JP2005045416A - Facsimile machine and communication control method for facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable even a general user to communicate by a communication method making the most of advantages that respective protocols have by automatically selecting the priority level of a transmission style, wherein importance is given to communication cost, transmission certainty, etc., that the user requests. <P>SOLUTION: A communication style selection part 42 selects a communication path and a protocol according to the priority level of a transmission style showing whether importance is attached to a plurality of communication procedures and communication costs stored by transmission destinations in a user information storage part 40 at the time of transmission and the priority level of a communication procedure which is set in a priority level setting part 41 and determined depending upon which communication procedure is usable and whether importance is given to the communication cost or transmission certainty. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a function of performing facsimile communication via a LAN or the Internet and a communication control method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-261593 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-44357 There is a communication control method for reducing communication costs in a facsimile apparatus having a function of performing facsimile communication via a LAN or the Internet. For example, it is disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. In the communication control method disclosed in Patent Document 1, when facsimile communication is performed via a public line network, when a mail address is received from a transmission destination, the destination mail address is recorded in a communication result report. The next time it is sent, it is sent by e-mail to reduce the communication cost.
[0003]
In addition, the communication control method disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a ITU-T recommendation T.264 which is a G3 facsimile communication procedure. T.30 protocol and store-and-forward Internet facsimile communication procedure. The T.37 protocol and the real-time Internet facsimile communication procedure T.37. Among the 38 protocols, the user sets priorities and performs communication according to the set priorities.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the communication control method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-228561 is a method for T.A. It only informs that there is a possibility of using e-mail transmission by the 37 protocol, and has a disadvantage that it is not convenient. Further, the communication control method disclosed in Patent Document 2 is disclosed in T.W. 30 protocol and T.30 protocol 37 protocol and T.W. Although it is possible for a user to set the priority of communication procedures according to the 38 protocol, it is difficult for general users to understand the advantages and disadvantages of these communication procedures, and it is unrealistic to let the user select the priority of communication procedures. It is.
[0005]
The present invention is a communication method that improves such disadvantages and automatically selects the priority order of transmission modes required by users such as emphasizing communication costs and transmission reliability, and makes it possible for general users to take advantage of the advantages of each protocol. An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus and a communication control method capable of communicating.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The facsimile apparatus of the present invention is a facsimile apparatus having a function of performing facsimile communication via a LAN or the Internet, and has a user information storage unit, a priority setting unit, and a communication form selection unit, and the user information storage unit Stores the priority of the transmission form whether to place importance on a plurality of communication procedures and communication costs or on transmission reliability for each destination, and the priority setting unit determines which communication procedure can be used and the communication cost. Priorities of communication procedures are set in advance depending on whether priority is given to transmission reliability, and the communication mode selection unit is configured to transmit destination information stored in the user information storage unit and the priority order when transmitting. The communication path and the protocol are selected according to the priority order of the communication procedure set in the setting unit.
[0007]
The user information storage unit includes a user code storage area for specifying a transmission destination, A facsimile number storage area for storing facsimile numbers for communication in accordance with the T.30 protocol; A mail address storage area for storing a mail address for communication according to the 37 protocol; An IP address storage area for storing an IP address or an alias number for communication according to the 38 protocol, and a priority order storage area for a transmission form for emphasizing communication cost or transmission reliability.
[0008]
In addition, when the priority of the transmission form is specified in the transmission job, the communication form selection unit transmits the transmission form with the specified priority regardless of the transmission order priority for each user stored in the user information storage unit. The communication path and protocol are selected by the above, and the communication path and the like are selected according to the importance of the transmitted document.
[0009]
Further, the priority of the communication procedure set in the priority order setting unit can be appropriately changed by the user, and a communication path or the like according to the user's usage mode is selected.
[0010]
The communication control method for a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is a communication control method for a facsimile apparatus having a function of performing facsimile communication via a LAN or the Internet. When transmitting, a plurality of communication procedures and communication costs stored in advance for each destination are transmitted. Priority of the transmission mode, whether priority is given to transmission or certainty of transmission, and the priority of communication procedures set according to which communication procedure can be used and whether communication cost is important or transmission certainty is important The communication path and the protocol are selected by the above.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus having a function of performing facsimile communication via a LAN or the Internet according to the present invention. The facsimile machine 1 has a copying function and a printer function. A two-stage sheet feeding cassette 3a, 3b containing recording paper is provided below the image forming unit 2, and a reading unit 4 is provided above the image forming unit 2. Have The sheet feeding cassettes 3a and 3b have sheet feeding rollers 5a and 5b, and the recording sheets stacked in the sheet feeding cassettes 3a and 3b are fed one by one by the sheet feeding rollers 5a and 5b. In the vicinity of the downstream side of the paper feed rollers 5a and 5b, a vertical conveyance path 6 is formed. In the vertical conveyance path 6, conveyance rollers 7 and 8, an image forming unit 9 and a fixing unit 10 of the image forming unit 2 are arranged. The image forming unit 9 includes a photoconductor 11, a charging charger 12 arranged around the photoconductor 11, a developing device 13, a transfer unit 14, a cleaning unit 15, a laser light source, a polygon mirror, and the like. Has a writing unit 16 for writing an image by irradiating a laser beam.
