JP2003258980A - Communication device, its control method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device which can set whether communication with a specified partner is allowed by departments. <P>SOLUTION: The communication device has a department specifying means of specifying the department of an operator when the operator operates the device, an address registering means for registering addresses corresponding to specified key operations, an address specifying means for specifying the addresses registered by the address registering means when the specified key operations are done, a communication propriety registering means for setting whether respective departments are able to perform communication operations by the addresses registered by the address registering means, and a communication propriety deciding means for deciding whether communication is allowed according to a department specified by the department specifying means, an address specified by the address specifying means, and contents registered in the communication propriety registering means and disables communication when the communicable state deciding means decide that communication is not allowed during a communication operation. <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, a control method therefor, and a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for controlling the communication device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a communication device used by a plurality of operators, there has been a method in which an ID or a password is provided for each department to which the operator belongs to limit the use of the device or manage the number of communication. .

Further, by registering a telephone number, a mail address or the like in a specific key or a specific number in advance and pressing the key or inputting the number, a long telephone number or a long mail address can be obtained. There was a way to easily specify etc.

For example, some facsimile machines have a department management function for managing the number of communication and communication time for each department to be used, and a destination designation method such as one-touch dial or speed dial is generally used. Has been.

[0005]

However, in a device used by a plurality of departments, the destination registered by one department may not necessarily be necessary for another department, and such a destination is registered. The key was useless to other departments. This also caused other departments to mistakenly communicate with a useless party. In some cases, it was necessary to register a communication destination that you do not want other departments to know, or a communication destination that you want to prohibit other departments from communicating with. There was no way to limit it.

Recently, there is a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving electronic mail, communicating using FTP, and the like. For example, an FTP destination used by a specific department is
There were cases where it was desired to prohibit operations by persons outside the department, but there was no such method in the past.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a communication apparatus, a control method therefor, and a storage medium capable of setting whether or not it is possible to communicate with a specific partner for each department. is there.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention registers a department designation means for designating a department of an operator when operating the apparatus, and a destination corresponding to a predetermined key operation. Destination registering means for specifying a destination registered by the destination registering means by performing a predetermined key operation, and each department performs communication operation for each destination registered by the destination registering means. Communication availability registration means for setting availability, communication is possible based on the department designated by the department designation means, the destination designated by the destination designation means, and the content registered in the communication permission registration means Communication permission / inhibition determination means for determining whether or not communication is performed, and communication is not performed if the communication permission / inhibition determination means determines that communication is not possible during communication operation. And wherein the door.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, an embodiment of a facsimile device will be described as an example of a communication device.

The facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment is
In addition to the facsimile transmission / reception function performed through the telephone line, L
It also has the functions of sending and receiving e-mail via the AN line and sending files using FTP.

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

In the figure, a CPU 101 is a system control unit and controls the entire apparatus. ROM102 is
It stores a control program for the CPU. RAM
Reference numeral 103 denotes an SRAM or the like for storing program control variables and the like.

Further, the transmission destination telephone number and e-mail address registered by the operator, the FTP transfer host name and login password, various set values such as the department ID and password, device management data, and various work buffers are also RA.
It is stored in M103. Storage memory 104
Is composed of a DRAM or the like and stores image data. The external display unit 105 is used to notify the user of the display by using an LCD, an LED, or the like. Speaker 106
Notifies the user by voice, gives a warning, and
The communication sound transmitted / received through the N line 109 or the ISDN line 111 is monitored.

The MODEM 107 modulates / demodulates a transmission / reception signal of a facsimile, and the NCU 108 transmits a selection signal (dial pulse or tone dialer) to the PST.
It has a function of sending to the N line (analog public line network) 109, and also performs an automatic incoming call operation by detecting a calling signal.
CCU110 is ISDN line (Integrated Digital Communication Network) 1
The line control for connecting to 11 is performed. Image processing unit 11
Reference numeral 2 is for correcting the read image data and outputting high-definition image data.

