JP2004200898A - Network terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network terminal capable of simply transferring facsimile image information. <P>SOLUTION: Since the network terminal can identify a transmission user requesting a network facsimile machine FX to transmit image information, the network terminal can provide a proper service to each transmission user. For example, the network terminal can transmit invoice image information as a first page at image information transmission, and transmit a transmission result to a destination described in a contact place information file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a network terminal device such as a network facsimile device, for example, when a received facsimile image information is received by another terminal device (for example, a personal computer device or the like), it has been performed using an electronic mail.
[0003]
In addition, an apparatus for storing data on a network using various transfer protocols (see Patent Document 1) has been proposed.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-111931 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when transferring image information using electronic mail, a mail server is required in the network to which the network terminal device belongs.
[0006]
As described above, in the conventional network terminal device, an e-mail is used to transfer image information, so a mail server is required in the network. A complicated setting operation such as setting has occurred.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a network terminal device that can easily transfer facsimile image information.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line. A shared area accessible from the terminal device is provided, and a lower shared area for each sender in which the sender identification information is set to the identification information is set in the shared area, and destination identification information is set in the lower shared area for each sender. When the transmission image information is stored in the destination-based lower shared area, the identification information set in the destination-based lower shared area is obtained as the destination identification information. Transmitting the stored transmission image information to the destination of the obtained destination identification information, and transmitting the transmission image information including the destination-specific lower shared area. It acquires identification information set to another backward shared area as the sender identification information, in which to perform the communication management operations.
[0009]
Further, in a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information according to a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line, another terminal device is included in its own terminal. A shared area accessible from the sender, a sender-specific lower shared area in which the source identification information is set to the identification information is set in the shared area, and the destination identification information is set in the sender-specific lower shared area. When the lower-level shared area for each destination set in the identification information is set, additional image information is stored, and when the transmission image information is stored in the lower-level shared area for each destination, the identification information set in the lower-level shared area for each destination is set. Is acquired as the destination identification information, and the stored transmission image information and the sender-specific lower shared area including the destination-specific lower shared area The additional image information stored is transmitted to the destination of the obtained destination identification information, and the identification information set in the sender-specific lower shared area including the destination-specific lower shared area is used as the sender identification information. It is obtained so as to perform the communication management operation.
[0010]
Further, in a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information according to a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line, another terminal device is included in its own terminal. A shared area accessible from the sender, a sender-specific lower shared area in which the source identification information is set to the identification information is set in the shared area, and the destination identification information is set in the sender-specific lower shared area. In addition to setting the destination-specific lower shared area set in the identification information, a sender information file that records predetermined information including the sender's contact information is stored, and the transmission image information is stored in the destination-specific lower shared area. Then, the identification information set in the lower-level shared area for each destination is acquired as destination identification information, and the stored transmission image information is acquired. And the identification information set in the sender's lower shared area including the destination's lower shared area, and the sender information stored in the sender's lower shared area. A file is acquired, and a communication management operation and a transmission result notification are performed.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013]
In the figure, a plurality of workstation devices WS1 to WSn and a network facsimile device FX are connected to a local area network LAN, and also connected to the Internet via a router device RT. Therefore, the workstation devices WS1 to WSn and the network facsimile device FX can exchange data with other appropriate terminal devices via the Internet.
[0014]
Further, the workstation devices WS1 to WSn include a file sharing area access function (SMB client function; described later) that enables access to a sharing area provided in another terminal device (for example, the network facsimile machine FX), Various programs such as facsimile application software for creating, displaying and outputting facsimile image information, and various software for exchanging various data via a local area network LAN have been introduced and used by a specific user. Is what is done. Here, the specific user may be one or more users.
[0015]
Further, the network facsimile machine FX exchanges a file sharing function (SMB server function; described later) for enabling access to a shared area provided in its own terminal from the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn, and exchanges image information and various reports as e-mail. And a transmission function for connecting to an analog public line network PSTN and transmitting image information according to a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure using this public network as a transmission path.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the network facsimile machine FX.
[0017]
In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each unit of the network facsimile machine FX and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The parameter memory 3 stores a control processing program to be executed and various data necessary for executing the processing program, and constitutes a work area of the system control unit 1. The parameter memory 3 is unique to the network facsimile machine FX. The clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.
