JP2007053669A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication equipment by which complicated operations in every facsimile transmission or every Internet facsimile transmission are omitted. <P>SOLUTION: The communication equipment has a transmitting job data base, a call instruction receiving means for receiving a call instruction of a transmitting job pattern from an external device 31, a name transmitting means for transmitting all stored transmitting job names 43 to the external device 31, a name receiving means for receiving the transmitting job names 43 from the external device 31, an extraction means for extracting transmitting job patterns corresponding to the received transmitting job names 43 by retrieving the transmitting job data base, a pattern transmitting means for transmitting the extracted transmitting job patterns to the external device 31, a pattern receiving means for receiving the transmitted transmitting job patterns or their transmitting job patterns after correction from the external device 31, an execution instruction receiving means for receiving an execution instruction of transmitting jobs from the external device 31 and an execution means for executing the transmitting jobs by the received transmitting job patterns. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus having a fax communication function or an Internet fax communication function.

As is well known, in a communication device having a network scan function and a fax communication function or an Internet fax communication function, image data read by the reading unit and transmitted to the external device is operated by the operation unit of the external device. Some devices can perform fax transmission or Internet fax transmission (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-184673 A

  However, in the communication device as described above, input of a destination name, a template name of an e-mail body, a template name of a sending guide when sending a fax, a subject name, a comment, etc. is performed by fax operation by operating the operation unit of the external device. There is a problem that it is necessary to perform it every time an Internet fax is sent.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus that can omit a complicated operation for each fax transmission or Internet fax transmission.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a transmission job database for storing a transmission job name and a transmission job pattern in association with a fax transmission or an Internet fax transmission, and a transmission job pattern calling instruction from an external device. A call command receiving means for receiving, and a name transmission means for transmitting all the transmission job names stored in the transmission job database to an external device when a call command for the transmission job pattern is received by the call command receiving means. A name receiving unit that receives a transmission job name from an external device, and a transmission job pattern corresponding to the received transmission job name by searching the transmission job database when the name receiving unit receives the transmission job name. Extracting means for extracting the transmission job pattern extracted by this extracting means Pattern transmission means for transmitting to the external device, pattern reception means for receiving the transmission job pattern transmitted by the pattern transmission means or a modified transmission job pattern from the external device, and receiving an execution command for the transmission job from the external device An execution command receiving means for executing a transmission job in accordance with the transmission job pattern received by the pattern receiving means when an execution command for the transmission job is received by the execution command receiving means. It is.

  The invention of claim 2 includes a storage means for storing a template for a transmission job name, a template call instruction receiving means for receiving a call instruction for a template for a transmission job name from an external device, and a transmission job name by the template call instruction receiving means. When the template call command is received, the template transmission means for transmitting the template of the transmission job name stored in the storage means to the external device and the template transmitted by the template transmission means or the same The new name receiving means for receiving the corrected transmission job name from the external device, the transmission job name received by the new name receiving means and the transmission job pattern received by the pattern receiving means in association with each other in the transmission Storage means for storing in the job database. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit for storing a transmission job name template, a history pattern receiving unit for receiving a transmission job pattern after execution of the transmission job or a transmission job pattern after correction thereof from an external device, and a transmission job. A template call instruction receiving means for receiving a template name call instruction from an external device, and a transmission job stored by the storage means when the template call instruction receiving means receives a template call instruction for a transmission job. A template transmission unit that transmits a name template to an external device, a new name reception unit that receives a transmission job name that is the same as or modified from the template transmitted by the template transmission unit, and the new The transmission job name received by the name receiving means and the history pattern A storage means for storing the transmission job database in association with the received transmission job patterns by the receiving means in which with a.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of transmission job patterns are registered, it is possible to omit a complicated operation for each fax transmission or Internet fax transmission.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, a new transmission job pattern can be easily registered from an external device using the registered transmission job pattern.

