JP2006253778A - Facsimile communication system, facsimile transmission apparatus and facsimile relay apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save a communication charge in relaying facsimile from a transmitter side connected to another communication network to a facsimile receiver via the Internet. <P>SOLUTION: In facsimile transmission to an Internet FAX transmitter/receiver 10, an IP telephone FAX transmitter/receiver 5 searches a FAX relay station capable of relaying IP telephone facsimile to a facsimile receiver via the Internet from history information of communication performed in the past, and transmits the facsimile using a subscriber terminal device of a provider of the lowest communication charge in the same system as a FAX relay station. An existing FAX transmitter/receiver 4 searches a FAX relay station capable of relaying existing facsimile to a facsimile receiver via the Internet from history information of communication performed in the past, and selects a FAX relay station of the lowest communication charge and having the same area code and transmits the facsimile. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile communication technique for transferring facsimile data between facsimile transmission / reception apparatuses having different communication protocols.

  Facsimile communication via a conventional public telephone line has become widespread. In recent years, communication networks other than the conventional public telephone network such as the Internet have been developed, and facsimiles using these communication networks have been developed. Communication has also been put into practical use. In such a situation of facsimile communication, when facsimile data is to be exchanged between facsimile transmitters / receivers connected to different communication networks, the data reception from the transmission side and the transmission destination are determined according to the communication protocol of each facsimile transmitter / receiver. It is necessary to perform facsimile relaying to transfer data to. In addition, when facsimile data is transmitted / received between facsimile transmitters / receivers connected to the same communication network via another communication network, it is necessary to relay the facsimile similarly before and after the communication network via the same communication network. . In addition to being required when a plurality of communication networks intervene in this way, facsimile relay is also useful for broadcast transmissions that simultaneously send image data such as documents to a plurality of destinations. It is required to realize appropriately in the communication form.

  On the other hand, in the standard for facsimile, G3 (Group 3), which is standardized by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) for the transfer mode of data itself sent and received by the transmitter on the sending side and the receiver on the receiving side. ) To G4 (Group 4), but there is no such standard for relaying facsimiles. For this reason, various techniques have been proposed for relaying facsimiles. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for transmitting a facsimile image data via a public telephone line or the Internet by adding a transfer address of a relay destination to a specific facsimile apparatus having a relay function after the image signal is completed. Disclosure. This technique realizes relaying of a facsimile designating a final destination while maintaining a data transfer form according to the standard.

  In recent years, techniques for selecting a relay route in consideration of the characteristics of each communication network have been proposed in addition to the realization of such a facsimile relay itself. In particular, the conventional public telephone network and other communication networks that have recently developed employ different communication fee systems, so the following technologies have been proposed to reduce the communication fee for facsimile communication by selecting a relay route. Has been.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for performing relay communication via a network such as the Internet in facsimile communication between conventional facsimile apparatuses connected to a public network. The destination telephone number is notified to the call side relay device, and the calling side relay device receives the destination telephone number from the area code area coordinates of the destination telephone number and the area code area coordinates of the relay device on the network. The incoming call side repeater closest to the device is specified.

  Patent Document 3 calculates a communication fee for a communication path via each relay device by interposing a relay device that transmits data through a dedicated line or the Internet in communication between facsimile apparatuses connected to a public telephone line, A technique for selecting a repeater that can transmit data to a final destination facsimile machine at the lowest communication charge is disclosed.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 discloses that each facsimile for each transmission route from a transmission facsimile apparatus to a destination facsimile apparatus in a line network in which a plurality of facsimile apparatuses capable of relay transmission of facsimiles are connected to each other by a public telephone network, ISDN, or a dedicated line. A technique for calculating a communication charge for each transmission route by adding communication charges between devices and selecting a transmission route with the lowest communication charge is disclosed.

  As for voice communication, the following techniques have also been proposed for reducing communication charges by selecting relay routes.

  Patent Document 5 discloses a technique for selecting a gateway between a packet switching network and a circuit switching network when the voice communication terminal device in the packet switching network performs voice communication with the voice communication terminal device in the circuit switching network. When giving priority to communication quality, select the gateway assigned the same network address as the source voice communication terminal device, and when reducing the communication cost, the same area code as the other party voice communication terminal device is selected. The assigned gateway is selected.

Patent Document 6 discloses an Internet telephone gateway in which a call charge with a call partner having no communication modem apparatus is the lowest in an Internet telephone system in which a telephone is connected to the Internet from a public line by a communication modem apparatus on the calling side. The technique to select is disclosed.
JP 2003-259104 A (paragraph 0039 to paragraph 0058, FIGS. 1 to 5) JP 2000-124996 A (paragraphs 0017 to 0051, FIGS. 1 to 8) JP 2001-251450 A (paragraphs 0012 to 0049, FIGS. 1 to 9) JP-A-8-32732 (paragraphs 0010 to 0017, FIGS. 1 to 5) JP-A-9-261275 (paragraphs 0021 to 0049, FIGS. 1 to 8) JP 2002-176443 (paragraph 0022 to paragraph 0027, FIG. 1)

  By the way, in a facsimile via the Internet that transmits and receives image data such as a document attached to an e-mail, both the transmission side and the reception side are connected to the Internet and exchange facsimile data, so the communication fee is the connection fee to the Internet. Just enough. For this reason, it is not necessary to perform a relay such as selecting a special relay route for reducing the communication fee, and the facsimile communication can be performed only with the Internet connection fee which is now low.

  However, when a facsimile is transmitted from a facsimile transmission device accommodated in a conventional public telephone network or other communication network to a facsimile reception device via the Internet, the facsimile data is transmitted to the transmission side. It is necessary to relay from the communication network to the reception side of the facsimile via the Internet, and facsimile communication involving a communication network other than the Internet is performed. Therefore, in the facsimile communication in this case, a communication fee using the communication network on the transmission side is generated in addition to the Internet connection fee, and the entire communication fee changes depending on the selection of the relay route. One of the advantages of a facsimile via the Internet is that the communication fee is low. Considering the current state of popularization of facsimiles, it is possible to realize a relay that reduces the communication fee even in this type of facsimile communication. It is hoped, and the demand is expected to increase further in the future.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and relays a facsimile transmitted from a transmission side connected to another communication network having a different communication protocol to a facsimile receiving apparatus via the Internet. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile communication technology that realizes a relay capable of reducing communication charges.

  In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile communication system according to the present invention includes a facsimile transmission device that transmits a facsimile having a communication protocol different from that of a facsimile that is transmitted via the Internet, and a facsimile reception that is received via the Internet and receives a facsimile transmitted via the Internet. And a plurality of facsimile relay apparatuses that receive a facsimile via a communication network to which the facsimile transmission apparatus is connected, convert the facsimile to a facsimile via the Internet, and relay and transmit the facsimile to a facsimile reception apparatus via the Internet. The facsimile transmission device communicates in the past based on communication history information including information for identifying a past communication counterpart station corresponding to the facsimile relay device and information for specifying a communication fee with the communication counterpart station. The A facsimile relay device capable of facsimile transmission at the cheapest communication charge is selected from among the quasi-mill relay devices, and a facsimile addressed to the Internet facsimile receiving device is transmitted to the selected facsimile relay device. The relay device receives the facsimile, relays it, and transmits it to the Internet facsimile reception device.

  In the facsimile communication system, the communication network is an IP telephone network, each of the facsimile transmission apparatus and the plurality of facsimile relay apparatuses is connected to an IP telephone network, and the facsimile transmission apparatus includes the facsimile transmission apparatus and the facsimile transmission apparatus. Facsimile relay apparatus that uses the provider information for specifying the provider of each IP telephone service of the facsimile relay apparatus that has communicated in the past as the information that serves as the specific reference, and has the lowest communication charge on the IP telephone network from the facsimile transmission apparatus May be selected as the facsimile relay apparatus. In this case, a facsimile relay apparatus of the same line as the provider of the facsimile transmission apparatus may be a facsimile relay apparatus with the lowest communication charge on the IP telephone network.

  In the facsimile communication system, the communication network is a public telephone network, each of the facsimile transmission apparatus and the plurality of facsimile relay apparatuses is connected to a public telephone network, and the facsimile transmission apparatus is the facsimile transmission apparatus. The telephone numbers of the facsimile relay apparatuses that have communicated in the past may be used as the information serving as the specific reference, and the facsimile relay apparatus closest to the facsimile transmission apparatus may be selected as the facsimile relay apparatus. In this case, a facsimile relay apparatus having the same area code as that of the facsimile transmission apparatus may be a facsimile relay apparatus closest to the facsimile transmission apparatus, and the facsimile relay apparatus having the shortest distance between the facsimile transmission apparatus and the unit charge area is the above-described facsimile relay apparatus. A facsimile relay device closest to the facsimile transmission device may be used.

  Further, in the facsimile communication system, when the plurality of facsimile relay apparatuses communicate with the facsimile transmission apparatus, information indicating that each corresponds to the facsimile relay apparatus and the specific criteria for each. The facsimile transmission apparatus may acquire information specifying the past communication partner station and information serving as the specific reference based on a notification from the facsimile relay apparatus that has performed communication.

  In this facsimile communication system in which the communication network is an IP telephone network, a facsimile receiving apparatus connected to the public telephone network and receiving a facsimile is connected between the IP telephone network and the public telephone network. A plurality of other facsimile relay devices for relay, and among the other facsimile relay devices, the other facsimile relay device communicates with the facsimile receiving device according to the information serving as the specific reference. The facsimile transmission apparatus adds a facsimile transmission to the facsimile relay apparatus at a low communication charge from among the facsimile relay apparatuses that have communicated in the past, based on the history information, and the facsimile transmission apparatus Facsimile relay device capable of relay transmission to facsimile receiver The selected facsimile relay apparatus transmits a facsimile addressed to the facsimile receiving apparatus, and the selected facsimile relay apparatus receives and relays the facsimile and transmits it to the facsimile receiving apparatus. Also good.

  Further, in this facsimile communication system in which the communication network is a public telephone network, a facsimile receiver connected to the IP telephone network and receiving a facsimile, and a facsimile between the public telephone network and the IP telephone network. A plurality of other facsimile relay devices for relay, and among the other facsimile relay devices, the other facsimile relay device communicates with the facsimile receiving device according to the information serving as the specific reference. The facsimile transmission apparatus adds a facsimile transmission to the facsimile relay apparatus at a low communication charge from among the facsimile relay apparatuses that have communicated in the past, based on the history information, and the facsimile transmission apparatus A facsimile relay device capable of relay transmission to a facsimile receiver A facsimile addressed to the facsimile receiving device is transmitted to the selected facsimile relay device, and the selected facsimile relay device receives and relays the facsimile and transmits it to the facsimile receiving device. Also good.