[0018]
The scanner 5 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 7 operates the network facsimile machine FX. And consists of various operation keys and various indicators.
[0019]
The encoding / decoding unit 8 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. The image storage device 9 encodes and compresses the image signal. This is for storing a large number of image information in the closed state.
[0020]
The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing a group 3 facsimile modem function, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals, and mainly for exchanging image information. It has a high-speed modem function (V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27ter modem, etc.).
[0021]
The network control device 11 is for connecting the network facsimile machine FX to the analog public switched telephone network PSTN, and has an automatic transmission / reception function.
[0022]
The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the network facsimile machine FX to the local area network LAN. The local area network transmission control unit 13 communicates with other data terminal devices via the local area network LAN. It is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various kinds of data between them.
[0023]
These are a system control unit 1, a system memory 2, a parameter memory 3, a clock circuit 4, a scanner 5, a plotter 6, an operation display unit 7, an encoding / decoding unit 8, an image storage device 9, a group 3 facsimile modem 10, a network The control device 11 and the local area network transmission control unit 13 are connected to an internal bus 14, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed through the internal bus 14.
[0024]
Data exchange between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is directly performed.
[0025]
Here, in the present embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is performed by a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called TCP / IP, and a further protocol. This is performed by applying a combination with a communication protocol of an upper layer (so-called protocol suite). For example, when exchanging e-mail data, a communication protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied as a communication protocol of an upper layer.
[0026]
When accessing a shared area provided in the network facsimile machine FX, the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol is used.
[0027]
Communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, and POP, and the data format and data structure of electronic mail are specified by RFC documents issued by the IETF. For example, TCP is RFC793, IP is RFC793, SMTP is RFC821, and the format of the e-mail is RFC822, RFC1521, RFC1522 (MIME (Multi-Purpose).
Mail Extension) format.
[0028]
SMB is a protocol for realizing file sharing and printer sharing over a network using Microsoft's Windows NT / XP, Windows 95/98/2000, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "Windows OS"). This is application software that uses NetBIOS and is used by LAN Manager in the so-called MS-DOS era. The SMB protocol is a proprietary protocol that is mainly developed by Microsoft and continues to be improved today. However, the officially documented version of this protocol, which can be used as a file sharing service on the Internet, is CIFS ( It is called the Common Internet File System protocol, and its specifications have been published. In a UNIX-based OS environment (Solaris of Sun Microsystems, so-called PC-Unix such as Linux, FreeBSD and Net-BSD), Samba, which is a file / printer sharing service implementing the SMB / CIFS protocol, can be used.
[0029]
Note that “Unix” refers to The Open Group Ltd. Is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries licensed exclusively.
[0030]
The network facsimile machine FX sends the read document image to another group 3 facsimile machine via the analog public switched telephone network PSTN, or the workstation devices WS1 to WSn via the local area network LAN (further, the Internet). To the user corresponding to the sub-address specified at that time, while transmitting the image information received from the other group 3 facsimile apparatuses via the analog public switched telephone network PSTN to the user or other network facsimile apparatus FX. A transfer service function of transferring image data received from a workstation device WS of a local area network LAN by using electronic mail or a group 3 facsimile device of a designated analog public switched telephone network PSTN. It is equipped with a.
[0031]
Further, with respect to the electronic mail received to the own terminal, the image information arranged in the body information is extracted, recorded and output.
[0032]
In this embodiment, the SMB client function can be used only by installing the Windows-based OS in the workstation devices WS1 to WSn, so that the shared area provided in the network facsimile machine FX is appropriately accessed. This is very convenient because there is no need to install other special software to provide the SMB client function.
[0033]
Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a folder (also referred to as a “directory”) for each transmission user is formed in the shared area provided in the network facsimile machine FX. Is created, and the cover letter information and the contact information file are stored. Also, transmission image information is stored in each destination folder.
[0034]
Here, the shared area can be accessed as a shared folder named “\ Server \ Share” via the local area network LAN. In this case, “Server” is a host name, and “Share” is a top-level identification name (shared folder name) of the shared folder.
