JP2004023429A - Communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication apparatus which quickly outputs prints of received documents concretely when its facsimile reception from public lines concentrates. <P>SOLUTION: A public network I/F unit 104 receives facsimile data at the same time over a public network 100, and a network I/F unit 105 sends at least an electronic mail to a network terminal netfax_ 1, etc. connected via the network 100. Upon receipt of facsimile data, the public network I/F unit 104 attaches a document temporarily stored in a facsimile data memory to an electronic mail, and sends the document to a network terminal having an address registered on a terminal address table (Table 1), when a printing means is working. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【００２２】
受信文書のメール送信処理として、まずメモリユニット１０２に最後に送信したネットワークファクシミリのアドレスが登録されているかどうかチェックする（Ｓ２０１）。未登録の場合（Ｓ２０１の「Ｎ」）は始めての送信であるため、送信アドレステーブルの先頭のアドレスを送信アドレスとして読み出す（Ｓ２０２）が、登録されている場合（Ｓ２０１の「Ｙ」）はそのアドレスを読み出し、アドレステーブル内のどの位置にあるかを検索する（Ｓ２０３）。検索の結果見つかった場合（Ｓ２０４の「Ｙ」）において、テーブルエンドでないとき（Ｓ２０５の「Ｎ」）は次のアドレスを読み出し送信アドレスとし（Ｓ２０６）、テーブルエンドであるとき（Ｓ２０５の「Ｙ」）はテーブル先頭アドレスを送信アドレスとして読み出す（Ｓ２０２）。
【００２３】
なお、テーブルが見つからない場合は、アドレスがテーブルから削除されているので先頭のアドレスを送信アドレスとして読み出す。
【００２４】
読み出されたアドレスに対して、図３に示したと同様に電子メールに文書を添付して送信する（Ｓ２０７）。送信後、送信を行ったアドレスを、最後に送信したアドレスとしてメモリユニット１０２に保存（登録）する。
【００２５】
以上のようにして送信宛先が循環的に処理され、結果としてネットワークファクシミリを分散処理させ高速に出力することができる。なお、図４では最後に送信したアドレスを保存し、ラウンドロビンを実現しているが、アドレステーブル内のポインタを保存する方法でも良い。
【００２６】
図５は送信アドレス決定処理のフローチャートを示し、図６に電子メール送信フローチャートを示し、表２に送信アドレステーブルを示す。なお、この場合にも公衆網２００からの受信処理とメモリユニット１０２への文書蓄積は図３で説明した同様である。
【００２７】
【表２】

【００２８】
電子メールの送信処理は次通りである。すなわち、図５に示すように、まず送信ファイル情報をメモリユニットから読み出し、新規送信なのか分割処理した後の継続送信なのかを判断する（Ｓ３０１）。新規送信の場合（Ｓ３０１の「Ｙ」）は、ラウンドロビン処理における次送信宛先検索のため、メモリユニット１０２に最後に送信したネットワークファクシミリのアドレスが登録されているかどうかチェックする（Ｓ３０４）。登録されている場合（Ｓ３０４の「Ｙ」）はそのアドレスを読み出し、アドレステーブル内のどの位置にあるかを検索する（Ｓ３０５）。検索の結果見つかった場合（Ｓ３０６の「Ｙ」）において、テーブルエンドでないとき（Ｓ３０７の「Ｎ」）は次のアドレスを読み出し送信アドレスとし（Ｓ３０９）、テーブルエンドであるとき（Ｓ３０７の「Ｙ」）はテーブル先頭アドレスを送信アドレスとして読み出す（Ｓ３０８）。Ｓ３０４において未登録の場合（Ｓ３０４の「Ｎ」）は始めての送信であるため、送信アドレステーブルの先頭のアドレスを送信アドレスとして読み出す（Ｓ３０８）。
【００２９】
ただし、Ｓ３０８およびＳ３０９において、アドレスを読み出した場合においては、アドレスが使用中か否かを判断する（Ｓ３１０）。読み出されたアドレスのステイタスが使用中の場合には（Ｓ３１０の「Ｙ」）、新規送信の宛先として割り当てることはできないためそれ次アドレスを確認し（Ｓ３１１）、未使用のアドレスの場合（Ｓ３１０の「Ｎ」）にはそのアドレスを送信宛先として決定する（Ｓ３１２）。
【００３０】
一方、Ｓ３０１において継続送信の場合には（Ｓ３０１の「Ｎ」）、送信ファイル情報のファイルナンバからどの宛先へ送信するのか、アドレステーブルを検索し（Ｓ３０２）、アドレスを読み出し（Ｓ３０３）、検索の結果見つかったアドレスを送信アドレスとして決定する（Ｓ３１２）。
【００３１】
次に、図６に示すように、送信ファイル情報を読み出し（Ｓ４０１）、送信アドレス決定処理後（Ｓ４０２）、未送信データサイズと送信先ネットワークファクシミリの受信可能サイズを比較し、分割送信する必要があるかどうか判断する（Ｓ４０３）。分割が必要ない場合（Ｓ４０３の「Ｎ」）は、全て電子メールに添付して送信する（Ｓ４０７）。分割が必要な場合（Ｓ４０３の「Ｙ」）は、送信可能なページまで送信を行う（Ｓ４０４）。分割送信により未送信ページが存在する場合は、そのままアドレステーブルにおけるネットワークファクシミリのステイタスを使用中とし（Ｓ４０５）、ウェイトをかけ（Ｓ４０６）、一定時間後再び送信処理を行う（Ｓ４０１）。全てのページが送信完了し（Ｓ４０７）、送信アドレスが使用中でないとき（Ｓ４０７）は、使用中のアドレスを未使用にセットし（Ｓ４０８，Ｓ４０９）送信処理を終了させる。
【００３２】
表３に、ネットワーク端末の能力設定例（書き込み幅と、圧縮モードと、線密度）を示す。
【００３３】
【表３】

