JP2005012529A - Network facsimile device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network facsimile device capable of sufficiently functioning as a facsimile by effectively utilizing the reception confirmation of an electronic mail. <P>SOLUTION: When image information is transmitted to a destination by using an electronic mail, a warning for indicating that reception may not be confirmed can be issued to a user. As a result, a transmission user can assume that the reception may not be confirmed and makes a decision corresponding to a state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus having a network facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving image information using electronic mail, a facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving image information using a public network, and image information using electronic mail. The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus having a network facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a network facsimile apparatus having a network facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving image information using electronic mail has been put into practical use (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-117210
In addition, in an electronic mail system using the Internet, MDN (Message Dissipation Notification) is defined as a mechanism for confirming delivery, and transmission confirmation may be performed by using this MDN in a network facsimile apparatus. it can.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when MDN is used, whether or not to respond to the reception confirmation request is set so that the receiving terminal has a function of responding to the MDN receipt confirmation mail, and the response function is used. The sending user cannot always receive the MDN receipt confirmation mail.
[0006]
On the other hand, the function of the facsimile apparatus is required to confirm that the other terminal has received the image information.
[0007]
For this reason, from this point of view, the Internet facsimile machine has a problem that it cannot be said that the facsimile function is sufficiently performed.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network facsimile apparatus that can effectively use reception confirmation of e-mails and sufficiently satisfy a function as a facsimile. Yes.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention, in a network facsimile apparatus having a network facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving image information using an electronic mail, transmits the image information using an electronic mail for a reception confirmation request, and receives the information corresponding to the transmitted electronic mail. Whether or not a confirmation mail is received is left in the communication history information.
[0010]
Also, in a network facsimile apparatus having a network facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving image information using e-mail, the image information is transmitted using an e-mail for a reception confirmation request, and a receipt confirmation mail corresponding to the transmitted e-mail is sent. Is not received within a predetermined time, the receipt confirmation mail not received for the electronic mail is left in the communication history information.
[0011]
Further, when it is determined that the communication history information has not been received, the event is displayed as a warning to the user.
[0012]
Further, the communication history information is created for each destination user, and when the receipt confirmation mail has not been received more than a predetermined number of times, when the destination user is selected thereafter, the receipt confirmation mail cannot be received. The possibility is displayed as a warning to the user.
[0013]
The communication history information is created for each destination user, and when the receipt confirmation mail has not been received more than a predetermined number of times, transmission to the destination is prohibited thereafter.
[0014]
Further, in a network facsimile apparatus having a facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving image information using a public network and a network facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving image information using electronic mail, a user name and an e-mail address are set for each destination. And a telephone book registration means capable of registering at least a facsimile number, and an email address registered in the telephone book registration means is applied to a specified destination user, and an image of the reception confirmation request is used. When the information is sent and the receipt confirmation email corresponding to the sent email is not received within the prescribed time, the receipt confirmation email is not received in the communication history information and the receipt confirmation email is not received. When the number of receptions reaches a predetermined number, the telephone If the fax number is registered in the registration means, using the facsimile communication function, in which so as to transmit the image information by calling the facsimile number that is registration.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017]
In the figure, a plurality of workstation devices WS1 to WSn, a mail server device SM, and a network facsimile device FX are connected to the local area network LAN and connected to the Internet via a router device RT. . Therefore, the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn, the mail server apparatus SM, and the network facsimile apparatus FX can exchange data with other appropriate terminal apparatuses via the Internet.
[0018]
Here, the mail server device SM is a known e-mail collection and distribution service for users using the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and the network network facsimile device FX. Is to provide.
[0019]
The workstation devices WS1 to WSn include appropriate e-mail software for creating and sending / receiving e-mail, and various software for exchanging various data via the local area network LAN. Various programs have been introduced and are used by specific users. Here, the specific user may be one or a plurality of users.
[0020]
The network facsimile apparatus FX is connected to an electronic mail communication function for exchanging image information and various reports using electronic mail, and an analog public line network PSTN, and the public network is used as a transmission path for a group. A facsimile communication function for performing image information transmission according to a three facsimile transmission procedure is provided.
[0021]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the network facsimile apparatus FX.
[0022]
In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each part of the network facsimile apparatus FX and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The system memory 2 is executed by the system control unit 1. The control processing program and various data necessary for executing the processing program are stored, and the work area of the system control unit 1 is configured. The parameter memory 3 is unique to the network facsimile apparatus FX. The clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.
[0023]
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 apparatus FX. It consists of various operation keys and various displays.
[0024]
The encoding / decoding unit 8 encodes and compresses the image signal, and also decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. The image storage device 9 performs encoding and compression. This is for storing a large number of image information in the selected state.
