JP2005191675A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide facsimile equipment surely faxing a document file in a designated state of faxing even when contents of the concerned document file to be transmitted are changed by rewrite of the document file by a user or the like or the concerned document file is eliminated by deletion of the document. <P>SOLUTION: A main control section 1 of digital composite equipment 20 designates a document file stored in each client personal computer 30 connected to a LAN 70 as the document file to be faxed by using an operation section 5 (step S3 in Figure), when the document file to be transmitted is set to the time designation transmission (NO in step S4), the main control section 1 executes prescribed file protection processing for the designated document file (step S6), and when a prescribed designated time comes (YES in step S7), the main control section 1 applies rasterize-conversion to the designated document file into image data and faxes the image data (step S8). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile machine connected to a network such as a local network (hereinafter referred to as LAN).

  A LAN system in which a digital composite apparatus, which is a facsimile apparatus with a copy, printer, and scanner function, and a plurality of client apparatuses such as personal computers are connected via a local area network (hereinafter referred to as a LAN) has been put into practical use. Yes. In this prior art LAN system, a scanner in a digital composite device reads a document image, converts it into image data, stores it in a memory box in an image memory corresponding to each client device, and sends a transfer instruction from each client device. In response to the request signal, the image data is read from the memory box in the image memory and transferred to the corresponding client device via the LAN.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes an image forming apparatus capable of executing processing for transmitting a document held in a computer connected on a network by a facsimile apparatus. This image forming apparatus executes a document transmission process. In this document transmission process, identification information of a document file held in each computer is fetched via a network, and a desired document file is selected based on the identification information. Document file selection processing, document file transfer processing for fetching the selected document file from each computer via the LAN, and sending the fetched document file to the facsimile machine via the LAN. A document file transmission process is performed to transmit a facsimile apparatus to a desired destination via a public line.

JP-A-9-097142

  However, when a document file on the network is designated for facsimile transmission at a designated time, for example, when the designated time for facsimile transmission is reached, the content of the document file to be transmitted is changed by the user or the like by document rewriting. It may change or the corresponding items may disappear due to document deletion. In the former case, an unintended document is transmitted by facsimile, whereas in the latter case, there is no document to be transmitted and there is a problem that facsimile transmission cannot be performed.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and even if the corresponding document file to be transmitted is changed by the user by rewriting the document, or the corresponding document file is lost by deleting the document, the facsimile It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus that can reliably facsimile-transmit a document when transmission is designated.

A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is a facsimile apparatus connected to a network.
Designating means for designating a document file stored in a terminal device connected to the network as a document file to be facsimile-transmitted;
Control means for executing predetermined file protection processing on the specified document file;
Transmission means for rasterizing the designated document file into image data, converting it, and transmitting by facsimile.

  In the facsimile apparatus, the file protection process is a process of setting the designated document file to be read-only. Further, the file protection process is a process for setting the designated document file to process prohibition. Further, the file protection process is a process for temporarily copying the designated document file and storing it in the facsimile apparatus. Still further, the file protection process is a process in which the designated document file is rasterized and converted into image data and then stored in the facsimile apparatus. Further, the file protection processing is performed by rasterizing and converting the designated document file into image data, reading the original image by the image reading unit of the facsimile apparatus, and converting the rasterized image data. It is a process that combines the stored image data and stores it in the facsimile apparatus.

  Further, in the facsimile apparatus, the control means executes the file protection process when a document file to be transmitted is designated. Alternatively, in the facsimile apparatus, the control means executes the file protection process when the document file to be transmitted is set to time designation transmission.

  Therefore, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus connected to the network, the document file stored in the terminal apparatus connected to the network is designated as the document file to be transmitted by facsimile, and the designated file is designated. A predetermined file protection process is executed on the received document file, the specified document file is rasterized into image data, converted, and transmitted by facsimile. Therefore, even when the content of the document file to be transmitted changes due to the rewriting of the document by the user or the corresponding document file disappears due to the document deletion, the document when the facsimile transmission is designated is surely facsimileed. Can be sent.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a LAN system including a digital composite apparatus 20 which is a facsimile apparatus having a copy, printer, and scanner function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The LAN system according to this embodiment is connected to a public telephone network 80 via a plurality of N client personal computers 30-1 to 30-N (hereinafter collectively referred to as reference numeral 30) and a public telephone line L. The digital composite apparatus 20 and the router apparatus 60 connected to the Internet 90 are connected via a LAN 70. By connecting each client personal computer 30 to the Internet 90 via a router device 60 and a mail server device (not shown), it is possible to browse home pages and send and receive e-mails. Reference numeral 30 denotes a configuration in which the copy, printer, scanner, and facsimile functions of the apparatus 20 can be used in common by accessing the digital composite apparatus 20.

