JP2003198785A - Internet facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an Internet facsimile machine which improves convenience on using and management of originals archived after being transmitted by the multi-address transmission function or a batch transmission function, as an Internet facsimile machine provided with a function of archiving transmitted picture data. <P>SOLUTION: The Internet facsimile machine 1 which attaches facsimile- transmitted picture data to an e-mail and transmits it to an archiving mail address for archiving it is provided with a means for archiving only one piece of transmission picture data 27 in the case of transmitting the picture data to a plurality of destinations by multi-address transmission. <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 communication function and an Internet facsimile apparatus having a facsimile communication function, and more particularly to a function of storing transmission image data in an external storage device, a broadcast transmission function and a batch transmission. The present invention relates to an internet facsimile apparatus having a function of transmitting a document to a plurality of destinations by a series of transmission operations like a function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an internet facsimile apparatus having an internet facsimile communication function and a facsimile communication function, an archive terminal device capable of receiving e-mail in order to save image data transmitted / received by a facsimile or an internet facsimile in an external storage device or the like. Is arranged via a network and has a function of storing the transmitted / received image data in the archive terminal device by transmitting the transmitted / received image data to an electronic mail attached to the email. According to this Internet facsimile machine, since the transmitted / received image data is stored outside, the transmitted / received image data can be safely stored without putting pressure on the storage capacity of the device itself (the Internet facsimile machine itself).

[0003]

However, according to such an internet facsimile apparatus, all transmission image data are uniformly stored in the archiving terminal device for each transmission, so that the operation is performed once for a plurality of parties. You can also use the multi-address transmission function to send in the same way, or the batch transmission function to store multiple originals to be sent to the same destination and send a large number of the stored originals collectively at the set date and time. Since the image data sent is saved in the archiving terminal device each time the original is sent, in the archiving terminal device, each sent image data is attached and saved in a separate e-mail, similar to normal sent image data. Will be done. For this reason, in the case of transmission by broadcast transmission, the same original document is stored in a plurality of electronic mail files, and the storage resources of the archive terminal device are wasted. In addition, it was difficult to identify at first glance that the manuscript was sent by broadcast transmission, which was inconvenient for operation and management. In addition, even if they are sent by batch transmission, it is inconvenient for operation and management to save different originals that are simultaneously sent to the same destination as multiple e-mail files. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and operates and manages an original document that is transmitted and archived by a broadcast transmission function or a batch transmission function in an Internet facsimile apparatus having a function of archiving transmission image data. It is an object of the present invention to provide an internet facsimile apparatus which improves the above convenience.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 archives image data sent by facsimile attachment to an e-mail and sends it to an archiving mail address for archiving. An internet facsimile apparatus having a function is characterized by including means for archiving only one transmission image data when the image data is transmitted to a plurality of destinations by broadcast transmission.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the internet facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, all the broadcasts are sent to an electronic mail transmitted to the mail address in order to archive only the one transmission image data. It is characterized in that a means for recording the communication history of the destination is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the internet facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect is characterized in that, if transmission fails to all the broadcast destinations, archiving is not performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an internet facsimile apparatus having a function of archiving image data sent by facsimile attachment to an e-mail and transmitting the image data to an archiving mail address. When transmitting the image data to the same destination, a means for archiving by attaching the plurality of image data to one e-mail and transmitting the image data to the address is provided.

[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.

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 various 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, and is used in a network environment A as shown in FIG. 2, for example. That is, the Internet facsimile machine 1 is communicably connected to the mail server 15, the router 16, the client PC 17 and the archive terminal device 18 capable of receiving and storing electronic mails via the LAN 14, and further, the mails. Image data can be transmitted / received to / from another Internet facsimile terminal device 19 via the server 15 or the Internet, and to / from the G3 facsimile terminal device 20 via the PSTN 13.

Further, the Internet facsimile machine 1 attaches image data transmitted by facsimile to the other Internet facsimile terminal device 19, the G3 facsimile terminal device 20, etc. to an electronic mail,
By transmitting to the archive terminal device 18,
A function of saving (archiving) the transmission image data in the archiving terminal device 18 is provided (hereinafter, an e-mail attached with the transmission image data and transmitted to the archiving terminal device 18 or the like is referred to as “archiving e-mail”). . After transmitting and receiving the image data, the Internet facsimile machine 1 accumulates information such as communication date and time, destination (source), number of pages, document size, communication result, etc. as a communication record, and requests the operator or the like. Accordingly, in addition to the communication management record file (not shown) whose contents are displayed on the display, the client PC 17 and the like, and the information similar to the above as shown in FIG. The archive management record file 21 for storing the data is formed in a predetermined area of the RAM 3.

