JP2007143039A - Information processing apparatus, reception confirmation notification method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus, reception confirmation notification method, and program in which it can be surely and flexibly notified whether or not a receiving side receives a document image transmitted by a facsimile. <P>SOLUTION: While storing in a transmitter information management section beforehand a plurality of pieces of notification destination information indicating notification destinations to which reception confirmation is notified as transmission destination information, when transmitting a document image by a facsimile, the plurality of pieces of notification destination information are read from the transmitter information management section 29, and the plurality of pieces of notification destination information are transmitted by the facsimile together with the document image. When the plurality of pieces of notification destination information are received by a facsimile together with the document image, a reception confirmation notification control section 25 transmits a reception confirmation notification to at least one of the notification destinations indicated in the plurality of pieces of notification destination information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a reception confirmation notification method, and a program capable of confirming whether a receiving side has received a document image transmitted by facsimile.

  Various techniques have been proposed in which a sender who sends a document by facsimile sends a notification of reception confirmation from the receiver to the sender in order to confirm whether or not the sender has received the transmitted document reliably. Yes. In particular, a technique is known in which the sender information is transmitted to the receiver using some code image, and the receiving side notifies the reception confirmation notification using the sender information.

  For example, a device is known in which a reply email address is converted into a barcode on a facsimile image, and the reception side uses a conversion device to transfer the facsimile image to the email address read from the barcode (for example, (See Patent Document 1).

  There is also known a facsimile communication system that performs reception confirmation using a barcode encoded with a document ID (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this method, the transmitting station first converts the unique document ID into a barcode and attaches it to the reply page of the transmission document for transmission. The document ID is stored together with the transmission history. The receiving station writes the reception result on a reply page printed together with the facsimile document and sends it back to the transmitting station. When the reply page is returned, the transmitting station compares it with the document ID in the transmission history and notifies the sender's registered telephone by voice mail that the reception confirmation has been returned. In this method, the bar code attached to the reply page can be encoded with the sender's telephone number instead of the document ID, and the receiving station can automatically make a reply call to that number.

Furthermore, the facsimile image is arranged as a coded image of the sender's facsimile number on the facsimile image, and the receiver reads the sender's facsimile number from the coded image and transmits a reception confirmation message. (For example, see Patent Document 3).
JP 2002-10015 A JP-A-6-22117 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-236058

  However, when a predetermined reply means cannot be used on the receiving side for some reason, or when a facsimile document is relayed and transferred, such as "sender-> forwarder-> receiver", etc. With the technique in which the reply means is fixed as in the conventional technique described above, the reception confirmation notification cannot be reliably transmitted to the sender. In addition, the conventional technology cannot cope with a case where a sender or a receiver wants to send and receive a reception confirmation by a desired reply means.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an information processing apparatus, a reception confirmation notification method, and the like that can reliably and flexibly notify whether or not a receiving side has received a document image transmitted by facsimile. And to provide a program.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of notification destination information indicating a notification destination that notifies a reception confirmation notification, and the storage unit when a document image is transmitted by facsimile. At least one of the notification destinations indicated by the plurality of notification destination information when the plurality of notification destination information is received together with the original image by facsimile. Notification processing means for transmitting a reception confirmation notification to one of the two.

  As described above, when a plurality of notification destination information is stored in advance and a document image is transmitted by facsimile, a plurality of notification destination information stored in advance is transmitted by facsimile together with the document image, and a plurality of notifications are transmitted together with the document image. When the destination information is received by facsimile, the reception confirmation notification is transmitted to at least one of the notification addresses indicated by the plurality of notification destination information, so whether or not the receiving side has received the document image transmitted by facsimile, Notification can be made reliably and flexibly.

  Each of the plurality of notification destination information may be different destination numbers or addresses given to different types of notification means or the same type of notification means.

  That is, each of the notification destinations indicated by the notification destination information can be of a different type. The type of notification means is not particularly limited as long as it is a means capable of transmitting a reception confirmation notification to the sender side. For example, it can be a facsimile, an electronic mail, a telephone, a Web service, or the like. Each of the plurality of pieces of notification destination information may be a notification destination having the same notification means and different destination numbers and addresses. For example, there are cases where the e-mail addresses indicated by the two notification destination information are different, but the notification means are of the same type (e-mail).

  The information processing apparatus of the present invention causes the display means to display a plurality of notification destination information received together with the original image on the display means, and one or more of the notification destination information displayed on the display means. Selecting means for selecting notification destination information may be further provided, and the notification processing means may transmit a reception confirmation notification to the notification destination indicated by the notification destination information selected by the selection means.

