JP2007013239A - Network facsimile system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network facsimile system in which a time required for display of telephone directory data can be shortened and the telephone directory data can be newly registered easily. <P>SOLUTION: If a Post command of HTTP received from a client personal computer (PC) is a request of displaying telephone directory data, telephone directory information of only abbreviated numbers having registered destination information is extracted from a telephone directory information management section of a network board (steps 101-107). Then the extracted telephone directory information is transferred to the PC (step 108). As described above, since the telephone directory information of only the abbreviated numbers having registered destination information is transmitted to the PC and displayed, and the information of abbreviated numbers having unregistered destination information is not displayed, the required for display can be shortened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus connected to a terminal device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) via a communication network such as a LAN. In particular, the present invention transmits destination information to the terminal device or new destination information from the terminal device. The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus capable of registering.

  Recently, facsimile systems have spread in offices and the like, and play a useful role in data communication. Such a system is configured, for example, by connecting a network facsimile apparatus or a terminal device so-called client personal computer through a communication network such as a LAN. The network facsimile apparatus transfers the received data to the client personal computer. When the data specifying the transfer destination is received from the client personal computer, the received data is transmitted to the specified transfer destination.

On the other hand, the network facsimile apparatus includes a network board having a web browser function, and registers destination information such as a destination fax number and a destination email address as a phone book from the web browser screen of the terminal device to the network board. The telephone directory of the network board is called to display the destination information on the display unit of the terminal device, and a desired destination can be selected from the displayed destination information so that transmission can be performed (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).
JP-A-11-205569

As described above, in the conventional network facsimile apparatus, the phone book data can be registered on the network board. However, thousands of phone book data can be registered in this phone book, and a shortened number is assigned to each data. ing. And when displaying the phone book data on the terminal device, the unregistered abbreviated number is also displayed, so it takes time to display, and in order to display the desired data, "next page" many times on the display screen There was a problem that display operation had to be performed.
In addition, when newly registering phone book data, it is necessary to confirm an available abbreviated number and register the new data in the abbreviated number, resulting in a troublesome registration.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network facsimile apparatus capable of shortening the time required for displaying phone book data and easily registering new phone book data. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a network facsimile apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a network facsimile apparatus connected to a terminal device via a communication network, and stores telephone directory data consisting of destination information and a registration number. And a control means for transmitting, to the terminal device, phone book information of only numbers for which destination information has been registered when an instruction to display phone book information is given from the terminal device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the network facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, the registration number is designated when a new registration instruction is issued from the terminal device to the telephone directory storage means. If not, the control means registers the destination information input to the smallest available registration number.

  Furthermore, the network facsimile apparatus of the invention according to claim 3 is the network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the telephone directory storage means stores shared telephone directory data and individual telephone directory data. The personal phone book data is displayed below the shared phone book data when the phone book information is displayed.

  According to the network facsimile apparatus of the first aspect of the invention, when the phone book information display is instructed from the terminal device, the phone book information of only the number for which the destination information is registered is displayed on the terminal device, and the destination information is not registered. Since the phone book information of the number is not displayed, the time required for display can be shortened and desired phone book data can be easily obtained.

According to the network facsimile apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, when a new registration instruction for telephone directory data is issued from the terminal device, if the registration number is not specified, the smallest available number is entered. The registered address information is registered, so that it is not necessary to check a free registration number, and the telephone book data can be easily registered.
Further, according to the network facsimile apparatus of the invention of claim 3, since the personal phone book data is displayed below the shared phone book data when the phone book information is displayed, the necessary phone book data can be easily displayed. it can.

  An embodiment in which the network facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied to a network multifunction device will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration example of a system including a network multifunction device, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the network multifunction device.

  In the network configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1, 1 is a network multifunction device, 2, 3, 4... Are personal computers, 5 is a public switched telephone network (PSTN), 6 is a LAN (Local Area Network), and 7 is an Internet network. is there. The network multifunction device 1 has functions of a copy mode, a printer mode, and a fax mode, and also has a mail transmission function, and is connected to the PSTN 5 and the LAN 6, and a plurality of personal computers 2, 3, 4,.・ ・ Is connected. The LAN 6 is also connected to the Internet network 7, and the network MFP 1 can send and receive mail via the Internet network 7.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the network multifunction device 1. As shown in the figure, the network multifunction device 1 has a CPU 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, and a display. An operation unit 14, a reading unit 15, an image memory 16, a recording unit 17, a codec 18, a modem 19, a network control unit NCU 20, a network board 21 and a LAN interface (I / F) 22 are configured. Connected.