  The main control unit 1 of the digital multifunction peripheral 20 according to this embodiment designates a document file stored in each client personal computer 30 connected to the LAN 70 as a document file to be facsimile-transmitted using the operation unit 5 ( When the document file to be transmitted is set to time-designated transmission (NO in step S4), a predetermined file protection process is executed for the designated document file (step S6). When the predetermined designated time comes (YES in step S7), the designated document file is rasterized into image data, converted, and transmitted by facsimile (step S8).

Here, the file protection process is one of the following processes, and is specified using the operation unit 5 (step S5).
(A) Processing for setting the designated document file as read-only.
(B) A process for setting the designated document file to “processing prohibition” for prohibiting various processes such as reading, rewriting, and saving.
(C) Processing for temporarily copying the designated document file and storing it in the image memory 8 of the digital composite apparatus 20.
(D) Processing in which the designated document file is rasterized and converted into image data and then stored in the image memory 8 of the digital composite apparatus 20.
(E) After the specified document file is rasterized and converted into image data, the original image is read by the image reading unit 2 of the digital composite apparatus 20 and converted, and the rasterized and converted image data. This is a process of combining the image data and storing it in the digital composite apparatus 20.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the client personal computer 30 of FIG.

  In FIG. 2, a client personal computer 30 is an external terminal device that is a known personal computer, and executes processing such as generation, recording, and storage of image data and character data. In this embodiment, as an example, the client personal computer 30 is an external terminal device that receives image data scanned by a scanner, or image data of a document image (document file) generated by the client personal computer 30 (for example, This is used as an information processing device for facsimile transmission of image data generated by word processor software to a receiving side communication terminal device such as a facsimile device or a digital composite device via the digital composite device 20.

  The main control unit 101 is specifically composed of a CPU and is connected to the following hardware units via the bus 113 to control them and execute various software functions to be described later. In the client personal computer 30, an image reading unit and an image recording unit (not shown) are optionally provided. The display unit 104 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operation state of the client personal computer 30 and displays image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data. Do. The operation unit 105 is a keyboard, for example, for inputting character data and instruction commands.

  The ROM 106 stores various software programs that are necessary for the operation of the client personal computer 30 and executed by the main control unit 101 in advance. The RAM 107 is composed of SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, etc., and is used as a working area for the main control unit 101 to store temporary data generated when the program is executed. Further, the hard disk drive 108 is a storage device that incorporates a recording medium, and includes an image data memory area 108a that is a memory area for storing image data.

  In the client personal computer 30 configured as described above, the main control unit 101 of the client personal computer 30 is scanned and converted by the image reading unit 2 of the digital composite apparatus 20, and then the corresponding memory in the memory box area 8a. When transferring the image data stored in the box into its own device, the main control unit in the digital multifunction device 20 sends a transfer instruction request signal including instruction data for instructing the corresponding memory box via the LAN interface 112 and the LAN 70. In response to this, image data transmitted from the digital composite apparatus 20 via the LAN 70 is received and stored in the hard disk drive 9. Further, when the main control unit 101 transmits image data to the receiving communication terminal device such as a digital composite device or a facsimile device via the digital composite device 20, for example, the destination information and confidential communication described in PJL Is sent to the digital composite apparatus 20 together with the image data.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital composite apparatus 20 of FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the digital composite apparatus 20 has functions of a copy, a printer, and a scanner in addition to a conventional facsimile communication function such as the G3 system. The main control unit 1 is specifically composed of a CPU, and is connected to the following hardware units via the bus 13 to control them, and executes various software functions to be described later. The image reading unit 2 reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data converted into monochrome binary. The image recording unit 3 is, for example, a printer apparatus such as an electrophotographic system, and prints out image data scanned and converted by the image reading unit 2 or image data received from another facsimile apparatus by facsimile communication as a hard copy. Record or record character data.

