JP2005136459A - Image processor, image data generating apparatus and facsimile transmission program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of retransmitting data by automatically avoiding a transmission error on the occurrence of the transmission error and to provide an image data generating apparatus and a facsimile transmission program. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor 11 selects one of a plurality of facsimile servers 12 and transmits the image data to the selected facsimile server 12 and causes the facsimile server 12 to fax the image data to a destination. The image processor 11 further includes: an error judgment means for judging whether or not the faxing from the selected facsimile server 12 to the destination is failed; a transmission server selection means for selecting the facsimile server 12 used in the retransmission on the basis of the priority attached to each of the facsimile servers 12; and a re-transmission means for transmitting the image data to the facsimile server 12 selected by the transmission server selection means and causing the facsimile server 12 to fax the image data to the destination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image data creation apparatus, and a facsimile transmission program for processing image data. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image data creation apparatus, and a facsimile transmission program that can send image data to a facsimile server by e-mail.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when image data input by a scanner or the like is transmitted by facsimile, there is an image processing apparatus that first transmits a mail to a facsimile server and then transmits it to a facsimile machine at the other end by the facsimile server. In a system including this image processing apparatus, for example, a plurality of image processing apparatuses and a plurality of facsimile servers are connected to each other via a network such as a LAN, and data can be transmitted and received by mail. Each facsimile server can communicate with an external facsimile device via a public telephone line, and can transmit image data for facsimile to the external facsimile device.

In such a system, there is a possibility that a transmission error may occur due to a malfunction of each device or line when sending image data by e-mail or facsimile. When such a transmission error occurs, a re-transmission procedure is generally performed. There are various countermeasures depending on the location of the error and its cause, but in some cases the user has to search for an error avoidance method, which is quite troublesome. On the other hand, a system that can simplify re-transmission when a mail transmission error occurs (see, for example, Patent Document 1), or a system that selectively uses a line that is unlikely to cause a transmission error in facsimile transmission. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
JP 2002-152455 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-51203

  However, each of the conventional systems described above has a problem that the user has to perform a retransmission procedure. The technique described in Patent Document 1 is premised on a procedure for changing transmission conditions such as changing the compression method when an error occurs. Therefore, the re-transmission procedure is naturally performed by the user. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, only a line with a low error occurrence rate is selected for the first transmission, and there is no particular description regarding re-transmission when there is still an error. In addition, there is a problem that a line with a high communication charge may be used at all times to avoid a line error.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image data creation apparatus, and a facsimile transmission program capable of automatically avoiding an error and retransmitting when a transmission error occurs.

  In order to solve this problem, an image processing apparatus of the present invention selects one of a plurality of facsimile servers, transmits image data to the selected facsimile server, and transmits the image data from the facsimile server to a destination. An image processing apparatus to be transmitted, and an error determination means for determining whether or not the facsimile transmission from the selected facsimile server to the destination has failed, and each facsimile server when the error determination means determines that the transmission has failed. Based on the assigned priority, the transmission server selection means for selecting a facsimile server to be used for retransmission, and the image data is transmitted to the facsimile server selected by the transmission server selection means, and the image data is transmitted to the destination by facsimile. And re-transmission means.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, image data is facsimile-transmitted to a destination via a facsimile server selected from a plurality. Here, when it is determined by the error determining means that the facsimile transmission to the destination has failed, the image data is retransmitted by the retransmitting means. At this time, the facsimile server used for retransmission is selected by the transmission server selection means based on the priority order. That is, when a transmission error occurs, the image processing apparatus searches for another route and retransmits. As a result, it is not necessary for the user to perform a retransmission procedure, and the possibility of a transmission error again can be reduced. Therefore, when a transmission error occurs, the image processing apparatus can automatically avoid the error and retransmit.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a priority storage unit for storing the priority order of each facsimile server, and the transmission server selection means is arranged in order from the facsimile server having the highest priority according to the priority stored in the priority storage unit. It is desirable to select a facsimile server to be used.
In this way, the facsimile servers used for retransmission are selected according to the priority order, so that the more desirable ones are tried in order.