[0012]
A paper discharge roller 17 is provided at the downstream end of the vertical conveyance path 6 and conveys the recording paper on which an image is formed to the paper discharge unit 18. In addition, a manual feed tray 20 that can be opened and closed in the rotational direction is provided outside the vertical conveyance path 6 with the support shaft 19 as a fulcrum. On the side surface of the image forming unit 2, a paper feeding port for performing manual paper feeding is provided in the vicinity of the upper portion of the support shaft 19, and a common conveyance path 22 that is a conveyance path used in common with the duplex unit 21 is provided on the conveyance roller 8. It merges with the vertical conveyance path 6 on the upstream side. When the manual feed tray 20 is opened horizontally, manual feed can be performed, and the recording paper set on the manual feed tray 20 is conveyed from the common conveyance path 22 to the vertical conveyance path 6.
[0013]
The recording paper fed from the paper feed units 3 a and 3 b or the manual feed tray 20 is conveyed to the image forming unit 9. The image forming unit 9 develops the electrostatic latent image formed by writing on the photoreceptor 11 by the writing unit 16 with the developing device 13 and transfers the developed image onto the recording paper with the transfer unit 14. The fixing unit 10 fixes the recording paper on which the image has been transferred by applying heat and pressure. The recording paper on which the image is fixed is discharged to a paper discharge unit 18 by a paper discharge roller 17. The duplex unit 21 is installed on the outer side of the apparatus main body 2, and when an image is formed on both sides of the recording paper, the recording paper on which the image is formed on one side is switched by a transport roller 23 provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 2. 24, and the recording paper is conveyed again from the switchback path 24 to the vertical conveyance path 6 via the duplex unit 21.
[0014]
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the control device 31 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 32, a system memory 33, a read only memory 34, a network control unit 35, a modem 36, a LAN communication control unit 37, and an image. A memory 38, an encoding / decoding unit 39, a user information storage unit 40, a priority setting unit 41, a communication form selection unit 42, and an engine control unit 43 are included.
[0015]
The system control unit 32 controls the operation of the entire apparatus and executes a communication control procedure. The system memory 33 stores necessary data and is used as a work area when the system control unit 32 executes the control program. The read only memory 34 stores a control program and various control data. The network control unit 36 has an automatic transmission function and controls communication with the public line network. The LAN communication control unit 37 controls communication with the LAN. The image memory 38 stores transmission images and reception images. The encoding / decoding unit 39 compresses the image data and decompresses the compressed image data. The user information storage unit 40 includes a flash ROM, an SRAM with battery backup, and a hard disk. As shown in FIG. 3, a user code storage area 50 for specifying a transmission destination for facsimile communication and LAN communication, and a G3 facsimile communication procedure. T. A facsimile number storage area 51 for storing facsimile numbers to be communicated in accordance with the T.30 protocol, and T.30 which is a store-and-forward Internet facsimile communication procedure. A mail address storage area 52 for storing a mail address to be communicated by the 37 protocol, and a T.37 which is a real-time Internet facsimile communication procedure. It has an IP address storage area 53 for storing an IP address or alias number for communication using the 38 protocol, and a priority order storage area 54 for whether the communication cost is important or the transmission reliability is important. As shown in FIG. 30 protocol and T.30 protocol 37 protocol and T.W. Depending on whether the communication procedure based on the 38 protocol can be used and whether the communication cost is important or the transmission certainty is important. 30 protocol and T.30 protocol 37 protocol and T.W. Patterns 1 to 7 indicating the priority order of the 38 protocol are set. When the user transmits, the communication form selection unit 42 selects a communication path and a protocol based on the transmission destination information stored in the user information storage unit 40 and the communication procedure priority set in the priority setting unit 41. . The engine control unit 43 controls the operation of the image forming unit 2.
[0016]
Processing when the facsimile apparatus 1 transmits image information and the like will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0017]
When a transmission destination is designated on the operation display unit 44 for transmission by the facsimile apparatus 1, the communication mode selection unit 42 first searches for transmission destination information stored in the user information storage unit 40 (step S1). . A communication path and a protocol are selected from the retrieved transmission destination information according to the priority order of the communication procedure set in the priority order setting unit 41 (step S2). For example, when the user code of the transmission destination is “0002”, the facsimile number and the mail address are registered, the IP address is not registered, and the importance of communication cost is registered. . 37 protocol is selected as the first priority and T.37 protocol is selected. 30 protocol is selected as the second highest priority. When the transmission destination user code is “0199”, the facsimile number, the mail address, and the IP address are registered, and the emphasis on transmission reliability is registered. 38 protocol is selected as the first priority. 30 protocol is selected as the second highest priority, and T.30 protocol is selected. Select 37 protocol as the 3rd priority. Then, the communication procedure and the protocol are selected according to the first priority, and the transmission procedure is started (step S3). When there is a response on the communication path selected by starting this transmission procedure (step S4), transmission is performed on the communication path (step S6). If there is no response on the first priority communication path (step S4), the communication path and protocol are selected according to the next priority (step S5), and transmission is performed on the selected communication path (step S4). , S6).