【００３４】
図７に公衆網からの受信プロトコルを示す。ここでは、あらかじめ出力端末として使用するネットワークファクシミリのメール受信能力をユーザＩ／Ｆユニットより入力しメモリユニットに保持しておく。公衆網から着呼があったときは（ＣＮＧ）、通常のファクシミリプロトコルで処理を行うが、受信時の能力宣言（ＤＩＳ）においては、メモリユニットに登録されたネットワークファクシミリの能力に合わせて宣言を行い、原稿を受信する。この場合においても、ネットワークファクシミリへの送信処理は図３に示したと同様に行われる。
【００３５】
受信能力を登録した場合を以下に説明する。表４にアドレステーブルを、表５に受信端末の能力テーブルを示し、図８に電子メール送信のフローチャートを示す。
【００３６】
【表４】

【００３７】
【表５】

【００３８】
表４，表５，図８では、受信文書を、等倍出力が可能なネットワークファクシミリに送信する場合を説明する。公衆網からの受信処理とメモリユニットへの文書蓄積は上述したと同様である。
【００３９】
図８に示すように、公衆網２００から受信した文書についての情報を読み出し、受信能力テーブルで変倍しなくて良い宛先が存在するかどうか検索を行う（Ｓ５０１）。宛先が存在した場合は（Ｓ５０２の「Ｙ」）、そのアドレスをアドレステーブルから読み出す（Ｓ５０５）。更に線密度や圧縮モードなどを変換する必要かあるかどうかなどをチェックし（Ｓ５０６）、そのまま受信できない場合（Ｓ５０６の「Ｙ」）は線密度、圧縮モード変換して（Ｓ５０７）、メール送信する（Ｓ５０８）。宛先が存在しなかった場合は、あらかじめ設定されたテーブル内のアドレスを読み出し（Ｓ５０２の「Ｎ」）、画像変換ユニットにそのアドレス端末の能力と画像を通知し画像変倍を行い（Ｓ５０３）、必要に応じてさらに線密度や圧縮モードを変換する（Ｓ５０５，Ｓ５０７）。そして変換された画像を決定した送信アドレスに対してメール送信を行う（Ｓ５０８）。なお、図８では、等倍で出力させる例を記したが、同様になるべく線密度を変換しないで出力させる場合や、さらになるべく等倍かつ等線密度で出力させるようにしてもよい。
【００４０】
以下に、ネットワーク端末の能力をグループ化して受信端末能力テーブルに登録しておく場合を説明する。
【００４１】
受信端末能力テーブルは、表５を用いる。表６にアドレステーブルを示し、表７に最終送信アドレステーブルを示し、図９に電子メール送信のフローチャートを示す。ここでは記録幅単位でラウンドロビンさせる例を示す。公衆網２００からの受信処理とメモリユニットへの上述した実施形態と同様である。
【００４２】
【表６】

