine 202 on which the main screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. For example, assume that "Internet reception list" is selected from the display data.
When the "Internet reception list" icon is selected, a file request for the Internet reception list linked to the icon display position is generated (ST7).
06).

As shown in FIG. 8, the HTML file (idoc.ht) of the Internet received document screen is displayed in the icon (idoc.gif) of the "Internet reception list".
ml) is linked. WWW browser is ido
c. You can display the internet reception list from html. In the WWW server unit 12, idoc.
When the html file request is received, the corresponding file is read from the external storage unit 4 and the client machine 202
(ST707).

The WWW browser of client machine 202 displays the "Internet reception list" screen (Internet reception document screen) according to the HTML file of the "Internet reception list" received from WWW server section 12 (ST708).

FIG. 10 shows an example of the structure of the Internet received document screen. The received document screen shown in the figure displays the document number of the received data registered in the reception list, the check button for selecting each document number, and the attached information of each document. Further, a frame menu including transmission processing is displayed. As shown in FIG. 8, each file is associated with another file for executing a process (for example, transmission) corresponding to the menu.

The user selects a desired document number from the Internet received document screen on the client machine (ST709). The network facsimile device, which has been requested the file of the selected document number, sends out the corresponding image data file (ST710). Depending on the file format, the downloaded file may not be displayed on the client machine 202. For example, TIFF
Client machine that cannot display files in the specified format 20
When the TIFF file is downloaded to S2 (S
(T711), it is displayed via a helper application for displaying the TIFF file (ST712) (ST713).

In the above example, the case of displaying the data received by the network has been described. However, when the audio file is selected, the linked audio data is reproduced from the speaker of the client machine. In addition to voice data received from the outside, voice data includes voice data that is picked up by the handset of the network facsimile machine, and these can be linked to a home page.
You can call outside.

Next, the operation of the present network facsimile apparatus for broadcasting will be described. In Figure 11,
6 shows a series of flowcharts from the client instructing the network facsimile apparatus to perform a broadcast transmission and the broadcast to the destination.

In FIG. 11, the process from the client accessing the network facsimile apparatus using the URL to displaying the reception list (ST701 to S
(T708) is as described in FIG. 7.

Now, it is assumed that the Internet received document is displayed on the client machine 202 in step ST708. The user selects the document number to be broadcast-transmitted from the Internet received document shown in FIG. 10 (S
T1101). When the FAX reception data is transmitted to other terminals (including the broadcast transmission) from the reception data stored in the network facsimile apparatus, the FAX reception document screen is displayed as a reception list. The FAX received document screen has the same structure as the Internet received document.

On the Internet received document screen, when the check button corresponding to the document number to be transmitted is selected and the transmission button is pressed, the selected document number is held in the client machine, as shown in FIG. A file request for a transmission instruction screen file (pnl.snd.html) associated with the transmission button is issued to the (ST1102). The HTML document forming the Internet received document screen has a link from the send button to the send instruction screen file (pnl.snd.html).

The WWW server unit 12 extracts the transmission instruction screen file from the external storage unit 4 in response to the file request for the transmission instruction screen file (pnl.snd.html) and sends it to the client machine 202 (ST1103). . The client machine 202 is W
The transmission instruction screen file is received from the WW server unit 12, and the window of the transmission instruction screen is opened (ST1104).

FIG. 12 shows the structure of the transmission instruction screen displayed according to the transmission instruction screen file. A box is provided for inputting the document number of the received data to be transmitted, the fax number of the transmission destination, and / or the mail address.

In step ST1105, the data (document number, facsimile number, mail address, etc.) necessary for transmission is input, but the document number of the transmission target selected and saved in step ST1101 is automatically inserted in the document number box. To be done. If the destination terminal is a facsimile machine, enter the facsimile number in the destination fax number box. If the destination terminal is an electronic mail device, enter the email address in the destination email address box.

Further, a facsimile number and a mail address can be entered using the address book. This address book is stored in the external storage unit 4 of the network facsimile apparatus in the HTML format, and is reread (R
When the eload) button is pressed, it is downloaded from the network facsimile machine and displayed on the transmission instruction screen so that it can be selected.

In the case of broadcast transmission to a plurality of terminals, a plurality of facsimile numbers or mail addresses entered in the fax number box or mail address box are separated by commas. Even when a plurality of document numbers are selected in step ST1101, a plurality of document numbers are separated by commas and input.

If both the fax number and the mail address are entered, the information is broadcast to the facsimile machine and the electronic mail machine. If only one of the fax number and the e-mail address is entered, it will be a normal facsimile transmission or e-mail transmission.