The Internet facsimile machine 1 also has a broadcast transmission function of transmitting one document to a plurality of parties in a single operation, and a plurality of documents (image data) to be transmitted to the same destination. It is equipped with a batch transmission function that accumulates and collectively transmits at the set transmission date and time. A box number that divides the set destination and the set transmission date and time is attached, and a batch transmission box for accumulating image data to be transmitted by the batch transmission function is formed in a predetermined area of the RAM 3.

The operation in the case of broadcasting an original document by using the Internet facsimile machine 1 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. An archive mail address, which will be described later, is set in advance by the operator or the like from the operation unit 10 or the client PC 17, and RA
It is stored in a predetermined area of M3. Further, in the present specification, the operation described based on the flow chart shown below is performed according to 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.

A manuscript is set by an operator or the like,
When the FAX numbers of a plurality of destinations, a broadcast transmission instruction, a transmission instruction, and the like are given, the Internet facsimile machine 1 accepts these (S1), and "(1) All broadcast destinations" as shown in FIG. If the transmission is successful, the archive method will be displayed by displaying three selection fields, "(2) Archive if the transmission is successful even at one place" and "(3) Always archive". The archive method selection screen 22 for asking the operator or the like to select is displayed on the display 10a or the display unit of the client PC 17 (S2). When any one of the screens is selected and designated by the operator or the like, the Internet facsimile machine 1 receives and stores the designated item (S3), and the image data of the document is sent to the plurality of destinations designated by the broadcast transmission. The data are sequentially transmitted to each other (S4). Then, after the transmission to all the broadcast destinations is completed, the communication management record file is updated (S5). If an error occurs during transmission, if "error" is described as information indicating that in the "communication result" column of the communication management record file (not shown), and the transmission is completed normally Describes "OK" as information indicating that.

Next, if the designated item stored in S3 is "(1) archive if transmission to all broadcast destinations succeeds" (S).
6) In the transmission process performed in S4, if no error occurs during transmission to all the destinations,
In other words, if the transmission is successful to all the broadcast transmission destinations (S7), the archive e-mail 23 as shown in FIG. 6A is generated. That is, the communication history information about all the broadcast destinations is stored in the communication management record file 2
4 extracted from 4 and described in the text 25, one transmission image data 27 which is the transmission target to each of the same destinations in S4 is converted into a TIFF format or the like to which an e-mail can be attached, and attached to the text 25. The archive email address is described in the "To:" column of the email header 26 to generate the archive email 23 (S8). And
The electronic mail 23 is transmitted to the archive terminal device 18 (S9), and the archive management record file 21 (FIG. 3) is updated (S10). On the other hand, in S7,
When it is determined that the transmission to any of the broadcast transmission destinations has failed, the series of operations is ended without archiving.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S6 that "(1) archive if transmission to all broadcast destinations succeeds." Is not specified, then
It is judged whether or not the item is "(2) Archive if successful transmission even at one place." (S1
1) If the item is specified, even if an error occurs during transmission to any one of the destinations in the transmission processing performed in S4, it is possible to transmit to one or more destinations. When it is normally transmitted (S12), the archive e-mail 23 is generated in the same manner as described above, transmitted to the archiving terminal device 18, and the contents of the archive management record file 21 are updated. When it is determined in 12 that the transmission has failed to all the broadcast transmission destinations, a series of operations is ended without archiving. When the transmission to any one of the broadcast transmission destinations fails, the information “error” indicating that is written in the “communication result” column of the communication management record file 24, and the information shown in FIG. As shown in b), since "error" is described in the "communication result" column of the communication history information in the body 25 of the archive e-mail 23 through the communication management record file 24, the operator etc. later By looking at the information, it is possible to know which transmission has failed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S11 that "(2) Archive if transmission succeeds even at one place" is not selected, then "(3) Always archive" is selected. (S11), in the transmission process performed in S4, even if an error occurs during transmission to all the destinations, that is, if the transmission fails to all the broadcast destinations, the archive is performed. The electronic mail 23 for use in the archive terminal device 1
8 and updates the contents of the archive management record file 21. If the transmission to all the broadcast destinations fails, as shown in FIG. 6C, all the “communication result” columns of the communication history information of the body 25 of the archive e-mail 23 are set to “ Since "error" is described, the operator or the like can understand the fact that the transmission image data has been archived but the transmission has failed to all the broadcast transmission destinations by looking at this information.

In the internet facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the archive method selection screen 22 is displayed at the time of the transmission operation and the operator or the like is asked to select and designate the archive method. , Without displaying the archive method selection screen 22,
It is also possible to use an internet facsimile apparatus in which any one of the archiving methods is set in advance by device settings or the like, and broadcast transmission is performed with the same settings unless the settings are changed.
As a result, for example, for a user who wants to archive and manage only the manuscripts that have been transmitted to all the transmission destinations, “(1) Archive the transmission succeeded to all the broadcast transmission destinations”. For a user who wants to archive the manuscript whose transmission has been completed at any one location anyway, set “(2) Archive if the transmission succeeds even at one location.” And set to all destinations. For a user who wants to record and manage the fact that the user tried to send even if the transmission failed, it is possible to set “(3) Always archive.” It is possible to manage the archived image data according to the intention.