  The CPU 11 controls each part of the hardware of the network multifunction peripheral 1 via the bus 23 and executes various programs based on the programs stored in the ROM 12. The ROM 12 performs various programs and operations necessary for the operation of the network multifunction peripheral. Operation messages and the like are stored in advance. The RAM 13 is composed of an SRAM or the like and stores temporary data generated when the program is executed.

  The display / operation unit 14 includes a display unit that displays an operation state of the network multifunction peripheral or displays an operation screen for various functions, and a plurality of keys for operating the network multifunction peripheral. An original document reading table such as an auto document feeder (ADF) or a flatbed scanner (FBS) is provided, and the original is read by a scanner using a CCD or the like, and dot image data is output.

  The image memory 16 is configured by using a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted or received image data or image data read by the reading unit 15, and a recording unit 17 is a printer device such as an electrophotographic system. The received data, copy original data, or print data transmitted from an external personal computer is printed out.

  The codec 18 encodes and decodes in accordance with a predetermined protocol. In order to transmit the image data of the read original, the codec 18 is encoded by the MH, MR, or MMR method, and decodes image data received from the outside. Also, encoding and decoding are also performed in correspondence with the TIFF method, which is an image format generally used as a file that can be attached to an e-mail.

  The modem 19 is connected to the bus 23 and has a function as a fax modem capable of facsimile communication. The modem 19 is also connected to the NCU 20 connected to the bus 23. The NCU 20 is hardware that closes and opens an analog line, and connects the modem 19 to the PSTN 5 as necessary.

The network board 21 stores destination information such as a fax number and a mail address input from a monitor screen of the personal computer 2, 3, 4, or the like or an operation unit of the display / operation unit 14, and an operation from the network multifunction peripheral 1 main body. Stores and saves images such as fax transmission images, scanned images, and fax / mail received delivery images.
The LAN interface 22 is connected to the LAN 6 and receives signals from the Internet network 7 while transmitting signals and data to the LAN 6 and executes interface processing such as signal conversion and protocol conversion.

  The network multifunction device 1 has the above-described configuration. During facsimile transmission, document image data is read by the reading unit 15, compressed by the codec 18, and stored in the image memory 16. The compressed image data is read from the image memory 16, modulated by the modem 19, and transmitted from the NCU 20 to the communication partner through the PSTN 5. At the time of facsimile reception, the received image data is demodulated by the modem 19, stored in the image memory 16, decoded by the codec 18, and printed by the recording unit 17.

  On the other hand, as shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 3, the network board 21 includes a TCP / IP protocol control unit 31, an HTTPD control unit 32, a home page management unit 33, a document management unit 34, and a telephone directory information management unit 35. Each of these components includes a CPU, a ROM, a memory such as a RAM, and a magnetic disk (hard disk) storage device.

The TCP / IP protocol control unit 31 controls TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol), and the HTTPD control unit 32 uses the data stream transfer function of the TCP / IP protocol control unit 31 to perform HTTPD (Hyper Text Transfer). Protocol Deamon) function is executed, and requests from WWW (World Wide Web) browsers such as personal computers 2, 3, 4 are processed.
Note that HTTPPD is a daemon that provides the functions of an HTTP server, and is used when a web server is operated on a UNIX (registered trademark) operating system.

In addition, the homepage management unit 33 outputs a homepage file to the HTTPD control unit 32 in response to a homepage request from the HTTPD control unit 32, and the document management unit 34 scans a fax transmission document, a scan by an operation from the network multifunction peripheral 1 main body. Documents such as documents, fax / mail received delivery documents, etc. are stored / saved, and the list information of the saved documents is converted into HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format files in response to a request from the HTTP PD control unit 32. Information output to the control unit 32 and input from the HTTPD control unit 32 is analyzed, and processing such as transfer and deletion of stored documents is performed.
Further, the telephone directory information management unit 35 stores and manages destination information such as a fax number and a mail address input from the monitor screen of the personal computers 2, 3, 4, etc. or the operation unit of the display / operation unit 14.

