JP2007081543A - Facsimile security system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for surely preventing misdialing in faxing by allowing a center side to be capable of managing faxing permission telephone numbers. <P>SOLUTION: An adaptor unit 2 provided with a pseudo subscriber circuit is connected to a facsimile machine 1 at a client side, and the adaptor unit 2 is connected to the Internet via an IP communication unit 5. Another IP communication unit 3 is connected to the Internet at a center side, and connected to a FAX security unit 5 via a FAX collection and distribution apparatus 4. When the facsimile machine 1 transmits FAX information to the center, the FAX security unit 5 references a restriction information database 6 for storing transmission restriction information to confirm whether or not a transmission dial number is correct. When correct, the FAX information is transmitted via a FAX gateway 7. Thus, misdialing in the faxing can surely be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile security system, and more particularly to a facsimile security system that can reliably prevent erroneous transmission due to a dial input error.

  FAX communication is the most widely used communication means for recording. For this purpose, various documents are transmitted and received by FAX communication. However, if you send a fax with the wrong phone number, it will be sent to the unintended partner. If the other party is a voice phone, it will only be annoying, but if the other party is a FAX phone, even secret important documents will be sent as they are. In particular, when a partner is selected with a speed dial or a one-touch button, it is less likely to notice an erroneous transmission. In order to avoid such erroneous transmission, various devices have been proposed. For example, there is a method of reading a telephone number described in a document to be transmitted and transmitting it to that number. In addition, there are some that can send only to authorized telephone numbers. However, there is still no way to completely prevent erroneous transmission. For this reason, security measures applied to FAX communication have become important, especially in companies.

  The current status of fax systems in companies is as follows. There is a change in the business environment accompanying legal development. As the related laws have been revised and maintained regarding the handling of personal information, misdelivery of faxes, etc. can be subject to regulation. The Personal Information Protection Law stipulates appropriate handling of personal information for business operators. Under the revised Commodity Exchange Act, regulations on merchandise traders who re-invite customers who do not want to be solicited are being strengthened. The current state of countermeasures at companies is as follows. In the fax transmission business, it is necessary to take these legal measures, especially in companies that require a high level of publicity or in which social trust is important, internal rules may be established and the operations may be entrusted to each person. Not a few. This is due to the fact that it is difficult to systemize in-house faxes and it has been necessary to rely on manual operation. The following are some examples of the prior art that prevents erroneous transmission of FAX.

  The “facsimile apparatus” disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a facsimile apparatus that can prevent erroneous transmission due to a telephone number input error. The individual number input together with the other party's telephone number is compared with the individual number of the facsimile apparatus issued from the other party's facsimile apparatus at the time of handshake, and communication is continued when the two match. If they do not match, the communication is terminated. Since matching of individual numbers is required in addition to matching of telephone numbers, erroneous transmission is reduced and highly confidential communication is possible.

  The “facsimile device” disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a device that detects a mistake and prevents repeated malfunctions when a partner is erroneously designated. It is determined whether or not the instructed destination number is included in the telephone number of the telephone number storage unit. When the other party number is included in the telephone number, a message to that effect is displayed to inform the caller that the number is wrongly selected. Further, when the other party number is not included in the telephone number storage unit, it is detected whether the other party apparatus of that number is a facsimile machine or other apparatus. When the other party's device is not a facsimile machine, the number is stored in the telephone number storage unit, and a message to that effect is displayed to prevent repeated erroneous transmission.

  The “communication device” disclosed in Patent Document 3 prevents erroneous transmission when dialing a misleading access code. The storage unit stores in advance an international telephone access code, country code, area code, facsimile network access code, free dial access code, and the like. When a document is set in the reading unit and a dial number is input, the number is retrieved from the storage unit. If it exists, its name is displayed.

  The “facsimile adapter device” disclosed in Patent Document 4 uses a function of controlling connection between a facsimile apparatus and a communication line network and selecting a destination number, a false call prevention function, a user restriction function, and This is a facsimile adapter device that realizes a closed area connection function and the like. The dial information recognition unit recognizes dial information transmitted from the facsimile apparatus, and registers the terminal number in the dial information following the predetermined dial information in the terminal number registration unit. Next, if the dial information recognized by the dial information recognition unit is not predetermined dial information, the dial information is compared with the terminal number registered in advance in the terminal number registration unit. The line connection unit disconnects the line connected to the communication line network.