Next, the case of transmitting a document by the batch transmission function will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

When a manuscript is set by an operator or the like and the batch transmission function and the batch transmission box number are designated by the operation unit 10 or the client PC 17, the Internet facsimile machine 1 accepts this (S51). The image data is read from the original and stored in the designated box number of the batch transmission box (S52).

When a plurality of originals are stored in the same box number by repeating the above operation and the transmission date and time set in the box number is reached (S101), the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 determines that the plurality of originals are transmitted. Are sequentially transmitted to the set destinations (S102), and after the transmission of all the stored originals is completed, the communication management record file is updated (S103), and the archive electronic file as shown in FIG. The mail 28A is generated. That is, the communication history information about all the broadcast transmission destinations is extracted from the communication management record file 24 and described in the text 25, and
All the originals (image data) 27 transmitted in 2 are made into one file, for example, a TIFF file 27A capable of forming a plurality of pages, attached to the body 25, and the archiving mail address is "To:" in the mail header 26. "Archive e-mail 28A is generated (step S104). Then, the electronic mail 28A is transmitted to the archive terminal device 18 (S105), and the archive management record file 21 (FIG. 3) is updated (S10).
6).

As described above, the plurality of transmission image data 27 are not attached to the main body 25 as one file, as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, an archive e-mail 28B in which a plurality of image data are attached to the body 25 in a separate file for each manuscript, that is, in a multipart format may be generated instead of the archive e-mail 28A. In this case, since the plurality of image data 27 are composed of separate files, it becomes easier to take out only one original and perform printing, distribution, copying to a medium, etc., as compared with the above case. The convenience is improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9C, the archive e-mail 28C attached to the body 25 as one compressed file 27B by compressing a plurality of transmission image data 27 in, for example, the "LZH" format is the above-mentioned. It may be generated instead of the archive e-mail 28B. As a result, the storage resource consumption capacity of the archive terminal device 18 can be saved, and in addition, a plurality of originals related to batch transmission can be managed by one image file.

[0034]

The Internet facsimile machine according to the first aspect archives only one transmission image data when transmitting the image data to a plurality of destinations by the broadcast transmission. Thus, it is possible to prevent the same transmitted image data from being archived a plurality of times, and it is possible to improve the convenience of operation and management of the archived document.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the internet facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, all the broadcast messages are sent to an electronic mail transmitted to the mail address in order to archive only the one transmission image data. Since it is provided with a means for describing the communication history of the transmission destination, it is possible to acquire detailed information such as whether or not a communication error has occurred for each of the plurality of communications transmitted by the broadcast transmission. .

In the internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, in the internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, if the transmission fails to all the broadcast destinations, archiving is not performed. It is possible to save only the manuscript sent to the server and facilitate management of the archived manuscript.

When transmitting a plurality of image data to the same destination by batch transmission, the Internet facsimile machine according to a fourth aspect attaches the plurality of image data to one e-mail and transmits to the address. By doing so, it is possible to prevent multiple e-mail files with the same transmission date and time and destination from being saved at the archiving destination such as an archiving terminal device, and to manage the archived manuscript. It can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block 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 management recording file.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention performs a broadcast transmission.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an archive method selection screen.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an archive e-mail generated after the Internet facsimile machine performs a broadcast transmission.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the Internet facsimile machine when a document (image data) is stored in the batch transmission box.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation when the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention performs facsimile transmission by using a batch transmission function.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an archive e-mail generated after the Internet facsimile machine performs transmission by the batch transmission function.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Internet facsimile machine 2 CPU 3 RAM 4 ROM 18 Archive terminal 21 Archive management record file 23, 28A to 28C Archive e-mail 24 Communication management record file 25 text 27 Transmission image data

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An Internet facsimile apparatus having a function of archiving a facsimile-transmitted image data by attaching the image data to an electronic mail and transmitting the image data to an archiving mail address. An Internet facsimile machine characterized by comprising means for archiving only one image data to be transmitted. 2. The internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a communication history of all the broadcast destinations is described in an electronic mail transmitted to the mail address in order to archive only the one transmission image data. An internet facsimile machine characterized by comprising a means for performing. 3. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein archiving is not performed when transmission fails to all the broadcast destinations. 4. An Internet facsimile apparatus having a function of archiving image data sent by facsimile attachment to an e-mail by sending the image data to an email address for archiving, and sending a plurality of image data to the same destination by batch transmission. An Internet facsimile machine, characterized in that, when transmitting, the plurality of image data are attached to one electronic mail and transmitted to the address for archiving.