  According to the invention of claim 3, a new transmission job pattern can be easily registered from an external device by using the transmission job pattern after the execution of the transmission job.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the communication device 1 according to the present embodiment includes, as main components, a control unit 2, a flash memory 3, a RAM (random access memory) 4, an image memory 5, a codec ( CODEC) 6, modem 7, NCU (network control unit) 8, LAN (local area network) interface (LAN I / F) 9, USB (universal serial bus) interface (USB I / F) ) 10, a recording unit 11, a reading unit 12, an operation unit 13, and a display unit 14, and each component is connected to be communicable with each other via a bus 15.

  The flash memory 3 has a control program for controlling the operation of each component, a transmission job database as shown in FIG. 2, a destination database (address book) as shown in FIG. Is remembered. Such control program, transmission job database, destination database, transmission job name template, and the like may be stored in appropriate storage means such as an HDD (hard disk drive) in addition to the flash memory 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transmission job database stores a transmission job name and a transmission job pattern in association with a FAX (FAX) transmission or an Internet FAX (Internet FAX) transmission. The setting items of the send job pattern include the fax destination name, email destination (Internet fax transmission) destination name, email destination designation method, email body template name, document classification, electronic Attached file format when sending e-mail, template name, subject, comment, application communication setting information when sending fax, copy distribution ON / OFF, copy distribution destination, history deletion ON / OFF, priority, etc. Is mentioned. The setting items of the application communication setting information include sub-address and password for F-code communication (function to communicate using sub-address and password in accordance with ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector) standard), Examples include ON / OFF of time-designated transmission, transmission start time at time-designated transmission, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the partner database stores a partner name and partner information in association with each other. Examples of setting items of the destination information include a company name, a department name, a fax number, and an e-mail address.

  The control unit 2 includes a CPU (central processing unit) and the like, and controls the operation of each component according to a control program on the flash memory 3 shown in FIG. The RAM 4 temporarily stores various information related to the communication device 1.

  The LAN interface 9 is connected to a LAN 21 and the Internet 22 as shown in FIG. The LAN 21 is connected to the Internet 22, and an external device 31 is connected to the LAN 21.

  The external device 31 includes a control unit, a flash memory, a RAM, an HDD, a LAN interface, a USB interface, an operation unit, and a display unit (not shown) as main components, and each component is not shown. They are connected to each other via a bus. The control unit of the external device 31 controls the operation of each component of the external device 31 according to a control program or the like stored in a storage unit such as a flash memory or an HDD. The external device 31 configured as described above can access the communication device 1 via the LAN 21, but can access the communication device 1 via various networks such as the Internet 22 and various interfaces such as the USB interface 10. You may comprise as follows. Examples of the external device 31 include a personal computer (PC) and a PDA (personal digital assistant, personal digital assistant).

  The reading unit 12 reads an image of a document as image data. The image memory 5 temporarily stores the read image data. The recording unit 11 records (prints) the stored image data or the like on a recording sheet by an electrophotographic method or the like.

  The display unit 14 is configured by an LCD (liquid crystal display) or the like attached to the operation unit 13 or the like, and displays various types of information. The operation unit 13 includes operation keys and the like for performing various operations.

  The codec 6 encodes the read image data by the MH (modified huffman) method, the MR (modified read) method, the MMR (modified modified read) method, etc. at the time of fax transmission, while the received image data at the time of fax reception. Is decrypted. The codec converts the scanned image data into an attached file in a TIFF (tagged image file format) or PDF (portable document format) format when sending an Internet fax, while receiving it when receiving an Internet fax. The attached file of the e-mail is restored to image data.

  The modem 7 is, for example, an ITU-T recommendation V.3. The transmission data is modulated and the received data is demodulated according to the 34 standard or the like. The NCU 8 is connected to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 23, and controls the telephone line to make or cut a call.

  The communication device 1 configured as described above is a multifunction device that functions as a copy machine, a network printer, and the like in addition to a network scanner, a fax communication device, and an Internet fax communication device. Fax communication and Internet fax communication can also be performed from the external device 31. Therefore, the communication device 1 can transmit the image data read by the reading unit 12 to the external device 31 and can perform a transmission job of fax transmission or Internet fax transmission with an appropriate transmission job pattern received from the external device 31. Can be executed. Note that the communication device 1 only needs to function as at least a fax communication machine or an Internet fax communication machine.