The present invention further includes priority order determining means for determining the priority order of each facsimile server based on the destination facsimile number, and the transmission server selecting means has a higher priority order according to the priority order determined by the priority order determining means. It is desirable to select the facsimile server to be used in order from the facsimile server.
In this way, the priority order is determined according to the facsimile number of the destination, so that the more desirable ones are tried.

Further, in the present invention, it is desirable that the priority order determining means increases the priority order for a facsimile server having a short distance to the destination or a lower communication fee based on the position information of each facsimile server and the destination facsimile number.
In this way, since the priority order is determined based on the distance to the destination and the communication fee, each is tried from a more desirable one.

  The present invention also creates image data, selects one of a plurality of facsimile servers, transmits the created image data to the selected facsimile server, and transmits the image data from the facsimile server to a destination by facsimile. An error judging means for judging whether or not the facsimile transmission from the selected facsimile server to the destination has failed, and attached to each facsimile server when the error judging means judges the failure. Transmission server selection means for selecting a facsimile server to be used for retransmission on the basis of priority, and retransmission means for transmitting image data to the facsimile server selected by the transmission server selection means and for facsimile transmission of the image data to the destination It extends to an image data creation device having

  The present invention also allows a computer having an image data creation function to select one of a plurality of facsimile servers, send the created image data to the selected facsimile server, and send the image data from the facsimile server to the destination by facsimile. In the facsimile transmission program to be executed, when the computer determines that the facsimile transmission from the selected facsimile server to the destination has failed, the error determination procedure determines whether or not each facsimile server has failed. The transmission server selection procedure for selecting the facsimile server to be used for retransmission and the facsimile server selected in the transmission server selection procedure based on the assigned priority order, the image data is transmitted to the destination, and the image data is transmitted to the destination by facsimile. Re-send procedure Also extends to the facsimile transmission program to be executed.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the error determination procedure, when the reception notification is not received from the facsimile server within a predetermined time after transmission to the selected facsimile server, and within the predetermined time after transmission to the selected facsimile server. When the transmission error notification is received from the server, it is determined that the facsimile transmission has failed, the address data indicating the selected facsimile server is generated in the transmission server selection procedure, and the transmission server selection procedure is generated in the retransmission procedure. It is desirable to send an e-mail containing the image data based on the address data.

  In this way, it is determined that the facsimile transmission has failed when the transmission to the facsimile server is unreachable and when there is a transmission error at the facsimile transmission from the facsimile server, and the retransmission is executed. The At this time, since it is retransmitted by the retransmission procedure based on the address data generated in the transmission server selection procedure, the user does not need to perform the retransmission procedure.

  According to the image processing device, the image data creation device, and the facsimile transmission program of the present invention, when a transmission error occurs, it is possible to automatically avoid the error and retransmit.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the best mode for embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present embodiment is an image processing system using an image processing apparatus capable of transmitting image data for facsimile transmission via mail transmission to a facsimile server.