[0035]
In addition, folder names such as “NAME_USER1”, “NAME_USER2”,... Are given to the transmission user folder. Usually, a specific user name is applied to each of “USER1” and “USER2”.
[0036]
In addition, folder names “FAX_ (destination # 1)”, “FAX_ (destination # 2)”,..., “FAX_ (destination #n)” are given to the destination folders. In addition, the content of the telephone number of the destination facsimile is added to the destination folder name part “(destination # 1)”.
[0037]
The file name of the cover page information stored in the transmission user folder is “Coverpage.tif”, and the file name of the contact information file is “Senderinfo.txt”.
[0038]
Further, the contact information file in this case is a text file, and includes a description of an e-mail address applied for notifying the transmission user of the transmission result or the like. If a means other than e-mail is used as the contact means, the contents of the contact corresponding to the contact means are described. For example, if the transmission result is to be notified to the group 3 facsimile apparatus, the contents of the destination telephone number of the group 3 facsimile apparatus whose transmission result is desired to be received can be described. Also, a plurality of types of communication means and contact information (e-mail addresses, destination telephone numbers, etc.) corresponding to the type of communication means are described in pairs, and a desired one is selected by the transmission user. You can also do so.
[0039]
With the above configuration, when the transmission image information is stored in any destination folder from the workstation device WS via the local area network LAN, the destination telephone number is obtained by referring to the name of the destination folder, A call is made to the obtained destination telephone number, and the stored transmission image information is transmitted using the group 3 facsimile transmission procedure.
[0040]
Also, at this time, if the cover page information is stored in the destination folder in which the transfer image information is stored, the cover page information is transmitted as the image information of the first page, and the transmission image information is It is transmitted as image information for the second and subsequent pages.
[0041]
If the contact information file is stored in the destination folder where the transmitted image information is stored, the e-mail notifying the transmission result at that time is sent to the e-mail address described in the contact information file. Send.
[0042]
In this manner, in the present embodiment, the transmission user who requests the network facsimile machine FX to transmit image information can be identified, so that an appropriate service can be provided for each transmission user. For example, when transmitting image information, the cover page image information can be transmitted to the first page, or the transmission result can be transmitted to the destination described in the contact information file.
[0043]
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a process performed by the network facsimile machine FX when transmitting image information.
[0044]
First, the network facsimile machine FX monitors reception of an SMB request from a user of any of the workstation apparatuses WS (NO loop of the judgment 101).
[0045]
When the SMB request is received, the access right of the user at that time is checked (process 102), and it is checked whether the requested access is permitted (decision 103). If the result of the determination 103 is NO, the SMB request at that time is not accepted, and the processing ends with an error.
[0046]
When the result of the judgment 103 is YES, the type of the SMB request received at that time is determined (step 104), and it is checked whether or not the file was saved (decision 105). If the result of determination 105 is NO, the processing requested at that time is performed (processing 106).
[0047]
If the result of determination 105 is YES, the received file is stored in the designated area (process 107). The designated area in this case is one of the destination folders of the transmission user folder described above. Next, image information transmission processing is performed on the saved image information file (processing 108), and the image information file that has been transmitted is deleted (processing 109).
[0048]
Then, it is determined whether or not the contact information (Senderinfo.txt) is stored in the upper transmission user folder of the destination folder in which the image information file is stored (decision 110). When the result of determination 110 is YES, a transmission result notification process (process 111) for notifying the transmission result of process 108 is executed, and this operation ends. When the result of the determination 110 is NO, the process 111 is not executed.
[0049]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the image information transmission process (process 108).
[0050]
First, the folder name of the destination folder in which the transmission image information file is stored is read, the “(destination # 1)” portion is extracted, and the destination information is obtained (process 201).
[0051]
Next, a call is made to the destination telephone number, which is the destination information acquired in the process 201, using the network control device 11 (process 202), a predetermined pre-transmission procedure process is performed, and negotiation of a communication function is performed with the partner terminal. And so on (process 203).
[0052]
Here, it is checked whether or not cover page image information (Coverrate.tif) is stored in the upper transmission user folder of the destination folder in which the image information file is stored at that time (decision 204).
[0053]
When the result of the determination 204 is YES, the cover page image information is transmitted as the image information of the first page (process 205), and a predetermined post-message procedure is performed (process 206). When the result of the determination 204 is NO, the processes 205 and 206 are not performed.