  The “facsimile apparatus” disclosed in Patent Document 5 is a facsimile apparatus that can prevent erroneous transmission due to an input error of a telephone number. The telephone number on the facsimile transmission original is recognized by the character recognition function. The telephone number input by the input key is compared with the telephone number on the original recognized by the character recognition function. If the input telephone number is different from the telephone number on the document as a result of the comparison, the facsimile transmission is interrupted and an input error is displayed.

  The “error transmission prevention method” disclosed in Patent Document 6 is a highly reliable erroneous transmission prevention method that can prevent erroneous transmission as much as possible. The communication destination name and identification code corresponding to the FAX number are stored in the RAM. In response to the input of the FAX number, the name of the communication destination is read from the RAM and displayed. Until the name of the communication destination is displayed, the main control unit prohibits data transmission. The sender confirms the name of the other party based on the display on the display unit. If there is an error, an erroneous transmission can be prevented by pressing a transmission stop button or the like.

  The “facsimile device” disclosed in Patent Document 7 is a facsimile device that can prevent erroneous transmission and save the trouble of inputting a destination. Register the form of the document in correspondence with the destination that is permitted to send the form. When a document is read and a destination to be transmitted is input, it is verified whether the format of the document and the transmission destination are registered. If registered, if there is a transmission destination among the transmission permitted destinations of the registration form, the document is transmitted to the transmission destination. Otherwise, stop transmission and prevent erroneous transmission.

The “information communication device” disclosed in Patent Document 8 prevents erroneous transmission when information such as facsimile information is transmitted. The information communication device stores address information of erroneous transmission. When trying to execute information transmission, the address of the transmission destination is compared with the registered erroneous transmission address. When the address of the transmission destination is registered, it is determined that it is an erroneous transmission and is notified.
JP 05-3532 A JP 05-63949 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 06-133074 JP 07-123193 A JP 09-55840 A JP 2000-184007 A JP 2002-344715 JP 2005-73186 A

  However, the conventional FAX erroneous transmission prevention method has the following problems. It is necessary to manage the telephone numbers that can be permitted for FAX transmission by each FAX machine, and it is difficult to manage the transmission permitted telephone numbers. In particular, when many telephone numbers are used in many FAX machines, it is almost impossible to manage them in a unified manner.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to manage FAX transmission permitted telephone numbers collectively in a management center, thereby reliably preventing erroneous dialing in FAX transmission.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a facsimile transmission / reception terminal device, an adapter device including a pseudo subscriber circuit that responds to the facsimile transmission / reception terminal device, a client-side IP communication unit that connects the adapter device to the Internet, , A center-side IP communication unit connected to the Internet, a facsimile collection / distribution device connected to the center-side IP communication unit, a facsimile security unit connected to the facsimile collection / distribution device, and a transmission restriction information connected to the facsimile security unit The restriction information database is stored in the facsimile security unit of the facsimile security system including the restriction information database storing the information and the facsimile security unit and the facsimile gateway connecting the public line. The confirmation means for confirming whether or not the dialing number sent from the facsimile transmission / reception terminal device is correct, and the facsimile information sent from the facsimile transmission / reception terminal device via the facsimile gateway when it is confirmed to be correct. And a means for transmitting.

  By configuring as described above, erroneous dialing in FAX transmission can be surely prevented.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  In an embodiment of the present invention, an adapter device having a pseudo subscriber circuit that responds to a FAX machine is connected to the Internet via a client-side IP communication unit, and a FAX-collection unit is connected to the center-side IP communication unit connected to the Internet. Connect the FAX security unit via the distribution device, and when the FAX security unit confirms that the dialing number is correct by referring to the restriction information database storing the transmission restriction information, the FAX information is sent via the FAX gateway. It is a fax security system.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a FAX security system in an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a FAX machine 1 is an existing general G3-type FAX transmission / reception terminal device. The adapter device 2 is a FAX-IP adapter having a pseudo subscriber circuit connected to a FAX machine. The IP communication unit 3 is a layer 2 VPN unit. The FAX collection / delivery device 4 is a device that distributes a FAX transmission request from the client side to the FAX security unit. The FAX security unit 5 is a device that controls FAX transmission. The restriction information database 6 is a device that stores transmission restriction information. The FAX gateway 7 is a device that performs FAX transmission via a public line. The FAX gateway is equipped with a CTI board having a FAX modem that accommodates a public line. This has a FAX transmission capability based on T.8 / T.30.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the adapter device. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the FAX security system. In FIG. 3, the confirmation means 8 is means for confirming whether or not the outgoing dial number sent from the FAX machine is correct. The sending means 9 is means for sending the FAX information sent from the FAX machine via the FAX gateway. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration using a transmission permission number list. In FIG. 4, a transmission permission number list 10 is a list of telephone numbers that can permit FAX transmission. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the case of searching the database by the outgoing dial number.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration using a correspondence table of transmission destination identification numbers and outgoing call permitted telephone numbers. In FIG. 6, a transmission destination identification number-transmission permitted telephone number correspondence table 11 is a correspondence table between a transmission destination identification number and a transmission permitted telephone number. The coincidence checking means 12 is a means for checking a match between the call dial number and the call permitted telephone number. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when searching the database by the transmission destination identification number. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration for acquiring a transmission destination identification number by character recognition. In FIG. 8, character recognition means 13 is means for recognizing characters in FAX information and converting them into character codes. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a transmission destination identification number is acquired by character recognition. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration for acquiring a keyword by character recognition. In FIG. 10, a keyword / transmission permitted telephone number correspondence table 14 is a correspondence table between keywords and transmission permitted telephone numbers. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a keyword is acquired by character recognition.