When the "OK" button provided on the transmission instruction screen shown in FIG. 12 is pressed, a CGI processing request is sent to the WWW server section 12 (ST1106). CG
Depending on the I processing request, the CGI string for instructing the transmission CGI application, the document number entered on the transmission instruction screen, the facsimile number, the mail address, etc. are UR.
It is L-encoded and sent to the WWW server unit 12.

The WWW server section 12 executes the transmission CGI application in response to the CGI processing request and transmits the designated document to the designated destination (ST110.
7). After the transmission is completed, the end file is transmitted to client machine 202 (ST1107). The client machine 202 receives the end file and displays completion (ST1108).

FIG. 13 shows a schematic operation until the processing of the CGI application is executed in the WWW server section 12. The WWW server communication unit 31 uses the HTT
By operating according to the P protocol, the client machine 202 receives a request via the network and returns a response. WWW server communication unit 31
The request received by the command is roughly divided into a file request and a CGI processing request by the command.

The received data (request) received by the WWW server communication unit 31 is the CGI string analysis unit 32.
Given to. The CGI string analysis section 32 analyzes the CGI string of the received data (ST1300).
In case of file request, since there is no CGI string,
The file sending section 35 fetches the corresponding file from the external storage section 4 based on the document number included in the received data and returns it to the client (ST1301).

The CGI string analysis section 32 decodes the URL-encoded portion of the received data (ST1302). The decoded data that is the analysis result of the CGI string is passed to the CGI application determining unit 33. The CGI application determining unit 33 adds the CG to the decoded data.
If I processing is requested but the application name is not specified, an error judgment is made (ST1303, ST
1304). If an error is determined, the file sending unit 3
The error notification is sent to the external storage unit 4, the error notification HTML file is taken out from the external storage unit 4, and is sent to the client machine (ST1305).

The CGI application judging section 33 judges the CGI application specified in the CGI string. First, when it is determined that the transmission CGI application is designated (ST1306), the transmission CGI is
The application is activated, the received data is passed, and a transmission process described later is executed (ST1307). If it is determined that the device setting CGI application is designated (ST1308), the device setting CGI application is activated to pass the received data, and the device setting process described later is executed (ST1309). Although not shown in FIG. 13, if other CGI applications supported by the WWW server unit 12 of this embodiment are instructed, those CGI applications are executed.

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of the transmission process (ST1307) in this network facsimile apparatus. The transmission CGI application receives the reception data including the document number, the facsimile number of the transmission destination, or the mail address received from the client machine 202 from the CGI application determination unit 33.

It is determined whether or not there are a plurality of documents to be sent in one transmission (ST1401). Step ST1101 above
If a plurality of document numbers are selected from the reception list in (FIG. 12), or if a plurality of document numbers are input in the document number box in step ST1105, ST
In the determination of 1401, it is determined that a plurality of documents are designated.

When a plurality of document numbers are designated on the transmission instruction screen, the transmission data corresponding to each document number is merged into one document (ST1402). By merging a plurality of documents into one document, a plurality of designated documents can be sent in one communication. The merged document is treated as a temporary document. If only one document is specified, merge processing is not necessary.

Then, it is judged whether the facsimile transmission or the electronic mail transmission should be performed to the destination terminal. It is determined whether or not the facsimile number is entered in the facsimile number box on the transmission instruction screen (ST1403).
If the facsimile number is input, facsimile transmission is executed (ST1404).

The procedure of facsimile transmission will be specifically described. The transmission CGI application transfers the temporary document, the facsimile number, and a facsimile transmission command to the spooler 42 of the FAX / voice communication unit 9. In the case of broadcast transmission, a plurality of facsimile numbers are spooled in the spooler 42. The spooler 42 inputs the storage address of the temporary document and the facsimile number to the communication control unit 43. In the case of broadcast communication, the plurality of spooled facsimile numbers are sequentially passed to the communication control unit 43 together with the storage address of the temporary document. The communication control unit 43 connects the line to the facsimile number given by the spooler 42 and transmits the temporary document by facsimile. After the data transmission to all the destinations is completed, the temporary document is deleted.

If a plurality of documents are not designated on the transmission instruction screen, no temporary document is created. When the designated document is one document, the document number is input as it is to the spooler 42. In this case, the spooler 42
Captures the document corresponding to the specified document number from the external storage unit 4 via the file management unit 36.

The setting as to whether or not to leave the transmitted document in the external storage unit 4 is registered in the ROM, and the setting data is stored in the memory of the FAX / voice communication unit 9 and the electronic mail communication unit 13 when the power is turned on. The above is loaded into. If the above setting is “delete”, the spooler 42 instructs the file management unit 36 to delete the relevant document from the external storage unit 4.

