JP2004214727A - Network facsimile apparatus and network facsimile communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network facsimile apparatus and a network facsimile communication system which possibly avoids rejecting a communication because of being busy, etc. and prevents communications from being concentrated on a specific terminal. <P>SOLUTION: When a delayed delivery service request terminal receives a terminating call of facsimile communication from a calling terminal but cannot immediately communicate, the delayed delivery service request terminal sends a delayed delivery service request to a delayed delivery service terminal on a network. If the delayed delivery service terminal is communicable, it sends a facsimile message to the calling terminal to execute the delayed delivery service of reception information using the delayed delivery service terminal. In this process, the delayed delivery service terminal permits the delayed delivery service only when the calling terminal's IP address stored on an information table is equal to that contained in call connection information and the delayed delivery service request terminal's IP address stored on the information table is equal to a called connection IP address contained in the call connection information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus and a network facsimile communication system, and more particularly, to ITU-T Recommendation T.30. The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus used for real-time type Internet facsimile communication according to a communication means 38 and a network facsimile communication system using the network facsimile apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a communication system including a real-time facsimile device (network facsimile device) connected to a public line while being connected to a network via a network interface, and a gatekeeper connected to the network has been proposed. I have. In this communication system, a gatekeeper performs address conversion and network control on the network facsimile apparatus. That is, the network facsimile apparatus communicates with the gatekeeper at the time of transmission and obtains the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the transmission destination from the address conversion table held in the gatekeeper, thereby transmitting the fax document based on the packet communication. Had sent.
[0003]
Further, in order to enable communication even when the gatekeeper is stopped, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-217987 discloses a configuration in which a copy of an address conversion table held by a gatekeeper on a network is held in a network facsimile apparatus. Have been.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-217987
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In communication using a conventional facsimile apparatus, generally, when a recipient receives an incoming call during facsimile communication, the communication is usually rejected as busy. Also, if the calling sender, whose communication was rejected, sent the fax directly, the sender had to try several times. Further, communication may be concentrated on a specific terminal in the same network, and effective use of a vacant terminal is one of the issues.
[0006]
Further, the above-mentioned patent document discloses a configuration in which an address translation table is held in a network device, and a destination address is determined by the network device itself without relying on a gatekeeper. No specific measures have been described.
[0007]
The present invention relates to a communication system in a network having a plurality of network facsimile apparatuses and a gatekeeper, wherein a network facsimile apparatus and a network facsimile apparatus for avoiding communication rejection due to busy or the like as much as possible and preventing concentration of communication to a specific terminal. An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile communication system.
[0008]
Also, the present invention adds information or a message to an existing RAS message by extending and using a RAS (Registration Administration and Status) message as a message exchanged between network facsimile machines to request interception. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network facsimile apparatus and a network facsimile communication system capable of requesting an alternate reception.
[0009]
In addition, since it is not preferable from the viewpoint of operation management that a specific network facsimile apparatus receives a proxy reception request from all terminal apparatuses, the present invention can receive a proxy reception request from a specific network facsimile apparatus. It is another object of the present invention to provide a network facsimile apparatus and a network facsimile communication system capable of intercepting only communication addressed to a network facsimile apparatus as a requester.
[0010]
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to wait until the network facsimile apparatus which has requested the alternate reception becomes communicable, to output the alternately received original document from the original terminal, and furthermore, it is unnecessary for the alternate reception terminal to It is an object of the present invention to provide a network facsimile apparatus and a network facsimile communication system capable of reducing various printing costs.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, a network facsimile communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention provides an interface for connecting to a local area network line in a predetermined network environment, communication means conforming to a predetermined communication protocol, Information exchange means for exchanging information on communication operation with a gate keeper and other network facsimile apparatuses, and an information table, which conforms to the protocol of If the terminal receives facsimile communication from the calling terminal but cannot immediately perform communication, the proxy reception requesting terminal transmits a proxy reception request to the proxy reception terminal on the network, and the proxy reception terminal can communicate. If the call is It sends a I message, the received information to be received the intercept request terminal is characterized in that is intercepted on the interception terminal.