  On the other hand, a facsimile transmission apparatus according to the present invention is a facsimile transmission apparatus for transmitting a facsimile having a communication protocol different from that of a facsimile via the Internet, and an input means for inputting a receiving apparatus for receiving the facsimile via the Internet as a destination. A plurality of facsimile relay devices that receive a facsimile, convert it into a facsimile via the Internet, and relay-transmit it to the receiving device. A history of communication including information specifying the past communication partner station corresponding to the facsimile relay device and information used to specify the communication fee with the communication partner station, for the facsimile relay device with the lowest communication charge from the transmission device Selection based on information And a management unit, which is intended to transmit the facsimile addressed to the receiving device relative to the selected was the facsimile relay apparatus.

  The facsimile relay apparatus according to the present invention is a facsimile relay apparatus that receives a facsimile having a communication protocol different from that of a facsimile via the Internet, converts the facsimile into a facsimile via the Internet, and relays and transmits the facsimile to the Internet facsimile receiver. Thus, when communicating with a transmitting apparatus that transmits a facsimile, information indicating that the facsimile relay apparatus corresponds to a facsimile relay apparatus to the receiving apparatus and a communication fee from the transmitting apparatus to the facsimile relay apparatus Information serving as a specific reference is notified to the transmission device, and when a facsimile addressed to the reception device is received from the transmission device, the facsimile is relay-transmitted to the reception device.

  According to the present invention, communication including information for specifying a past communication counterpart station corresponding to a facsimile relay apparatus that relays a facsimile to the Internet / facsimile receiver, and information that serves as a specification standard for communication charges with the communication counterpart station. Based on the history information, a facsimile relay device capable of facsimile transmission at the lowest communication charge is selected from among the facsimile relay devices that have communicated in the past, and the Internet facsimile receiving device is selected for the selected facsimile relay device. Since the destination facsimile is transmitted, the communication fee is reduced when the facsimile transmitted from the transmission side connected to another communication network having a different communication protocol is relayed to the Internet facsimile reception device. be able to.

<Configuration>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile communication system includes a network 1, a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 2, an IP (Internet Protocol) telephone network 3, a conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4, an IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 as shown in FIG. It has other FAX relay stations 6a and 6b, etc., and performs facsimile communication by relaying facsimile data exchanged between facsimile transmitters / receivers having different communication protocols.

  The network 1 is a communication network capable of high-speed data communication between terminals for free or at a very low price. For example, a LAN (Local Area Network) of offices scattered in various places in the same company is used as a dedicated line. A network such as a LAN, a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), or a WAN (Wide Area Network) that is used by a certain organization or group, such as a connected in-house network, corresponds to this. The network 1 includes an Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10, network terminals 11 a, 11 b, 11 c, 12, 13 a, 13 b and 13 c as a configuration for realizing the facsimile communication system. Although illustration is omitted, the network 1 appropriately includes other network terminals, network devices such as servers and routers.

  The Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 is a facsimile transmitter / receiver via the Internet that transmits and receives image data such as a document attached to an electronic mail. That is, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 has a mail address as a subscriber terminal of an Internet connection service by a predetermined ISP (Internet Service Provider), and facsimile data according to a communication protocol of a facsimile via the Internet (hereinafter, “ Facsimile transmitter / receiver that transmits / receives "Internet FAX data"), for example, an Internet FAX machine equipped with a mail transmission / reception function, a personal computer installed with a facsimile transmission / reception program via the Internet, or a multifunction machine (having a facsimile function) MFP (Multi-Function Printer) or the like). In the network 1, an Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 is connected as one terminal, and high-speed data communication can be performed with other terminals in the network 1 free of charge or at a low cost.

  The network terminals 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 13a, 13b and 13c are terminals in the network 1, respectively. The network terminals 11a, 11b and 11c are connected to the PSTN 2, and the network terminal 12 is connected to the PSTN 2 and the IP. Connected to both sides of the telephone network 3, network terminals 13 a, 13 b and 13 c are connected to the IP telephone network 3. These network terminals 11 a and the like are scattered in the construction area of the network 1, can transmit and receive Internet FAX data, and a facsimile transmission / reception device via the Internet passes through the PSTN 2 or the IP telephone network 3. And has a function of relaying a facsimile to be transmitted / received. With this facsimile relay function, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 can perform facsimile communication via the PSTN 2 or the IP telephone network 3.

  That is, in the network 1, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 can transmit / receive Internet FAX data to be transmitted / received to / from the network terminal 11a or the like through free or inexpensive high-speed data communication, and the network terminal 11a or the like transmits / receives it. It functions as a FAX relay station of the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 based on Internet FAX data or the like, and transmits / receives facsimile data via a communication network to which each is connected. The network terminals 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 13a, 13b, and 13c as such facsimile relay apparatuses include, for example, a facsimile communication apparatus equipped with such a facsimile relay function and a personal computer installed with a program for executing the relay. Consists of a computer and a multifunction peripheral (such as an MFP having a facsimile function).

  Here, when the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 performs facsimile transmission via the PSTN 2 or the IP telephone network 3, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 and other terminals in the network 1 perform data communication according to a predetermined protocol. A processing operation for determining whether the terminal is a FAX relay station is performed. The predetermined protocol referred to here is a relay station selection protocol unique to the facsimile communication system for selecting a FAX relay station that has the lowest communication fee when transmitting a facsimile via the Internet, and selects the FAX relay station. Therefore, rules for data exchanged between the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 and other terminals are determined in advance.

  In order to select a FAX relay station using this relay station selection protocol, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 inputs predetermined designation of a facsimile transmission destination (not only a mail address but also a telephone number and an IP address).・ In addition to having input units such as keys and touch panels, control units that perform information processing and operation control necessary for processing operations such as data communication according to the relay station selection protocol, programs executed by the control unit, and relay station selection A storage unit for storing information to be provided. Each of the network terminals 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 13a, 13b, and 13c responds to the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 according to the relay station selection protocol, and is necessary for the response processing operation. It includes a control unit that performs information processing and operation control, a storage unit that stores a program executed by the control unit, and information used for a response. Since the contents of the relay station selection protocol are included in the operation contents of the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 and the network terminal 11a and the like with these configurations, the details will be clarified in the description of the operation described later.

  In the network 1 in FIG. 1, the configuration related to the facsimile communication system is as described above, but the network terminals 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 13a, 13b, and 13c are external in the network 1 construction area. It is merely an example of a terminal that is connected to a communication network and becomes a FAX relay station. That is, the number and location of terminals connected to the PSTN 2, the IP telephone network 3 or both the PSTN 2 and the IP telephone network 3 and functioning as FAX relay stations in the same manner as the network terminals 11a, 13a, or 12 are arbitrary. For example, when the network 1 is an in-house network as described above, at least one network terminal connected to the PSTN 2 such as the network terminal 11a may be installed for each office in each place.

  PSTN2 is a conventional public telephone network for fixed telephones. In PSTN2, since the originating station and the terminating station are specified by a telephone number including an area code according to the installation location, the network terminal 11a which can be a transmitting facsimile transmitting station or a receiving facsimile receiving station. , 11b, 11c, and 12 are respectively assigned telephone numbers, and the telephone numbers assigned to the respective network terminals are stored in the storage unit as the local telephone numbers. In the communication via the PSTN2 public telephone line, it is possible to provide an information notification service for notifying the receiving side of information such as the telephone number and name of the calling side. (Message Area)) as a reference.

  The IP telephone network 3 is a telephone network configured by a communication network based on the IP protocol, and includes an IP telephone network operated by a plurality of IP telephone service providers. The IP telephone network operated by each IP telephone service provider has various forms, such as those composed only of a dedicated IP communication network maintained by the IP telephone service provider and those via the Internet. However, the IP telephone network 3 is constructed by connecting these IP telephone networks through pay or free communication lines (the IP telephone network 3 is connected to the IP telephone network of the IP telephone service provider. It is an IP telephone network as a whole.)

  In the IP telephone network 3, since the calling side and the called side are specified by IP addresses, the network terminals 12, 13a, 13b, and 13c that can be the sending side facsimile transmitting station or the receiving side facsimile receiving station are respectively An IP address is assigned, and the IP address assigned to each network terminal is stored as a local station IP address in the storage unit. Since this IP address is given by subscribing to an IP telephone service by an IP telephone service provider, each of the network terminals 12, 13a, 13b, 13c can subscribe to an IP telephone service by any of the IP telephone service providers. Each terminal has an IP address, and each storage unit also stores provider information for specifying a provider of the subscribed IP telephone service. In communication through the IP telephone line of the IP telephone network 3, it is possible to provide an information notification service for notifying information such as the IP address of the calling side and provider information, and the communication fee is a fixed monthly fixed fee. Is not imposed.

  The conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 is connected to the PSTN 2 and transmits / receives conventional FAX data (facsimile data according to a conventional facsimile communication protocol transmitted / received through the PSTN 2 public telephone line; the same applies hereinafter). This is a conventional facsimile transmission / reception device, and is configured by a conventional facsimile transmission / reception device, a multifunction peripheral (MFP having a facsimile function), or the like. This conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 can also designate a facsimile transmitter / receiver via the Internet or an IP telephone facsimile transmitter / receiver connected to the IP telephone network 3 as a destination of facsimile transmission. It has a predetermined input unit for inputting and designating a destination mail address and IP address. When a mail address or IP address is input as a destination for facsimile transmission, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 executes a processing operation of selecting a facsimile relay station with the lowest communication charge. For this reason, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 includes a control unit that performs information processing and operation control necessary for the processing operation, a storage unit that stores a program executed by the control unit and information used for relay station selection, and the like. Yes. A telephone number is assigned to the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 connected to the PSTN 2, and the telephone number is stored in the storage unit as one piece of information used for relay station selection.

  The IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is connected to the IP telephone network 3 and is connected to the IP telephone network 3 to transmit IP telephone FAX data (a facsimile according to the IP telephone facsimile communication protocol transmitted and received through the IP telephone line of the IP telephone network 3). This is the same as the IP telephone facsimile transmission / reception apparatus, and is composed of, for example, a facsimile transmission / reception apparatus having a communication interface for IP telephones or a multifunction peripheral (MFP having a facsimile function). The IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 can also designate a facsimile transmitter / receiver via the Internet or a conventional facsimile transmitter / receiver connected to the PSTN 2 as a destination for facsimile transmission. It has a predetermined input unit for inputting and specifying an address and a telephone number. When a mail address or a telephone number is input as a destination for facsimile transmission, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 executes a processing operation for selecting a facsimile relay station with the lowest communication charge. For this reason, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 has a control unit that performs information processing and operation control necessary for the processing operation, a storage unit that stores programs executed by the control unit and information used for relay station selection, and the like. Yes. The IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 connected to the IP telephone network 3 has an IP address as a subscriber terminal of an IP telephone service by any IP telephone service provider, and identifies the provider of the subscribed IP telephone service. The provider information to be stored is stored in the storage unit as one piece of information used for relay station selection.