In this network system, the user can browse the telephone directory data registered in the telephone directory information management unit 35 of the network board 21 of the network multifunction peripheral 1 from the personal computers 2, 3, 4, etc. The operation when the user browses the phone book data will be described.
For example, when the user starts the WWW browser and performs access by designating the IP address of the network MFP 1 on the WWW browser screen displayed on the monitor screen of the personal computer 2, the HTTPD control unit 32 of the network board 21 performs this access. The homepage file described in HTML is read from the homepage management unit 33 and transferred to the personal computer 2 via the TCP / IP protocol control unit 31, the LAN interface 22, and the LAN6.

When the user selects and instructs to display the phone book data from this home page, the phone book data display request is transferred to the network multifunction device 1 via the LAN 6, and the HTTPD control unit 32 of the network board 21 detects this. .
Hereinafter, the operation of the network board 21 when this telephone directory data display request is received will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The HTTPPD control unit 32 of the network board 21 always executes the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, and receives an HTTP Post command from the personal computers 2, 3, 4, etc. via the TCP / IP protocol control unit 31. Whether or not (step 101). For example, if it is determined that an HTTP Post command has been received from the personal computer 2, the HTTP PD control unit 32 stores the IP address and port number of the transmission source in a storage unit (not shown) (step 102) and then receives the HTTP post command. It is determined whether or not the Post command is a display request for telephone directory data (step 103).

  Note that the Post command is one of the commands used to send the content described in the HTML form to the web server. When Post is specified, the content described in the form does not appear directly in the URL. Long data that does not fall within the limits can be transmitted, and the transmitted content does not touch the user's eyes or remain as a history.

If it is determined that the received Post command is not a phone book data display request, the HTTPD control unit 32 performs other processing (step 104). If it is determined that the request is a phone book data display request, the phone book information management is performed. It is determined whether or not there is a telephone book registration area in the unit 35 (step 105). If it is determined that there is no telephone book registration area, an error is notified by notifying the personal computer 2 that the telephone book is not registered. A response is made (step 106).
On the other hand, when it is determined in step 105 that there is a telephone book registration area, the HTTPD control unit 32 extracts from the telephone book information management unit 35 only the phone book information for which the destination information has been registered (step 107). Thereafter, the extracted telephone directory information is transferred to the transmission source stored in step 102, that is, the personal computer 2 (step 108).

As a result, the network board destination table shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the monitor screen of the personal computer 2.
In this way, when the phone book display is instructed from the personal computer 2, 3, 4, etc., the phone book information of only the abbreviated number for which the destination information is registered is transmitted to the personal computer and displayed, and the abbreviated number for which the destination information is not registered Is not displayed, the time required for display can be shortened, and desired telephone directory data can be easily obtained.

  In the example of the display screen of FIG. 5, the destination table of the network board phone book is displayed. By clicking the index of “main unit destination table”, the main unit stored in the RAM 13 of the network MFP 1 is displayed. The address book address table can be displayed, and by selecting “board group”, the address book address table for each group registered in the phone book information management unit 35 of the network board 21 is displayed. be able to.

Also, you can delete the phonebook data of the selected abbreviated number by clicking on the check box of any abbreviated number and clicking “Delete”, and clicking “Import” You can import phone book data from other files.
Furthermore, by selecting the abbreviated number and clicking “Export”, the phonebook data of the selected abbreviated number can be output to an external file etc. By clicking “Export All Data”, All the telephone directory data of the network board 21 can be transferred to another file.

When “Create New” is clicked, the network board destination setting screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and telephone book data can be newly registered.
In this network board destination setting screen, as shown in FIG. 6, “number”, “name”, “name reading kana”, “company name”, “company name reading kana”, “group name”, “zip code” "Prefecture", "City", "Address", "Telephone Number", "Fax Number", and "Mail Address" can be entered.
In addition, by selecting “individual” or “shared” at the right end of the “number” input field, it is possible to select new registration in the personal phone book or the shared phone book.
If the “Number” field is set to 0 and the “Set” button is clicked, a new registration request for the phone book data is transmitted to the network board 21 and the network board 21 automatically sets the minimum registerable abbreviated number. Give.

Hereinafter, the operation of the network board 21 when the user inputs necessary items on the network board destination setting screen shown in FIG. 6 and then clicks the “set” button will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The HTTPPD control unit 32 of the network board 21 always executes the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, and receives an HTTP Post command from the personal computers 2, 3, 4, etc. via the TCP / IP protocol control unit 31. Whether or not (step 201). For example, if it is determined that an HTTP Post command has been received from the personal computer 3, the HTTP PD control unit 32 stores the IP address and port number of the transmission source in a storage unit (not shown) (step 202) and then receives the HTTP post command. It is determined whether the Post command is a new phone book data registration request (step 203).

