JP2003189051A - Internet facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an Internet facsimile machine having a function of archiving a transmission/reception image data by transferring the transmission/ reception image data to a predetermined mail address for archiving, and capable of improving efficiency in the operation and management of the archived image data. <P>SOLUTION: The Internet facsimile machine 1 includes a means for designating, on a basis of communication types of the image data transmitted or received, a mail address for archiving, indication of whether or not the archiving is required, a format of the image data to be archived, and a file name of the image data to be archived. The Internet facsimile machine 1 also includes a means for archiving the image data according to the designation specified by the means for designation. <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 an internet facsimile machine, and more particularly to an internet facsimile machine having a function of storing transmitted / received image data in an external storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an internet facsimile machine having an internet facsimile communication function, or an internet facsimile machine having a facsimile communication function in addition to the communication function, transmission / reception image data by facsimile or internet facsimile is stored in an external storage device or the like. In order to save it, an archiving terminal device that can receive e-mail is placed over the network,
There is one having a function of storing the transmitted / received image data in the archive terminal device by attaching the transmitted / received image data to an electronic mail and transmitting it to the archive terminal device. According to this Internet facsimile machine, since the transmitted / received image data is stored outside, the storage capacity of the own apparatus (Internet facsimile machine itself) is not pressed and can be safely stored.

[0003]

However, according to such an Internet facsimile machine, in order to uniformly store all transmitted / received image data in the archiving terminal device, the contents of the stored image data, the file format, etc. Was not easy to operate and manage because it can be confirmed only after opening the saved email. In addition, since all transmission / reception image data are uniformly stored, the storage resources of the archive terminal device are wastefully consumed, unnecessary storage image data is increased, and the operational and management load is increased. There was also.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in an Internet facsimile apparatus having a function of archiving transmitted / received image data by transmitting it to a predetermined mail address for archiving, operation of stored image data, It is an object of the present invention to provide an internet facsimile apparatus that can improve management efficiency.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 archives image data transmitted / received by facsimile or internet facsimile by transmitting to a predetermined archiving mail address. In the Internet facsimile apparatus including the above, a means for designating archive setting information for each communication type of the transmitted / received image data and a means for archiving according to the designation by the means are provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the internet facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, the archive setting information includes an archiving mail address, necessity of archiving, a format of image data to be archived, and an image to be archived. It is characterized in that it is part or all of the file name of the data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an internet facsimile apparatus having a function of archiving transmission / reception image data transmitted by facsimile or internet facsimile to a predetermined archiving mail address. It is characterized by comprising means for writing a message at a location, means for designating the content of the message for each communication type of the transmitted / received image data, and means for archiving according to the designation by the means.

An internet facsimile apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the internet facsimile apparatus according to the first or third aspect, wherein the communication type is facsimile transmission, facsimile reception, internet facsimile transmission, or internet facsimile reception. There is.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An Internet facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a specific configuration example of the Internet facsimile machine. That is, the Internet facsimile machine 1 has a CPU (central processing unit).
2, RAM (random access memory) 3, ROM
(Read-only memory) 4, codec 5, modem 6, NCU (network control unit) 7,
A reading unit 8, a recording unit 9, an operating unit 10 and a LAN I / F (local area network interface) 11 are provided, and the units 2 to 11 are communicably connected by a bus 12.

The CPU 2 controls each part of the Internet facsimile machine 1 according to a predetermined program.

The RAM 3 functions as a storage unit for preliminarily storing a FAX number, a mail address, a communication management recording file described later, and the like, and a storage unit for temporarily storing various data and the like.

The ROM 4 stores various programs for the CPU 2 to control the operation of each unit of the Internet facsimile machine 1.

The codec 5 is for encoding / decoding corresponding to a plurality of protocols. That is, the image data of the read original is encoded by the MH or MR system for transmission, and the image data received from the outside is decoded. In addition, it also encodes and decodes in accordance with the TIFF method, which is an image format generally used as a file that can be attached to e-mail.

The modem 6 is, for example, ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union) recommendation V.6. The transmission / reception data is modulated and demodulated according to the 34 standard or the like.

The NCU 7 is a line network control unit for controlling a telephone line to make or disconnect a call.
It is connected to a TN (public switched telephone network) 13.

The reading unit 8 has a function of reading image data of a document, and outputs the read binarized data or the like to a predetermined output destination according to an instruction from the CPU 2.

