JP2005080224A - Communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in an environment where equipment adaptable to a network coexists with equipment not adaptable to the network that the equipment not adaptable to the network is not effectively utilized. <P>SOLUTION: A second facsimile apparatus 30b is connected to a first facsimile apparatus 30a via a communication apparatus 100. Also, the communication apparatus 100 is connected to a first terminal apparatus 20a and to a second terminal apparatus 20b via a network 12. When a facsimile original outputted from the facsimile apparatus 30b is transmitted to the network 12, a switching section 108 connects the facsimile apparatus 30b to a first communication processing section 122. The section 122 converts a facsimile original of a communication method utilizing a public line network 14 into a mode of e-mail of a communication system utilizing the network 12. By doing this, the facsimile apparatus 30b which is not adapted to the network can be handled just like the equipment adaptable to the network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to communication technology, and more particularly to technology for relaying data.

In recent years, various types of devices have become available by connecting to a network. For example, various files created by a predetermined application are stored in a server using an e-mail or a web page using a terminal device connected to the network. Printing is performed using a printer connected to the network, and facsimile transmission is performed online using a facsimile machine connected to the network. In some cases, the printed matter is captured as image data using a scanner connected to a network, and is used by pasting it on a document or the like. A device connected to the network performs communication according to various protocols based on TCP / IP, for example, and transmits and receives necessary data. As a technique related to such a network-compatible apparatus, there is a technique related to facsimile communication (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-42067

  Since various devices are connected to a network and can communicate with each other, data exchange between the devices is facilitated, and work time and cost are efficient. Therefore, it is expected that almost all devices will be connected to the network in some form in the future. However, in a transition period, an environment in which network-compatible devices and non-compatible devices coexist. In such an environment, it is necessary to gradually promote the transition so that non-compatible devices can be used effectively while promoting the spread of network compatible devices.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for effectively using a non-compliant device in an environment in which a network-compatible device and a non-compliant device coexist.

  One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus that performs communication. The apparatus converts the first document data into the second document data in order to receive the first document data according to the first communication method and to transmit according to the second communication method different from the first communication method. A communication unit that communicates with the conversion unit in accordance with the first communication method and connects to a device different from the output source of the first document data so as to be communicable; Switching means for switching to conversion means or connection means. Thus, by converting the document data from the device that communicates with the first communication method into the document data for communication with the second communication method, a new communication function can be optionally added to the device.

  The apparatus may further include means for designating a transmission destination of the second document data and means for transmitting the second document data to the transmission destination. Thereby, the second document data can be transmitted to an arbitrary apparatus.

  In the apparatus, when the receiving unit does not receive the first document data within a predetermined period after the output destination of the first document data is switched to the conversion unit, the switching unit uses the output destination of the first document data as the connection unit. You can switch. Thereby, the function originally possessed by the device connected to the connection means is actively utilized.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to transmit a processing result in a device that does not support network communication to a network. Thereby, it is possible to provide a communication device for effectively using a device that does not support network communication.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system 10 according to the embodiment. The public switched telephone network 14 (hereinafter simply referred to as “public network 14”) is a general subscriber telephone network. The first facsimile machine 30a and the communication apparatus 100 are connected via the public line network. The second facsimile apparatus 30b is connected to the communication apparatus 100, and can be connected to the public line network 14 via the communication apparatus 100 by switching the switching unit 108, which will be described in detail later. The first facsimile apparatus 30a and the second facsimile apparatus 30b use the public line network 14 to transmit / receive document data according to facsimile communication standards such as G3 and G4 (hereinafter simply referred to as “standard system”). Communicate with.

  The network 12 is a network such as a LAN or WAN for performing communication according to TCP / IP, for example, and includes a first terminal device 20a and a second terminal device 20b (hereinafter simply referred to as “terminal device 20”), and Each communication device 100 is connected. That is, the communication device 100 is connected to the public line network 14, the network 12, and the second facsimile device 30b. Using the network 14 that performs communication according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP, communication can be performed by a method of transmitting and receiving document data as e-mail (hereinafter simply referred to as “network method”). The communication apparatus 100 can use a communication protocol such as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), POP (Post Office Protocol), HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), or FTP (File Transfer Protocol) as a network system. The present embodiment will be described with reference to an example in which the communication apparatus 100 uses SMTP and POP, that is, electronic mail. Here, the second facsimile machine 30b is a facsimile machine that cannot perform communication by the network method.