  The other FAX relay stations 6a and 6b are facsimile relay apparatuses that relay facsimiles between the PSTN 2 and the IP telephone network 3, and relay the facsimile that the conventional facsimile transmission / reception apparatus and the IP telephone facsimile transmission / reception apparatus are to transmit / receive. It has a function to do. Such other FAX relay stations 6a and 6b include, for example, a facsimile communication apparatus equipped with such a facsimile relay function, a personal computer installed with a program for executing the relay, or a multi-function peripheral (such as an MFP having a facsimile function). However, a gateway or the like installed between the PSTN 2 and the IP communication network 3 may be used. Since these other FAX relay stations 6a and 6b are connected to both the PSTN 2 and the IP telephone network 3, a telephone number is assigned and an IP telephone by any IP telephone service provider is provided. It has an IP address as a subscriber terminal (or gateway) of the service, and has a storage unit that stores the telephone number, IP address, provider information for specifying the provider of the IP telephone service, and the like.

  The other FAX relay stations 6a and 6b are merely examples of the FAX relay station between the PSTN 2 and the IP telephone network 3, and the same FAX relay station is further installed, and the same as the other FAX relay stations 6a and 6b. Fax relay stations may be scattered in various places (the number and installation locations of the fax relay stations between the PSTN 2 and the IP telephone network 3 are arbitrary). Since the network terminal 12 is also connected to both the PSTN 2 and the IP telephone network 3, the network terminal 12 has the same relay function as the other FAX relay stations 6a and 6b in addition to the above functions. It is good. Further, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4, and the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 are respectively a facsimile, a conventional facsimile, and an IP telephone facsimile transmitter or receiver of the facsimile communication system via the Internet. For example, a facsimile communication apparatus having the same function may be provided as appropriate.

<Operation>
Next, the operation according to the above configuration will be described. In this facsimile communication system, there are three types of facsimile transmitters / receivers having different communication protocols: an Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10, a conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 and an IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5, and the facsimile transmission / reception between these facsimile transmitters / receivers. Facsimile communication is performed by relaying data. Therefore, in the following, a facsimile communication mode in the case where a facsimile is transmitted from each facsimile transmitter / receiver to another facsimile transmitter / receiver will be described and will be described in order.

First Facsimile Communication Mode As a first facsimile communication mode, there is a mode in which a facsimile is transmitted from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 to the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the first facsimile communication mode.

  In the first facsimile communication mode, a facsimile is transmitted from a facsimile transmission device via the Internet to a conventional facsimile reception device. Therefore, in the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10, the sender operates the input unit to set the destination telephone number. Enter with the area code. That is, the telephone number of the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 as the destination is input as the destination telephone number including the area code. As a result, the destination telephone number including the area code for facsimile transmission is designated (step S1), and the Internet FAX transceiver 10 starts selecting a FAX relay station according to the relay station selection protocol.

  Since the FAX relay station is selected in order to select the FAX relay station with the lowest communication charge, the facsimile is particularly set to the receiving side of the area code different from the area code at the place where the Internet FAX transceiver 10 is installed. Must be done when sending. For this reason, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 starts the selection of a FAX relay station when an input of a destination telephone number including an area code is detected (a destination telephone number without an area code is specified). When designated, it may be determined in advance that the FAX relay station or the like that is in the immediate vicinity of the Internet FAX transceiver 10 is selected.

  In selecting a FAX relay station, when the destination is determined by specifying the destination telephone number, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 transmits a broadcast packet to all terminals on the network 1 (step S2). This broadcast packet is a specific response request packet for requesting a response only from a terminal capable of relaying a facsimile via the Internet to the PSTN 2, and only the terminal responds, and an unrelated terminal (Internet The data format is determined in advance so that a terminal that cannot relay a facsimile that passes through to PSTN 2 will be ignored even if it is received. When a related terminal (a terminal capable of relaying a facsimile via the Internet to the PSTN 2) receives a broadcast packet of the predetermined data format, it transmits / receives an Internet FAX as related to the own terminal. It is assumed that a response is returned to the machine 10. The data format, the broadcast packet transmission from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 and the response only from the related terminal are rules determined in advance in the relay station selection protocol. Works.

  As a result, the related terminals that have received the broadcast packet, that is, the network terminals 11a, 11b, 11c, and 12 that function as a FAX relay station to the PSTN 2, are assumed to be related to the own terminal. A response is sent back to 10 (step S3). Then, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 transmits an information request message requesting notification of the local station telephone number only to the terminal that has responded, and each terminal that responds to the request accepts the local station telephone number. Then, the Internet FAX transceiver 10 obtains information on the telephone number of each terminal from the network terminals 11a, 11b, 11c, and 12 (step S4. The data communication procedure for obtaining this telephone number is also a relay station. It is predetermined in the selection protocol.)

  Then, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 that has acquired the telephone number information of each terminal selects the network terminal closest to the destination of facsimile transmission from those telephone numbers, and determines that network terminal as a FAX relay station. (Step S5). Thereby, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 selects a facsimile FAX relay station to be transmitted to the destination FAX transmitter / receiver 4, and the Internet including the facsimile image data in the network terminal of the selected FAX relay station. The FAX data and the destination telephone number are transmitted (step S6). Transmission of Internet FAX data is performed according to a facsimile communication protocol via the Internet. The destination telephone number is determined by message transmission determined in advance by a relay station selection protocol, message transmission by a normal communication protocol in the network 1, or the like. A notification is sent from the Internet FAX transceiver 10 to the network terminal of the FAX relay station.

  Here, as a network terminal closest to the destination, a network terminal whose local area telephone number is the same as the area telephone number of the destination telephone number (a network terminal in the same unit fee area as the destination). Strictly speaking, there are some that include the local number.) For example, the network 1 is an in-house network as described above, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 is installed at the Osaka office, the network terminal 11a is installed at the Fukuoka office, and the network terminal 11b is installed at the Tokyo office. If the network terminal 11c is installed in the Hawaii office and the conventional FAX transceiver 4 is installed in Tokyo and is in the unit charge area where the area code is the same as the Tokyo office, Internet FAX The transceiver 10 selects the network terminal 11b of the Tokyo office having the same area code as that of the conventional FAX transceiver 4, and the Internet FAX data including the image data and the conventional FAX transceiver 4 are stored in the network terminal 11b. Send your phone number. FIG. 3 shows a signal flow of each data transmitted and received in this case.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a first facsimile communication mode, and shows a signal flow from notification of a local telephone number by a related terminal to facsimile transmission to a destination. The network terminals 11a, 11b, and 11c in the Fukuoka office, the Tokyo office, and the Hawaii office each convert the Internet FAX data from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 into conventional FAX data, and relay-transmit it to the PSTN 2. have. In FIG. 3, these are particularly shown as “(Internet FAX / conventional FAX relay station)”.

  As shown in the figure, the network terminals 11a, 11b, and 11c at the Fukuoka office, the Tokyo office, and the Hawaii office respectively notify the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 at the Osaka office of its own telephone number, The FAX transceiver 10 acquires the telephone numbers of the network terminals 11a, 11b and 11c (step S4). Then, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 compares the area code of each network terminal with the area code of the destination FAX transmitter / receiver 4 based on the acquired telephone number and the input destination telephone number. In step S5, the network terminal 11b having the same area code is selected as a FAX relay station. As a result, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 transmits the Internet FAX data including facsimile image data and the destination telephone number to the network terminal 11b (step S6).

  Thereafter, the network terminal 11b, which is the selected FAX relay station, converts the Internet FAX data received from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 into conventional FAX data, and the image that was in the Internet FAX data through the PSTN2 public telephone line. The data is transmitted to the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 of the destination telephone number by the conventional facsimile communication protocol (step S7 in FIG. 2). As a result, the facsimile from the Internet FAX transceiver 10 is relayed to the PSTN 2, and the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 receives the conventional FAX data including the image data, and the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 receives the conventional FAX data. The facsimile communication for transmitting the facsimile to 4 is finished.

  In the first facsimile communication mode, the facsimile relay transmission is performed in this way. As a result of comparing the acquired telephone number of each network terminal and the area code of the destination telephone number in the Internet FAX transceiver 10, the destination telephone If there is no network terminal whose number and area code match, calculate the distance between the unit charge area corresponding to the acquired telephone number of each network terminal and the unit charge area corresponding to the destination telephone number To do. Then, by selecting the network terminal having the shortest distance between the calculated unit charge areas, the FAX relay station closest to the destination is selected.

  Each unit charge area is assigned geographic coordinates on the vertical and horizontal axes. In PSTN2, the distance between the unit charge areas on the calling side and the receiving side based on these coordinates is used as the standard for determining the communication charge. ing. For this reason, in the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10, a unit fee area table in which each unit fee area, a telephone number in each unit fee area, and coordinates of each unit fee area are associated as information to be used for selecting a relay station. Pre-stored in the storage unit.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the unit fee area table. In FIG. 4, “unit charge area name (prefecture)” indicates each unit charge area, “phone number” indicates a telephone number in each unit charge area, and “coordinate” indicates a geographical “vertical axis”. The coordinates of each unit fee area represented by the coordinate values on the “horizontal axis” are also shown. “X” in the telephone number is an arbitrary number, and the telephone number in each unit charge area is represented only by a common area code or the like. Note that FIG. 4 shows only the unit charge area in Osaka Prefecture, but this is only an example, and the unit charge area table includes the telephone numbers and coordinates of the unit charge areas in various parts of the country.

これにより、各ネットワーク端末機と宛先の単位料金区域間距離を算出し、単位料金区域間距離の値が最も小さいネットワーク端末機を探し出してＦＡＸ中継局に選定する（なお、市外局番が同一であれば単位料金区域間距離は０なので、宛先電話番号と市外局番が一致するネットワーク端末機も単位料金区域間距離が最短のＦＡＸ中継局といえる。）。 The Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 holds such a unit charge area table in advance, and when there is no network terminal whose destination telephone number matches the area code, each acquired by referring to the unit charge area table. The coordinates of the unit charge area corresponding to the telephone number of the network terminal and the coordinates of the unit charge area corresponding to the destination telephone number are searched. Then, based on the retrieved coordinates, the distance between the unit charge areas with the destination is calculated for each network terminal by the following formula.

As a result, the distance between each network terminal and the destination unit charge area is calculated, and the network terminal having the smallest unit charge area distance value is found and selected as a FAX relay station (the area code is the same). If there is, the distance between unit charge areas is 0, so a network terminal whose destination telephone number matches the area code is also the FAX relay station with the shortest distance between unit charge areas.)

  However, PSTN2 communication charges may vary from region to region. Further, as a result of calculating the distance between each network terminal and the destination unit charge area, there may be a plurality of network terminals having the shortest unit charge area distance. Therefore, in the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10, a communication fee table in which PSTN2 communication fee information determined by a communication carrier is associated with an area code or unit fee area as information to be used for selecting a relay station is provided in advance. It is stored in the storage unit.

  As a result, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 refers to the communication fee table as appropriate, and selects a network terminal that relays the facsimile to the destination with the lowest communication fee as the FAX relay station. For example, if there are no network terminals with the same destination telephone number and area code, and there are multiple network terminals with the shortest distance between unit charge areas, refer to the communication charge table, and the network terminals The communication charges for facsimile transmission to each destination are specified and compared, and the network terminal with the lowest communication charge is set as a FAX relay station.