  The function and operation of the FAX security system in the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. First, an overview of the functions of the FAX security system will be described with reference to FIG. Fax transmission from the client side (corporate branch, etc.) to the outside is performed from a center that aggregates outgoing call restriction information. Centrally manage outgoing restriction information within the company and perform outgoing restrictions during external distribution. Document exchange by fax within the company is done using Internet VPN. When receiving faxes from outside, the conventional telephone number is used as it is. Communication between the center and the client side is secured by using Internet VPN. In this way, in-house FAX systemization is realized to reduce communication costs and maintain convenience while preventing information leakage related to FAX distribution.

  Next, the operation of the adapter device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The adapter device has a pseudo subscriber circuit consisting of a modem and a microcomputer, and looks like an exchange to the FAX machine. It also has a LAN interface and can be connected to the Internet via a LAN connection. In normal times, the adapter device connects the FAX port to a pseudo subscriber circuit, and constantly monitors the transmission operation of the FAX machine. Function settings are performed using a general Web browser. Logs useful for trouble investigation can be left. During the period when an obvious abnormality is detected in the LAN port, the FAX port and the LINE port are kept directly connected as an operation at the time of failure, and it is not involved in any FAX communication. Firmware can be updated from the center via the Internet.

  When sending a fax, the adapter device receives the fax information from the connected fax machine, and sends the fax information to the center side device installed at a remote location via the TCP / IP network (Internet). To transmit. The transmission processing procedure is as follows. The adapter device detects the outgoing dial number from the FAX machine and encodes the FAX information from the FAX machine. The encoded FAX information is transmitted to the center side by e-mail. In the case of FAX reception from another client side, the adapter apparatus receives an E-mail of encoded FAX information from the center side. The received encoded FAX information is decoded and sent to the FAX machine as a normal FAX signal. When receiving a fax from outside, it is received directly from the public line.

  Next, the operation of the FAX security system will be described with reference to FIG. On the center side, there are an IP communication unit 3, a FAX collection / delivery device 4, a FAX security unit 5, a restriction information database 6, and a FAX gateway 7. The IP communication unit 3 connects the center side device and the adapter device 2 arranged on the client side by Internet VPN. By realizing VPN with layer 2 tunneling, connection independent of the transfer protocol is possible.

  The FAX collection / delivery device 4 receives a FAX transmission request coming from the client side and distributes it to the FAX security unit 5. The FAX security unit 5 regulates FAX transmission. As the restricting means, there are a restricting means based on a transmission dial number and a restricting means based on a keyword included in a transmission document. The restriction information database 6 stores transmission restriction information. The FAX gateway 7 performs FAX transmission via a public line to the transmission dial number designated on the client side.

  On the client side, there are an IP communication unit 3 and an adapter device 2. The adapter device 2 accommodates the FAX machine 1. When sending, send a request to the center via the Internet VPN. When communication via the Internet is not possible, transmission is performed over the public network. In the case of external fax reception, it is received directly from the public network. For this reason, the FAX number normally used can be used as it is.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the restriction means based on the calling dial number will be described. The confirmation means 8 of the FAX security unit 5 refers to the restriction information database 6 and confirms whether the outgoing dial number sent from the FAX machine 1 is correct. It is confirmed whether or not the transmission dial number exists in the transmission permission number list 10 of the restriction information database 6. When it is confirmed that the information is correct, the FAX information transmitted from the FAX machine 1 is transmitted via the FAX gateway 7. If the transmission dial number does not exist in the transmission permission number list 10 of the restriction information database 6, the FAX transmission is not performed.