  Next, an example of a transmission job execution process will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. This execution process is performed according to a command issued by the control unit 2 based on a control program on the flash memory 3 or the like.

  In this execution process, if a call instruction for a transmission job pattern is received from the external device 31 (step S1), all the transmission job names (“estimate 1”, “estimate” stored in the transmission job database as shown in FIG. Document 2 "etc.) is transmitted to the external device 31 (step S2).

  Here, the image data read by the reading unit 12 in advance and the scan information thereof are transmitted to the external device 31 and stored in a storage unit such as an HDD of the external device 31. Examples of scan information include a file name of image data, a document classification, the number of pages, a scan date and time, and the like.

  The stored scan information 41 is displayed in a list on the display unit of the external device 31 by operating the operation unit of the external device 31 as shown in FIG. The transmission job pattern call command is transmitted from the external device 31 to the communication device by operating the operation unit of the external device 31 (such as clicking the transmission button 42 displayed on the display unit of the external device 31 together with the scan information 41 as shown in FIG. 5). 1 is transmitted. In this case, the scan information 41 selected by the operation of the operation unit of the external device 31 (scan information having a file name “20050325125746” or the like) is also transmitted from the external device 31 to the communication device 1.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the transmission job name 43 transmitted from the communication device 1 to the external device 31 is displayed as a list on the display unit of the external device 31. In this case, even if a message 44 (“Please select a transmission job name”) or the like that is stored in the storage means such as the flash memory 3 and so on is displayed together with the transmission job name 43 and the like. Good.

  Then, if the transmission job name 43 (“estimate 1”, etc.) selected by the operation of the operation unit of the external device 31 is received from the external device 31 (step S3). The transmission job database is searched, and a transmission job pattern corresponding to the received transmission job name 43 is extracted (step S4).

  The extracted transmission job pattern is transmitted to the external device 31 (step S5). As shown in FIG. 7, the transmitted transmission job pattern is displayed on the display unit of the external device 31 and is corrected by the operation of the operation unit of the external device 31 as necessary. In this case, the transmission job name 43 received from the external device 31 and the scan information 41 may be displayed together with the transmission job pattern.

  Next, when the transmitted transmission job pattern or the corrected transmission job pattern is received from the external device 31 (step S6), and the execution command of the transmission job is received from the external device 31 (step S7), the received transmission job The transmission job is executed with the pattern (step S8), and the process ends.

  The transmission job pattern and the transmission job execution command are transmitted from the external device 31 to the communication device 1 by operating the operation unit of the external device 31 (such as clicking the transmission button 45 displayed together with the transmission job pattern as shown in FIG. 7). Is done. The transmission job execution command includes a file name (“20050325125746” or the like) of image data to be transmitted in the scan information 41 received from the external apparatus 31, a destination fax number, an e-mail address, or the like. The recipient's fax number or e-mail address is determined by searching the recipient database as shown in FIG. 3 and extracting the one corresponding to the recipient name (such as “ABCD Corporation”) in the transmission job pattern. The Note that the order of step S6 and step S7 may be reversed.

  Here, the image data that has been faxed or Internet faxed and the transmission information thereof are stored in the storage means of the external device 31, and the stored transmission information 51 is stored in the operation of the external device 31 as shown in FIG. As with the image data read by the reading unit 12 as described above, the image data that has already been sent by fax or Internet fax has been further sent from the external device 31 by fax. Alternatively, Internet fax transmission may be performed. Examples of the transmission information 51 include destination name, transmission result, document classification, number of pages, transmission date and time, image data file name, document size, resolution, and image data file size.

  In this case, the calling instruction for the transmission job pattern is issued by the operation of the operation unit of the external device 31 (such as clicking the transmission button 52 displayed on the display unit of the external device 31 together with the transmission information 51 as shown in FIG. 8). To the communication device 1. Also, transmission information 51 (transmission information or the like whose destination name is “XXXX Corporation”) selected by operating the operation unit of the external device 31 is also transmitted from the external device 31 to the communication device 1.