  According to such a configuration, the reception confirmation notification can be transmitted to a notification destination that is convenient for the receiver to transmit the reception confirmation notification to the receiver.

  The notification processing means selects a notification destination satisfying a predetermined condition from a plurality of notification destinations indicated by the plurality of notification destination information received by facsimile, and transmits a reception confirmation notification to the selected notification destination. You may make it do.

  According to such a configuration, the notification destination can be automatically selected and transmitted without causing the recipient to select it. As a result, it is possible to save the recipient's trouble and quickly transmit the reception confirmation notification. The predetermined condition may be any condition, may be a condition for selecting all the notification destinations indicated by the received notification destination information, or may set a notification means that can be used in advance. In addition, a condition that excludes a notification destination that does not use the set notification means may be excluded, and is not particularly limited.

  Further, the transmission processing means displays an image indicating the plurality of notification destination information for any one of a predetermined area of a document image to be transmitted by facsimile, a margin area of the document image, and a page newly added to the document image. The notification processing means extracts a plurality of pieces of notification destination information from the image indicating the plurality of pieces of notification destination information received by facsimile, and at least one of the notification destinations indicated by the extracted plurality of pieces of notification destination information. A reception confirmation notification can be sent to one of them.

  By arranging and transmitting an image indicating the notification destination information on the document image, the information can be collectively transmitted by facsimile.

  The image indicating the plurality of pieces of notification destination information can also be represented by a code image. The code image may be a barcode image or a two-dimensional code image.

  Further, when the transmission processing means forwards a document image received by facsimile together with a plurality of notification destination information from the first other apparatus to the second other apparatus, the transmission processing means transmits the plurality of notifications received by the facsimile. At least one of the destination information and a plurality of notification destination information stored in the storage means can be transmitted by facsimile together with the original image to be transferred.

  With this configuration, even when a facsimile-received original image is transferred, the original sender's notification destination information and / or forwarder's notification destination information or both can be facsimile-transmitted together with the original image. Can transmit a reception confirmation notification based on the received notification destination information.

  In addition, it may further include transfer processing means for transferring the reception confirmation notification to the first other device when the reception confirmation notification is received from the second other device.

  Thereby, even when the reception confirmation notification is transmitted only to the forwarder, the reception confirmation notification can be reliably transmitted to the original sender.

  In the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the storage unit further stores message information indicating one or more reception confirmation notification messages, and the transmission processing unit includes the plurality of notification destination information and the one or more notification destination information. The message information is transmitted together with the document image by facsimile, and the notification processing means receives a notification indicated by the plurality of notification destination information when receiving a plurality of notification destination information and one or more message information together with the document image from another apparatus. A message indicated by at least one of the one or more pieces of message information received by facsimile can be transmitted as a reception confirmation notification to at least one of the above.

  Further, the information processing apparatus of the present invention, when a plurality of notification destination information and a plurality of message information are received together with the document image by facsimile, a message display processing unit for displaying the plurality of received message information on the display means, Message selection means for selecting one or more message information from among a plurality of message information displayed on the display means, and the notification processing means includes the message information selected by the message selection means. The message shown can be transmitted as a reception confirmation notification.

  In this way, a message that can be used for the reception confirmation notification is stored in advance, and the reception side easily transmits the reception confirmation notification using the message by facsimile transmission together with the document image and the notification destination information. be able to.

  In the reception confirmation notifying method of the present invention, when a document image is transmitted by facsimile, a plurality of notification destination information is read from a storage means storing a plurality of notification destination information indicating notification destinations for notification of reception confirmation, and the plurality of notifications are read out. When the destination information is facsimile-transmitted together with the document image and a plurality of notification destination information are received together with the document image by facsimile, a reception confirmation notification is transmitted to at least one of the notification destinations indicated by the plurality of notification destination information. is there.

  Since the reception confirmation notification method of the present invention also operates in the same manner as the information processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reliably and flexibly notify whether or not the receiving side has received a document image transmitted by facsimile.

  In this reception confirmation notification method, when a plurality of notification destination information is received together with the document image by facsimile, the plurality of notification destination information received together with the document image is displayed on the display means, and the plurality of notification destinations displayed on the display means is displayed. One or more pieces of notification destination information can be selected from the information, and a reception confirmation notification can be transmitted to the notification destination indicated by the selected one or more pieces of notification destination information.