[0025]
The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing the modem function of the group 3 facsimile, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals, and mainly for exchanging image information. A high-speed modem function (V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27ter modem, etc.) is provided.
[0026]
The network control apparatus 11 is for connecting the network facsimile apparatus FX to the analog public line network PSTN, and has an automatic outgoing / incoming function.
[0027]
The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the network facsimile apparatus FX to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 13 is connected to other data terminal apparatuses via the local area network LAN. It is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data between them.
[0028]
The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, image storage device 9, group 3 facsimile modem 10, 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 via the internal bus 14.
[0029]
Data exchange between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is performed directly.
[0030]
Here, in the present embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called TCP / IP, and more. This is performed by applying a combination with a higher layer communication protocol (so-called protocol suite). For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, a communication protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied as an upper layer communication protocol.
[0031]
Further, as a protocol applied to each mail terminal device SM for confirmation of receiving or obtaining an e-mail addressed to the user, a so-called POP (Post Office Protocol) can be applied.
[0032]
Further, communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, POP, and data format and data structure of e-mail are defined by RFC documents issued from IETF. For example, RFC is defined as RFC793, IP is defined as RFC793, SMTP is defined as RFC821, and e-mail formats are defined in RFC822, RFC1521, and RFC1522 (MIME (Multipurpose Mail Extension) format).
[0033]
Then, the network facsimile apparatus FX transfers the read document image to another group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public line network PSTN, or via the local area network LAN (or the Internet), workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn. To other users and other network facsimile machines. It also has a transfer function between the analog public network PSTN and the Internet.
[0034]
Here, the facsimile image information is binary data, and the e-mail cannot include binary data directly. Therefore, a predetermined conversion method (for example, Base64 encoding method) is applied to read the readable information (7-bit information). It is included as an attached file in a state converted to a character code. Such a format of e-mail text information is called MIME format.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, the network facsimile apparatus FX has a one-touch dial function that allows one destination to be designated by one key operation, and the operation display unit 7 has a one-touch dial key (not shown). Is provided.
[0036]
For this one-touch dial function, a one-touch dial table as shown in FIG. 3A is created and stored in the parameter memory 3.
[0037]
This one-touch dial table is a collection of a plurality of one-touch dial information, and each one-touch dial information includes a one-touch dial number, a registered user name, and the destination terminal as shown in FIG. Terminal function information (for example, G3 / G4 / e-mail) representing the function, a facsimile number (telephone number) used when calling the facsimile communication function to the destination terminal, and sending an e-mail to the destination using the e-mail communication function Stores the e-mail address used for transmission, the number of unacknowledged receipts for storing the number of times a receipt confirmation mail (described later) could not be received, and the fact that the receipt confirmation request cannot be made for the destination For the receipt confirmation request impossible flag.
[0038]
Here, for example, “G3” is registered as the terminal function information when the destination terminal has the group 3 facsimile communication function, and “G4” when the destination terminal has the group 4 facsimile communication function. Is registered, and “G3 / e-mail” is registered when the destination terminal has a group 3 facsimile communication function and an e-mail communication function.
[0039]
Also, the initial value of the value of the number of unacknowledged receipt confirmations is set to “0”, and the value of the unacknowledged request confirmation flag is set to “reset (clear)” indicating that the initial value can make a receipt confirmation request. Is set.
[0040]
In this embodiment, when image information is transmitted using electronic mail, communication history information as shown in FIG. 4 is created and stored. The communication history information includes e-mail identification information (for example, a value of Message-ID), receipt confirmation status information indicating whether or not the e-mail has been acknowledged, and a destination e-mail address.
[0041]
Here, in the Internet e-mail system, as a mechanism for confirming whether or not the e-mail has been delivered to the intended destination, a system for delivering the confirmation e-mail is realized as an extended function of the e-mail system. .
[0042]
As these delivery confirmation mail systems, DSN (Delivery Status Notification) defined by RFC1891 and 1894, or MDN (Message Delivery Notification) defined by RFC2298 and the like are in practical use.
[0043]
Here, in general, the DSN is used for confirmation of delivery to the mail server, and the MDN is used for confirmation of delivery to the receiving terminal. Accordingly, the DSN function is normally installed in the mail server device SM, and the MDN function is installed in the network facsimile machine FX as a terminal.
[0044]
For example, in this embodiment, when the delivery confirmation by MDN, that is, the receipt confirmation, is to be received, the “Disposition-Notification-To” field is provided in the header information of the e-mail for transmitting the image information. Further, the value of the “Disposition-Notification-To” field is the address of the mailbox set in the own terminal, that is, the mail address. Here, in this embodiment, when an e-mail for image information transmission is transmitted, delivery confirmation by MDN is always performed.
