JP2003324592A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile machine, capable of taking an alternate step for delivering a document which a user instructs to send to an opposite party's machine, when the facsimile machine fails to deliver the document because of communication errors or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The facsimile machine 1 is provided with a touch of a dial/ abbreviated dial table 4a, 4b for storing a second transmission destination which is different from a first transmission destination so as to be associated with the first transmission destination, a control section 2 in which the storage means transmits the document, whose transmission has failed to the second transmission destination stored in association with the first one, if the transmission of the document to the first destination fails. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus for transmitting an original by facsimile communication or Internet facsimile communication, and more particularly to a facsimile apparatus having a function for coping with the case where an original sent by a user does not reach a destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a manuscript is sent by a facsimile machine, a manuscript intended to be sent may not reach the other party because a communication error occurs or the other party's facsimile terminal happens to be busy. In such a case, the facsimile apparatus usually informs the user by printing out a communication error report or the like.

[0003]

However, since the communication error report is printed out shortly after the transmission is started, the communication error report is printed in front of the facsimile machine until the user who gives the transmission instruction confirms the delivery signal from the transmission start. Unless you're still waiting, it's often slow to notice printed communication error reports. In this case, it will be retransmitted after a long time has passed since the first transmission, and if the original is a document that requires urgency to reach the other party, Trouble may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in the case where a document that a user has instructed to send does not reach the destination due to a communication error or the like, a procedure for delivering the document to the destination is provided. An object is to provide a facsimile machine to be taken.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a storage means for storing a first destination in association with a second destination different from the first destination, and a document for the first destination. A control unit which, when transmission fails, transmits the original document that has failed to be transmitted to a second transmission destination stored in association with the first transmission destination by the storage unit. I am trying.

A facsimile apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a switching unit for switching whether or not to transmit the original document to the second destination when the original document transmission fails. The control unit is characterized by performing transmission to the second transmission destination when it is designated as necessary by the switching unit.

A facsimile machine according to a third aspect is the facsimile machine according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a message storage section for storing a predetermined message, and the control section transmits to a second destination. When performing, a message is read from the message storage unit, a cover page describing the message is created, and the cover page is inserted into the first page of the document to be transmitted to the second destination.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A 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 facsimile machine. That is, the facsimile device 1 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2, a ROM (read only memory) 3, an RA
M (random access memory) 4, image memory 5,
CODEC (codec) 6, recording unit 7, character generator 8, reading unit 9, operation unit 10, display unit 11, L
An ANI / F (local area network interface) 12, a modem 13 and an NCU (network control unit) 14 are provided, and each unit 2 to 1
4 are connected to each other by a bus 15.

The CPU 2 functions as a control unit that controls each unit that constitutes the facsimile apparatus 1 according to a predetermined control program.

The ROM 3 stores various programs for the CPU 2 to control the operation of each unit of the facsimile apparatus 1.

The RAM 4 stores setting information of the self-device (facsimile apparatus) 1 and various data temporarily stored, and the contents thereof can be input and edited by a predetermined operation by an operator or the like from the operation unit 10. , A one-touch dial table 4a, a speed dial table 4b, a message storage unit 4c, a source information storage unit 4d, and a common destination information storage unit 4e are stored or formed.

The one-touch dial table 4a and the speed dial table 4b are, for example, as shown in FIG.
A product as shown in (b) is formed. That is, the "NO." Column for storing the one-touch key number or the abbreviated number,
A "first destination name" column storing the user name or the like of the terminal device related to the first destination registered by being assigned to the one-touch key or the abbreviated number, and the first registered by being assigned to the one-touch key or the abbreviated number. To store the destination of "first
"Destination" field, the address of the user of the terminal device related to the first destination, etc. are stored, and the "First destination address" field, the user name of the terminal device related to the second destination, etc. are stored. It is composed of a "second destination name" column and a "second destination" column for storing the second destination. Each second destination is associated with the first destination stored in the same record. Is remembered. The difference between the "first transmission destination" and the "second transmission destination" will be described later.

The message storage unit 4c stores a message to be described on a cover page described later. The sender storage unit 4d stores the user name, telephone number, facsimile number or mail address of the facsimile device 1. The common destination information storage unit 4e stores the user name of the terminal device related to the second destination and the facsimile number or mail address of the second destination. The user name stored here is prefixed with "second destination name:", the fax number is prefixed with "FAX:", and the email address is prefixed with "mail address:". As a result, the second destination and the user name of the terminal device related to the second destination can be identified at the time of reference.

The image memory 5 temporarily stores the image data of the original read by the reading unit 9 for memory transmission, and temporarily stores the received image data of the original until it is recorded by the recording unit 7. To do.