The scanner 113 is a CS image sensor,
It is composed of a document feeding mechanism and the like, and optically reads a document and converts it into electrical image data. Operation unit 11
Reference numeral 4 is composed of a keyboard, a touch panel, etc., and is used by the operator to perform various input operations. The printer formatter 115, when printing file data from an external device such as a PC or a workstation,
The printer description language is analyzed and converted into image data. The printer 116 is a device that records received images and file data on recording paper. In addition, LANi / f1
Reference numeral 18 denotes an interface for connecting a facsimile device to the LAN line 119, and the LAN control unit 117.
Controlled by.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a part of the operation panel of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the operation panel of the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment, a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number, an electronic mail address, an FTP host name, a login password, and the like are registered in advance. A one-touch key for designating a destination with one touch, a short key for designating a pre-registered destination with a simple key operation, an LCD for displaying the state of the device, and the like are provided.

In this apparatus, two methods, one-touch dial and speed dial, are prepared as a method for easily specifying the destination registered by the operator in advance. One-touch dialing is a method in which the destination can be specified by pressing one key. This device has a total of twelve one-touch dial keys from one-touch numbers 01 to 12, and a maximum of twelve one-touch dials can be registered.

The speed dial is a method in which a destination can be designated by inputting a three-digit numerical value with a ten-key after pressing the speed key, and this apparatus can register a total of 1,000 speed dials from speed numbers 000 to 999. . A telephone number, an e-mail address, or an FTP transfer destination can be registered as the one-touch dial or speed dial destination. In addition to this, in this apparatus, it is possible to specify the destination by operating the ten keys without using the one-touch key or the abbreviated key.

Further, this apparatus has a department management function for inputting the 4-digit ID and password of the department to which the operator belongs to the device and managing the transmission / reception record for each department. In the present embodiment, the department ID and password to be used are registered in advance by the administrator and stored in the RAM 103. Here, as the department ID, I of the department to which the user belongs
It is supposed to be managed by D, but the department ID
May be, for example, an ID for identifying an individual or an ID for distinguishing the usage method of the device.

3 and 4 are views showing an example of the LCD display of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the LCD display in the standby state of this apparatus, and FIG. 4 shows the LCD display after department authentication. In the standby state, the operator cannot specify the destination. When the operator inputs the department ID and the password in the standby state, the CPU 101 determines whether the inputted department ID and the password match those stored in the RAM 103.
The screen shown in the schematic diagram of is displayed. In this state, the operator can specify the destination. When a transmission / reception operation is performed in this state, the information is stored in the RAM 103 in association with the department ID input by the operator,
It is used to manage the usage status of the device. If the clear key is pressed in the state of the screen of FIG. 4, the state of the screen of FIG. 3 shifts again and the destination cannot be designated.

FIG. 5 shows an R of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
It shows a part of the contents stored in the AM 103 in a table format.

In this apparatus, the operator can preset the department ID which permits the communication together with the destination for each one-touch number / abbreviated number. In the example shown in FIG. 5, it is the department ID 0 that can communicate using the one-touch number 01.
Only the operator of 001 can communicate using the abbreviated number 001 with department IDs 0125, 0187, and 05.
It is shown that the setting is made such that only 93 operators are set. Further, like the one-touch number 02 in FIG. 5, it is possible to set that the operators of all department IDs can communicate with each other.
It is possible to set that only operators 001 to 0005 can communicate.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention after the destination is designated.

In this apparatus, after the operator specifies the destination, the processing shown in FIG. 6 is performed.

After the destination is designated, the CPU 101 first judges whether or not the one-touch / abbreviated number is inputted (S601),
When the one-touch / abbreviated number is not input, that is, when the destination is designated using only the ten-key, the communication is started.
If it is determined in S601 that the one-touch / abbreviated number is input, the department ID input by the operator, the one-touch / abbreviated number specified by the operator, and
Based on the information stored in the RAM 103 shown in FIG.
It is determined whether or not the communication using the shortened number is permitted (S602).

If it is determined in S602 that communication is not permitted, an error message "Communication is not possible" is displayed (S603), and the process ends without communication. S60
If it is determined in step 2 that communication is permitted, communication is started (S604).

With the above-described processing, it is possible to allow only the operator having the preset department ID to communicate with the one-touch / speed dial.

In the present embodiment, the department ID for which communication is permitted can be set for each one-touch / abbreviated number, but the department ID for which communication is prohibited can be set for each one-touch / abbreviated number. Good, each department ID
It is also possible to set a usable one-touch / abbreviated number for each department or to set a prohibited one-touch / abbreviated number for each department ID. As another method, specially prepare the department ID for the administrator so that the operator of the department ID for the administrator can use all one-touch / abbreviated numbers regardless of the setting, and Only the operator may be allowed to restrict the use of the one-touch / abbreviated number.