  The communication apparatus 100 includes a first communication processing unit 122 that converts a facsimile document received by a standard method into network-based document data, attaches it to an e-mail, and transmits it, and a switching unit 108 that switches an input / output relationship. Have. Normally, the switching unit 108 switches a switch (not shown) so as to form a circuit so that the first facsimile device 30a and the second facsimile device 30b can communicate with each other. When the document read by the second facsimile apparatus 30b is transmitted to the network 12, the switching unit 108 sets a switch (not shown) so as to form a circuit between the second facsimile apparatus 30b and the first communication processing unit 122. Switch.

  Normally, the public line network 14 and the second facsimile apparatus 30b are connected, and a facsimile document transmitted from the first facsimile apparatus 30a via the public line network 14 is directly output to the second facsimile apparatus 30b. As a result, the second facsimile machine 30b can send and receive facsimile documents in a standard manner.

  When the facsimile document generated by the second facsimile apparatus 30b is transmitted to the network 12 by the network method, the communication apparatus 100 controls the switching unit 108 to connect the second facsimile apparatus 30b and the first communication processing unit 122. To do. The first communication processing unit 122 converts the facsimile document from the second facsimile apparatus 30b so that it can be transmitted by the network method. Then, the first communication processing unit 122 outputs an e-mail attached with the converted image data to the network 12.

  As a result, even the second facsimile apparatus 30b that does not have a function for connecting to the network can transmit a facsimile document by the network method. Further, the communication apparatus 100 converts the facsimile document output from the second facsimile apparatus 30 b into image data and transmits it to the terminal apparatus 20. Thereby, the second facsimile apparatus 30b can be used as a network scanner by appropriately setting the destination. As described above, the communication apparatus 100 enables an apparatus that can only be used as a facsimile apparatus to be used as a scanner.

  FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the communication apparatus 100 of FIG. Each component of the communication device 100 is, in terms of hardware components, a CPU of any computer, a memory, a program that realizes the components of this figure loaded in the memory, a storage unit such as a hard disk that stores the program, It is realized mainly by a network connection interface, a facsimile communication modem, and the like, but it is understood by those skilled in the art that there are various modifications in the implementation method and apparatus. Each figure to be described below shows functional unit blocks, not hardware unit configurations.

  The first connector 102 is a connector for attaching a cable for connecting to the network 12. The second connector 104 is a connector for attaching a cable for connecting to the public line network 14. The third connector 106 is a connector for connecting to the second facsimile machine 30b. The switching unit 108 is a switch for switching the connection destination of the second facsimile device 30b, and in accordance with an instruction from the switching control unit 110, the second facsimile device 30b and the second connector 104 are connected, and the second The state in which the facsimile apparatus 30b and the second communication processing unit 130 are connected is switched.

  The switching unit 108 normally forms a circuit so as to connect the second connector 104 and the third connector 106. When the facsimile original from the second facsimile apparatus 30b is transmitted to the network 12 in FIG. 1, the switching unit 108 forms a circuit so as to connect the third connector 106 and the second communication processing unit 130.

  The switching control unit 110 is a unit that controls the switching operation in the switching unit 108, and automatically switches to the second state when the state in which the third connector 106 and the second communication processing unit 130 are connected has elapsed for a predetermined time. The switching unit 108 is instructed to form a circuit so as to connect the connector 104 and the third connector 106. The switching unit 108 may be a toggle switch for switching circuits, and the switching unit 108 switches circuits according to instructions from the switching control unit 110. As a result, when the facsimile document is not supplied from the second facsimile apparatus 30b even after the predetermined time has elapsed, the second connector 104 and the third connector 106 are connected.

  The second communication processing unit 130 is a processing unit that performs facsimile communication. The facsimile communication unit 134 performs a process such as negotiation according to a standard communication procedure, and establishes communication with the second facsimile apparatus 30b when connected to the second facsimile apparatus 30b. Then, the facsimile communication unit 134 receives a facsimile document from the second facsimile machine 30b. The facsimile processing unit 132 performs processing for imaging the facsimile original based on the facsimile original received by the facsimile communication unit 134. Then, the image data is supplied to the management control unit 112.