【００４３】
【表７】

【００４４】
図９では、メール送信処理ではまず送信文書の文書幅を読み出し（Ｓ６０１）、最終送信アドレステーブルからその原稿幅に対応するアドレスが登録されているかどうかチェックする（Ｓ６０２）。登録されていない場合（Ｓ６０２の「Ｎ」）は、始めての送信なので該当幅の先頭アドレスを送信アドレスとして決定する（Ｓ６０６）が、登録されている場合はアドレスを該当するテーブル内で検索し（Ｓ６０３）、発見された場合（Ｓ６０６の「Ｙ」）においてテーブルエンドでないときは次のテーブルを送信アドレスとして決定する（Ｓ６０７）。そして、決定されたネットワークファクシミリへの送信において線密度や圧縮モードの変換が必要な場合（Ｓ６０８の「Ｙ」）は、画像変換を行い（Ｓ６０９）、電子メールに添付して送信を行い（Ｓ６１０）、送信後、送信アドレスを該当する最終送信アドレステーブルに登録を行う（Ｓ６１１）。Ｓ６０８において、圧縮モードの変換が必要でない場合にも、電子メールに添付して送信を行い（Ｓ６１０）、送信後、送信アドレスを該当する最終送信アドレステーブルに登録を行う（Ｓ６１１）。
【００４５】
本実施形態では、でき得る限り、等倍出力を行いかつラウンドロビン方式による出力が可能となる。
【００４６】
なお、本実施形態では等倍で出力しラウンドロビンさせる例を記したが、同様にでき得る限り線密度を変換せずラウンドロビン出力させる場合や、さらにでき得る限り等倍かつ等線密度でラウンドロビンさせることもできる。また、最後に送信したアドレスを保存しラウンドロビンを実現させていたが、アドレステーブル内のポインタを保存する方法による送信も可能である。
【００４７】
【発明の効果】
本発明の通信装置では、ネットワークを介し接続されたてネットワーク端末を用いて、同時に複数のファクシミリから受信した文書を印刷出力するので、交換機が不要となりシステムのコストを低減することができる。また、ネットワーク端末に、電子メールで文書を送信するので、速やかな印刷出力が可能となる。
【００４８】
また、印刷出力スピードが求められる場合に、複数のネットワーク端末にラウンドロビン方式で印刷出力を行わせるので、高速の印刷出力が実現される。また、ファクシミリの消耗品などが、均等に消費されファクシミリの負荷を分散できる。
【００４９】
さらに、公衆網から受信する原稿のデータサイズが大きい場合、分割処理を行わないと、ネットワーク端末は一旦メールを全て受信してから出力処理を行うため、大きなメールは受信できずエラーとなってしまう場合があるが、本発明の通信装置では、通信装置がデータサイズが大きい文書を受信するようにし、分割送信を行うことで、上記の不都合は生じない。すなわち、あらかじめ設定されたサイズ以上の原稿を公衆網から受信してしまった場合でも、それをメールで送信する場合はネットワークファクシミリが受信できる限界よりも小さいサイズで分割して送信することができるため送信が可能となる。
【００５０】
この場合、ラウンドロビン方式による送信を行っても、分割送信した宛先へはその原稿が全て送信されるまで、他の原稿の送信を行わないため、分割された原稿間の間に他の原稿が割り込まないし、また、分割原稿は同じ端末へ出力することができる。
【００５１】
本発明では、公衆網に接続されたファクシミリ装置から受信した文書を、ネットワーク端末の能力に応じて、画像変換することもできる。また、予め各ネットワーク端末の能力を登録しておくことで、公衆網に接続されたファクシミリ装置から受信する際に、ネットワーク端末に対応するファクシミリデータを受信することで、高度な画像変換機能を不要とすることもできる。
【００５２】
さらに、本発明では、受信した文書を、当該文書を画像変換することなくそのまま印刷出力できるネットワーク端末を選択して送信することができるので、所望の印刷出力を得ることができる。また、ネットワーク端末を能力別にグループ管理し、グループ単位でラウンドロビン方式での印刷出力を行わせることもできる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の通信装置の一実施形態にかかるブロック図である。
【図２】（Ａ）は図１の通信装置１がネットワークを介してネットワークファクシミリ装置に接続され、公衆網に接続されたシステム、（Ｂ）は図１の通信装置１が、ネットワークを介してネットワークファクシミリ装置に接続され、公衆網２００に接続されたシステムを示す図である。
【図３】図２（Ｂ）のシステムにおける通信装置１の動作を示すフローチャートである。
【図４】図２（Ｂ）のシステムにおける通信装置１の動作を示すフローチャートである。
【図５】送信アドレス決定処理のフローチャートである。
【図６】電子メール送信のフローチャートである。
【図７】本発明において、公衆網に接続されたファクシミリ装置とのプロトコルを示す図である。
【図８】受信能力を受信端末能力テーブルに登録した場合における電子メール送信のフローチャートである。
【図９】ネットワーク端末の能力をグループ化して受信端末能力テーブルに登録した場合における電子メール送信のフローチャートである。
【符号の説明】
１　通信装置
３　ファクシミリ装置
１０１　システム制御ユニット
１０２　メモリユニット
１０３　ユーザＩ／Ｆユニット
１０４　公衆網Ｉ／Ｆユニット
１００　ネットワーク
１０５　ネットワークＩ／Ｆユニット
１０６　画像変換ユニット
２００　公衆網[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a load balancing technique for a communication device having a plurality of public telephone lines, and more specifically, a communication device capable of promptly printing out a received document when facsimile reception from the public line is concentrated. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a facsimile machine, a specific type of document may be received from a large number of other facsimile machines, printed, and counted. In this case, the facsimile machine that performs the tallying (the facsimile machine on the document receiving side) needs to have the simultaneous receiving capability. For example, if an order slip is received by using a specific facsimile machine and an order is received for a product or the like, a plurality of slips may be received at the same time.If the facsimile machine is compatible with multiple lines, A slip receiving device is installed by installing a device corresponding to another line (for example, provided as an option of a facsimile device).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if a multi-line facsimile apparatus is used, printing is performed only one by one, and therefore, when reception is concentrated, a print output result cannot be obtained immediately. If the facsimile machine does not have a multi-line compatible device, the same number of facsimile machines or the number of facsimile machines required for simultaneous reception are connected via an extension exchange, etc., and the facsimile data is simultaneously received. You can do it too. However, the extension switch has a problem that the price is high and the system configuration is complicated such as wiring.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication apparatus capable of promptly printing out a received document when facsimile reception from a public line is concentrated.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present inventor has noted that a network facsimile apparatus capable of attaching a facsimile-received document to an e-mail and transmitting it to another network terminal has recently become widespread. Then, the network facsimile apparatus obtains the knowledge that the above-mentioned problem can be solved if the document relating to the received facsimile data is attached to an e-mail and transmitted to the network terminal and printed out from the network terminal. The present invention has been made.
[0006]
A communication device of the present invention includes a plurality of communication network interface units that can simultaneously transmit and receive facsimile data via a public network,
An interface unit capable of transmitting at least an e-mail to a network terminal connected via a LAN or a WAN, and an address of the network terminal having an automatic printing function of a document attached to the received e-mail has at least one address. A terminal address table to be registered, a facsimile data storage device for temporarily storing a document related to facsimile data received by the communication network interface unit via the public network, and a printing unit capable of printing out the facsimile data,
In a case where the communication network interface unit receives the facsimile data and the printing means is operating, the network unit of the address registered in the terminal address table is temporarily stored in the facsimile data storage device. E-mail transmitting means for attaching the transmitted document to an e-mail and transmitting the attached e-mail.
[0007]
The communication device of the present invention can simultaneously print received documents at low cost without installing an extension exchange. That is, in the present invention, a plurality of public line units receive facsimile data from a public network, temporarily store the received facsimile data in a storage device, and use a network interface unit to send the facsimile data to one or more network terminals. The document can be attached to an e-mail, transmitted, and printed out. Therefore, the system cost is lower than in the case where the required number of facsimile machines and extension switches are used. In addition, the protocol is simpler than when a special transfer device (a device that can transfer facsimile data between facsimile machines) is used (the facsimile protocol is replaced with the mail transmission protocol), so high-speed output is possible. Can be sorted.
[0008]
Further, the communication device of the present invention further comprises a network terminal receivable data size registration unit for registering a receivable data size for each of the plurality of network terminals, and a document relating to facsimile data stored in the facsimile data storage device, When the data size exceeds the receivable data size of the network terminal to be transmitted, a transmission document transmitting unit that divides the document related to the facsimile data and passes the divided document to the electronic mail transmitting unit may be provided. Until the transmission of all data of the document is completed, the document relating to other facsimile data stored in the facsimile data storage unit may be transmitted to a network terminal except for the network terminal to which the divided document is transmitted. it can.
[0009]
The communication device of the present invention is capable of simultaneously receiving a plurality of facsimile data from a public network, and has a large storage capacity of a facsimile data storage device as compared with a network facsimile that actually performs printout, and can process a document having a large data amount. Can receive. On the other hand, in a network terminal, usually, an e-mail attached with a document is temporarily stored in a memory and then printed out, so that a document exceeding a receivable data size cannot be received.
[0010]
According to the present invention, if the data size of the electronic mail attached to the document exceeds the data size that can be received by the network terminal to be transmitted, the electronic mail may not be able to be received. In such a case, the document to be transmitted is divided into receivable sizes at the page boundaries and transmitted. In this case, the remaining pages are transmitted to the same network terminal again after a certain period of time, but during this time, the e-mail transmission means does not transmit the e-mail attached with another document to the network terminal.