[0012]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the network facsimile communication system according to the first aspect, each of the network facsimile apparatuses permits at least a proxy reception request as information on the communication operation exchanged between the network facsimile apparatuses. Means for storing the usage ID, the IP address of the proxy reception requesting terminal, and the IP address of the calling terminal in the information table; and Means for extracting an IP address and a connection destination IP address of the calling terminal included in the call connection information obtained from the calling terminal at the time of the incoming call, when the call is received from the calling terminal, Is included in the IP address of the calling terminal and the call connection information stored in the information table. The proxy reception is permitted only when the IP address of the calling terminal and the IP address of the proxy reception request terminal stored in the information table match with the connection destination IP address included in the call connection information. And
[0013]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the network facsimile communication system according to the first or second aspect, the information regarding the communication operation includes information indicating whether or not to perform polling transmission, When the proxy reception requesting terminal desires the polling transmission, the reception information is not output to a sheet but is stored and the reception of the polling is waited.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the network facsimile communication system according to the first aspect, the interface is configured such that each of the network facsimile apparatuses has an H.323 interface. The H.323 terminal is used to connect to the local area network line in the network environment of the H.323 terminal.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the network facsimile communication system according to the first aspect, the communication means includes an ITU-T Recommendation T.40. 38 procedures.
[0016]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the network facsimile communication system according to the first aspect, the information exchanging means has a RAS function, and uses a RAS message as information on the communication operation to transmit the network facsimile. Information regarding the communication operation is exchanged between the devices.
[0017]
Further, a network facsimile apparatus according to the invention according to claim 7 includes an interface for connecting to a local area network line under a predetermined network environment, communication means compliant with a predetermined communication protocol, and compliant with a predetermined protocol. An information exchange means for exchanging information relating to a communication operation with a gatekeeper and another network facsimile apparatus, and an information table are provided.
[0018]
According to the invention described in claim 8, the network facsimile apparatus according to claim 7 includes, as information relating to the communication operation exchanged between the network facsimile apparatuses, at least a use ID indicating permission of a proxy reception request; Means for storing the IP address of the requesting terminal and the IP address of the calling terminal in the information table, and, when the proxy receiving terminal receives an incoming call from the calling terminal after the proxy receiving request is established, Means for extracting the IP address of the calling terminal and the connection destination IP address included in the call connection information acquired from the calling terminal at the time of the incoming call.
[0019]
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the network facsimile apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the interface may be configured such that each of the network facsimile apparatuses is an H.323 interface. The H.323 terminal is used to connect to the local area network line in the network environment of the H.323 terminal.
[0020]
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, in the network facsimile apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the communication means may be an ITU-T Recommendation T.40. 38 procedures.
[0021]
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the network facsimile apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the information exchanging means has an RAS function, and uses an RAS message as information on the communication operation, and transmits the information to the network facsimile apparatus. In this method, information on the communication operation is exchanged between them.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a configuration example of a communication system using a plurality of network facsimile apparatuses (hereinafter, abbreviated as IAF: Internet Aware Fax) according to the present invention.
[0024]
The communication system shown in FIG. 1 includes IAFs 1 to 3, an IP network 4, a gatekeeper 5, a VoIP gateway 6, a public switched telephone network (hereinafter abbreviated as PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network) 7, G3FAX8. That is, FIG. 1 shows that the IAFs 1-3 according to the present invention, the gatekeeper 5, and the VoIP gateway 6 3 shows a case where the terminal is connected to an IP network 4 included in the network of the H.323 terminal. Note that three or more IAFs may be connected to the IP network 4.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows a hierarchical structure of the IAF1. The IAFs 2 and 3 have the same hierarchical structure. The hierarchy of the IAF 1 includes, for example, an OS (Operating System) 11, an API (Application Program Interface) 12, H.323 corresponding unit 13, RAS function unit 14, control data storage unit 15, 38 packet control unit 16. The OS 11 is an OS such as WinSock used as a standard interface when a TCP / IP communication function is used from an application on Windows (registered trademark). The API 12 plays a role of an intermediary for calling each function of the OS 11 from an application. H. The H.323 correspondence unit 13 performs call connection of communication and the like. The RAS function unit 14 executes a task for exchanging information with the gate keeper 5 and the like, inquires of the gate keeper 5 about an IP address and the like, executes an address conversion and the like. The control data storage unit 15 holds a management table and the like. T. 38 packet control unit, It performs data conversion, processing, etc. based on the 38 packet format.