  As described above, the selection criterion for the FAX relay station in the first facsimile communication mode is to select the network terminal having the same destination telephone number and the same area code as above, and to select the destination if there is no such network terminal. Select the network terminal with the shortest unit charge area distance, and if there are multiple network terminals with the shortest unit charge area distance, refer to the communication charge table and select the network terminal with the lowest communication charge. It has become a thing. As a result, in this facsimile communication system, a FAX relay station that is closest to the destination in terms of distance and that has the lowest communication charge in PSTN 2 is searched for and relay transmission is performed.

  As shown in the lower part of FIG. 3, communication between the Internet FAX transceiver 10 and a FAX relay station (Internet FAX / conventional FAX relay station) is free or inexpensive within the network 1. Facsimile communication via the Internet based on high-speed data communication, and communication between a FAX relay station and a destination conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 is conventional facsimile communication via PSTN 2, and among these communication, The part where the communication fee is charged is through PSTN2. According to the first facsimile communication mode of the facsimile communication system, when the facsimile transmitted by the facsimile communication protocol via the Internet is relayed to the PSTN 2 receiving side, the facsimile communication via the Internet up to the FAX relay station. Is effectively utilized and the part via PSTN 2 is minimized, so that relay transmission with the lowest communication charge can be realized, and the communication cost of facsimile communication as a whole can be reduced to the minimum. it can.

  Here, the communication charges determined by the telecommunications carrier for PSTN2 vary depending on the telecommunications carrier's fare system or change due to fee revisions, etc., whereas the coordinates of the unit fee area are determined from the geographical relationship. Therefore, even if there is a change in the corresponding telephone number due to revision or the like, the communication fee is determined accordingly. Therefore, the distance between unit charge areas can be a universal index for judging the level of communication charges, and this facsimile communication system does not have a network terminal with the same area code as the destination, giving priority to the index. The fax relay station is determined. Thus, in this facsimile communication system, even if there is no network terminal having the same area code as the destination, in many cases, it is not necessary to refer to the communication charge table, and the FAX relay station that makes the communication charge the lowest is required. The communication cost can be reduced even if there is a change in the communication charge determined by the communication carrier.

  The first facsimile communication mode described above can also be applied to a case where a facsimile is transmitted from the Internet FAX transceiver 10 to a conventional facsimile transceiver outside Japan. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, if the destination conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 is installed in the state of Hawaii, the network terminal 11c of the Hawaii office is selected by selecting a FAX relay station. . As a result, Internet FAX data is transmitted from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 through the network 1 to the network terminal 11c of the Hawaii office, and from the network terminal 11c to the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 in the same state of Hawaii, USA. Since the data is transmitted, the communication charge can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where facsimile transmission is performed from Japan to the United States via an international telephone line. However, when performing facsimile communication with a foreign country in this way, information on the telephone number including the country code is handled.

Second Facsimile Communication Mode A second facsimile communication mode includes a mode in which a facsimile is transmitted from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 to the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the second facsimile communication mode.

  In the second facsimile communication mode, a facsimile is transmitted from a facsimile transmission apparatus via the Internet to an IP telephone facsimile reception apparatus. Therefore, in the Internet FAX transceiver 10, the sender operates the input unit, and the destination IP telephone is the IP telephone. The IP address of the FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is input as the destination IP address. As a result, the destination IP address for facsimile transmission is designated (step S10), and the Internet FAX transceiver 10 starts selecting a FAX relay station according to the relay station selection protocol.

  In selecting a FAX relay station, when a destination is determined by specifying a destination IP address, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 transmits a broadcast packet to all terminals on the network 1 (step S11). This broadcast packet is a specific response request packet for requesting a response only from a terminal capable of relaying a facsimile via the Internet to the IP telephone network 3, and only the terminal responds, and an unrelated terminal The data format is determined in advance so that the machine (terminal that cannot relay the facsimile via the Internet to the IP telephone network 3) ignores it even if it is received. When a related terminal (a terminal capable of relaying a facsimile via the Internet to the IP telephone network 3) receives a broadcast packet of the predetermined data format, the related terminal It is assumed that a response is returned to the Internet FAX transceiver 10. The data format, the broadcast packet transmission from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 and the response only from the related terminal are rules determined in advance in the relay station selection protocol. Works.

  As a result, the related terminals that have received the broadcast packet, that is, the network terminals 12, 13a, 13b, and 13c that function as FAX relay stations to the IP telephone network 3 are assumed to be related to the own machine. A response is returned to the FAX transceiver 10 (step S12). Then, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 transmits an information request message requesting notification of provider information of the local station only to the terminal that has responded, and each terminal that has responded to the request receives and notifies the provider information. Then, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 acquires provider information of each terminal from the network terminals 12, 13a, 13b, and 13c (step S13. The data communication procedure for acquiring the provider information is also in the relay station selection protocol. Predetermined).

  Then, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 that has acquired provider information of each terminal selects a network terminal with the lowest communication fee to the destination of facsimile transmission from the provider information, and makes the network terminal a FAX relay station. Determine (step S14). As a result, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 selects a facsimile FAX relay station to be transmitted to the destination IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5, and the Internet including facsimile image data in the network terminal of the selected FAX relay station. The FAX data and the destination IP address are transmitted (step S15). Transmission of Internet FAX data is performed according to a facsimile communication protocol via the Internet. The destination IP address is determined by message transmission determined in advance by a relay station selection protocol, message transmission by a normal communication protocol in the network 1, or the like. A notification is sent from the Internet FAX transceiver 10 to the network terminal of the FAX relay station.

  Here, as the network terminal with the lowest communication charge, a subscriber terminal of the same IP telephone service provider as the destination (a subscriber terminal of the same IP telephone service provider as the destination or a destination is subscribed) The network terminal that is the IP telephone service provider's subscriber terminal sharing the same IP telephone network as the IP telephone service provider is selected with the highest priority. The IP telephone service provider to which the destination is subscribed, for example, in the Internet FAX transceiver 10, specifies each IP telephone service provider and the IP address assigned to each IP telephone service provider (identifies the provider of the IP address). The provider-IP address table associated with the IP telephone service is stored in advance in the storage unit, and the provider of the IP telephone service to which the destination subscribes from the destination IP address with reference to the provider-IP address table. Identify. Then, the provider information acquired from each terminal is compared with the provider information of the destination subscription IP telephone service, and the subscriber terminal of the same series IP telephone service provider is selected.

  For example, the network 1 is an in-house network as described above, the Internet FAX transceiver 10 is installed in the Osaka office, the network terminal 13a is a provider A company IP telephone service subscriber terminal, and the network terminal 13b. Is an IP telephone service subscriber terminal of provider B, network terminal 13c is an IP telephone service subscriber terminal of provider C, and IP telephone FAX transceiver 5 is an IP telephone service subscriber of provider B. If it is a terminal, the Internet FAX transceiver 10 selects a network terminal 13b which is a subscriber terminal of the same IP telephone service provider as the IP telephone FAX transceiver 5, and sends image data to the network terminal 13b. Including Internet FAX data and IP phone To send the IP address of AX transceiver 5. FIG. 6 shows a signal flow of each data transmitted / received in this case.

  FIG. 6 is an example of the second facsimile communication mode, and shows the signal flow from the notification of the provider information of the own station by the related terminal to the facsimile transmission to the destination. The network terminals 13a, 13b and 13c, which are subscriber terminals of provider A, provider B and provider C, respectively convert the Internet FAX data from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 into IP telephone FAX data and IP telephone. It has a function of relay transmission to the network 3. In FIG. 6, these are particularly shown as “(Internet FAX / IP telephone FAX relay station)”.

  As shown in the figure, network terminals 13a, 13b, and 13c, which are subscriber terminals of provider A, provider B, and provider C, respectively, use their own provider information as an Internet FAX transceiver at the Osaka office. 10 and the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 acquires provider information of the network terminals 13a, 13b, and 13c (step S13). The Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 compares the provider of each network terminal with the provider of the destination IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 based on the acquired provider information and the input designated destination IP address. It is determined whether or not the network terminal 13b with the same provider is selected as the FAX relay station (step S14). As a result, the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 transmits the Internet FAX data including facsimile image data and the destination IP address to the network terminal 13b (step S15).

  Thereafter, the network terminal 13b, which is the selected FAX relay station, converts the Internet FAX data received from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 into IP telephone FAX data, and puts it into the Internet FAX data through the IP telephone line of the IP telephone network 3. The received image data is transmitted to the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 of the destination IP address by the IP telephone facsimile communication protocol (step S16 in FIG. 5). As a result, the facsimile from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 is relayed to the IP telephone network 3, and the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 receives the IP telephone FAX data including the image data. The facsimile communication for transmitting a facsimile to the FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is completed.

  In the second facsimile communication mode, the facsimile relay transmission is performed in this way. As a result of comparing the acquired provider information of each network terminal with the provider information of the destination subscription IP telephone service in the Internet FAX transceiver 10, If there is no network terminal that is a subscriber terminal of the same affiliate, select a network terminal that can communicate using the IP telephone network of the destination subscriber IP telephone service at the lowest communication charge. Thus, the FAX relay station with the lowest communication charge is selected. In order to select such a network terminal, in the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10, IP telephones of IP telephone service providers other than the respective IP telephone service providers are provided for each IP telephone service provider as information used for relay station selection. A communication charge table for other companies representing communication charges for connection to the network (including cases where the charges are free) is stored in advance in the storage unit.

  The other company's communication charge table is created based on the tie-up status of each IP telephone service provider with other companies. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the tie-up status. In the case of connecting from the IP telephone network of each IP telephone service provider to the IP telephone network of another IP telephone service provider, the case of free connection is shown. A solid line between the IP telephone networks is represented by a solid line, and a case of connection for a fee is represented by a dotted line between the IP telephone networks. For example, the IP telephone networks of provider B, provider F, and provider G can be connected to each other free of charge, and the communication charge in the other company's communication charge table is 0 yen. In this case, when the IP telephone FAX transceiver 5 in FIG. 6 is an IP telephone subscriber terminal of Provider F or Provider G, the network terminal 13b is selected as the FAX relay station in the same manner as described above. (Selecting network terminals 13a and 13c, which are subscriber terminals of other IP telephone service providers, requires roaming for a fee and increases communication charges.)

  In FIG. 7, there are approximately 2.36 million IP phone service subscribers of provider A, approximately 500,000 IP phone service subscribers of provider D or provider E, and IP phone service subscribers of provider C. There are approximately 1.5 million IP phone service subscribers in the three-member association of approximately 5 million, Provider B, Provider F and Provider G. Provider C1, Provider C2, Provider C3, Provider C4 and Provider C5 is an IP telephone service provider of the same family sharing the IP telephone network of provider C. Between each of the IP telephone networks of provider B, provider F and provider G and the IP telephone network of provider C, between the IP telephone network of provider C and provider IP, and between provider C Connection between the IP telephone network and the IP telephone network of provider E can be made for a fee, and these charges are stored in the storage unit of the Internet FAX transceiver 10 as communication charges in the communication charge table of other companies. Is remembered.