[0011]
In the communication device according to the present invention, when a plurality of network terminal addresses are registered in the terminal address table, the electronic mail transmitting means sends the network terminal having the address registered in the terminal address table to a round robin system. Can send the e-mail. By adopting the round robin method, it is possible to cyclically send an e-mail attached to a document to a plurality of network facsimile apparatuses, so that efficient print processing can be distributed and facsimile paper and coloring materials (toner, ink, etc.) can be used. Etc.), the consumption of consumables and the deterioration of parts can be evenly distributed. Even when the above-described document is divided and transmitted, another document does not interrupt between the pages to be divided and transmitted.
[0012]
For example, when the communication device receives an A3-width document (facsimile data) from the public network, the output cannot be performed if the output destination network terminal is a device capable of receiving only the A4-width document. In such a case, the document width needs to be scaled and transmitted to the network terminal. Also, dedicated hardware can be used for image scaling, or software can be used. Hardware is expensive, and software may require high hardware performance. Further, regarding the image line density (resolution), if the line density received from the public network by the interface unit is transmitted to the network terminal, the network terminal may not be able to print out.
[0013]
The communication apparatus of the present invention may include a network terminal reception capability registration unit that registers reception capabilities (for example, document width, number of colors, resolution, line density, and the above-described document data size) for each of the plurality of network terminals. The communication network interface unit may receive, from the public network, facsimile data corresponding to the maximum capability among the capabilities registered in the network terminal reception capability registration means when receiving the facsimile data. That is, in the present invention, since the capability of the network terminal is registered in the network terminal receiving capability registration means, when receiving from the public network according to the maximum capability, the capability is declared in the protocol, thereby receiving from the public network. The converted image can be received as it is as image information that can be transmitted to the network terminal without performing scaling, linear density conversion, and the like. Thus, there is no need to provide a special (expensive) image conversion function. For example, when a facsimile apparatus on a public network wants to transmit an A3 width document to a communication device, none of the network terminals has the ability to receive the A3 width document, and the facsimile apparatus registered in the network terminal reception capability registration means. If the maximum document width receiving capability is B4 width, the communication device receives B4 width facsimile data from the facsimile device on the public network.
[0014]
According to the communication apparatus of the present invention, when the receiving capabilities of the network terminals are different and the respective receiving capabilities are registered in the network terminal receiving capability registration means, the document relating to the received facsimile data is converted to the document characteristics. Can be transmitted in a round-robin manner to a network terminal having the ability to receive the same without changing. For example, when it is desired to output the document in the same width, the document received in the A3 width can be transmitted to a network terminal having the printing capability in the A3 width. Similarly, if you want to output without changing the line density, register the maximum line density capability of the print output in advance for each network terminal, and send the document to the network terminal corresponding to the maximum line density at the time of reception Can be.
[0015]
In the communication device according to the present invention, the network terminals may be grouped according to reception capability, and an image related to facsimile data received from a public network within the network terminals belonging to each group may be transmitted by a round robin method.
[0016]
For example, when a document of A3 width is received, a destination is cyclically allocated in a round robin manner within a group of a plurality of network terminals having A3 width receiving capability registered in advance, so that an optimal terminal can be allocated. Can send an e-mail attached to the document.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram according to an embodiment of the communication device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a communication device 1 includes a system control unit 101 that controls the functions of the entire device, a system control program ROM, a work RAM, and a RAM for storing received images (or a large-capacity storage device such as a magnetic storage device). ), A memory unit 102 including a power-backed-up RAM for storing system setting information and network facsimile address information, and a user I / F unit 103 having various keys and a display necessary for setting and the like and inputting and outputting data. And a public network I / F unit 104 that controls facsimile transmission and reception via the public network 200 (see FIG. 2A) and a network (LAN or WAN) 100 (see FIG. 2B). A network that converts documents (images) related to facsimile data into images that can be attached to e-mail And click I / F unit 105, and compression and expansion of the received document and an image conversion unit 106 which performs encoding / decoding of TIFF performs scaling and linear density conversion.
[0018]
FIG. 2A shows a system in which the communication device 1 of FIG. 1 is connected to a network facsimile device (“network terminal” of the present invention) netfax_1 via a network 100 and is connected to a public network 200. FIG. 2B shows that the communication device 1 of FIG. 1 is connected to a network facsimile device (“network terminal” of the present invention) netfax_1, netfax_2,..., Netfax_n via a network (LAN or WAN) 100. A system connected to the public network 200 is shown. 2A and 2B, a facsimile apparatus (represented by reference numeral 3) is connected to the public network 200. In addition, although the above-described network terminal uses a terminal capable of receiving by SMTP, a network facsimile capable of receiving mail only by POP3 can be configured in combination with a mail server.
[0019]
The operation of the communication device 1 in the system of FIG. 2A will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the system of FIG. 2A, the communication device 1 receives facsimile data from the facsimile device 3 of the public network 200 via the public network I / F unit 104 (S101). All the documents relating to the received facsimile data are temporarily stored in the memory unit 102. Next, the transmission address (host name or IP address and mail address) of the network facsimile registered in the memory unit 102 is read out (S102). Subsequently, the received document stored in the memory unit 102 is read out, coded into TIFF by the image conversion unit 106, and then transferred to the network I / F unit 105 together with the network facsimile address information. The network I / F unit 105 converts the document so that it can be attached to the e-mail, and performs SMTP transmission to the notified address (S103). If the address is a host name, the DNS is inquired of the IP address, and an SMTP connection is made to the notified IP address and transmitted. As a result, the network facsimile performs the SMTP reception process and outputs the received document from the plotter.
[0020]
The operation of the communication device 1 in the system of FIG. 2B will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Table 1 shows a transmission address table. In FIG. 2B, reception processing from the public network 200 and document storage in the memory unit are the same as those in FIG.
[0021]
[Table 1]