  When the transmission job name 43 is transmitted from the communication device 1 to the external device 31, the transmitted transmission job name 43 is displayed in a list on the display unit of the external device 31, as shown in FIG. Subsequent processing is the same as described above. However, the transmission job execution command in the subsequent processing includes the file name of the image data to be transmitted in the transmission information 51 received from the external device 31, the fax number or the e-mail address of the other party.

  According to the communication apparatus 1 configured as described above, since a plurality of transmission job patterns are registered, there is an advantage that a complicated operation for each fax transmission or Internet fax transmission can be omitted.

  Next, an example of a transmission job pattern registration process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Of the registration processing, the processing in the communication device 1 is performed according to an instruction issued by the control unit 2 based on a control program on the flash memory 3 or the like. The processing in the external device 31 is performed according to a command issued by the control unit of the external device 31 based on a control program or the like on the storage unit of the external device 31.

  In this registration process, as shown in FIG. 7, the transmission job pattern transmitted from the communication apparatus 1 to the external apparatus 31 or the corrected transmission job pattern is received from the external apparatus 31 (step S11). If the call command is received from the external device 31 (step S12), the template of the transmission job name stored in the flash memory 3 is transmitted to the external device 31 (step S13).

  An instruction to call a template for a transmission job pattern and a transmission job name is sent from the external device 31 to the communication device by operating the operation unit of the external device 31 (such as clicking the registration button 53 displayed together with the transmission job pattern as shown in FIG. 1 is transmitted. Note that the order of step S11 and step S12 may be reversed.

  On the other hand, the template of the transmission job name transmitted from the communication device 1 to the external device 31 is displayed on the display unit of the external device 31 as shown in FIG. 10, and is operated by the operation unit of the external device 31 as necessary. Will be corrected. In the transmission job name template, in addition to the transmission job name 61, the transmission job description 62 or the like may be modified, or the transmission job name 61 or the transmission job description 62 or the like as in the example of FIG. You may leave it blank and correct it by inputting new information with the operation part of the external apparatus 31. FIG.

  Then, if a transmission job name 61 that is the same as the transmitted template or has been corrected is received from the external device 31 (step S14), the received transmission job name 61 is associated with the received transmission job pattern. The data is stored in the transmission job database (step S15), and the process ends.

  The transmission job name 61 and the like are transmitted from the external device 31 to the communication device 1 by the operation of the operation unit of the external device 31 (such as clicking the registration button 63 on the template as shown in FIG. 10).

  Such a communication apparatus 1 has an advantage that a new transmission job pattern can be easily registered from the external apparatus 31 using the registered transmission job pattern.

  Next, another example of the transmission job pattern registration process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Of the registration processing, the processing in the communication device 1 is performed according to an instruction issued by the control unit 2 based on a control program on the flash memory 3 or the like. The processing in the external device 31 is performed according to a command issued by the control unit of the external device 31 based on a control program or the like on the storage unit of the external device 31.

  In this registration process, the transmission job pattern after the execution of the transmission job or the corrected transmission job pattern transmitted from the communication apparatus 1 to the external apparatus 31 as shown in FIG. 12 is received from the external apparatus 31 (step S21). If a call command for the template for the transmission job name is received from the external device 31 (step S22), the template for the transmission job name stored in the flash memory 3 is transmitted to the external device 31 (step S23).

  The calling instruction for the transmission job pattern and the template for the transmission job name is performed by operating the operation unit of the external device 31 (such as clicking the registration button 71 displayed together with the transmission job pattern after execution of the transmission job as shown in FIG. 12). It is transmitted from the external device 31 to the communication device 1. Note that the order of step S21 and step S22 may be reversed.

  On the other hand, the template of the transmission job name transmitted from the communication device 1 to the external device 31 is displayed on the display unit of the external device 31 as shown in FIG. 10, and is operated by the operation unit of the external device 31 as necessary. Will be corrected.

  If a transmission job name 61 that is the same as the transmitted template or after correction is received from the external device 31 (step S24), the received transmission job name 61 is associated with the received transmission job pattern. The data is stored in the transmission job database (step S25), and the process ends.