When the facsimile transmission ends, the communication control unit 43 notifies the communication result list generation unit 39 of the HTML file generation unit 11 of the transmission result (normal end, abnormal end) as log information. The communication result list generation unit 39 adds the received log information to the communication result list (ST14).
05). Therefore, when the log information is received, the communication result file created by the HTML document is retrieved from the external storage unit 4. After the log information is added to the extracted communication result file, it is stored in the external storage unit 4.

When the facsimile transmission processing as described above is completed, the electronic mail transmission processing is executed. In the e-mail transmission process, it is determined whether or not the e-mail address is entered in the e-mail address box on the transmission instruction screen (ST1406). If the e-mail address is entered, e-mail transmission is executed (ST140
7). If no e-mail address is entered, no e-mail device is designated as the destination terminal, and no e-mail is sent.

The procedure until the sending CGI application supplies the storage address or document number and the mail address of the temporary document to the spooler 45 of the electronic mail communication section 13 is the same as the above-mentioned facsimile transmission procedure. In the case of electronic mail, one communication can be sent to multiple mail addresses. Therefore, in the case of broadcast transmission, the spooler 45 sends all mail addresses at once to the communication control unit 46.
Hand over to. If a document other than the TIFF format is designated, the document is converted into the TIFF format and then transmitted.

When the electronic mail transmission ends, the communication control unit 46 notifies the communication result list generation unit 39 of the HTML file generation unit 11 of the transmission result as log information. Communication result list generating section 39 adds the received log information to the communication result list (ST1408).

If both the facsimile number and the mail address have been entered, the above-mentioned facsimile transmission and electronic mail transmission processes are executed respectively.

When the facsimile transmission process and the electronic mail transmission process are completed as described above, the HTML file of the process completion message is transmitted to the client machine 202 (ST1409). The transmission CGI application inputs the destination information (facsimile number, e-mail address) and the temporary document (storage location) or the document number to the spoolers 42 and 45, and requests the file management unit 36 for the HTML file of the processing completion message, A request to send the file is sent to the file sending unit 35.

As a result, at the client machine 202 which issued the CGI processing request, the H of the processing completion message H
The TML file can be received and the message can be displayed to inform the user that the processing is completed.

Next, the operation for setting the handling (printing, saving) of the fax received document and the network received document will be described. When the user setting icon is selected from the home page main screen in step 706, the client machine 202 sends a file request for the HTML file linked to the user setting icon to the WWW server unit 12. In the WWW server unit 12 which has received the file request for the HTML file for user setting, the file sending unit 35 takes out the corresponding user setting html from the external storage unit 4 and sends it to the client machine 202.

In the client machine 202, the WWW browser displays the user setting screen from the user setting html. FIG. 15 shows a configuration example of the user setting screen. On the user setting screen, three patterns can be set for handling the received document for each of the fax received document and the network received document. (A) Print only settings,
There are three types of settings: (b) save only setting, and (c) print and save setting. Further, the document storage period can be set for each of the fax reception document and the network reception document. In the example shown in FIG. 15, the storage period is divided into one day, one week, and one month, but the storage period may be set arbitrarily. When the user selects the document type, the document handling type, and the retention period on the user setting screen and selects the setting button, a CGI processing request of the device setting CGI application is sent to the WWW server section 12 together with the setting data. Send.

In the WWW server section 12, the device setting CGI application is activated from the CGI application determining section 33 and the setting data is passed. FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of the device setting process relating to the setting of the received document. The device setting CGI application is the CGI application determining unit 33.
When activated, it receives the setting data related to the settings of the received document.

The device setting CGI application determines whether the setting data (a) print only is set for each of the fax received document and the network received document (ST1601). If any of the received documents is set to (a) print only, 1 is set to the flag of the setting table of the received document (ST1602). Flag = 1 means (a) print only setting. Also, (b) it is judged whether or not the setting is only for saving (ST1603). If any of the received documents is set to (b) save only, the flag of the setting table of the received document is set to 2 (ST1).
604). Flag = 2 means (b) setting only for saving. If neither of steps ST1601 and ST1603 is applicable, 3 is set to the flag of the setting table of the received document (ST1605). Flag = 3 means (c) print and save settings.

The setting table with the flags set is passed to the file management unit 36 and stored in the external storage unit 4. The storage area of the external storage unit 4 in which the setting table is stored is read by the file management unit 36 when the power is turned on, and the setting table is loaded into the spoolers 42 and 45.

Further, the device setting CGI application similarly registers the setting data in the setting table for setting the retention period of the document and stores it in the external storage unit 4.
Then, when the power is turned on, the file management unit 36 is loaded and referred to periodically to delete the corresponding document.