  The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operation state of the digital composite device 20 and displays image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data. Do. The operation unit 5 includes character keys, dial keypads, speed dial keys, one-touch dial keys, various function keys, and the like necessary for operating the digital composite apparatus 20. In addition, you may comprise so that a part or all of the various keys of this operation part 5 may be substituted by making the above-mentioned display part 4 into a touch panel system.

  The ROM 6 stores in advance various software programs that are necessary for the operation of the digital composite apparatus 20 and are executed by the main control unit 1. In this embodiment, the ROM 6 includes at least the facsimile transmission processing program of FIG. 4. . The RAM 7 is composed of SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM or the like, and is used as a working area for the main control unit 1 to store temporary data generated when the program is executed. When a flash memory is used as the RAM 7, the contents of the data are not lost even when the power is cut off due to a power failure, movement of the device, or the like. Here, the RAM 7 includes a memory box management table 7a, and the memory box management table 7a is a table for managing the memory box area 8a in the image memory 8, and is the client personal computer 30 connected to the LAN 70 or its The memory box number assigned to the user, the recipient name of the user, the storage address of the image data in the image memory 8, the e-mail address of the client personal computer 30 or the user (facsimile reception notification, etc. When needed).

  The image memory 8 is constituted by a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted, received image data, or image data that has been scanned and converted. Here, the image memory 8 includes a memory box area 8a divided into a plurality of memory boxes corresponding to a plurality of client personal computers 30 or their users. Each client personal computer 30 transfers image data transmitted / received by a facsimile function, image data scanned and converted by a scanner function or a copy function, and image data when using a printer function to a corresponding memory box. When the data is temporarily stored and read from the memory box, the data is read from the corresponding memory box and transferred by transmitting a transfer instruction request signal. Further, the hard disk drive 9 is a storage device having a built-in recording medium, and stores various data and programs.

  The fax modem 10 is a modem connected to the public telephone line L and having a function of a fax modem for normal facsimile communication. An NCU (Network Control Unit) 11 is a hardware circuit that performs an operation of closing and opening a DC loop of an analog public telephone line L and having an automatic dial function. Is connected to the public telephone line L. Here, the NCU 11 detects the ID receiving terminal activation signal and the normal telephone call signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service, and transmits the primary response signal and the secondary response signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service as necessary. can do. The NCU 11 may be connected to a baseband transmission type digital line (for example, an ISDN line) via a predetermined terminal adapter and DSU (Subscriber Line Termination Unit: Digital Service Unit).

  Further, the LAN interface 12 is connected to the LAN 70 and receives signals and data from the LAN 70, and transmits signals and data to the LAN 70 to execute interface processing related to LAN communication such as signal conversion and protocol conversion. .

  In the facsimile communication function of the digital composite apparatus 20 configured as described above, the dot image data transferred from each client personal computer 30-1 to 30-N or the dot image data read by the image reading unit 2 is facsimile. After being encoded by software according to an encoding method such as MH, MR, or MMR defined in the communication standard, the encoded data is transmitted to the facsimile machine of the other party, and conversely received from the facsimile machine of the other party The data is also decoded into image data by software, stored in the image memory 8, and printed by the image recording unit 3 as necessary.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing facsimile transmission processing executed by the main control unit 1 of the digital multifunction apparatus 20 of FIG.

  In FIG. 4, first, in step S1, the operation unit 5 is used to input a destination telephone number or to select a destination by turning on a one-touch dial destination key. The time to be transmitted is input using the operation unit 5. Next, a document file on the LAN 70 to be transmitted is selected using the operation unit 5 in step S3. Here, the document file on the LAN 70 is a document file stored in a shared folder in each client personal computer 30 connected to the LAN 70. In step S3, a list of document files is displayed on the display unit 4. Will be displayed and specified selectively. Further, in step S4, it is determined whether or not immediate transmission is performed. If YES, the process proceeds to step S8. If NO, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the protection processing for the selected document file is designated by one of the following.
(A) Processing for setting the designated document file as read-only.
(B) Processing for setting “processing prohibition” for prohibiting various processes such as reading, rewriting, and saving the specified document file.
(C) Processing for temporarily copying the designated document file and storing it in the image memory 8 of the digital composite apparatus 20.
(D) Processing in which the designated document file is rasterized and converted into image data and then stored in the image memory 8 of the digital composite apparatus 20.
(E) After the specified document file is rasterized and converted into image data, the original image is read by the image reading unit 2 of the digital composite apparatus 20 and converted (for example, before the document to be transmitted). The image data of the original document such as an invoice to be attached) and the rasterized and converted image data are combined and stored in the digital composite apparatus 20.