[0022]
As the mail transmission processing of the received document, first, it is checked whether or not the address of the last transmitted network facsimile is registered in the memory unit 102 (S201). If it is not registered (“N” in S201), it is the first transmission, so the first address in the transmission address table is read as the transmission address (S202). If it is registered (“Y” in S201), The address is read, and the position in the address table is searched (S203). If it is found as a result of the search ("Y" in S204), if it is not the table end ("N" in S205), the next address is set as the read transmission address (S206), and if it is the table end ("Y" in S205). ) Reads the table top address as the transmission address (S202).
[0023]
If the table is not found, the address is deleted from the table, so the first address is read as the transmission address.
[0024]
A document is attached to the e-mail and transmitted to the read address in the same manner as shown in FIG. 3 (S207). After transmission, the transmitted address is stored (registered) in the memory unit 102 as the last transmitted address.
[0025]
As described above, the transmission destination is cyclically processed, and as a result, the network facsimile can be subjected to distributed processing and output at high speed. Although the last transmitted address is stored in FIG. 4 to realize round robin, a method of storing a pointer in the address table may be used.
[0026]
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the transmission address determination processing, FIG. 6 shows an e-mail transmission flowchart, and Table 2 shows a transmission address table. In this case, the process of receiving from the public network 200 and the process of storing the document in the memory unit 102 are the same as those described with reference to FIG.
[0027]
[Table 2]