The codec 6 sends the transmission image data to G3.
Encoding method compatible with facsimile (MH, MR, MM
R and the like), and the received image data is decoded and expanded by a predetermined encoding method.

The recording section 7 is of an electrophotographic type, for example, and forms image data received by the facsimile apparatus 1 or image data read by the reading section 9 on a recording sheet.

The character generator 8 is a RAM
The character data composed of character codes stored in the message storage unit 4c, the transmission source information storage unit 4d, etc. of No. 4 is converted into font data (image data) for forming on a cover page described later.

The reading unit 9 is equipped with a scanner that optically reads a document image at a predetermined linear density and acquires image data of the original image.
Output to a predetermined output destination according to the instruction of U2.

The operation unit 10 turns on / off an important document designation key 10a, which will be described later, and an ON / OFF state of the key 10a.
An LED (light emitting diode) 10b which is turned off, a one-touch key 10c for designating a destination by a one-touch dial, a speed-key 10d selected before inputting a speed-dial for performing speed dialing, a ten-key pad, an arrow key, A start key and the like are provided, and various operations performed by an operator or the like are performed from the operation unit 10. The LED 10b may be any light-emitting body that turns on / off according to a command from the CPU 2, and thus may be an alternative body such as a light bulb. In addition, the LED1
0b is installed near or inside the important document designation key 10a in order to facilitate confirmation of the ON / OFF state when the operator or the like switches the important document designation key 10a.

The display unit 11 has information on various states of the facsimile apparatus 1, an operator, etc., on the operation unit 10.
Displays information to be referred to when operating from.

The LAN I / F 12 functions as an interface for communicatively connecting the LAN 16 and the facsimile apparatus 1.

The modem 13 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 14 is a line network control unit for controlling a telephone line to make or disconnect a call.
It is connected to an STN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 17.

The facsimile apparatus 1 having the above-described structure has a facsimile function for transmitting and receiving image data encoded by the MR, MMR system, etc., and also TCP / IP (Transmission C) which is an Internet standard protocol.
ontrol Protocol / Internet Protocol)
It also has an Internet facsimile function for transmitting and receiving image data encoded in the FF format and attached to an e-mail, and other terminal devices (not compatible with the e-mail transmission / reception via the mail server 18 and the router 19 also installed in the LAN 16). It is possible to send and receive the original document to and from the drawing.

The facsimile apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration and function is capable of sending a document to a destination (hereinafter referred to as "first destination").
Say. ) Is sent to the other party for some reason, that is, if the transmission fails, the other destination (hereinafter referred to as “second destination”) set in advance ).), A function of transmitting the original document that has failed to be transmitted (hereinafter referred to as “important document backup function”). Hereinafter, the function will be described in detail.

The second transmission destination is previously the one-touch dial table 4a and the speed dial table 4 described above.
b, stored in the common destination information storage unit 4e (see FIG. 2). In the facsimile machine 1, when the first destination is designated by the one-touch / speed dial function and the transmission is executed, the designated first destination in the one-touch dial table 4a or the speed dial table 4b. The destination stored in the “second destination” field of the same record as is adopted as the second destination, and the one-touch / speed dial is not used and the operator directly inputs the facsimile number or mail address. When the first destination is designated and the transmission is performed, the facsimile number or the mail address stored in the common destination information storage unit 4e is adopted as the second destination.

Further, the facsimile device 1 switches the necessity of the important document backup function, that is, the transmission of the original document to the second transmission destination when the transmission of the original document to the first transmission destination fails. An important document designation key 10a is provided in the operation unit 10 as a switching unit for switching whether or not the important document designation key 10a is pressed by an operator or the like, and the CPU 2 stores an important document backup stored in the RAM 4. Necessary / unnecessary function information (not shown) changed from "necessary" to "unnecessary" or "unnecessary"
From the "required" to "required", and at the same time when the necessary / unnecessary recorded information is in the "necessary" state, the LED 10
Turn on b. The important document designation key 10a is not limited to the key type as long as it can switch the necessity / unnecessity described above.

Next, the operation when the facsimile apparatus 1 executes the important document backup function will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, the transmission to the first transmission destination and the second transmission destination is performed by facsimile transmission or Internet facsimile transmission according to the type (facsimile number or mail address) of the destination. The operation of the facsimile apparatus 1 described with reference to the flowchart is performed according to an instruction issued by the CPU 2 based on a control program stored in the ROM 3.