  If it is determined that the received Post command is not a new phone book data registration request, the HTTPD control unit 32 performs other processing (step 204). It is determined whether or not there is a telephone book registration area 35 (step 205). If it is determined that there is no telephone book registration area, an error response is sent by notifying the personal computer 3 that the telephone book is not registered. (Step 206). If it is determined in step 205 that there is a telephone book registration area, the HTTPD control unit 32 determines whether the transmission data from the personal computer 3 is new registration data in the shared telephone book (step 207).

When it is determined that the transmission data from the personal computer 3 is newly registered data in the shared telephone directory, the HTTPD control unit 32 determines whether or not the designated abbreviated number of the destination data from the personal computer 3 is 0 (step 208) When it is determined that the designated abbreviated number is not 0, the destination input data is registered in the phone book management unit 35 as the shared phone book data with the designated abbreviated number (step 209).
If it is determined that the abbreviated number designated in step 208 is 0, the HTTPD control unit 32 searches for the smallest unused number among the abbreviated numbers, and uses the retrieved abbreviated number as the destination input data. Is registered in the telephone directory manager 35 as shared telephone directory data (step 210).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 207 that the transmission data from the personal computer 3 is newly registered data in the personal telephone directory, the HTTPD control unit 32 determines whether the designated abbreviated number of the destination data from the personal computer 3 is 0 or not. (Step 211), if it is determined that the designated abbreviated number is not 0, the destination input data with the designated abbreviated number is registered in the telephone book management unit 35 as personal phone book data (step 212).
If it is determined that the abbreviated number designated in step 211 is 0, the HTTPD control unit 32 searches for the smallest unused number among the abbreviated numbers and uses the retrieved abbreviated number as the destination input data. Is registered in the telephone directory management unit 35 as personal telephone directory data (step 213).

When the destination input data is registered in the phone book management unit 35 in any one of steps 209, 210, 212, and 213, the HTTPD control unit 32 stores the registered phone book list as response data in step 202. The data is transmitted to the transmission source, that is, the personal computer 3 (step 214).
As a result, the network board destination table with the newly registered destination information added is displayed on the monitor screen of the personal computer 3 as shown in FIG. When the user of the personal computer 3 has created a personal phone book, the destination data of the personal phone book is displayed below the destination data of the shared phone book.

As described above, when a new registration instruction for telephone directory data is issued from the personal computer 2, 3, 4 or the like, if the abbreviated number is not specified, the shortest abbreviated number is automatically registered. Therefore, it is not necessary to check an available short number, and telephone book data can be registered easily.
When the user has created a personal phone book, the personal phone book is displayed under the shared phone book, so that desired phone book data can be easily displayed.

  In the above embodiment, the name, company name, fax number, e-mail address, etc. can be entered on the new registration screen, but other various information can also be entered. In the above embodiment, an example in which the network facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied to a network multifunction peripheral has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a normal facsimile apparatus having no mail function.

It is a figure which shows the network structural example of the system provided with the network multifunction device. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a network multifunction device. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of a network board. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action of a network board when there exists a display request of telephone directory information. It is a figure which shows an example of a network board destination table display screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the new creation screen of a network board destination. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action of the network board at the time of new data registration to a telephone directory. It is a figure which shows an example of the network board destination table display screen to which new data was added.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network MFP 2, 3, 4 PC 5 PSTN
6 LAN
7 Internet 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Display / Operation Unit 15 Reading Unit 16 Image Memory 17 Recording Unit 18 Codec 19 Modem 20 NCU
21 Network board 22 LAN I / F
23 Bus 31 TCP / IP protocol control unit 32 HTTPD control unit 33 Homepage management unit 34 Document management unit 35 Phonebook information management unit

Claims (3)

A network facsimile apparatus connected to a terminal device via a communication network,
When the phone book storage means for storing the phone book data including the destination information and the registration number and the phone book information display are instructed from the terminal device, the phone book information of only the number registered in the destination information is transmitted to the terminal device. A network facsimile apparatus comprising a control means. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
When a new registration instruction is made from the terminal device to the telephone directory storage means, if a registration number is not designated, the control means registers the destination information entered in the smallest available registration number. A network facsimile machine. In the network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A network facsimile apparatus, wherein the telephone directory storage means stores shared telephone directory data and individual telephone directory data, and the personal telephone directory data is displayed below the shared telephone directory data when the telephone directory information is displayed.

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