[0045]
In this embodiment, the file number of the transmission image information or the job number of the transmission job is arranged in the “Message-ID” field of the header information of the e-mail for transmitting the image information. For this reason, in this embodiment, when determining the file number of the transmission image information or the job number of the transmission job, a non-overlapping value is calculated by a known method.
[0046]
On the other hand, the MDN receipt confirmation mail includes a “Final-Recipient” field in the header information, and further includes an “Original-Message-ID” field. The value of the “Final-Recipient” field contains information indicating that the user has displayed or processed the email, and the “Original-Message-ID” field has the email that requested the MDN. The value of “Message-ID” is arranged.
[0047]
Therefore, when the received electronic mail includes the “Final-Recipient” field, the network facsimile apparatus FX can determine that the electronic mail is an MDN receipt confirmation mail, and further, the receipt confirmation mail. By searching for the communication information having the same file number as the value of the “Original-Message-ID” field, it is possible to determine which image information transmission e-mail corresponds to the reception confirmation mail.
[0048]
5, 6, and 7 show an example of processing when the network facsimile apparatus FX transmits image information.
[0049]
The user sets a transmission document on the scanner 5 (process 101), operates the operation display unit 7, and inputs a destination and a terminal type (G3 / G4 / e-mail) using a one-touch dial (process 102). Then, the user turns on the start key (not shown) of the operation display unit 7 and waits until the transmission operation is started (NO loop of determination 103).
[0050]
When the result of determination 103 is YES, the image of the transmission original set in the scanner 5 is read (process 104), and the image data obtained thereby is encoded and compressed by the encoding / decoding unit 8, and thus obtained. The image information is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 105).
[0051]
Here, the terminal type designated in the process 102 is determined (process 106), and it is checked whether it is an e-mail (determination 107). When the result of determination 107 is NO, the network control device 11 is called to the facsimile number of the one-touch dial information corresponding to the one-touch dial operated as the destination, and the predetermined group 3 facsimile communication function is used. The image information stored in the image storage device 9 is transmitted (process 108; facsimile transmission process).
[0052]
If the terminal type is e-mail and the result of determination 107 is YES, the value of the one-touch dial information receipt confirmation request disable flag corresponding to the one-touch dial operated as the destination is “set”. Then, it is checked whether or not it is registered that reception confirmation cannot be received (decision 110).
[0053]
When the value of the receipt confirmation request disable flag is “reset (clear)” and the result of determination 110 is NO, the above-described header information of the e-mail with the MDN request is created (processing 111), and the image storage device 9 The transmission image information stored in the message is MIME-converted to generate text information attached with the transmission image information file (processing 112), and the emails generated in the processing 111 and 112 are transmitted to the mail server SM (processing 113). ).
[0054]
Next, the above-described communication history information (see FIG. 4) is created (process 114), and a reception confirmation reception investigation process for checking whether or not a reception confirmation mail is received from the partner terminal is started (process 115).
[0055]
Further, when the result of determination 110 is YES, it is checked whether or not a warning is set for the user when a destination whose reception confirmation reception is not possible is selected (determination 116), and the result of determination 116 is YES. In such a case, for example, a warning guidance message “There is a possibility that receipt confirmation from the specified destination may not be performed” is displayed (process 117), the process proceeds to process 111, and the subsequent processes are executed. The image information is transmitted using an electronic mail with an MDN request.
[0056]
Here, the “warning to the user when a destination that cannot receive receipt confirmation is selected” can be appropriately set by the user, and the setting result is stored in, for example, the parameter memory 3. .
[0057]
When the result of determination 116 is NO, it is checked whether or not transmission prohibition is set when a destination whose reception confirmation reception is not possible is selected (determination 120). When the result of determination 120 is NO, the process proceeds to processing 111, the subsequent processing is executed, and image information is transmitted using an electronic mail with an MDN request.
[0058]
When the result of determination 120 is YES, it is checked whether valid information is registered in the facsimile number of the one-touch dial information corresponding to the one-touch dial operated as the destination (determination 121). When NO becomes NO, the transmission operation at this time ends in error.
[0059]
If the result of determination 121 is YES, a call is made to the facsimile number using the network control device 11, and the image information stored in the image storage device 9 is transmitted using a predetermined group 3 facsimile communication function. (Process 108: Facsimile transmission process).
[0060]
FIG. 8 shows an example of the receipt confirmation reception investigation process activated in process 115.
[0061]
First, a timer for measuring a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) is started (process 201), and whether or not a receipt confirmation mail in response to the corresponding e-mail is received before the timer times out. Check (NO loop of judgments 202, 203, 204, 205).
[0062]
When the receipt confirmation mail responding to the corresponding electronic mail is received before the ima started in the process 201 times out, when the result of the determination 206 is YES, the timer is stopped (process 206). The value of the reception confirmation status information of the communication history information corresponding to the electronic mail is set to “reception” (process 207), and this process ends.