  The program according to the present invention reads out a plurality of pieces of notification destination information from a storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of notification destination information indicating notification destinations for notification of reception confirmation when the computer transmits a document image by facsimile. When receiving a plurality of pieces of notification destination information together with the document image by facsimile, the reception confirmation is made for at least one of the notification destinations indicated by the plurality of notification destination information. It is a program for functioning as a notification processing means for transmitting a notification.

  Since the program of the present invention operates in the same manner as the information processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reliably and flexibly notify whether or not the receiving side has received a document image transmitted by facsimile.

  In this program, when the notification processing means receives a plurality of notification destination information together with the original image by facsimile, the notification processing means displays the plurality of notification destination information received together with the original image on the display means, and displays the plurality of notification destination information displayed on the display means. The reception confirmation notification can be transmitted to the notification destination indicated by one or more pieces of notification destination information selected from the notification destination information.

  The information processing apparatus, reception confirmation notification method, and program of the present invention can be realized without extending the CCITT facsimile standard.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably and flexibly notify whether or not the receiving side has received a document image transmitted by facsimile.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network system 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The network system 1 includes a plurality of multifunction devices 10 having a print function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 30. The multifunction device 10 and the PC 30 have a network 5 such as a LAN. Are connected to each other. Although not shown, the network 5 is connected to a global network such as the Internet via a firewall. Further, a mail server 50 that delivers mail on the Internet and a Web server 60 that provides a Web service are connected to the network 5.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the multifunction machine 10.

  The multifunction device 10 scans an image recorded on a document, records an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor, develops the electrostatic latent image using monochrome toner or color toner, and records the developed image. A printer unit 12 for transferring to paper and outputting, and a FAX unit 13 connected to a public line and performing facsimile transmission and facsimile reception via the public line are provided. Note that the printer unit 12 may output by an inkjet method.

  In addition to the print function, the scanner function, and the facsimile function, the multifunction machine 10 analyzes header information and body text of the email received from the Internet via the mail server 50, and attaches to the email according to the analysis result. A function for outputting the processed image data (hereinafter referred to as iFAX function) is also executable.

  The multi-function device 10 further includes a controller 14 that controls the whole, an HDD 15 that stores image data of an image read by the scanner unit 11, data received via the network 5, image data of an image received by facsimile, and the like. A display panel 16 for displaying information related to an image received by a facsimile, displaying an operation screen having icons, and inputting operation information in response to contact with the displayed icons, and an input for inputting / outputting data. An output port 17 and a communication control unit 18 that communicates with devices connected to the network 5 are provided.

  The scanner unit 11, the printer unit 12, the fax unit 13, the controller 14, the HDD 15, the display panel 16, and the input / output port 17 are connected to each other via a bus. The input / output port 17 is connected to the network 5 via the communication control unit 18. The scanner unit 11 may be incorporated as a part of the FAX unit 13.

  The controller 14 is a microcomputer configured to include a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (SDRAM). In the ROM, in addition to a control program for controlling operations of the scanner unit 11, the printer unit 12, and the FAX unit 13, Various programs are stored, such as a program for performing transmission processing when a document image is transmitted by facsimile, and a program for extracting notification destination information from a document image received by facsimile from another apparatus and performing reception confirmation notification processing Has been.

  The storage medium for storing these programs is not limited to the ROM, and may be, for example, the HDD 15 or an external storage medium, or may be a transmission medium such as a carrier wave on a telecommunication line, There is no particular limitation.

  The HDD 15 stores image data and the like. For example, when facsimile transmission is performed via the FAX unit 13, image data of a document image to be transmitted is stored, and the image data is read and transmitted at a predetermined timing. At the time of facsimile reception, the image data of the received original image is stored and accumulated in the HDD 15, and the stored image data is read out and printed by the printer unit 12.

  Further, sender information is registered in advance in a predetermined storage area of the HDD 15. The sender information is information used by the receiving side to send a reception confirmation notification to the sender who sent the original image by facsimile, and is sent together with the original image when the original image is sent by facsimile. . The sender information includes information of “notification means information”, “notification number or notification address”, “transmission message information”, and “reception confirmation notification message information”.

  The notification means information is information indicating the type of notification means that can be used when notifying the reception confirmation notification. Examples of the notification means include facsimile, telephone, e-mail, Web service, iFAX, and the like.

  The notification number or notification address is a notification number or notification address given to each notification means registered in the notification means information. For example, if the type of the notification means is a facsimile, a facsimile number is registered, and the notification means If the type is e-mail, an e-mail address is registered. Hereinafter, the destination number or address of the notification destination is collectively referred to as “notification address”.