As described above, the HTML document screen in which the user handles the document and the document storage period is designated by the user in response to the request from the client machine 202 is displayed on the client machine, and the data and the device setting instruction inputted by the user are displayed. Since it is passed to the WWW server unit 12 and reflected in the setting table, the handling of the document and the document storage period can be set by the same operation as accessing the home page from the client machine 202.

When the communication result report icon is selected from the home page main screen in step ST706, a file request for the communication result html linked to the communication result report is sent to the client machine 202.
From the WWW server unit 12. In the WWW server unit 12 which has received the file request for the HTML file for user setting, the file sending unit 35 takes out the corresponding communication result html from the external storage unit 4 and sends it to the client machine 202.

In the client machine 202, the WWW browser displays the screen of the you communication result report from the communication result html. FIG. 17 shows a screen example of the communication result report. In this network facsimile apparatus, when the facsimile communication and the electronic mail communication are performed, the transmission result and the reception result are input to the communication result list generation unit 39 in the form of log information. The communication result list generation unit 39 constantly updates the communication result html based on the log information of the transmission result and the reception result. Therefore, the communication result htm
By creating a communication result report based on l, the latest communication result is displayed. In the communication result,
It includes a reception number serially assigned to the transmission data and the reception data, communication date and time, destination, number of sheets, communication type (transmission, reception), communication time, mode, and communication status.

In this way, the communication result report is sent to HTML.
Since it is created as a document and linked to the main screen of the home page, the communication result report can be easily viewed on the client machine 202.

[0107]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, network traffic due to data transfer can be reduced, and the stored data can be transmitted to any destination simply by issuing a transmission instruction from the client side. It is possible to provide a network facsimile machine capable of doing the above. Also,
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a network facsimile apparatus which can reduce network traffic due to data transfer and can easily perform broadcast transmission only by an instruction from a client machine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a network facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a system in which the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment and a client machine are connected.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a flow of a part of processing in the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of operations from reception to reception list generation in the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a reception list management table

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of data of a source file of a reception list html.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a transmission operation of data received and accumulated by the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a file relation table of HTML files managed by the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a home page main screen provided by the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an Internet received document screen provided by the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation up to the completion of transmission in the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a transmission instruction screen presented in the above embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the WWW server communication unit in the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of transmission processing in the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of a user setting screen presented in the above embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a device setting process in the network facsimile device of the above embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of a communication result report screen presented in the above embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a facsimile transmission / reception system using a FAX server.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a facsimile transmission / reception system using an Internet FAX and a WWW server.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 External storage 5 Scanner section 6 Printer section 7 panel section 8 compression / decompression section 9 FAX / voice communication section 10 Network control unit 11 HTML file generator 12 WWW server section 13 E-mail communication department 14 TIFF converter 31 WWW server communication unit 32 CGI string analysis unit 33 CGI application judgment unit 34 CGI Application 35 File sending part 36 File Management Department 37 Document list generator 38 Address Book Generator 39 Communication result list generation unit 41 Status information generator

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. Receiving means for receiving data from the outside via a line, accumulating means for accumulating data received by the receiving means, printing means for printing the accumulated data, and whether or not the printing means prints. , A setting screen file for setting whether or not to be stored in the storage means is stored as a structured description document, and the setting screen file is transmitted to the terminal in response to a request from a connected terminal. A communication device with a web server function, comprising: a web server means for controlling the storage means; and a control means for controlling the accumulating means and the printing means according to the instruction when setting is instructed in the terminal via a setting screen file. 2. The communication device with a web server function according to claim 1, wherein the receiving means is a facsimile receiving means or an electronic mail receiving means. 3. The communication device with a web server function according to claim 1, wherein the setting screen file is composed of an HTML file. 4. The communication device with a web server function according to claim 1, wherein the setting processing via the setting screen file is executed by using a CGI application. 5. The web server means stores a storage period setting file for setting a storage period of the data received by the receiving means as a structured description document, and when there is a request from a connected terminal device, The communication device with a web server function according to claim 1, wherein the storage period setting file is transmitted. 6. Data is received from outside via a line,
In a communication method of storing received data in a storage unit and printing the stored data by a printing unit, a setting for setting whether the printing unit prints or maintains the state of being stored in the storage unit A screen file is stored as a structured description document, the setting screen file is transmitted to the terminal in response to a request from a connected terminal device, and the terminal device instructs the setting via the setting screen file. Then, according to this instruction, the storage means and the printing means are controlled, and a communication method using a web server function. 7. The communication method using the web server function according to claim 6, wherein when the data is received from the outside via a line, the data is received by a facsimile or an electronic mail. 8. The communication method using a web server function according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the setting screen file is composed of an HTML file. 9. The communication method using a web server function according to claim 6, wherein a setting process via the setting screen file is executed by using a CGI application.