  In this case, the transmission job pattern after execution of the transmission job is stored in the storage unit of the external device 31 together with the image data that has been faxed or transmitted by Internet fax, and the transmission information 51 thereof, and is stored in the operation unit of the external device 31. What is necessary is just to comprise so that it may display on the display part of the external apparatus 31 by operation (Click of the detailed display button 72 displayed on the display part of the external apparatus 31 with the transmission information 51 like FIG. 8). Further, the transmission job name 43 and the transmission information 51 stored in the storage unit of the external device 31 may be displayed together with the transmission job pattern after the execution of the transmission job.

  Such a communication apparatus 1 has an advantage that a new transmission job pattern can be easily registered from the external apparatus 31 using the transmission job pattern after execution of the transmission job.

  As described above, the communication apparatus according to the present invention is suitable for omitting complicated operations for each fax transmission or Internet fax transmission.

The block diagram which shows the structural example of the communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The data table which shows the structural example of a transmission job database. The data table which shows the structural example of a partner database. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a transmission job execution process. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a screen which displayed the scan information as a list on the display unit of the external device. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen example in which a transmission job name is displayed as a list on a display unit of an external device. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a screen which displayed the transmission job pattern on the display part of the external device. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a screen which displayed transmission information on the display part of the external apparatus as a list. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a transmission job pattern registration process. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a screen in which a transmission job name template is displayed on a display unit of an external apparatus. 9 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a transmission job pattern registration process. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a screen which displayed the transmission job pattern after execution of a transmission job on the display part of the external device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication apparatus 2 Control part 3 Flash memory 4 RAM
5 Image memory 6 Codec 7 Modem 8 NCU
9 LAN interface 10 USB interface 21 LAN
22 Internet 23 PSTN
31 External device 43, 61 Send job name

Claims (3)

A transmission job database for storing a transmission job name and a transmission job pattern for fax transmission or Internet fax transmission in association with each other;
Call command receiving means for receiving a call command for a transmission job pattern from an external device;
A name transmission means for transmitting all transmission job names stored in the transmission job database to an external device when a call instruction for a transmission job pattern is received by the call instruction reception means;
Name receiving means for receiving a transmission job name from an external device;
An extraction unit that searches the transmission job database and extracts a transmission job pattern corresponding to the received transmission job name when a transmission job name is received by the name reception unit;
Pattern transmission means for transmitting the transmission job pattern extracted by the extraction means to an external device;
A pattern receiving means for receiving the transmission job pattern transmitted by the pattern transmitting means or the corrected transmission job pattern from an external device; and
Execution command receiving means for receiving an execution command of a transmission job from an external device;
An execution means for executing a transmission job with the transmission job pattern received by the pattern receiving means when the execution instruction of the transmission job is received by the execution instruction receiving means;
A communication apparatus comprising: Storage means for storing a transmission job name template;
A template call command receiving means for receiving a call command for a template of a transmission job name from an external device;
A template transmission means for transmitting a template for a transmission job name stored in the storage means to an external device when a template call instruction for a transmission job name is received by the template call instruction reception means;
A new name receiving means for receiving from the external device a transmission job name that is the same as the template transmitted by the template transmitting means or after being corrected;
Storage means for storing the transmission job name received by the new name receiving means and the transmission job pattern received by the pattern receiving means in association with each other in the transmission job database;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Storage means for storing a transmission job name template;
A history pattern receiving means for receiving a transmission job pattern after execution of a transmission job or a transmission job pattern after correction from an external device;
A template call command receiving means for receiving a call command for a template of a transmission job name from an external device;
A template transmission means for transmitting a template for a transmission job name stored in the storage means to an external device when a template call instruction for a transmission job name is received by the template call instruction reception means;
A new name receiving means for receiving from the external device a transmission job name that is the same as the template transmitted by the template transmitting means or after being corrected;
Storage means for storing the transmission job name received by the new name receiving means and the transmission job pattern received by the history pattern receiving means in association with each other in the transmission job database;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

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