  The FAX relay station selection criteria in the second facsimile communication mode are as follows. When the network terminal that is a subscriber terminal with the same destination and provider is selected with the highest priority, and there is no such network terminal The network terminal with the lowest communication charge is selected with reference to the above-mentioned other company communication charge table. As a result, in this facsimile communication system, the fax transmission station that uses the IP telephone network 3 is searched for the relay station for the IP telephone facsimile receiving apparatus that is the final facsimile destination to perform relay transmission. .

  As shown in the lower part of FIG. 6, communication between the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 and a FAX relay station (Internet FAX / IP telephone FAX relay station) is free or inexpensive within the network 1. Facsimile communication via the Internet by high-speed data communication, and communication between the FAX relay station and the destination IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is IP telephone facsimile communication via the IP telephone network 3, and among these communications Thus, it is a part through the IP telephone network 3 that the communication charge becomes a problem. According to the second facsimile communication mode of the facsimile communication system, the facsimile transmitted by the facsimile communication protocol via the Internet is relayed to the receiving side of the IP telephone network 3 via the Internet to the FAX relay station. Since the facsimile relay station is effectively used and the fax relay station to the IP telephone network 3 is the same-affiliated provider contract machine etc. with the lowest communication charge, it is automatically set to the lowest communication charge. Thus, relay transmission with the lowest communication charge can be realized, and the communication cost of facsimile communication as a whole can be reduced to the minimum.

  The above is the first and second facsimile communication forms by the facsimile communication system. The network terminals 11a, 11b, 11c and 12 which are FAX relay stations respond to the information request message from the Internet FAX transceiver 10. The network terminal 12, 13 a, 13 b and 13 c notifies the provider information in response to the information request message from the Internet FAX transceiver 10, and the communication fee is based on the notified information. The Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 selects an inexpensive FAX relay station. That is, each FAX relay station uses its own information as a relay station selection information when it passes through its own station during facsimile communication (when its own station is used as a FAX relay station for relay transmission). Is used as a reference for specifying the information, and the information is provided in response to a request from the Internet FAX transceiver 10. The Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 can select a FAX relay station with the lowest communication charge by such a function of the FAX relay station.

  In the first and second facsimile communication forms, data communication for acquiring terminal information within the network 1 is performed, starting with information serving as a reference for specifying the communication fee. What is unique to the communication system is the procedure according to the relay station selection protocol for the data communication and the information content of the data. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-298540 discloses a technique for realizing data communication itself for acquiring terminal information in a specific network. The technology disclosed in this publication obtains information on all (or a part) of MFP devices connected to the network, and stores them in all types of information such as equipment information, device status, network settings, job history, and usage status. Based on this, the devices displayed in the list are rearranged or narrowed down to provide information desired for the user in real time.

Third Facsimile Communication Mode A third facsimile communication mode includes a mode in which a facsimile is transmitted from the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 to the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the third facsimile communication mode. The following third facsimile communication mode is a communication mode in which the transmission side and the reception side of the second facsimile communication mode are reversed.

  In the third facsimile communication mode, since the facsimile is transmitted from the IP telephone facsimile transmitting apparatus to the facsimile receiving apparatus via the Internet, in the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5, the sender operates the input unit, and the destination Internet. The mail address of the FAX transceiver 10 is input as the destination mail address. As a result, the destination mail address for facsimile transmission is specified (step S20), and the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 executes a processing operation for selecting a facsimile relay station with the lowest communication charge.

  In the relay station selection process, when the destination is determined by specifying the destination e-mail address, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 searches the history information for the FAX relay station to the facsimile via the Internet, and selects the one with the lowest communication charge. Then, it is determined as a FAX relay station (step S21). The history information here is information related to past communications performed by the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5, and includes information related to each counterpart station with which the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 has communicated so far, Information stored in the storage unit of the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is stored as information for selection of the relay station. Information on the other party's station includes bibliographic items such as the date and time of communication with the other party's station, the name of the other party's station, the IP address, and provider IP phone service provider information, Information regarding whether or not the partner station is a FAX relay station capable of relaying an IP telephone facsimile to another communication network and specifying the relay destination communication network (IP telephone facsimile relay information) Hereinafter referred to as “IP telephone FAX relay information”). Such information can be acquired by the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 by receiving provision of an information notification service in the IP telephone network 3. For example, the IP telephone FAX relay information may be requested to be notified as notification information unique to the facsimile communication system for an information notification service that can be provided by the IP telephone network 3, but is determined in advance for the FAX relay station. By assigning a predetermined name, the IP telephone FAX relay information may be included in the name of the partner station notified by the normal information notification service. Further, the provider information of the FAX relay station in the history information is a standard for specifying a communication fee when the FAX relay station is used for facsimile communication (when used as a FAX relay station that performs relay transmission). The information is notified by the information notification service of the IP telephone network 3, but the provider is the FAX relay station, and the FAX relay station holds the information as its own information.

  The IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 refers to the history information including such information and searches for a FAX relay station capable of relaying the IP telephone facsimile to the facsimile receiving side via the Internet. Then, a FAX relay station for transmitting a facsimile to a designated destination mail address is selected by selecting a FAX relay station having the lowest communication charge from the searched FAX relay stations. As the FAX relay station with the lowest communication charge, the FAX relay station which is the IP telephone service provider subscriber terminal of the same line as the own station (IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5) is selected with the highest priority. The IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 has the provider information of its own station in the storage unit, and the provider information of each FAX relay station found in the history information. Therefore, the provider information of each FAX relay station is stored. Compare with the provider information of the local station, and select the subscriber terminal of the IP telephone service provider of the same series.

  For example, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is a provider B company IP telephone service subscriber terminal, the network terminal 13 a is a provider A company IP telephone service subscriber terminal, and the network terminal 13 b is a provider B company. IP telephone service subscriber terminal, the network terminal 13c is an IP telephone service subscriber terminal of provider C, and the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 according to the second facsimile communication mode. Assuming that the facsimile transmission to has been once performed, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 holds information relating to the network terminal 13b in the history information of the storage unit. Therefore, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 refers to the information and selects the network terminal 13b which is a subscriber terminal of the same IP telephone service provider as the own station, and determines it as a FAX relay station to be used for relaying. (Step S21 above).

  Thus, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 selects a facsimile FAX relay station to be transmitted to the destination Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10, and the selected FAX relay station includes IP telephone FAX data including facsimile image data. The destination mail address is transmitted (step S22. Since the IP address of the selected FAX relay station is in the history information, it is referred to as the destination IP address). The IP telephone FAX data is transmitted according to the IP telephone facsimile communication protocol, but the destination mail address is included in the transmission data according to the IP telephone facsimile communication protocol or according to another communication protocol in the IP telephone network 3. The data is transmitted from the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 to the network terminal 13b of the FAX relay station. FIG. 9 shows a signal flow of each data transmitted / received in this case.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the third facsimile communication mode. The signal flow from the transmission of IP telephone FAX data or the like by the IP telephone FAX transceiver 5 to the facsimile transmission to the Internet FAX transceiver 10 as the final destination is shown. Show. The FAX relay station in the third facsimile communication mode converts IP telephone FAX data into Internet FAX data and relays and transmits the data using the facsimile communication protocol via the Internet (IP telephone FAX data received via the IP telephone network 3). A function of attaching the image data therein to an e-mail and sending a mail by Internet communication). In FIG. 9, such a FAX relay station is shown as “IP telephone FAX / Internet FAX relay station”. The IP telephone FAX / Internet FAX relay station here is provider A company as indicated by reference numerals. Network terminals 13a, 13b and 13c, which are subscriber terminals of Provider B and Provider C, are realized. As shown in the figure, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 transmits a facsimile image to the IP telephone FAX / Internet FAX relay station 13b (network terminal 13b) which is a subscriber terminal of the same IP telephone service provider as the local station. The IP telephone FAX data including the data and the destination mail address are transmitted (step S22 above).

  Thereafter, the network terminal 13b, which is the selected IP telephone FAX / Internet FAX relay station, converts the IP telephone FAX data received from the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 into Internet FAX data. 8 is transmitted to the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 of the destination mail address by the facsimile communication protocol via the Internet (step S23 in FIG. 8). As a result, the facsimile from the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is relayed, and the FAX data via the Internet of the e-mail attached with the image data is received by the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10. The facsimile communication for transmitting a facsimile to the Internet FAX transceiver 10 is completed. Note that the transmission of Internet FAX data from the IP telephone FAX / Internet FAX relay station is performed through the network 1 here, but since it is data communication (mail transmission) according to a facsimile communication protocol via the Internet, the Internet (If the destination is an Internet FAX transmitter / receiver outside the network 1 connected to the Internet, the destination is the Internet. Even if the destination is the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 as described above, the network It is also possible to do it through the Internet instead of 1.)

  In the third facsimile communication mode, facsimile transmission is performed in this way. As a result of comparing the provider information of each FAX relay station found in the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 with the provider information of the own station, the providers are the same. If there is no FAX relay station that is a subscriber terminal of the affiliate, an IP telephone FAX / Internet FAX relay station that can communicate from its own station at the lowest communication charge is selected. In order to select such a FAX relay station, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 uses a communication fee for a subscriber terminal of an IP telephone service provider other than the provider of the subscriber's IP telephone service as information to be used for relay station selection. A communication charge table for other companies indicating that it is free of charge is stored in the storage unit in advance. This communication charge table for other companies is created based on the status of affiliation with other companies of the provider of the IP telephone service of the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5. The example of the alliance status mentioned here is included in the alliance status shown in FIG.

  For example, when the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is a subscriber terminal of provider B, the IP telephone networks of provider B, provider F, and provider G in FIG. Since connection is possible, the communication charge for the subscriber terminal of provider F and the subscriber terminal of provider G is 0 yen in the communication charge table for other companies. Accordingly, when the IP telephone FAX / Internet FAX relay station 13b in FIG. 9 is an IP telephone subscriber terminal of Provider F or Provider G, the network terminal 13b is selected as the FAX relay station as described above. (If the network terminal 13a or 13c, which is a subscriber terminal of another IP telephone service provider, is selected, roaming or the like will be required and the communication fee will increase.) Also, between the IP telephone network of provider B company and the IP telephone network of provider C company, between the IP telephone network of provider B company and the IP telephone network of provider D company via provider's IP telephone network, and provider B The IP telephone network of the company and the IP telephone network of the provider E can be connected to each other for a fee. Is stored in the storage unit.

  As described above, the FAX relay station selection criterion in the third facsimile communication mode is to select the FAX relay station that is a subscriber terminal of the same line as the own station (transmitting side) and the provider, and to select the FAX relay station. If there is not, the FAX relay station with the lowest communication charge is selected with reference to the communication charge table for other companies. As a result, in this facsimile communication system, the FAX relay with the lowest communication fee for transmitting a facsimile via the IP telephone network 3 from the originating side to the facsimile receiving apparatus via the Internet as the final facsimile destination is performed. A station is found and relay transmission is performed.