  In the image processing system 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of image processing apparatuses 11 and a facsimile server 12 are connected to each other via a LAN 21. The facsimile server 12 can communicate with an external facsimile device 13 via a public telephone line 22. Furthermore, not only the image processing apparatus 11 but also the personal computer 14 is connected to the LAN 21. For example, the facsimile server 12 is installed at each branch office of the company, and through this, the transmission processing can be performed more efficiently than the facsimile transmission directly from the image processing apparatus 11 to the facsimile apparatus 13. The facsimile apparatus 13 is a general apparatus that transmits and receives image data via the public telephone line 22.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 11 is provided with a scanner unit 32, an input unit 33, a display unit 34, a printer unit 35, a storage unit 36, and a communication unit 37 centered on a control unit 31. The scanner unit 32 reads an image on a sheet and inputs it as image data. The input unit 33 includes an input key and the like, and accepts an instruction from a user and an input of a destination facsimile number (telephone number) and the like. The display unit 34 displays a message for the user. The printer unit 35 prints image data or the like on a sheet. The storage unit 36 stores image data, input data input from the input unit 33, and the like. The communication unit 37 communicates with other devices, particularly the facsimile server 12 via the LAN 21.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, server management data 41 in which setting information for each of the available facsimile servers 12 is written is prepared in the storage unit 36 of the image processing apparatus 11. The server management data 41 includes address setting information 44 in which the Prefix data 42 and the Suffix data 43 are set for each facsimile server 12. This is a part of the mail transmission address for instructing the facsimile server 12 to perform facsimile transmission.

  Further, when the facsimile transmission is instructed, the image processing apparatus 11 creates priority order information 45 as shown in FIG. 4 according to the destination facsimile number. The priority information 45 is obtained by arranging the server names of the facsimile servers 12 in order of priority, and is stored in the storage unit 36. In order to create the priority order information 45, for example, telephone charge data 46 and server order data 47 as shown in FIGS.

The telephone fee data 46 shown in FIG. 5 is a table showing the communication fee (telephone fee) per unit time from each facsimile server 12 according to the area code of each destination facsimile number. The control unit 31 of the image processing apparatus 11 refers to this table according to the area code of the designated destination facsimile number, and creates priority information 45 in which the names of the facsimile servers are rearranged in ascending order of communication charges. This is stored in the storage unit 36.
Alternatively, geographical distance data may be used instead of communication charges. This is because if the geographical distance from the facsimile server 12 to the destination facsimile apparatus 13 is close, it is considered that the error occurrence rate due to a line failure in the transmission path is small. Therefore, the control unit 31 may create priority order information 45 in which the names of the facsimile servers are rearranged in order from the closest geographical distance, and store the priority order information 45 in the storage unit 36.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, server order data 47 in which the priority order of each server is set in advance for each area code of the destination facsimile number may be prepared. In addition, dedicated priority information 45 may be prepared and used for destinations that are often transmitted. Further, a part of the priority information 45 created by the control unit 31 may be changed and set by the user.

  Alternatively, instead of creating the priority information 45 for each facsimile transmission, as shown in FIG. 7, server management data 51 in which the priority information is incorporated in advance together with the address setting information 44 of each facsimile server 12 is created. Also good. Alternatively, management data in which address setting information 44 for each facsimile server 12 is arranged in order of priority may be created. In these cases, the priority information 45 is not necessary.

  Next, the facsimile server 12 will be described. The facsimile server 12 receives image data for facsimile transmission via e-mail via the LAN 21 and transmits the image data via the public telephone line 22 to the designated facsimile apparatus 13 by facsimile. When a mail for instructing facsimile transmission is transmitted to the facsimile server 12, the destination facsimile number, which is the telephone number of the destination facsimile apparatus 13, is added to the Prefix data 42 and the Suffix data 43 of the facsimile server 12, and the mail address is set. Constitute. That is, the transmission mail address is “Prefix data” + “destination facsimile number” + “Suffix data”.

  When mail is received at an address of this format, the facsimile server 12 first notifies the sender that the mail has been received. Thereafter, the destination facsimile number is extracted from the address, and the image data received by mail is transmitted to the destination by facsimile. If an error occurs in the facsimile transmission, the mail transmission source is notified that the facsimile transmission is not completed due to a transmission error.

  Next, a general facsimile transmission procedure by the image processing apparatus 11 will be described. The user prepares image data for facsimile transmission, inputs the telephone number of the destination facsimile apparatus 13, and instructs the image forming apparatus 11 to perform facsimile transmission. The image forming apparatus 11 selects the facsimile server 12 appropriate for the facsimile transmission, and reads the prefix data 42 and the suffix data 43 of the facsimile server 12 from the server management data 41. Then, the image data is sent by e-mail to a mail address configured in combination with the input destination facsimile number. The facsimile server 12 which has received this mail transmits the image data by facsimile to the destination facsimile number as described above.