The recording section 9 is of an electrophotographic type, for example, forms an image of the received image data on a recording sheet, and discharges the recording sheet. For example, the image data of the original read by the reading unit 8, the image data received by facsimile, the image data received by Internet facsimile, and the like are printed on the recording paper according to the instruction of the CPU 2.

The operation unit 10 inputs information about the state of the Internet facsimile machine 1, a display 10a for displaying various operation instruction screens, a FAX number and the like, an address designation by abbreviated number, an instruction to start a document reading operation, The operation unit 10 includes a plurality of operation keys 10b for moving the reverse display in the display 10a, and various operations are performed from the operation unit 10.

The LAN I / F 11 has an interface with the LAN 14, and connects the LAN 14 and the Internet facsimile machine 1 so that they can communicate with each other.

The Internet facsimile machine 1 having the above-mentioned configuration has a facsimile function for transmitting and receiving image data encoded by the MR, MMR system, etc., and TCP / IP (Transmission Confirmation) which is an Internet standard protocol.
trol Protocol / Internet Protocol) and implements TIF
It has an Internet facsimile function of transmitting and receiving image data encoded by F, JPEG, etc. and attached to an electronic mail.

The Internet facsimile machine 1 having such a communication function is installed and used in a network environment A as shown in FIG. 2, for example. That is, the Internet facsimile machine 1 uses the mail server 15, the router 16, and the client P via the LAN 14.
C17 and an archiving terminal device 18 capable of receiving and storing e-mails are communicably connected to each other, and further, another Internet facsimile terminal device 19 and the archiving terminal device 18 through the mail server 15 and the Internet. Image data can be transmitted / received to / from the G3 facsimile terminal device 20 through the PSTN 13 and the same archiving terminal device 18A.

Further, the Internet facsimile machine 1 sends an e-mail (hereinafter referred to as "archiving e-mail") to which a transmission / reception image data is attached to a terminal device capable of receiving an e-mail such as the archiving terminal device 18. It has a function of storing (archiving) the image data by generating and transmitting the image data.

Furthermore, the Internet facsimile machine 1 has archive setting information tables 21A to 21 whose contents can be edited by an operation of an operator or the like from the operation unit 10 or the client PC 17, as shown in FIG.
E is formed in a predetermined area of the RAM 3, and in these tables 21A to 21E, archive necessity information that specifies whether or not to generate and send an archive e-mail is described in the destination column of the archive e-mail. Destination information (hereinafter referred to as "email address for archiving"), file format of image data to be archived, file name of image data to be archived, and "Subject:" of mail header of archive e-mail.
The message described in the column (hereinafter, the setting information regarding the archive as described above is referred to as “archive setting information”) is stored for each communication type of the transmitted / received image data. Then, the Internet facsimile machine 1 generates and transmits the archive e-mail according to the information in the tables 21A to 21E designated by the operator or the like.

The types of communication include the types of communication methods such as facsimile transmission, facsimile reception, Internet facsimile transmission, and Internet facsimile reception, as well as the batch transmission function, polling function, and F function described later.
It also includes types of communication in which special functions such as code communication functions are set, and types that can be distinguished from normal communications such as transmission / reception to / from a specific account, error mail, receipt confirmation, remote transmission / reception. Further, since the message is described in order to improve the operation and management of the data stored in the archive terminal device, the place where the message is described is not limited to the above-mentioned "Subject:" column. The control program or the like may be changed so as to be described in the body of the electronic mail or other fields of the mail header.

In the archive setting information tables 21A to 21E, a record T1 corresponding to each communication type is stored.
To T21 are provided, and each record T1 to T21 is
"Communication type" column indicating each communication type, "Archive / not archive" column, "Archiving destination" column, "File format" column, "File name" column and "Message description" column for storing the archive setting information Composed by.

The archive setting information table 21A shown in FIG.
, Refer to when sending a fax.
"Transmission" record T1, referred to when a facsimile reception is performed "FAX reception" record T2, referred to when an Internet facsimile transmission is performed "I-FAX"
A “transmission” record T3 and an “I-FAX reception” record T4 to be referred to when an internet facsimile reception is performed are provided, and the internet facsimile apparatus 1 is sure to use any one of the tables 21A after transmitting / receiving image data. The records T1 to T4 are referred to.