[0026]
Here, a flow in which the IAF 1 performs proxy reception by the IAF 2 when the IAF 1 in communication receives an incoming call from the IAF 3 will be described with reference to a timing chart of FIG.
[0027]
First, IAF3 transmits a call setup message (1) to IAF1 using the transport address of the call control channel. When the IAF 1 approves the acceptance of the call, the IAF 1 transmits a call setting acceptance message (2) to the IAF 3, and transmits a proxy reception request message (3) to the IAF 2. The IAF 2 responds to the proxy reception request with a proxy reception acceptance / rejection message (4). When the IAF 2 approves the acceptance of the alternate reception, the IAF 1 transmits a facility message (5) including the transport address of the call control channel of the IAF 2 to the IAF 3. The IAF 3 transmits the release completion message (6) to the IAF 1, and also outputs the release H.264 message. According to the procedure of H.323, the call setup message (7) is transmitted to the IAF2 using the transport address of the call control channel of the IAF2 included in the received facility message (5). Thereafter, the IAF 2 transmits a call setting acceptance message (8), a call message (9), and a response message (10) to the IAF 3, and thereafter, facsimile communication is performed between the IAF 3 and the IAF 2.
[0028]
Recommendation H. According to H.323, the call setup message (7) is normally transmitted to the gatekeeper according to such a procedure. In the present invention, however, the IAF2 functions as a gatekeeper and receives an incoming call from the IAF3, thereby performing the alternate reception. Do. The IAF 3 may be a VoIP gateway or VoIP-TA. The proxy reception request message (3) and the proxy reception acceptance / rejection message (4) in FIG. H.323, not information exchange according to the present invention. In the present invention, such information exchange is performed using the RAS message. However, since the RAS message for exchanging the interception information is not defined in the recommendation, the RAS message is added by itself, or the RAS message (eg, ARQ, etc.) which is not normally received by the endpoint is specified. The exchange of the interception information between the IAFs is performed by independently adding the extension elements.
[0029]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart in a case where the IAF 1 serving as the substitute reception request terminal requests the IAF 2 serving as the substitute reception terminal to perform substitute reception. Here, the operation of the IAF 1 requesting the IAF 2 to perform alternate reception will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the IAF 1 determines whether there is an incoming call from another terminal (step S401). If there is no incoming call (step S401 / No), the IAF 1 continues the operation of step S401. On the other hand, when there is an incoming call (step S401 / Yes), the IAF 1 determines whether or not its own state is busy (step S402). If it is not busy (step S402 / No), the IAF 1 starts a normal communication (reception) operation (step S404). On the other hand, when it is busy (step S402 / Yes), the IAF 1 transmits the proxy reception request message (3) to the IAF 2, and requests the proxy reception (step S403). Thereafter, the IAF 1 checks the message (4) received from the IAF 2 (step S405), and disconnects the connection if the message (4) refuses the alternate reception (step S405 / No) (step S407). . On the other hand, if the message (4) has contents permitting the alternate reception (step S405 / Yes), the IAF 1 transmits the facility message (5) to the IAF 3 which is the calling terminal.
[0030]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the IAF 2 serving as the surrogate receiving terminal performs surrogate reception. First, the IAF 2 receives the information (use ID, IP address of the IAF 1 serving as the proxy receiving request terminal, IP address of the IAF 3 serving as the calling terminal, and polling request flag from the proxy receiving request terminal IAF 1 at least as shown in FIG. ) Is determined (step S501). If the message (3) is not received (step S501 / No), the IAF 2 continues the operation of step S501. On the other hand, when the message (3) is received (step S501 / Yes), the IAF 2 determines whether or not the IAF 2 itself is in a state capable of performing the alternate reception and whether or not the use ID is valid, and determines whether to permit the alternate reception. It is determined whether or not it is (step S502).