First, an operator or the like sets a document on the reading unit 9, and a first destination (facsimile number or mail address) is designated by a one-touch / speed dial function or direct input. When the necessity / non-necessity of the important document backup function is set by the important document designation key 10a and the start key is pressed, the facsimile apparatus 1 reads the document set in the reading section 9 (S1), and the image memory 5 (S2).

Next, the transmission of the read original is started to the designated first destination (S3), and it is determined whether or not the transmission has failed (S4). Here, it is judged whether or not the transmission has failed, if the transmission is performed by facsimile transmission, the other party is busy (when the redial is repeated for the set number of times, If the transmission is not normally completed due to a predetermined cause such as occurrence of a communication error, it is determined that the transmission has failed. When the transmission is performed by the Internet facsimile, the email address designated as the first destination does not exist, or a communication error occurs during email transmission, and It is determined that the transmission has failed when a reply mail notifying the error related to is received. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a certain waiting time (for example, about 2 to 3 minutes) to receive the reply mail.

If it is determined that the transmission of the original has failed,
Then, it is judged whether or not the necessary / unnecessary record information of the important document backup function is "necessary" by the important document designation key 10a (S5). It is determined whether the destination is registered (S6). In the determination of S6, when the first destination is designated by the shortened number or the one-touch key, the designated shortened number or the one-touch key of the one-touch dial table 4a or the shortened dial table 4b is stored. Judgment is made based on whether the facsimile number or mail address is stored in the “second destination” field of the record to be recorded, and if the first destination is directly designated by the ten-key etc., the common transmission is performed. It is determined whether or not a facsimile number or a mail address is stored in the destination information storage unit 4e.

When it is determined in S6 that the second transmission destination is registered, a message is further read from the message storage unit 4c or the like, and this is described in FIG. 4 (a) or (b). The cover page 20 as shown in () is created (S7). In detail, when the first destination is designated by the one-touch / shortening function, as shown in FIG. 4A, a message 20a to the user of the terminal device related to the second destination, Source information (own device 1
Fax number, user's telephone number, company name, etc.) 2
0b, address 20 of the user of the terminal device related to the first destination
c, the user name 20d of the terminal device related to the second destination,
Also, a cover page is created in which items each consisting of the page number 20e of the original that has failed to be transmitted are arranged at predetermined positions. When the first destination is designated by direct input by an operator or the like, as shown in FIG. 4B, the cover page 20 having the same items as the above except the user address 20c is displayed. create.

In the message 20a, the information stored in the message storage unit 4c is the source information 20.
The information stored in the transmission source information storage unit 4d is stored in b, and the “first transmission destination address” of the record in which the first transmission destination of the one-touch dial table 4a or the speed dial table 4b is stored in the address 20c. The information stored in the "" column is the user name 20 of the terminal device related to the second destination.
In d, the information stored in the “second destination name” column of the record in which the first destination is stored in the one-touch dial table 4a or the speed dial table 4b is stored in the page number 20e of the original document. The page number information extracted from the communication history information related to the transmission held by the own device 1 is arranged.

After the cover page 20 is created in S7, the facsimile machine 1 creates the cover page 20.
Is inserted into the first page of the original document stored in the image memory 5 in S2, and this (a combination of the cover page 20 and the original document) is transmitted to the second destination (S8),
Further, the original document stored in the image memory 5 is erased (S
9). When the first destination is designated by the shortened number or the one-touch key, the designated second number of the one-touch dial table 4a or the shortened dial table 4b is designated as the second destination in S8. Or, if the facsimile number or mail address stored in the "second destination" field of the record storing the one-touch key is applied and the first destination is directly specified by the numeric keypad, etc., The facsimile number or mail address stored in the common destination information storage unit 4e is applied.

The original is erased in S9 after the transmission to the second destination is normally completed. When the communication to the second destination finally fails (when it cannot be sent normally even after redialing a predetermined number of times)
Deletes the document in the image memory 5 after printing out the communication error report. The communication error report (hereinafter referred to as “second communication error report”) is
"Because the transmission to the first destination (XX Trading) failed,
I tried to send to the second destination (ABC company),
Sending to the second destination also failed. Please try sending again. It becomes the contents.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 5A, the fact that the transmission of the original document to the first transmission destination has failed, and since the transmission of the original document has failed, the user of the terminal device relating to the second transmission destination is notified. The recording unit 7 prints the communication error report 21 in which information such as the request for delivering the original document, the first transmission destination, the transmission start date and time, and the like is described (S10).