  Next, a control method of the image processing system 1 of the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the user prepares image data for facsimile transmission in the image processing apparatus 11 by data input by the scanner section 32 or data reception through the communication section 37, and the destination facsimile number is input from the input section 33 of the image processing apparatus 11. input. The execution of this process is started by this instruction input. Subsequent processing is executed by the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 11.

  The image processing apparatus 11 first determines the facsimile server 12 to be used based on the input destination facsimile number (S101). This determination method may be, for example, the first one based on the above-mentioned priority order. Alternatively, only the first time specified by the user or a specific facsimile server 12 may be used.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 11 sends the image data by mail to the determined facsimile server 12 (S102). The transmission mail address at this time is set by reading the Prefix data 42 and the Suffix data 43 of the facsimile server 12 determined in S101 from the server management data 41 and combining them with the input destination facsimile number.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 11 waits for a mail reception notification from the facsimile server 12 that sent the mail in S102 (S103). This is because the facsimile server 12 first returns a reception notification to the transmission source when receiving the mail. Here, if a mail reception notification is not obtained even after a predetermined time has elapsed (S103: No), it is considered that a mail transmission error has occurred.

  Alternatively, if a mail reception notification is obtained (S103: Yes), it is further determined whether or not a facsimile transmission error notification has been returned after waiting for a predetermined time (S104). The facsimile server 12 notifies the transmission source of a transmission error when the facsimile transmission performed becomes a transmission error. That is, if there is an error notification of facsimile transmission from the facsimile server 12 (S104: Yes), the facsimile transmission is not completed. If there is no error notification of facsimile transmission even after a predetermined time has elapsed (S104: No), it is determined that facsimile transmission has been completed normally, and this processing is terminated.

  When the facsimile transmission is not normally completed (S103: No, or S104: Yes), the image processing apparatus 11 refers to the priority information 45 and selects the facsimile server 12 of the next order. For this purpose, first, it is confirmed whether there is still a next facsimile server 12 (S105). If there is a next facsimile server 12 (S105: Yes), the facsimile server 12 is selected. Then, for the newly selected facsimile server 12, the Prefix data 42 and the Suffix data 43 are read from the server management data 41, and a new mail address is set in combination with the destination facsimile number designated first. The previous image data is mailed to this mail address (S102).

  Similarly, the server waits for a reply from the facsimile server 12 and performs the determinations in S103 to S104. If the facsimile transmission is successful (S104: No), the process is terminated because the process is completed normally. On the other hand, when the mail transmission to the facsimile server 12 fails (S103: No) or the facsimile transmission fails (S104: Yes), the process is performed again. The image processing apparatus 11 refers to the priority information 45 and selects the next facsimile server 12. Similarly, transmission processing is performed again.

  In this way, when transmission is repeated and there is no next facsimile server 12 in the priority information 45 (S105: No), a message indicating that transmission is not possible is displayed on the display unit 34 (S107). The process ends. This display may be performed immediately or may be displayed when there is any input from the user. Further, instead of the display on the display unit 34, the output to the printer unit 35 may be performed.

  As described in detail above, according to the image processing apparatus 11 of the present embodiment, the facsimile transmission to the facsimile apparatus 13 is performed via the facsimile server 12. At that time, if a mail transmission error to the facsimile server 12 or a facsimile transmission error from the facsimile server 12 to the facsimile apparatus 13 occurs, another facsimile server 12 is selected based on the priority information 45 and retransmitted. Process. That is, when an error occurs, another route is automatically selected and transmitted while avoiding the route. Thus, when a transmission error occurs, the image processing apparatus can automatically avoid the error and retransmit.