  The transmission message information is information indicating a message transmitted from the sender side to the facsimile receiver. For example, “Send the reception confirmation notification after confirming the contents of the received facsimile.” “Facsimile You can set various messages such as “Please let me know if the document could not be received normally”.

  The reception confirmation notification message information is information indicating a message that the receiver can include in the reception confirmation notification. For example, “confirmed”, “forwarded”, “facsimile transmission destination is wrong. You can register a message such as

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the PC 30.

  The PC 30 includes a CPU 31 that controls the whole, a RAM 32 that temporarily stores data as a work area, a ROM 33 that stores a control program of the CPU 31, a display 34 that displays various screens and information, and a CD-ROM drive 35.

  The PC 30 includes a hard disk drive (HDD) 36. In the HDD 36, various programs including a driver for interacting with the multifunction device 10 via the network 5 in order to use the functions of the multifunction device 10 from the PC 30 are recorded in advance, and data captured from the multifunction device 10 is recorded. Etc. can be memorized. Further, the PC 30 includes a keyboard 37 for inputting text, symbols, and the like, and a mouse 38 as a pointing device, and these are connected to an interface 39.

  The CPU 31, RAM 32, ROM 33, and interface 39 are connected to the input / output port 40. The input / output port 40 is connected to the network 5 via the communication control unit 41, and can communicate with other devices such as the MFP 10 connected to the network 5 by the communication control unit 41. As a result, image data to be printed can be transferred from the PC 30 to the multifunction device 10 and printed, or image data to be transmitted by facsimile can be transferred and transmitted by facsimile. Further, it is possible to send and receive e-mails via the mail server 50 and use web services via the web server 60.

  Note that the mail server 50 and the Web server 60 can also have the same configuration as the PC 30 described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The mail server 50 provides a mail service via the Internet by executing a mail server program stored in the HDD, and the Web server 60 executes a Web server program stored in the HDD. By doing so, a Web service can be provided. Here, the Web service refers to a service that performs software processing according to a request from a client via the Internet using an HTTP protocol, a SOAP protocol, or the like. By using this service, for example, it is possible to transmit a message, an image, etc. to the sender in the same manner as an e-mail, such as enabling the sender to confirm the reception confirmation notification on the homepage.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram functionally showing the main configuration of the multifunction machine 10.

  The FAX receiving unit 20 receives a document image or the like transmitted by facsimile via a public line.

  The document input unit 21 stores image data of a document image received by facsimile by the FAX receiving unit 20, image data of an image scanned by the scanner unit 11, or a document image input into a folder provided in the HDD 15 in advance. Acquire image data and the like.

  The code image conversion unit 22 converts the sender information into a code image such as a bar code or a two-dimensional code, and arranges and synthesizes it on the document image. The arrangement of the code image is performed on a predetermined position of the document image, a blank area, or a page newly added to the document image.

  The FAX transmission unit 23 transmits a document image by facsimile to a designated destination.

  The code image recognition unit 24 recognizes the code image arranged in the document image received by facsimile and converts the code image into sender information.

  The reception confirmation notification control unit 25 displays the sender information converted by the code image recognition unit 24 on the display panel 16 (display / operation unit 26), and allows the receiver to select which notification destination is notified. The reception confirmation notification control unit 25 performs a process of transmitting a reception confirmation notification to the selected notification destination. In addition, if the image received by facsimile is to be transferred to another person, the code image conversion unit 22 converts the sender information of the own apparatus into a code image as transferer information and adds it to the original image. To transfer.

  The display / operation unit 26 corresponds to the display panel 16 described above, displays sender information, and allows a receiver to select a notification destination.

  The e-mail transmission unit 27 generates an e-mail as a reception confirmation notification and transmits the e-mail via the mail server 50.

  The web service calling unit 28 calls and executes a web service. As a Web service, for example, a URL indicating the Web service or a reception confirmation identification number is transmitted to an address designated as a notification destination, and a reception confirmation notification is confirmed by a sender accessing a Web home page. Services.

  In this example, three types of the FAX transmission unit 23, the E-mail transmission unit 27, and the Web service calling unit 28 are shown to be usable as the reception confirmation notification unit, but in addition to these, the above-described iFAX and telephone are used. You may comprise.

  The sender information management unit 29 corresponds to the HDD 15 and manages and holds sender information. The sender information is read by the code image conversion unit 22, converted into a code image, and arranged in the document image. As shown in FIG. 4, the sender information may be structured such that each data is structured and held in the HDD 15.