For example, when the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 sends a facsimile and the communication is set to a specific function, the table 21 is used.
In addition to A, the table 21B shown in FIG. That is, when confidential communication (a function of transmitting so that only a specific person on the receiving side can print, etc.) is set for facsimile transmission, the “FAX transmission confidential” record T5 is referred to and batch transmission ( When image data of a plurality of originals is temporarily stored and is sent by facsimile using the function of sending at once at a set date and time, refer to the "collective" record T6 and perform polling (image data of originals When it is stored in a memory such as the RAM 3 in advance and is facsimile-transmitted by a function of automatically transmitting by an operation of the other party), the "polling" record T7 is referred to. If an error occurs during facsimile transmission, the "error" record T8 is referred to.

When the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 receives a facsimile and a specific function setting or the like is made for the communication, the table 21C shown in FIG. 3C is referred to in addition to the table 21A. To do. That is, when confidential communication is set for facsimile reception, the “FAX reception confidential” record T9 is referred to, and the F code communication (function of communicating using a sub-address or password according to the ITU-T standard).
In the case of facsimile reception by, the "F code" record T10 is referenced, and in the case of facsimile reception by polling, the "polling" record T11 is referenced. If an error occurs during facsimile reception, the "error" record T12 is referred to.

When the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 sends an Internet facsimile and the communication is set to a specific function setting or a predetermined transmission condition setting, in addition to the table 21A, FIG.
Reference is made to the table 21D shown in (d). The table 2
1D has an “account” column in addition to the column for setting the archive setting information.
If you send an Internet fax to an email address that includes the account specified in the field,
"I-FAX transmission account 1" record T13 (when a plurality of "I-FAX transmission account" records are formed in the table 21D, the corresponding "I-FAX transmission account 1" record is recorded.
X Send Account ”record). If the destination of the Internet facsimile transmission by the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 is not normally received by the other party, the "error" record T15 is referred to, and the image data sent from the client PC 17 is transferred to the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 by referring to the "error" record T15. When transmitting as a relay device, the “remote” record T16 is referred to.

When the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 receives an Internet facsimile and a specific function setting or a predetermined transmission condition setting is made for the communication, in addition to the table 21A, FIG.
Reference is made to the table 21E shown in (e). The table 2
1E also has an “account” column in addition to the column for setting the archive setting information.
If you receive an Internet fax addressed to an email address that includes the account specified in the field, click "IF
AX reception account 1 ”record T17 (a plurality of“ I
-FAX receiving account "record is table 21E
If it is formed in the "I-FAX reception"
Account ”record). If the image data received by the Internet facsimile cannot be normally analyzed, the "error" record T19 is referred to, and the received one confirms receipt of the previously transmitted Internet facsimile, that is, MDN (message processing notification) or DSN. In the case of (delivery status notification) or the like, the “receipt confirmation” record T20 is referred to, and the client PC 17
If you receive an Internet fax addressed to
Refer to the "remote" record T21.

The Internet facsimile machine 1 also stores an archive management record file 22 for storing history information about image data attached to an archive e-mail and transmitted to the archive terminal device 18 as shown in FIG. Are formed in a predetermined area of the RAM 3. In the archive management recording file 22, for example, a "communication date and time" column indicating communication date and time, a "destination (source)" column indicating destination information, and a page number are indicated as columns indicating various information relating to the archived image data. "Page number" column, "Original size" column showing the size of the original such as A4 size, B5 size, "Resolution" column showing the resolution, "Communication result" column showing the communication result, and the mail address of the archive destination "Archive destination" column, "File name" column showing the file name of the archived image data, "File format" column showing the file format of the archived image data, and "Email" of the email to which the archived image data is attached. Subj
A "message" column indicating a message described in the "ect:" column or the like is provided. Then, the archive management record file 22 is configured such that a new record is added and the content is updated each time an archive e-mail is sent, and the display 10a and the client are operated by an operator or the like. It is designed to be displayed on the display unit of the PC 17.

In addition to the above-mentioned functions, the Internet facsimile machine 1 further has a function of converting the format of transmitted / received image data, and in a predetermined case, the archive setting information tables 21A to 21A.
According to the information specified in the "File format" column of E, the transmitted and received image data that has been stored is format-converted and attached to the archive e-mail.

The operation of transmitting / receiving image data using the Internet facsimile machine 1 will be described below for each communication type with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the present specification, the operation described based on the flowchart shown below is performed in accordance with an instruction issued by the CPU 2 based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 4 of the internet facsimile apparatus 1.

An operator or the like issues a fax number designation and transmission instruction of the other party to the operation unit 8 or the client PC 1.
7, the Internet facsimile machine 1 accepts this (S1), and sends the original to the designated transmission destination by facsimile (S1), as shown in FIG.
2) If the transmission is normally completed (S3), the communication management record file is updated (S4). On the other hand, if an error occurs during facsimile transmission, the pages up to the page completely transmitted to the destination are stored and the transmission operation is stopped (S
5) Update the communication management record file (S4).