Note that this embodiment is merely an example, and does not limit the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can naturally be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof.
For example, in this embodiment, the server management data 41 and the priority order information 45 of each facsimile server 12 are stored in the storage unit 36 of the image processing apparatus 11. May be.
Further, for example, although not particularly specified in this embodiment, a predetermined number of retries may be made for transmission under the same conditions.
For example, it can be transmitted similarly from the personal computer 14.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the image processing system which concerns on this form. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of an image processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of server management data. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of priority information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the data for priority order creation. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the data for priority order creation. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of server management data. It is a flowchart which shows the process of an image processing system.

Explanation of symbols

11 Image processing device (image processing device, image data creation device, computer)
12 Facsimile server 13 Facsimile machine (destination)
31 control unit (error determination means, transmission server selection means, retransmission means, priority order determination means)
36 storage unit (priority storage unit 45 priority information (priority order)

Claims (7)

In an image processing apparatus that selects one of a plurality of facsimile servers, transmits image data to the selected facsimile server, and transmits the image data from the facsimile server to a destination.
An error judging means for judging whether or not the facsimile transmission from the selected facsimile server to the destination has failed;
Transmission server selection means for selecting a facsimile server to be used for retransmission based on the priority assigned to each facsimile server when it is determined that the error determination means has failed;
An image processing apparatus comprising: re-transmission means for transmitting image data to a facsimile server selected by the transmission server selection means, and transmitting the image data to a destination by facsimile. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
A priority storage unit for storing the priority of each facsimile server;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission server selection unit selects a facsimile server to be used in order from a facsimile server having a higher priority in accordance with a priority stored in the priority storage unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
Having priority order determining means for determining the priority order of each facsimile server based on the destination facsimile number;
The image processing apparatus, wherein the transmission server selection means selects a facsimile server to be used in order from a facsimile server having a higher priority in accordance with the priority determined by the priority determination means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3,
The image processing apparatus characterized in that the priority order determining means increases the priority order of a facsimile server having a shorter distance to the destination or a lower communication fee based on the position information of each facsimile server and the destination facsimile number. . In an image data creation apparatus that creates image data, selects one of a plurality of facsimile servers, transmits the created image data to the selected facsimile server, and transmits the image data from the facsimile server to a destination by facsimile transmission.
Error judging means for judging whether or not the facsimile transmission from the selected facsimile server to the destination has failed;
Transmission server selection means for selecting a facsimile server to be used for retransmission based on the priority assigned to each facsimile server when it is determined that the error determination means has failed;
An image data creating apparatus, comprising: re-transmission means for transmitting image data to a facsimile server selected by the transmission server selection means and transmitting the image data to a destination by facsimile. In a facsimile transmission program for causing a computer having an image data creation function to select one of a plurality of facsimile servers, transmitting the created image data to the selected facsimile server, and transmitting the image data from the facsimile server to a destination by facsimile. , To the computer,
An error determination procedure for determining whether or not the facsimile transmission from the selected facsimile server to the destination has failed,
A transmission server selection procedure for selecting a facsimile server to be used for retransmission based on the priority assigned to each facsimile server when it is determined that the error determination procedure has failed; and
A facsimile transmission program for executing a retransmission procedure for transmitting image data to a facsimile server selected in the transmission server selection procedure and transmitting the image data by facsimile to a destination. The facsimile transmission program according to claim 6, wherein the computer includes:
In the error determination procedure,
If a receipt notification is not received from the facsimile server within a predetermined time after transmission to the selected facsimile server;
When a transmission error notification is received from the facsimile server within a predetermined time after transmission to the selected facsimile server, it is determined that the facsimile transmission has failed,
In the transmission server selection procedure, address data indicating the selected facsimile server is generated,
In the re-transmission procedure, a facsimile transmission program for transmitting an e-mail including the image data based on the address data generated in the transmission server selection procedure.

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