  9, communication between the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 and the IP telephone FAX / Internet FAX relay station is IP telephone facsimile communication via the IP telephone network 3, Communication between the telephone FAX / Internet FAX relay station and the destination Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 is free high-speed data communication within the network 1 or facsimile communication via the Internet. Thus, it is a part through the IP telephone network 3 that the communication charge becomes a problem. According to the third facsimile communication mode of the facsimile communication system, the FAX relay station has the lowest communication charge when relaying the facsimile transmitted by the IP telephone facsimile communication protocol to the facsimile receiving side via the Internet. Since the same-affiliated provider contract subscriber is used, relay transmission with the lowest communication charge can be realized, and the communication cost of facsimile communication as a whole can be reduced to the minimum. In the relay transmission from the IP telephone facsimile to the facsimile via the Internet, conventionally, the user has to manually set the FAX relay station. According to the third facsimile communication mode of the facsimile communication system, As described above, since the FAX relay station is automatically set to the affiliated provider contract subscriber unit or the like from the history information or the like, the communication fee can be reduced without intentional setting by the user.

  Note that the history information held by the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is information on the partner station that has communicated in the past, and therefore, not only the transmitting station when the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is the receiving side, Information on the receiving station when the telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is the transmitting side is included, and the receiving station is also a candidate for a fax relay station in the subsequent facsimile transmission. Therefore, for example, if the user appropriately sets and performs facsimile transmission including relay from the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 to the facsimile reception side via the Internet, the relayed FAX relay station is also a candidate for the subsequent FAX relay station. Thus, selectable FAX relay stations are added as appropriate according to the user's facsimile usage status.

  Further, as shown in the second and third facsimile communication forms, the FAX relay station that relays the facsimile by facsimile communication between the facsimile via the Internet and the IP telephone facsimile is not limited to the terminal in the network 1. Alternatively, it may be one that communicates with a facsimile transmission / reception device that is outside the network 1 and via the Internet via the Internet. This FAX relay station receives FAX data from the facsimile transmission apparatus via the Internet, converts it into IP telephone FAX data, and relays it to the IP telephone facsimile reception apparatus on the IP telephone network 3 side. A function of receiving IP telephone FAX data from the IP telephone facsimile transmission apparatus via the IP telephone network 3, converting it to FAX data via the Internet, and relaying the data to a facsimile reception apparatus on the Internet side is provided. In addition, it is only necessary to provide information on its own station in response to a request from a facsimile transmission device or the like via the Internet, and it may be appropriately installed in addition to the network terminal 13a and the like.

-4th facsimile communication form As a 4th facsimile communication form, the form which transmits a facsimile from the conventional FAX transmitter-receiver 4 to the internet FAX transmitter-receiver 10 is mentioned. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the fourth facsimile communication mode. The following fourth facsimile communication mode is a communication mode in which the transmission side and the reception side of the first facsimile communication mode are reversed.

  In the fourth facsimile communication mode, since the facsimile is transmitted from the conventional facsimile transmission device to the facsimile reception device via the Internet, the sender operates the input unit in the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 and the destination Internet. The mail address of the FAX transceiver 10 is input as the destination mail address. As a result, the destination mail address for facsimile transmission is designated (step S30), and the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 executes a processing operation for selecting a facsimile relay station with the lowest communication charge.

  In the relay station selection process, when the destination is determined by specifying the destination mail address, the conventional FAX transceiver 4 searches the history information for the FAX relay station to the facsimile via the Internet, and selects the one with the lowest communication charge. Then, it is determined as a FAX relay station (step S31). The history information referred to here is information related to past communication performed by the conventional FAX transceiver 4 and includes information related to each counterpart station with which the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 has communicated so far. It is stored in the storage unit of the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 as information used for relay station selection. Information on the other party's station includes bibliographic items such as the date and time of communication with the other party's station, the name and telephone number of the other party's station. Information relating to relay of a conventional facsimile that indicates whether or not it is a FAX relay station capable of relaying a facsimile to another communication network and specifies the communication network of the relay destination (hereinafter referred to as “conventional FAX relay information”) )). Such information can be acquired by the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 by receiving provision of an information notification service in the PSTN 2. For example, the conventional FAX relay information may be requested to be notified as notification information unique to the facsimile communication system to the information notification service that can be provided by the PSTN 2, but the FAX relay station has a predetermined name. Therefore, the conventional FAX relay information may be included in the name of the partner station notified by the normal information notification service. Further, the telephone number of the FAX relay station in the history information is a standard for specifying the communication fee when the FAX relay station is used for facsimile communication (when used as a FAX relay station for relay transmission). This information is notified by the telephone number notification service of PSTN 2, but the provider is the FAX relay station, and the FAX relay station holds the information as its own station.

  The conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 refers to the history information including such information, and searches for a FAX relay station that can relay the conventional facsimile to the receiving side of the facsimile via the Internet. Then, a FAX relay station for transmitting a facsimile to a designated destination mail address is selected by selecting a FAX relay station having the lowest communication charge from the searched FAX relay stations. Communication from the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 to the FAX relay station is conventional facsimile communication via the PSTN 2, and communication from the FAX relay station to the final destination Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 is facsimile communication via the Internet. The FAX relay station with the lowest communication charge is the FAX relay station closest to the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4. As the nearest FAX relay station, a FAX relay station having the same telephone number as that of the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 and the area code (FAX relay station in the same unit charge area as the own station. May include some local area codes.) The conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 has the telephone number of its own station in the storage unit, and the history information includes the telephone number of each searched FAX relay station. Therefore, the telephone number of each FAX relay station is stored in the history information. Select a fax relay station that has the same area code as the local phone number.

  For example, a conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 is installed in Tokyo, an Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 is installed in Osaka Prefecture, a network terminal 11a is installed in Fukuoka Prefecture, and a network terminal 11b is installed in Tokyo. Within the unit charge area where the area code is the same as that of the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4, the network terminal 11c is installed in the state of Hawaii, USA, and the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 10 from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 is used. Assuming that the facsimile transmission to the FAX transmitter / receiver 4 has been performed once, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 holds information regarding the network terminal 11b in the history information of the storage unit. Accordingly, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 refers to the information, selects the network terminal 11b having the same area code as the local station, and determines it as a FAX relay station to be used for relay (step S31).

  Thus, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 selects a facsimile FAX relay station to be transmitted to the destination Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10, and the selected FAX relay station includes the conventional FAX data including facsimile image data. The destination mail address is transmitted (step S32. Since the telephone number of the selected FAX relay station has already been referred to from the history information, it is set as the destination telephone number). Transmission of conventional FAX data is performed according to a conventional facsimile communication protocol, but the destination mail address is included in the transmission data according to the conventional facsimile communication protocol, or is transmitted data according to another communication protocol in PSTN2. Or the like from the conventional FAX transceiver 4 to the network terminal 11b of the FAX relay station. FIG. 11 shows a signal flow of each data transmitted / received in this case.

  FIG. 11 is an example of a fourth facsimile communication mode, and shows a signal flow from transmission of conventional FAX data or the like by the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 to facsimile transmission to the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 which is the final destination. Show. The FAX relay station in the fourth facsimile communication mode converts the conventional FAX data into Internet FAX data, and relays and transmits it by the facsimile communication protocol via the Internet (the image in the conventional FAX data received via PSTN 2). A function of attaching data to an e-mail and sending an e-mail by Internet communication). In FIG. 11, such a FAX relay station is shown as “conventional FAX / Internet FAX relay station”, but the conventional FAX / Internet FAX relay station here is in Fukuoka Prefecture as indicated by reference numerals, respectively. Network terminals 11a, 11b, and 11c in Tokyo and Hawaii, USA are realized. As shown in the figure, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 includes facsimile image data with respect to a conventional FAX / Internet FAX relay station 11b (network terminal 11b) in Tokyo having the same area code as the local station. The conventional FAX data and the destination mail address are transmitted (step S32 above).

  Thereafter, the selected network terminal 11b, which is a conventional FAX / Internet FAX relay station, converts the conventional FAX data received from the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 into Internet FAX data. 10 is transmitted to the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 of the destination mail address by the facsimile communication protocol via the Internet (step S33 in FIG. 10). As a result, the facsimile from the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 is relayed, and the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 receives the Internet FAX data of the electronic mail attached with the image data, and the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 4 transmits / receives the Internet FAX. The facsimile communication for transmitting the facsimile to the machine 10 is completed. Note that transmission of Internet FAX data from a conventional FAX / Internet FAX relay station is performed through the network 1 here, but since data communication (mail transmission) is performed according to a facsimile communication protocol via the Internet, the Internet (If the destination is an Internet FAX transmitter / receiver outside the network 1 connected to the Internet, the destination is the Internet. Even if the destination is the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 as described above, the network It is also possible to do it through the Internet instead of 1.)

  In the fourth facsimile communication mode, facsimile transmission is performed in this way. As a result of comparing the telephone number of each FAX relay station found and the area code of the local telephone number in the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4, If there is no fax relay station where the local phone number and the area code match, between the unit charge area corresponding to the searched telephone number of each fax relay station and the unit charge area corresponding to the local telephone number The distance is calculated. Then, by selecting the FAX relay station having the shortest distance between the calculated unit charge areas, the FAX relay station closest to the own station is selected.

  For this reason, in the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4, as with the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 in the first facsimile communication mode, each unit fee area, a telephone number in each unit fee area, and A unit fee area table in which the coordinates of each unit fee area are associated with each other is stored in the storage unit in advance. An example of the unit fee area table mentioned here is the same as that shown in FIG.

  If there is no fax relay station where the local phone number and the area code match, the conventional fax transmitter / receiver 4 refers to the unit charge area table held and corresponds to the telephone number of each fax relay station found. The coordinates of the unit charge area to be searched and the coordinates of the unit charge area corresponding to the local telephone number are searched. Then, based on the retrieved coordinates, the distance between the unit charge areas with the own station is calculated for each FAX relay station by the same formula as the above equation (1). As a result, the distance between the unit charge areas of each FAX relay station and the own station is calculated, the FAX relay station having the smallest value of the distance between the unit charge areas is searched, and the closest FAX relay station is selected.

  However, as described above, the communication charge of PSTN 2 may be different for each region, and there may be a plurality of FAX relay stations having the shortest unit charge area distance. Therefore, in the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4, as in the case of the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 in the first facsimile communication mode, the information on the PSTN 2 communication fee determined by the communication carrier is further provided as information to be used for relay station selection. A communication charge table associated with an external station number or unit charge area is stored in the storage unit in advance.

  As a result, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 refers to the communication charge table as appropriate, and selects a conventional FAX / Internet FAX relay station that can transmit conventional FAX data from the local station as the FAX relay station with the cheapest communication charge. To do. For example, if there is no FAX relay station whose local telephone number and area code match, and there are multiple FAX relay stations with the shortest unit charge area distance, refer to the communication charge table and set the FAX relay stations On the other hand, the communication charges for facsimile transmission from the own station are specified and compared, and the one with the lowest communication charge is set as the FAX relay station.