  Next, in step S6, the designated protection process is executed. In step S7, it is determined whether or not the designated transmission time has been reached. If YES, the process proceeds to step S8, and the image data (in the specified document file ( If the document file is not rasterized, a rasterizing process is also transmitted to the destination facsimile machine, and the facsimile transmission process is terminated.

  As described above, the main control unit 1 of the digital multi-function apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment uses the operation unit 5 as the document file to be facsimile-transmitted from the document file stored in each client personal computer 30 connected to the LAN 70. (Step S3 in FIG. 4), and when a document file to be transmitted is set to time-designated transmission (NO in step S4), a predetermined file protection process is performed on the designated document file. When the predetermined designated time is reached (YES in step S7), the designated document file is rasterized into image data, converted, and transmitted by facsimile (step S8). Therefore, even if the content of the document file to be transmitted changes as a result of document rewriting by the user, etc., or the corresponding document file disappears due to document deletion, the document at the time of facsimile transmission specified is securely transmitted by facsimile. it can.

<Modification>
In the above embodiment, an example of the digital composite apparatus 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to a facsimile apparatus or a facsimile server apparatus having a facsimile function.

  In the above embodiment, only the time-specified transmission document file is facsimile-transmitted by executing the above-described protection processing. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the above-described protection processing is applied to the immediate-transmission document file. It may be executed and transmitted by facsimile. Alternatively, the file protection process may be executed whenever a document file to be transmitted is designated.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a LAN system including a digital composite apparatus 20 that is a facsimile apparatus having a copy, printer, and scanner function according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the client personal computer 30 of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital composite apparatus 20 of FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a facsimile transmission process executed by the main control unit 1 of the digital composite apparatus 20 of FIG. 3.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... main control part,
2. Image reading unit,
3 ... image recording unit,
4 ... display part,
5 ... operation part,
6 ... ROM,
7 ... RAM,
7a ... Memory box management table,
8 ... Image memory,
8a ... Memory box area,
9 ... Hard disk drive,
10. Fax modem,
11 ... NCU,
12 ... LAN interface,
13 ... Bus
20: Digital composite device,
30, 30-1 thru | or 30-N ... client personal computer,
60 ... Router device,
70: Local area network (LAN),
80 ... public telephone network,
90 ... Internet,
101 ... main control unit,
104 ... display section,
105 ... operation unit,
106 ... ROM,
107 ... RAM,
108: Hard disk drive,
108a: Image data memory area,
112 ... LAN interface,
113 ... Bus.

Claims (8)

In a facsimile machine connected to a network,
Designating means for designating a document file stored in a terminal device connected to the network as a document file to be facsimile-transmitted;
Control means for executing predetermined file protection processing on the specified document file;
A facsimile apparatus comprising: transmission means for rasterizing and converting the designated document file into image data, and transmitting the facsimile.   2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file protection process is a process of setting the designated document file to be read-only.   2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file protection process is a process of setting the designated document file to be prohibited from being processed.   2. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file protection process is a process of temporarily copying the designated document file and storing the file in the facsimile apparatus.   2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file protection process is a process in which the designated document file is rasterized and converted into image data and then stored in the facsimile apparatus.   In the file protection process, after the specified document file is rasterized and converted into image data, the original image is read by the image reading unit of the facsimile apparatus, and the rasterized and converted image data is converted. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile apparatus is a process of combining the image data and storing the combined image data in the facsimile apparatus.   The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the file protection process when a document file to be transmitted is designated. 7. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the file protection process when a document file to be transmitted is set to time-designated transmission.

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