  Next, a facsimile transmission process according to the present embodiment and a reception confirmation notification transmission process when receiving a facsimile will be described.

  First, before the facsimile transmission process, the facsimile sender registers sender information in the sender information management unit 29 in advance in order to receive a reception confirmation notification from the receiver.

  Of the sender information, the notification means information and the notification address are always registered in association with each other. The sender can first designate and register the types of notification means that he can receive as notification means information, and can specify a notification address for the notification means information. Hereinafter, a pair of notification means information and a notification address is referred to as notification destination information as necessary.

  In addition, the notification destination information includes a plurality of notification destination information with different notification addresses, even if the types of notification means are different, or even if the notification means are the same type, so that the reception confirmation notification is surely delivered to the sender side. It is desirable to register.

  The registration method is not particularly limited, but a registration method corresponding to the situation may be performed. For example, if you want the receiver to be able to send a reception confirmation notification using a notification means that is convenient for the receiver, make sure that you register multiple different types of notification means information. May be. As a result, it is possible to select a preferable notification means on the receiver side and transmit a reception confirmation notification.

  Here, transmission message information and reception confirmation notification message information can also be registered as appropriate.

  As for the transmission message information, for example, a plurality of pieces of notification destination information may be registered for one piece of transmission message information, or different pieces of transmission message information may be designated for each of a plurality of pieces of notification destination information. Good. Further, similarly, with respect to the reception confirmation notification message, a plurality of pieces of notification destination information may be registered for one reception confirmation notification message information, or a different reception may be received for each of the plurality of notification destination information. Confirmation message information may be designated.

  Further, the notification destination information, the transmission message information, and the reception confirmation notification message information may be combined as one combination, and each combination may be given a different identification number for registration. As a result, the sender can add the desired sender information to the original image and perform facsimile transmission by designating the identification number when performing facsimile transmission using the multifunction machine 10.

  Note that the notification address registered as the sender information does not necessarily have to be a number that designates the multi-function device 10 that the sender uses for facsimile transmission. The sender can freely register a notification address as a destination to receive a reception confirmation notification from the receiver.

  The method for storing sender information is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, an XML file may be formed and stored, or may be stored in a normal text format.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of facsimile transmission processing.

  In step 100, the sender inputs image data of a document image to be facsimile-transmitted to the multifunction machine 10. The document input unit 21 may detect that a document image file has been put into a predetermined folder and acquire image data, or may acquire image data from the scanner unit 11.

  In step 102, the code image conversion unit 22 reads all the sender information registered in the sender information management unit 29 and converts them into a code image such as a two-dimensional code.

  In step 104, the converted code image is arranged and combined with the image data of the document image input from the document input unit 21.

The code image can be arranged as shown in any of the following.
1) Place the document image on a preset page / position.
2) A blank part of a document image is detected and automatically arranged so as to fit in the blank part.
3) Create a new blank page or a cover in a fixed format, place it on the page, and add it to the image data of the original image.

  For example, when the arrangement method 2) is adopted, a code image 52 is added to a blank portion of the original image 51 as shown in FIG. 7B with respect to the original image 51 as shown in FIG. Arrange and create composite image.

  Note that the arrangement method may be set in advance in the multifunction machine 10 or may be selected by the sender during facsimile transmission.

  In step 106, the FAX transmission unit 23 transmits the original image combined with the code image by facsimile to the designated transmission destination.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of reception confirmation notification transmission processing when a facsimile is received.

  In step 200, the document input unit 21 on the receiver side acquires image data of a document image received by facsimile via the FAX reception unit 20. The document image received by facsimile may be printed immediately after reception of the facsimile, or after transmission of a reception confirmation notification described later.

  In step 202, the code image recognition unit 24 analyzes the image data of the document image input from the document input unit 21, and determines whether or not the code image is included in the image data of the document image. For example, it is possible to register the features that always appear in the code image and determine the pattern matching.

  If a negative determination is made in step 202, it can be determined that a document that does not need to receive a reception confirmation notification has been received by facsimile, and the processing of this flowchart ends.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 202, the process proceeds to step 204, where sender information is extracted from the recognized code image.

  In step 206, the reception confirmation notification control unit 25 displays the extracted sender information on the display panel 16, and at the same time, a selection item (transfer item) for instructing whether or not to transfer the facsimile-received document image to another apparatus. Is displayed.