[0028]
The e-mail transmission process is as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, first, the transmission file information is read from the memory unit, and it is determined whether the transmission is new transmission or continuous transmission after division processing (S301). In the case of a new transmission ("Y" in S301), it is checked whether or not the address of the last transmitted network facsimile is registered in the memory unit 102 in order to search for the next transmission destination in the round robin process (S304). If the address has been registered ("Y" in S304), the address is read, and a search is made for the position in the address table (S305). If it is found as a result of the search (“Y” in S 306), if it is not the table end (“N” in S 307), the next address is set as the read transmission address (S 309), and if it is the table end (“Y” in S 307). ) Reads the table head address as the transmission address (S308). If no registration has been made in S304 ("N" in S304), this is the first transmission, so the top address of the transmission address table is read as the transmission address (S308).
[0029]
However, when the address is read in S308 and S309, it is determined whether or not the address is in use (S310). If the status of the read address is in use ("Y" in S310), it cannot be assigned as a destination for new transmission, so the next address is checked (S311), and if it is an unused address (S310). ("N"), the address is determined as the transmission destination (S312).
[0030]
On the other hand, in the case of continuous transmission in S301 (“N” in S301), an address table is searched for the destination from the file number of the transmission file information (S302), and the address is read (S303). The address found as a result is determined as the transmission address (S312).
[0031]
Next, as shown in FIG. 6, it is necessary to read out the transmission file information (S401), after the transmission address determination processing (S402), compare the untransmitted data size with the receivable size of the destination network facsimile, and perform the divided transmission. It is determined whether there is (S403). If the division is not necessary ("N" in S403), all are attached to an e-mail and transmitted (S407). If division is necessary ("Y" in S403), transmission is performed up to a transmittable page (S404). If there is an untransmitted page due to the divided transmission, the status of the network facsimile in the address table is used as it is (S405), a wait is applied (S406), and the transmission process is performed again after a predetermined time (S401). When transmission of all pages is completed (S407) and the transmission address is not in use (S407), the address in use is set to unused (S408, S409), and the transmission process is terminated.
[0032]
Table 3 shows an example of the capability setting of the network terminal (writing width, compression mode, linear density).
[0033]
[Table 3]