Next, based on the tables 21A and 21B (FIG. 3), the image data transmitted in S2 is
It is determined whether to archive (S6). That is,
For facsimile transmission, if none of the functions such as "confidential transmission", "collective transmission", and "sending by polling" are set, and if no error occurs in S3, "FAX" in table 21A is displayed. Send "
Whether or not to archive is determined based on the archive necessity information designated in the "Archive / Do not archive" column of the record T1. That is, when "Yes" is designated in the column, it is determined that the archive is performed, and when "No" is designated, it is determined that the archive is not performed.

On the other hand, when any function is set for the facsimile transmission or when an error occurs in S3, "F" of the table 21A is displayed.
AX transmission "Record T1" Archive / Do not archive "
When "No" is specified in the column, it is determined that the file is not archived, and when "Yes" is specified in the column, the table 21B is also referred to. Then, in the “Archive / Do not archive” column of the records T5 to T7 corresponding to the function set for the communication, or in the case where an error occurs, in the “Archive / Do not archive” column of the “error” record T8. It is determined whether to archive based on the designated archive necessity information. For example, when a facsimile transmission is performed and the facsimile transmission is confidential transmission, the “FAX transmission” record T1 of the table 21A and the “FAX transmission” of the table 21B are transmitted.
When "Yes" is specified in the "Archive / Do not archive" field of the "Confidential" record T5, it is determined to archive, and in other cases, it is determined not to archive.

Here, when the Internet facsimile machine 1 determines to archive, then, as shown in FIG. 9, the communication history information about the transmission is extracted from the communication management record file 23 and the text 24 of the electronic mail is extracted. The record applied in S6 to determine whether or not to archive the image data 25 transmitted in S2 (hereinafter referred to as “applicable record”).
The message specified in the "Message description" field of is written in the "Subject:" field of the mail header 27, converted into the image data 25A of the format specified in the "File format" field, and added to the applicable record of the applicable record. A file name including a part of the information specified in the "file name" field (for example, the head part of the file name) is attached and attached to the e-mail text 24, and further specified in the "archive destination" field of the applicable record. The created mail address is described in the "To:" column of the mail header 27 of the electronic mail to generate the archive electronic mail 28 (S7). However, if an error occurs in S3, the image data attached here is up to the transmission completion page stored in S5.

Finally, the archive terminal device 1
The archive e-mail 2 generated in 8 or 18A
8 is transmitted (S8), and the archive management record file 22 (FIG. 4A) is updated (S9).

Next, the operation when the Internet facsimile machine 1 receives a facsimile will be described. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, when the Internet facsimile machine 1 receives a facsimile,
Alternatively, if an error occurs during facsimile reception and some or all of the original cannot be received (S51), the communication management record file 23 is updated for the reception (S5).
2) On the received image data, general reception processing such as printing and transfer is executed (S53).

Next, based on the tables 21A and 21C, whether to archive the image data received in S51 (information other than the image data if the image data could not be received due to an error). Is determined (S54). In other words, if none of the functions such as "confidential communication", "F-code communication", "reception by polling", etc. is set for facsimile reception, and if no error occurs in S51, the table 21A It is determined whether or not to archive based on the archive necessity information specified in the “Archive / Do not archive” column of the “FAX reception” record T2.

On the other hand, when any function is set for the facsimile reception or when an error occurs in S51, the "Archive / not archive" column of the "FAX reception" record T2 of the table 21A. If "No" is specified in the field, it is determined that the file is not archived. If "Yes" is specified in the column, the table 21C is also referred to. Then, records T9 to T1 corresponding to the function set for the communication.
Whether the data is archived based on the archive necessity information specified in the "Archive / Do not archive" column of 1 or the error in the S51 when an error occurs in the S51. Determine whether or not. For example, when a facsimile reception is performed and the facsimile reception is a confidential reception, the “FAX reception” record T2 of the table 21B and the “Archive / not archive” column of the “FAX reception confidential” record T9 of the table 21C are displayed. If "Yes" is specified, it is determined to archive, otherwise it is determined not to archive.

Here, when the Internet facsimile machine 1 determines to archive, the information specified in each column of the applicable record applied for determining whether to archive in S54 as described in S7. The archive e-mail 28 is generated in accordance with the above (S55). However, if an error occurs in S51 and the page cannot be received from the receiving page, the image data up to the received page is attached to the archive e-mail 28, and if one page cannot be received, the page is archived. Image data is not attached to the electronic mail 28.