[0018]
In this way, by automatically selecting the communication path and protocol according to the destination information and the priority order of the set communication procedure, the communication path and protocol desired by the user without the user knowing the contents of the communication protocol. Can be selected and transmitted, and convenience for the user can be improved.
[0019]
In the above description, the priority order setting unit 41 is preliminarily determined according to whether the communication cost is important or the transmission reliability is important. 30 protocol and T.30 protocol 37 protocol and T.W. Although the case where the priority order of the 38 protocol is set has been described, the setting of the priority order may be appropriately changed by the user. As described above, by enabling the user to change the priority order as appropriate, a user who knows the contents of the communication protocol can set the priority order according to the usage pattern and the communication environment.
[0020]
In the above description, the case where the communication path and the protocol priority are selected according to the destination information stored in the user information storage unit 40 has been described. However, depending on the content of the document to be transmitted, that is, the importance or confidentiality. The communication path and protocol may be selected.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when transmitting, a plurality of communication procedures stored for each transmission destination in advance, the priority order of the transmission mode whether communication cost is important or transmission reliability is important, and which communication procedure is selected. Since the communication route and protocol are selected according to the priority of the communication procedure set depending on whether it can be used and whether communication cost is important or transmission reliability is important, the user does not know the contents of the communication protocol. In addition, it is possible to select and transmit the communication path and protocol desired by the user, and the convenience for the user can be improved.
[0022]
In addition, a user code for specifying a transmission destination, T.P. Facsimile numbers communicating with the T.30 protocol; A mail address for storing a mail address for communication according to the 37 protocol; By storing in advance the priority of the IP address or alias number for communication with 38 protocols and the priority of the transmission mode, whether communication cost is important or transmission reliability is important, the user wants without knowing the contents of the communication protocol The communication path and protocol to be selected can be selected and transmitted.
[0023]
Furthermore, when the priority of the transmission form is specified in the transmission job, the transmission route and the protocol are selected by selecting the transmission form of the specified priority irrespective of the stored transmission priority for each user. A communication path or the like can be selected according to the importance of the document.
[0024]
Further, by allowing the user to appropriately change the priority order of the set communication procedures, it is possible to select a communication route or the like according to the user's usage mode.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a user information storage unit.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a priority pattern set in a priority setting unit.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a transmission process.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1; Image forming apparatus, 2; Image forming unit, 3; Paper feed cassette,
9; Image forming unit, 31; Control device, 32; System control unit,
33; system memory, 34; read-only memory, 35; network control unit,
36; modem 37; LAN communication control unit 38; image memory;
39; encoding / decoding unit, 40; user information storage unit,
41; priority order setting unit, 42; communication mode selection unit, 43; engine control unit,
50; user code storage area; 51; facsimile number storage area;
52; mail address storage area, 53; IP address storage area,
54: Priority storage area.

Claims (5)

In a facsimile apparatus having a function of performing facsimile communication via a LAN or the Internet,
A user information storage unit, a priority setting unit, and a communication mode selection unit;
The user information storage unit stores a priority order of a transmission form for emphasizing a plurality of communication procedures and communication costs for each transmission destination or emphasizing transmission reliability.
The priority order setting unit sets in advance the priority order of communication procedures depending on which communication procedure can be used and whether communication cost is important or transmission reliability is important.
The communication mode selection unit selects a communication path and a protocol according to transmission destination information stored in the user information storage unit and a communication procedure priority set in the priority setting unit when transmitting. Feature facsimile machine. The user information storage unit includes a user code storage area for specifying a transmission destination, A facsimile number storage area for storing a facsimile number for communication in accordance with the T.30 protocol; A mail address storage area for storing a mail address for communication according to the 37 protocol; 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an IP address storage area for storing an IP address or alias number for communication in accordance with a 38 protocol; and a priority order storage area for a transmission form that places importance on communication cost or transmission reliability. When the priority of the transmission form is designated in the transmission job, the communication form selection unit determines the transmission form of the designated priority irrespective of the transmission form priority for each user stored in the user information storage unit. 3. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a communication path and a protocol are selected. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a user can appropriately change a priority order of communication procedures set in the priority order setting unit. In a communication control method for a facsimile apparatus having a function of performing facsimile communication via a LAN or the Internet,
When transmitting, prioritize the transmission mode, whether to prioritize multiple communication procedures and communication costs stored for each destination in advance, or whether transmission reliability is important, and which communication procedures can be used and communication costs A communication control method for a facsimile apparatus, wherein a communication path and a protocol are selected according to a priority order of communication procedures set depending on whether transmission reliability is important.

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