[0034]
FIG. 7 shows a reception protocol from the public network. Here, the mail receiving capability of the network facsimile used as the output terminal is input from the user I / F unit and stored in the memory unit in advance. When there is an incoming call from the public network (CNG), processing is performed using a normal facsimile protocol. However, in the capability declaration at reception (DIS), the declaration is made in accordance with the capability of the network facsimile registered in the memory unit. Perform and receive the original. Also in this case, the transmission processing to the network facsimile is performed in the same manner as shown in FIG.
[0035]
The case where the reception capability is registered will be described below. Table 4 shows an address table, Table 5 shows a capability table of the receiving terminal, and FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of e-mail transmission.
[0036]
[Table 4]

[0037]
[Table 5]

[0038]
Table 4, Table 5, and FIG. 8 illustrate a case where the received document is transmitted to a network facsimile capable of outputting at the same magnification. Reception processing from the public network and document storage in the memory unit are the same as described above.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 8, information about a document received from the public network 200 is read, and a search is performed to determine whether there is a destination that does not need to be scaled in the reception capability table (S501). If the destination exists ("Y" in S502), the address is read from the address table (S505). Further, it is checked whether or not it is necessary to convert the line density and the compression mode (S506). If the data cannot be received as it is ("Y" in S506), the line density and the compression mode are converted (S507) and the mail is transmitted. (S508). If the destination does not exist, the address in the preset table is read out ("N" in S502), the capability of the address terminal and the image are notified to the image conversion unit, and the image is scaled (S503). The linear density and the compression mode are further converted as needed (S505, S507). Then, a mail is transmitted to the transmission address that determined the converted image (S508). Although FIG. 8 shows an example in which the output is performed at the same magnification, the output may be performed without converting the linear density as much as possible, or the output may be performed at the same magnification and the same linear density as much as possible.
[0040]
Hereinafter, a case will be described in which the capabilities of the network terminals are grouped and registered in the receiving terminal capability table.
[0041]
Table 5 is used for the receiving terminal capability table. Table 6 shows an address table, Table 7 shows a final transmission address table, and FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of e-mail transmission. Here, an example is shown in which round robin is performed in recording width units. This is the same as the above-described embodiment in which the reception processing from the public network 200 and the memory unit are performed.
[0042]
[Table 6]

[0043]
[Table 7]