[0063]
On the other hand, if the receipt confirmation response in response to the corresponding e-mail is not received before the time activated by the process 201 times out and the result of determination 206 is NO, e-mail transmission at that time The one-touch dial information reception confirmation / unreception count value for the operation is incremented by one (process 208), and the value of the reception confirmation status information of the communication history information corresponding to the e-mail is set to “unreceived” (process 209). ).
[0064]
Next, it is checked whether or not the value of the number of unacknowledged reception confirmations is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (determination 210). If the result of determination 210 is YES, the corresponding one-touch dial information reception confirmation request disable flag Is set to “set” (process 211), and this process ends. If the result of determination 210 is NO, the process 211 is terminated without executing the process 211.
[0065]
In this way, in this embodiment, when the receipt confirmation mail is not received, the number of receipt confirmation receipts of the one-touch dial information of the designated one-touch dial is increased by 1, and the value becomes a predetermined value or more. In this case, the value of the one-touch dial information receipt confirmation request impossible flag is set.
[0066]
Therefore, when the image information is transmitted using e-mail to the destination registered in the one-touch dial information, the user can be warned that there is a possibility that the receipt confirmation may not be performed. It can be assumed that there are cases where it cannot be done, and a judgment can be made according to the situation.
[0067]
In addition, when the value of the receipt confirmation request disable flag is set, it is possible to reserve an operation for transmitting image information using the group 3 facsimile communication function, so that reliable image information transmission can be realized.
[0068]
On the other hand, the user can check the communication history information by appropriately operating the operation display unit 7, knowing clearly what the result of image information transmission set by himself or herself, This is convenient because it is possible to predict whether image information transmission set by the user will be performed properly.
[0069]
The confirmation method of the communication history information includes, for example, a method of displaying on the operation display unit 7, outputting a report, or transmitting an e-mail whose body information is communication history information to a pre-registered e-mail address. is there.
[0070]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when image information is transmitted to an address using e-mail, the user can be warned that there is a possibility that the receipt confirmation cannot be performed. It is possible to assume that there is a case where confirmation of receipt may not be possible, and the effect of being able to make a judgment according to the situation is obtained.
[0071]
In addition, when the value of the receipt confirmation request disable flag is set, it is possible to reserve an operation for transmitting image information using the group 3 facsimile communication function, so that reliable image information transmission can be realized. It also has an effect.
[0072]
On the other hand, the user can check the communication history information by appropriately operating the operation display unit, clearly knowing what the result of image information transmission set by himself / herself is, or from the past history Since it is possible to predict whether or not the image information transmission set by the user is appropriately performed, there is also an advantage that it is convenient.
[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 apparatus FX.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a one-touch dial table and one-touch dial information.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of communication history information.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when the network facsimile apparatus FX transmits image information.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when the network facsimile apparatus FX transmits image information (continuation).
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when the network facsimile apparatus FX transmits image information (continuation).
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a receipt confirmation reception investigation process.
[Explanation of symbols]
FX network facsimile machine SM mail server device

Claims (6)

In a network facsimile apparatus having a network facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving image information using electronic mail,
A network facsimile apparatus, wherein image information is transmitted using an e-mail of a reception confirmation request, and whether or not a receipt confirmation mail corresponding to the transmitted e-mail is received is left in the communication history information. In a network facsimile apparatus having a network facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving image information using electronic mail,
When the image information is transmitted using the e-mail of the reception confirmation request and the receipt confirmation mail corresponding to the transmitted e-mail is not received within the predetermined time, the receipt confirmation mail is not received. A network facsimile apparatus characterized in that it is left in communication history information. 3. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the reception confirmation mail of the communication history information has not been received, the event is displayed as a warning to the user. The communication history information is created for each destination user, and if the receipt confirmation mail has not been received more than a predetermined number of times, the receipt confirmation mail may not be received when the destination user is selected thereafter. 4. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a warning is displayed to the user. The communication history information is created for each destination user, and when the receipt confirmation mail has not been received more than a predetermined number of times, transmission to the destination is prohibited thereafter. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. In a network facsimile apparatus having a facsimile communication function for transmitting / receiving image information using a public network and a network facsimile communication function for transmitting / receiving image information using electronic mail,
For each destination, a phone book registration means that enables registration of at least a user name, an e-mail address, and a facsimile number,
For the designated destination user, apply the email address registered in the phone book registration means, send the image information using the email of the reception confirmation request,
If the receipt confirmation email corresponding to the sent email is not received within the specified time, leave the receipt confirmation email not received in the communication history information for the email,
When the number of receipt confirmation mails not yet received reaches a predetermined number, if a facsimile number is registered in the telephone directory registration means for the destination user, the facsimile communication function is used to change to the registered facsimile number. A network facsimile apparatus characterized by calling and transmitting image information.

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