  As described above, the FAX relay station selection criteria in the fourth facsimile communication mode are selected with the highest priority from the FAX relay station in which the telephone number of the local station (conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4) matches the area code. If there is no relay station, select the FAX relay station with the shortest distance between unit charge areas with the own station. If there are multiple FAX relay stations with the shortest distance between unit charge areas, refer to the communication charge table for communication. The fax relay station with the lowest cost is selected. As a result, in this facsimile communication system, a FAX relay station that is closest to the transmission source in terms of distance and that has the lowest communication charge at PSTN 2 is searched for and relay transmission is performed.

  As shown in the lower part of FIG. 11, the communication between the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 and the conventional FAX / Internet FAX relay station is a conventional facsimile communication via PSTN 2, and the conventional FAX / Communication between the Internet FAX relay station and the destination Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 is free high-speed data communication in the network 1 or high-speed data communication via the Internet, or facsimile communication via the Internet. The communication fee is charged through PSTN2. According to the fourth facsimile communication mode of the present facsimile communication system, a facsimile transmitted via a conventional facsimile communication protocol is relayed to the facsimile receiving side via the Internet. Effective use of communication and minimizing the part via PSTN2, relay transmission with the lowest communication charge can be realized, and communication cost of facsimile communication as a whole can be reduced to the minimum Can do. In the relay transmission from the conventional facsimile to the facsimile via the Internet, conventionally, the user has to manually set the FAX relay station. According to the fourth facsimile communication mode of the facsimile communication system, As described above, since the FAX relay station with the lowest communication charge is automatically set based on the history information or the like, the communication charge can be reduced without intentional setting by the user.

  Here, the distance between the unit charge areas can be a universal index for judging the level of the communication charge as described above, and this facsimile communication system gives priority to the index and the same area code as the local station. The FAX relay station when there is no FAX relay station is determined. Thus, in this facsimile communication system, even if there is no FAX relay station with the same area code as the local station, in many cases, it is not necessary to refer to the communication charge table, and the FAX relay station with the lowest communication charge is not required. The communication cost can be reduced even if there is a change in the communication charge determined by the communication carrier.

  The history information held by the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 is information related to the partner station that has communicated in the past, so that not only the transmitting station when the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 is the receiving side but also the existing station. Information about the receiving station when the incoming FAX transmitter / receiver 4 is the transmitting side is included, and the receiving station is also a candidate for a FAX relay station in the subsequent facsimile transmission. Therefore, for example, if the user appropriately sets and performs facsimile transmission including relay from the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 to the facsimile receiving side via the Internet, the relayed FAX relay station is also a candidate for the subsequent FAX relay station. Thus, selectable FAX relay stations are added as appropriate according to the user's facsimile usage status.

  The fourth facsimile communication mode described above can also be applied to a case where a facsimile is transmitted from a conventional facsimile transmitter / receiver outside Japan to the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 11, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 is installed in the state of Hawaii in the United States, and facsimile transmission from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 to the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 is performed in the first facsimile communication mode. Once it has been performed, the conventional FAX / Internet FAX relay station 11c in the same state of Hawaii is selected by selecting the FAX relay station with reference to the history information. As a result, the conventional FAX data is transmitted from the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 through the PSTN 2 to the conventional FAX / Internet FAX relay station 11c, and the Internet within the Osaka prefecture through the network 1 or the Internet from the conventional FAX / Internet FAX relay station 11c. Since Internet FAX data is transmitted to the FAX transmitter / receiver 10, the communication charge can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where facsimile transmission is performed from the US to Japan through an international telephone line. However, when performing facsimile communication with a foreign country in this way, information on the telephone number including the country code is handled.

  Further, as shown in the first and fourth facsimile communication forms, the FAX relay station that relays the facsimile by facsimile communication between the facsimile via the Internet and the conventional facsimile is not limited to the terminal in the network 1. Alternatively, it may be one that communicates with a facsimile transmission / reception device that is outside the network 1 and via the Internet. This FAX relay station receives Internet FAX data via the Internet from a facsimile transmission device via the Internet, converts it into conventional FAX data, relays it to the conventional facsimile reception device on the PSTN 2 side, It has a function of receiving conventional FAX data from a conventional facsimile transmission device via PSTN2, converting it to Internet FAX data, and relaying and transmitting it to a facsimile reception device via the Internet on the Internet side. Any device may be used as long as it can provide information on the local station in response to a request from a facsimile transmission device or the like, and may be installed as appropriate in addition to the network terminal 11a.

Fifth Facsimile Communication Mode A fifth facsimile communication mode includes a mode in which a facsimile is transmitted from the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 to the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4.

  In the fifth facsimile communication mode, since the facsimile is transmitted from the IP telephone facsimile transmission apparatus to the conventional facsimile reception apparatus, the sender operates the input unit in the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5, and the conventional FAX as the destination. The telephone number of the transceiver 4 is input as the destination telephone number. As in the first facsimile communication mode, this destination telephone number is entered with an area code (when a destination telephone number without an area code is entered, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is in the immediate vicinity. It may be determined in advance that a certain fax relay station or the like is selected.) As a result, the destination telephone number including the area code for facsimile transmission is designated, and the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 executes a processing operation of selecting a facsimile relay station that reduces the communication fee.

  In the relay station selection process, when the destination is determined by specifying the destination telephone number, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 searches for a FAX relay station from the history information to the conventional facsimile, selects the one with the lower communication charge, and selects the FAX. Decide on a relay station. The history information here is the history information that the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 has in the storage unit in the third facsimile communication mode. In this facsimile communication mode, the IP telephone facsimile is referred to by referring to the history information. Is searched for a FAX relay station capable of relaying to the receiving side of the conventional facsimile. Examples of such FAX relay stations include the network terminal 12 and other FAX relay stations 6a and 6b. Among them, the FAX relay station with which the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 has communicated in the past is the IP terminal. Since the address, provider information, IP telephone FAX relay information, and the like are included in the history information, they are searched for as candidates for a FAX relay station. The IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 selects a FAX relay station with a low communication charge from the searched FAX relay stations. In this facsimile communication mode, when selecting the FAX relay station, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 selects the FAX relay station. Consider both the communication fee of the IP telephone network 3 when the machine 5 transmits a facsimile to each FAX relay station and the communication fee of the PSTN 2 when each FAX relay station transmits a facsimile to the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4. There is a need.

In this case, for example, the following can be cited as a selection criterion for the FAX relay station. Note that the candidate FAX relay station is a FAX relay station having a telephone number connected to PSTN 2 as well, so that the telephone number is included in the history information as part of IP telephone FAX relay information or information accompanying it. To be included.
(1) The FAX relay station whose provider (IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5) and provider are the same series of FAX relay stations and whose destination telephone number and area code are the same is selected with the highest priority.
(2) If there are a plurality of FAX relay stations of the same station and provider, and there is no FAX relay station having the same destination telephone number and area code, among the plurality of FAX relay stations, The FAX relay station with the shortest distance between unit charge areas is selected, and when there are a plurality of such FAX relay stations, the one with the lower PSTN communication charge is selected.
(3) If there is no FAX relay station of the same station as the local station and the provider, the FAX relay station can communicate from the local station at a low communication charge and has the same destination telephone number and area code. When there is no FAX relay station having the same destination telephone number and area code, the FAX relay station having the shortest distance between the destination and the unit charge area is selected. When there are a plurality of such FAX relay stations, PSTN2 communication is performed. Choose the cheaper one.
(4) When the local station and the provider are the same series of FAX relay stations, and there is no FAX relay station with the same destination telephone number and area code (when the above (1) cannot be selected), The FAX relay station with the lowest total communication charge between the IP telephone network 3 and the PSTN 2 is selected. For example, there is a fax relay station where the local station and the provider are the same, but the destination telephone number and the area code are different, and another fax relay station where the local station and the provider are different but the destination telephone number and the area code are the same. Yes, when the other FAX relay station has a lower total communication fee, the other FAX relay station is selected.

  The IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 determines a FAX relay station selection rule in advance in consideration of such selection criteria, and selects a FAX relay station according to the predetermined selection rule. For this reason, in the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5, as the information used for selecting the relay station, the provider-IP address table, the unit charge area table, the communication charge table, the communication charge table for other companies, and the communication charge table for other companies are used. Etc. are stored in the storage unit as necessary. Then, based on the information of each FAX relay station in the table and the history information, the one selected from the found FAX relay stations is determined as the FAX relay station to be used for relaying.

  As a result, the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 selects a facsimile FAX relay station to be transmitted to the destination FAX transmitter / receiver 4, and IP telephone FAX data including facsimile image data in the selected FAX relay station. And send the destination phone number. Thereafter, the selected FAX relay station converts the IP telephone FAX data received from the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 into conventional FAX data, and the image data in the IP telephone FAX data is transmitted to the conventional facsimile via PSTN 2. It transmits to the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 of the destination telephone number by the protocol. As a result, the facsimile from the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is relayed, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 receives the conventional FAX data including the image data, and the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 from the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5. Facsimile communication for transmitting a facsimile to is terminated.

  In the fifth facsimile communication mode, as described above, a FAX relay station is selected according to a predetermined selection rule in consideration of the communication charges of the IP telephone network 3 and PSTN 2, and a facsimile transmitted by the IP telephone facsimile communication protocol is selected. It is relayed and transmitted to the receiving side of a conventional facsimile at a low communication fee. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the communication cost of the facsimile communication for transmitting the facsimile from the IP telephone facsimile transmission apparatus to the conventional facsimile reception apparatus.

Sixth Facsimile Communication Mode As a sixth facsimile communication mode, there is a mode in which a facsimile is transmitted from the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 to the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5. The following sixth facsimile communication mode is a communication mode in which the transmission side and the reception side of the fifth facsimile communication mode are reversed.

  In the sixth facsimile communication mode, since the facsimile is transmitted from the conventional facsimile transmission device to the IP telephone facsimile reception device, the sender operates the input unit in the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4, and the destination IP phone FAX. The IP address of the transceiver 5 is input as the destination IP address. As a result, the destination IP address of the facsimile transmission is designated, and the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 executes a processing operation for selecting a facsimile relay station that reduces the communication fee.

  In the relay station selection process, when the destination is determined by specifying the destination IP address, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 searches for the FAX relay station from the history information to the IP telephone facsimile, selects the one with the lowest communication charge, and then selects the FAX. Decide on a relay station. The history information here is the history information that the conventional FAX transceiver 4 has in the storage unit in the fourth facsimile communication mode, but in this facsimile communication mode, the conventional facsimile is referred to the history information. Is searched for a FAX relay station capable of relaying to the receiving side of the IP telephone facsimile. Examples of such FAX relay stations include the network terminal 12 and other FAX relay stations 6a and 6b. Among them, the FAX relay station with which the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 has communicated in the past is the telephone. Since the number, the conventional fax relay information, etc. are in the history information, it is searched for as a fax relay station candidate. The conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 selects a FAX relay station with a low communication charge from the searched FAX relay stations. In this facsimile communication mode, when selecting the FAX relay station, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 selects the FAX relay station. Consider both the PSTN 2 communication charge when the machine 4 transmits a facsimile to each FAX relay station and the IP telephone network 3 communication charge when each FAX relay station transmits a facsimile to the IP telephone FAX transceiver 5. There is a need.