  With reference to FIG. 5, a processing procedure in the case of searching the restriction information database by the outgoing dial number will be described. In step 1, FAX transmission is performed from the FAX machine 1. In step 2, the adapter device 2 creates an e-mail by attaching the encoded fax information to the outgoing dial number acquired from the fax machine 1, and transmits it to the center via the Internet via the IP communication unit 3. In step 3, the FAX security unit 5 of the center searches the restriction information database 6 using the outgoing dial number as a key. In step 4, it is checked whether it is a call permission number. If it is a transmission permission number, in step 5, the FAX information is transmitted via the public line via the FAX gateway 7. If it is not a transmission permission number, in step 6, the FAX machine 1 is notified that transmission is impossible.

  With reference to FIG. 6, the restriction means based on the transmission destination identification number will be described. The confirmation means 8 is provided with a coincidence inspection means 12. The confirmation means 8 searches the transmission destination identification number-transmission permitted telephone number table in the restriction information database 6 on the basis of the transmission destination identification number continued from the transmission dial number, and makes a call corresponding to the transmission destination identification number. Get an authorized phone number. The coincidence checking means 12 inspects the match between the call dial number and the call permitted telephone number. If there is a match, send it. If there is no match, do not send.

  With reference to FIG. 7, a processing procedure in the case of searching the restriction information database by the transmission destination identification number will be described. In step 11, FAX transmission is performed from the FAX machine 1. In step 12, the adapter device 2 creates an e-mail by attaching the encoded FAX information to the outgoing dial number acquired from the FAX machine 1, and transmits it to the center via the Internet via the IP communication unit 3. In step 13, the FAX security unit 5 of the center searches the restriction information database 6 using the transmission destination identification number as a key, and obtains a transmission permission number corresponding to the transmission destination identification number. In step 14, it is checked whether or not the call dial number and the call permission number match. If it matches the transmission permission number, in step 15, the FAX information is transmitted via the public line via the FAX gateway 7. If it is not a transmission permission number, in step 16, the FAX machine 1 is notified that transmission is impossible.

  With reference to FIG. 8, the regulation means based on the transmission destination identification number included in the transmission document will be described. The confirmation means 8 is provided with character recognition means 13 for acquiring the transmission destination identification number in the FAX information. Fax information is converted to text by character recognition, and a character string of a destination identification number is searched. Based on the transmission destination identification number, the transmission destination identification number-transmission permitted telephone number correspondence table 11 in the regulation information database 6 is searched to obtain a transmission permitted telephone number corresponding to the transmission destination identification number. The coincidence checking means 12 inspects the match between the call dial number and the call permitted telephone number. If there is a match, send it. If there is no match, do not send.

  With reference to FIG. 9, a processing procedure in the case of searching the restriction information database by obtaining the transmission destination identification number by character recognition will be described. In step 21, FAX transmission is performed from the FAX machine 1. In step 22, the adapter device 2 creates an e-mail by attaching the encoded FAX information to the outgoing dial number acquired from the FAX machine 1, and transmits it to the center via the Internet via the IP communication unit 3. In step 23, the FAX security unit 5 of the center acquires a transmission destination identification number by character recognition. In step 24, the restriction information database 6 is searched using the transmission destination identification number as a key to obtain a transmission permission number corresponding to the transmission destination identification number. In step 25, it is checked whether or not the call dial number and the call permission number match. If it matches the transmission permission number, in step 26, the FAX information is transmitted via the public line via the FAX gateway 7. If it is not a transmission permission number, in step 27, the FAX machine 1 is notified that transmission is impossible.

  With reference to FIG. 10, the restriction means based on the keywords included in the transmission document will be described. The confirmation means 8 is provided with character recognition means 13 for acquiring a keyword in FAX information. Search for keyword strings by converting FAX information to text by character recognition. Based on the keyword, the keyword-transmission permitted telephone number correspondence table 14 in the restriction information database 6 is searched to obtain a transmission permitted telephone number corresponding to the keyword. The coincidence checking means 12 inspects the match between the call dial number and the call permitted telephone number. If there is a match, send it. If there is no match, do not send.