[0054]
Next, a value "1" is substituted for a counter P for managing the number of transmitted pages of the text (process 207), and the image information of the Pth page is transmitted (process 208). Next, it is checked whether there is a next transmission page (decision 209), and if the result of decision 209 is YES, a predetermined post-message procedure is executed (processing 210), and the value of the counter P is increased by one (step 210). The process returns to the process 211) and the process 208, and the image information of the next page is transmitted.
[0055]
If transmission of all pages has been completed and the result of determination 209 is NO, a signal EOP is sent as a post-message signal (process 212), and a response signal is received from the destination terminal (process 213). The signal DCN is transmitted (process 214), the line is restored (process 215), and a series of image information transmission operations is terminated.
[0056]
FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the transmission result notification process (process 111).
[0057]
First, header information of a predetermined e-mail is created using the e-mail address of the sending user described in the notification destination information file and the e-mail address set in the terminal itself (process 301), and the transmission result is obtained. Is created (process 302).
[0058]
Then, the e-mail including the header information created in the process 301 and the body information created in the process 302 is transmitted to a mail server (not shown) (process 303), and this process ends.
[0059]
In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a group 3 facsimile transmission function is provided as a communication function of image information. The present invention can be similarly applied.
[0060]
Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to a network communication terminal device (a so-called network scanner device, MFP, or the like) having a communication function (transmission function) of image information.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to identify a transmission user who requests image facsimile transmission to a network facsimile apparatus, so that an appropriate service can be provided for each transmission user. obtain. For example, it is possible to obtain the effect that the cover page image information can be transmitted to the first page at the time of transmitting the image information, and the transmission result can be transmitted to the destination described in the contact information file.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network facsimile machine FX.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a configuration of a shared area provided in the network facsimile machine FX.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed by the network facsimile machine FX when transmitting image information.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image information transmission processing (processing 108).
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a transmission result notification process (process 111).
[Explanation of symbols]
1 System control unit 2 System memory 3 Parameter memory

Claims (3)

In a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line,
In the own terminal, a shared area accessible from other terminal devices is provided, and in the shared area, a sender-specific lower shared area in which sender identification information is set in the identification information is set,
In the sender-specific lower shared area, a destination-specific lower shared area in which destination identification information is set to the identification information is set,
When the transmission image information is stored in the destination-specific lower shared area, the identification information set in the destination-specific lower sharing area is obtained as the destination identification information, and the stored transmission image information is stored in the obtained destination identification information. And transmitting to the destination and acquiring identification information set in the sender's lower shared area including the destination's lower shared area as sender identification information, and performing a communication management operation. Terminal device. In a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line,
In the own terminal, a shared area accessible from other terminal devices is provided, and in the shared area, a sender-specific lower shared area in which sender identification information is set in the identification information is set,
In the sender-specific lower shared area, a destination-specific lower shared area in which destination identification information is set to the identification information is set, and additional image information is stored.
When the transmission image information is stored in the destination-specific lower sharing area, the identification information set in the destination-specific lower sharing area is acquired as the destination identification information, and the stored transmission image information and the destination lower-level sharing are acquired. The additional image information stored in the sender's lower shared area including the area is transmitted to the destination of the acquired destination identification information, and the sender's lower shared area including the destination lower shared area is transmitted to the sender's lower shared area. A network terminal device, which acquires set identification information as sender identification information and performs a communication management operation. In a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line,
In the own terminal, a shared area accessible from other terminal devices is provided, and in the shared area, a sender-specific lower shared area in which sender identification information is set in the identification information is set,
In the sender-specific lower-level shared area, a destination-specific lower-level shared area in which destination identification information is set to the identification information is set, and a sender information file that records predetermined information including the sender's contact information is stored. And
When the transmission image information is stored in the destination-specific lower shared area, the identification information set in the destination-specific lower sharing area is obtained as the destination identification information, and the stored transmission image information is stored in the obtained destination identification information. To the destination, and obtains the identification information set in the sender's lower shared area including the destination's lower shared area, and the sender information file stored in the sender's lower shared area. A network terminal device for performing a communication management operation and a transmission result notification.

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