[0031]
When accepting the alternate reception (step S502 / Yes), the IAF 2 stores information as shown in FIG. 6A in an information table (not shown). At this time, the IAF 2 checks the polling request flag included in the proxy reception request message (3) received when Step S501 is Yes. For example, the polling information flag may indicate that polling is unnecessary when it is 0, and may indicate that polling is necessary when it is 1. When the polling request flag is 1, the IAF 2 creates a polling information management table as shown in FIG. 7 separately from the information table, and stores and manages the polling information. After storing the necessary information, the IAF 2 transmits the proxy reception request reception message (4) including at least the information (the use ID, the IP address of the IAF 2 serving as the proxy reception terminal, and the polling ID) shown in FIG. And waits for an incoming call from IAF3.
[0032]
When the call setting message (7) is transmitted from the IAF 3 to the IAF 2 based on the timing chart of FIG. 3, the IAF 2 includes the information (7) in the message (7) that matches the substitute reception destination information stored in step S503. It is determined whether or not there is (step S504). Specifically, the IAF 2 compares the transport address (connection destination IP address) of the IAF 1 included in the received message (7) with the IP address of the IAF 1 stored in the IAF 2 in step S503, and The port address is compared with the IP address of IAF3 stored in IAF2 in step S503. If all of these conditions are met (step S504 / Yes), the IAF 2 permits facsimile reception from the IAF 3 (step S505). On the other hand, if all the conditions do not match (step S504 / No), the IAF 2 repeats the operation of step S504.
[0033]
Thereafter, the IAF 2 determines whether or not the polling request flag included in the proxy reception request message (3) received in Step S501 is 1 (Step S506). If the flag is 1 (step S506 / Yes), the IAF 2 shifts to a polling transmission waiting state (step S507). On the other hand, if the flag is 0 (No at Step S506), the IAF 2 outputs the information received at Step S505 to a sheet or the like (Step S508). Detailed operations after step S506 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0034]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a polling operation performed by the IAF 2 serving as the surrogate receiving terminal. As described above, the polling information is exchanged between the IAFs at the time of the proxy reception request. First, the IAF 2 determines whether or not there is a proxy reception document (step S801). If there is no proxy reception document (step S801 / No), the IAF 2 repeats the operation of step S801. On the other hand, if there is a proxy document (step S801 / Yes), the IAF 2 determines whether or not the polling is specified, that is, whether or not polling transmission is necessary based on the polling request flag (step S802). If the polling is not specified (step S802 / No), the IAF 2 prints out the substitute document on paper or the like after the facsimile communication ends (step S804). On the other hand, if polling is specified (step S802 / Yes), the IAF 2 creates a polling information management table as shown in FIG. 7 and enters a polling reception waiting state. Next, the IAF 2 determines whether or not the busy state of the IAF 1 has been resolved (Step S805). If the busy state of the IAF1 has not been resolved (step S805 / No), the IAF2 repeats the step S805. On the other hand, if the busy state of IAF1 has been resolved (step S805 / Yes), IAF2 starts polling transmission to IAF1 (step S806). Note that, in step S805, the IAF 2 may start polling transmission using a certain time as a trigger.
[0035]
The facsimile communication program according to the present invention is recorded on a recording medium such as an optical recording medium, a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor, and may be loaded from the recording medium to each network facsimile apparatus. Alternatively, the information may be loaded from an external device connected via a predetermined network. Further, the facsimile communication method according to the present invention is realized by executing the above-described steps by the facsimile communication program loaded on the network facsimile apparatus.
[0036]
The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention. Becomes possible.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention prompts the calling side to change the destination as if a model via a gatekeeper is executed. Therefore, the user does not need to operate the network facsimile machine to resend the facsimile manuscript. The facsimile communication conforming to the H.323 procedure can be performed.
[0038]
Further, the network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention makes an alternate reception request by extending the RAS message. Therefore, the H.323 can handle RAS messages. With a H.323 terminal, information can be easily exchanged.
[0039]
Further, the network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention determines an alternate reception request based on the use ID, and, when receiving an incoming call from the calling terminal, the alternate reception terminal determines the IP address of the previously stored alternate reception request terminal and the corresponding address. The IP address of the alternate reception request terminal acquired at the time of the incoming call is compared with the IP address, and communication is permitted only when the addresses match. Therefore, it is possible to limit the terminals that permit the alternate reception.