  With reference to FIG. 11, a processing procedure for searching the restriction information database with a keyword obtained by character recognition will be described. In step 31, FAX transmission is performed from the FAX machine 1. In step 32, the adapter device 2 creates an e-mail by attaching the encoded fax information to the outgoing dial number acquired from the FAX machine 1, and transmits it to the center via the Internet via the IP communication unit 3. In step 33, the FAX security unit 5 of the center acquires a keyword by character recognition. In step 34, the restriction information database 6 is searched using the keyword as a key, and a transmission permission number corresponding to the keyword is obtained. In step 35, it is checked whether the call dial number and the call permission number match. If it matches the transmission permission number, the FAX information is transmitted via the public line via the FAX gateway 7 in Step 36. If it is not a transmission permission number, in step 37, the FAX machine is notified that transmission is impossible.

  As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the FAX security system is connected to the Internet via the client side IP communication unit and the adapter device including the pseudo subscriber circuit responding to the FAX machine is connected to the Internet. The fax security unit is connected to the center side IP communication unit via the fax collection and distribution device, and the fax security unit refers to the regulation information database storing the transmission regulation information, and the outgoing dial number is confirmed to be correct. Since the fax information is transmitted via the fax gateway, erroneous dialing in fax transmission can be reliably prevented.

  The FAX security system of the present invention is optimal as an apparatus for uniformly managing FAX transmission permitted telephone numbers when a large number of transmission destination telephone numbers are used in many FAX apparatuses.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the FAX security system in the Example of this invention. It is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an adapter device connected to a FAX machine of a FAX security system in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the FAX security system in the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure which uses a transmission permission number list | wrist in the FAX security system in the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the case of searching a regulation information database with a transmission dial number in the FAX security system in the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure which uses the correspondence table of a transmission destination identification number and a transmission permission telephone number in the FAX security system in the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the case of searching a database with a transmission destination identification number in the FAX security system in the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure which acquires a transmission destination identification number by character recognition in the FAX security system in the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the case of acquiring a transmission destination identification number by character recognition in the FAX security system in the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure which acquires a keyword by character recognition in the FAX security system in the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the case of acquiring a keyword by character recognition in the FAX security system in the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 FAX machine 2 Adapter apparatus 3 IP communication unit 4 FAX collection / delivery apparatus 5 FAX security unit 6 Restriction information database 7 FAX gateway 8 Confirmation means 9 Sending means
10 Calling permission number list
11 Destination ID number-to-call permitted phone number correspondence table
12 Consistency checking method
13 Character recognition means
14 Keyword-outgoing phone number correspondence table

Claims (5)

Facsimile transmission / reception terminal device, adapter device provided with pseudo subscriber circuit connected to the facsimile transmission / reception terminal device, client side IP communication unit for connecting the adapter device to the Internet, and center side IP communication connected to the Internet A unit, a facsimile collection / distribution device connected to the center side IP communication unit, a facsimile security unit connected to the facsimile collection / distribution device, a restriction information database connected to the facsimile security unit and storing transmission restriction information, A facsimile security system comprising a facsimile gateway connecting the facsimile security unit and a public line, wherein the facsimile security unit includes the restriction information data. Referencing the base, confirmation means for confirming whether or not the call dial number sent from the facsimile transmission / reception terminal device is correct, and facsimile information sent from the facsimile transmission / reception terminal device when confirmed to be correct, A facsimile security system comprising a sending means for transmitting via the facsimile gateway. 2. The facsimile security system according to claim 1, wherein said confirmation means comprises means for confirming whether or not said call dial number is present in a call permission number list of said restriction information database. A means for searching the restriction information database based on a transmission destination identification number added to the call dial number to obtain a call-permitted telephone number corresponding to the transmission destination identification number; 2. The facsimile security system according to claim 1, further comprising means for checking a match between the dial number and the call-permitted telephone number. Character confirmation means for acquiring a transmission destination identification number in the facsimile information in the confirmation means, search of the restriction information database based on the transmission destination identification number, and transmission permission corresponding to the transmission destination identification number 2. The facsimile security system according to claim 1, further comprising means for obtaining a telephone number, and means for inspecting a match between the outgoing dial number and the outgoing-permitted telephone number. A character recognition means for acquiring a keyword in the facsimile information in the confirmation means; a means for searching the restriction information database based on the keyword and acquiring a call-permitted telephone number corresponding to the keyword; 2. The facsimile security system according to claim 1, further comprising means for inspecting a match between the call dial number and the call-permitted telephone number.

Images