  The editing unit 113 performs processing such as changing the color or adding an underline to the image data supplied from the facsimile processing unit 132. The display unit 118 displays the image data, and displays the editing state during editing by the editing unit 113. The operation unit 120 is used for receiving an operation from a user and instructing an editing process.

  The destination information storage unit 116 holds e-mail addresses, for example. The destination setting unit 117 receives an e-mail address as a transmission destination of image data from the user. For example, the destination setting unit 117 may display a list of e-mail addresses held in the destination information storage unit 116 on the display unit 118 and provide an interface so that the user can select from the list. The destination information storage unit 116 sets an e-mail address designated by the user as destination information.

  The management control unit 112 outputs the image data edited by the editing unit 113 and the transmission destination information set by the destination setting unit 117 to the first communication processing unit 122. The first communication processing unit 122 generates an e-mail attached with the image data supplied from the management control unit 112, and transmits the e-mail to a designated transmission destination. The e-mail processing unit 124 generates an e-mail by attaching the image data to the e-mail and setting transmission destination information as an e-mail destination. The e-mail communication unit 126 transmits the generated e-mail to a predetermined mail server using, for example, SMTP.

  FIG. 3A is an internal configuration diagram of a communication apparatus 200 which is an embodiment different from the communication apparatus 100 of FIG. The communication device 200 can be used in place of the communication device 100 of FIG. This communication apparatus 200 further includes a third communication processing unit 140 having the same configuration as the second communication processing unit 130 of FIG. 2, and enables transmission and reception at the same time. Configurations denoted by the same reference numerals as those already described in the figure are substantially the same in function and operation as those already described. The following description will focus on points that differ from the functions in the configuration already described.

  When transmitting the facsimile document output from the second facsimile apparatus 30 b to the network 12, the switching unit 108 connects the third connector 106 and the third communication processing unit 140. As a result, the third communication processing unit 140 receives a facsimile document from the second facsimile machine 30b. Then, the first communication processing unit 122 generates an e-mail including image data generated based on the facsimile document and outputs it to the network 12. At this time, the switching unit 108 connects the second connector 104 and the second communication processing unit 130. When the second communication processing unit 130 receives a facsimile document from the first facsimile device 30 a via the public line network 14, the second communication processing unit 130 temporarily stores it in the data storage unit 114. Thereby, the communication apparatus 200 can transmit and receive a facsimile document at the same time.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining a state of the switching unit 108 at the normal time in the communication device 200 of FIG. Normally, the switching unit 108 forms a circuit so as to connect the second connector 104 and the third connector 106. As a result, the second facsimile machine 30b can receive a facsimile document from the public line network.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.

It is a block diagram of the communication system which concerns on embodiment. It is an internal block diagram of the communication apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3A is an internal configuration diagram of a communication apparatus which is an embodiment different from the communication apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining the state of the switching unit at the normal time in the communication apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  10 communication system, 12 network, 14 public line network, 20 terminal device, 30 facsimile device, 100 communication device, 102 first connector, 104 second connector, 106 third connector, 108 switching unit, 110 switching control unit, 112 management Control unit, 113 editing unit, 114 data storage unit, 116 destination information storage unit, 117 destination setting unit, 118 display unit, 120 operation unit, 122 first communication processing unit, 130 second communication processing unit, 140 third communication processing Department.

Claims (3)

Receiving means for receiving first document data according to the first communication method;
Conversion means for converting the first document data into second document data for transmission according to a second communication method different from the first communication method;
Connection means for performing communication in accordance with the first communication method and communicably connecting to an apparatus different from the output source of the first document data;
Switching means for switching the output destination of the first document data received by the receiving means to the converting means or the connecting means;
A communication apparatus comprising: Means for designating a transmission destination of the second document data;
Means for transmitting the second document data to the transmission destination;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   When the receiving unit does not receive the first document data within a predetermined period after switching the output destination of the first document data to the conversion unit, the switching unit sets the output destination of the first document data to the conversion unit. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is switched to a connection unit.

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