[0040]
Further, the network facsimile apparatus of the present invention sets whether or not to perform polling transmission to the proxy reception terminal. Therefore, the cost of paper can be reduced at the proxy receiving terminal, and further, the paper can be output at the terminal that originally received the call by polling transmission.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration example of a communication system using a plurality of network facsimile apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure of a network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing an alternate reception operation using a model via a gatekeeper by the network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the alternate reception request terminal according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the proxy reception terminal according to the present invention.
FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example of information transmitted by the proxy reception requesting terminal to the proxy reception terminal according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of information transmitted to a user.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a polling information management table created by an alternate reception terminal according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a polling operation of the proxy receiving terminal according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 IAF1
2 IAF2
3 IAF3
4 IP network 5 Gatekeeper
6 VoIP gateway 7 PSTN
8 G3 FAX
11 Winsock
12 API
13 H. H.323 corresponding unit 14 RAS function unit 15 control data storage unit 16 38 packet control unit

Claims (11)

An interface for connecting to a local area network line under a predetermined network environment, a communication means conforming to a predetermined communication protocol, and information relating to a communication operation conforming to a predetermined protocol, a gatekeeper and other network facsimile devices. Information exchange means for exchanging, and an information table, having at least a plurality of network facsimile machines each equipped with
If the proxy reception request terminal receives a facsimile communication from the calling terminal but cannot immediately perform communication, the proxy reception request terminal transmits a proxy reception request to the proxy reception terminal on the network, and the proxy reception terminal A network facsimile communication system comprising: transmitting a facility message to a calling terminal when a communication is possible, and causing the proxy reception terminal to proxy-receive reception information to be received by the proxy reception requesting terminal. Each of the network facsimile machines,
The information table includes at least a use ID indicating permission of a proxy reception request, an IP address of the proxy reception request terminal, and an IP address of the calling terminal as information regarding the communication operation exchanged between the network facsimile apparatuses. Means for saving;
When the proxy receiving terminal receives an incoming call from the calling terminal after the proxy receiving request is satisfied, the IP address and the connection destination of the calling terminal included in the call connection information acquired from the calling terminal at the time of the incoming call Means for extracting an IP address and
The surrogate receiving terminal,
The IP address of the calling terminal stored in the information table, the IP address of the calling terminal included in the call connection information, the IP address of the intercepting request terminal stored in the information table, and the call 2. The network facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the proxy reception is permitted only when the connection destination IP addresses included in the connection information match. Information on the communication operation,
Contains information indicating whether to perform polling transmission,
3. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the proxy reception requesting terminal desires polling transmission, the proxy reception terminal saves the reception information without outputting it to a sheet and waits for polling reception. Communications system. The interface is
Each of the network facsimile apparatuses is H.323. The network facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the network facsimile communication system is used to connect to the local area network line in a network environment of a H.323 terminal. The communication means,
ITU-T Recommendation T. 2. The network facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the network facsimile communication system conforms to 38 procedures. The information exchange means,
Has RAS function,
2. The network facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein information relating to said communication operation is exchanged between said network facsimile apparatuses using an RAS message as information relating to said communication operation. An interface for connecting to a local area network line under a predetermined network environment,
Communication means conforming to a predetermined communication protocol;
In accordance with a predetermined protocol, information exchange means for exchanging information on communication operation with gatekeepers and other network facsimile devices,
An information table,
A network facsimile apparatus comprising: The information relating to the communication operation to be exchanged between the network facsimile apparatuses, at least a usage ID indicating permission of a proxy reception request, an IP address of a proxy reception request terminal, and an IP address of a calling terminal are stored in the information table. Means,
When the proxy receiving terminal receives an incoming call from the calling terminal after the proxy receiving request is satisfied, the IP address and the connection destination of the calling terminal included in the call connection information acquired from the calling terminal at the time of the incoming call Means for extracting an IP address;
The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, comprising: The interface is
Each of the network facsimile apparatuses is H.323. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the network facsimile apparatus is used to connect to the local area network line in a network environment of a H.323 terminal. The communication means,
ITU-T Recommendation T. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, which conforms to 38 procedures. The information exchange means,
Has RAS function,
8. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, wherein information relating to said communication operation is exchanged between said network facsimile apparatuses using an RAS message as said information relating to said communication operation.

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