Further, an operator whose department ID is not permitted to communicate not only cannot communicate but also cannot see the destination registered in the one-touch / abbreviated number, and cannot change or delete it. You may Further, generally, a facsimile device has a function of browsing the communication history such as a communication management report and the reservation status, but the communication history and the reservation status of a one-touch / abbreviated number for which communication is not permitted may not be viewed. .

The CPU 101 executes the R
Although it is executed based on the program stored in the OM 102 or the RAM 103, the present invention executes such a program as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, D.
It is stored in various storage media such as a VD-ROM and a memory card, and this is read by an exclusive reading device into an information processing device such as a computer or a facsimile device, and CP
It may be executed in U101.

In the above embodiment, a general facsimile apparatus is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a copy function, an electronic file function, a printer function, a data processing function and the like are used as communication functions. The present invention can be similarly applied to a data communication control in a facsimile device or a telephone combined with the above, a communication device separated from a reading circuit or a recording circuit, or an information processing device such as a computer.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the communication device, it is possible to set for each department whether it is possible to communicate with a specific partner, so it is possible to prevent the operator from accidentally communicating to unnecessary destinations, improving the usability of the device. Can be made. or,
It is possible to prevent certain operators from operating a specific destination, so
The secrecy of each department can be increased when operating two communication devices.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a part of an operation panel of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a standby state L of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
It is a schematic diagram showing CD display.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an LCD display after department authentication of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing, in tabular form, a part of the contents stored in the RAM of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 CPU 102 ROM 103 RAM 104 storage memory 105 External display 106 speaker 107 MODEM 108 NCU 109 PSTN line 110 CCU 111 ISDN line 112 Image processing unit 113 scanner 114 Operation part 115 Printer Formatter 116 Printer 117 LAN control unit 118 LAN i / f 119 LAN line

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 5C075 BA08 BA09 BA15 BA90 CE05                       CE08                 5K036 AA15 BB06 BB13 BB18 DD11                       DD25 DD32 DD46                 5K101 KK01 LL01 LL03 LL05 NN02                       NN12 NN17 NN21 PP03 PP04                       RR27

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A department specifying means for specifying a department of an operator when operating the apparatus, a destination registering means for registering a destination corresponding to a predetermined key operation, and a predetermined key operation. A destination designating means for designating a destination registered by the destination registering means, a communication availability registering means for setting whether or not each department can perform communication operation for each destination registered by the destination registering means, and the department A department designated by the designating means, a destination designated by the destination designating means, and a communication availability determining means for determining whether communication is possible based on the contents registered in the communication availability registering means, A communication device, which does not perform communication when the communication availability determination means determines that communication is not possible during a communication operation. 2. The destination registration means is a one-touch dial or speed dial destination registration means of a facsimile apparatus, and the destination designation means is a destination designation means by pressing a one-touch dial key or a destination designation means by a speed dial operation. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a facsimile device. 3. A department designation process for designating a department of an operator when operating the apparatus, a destination registration process for registering a destination corresponding to a predetermined key operation, and a predetermined key operation. A destination designating process for designating a destination registered by the destination registering process, a communication availability registering process for setting whether each department is capable of communication operation for each destination registered by the destination registering process, and the department designating A communication availability determination step for determining whether communication is possible based on the department designated by the process, the destination designated by the destination designating step, and the content registered in the communication availability registration step, A method of controlling a communication device, wherein, when the communication availability determination step determines that communication is not possible during operation, control is performed so that communication is not performed. 4. A department designation process for designating an operator's department when operating the apparatus, a destination registration process for registering a destination corresponding to a predetermined key operation, and a predetermined key operation. A destination designating process for designating a destination registered by the destination registering process, a communication availability registering process for setting whether each department is capable of communication operation for each destination registered by the destination registering process, and the department designating A communication availability determination step for determining whether communication is possible based on the department designated by the process, the destination designated by the destination designating step, and the content registered in the communication availability registration step, During operation, when the communication availability determination step determines that communication is not possible, a program for controlling not to perform communication is stored. And a computer-readable storage medium.