On the other hand, in S5, when it is judged that the important document backup function is "unnecessary", the transmission of the original document to the first transmission destination as shown in FIG. 5B, for example, fails. The communication section 22 prints a communication error report 22 containing information such as a message indicating that the document should be retransmitted, the first transmission destination, and the transmission start date and time (S10).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S6 that the second transmission destination is not registered, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), the fact that the transmission of the original document to the first destination has failed and the important document backup function is set to "necessary"
However, the communication error report 23 in which information such as the fact that the second transmission destination is not registered, the first transmission destination, the transmission start date and time, etc. is printed by the recording unit 7 (S10).

Although the facsimile apparatus 1 is adapted to print the communication error reports 21, 22 and 23 in S10 after erasing the original document in the image memory 5 in S9, the user fails to send the report. In order to make it easier to identify the original document, it is necessary to reduce the original document in the image memory 5 before deleting the original document and insert the original document image information into some of the communication error reports 21 to 23 as original image information. , May be printed out. In this case, the communication error report in which the reduced original is inserted is printed out, and then the original in the image memory 5 is erased. Similarly, with respect to the second communication error report described above, a document obtained by reducing and inserting the document in the image memory 5 may be created as a communication error report and printed out.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the facsimile apparatus 1, there is a case where the transmission to the transmission destination (first transmission destination) designated by the operator or the like fails due to the occurrence of a communication error or the like. However, the original is transmitted together with the cover page 20 to the second destination. By utilizing this, for example, when the facsimile number or the mail address of a terminal device of a delivery company or the like is registered as the second destination, and when the original document received from the facsimile device 1 is received, the original document or cover page is received. If a contract for delivery to the address described in 20 is made with the delivery company, etc., it is possible to deliver the original that failed to be sent to the user etc. of the terminal device related to the first destination. Becomes

Various information 20a to 20d displayed on the cover page 20 transmitted to the second destination is stored in the one-touch dial table 4a, the speed dial table 4b, the message storage unit 4c, and the sender information storage unit 4d. Since the content can be freely changed by editing the content, the cover page 20 with the content according to the intention of the operator etc.
Can be attached to the manuscript to be sent to the recipient.

Furthermore, since the operator or the like can switch the necessity of transmitting the original document to the second destination by using the important document designation key 10a, the important original document which is urgent to be transmitted is transmitted. By setting the setting of the function to "necessary" only sometimes, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of delivering unimportant general documents to a delivery company or the like.

[0043]

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, even if the transmission of the original document to the first destination fails, the original document is automatically transmitted to the second destination. For example, the facsimile number or e-mail address of the terminal device of the delivery company or the like is registered as the second destination, and when the delivery company or the like and the manuscript received from the facsimile device are received, the address described in the manuscript is received. By making a contract to deliver the original document, it becomes possible to deliver the original document that has failed to be transmitted to the user or the like of the terminal device related to the first destination.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the switching unit switches the necessity of transmitting the original document to the second destination so that the important document is transmitted only when the important original document which is urgent to transmit is transmitted. Since it can be set so that the original can be transmitted to the second destination, when the terminal device of the delivery company or the like is registered as the second destination, even the general manuscript with no urgency is delivered. It is possible to avoid the inconvenience of having the product delivered to the customer.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the third aspect, since the cover page in which the message is described is inserted in the first page of the manuscript to be transmitted to the second destination, the request matter, the cautions, etc. are included in the message. By including the message, the user of the terminal device related to the second destination or the like can be instructed in detail in handling the original.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a one-touch dial table, a speed dial table, and a common destination information storage unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when the facsimile apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention transmits a document.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a cover page.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a communication error report.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Facsimile machine 2 CPU (control unit) 3 ROM 4 RAM 4a One-touch dial table (storage means) 4b Speed dial table (storage means) 4c message storage 10a Important document designation key (switch section)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 5C062 AA02 AA14 AB20 AB21 AB41                       AB42 AC03 AC22 AC24 AC38                       AC42 AC43 AC51 AC58 AE15                       AF01 AF02 AF03 AF05 AF13                       BC05                 5C075 BA04 BA05 BA08 BA09 BB06                       CD02 CD09 CE09 CE13 CE14                       CE17 CF01 CF09

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing a first transmission destination in association with a second transmission destination different from the first transmission destination, and the storage unit stores the original transmission destination when the original transmission fails. A facsimile apparatus, comprising: a control unit that transmits the document that has failed to be transmitted to a second transmission destination stored in association with the first transmission destination. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit for switching whether or not to transmit a document to a second destination when the document transmission fails, and the control unit performs the switching. A facsimile machine, characterized in that it performs transmission to the second destination when it is designated as necessary by a section. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a message storage unit that stores a predetermined message, wherein the control unit stores the message when transmitting to a second destination. A facsimile apparatus, which reads a message from a copy, creates a cover page describing the message, and inserts the cover page into a first page of a document to be transmitted to a second destination.