[0044]
In FIG. 9, in the mail transmission process, first, the document width of the transmission document is read (S601), and it is checked whether an address corresponding to the document width is registered from the final transmission address table (S602). If it is not registered ("N" in S602), it is the first transmission, so the start address of the width is determined as the transmission address (S606). If it is registered, the address is searched in the corresponding table ( In S603), if it is found ("Y" in S606) and it is not the table end, the next table is determined as the transmission address (S607). Then, if conversion of the line density or the compression mode is necessary for transmission to the determined network facsimile ("Y" in S608), image conversion is performed (S609), and the image is attached to an e-mail and transmitted (S610). After the transmission, the transmission address is registered in the corresponding final transmission address table (S611). In S608, even when the conversion of the compression mode is not necessary, the transmission is performed by attaching to the e-mail (S610), and after transmission, the transmission address is registered in the corresponding final transmission address table (S611).
[0045]
In the present embodiment, as much as possible, the same-magnification output is performed and the output by the round robin method is possible.
[0046]
Note that, in the present embodiment, an example of outputting at the same magnification and performing round robin has been described. You can also robin. Although the last transmitted address is stored to realize round robin, transmission by a method of storing a pointer in an address table is also possible.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
In the communication apparatus according to the present invention, documents received from a plurality of facsimile machines are simultaneously printed out using a network terminal connected via a network, so that an exchange is not required and the cost of the system can be reduced. Further, since the document is transmitted to the network terminal by e-mail, it is possible to print out quickly.
[0048]
Further, when a print output speed is required, a plurality of network terminals are caused to perform print output in a round robin manner, so that high-speed print output is realized. Further, facsimile consumables and the like are consumed evenly, and the load on the facsimile can be distributed.
[0049]
Furthermore, if the data size of the original received from the public network is large, unless the division processing is performed, the network terminal once receives all the mail and then performs the output processing, so that a large mail cannot be received and an error occurs. In some cases, however, the communication apparatus of the present invention does not cause the above-described inconvenience by allowing the communication apparatus to receive a document having a large data size and performing divided transmission. In other words, even if a document larger than the preset size is received from the public network, it can be transmitted by e-mail and divided into smaller sizes than the network facsimile can receive. Transmission becomes possible.
[0050]
In this case, even if transmission is performed by the round robin method, other originals are not transmitted to the destination of the divided transmission until all of the originals are transmitted, so that another original is not transmitted between the divided originals. It is not interrupted, and the divided original can be output to the same terminal.
[0051]
According to the present invention, a document received from a facsimile apparatus connected to a public network can be image-converted according to the capability of the network terminal. Also, by registering the capability of each network terminal in advance, when receiving from a facsimile device connected to the public network, the facsimile data corresponding to the network terminal is received, so that an advanced image conversion function is not required It can also be.
[0052]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the received document can be selected and transmitted from a network terminal that can print out the document as it is without converting the document into an image, so that a desired print output can be obtained. It is also possible to manage the network terminals in groups according to their abilities, and to perform printout in a round-robin manner for each group.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram according to an embodiment of a communication device of the present invention.
2A is a system in which the communication apparatus 1 in FIG. 1 is connected to a network facsimile apparatus via a network and connected to a public network, and FIG. 2B is a system in which the communication apparatus 1 in FIG. 1 is connected via a network. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system connected to a network facsimile apparatus and connected to a public network 200.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the communication device 1 in the system of FIG. 2 (B).
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the communication device 1 in the system of FIG. 2 (B).
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a transmission address determination process.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of e-mail transmission.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a protocol with a facsimile apparatus connected to a public network in the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of e-mail transmission when a receiving capability is registered in a receiving terminal capability table.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an e-mail transmission when the capabilities of network terminals are grouped and registered in a receiving terminal capability table.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Communication device
3 Facsimile machine
101 System control unit
102 memory unit
103 User I / F unit
104 Public network I / F unit
100 networks
105 Network I / F unit
106 Image conversion unit
200 public network

Claims (6)

A plurality of communication network interface units that can simultaneously transmit and receive facsimile data via a public network;
An interface unit that can transmit at least an e-mail to a network terminal connected via a LAN or a WAN;
A terminal address table in which at least one address of a network terminal having an automatic printing function of a document attached to a received e-mail is registered;
A facsimile data storage device for temporarily storing a document related to facsimile data received by the communication network interface unit via the public network,
Printing means capable of printing out the facsimile data,
In a case where the communication network interface unit receives the facsimile data and the printing means is operating, the network unit of the address registered in the terminal address table is temporarily stored in the facsimile data storage device. An e-mail transmission means for attaching the transmitted document to an e-mail and transmitting the e-mail,
A communication device comprising: Network terminal receivable data size registration means for registering receivable data size for each of the plurality of network terminals,
When the document relating to the facsimile data stored in the facsimile data storage device exceeds the receivable data size of the network terminal to be transmitted, the document relating to the facsimile data is divided and transmitted to the e-mail transmitting means. Division means;
A communication device comprising:
The e-mail transmitting unit transmits a document related to other facsimile data stored in the facsimile data storage unit to a network terminal to which the divided document is transmitted until transmission of all data of the divided document is completed. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device transmits the message to a network terminal excluding the communication device. A network terminal receiving capability registration unit for registering a receiving capability for each of the plurality of network terminals,
2. The communication network interface unit according to claim 1, wherein, when receiving facsimile data, facsimile data corresponding to the maximum capability among the capabilities registered in said network terminal receiving capability registration means is received from said public network. 3. The communication device according to any one of 2. In a case where a plurality of network terminal addresses are registered in the terminal address table, the electronic mail transmitting means transmits the electronic mail to the network terminal having the address registered in the terminal address table in a round robin manner. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the communication device transmits the received document relating to the facsimile data to a network terminal having a capability of receiving the document without changing the document characteristics. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the network terminals are grouped according to reception capabilities, and a document received from a public network is transmitted in a round robin manner in the network terminals belonging to each group.

Images