In this case, for example, the following can be cited as a selection criterion for the FAX relay station. The candidate FAX relay stations here are also connected to the IP telephone network 3 as subscriber terminals (or gateways, etc.) of specific IP telephone service providers, and have an IP address and provider information. Therefore, the IP address and provider information are included in the history information as a part of the conventional FAX relay information or information accompanying it.
(1) A FAX relay station having a telephone number having the same area code as that of the own station (conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4) and having the same provider as the destination (IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5). Is given the highest priority.
(2) In the case where there are a plurality of FAX relay stations having the same telephone number as the local station and the same area code, when there is no FAX relay station having the same destination and provider, the cheaper of the plurality of FAX relay stations. Select a fax relay station that can communicate with the destination for a communication fee.
(3) If there is no FAX relay station with the same phone number as the local station number, the FAX relay station with the shortest distance between the own station and the unit charge area, and the same destination and provider If a fax relay station of the affiliated group is selected and there is no fax relay station of the same party as the destination and the provider, the fax relay station having the shortest distance between unit charge areas that can communicate with the destination at a low communication fee is selected. When there are a plurality of such FAX relay stations with the shortest distance between unit charge areas, the one with the lower PSTN communication charge is selected.
(4) If it is a fax relay station with a telephone number that has the same area code as the local station, and there is no fax relay station with the same destination and provider (when the above (1) cannot be selected) The FAX relay station with the lowest total communication charge between the PSTN 2 and the IP telephone network 3 is selected. For example, there is a FAX relay station that has the same area code as its own station but has a different destination and provider, and another FAX relay station that has a different area code from its own station but has the same destination and provider. When the total amount of communication charges is lower in another FAX relay station, the other FAX relay station is selected.

  In the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4, in consideration of such selection criteria, a FAX relay station selection rule is determined in advance, and a FAX relay station is selected according to the predetermined selection rule. For this reason, in the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4, the provider-IP address table, the unit charge area table, the communication charge table, the communication charge table for other companies, and the communication charge table for other companies are used as information for selecting relay stations. Etc. are stored in the storage unit as necessary. Then, based on the information of each FAX relay station in the table and the history information, the one selected from the found FAX relay stations is determined as the FAX relay station to be used for relaying.

  As a result, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 selects a facsimile FAX relay station to be transmitted to the destination IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5, and the conventional FAX data including facsimile image data in the selected FAX relay station. And the destination IP address. Thereafter, the selected FAX relay station converts the conventional FAX data received from the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 into IP telephone FAX data, and the image data in the conventional FAX data is transferred to the IP telephone through the IP telephone network 3. The data is transmitted to the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 having the destination IP address by a facsimile communication protocol. As a result, the facsimile from the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 is relayed, and the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 receives the IP telephone FAX data including the image data, and the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 receives the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5. Facsimile communication for transmitting a facsimile to is terminated.

  In the sixth facsimile communication mode, as described above, a FAX relay station is selected according to a predetermined selection rule in consideration of communication charges between the PSTN 2 and the IP telephone network 3, and a facsimile transmitted by a conventional facsimile communication protocol is selected. It is relayed and transmitted to the receiving side of the IP telephone facsimile at a low communication charge. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the communication cost of facsimile communication for transmitting a facsimile from a conventional facsimile transmission device to an IP telephone facsimile reception device.

  In the facsimile communication system, the facsimile communication between the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10, the conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 and the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 is as described above. Facsimile communication can be performed in the same manner as described above for the transmission / reception apparatus and the IP telephone facsimile transmission / reception apparatus. In addition, the facsimile transmission by the above-described facsimile communication mode can be applied to a case where a facsimile is transmitted to a plurality of destinations. An appropriate FAX relay station that relays and broadcasts a facsimile to a plurality of destinations is selected. Communication costs can also be reduced.

  In the above-described facsimile communication mode, a facsimile relay station is selected with priority given to reducing communication charges. However, considering the characteristics of each communication network, for example, the communication speed in each communication network is also considered. In addition, the criteria for selecting a relay station may be determined. Further, the facsimile communication as described above can be applied to voice communication between an Internet phone, a conventional phone, and an IP phone.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a first facsimile communication mode in which a facsimile is transmitted from the Internet FAX transceiver 10 to a conventional FAX transceiver 4. It is the figure which showed the flow of the signal of the transmission / reception data in an example of the said 1st facsimile communication form. It is the figure which showed an example of the unit charge area table of PSTN2. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a second facsimile communication mode in which a facsimile is transmitted from the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10 to the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5; It is the figure which showed the flow of the signal of the transmission / reception data in an example of the said 2nd facsimile communication form. It is a figure showing an example of the alliance status with the other company of each IP telephone service provider. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a third facsimile communication mode in which a facsimile is transmitted from the IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 5 to the Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10. It is the figure which showed the flow of the signal of the transmission / reception data in an example of the said 3rd facsimile communication form. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a fourth facsimile communication mode in which a facsimile is transmitted from a conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 4 to an Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 10. It is the figure which showed the flow of the signal of the transmission / reception data in an example of the said 4th facsimile communication form.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network 2 PSTN
3 IP telephone network 4 Conventional FAX transmitter / receiver 5 IP telephone FAX transmitter / receiver 6a, 6b Other FAX relay station 10 Internet FAX transmitter / receiver 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, 13a, 13b, 13c Network terminal (FAX relay station)

Claims (11)

A facsimile transmission device for transmitting a facsimile having a communication protocol different from that of a facsimile via the Internet;
An Internet facsimile receiving device for receiving facsimiles via the Internet;
A plurality of facsimile relay devices that receive a facsimile via a communication network to which the facsimile transmission device is connected, convert the facsimile to a facsimile via the Internet, and relay-transmit to the Internet facsimile receiving device;
The facsimile transmission device has communicated in the past based on communication history information including information for identifying a communication partner station in the past corresponding to the facsimile relay device and information for specifying a communication fee with the communication partner station. Selecting a facsimile relay apparatus capable of facsimile transmission at the lowest communication charge from among the facsimile relay apparatuses, and transmitting a facsimile addressed to the Internet facsimile receiver to the selected facsimile relay apparatus;
The facsimile relay apparatus receives and relays the facsimile, and transmits the facsimile to the Internet / facsimile receiver. The facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein
The communication network is an IP telephone network, and each of the facsimile transmission apparatus and the plurality of facsimile relay apparatuses is connected to an IP telephone network;
The facsimile transmission device uses provider information for specifying a provider of an IP telephone service of each of the facsimile transmission device and the facsimile relay device that has communicated in the past as information serving as the specific reference, and the IP telephone from the facsimile transmission device. A facsimile communication system in which a facsimile relay apparatus with the lowest communication charge on the network is selected as the facsimile relay apparatus. 3. The facsimile communication system according to claim 2, wherein a facsimile relay device of the same series as the facsimile transmission device and the provider is a facsimile relay device having the lowest communication charge on the IP telephone network. The facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein
The communication network is a public telephone network, and each of the facsimile transmission apparatus and the plurality of facsimile relay apparatuses is connected to a public telephone network;
The facsimile transmission device uses the telephone numbers of the facsimile transmission device and the facsimile relay device that has communicated in the past as information to be the specific reference, and the facsimile relay device closest to the facsimile transmission device is designated as the facsimile relay device. Select the facsimile communication system. 5. The facsimile communication system according to claim 4, wherein a facsimile relay apparatus having the same area code as the facsimile transmission apparatus is a facsimile relay apparatus closest to the facsimile transmission apparatus. 5. The facsimile communication system according to claim 4, wherein a facsimile relay apparatus having a shortest distance between the facsimile transmission apparatus and a unit charge area is a facsimile relay apparatus closest to the facsimile transmission apparatus. Each of the plurality of facsimile relay devices, when communicating with the facsimile transmission device, notifies information indicating that each corresponds to a facsimile relay device and information serving as the specific criteria,
The said facsimile transmission apparatus acquires the information which specifies the said communication other party station, and the information used as the said specific reference | standard by the notification from the facsimile relay apparatus which communicated, The information in any one of Claims 1-6 Facsimile communication system. The facsimile communication system according to claim 2,
A facsimile receiver connected to a public telephone network and receiving a facsimile;
A plurality of other facsimile relay devices for relaying facsimile between the IP telephone network and the public telephone network;
Among the facsimile relay devices, for the other facsimile relay devices, information that serves as a specific standard of communication charges for communication of the other facsimile relay device with the facsimile receiving device is added to the information that serves as the specific standard,
The facsimile transmission apparatus is capable of performing facsimile transmission to a facsimile relay apparatus and relay transmission to the facsimile reception apparatus at a low communication charge from among facsimile relay apparatuses that have communicated in the past based on the history information. Send a facsimile addressed to the selected facsimile relay device to the selected facsimile relay device,
The selected facsimile relay apparatus receives and relays the facsimile, and transmits the facsimile to the facsimile receiving apparatus. The facsimile communication system according to claim 4,
A facsimile receiver connected to the IP telephone network and receiving a facsimile;
A plurality of other facsimile relay devices for relaying facsimile between the public telephone network and the IP telephone network;
Among the facsimile relay devices, for the other facsimile relay devices, information that serves as a specific standard of communication charges for communication of the other facsimile relay device with the facsimile receiving device is added to the information that serves as the specific standard,
The facsimile transmission apparatus is capable of performing facsimile transmission to a facsimile relay apparatus and relay transmission to the facsimile reception apparatus at a low communication charge from among facsimile relay apparatuses that have communicated in the past based on the history information. Send a facsimile addressed to the selected facsimile relay device to the selected facsimile relay device,
The selected facsimile relay apparatus receives and relays the facsimile, and transmits the facsimile to the facsimile receiving apparatus. A facsimile transmission device that transmits a facsimile having a different communication protocol from the Internet facsimile,
An input means for inputting a receiving device that receives a facsimile via the Internet as a destination;
A plurality of facsimile relay apparatuses that receive a facsimile, convert it into a facsimile via the Internet, and relay-transmit it to the receiving apparatus. Among the facsimile relay apparatuses with which the facsimile transmission apparatus has communicated in the past, the facsimile transmission apparatus The communication relay information including the information specifying the past communication partner station corresponding to the facsimile relay device and the information for specifying the communication charge with the communication partner station is used as the facsimile relay device with the lowest communication charge from Selection processing means to select based on,
A facsimile transmission apparatus that transmits a facsimile addressed to the reception apparatus to the selected facsimile relay apparatus. A facsimile relay apparatus that receives a facsimile having a different communication protocol from a facsimile via the Internet, converts the facsimile to a facsimile via the Internet, and relays and transmits the facsimile to a facsimile reception apparatus via the Internet,
Information indicating that the facsimile relay device corresponds to a facsimile relay device to the receiving device when communicating with a transmission device that transmits a facsimile, and a specification standard for a communication fee from the transmission device to the facsimile relay device; Information to the transmitting device,
A facsimile relay device that relays and transmits a facsimile to the receiving device when a facsimile addressed to the receiving device is received from the transmitting device.

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