Finally, the archive terminal device 1
The archive e-mail 28 generated in S55 is transmitted to 8 or 18A (S56), and the archive management record file 22 (FIG. 4B) is updated (S5).
7).

Next, a case in which the Internet facsimile machine 1 performs Internet facsimile transmission will be described. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, when the operator designates the destination mail address and the transmission instruction from the operation unit 8 or the client PC 17, the Internet facsimile machine 1 accepts this (S101) and designates it. The original is transmitted to the transmission destination by Internet facsimile (S102), and the communication management record file is updated (S103).

Then, in order to secure a reply time of an error mail (an electronic mail returned from a mail server or the like when the previously transmitted Internet facsimile is not normally received at the transmission destination), a set time (for example, a device) is set. After waiting until the time (set by the operator or the like by setting) elapses (S104), whether or not to archive the image data transmitted in S102 is set in the table 2
A determination is made based on 1A and 21D (S105). That is, the Internet facsimile transmission is based on the table 2
It is addressed to a mail address that does not include any of the accounts specified in the "Account" column of 1D, is not remote transmission from the client PC 17 (transmission of image data sent from the client PC 17), and an error mail is sent. If not received during the waiting in S104, it is determined whether to archive based on the archive necessity information specified in the "Archive / not archive" column of the "IFAX transmission" record T3 of the table 21A.

On the other hand, when the Internet facsimile transmission corresponds to any of the above cases, "No" is designated in the "Archive / No Archive" column of the "I-FAX Transmission" record T3 of the table 21A. If "Yes" is specified in the "Archive / Do not archive" column,
Further, the table 21D is also referred to. Then, records T13, T14 corresponding to the conditions set for the communication,
"Archive / Do not archive" column or "Error" in T16
Whether to archive or not is determined based on the information specified in the "Archive / Do not archive" column of the record T15.
For example, in the case of Internet facsimile transmission, if the Internet facsimile transmission is transmitted in S101 to the e-mail address for which "zzz" specified in the "Account" column of the "Account 2" record T14 is an account. , Table 21
"Yes" is specified in the "Archive / Do not archive" field of the "I-FAX transmission" record T3 of A, and "Yes" is specified in the "Archive / Do not archive" field of the "Account 2" record T14 of the table 21D. If it is specified, it is determined to archive, otherwise it is determined not to archive. When the error mail is received during the waiting in S104, the "error" record T15 is referred to.

Here, when the Internet facsimile machine 1 determines to archive, the information specified in each column of the applicable record applied to determine whether to archive in S105 as described in S7. The archive e-mail 28 is generated in accordance with the above (S106). However, when an error mail is received during the waiting time of S104, the image data is not attached to the archive e-mail 28.

Finally, the archive terminal device 1
8 or the like, the archive electronic mail 28 generated in S106 is transmitted (S107), and the archive management record file 22 (FIG. 4A) is updated (S10).
8).

Next, the operation when the Internet facsimile machine 1 receives an Internet facsimile will be described. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, when the Internet facsimile machine 1 receives the Internet facsimile (S151), the communication management record file is updated for the reception (S152),
If the received one is not an error mail indicating that the previously transmitted Internet facsimile has not been normally delivered to the other party (S153), normal receiving processing such as printing and distribution is executed (S154).

After the execution of the processing of S154 or after it is determined that the received mail is an error mail in S153, it is determined whether or not the image data received in S151 should be archived in the tables 21A and 2A.
A determination is made based on 1E (S155). That is, when the Internet facsimile reception is not for any account specified in the “Account” column of the table 21A, is not an error mail or receipt confirmation for the Internet facsimile transmitted earlier, and is not reception to the client PC 17. Determines whether to archive based on the information specified in the "Archive / Do not archive" column of the "I-FAX reception" record T4.

On the other hand, in the case where the Internet facsimile transmission corresponds to any of the above cases, "not archive" is designated in the "Archive / not archive" column of the "I-FAX reception" record T4 of the table 21A. If "Yes" is specified in the "Archive / Do not archive" column,
Further, the table 21E is also referred to. Then, it is determined whether or not to archive based on the information specified in the "Archive / Do not archive" column of the records T17 to T21 corresponding to the conditions set for the communication.

For example, when an Internet facsimile to a client PC or the like having an account of "bbb" specified in the "account" column of the "I-FAX reception account 1" record T17 is received, "I-" of the table 21A is received. "Yes" is specified in the "Archive / No Archive" column of the FAX reception record T3, and "Yes" is specified in the "Archive / No archive" column of the "I-FAX reception account 1" record T17 of the table 21E. If so, it is determined to archive, otherwise it is determined not to archive. Also, the S
In 151, when an error mail is received, "Yes" is specified in the "I / FAX reception" record T3 of the table 21A, "Yes" is specified, and "Archive" T19 of the "Error" record T19 of the table 21E is specified. If "Yes" is specified in the "No / No" column, it is determined to archive, otherwise it is determined not to archive.

When the Internet facsimile machine 1 determines to archive, the information specified in each column of the applicable record applied for determining whether to archive in S155 as described in S7. According to this, the archive e-mail 28 is generated (S156).

Finally, the archive terminal device 1
8 or the like, the archive e-mail 28 generated in S156 is transmitted (S157), and the archive management record file 22 (FIG. 4B) is updated (S15).
8).

[0055]

The Internet facsimile machine according to the first aspect is an internet facsimile machine having a function of archiving transmitted / received image data by facsimile or Internet facsimile to a predetermined archiving mail address. According to the Internet facsimile apparatus, the archive setting information is designated according to the designation by the means, and the archive setting information is designated according to the designation by the means. It is possible to improve the efficiency of operation and management of archived image data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the internet facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, the archive setting information includes an archiving mail address, necessity of archiving, a format of image data to be archived, and an image to be archived. Since it is a part or all of the file name of the data, it is possible to save only the transmission / reception image data that is really necessary according to the intention of the operator, and waste of the storage resource of the archiving terminal device is wasted. It is possible to omit them, and thus it is possible to improve the efficiency of operation and management of archived image data. In addition, by archiving to an arbitrary destination, for example, a different archiving terminal device is provided for each transmission / reception image data to manage the data, thereby improving the efficiency of operation and management, the format of the transmission / reception image data to be archived, By specifying the file name of the transmitted / received image data to be archived, it is possible to improve the convenience of the archived image data.

The internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 3 is an internet facsimile apparatus having a function of archiving by transmitting / receiving image data transmitted / received by a facsimile or an internet facsimile to an e-mail and transmitting it to a predetermined archiving mail address. It is provided with means for writing a message in a predetermined part of the electronic mail, means for designating the content of the message for each communication type of the transmitted / received image data, and means for archiving according to the designation by the means. Therefore, if you look at the message written in the prescribed part of the e-mail with the sent / received image data archived to the archiving terminal device etc., you can easily identify the communication type of the image data, and operate and manage it. Higher efficiency can be achieved.

The internet facsimile machine according to claim 4 is the internet facsimile machine according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the communication type is facsimile transmission, facsimile reception, internet facsimile transmission, or internet facsimile reception. It is possible to manage image data to be archived for each communication method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an internet facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a network environment in which the Internet facsimile machine according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an archive setting information table.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an archive management recording file.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention performs facsimile transmission.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation when the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention receives a facsimile.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation when the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention performs Internet facsimile transmission.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation when the internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention receives an internet facsimile.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram when the Internet facsimile machine according to the embodiment of the present invention generates an archive e-mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Internet facsimile machine 2 CPU 3 RAM 4 ROM 18, 18A Archive terminal device 21A to 21E archive setting information table 22 Archive management record file 23 Communication management record file 24 Email body 25 Send / receive image data 25A Image data in the specified format 26 File name

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An internet facsimile apparatus having a function of archiving transmitted / received image data by facsimile or internet facsimile by transmitting it to a predetermined archiving mail address, wherein archive setting information is provided for each communication type of the transmitted / received image data. An internet facsimile apparatus comprising: a means for designating and a means for archiving in accordance with the designation by the means. 2. The archive setting information is part or all of an email address for archiving, necessity of archiving, a format of image data to be archived, and a file name of image data to be archived. The Internet facsimile machine according to claim 1. 3. An Internet facsimile apparatus having a function of archiving transmission / reception image data by facsimile or Internet facsimile to a predetermined archiving mail address, and means for writing a message at a predetermined location of archiving E-mail. An internet facsimile apparatus comprising: means for designating the content of the message for each communication type of the transmitted / received image data; and means for archiving according to the designation by the means. 4. The internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication type is facsimile transmission, facsimile reception, internet facsimile transmission, or internet facsimile reception.