  In step 208, it is determined whether or not a transfer item has been designated. If it is determined that an instruction not to transfer the document image received by facsimile is given to another apparatus, the process proceeds to step 210.

  In step 210, the reception confirmation notification control unit 25 determines whether or not notification destination information for transmitting the reception confirmation notification is selected from the sender information continuously displayed on the display panel 16. As described above, since a plurality of pieces of notification destination information are registered in the sender information registration, a plurality of pieces of notification destination information are displayed on the display panel 16, and the receiver can use them. Can be selected. Here, the selected number may be one or plural. If a plurality are selected, even if a failure occurs in any of the notification means during transmission, the reception confirmation notification can be reliably transmitted via the other notification means.

  When a plurality of reception confirmation notification message information is included as the sender information, the message indicated by the plurality of reception confirmation notification message information is displayed on the display panel 16 and received together with the notification destination information. You can let them choose.

  If it is determined in step 210 that the recipient has selected any of the notification destination information displayed on the display panel 16, the process proceeds to step 212, where the reception confirmation notification control unit 25 selects the selected notification destination information. In response to the notification means information (type of notification means) indicated by, the FAX transmission unit 23, the e-mail transmission unit 27, the Web service calling unit 28, etc. are called, and a reception confirmation notification is sent to the notification address indicated by the selected notification destination information. Process the message to be sent.

  For example, if the type of notification means is facsimile transmission, a document image in which a reception confirmation notification message is written is created and transmitted to the notification number designated by the FAX transmission unit 23 by facsimile.

  Further, for example, if the type of notification means is e-mail transmission, the e-mail transmission unit 27 generates an e-mail including a reception confirmation notification message and sends the e-mail to the notification address designated via the mail server 50. Send.

  Also, for example, if the type of notification means is a Web service, the Web service calling unit 28 is caused to make a Web service call with the reception confirmation notification message as an argument for the specified URL. As a Web service, a service that enables a sender to confirm a reception confirmation notification on a home page can be used.

  If it is determined in step 208 that it has been instructed to transfer the document image received by facsimile to another apparatus, the process proceeds to step 214.

  In step 214, the reception confirmation notification control unit 25 acquires the sender information of the receiver (forwarder) itself from the sender information management unit 29 (referred to herein as forwarder information), and sends it to the code image conversion unit 22. A new code image is generated together with the received sender information.

  In step 216, the code image conversion unit 22 arranges and combines the newly generated code image with the image data of the document image. For example, it overwrites the position of the code image of the sender image that has been arranged and combined with the document image.

  In this example, the sender information and the transferer information are combined to generate a new code image, which is arranged and combined with the original image. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to create the code image 54 using only the transferer information, and arrange and combine the created code image 54 at a position different from the code image 52 of the sender information.

  In step 218, the FAX transmission unit 23 performs facsimile transmission of the original image combined with the code image to the transmission destination designated as the transfer destination.

  As described above, when a plurality of notification destination information is stored in advance as sender information and a document image is transmitted by facsimile, the plurality of notification destination information stored in advance is transmitted by facsimile together with the document image, When a plurality of notification destination information is received together with a document image by facsimile, a reception confirmation notification is transmitted to at least one of the notification addresses indicated by the plurality of notification destination information, so that the reception side receives the document image transmitted by facsimile. Whether or not it has been done can be notified reliably and flexibly.

  More specifically, since the sender can register a plurality of desired notification means and notification addresses and transmit the information together with the document image, the sender can receive a reception confirmation notification at the desired notification means and notification destination. The notification means indicated by the registered notification destination information, any notification means of the notification address, even if the notification address becomes unavailable, other available notification means and the notification address are selected to be used. Thus, it is possible to reliably receive a reception confirmation notification from the recipient who received the facsimile. Specifically, in the above description, all registered notification destination information is transmitted by facsimile, but a plurality of senders are selected from the registered notification destination information, and this is sent to the facsimile together with the original image. To send.

  Further, at least one of a plurality of notification destination information received together with the document image can be selected on the receiving side, and a reception confirmation notification is transmitted to the notification address via the notification means indicated by the selected notification destination information. Therefore, the receiver can transmit the reception confirmation notification by a notification means that is most convenient (for example, inexpensive) for the receiver.

  Accordingly, it is possible to perform facsimile reception confirmation notification processing that is convenient for both the sender and the receiver.

  In addition, since it is possible to perform reception confirmation notification simultaneously by a plurality of notification means, even when one notification means becomes impossible to notify due to a failure, the reception confirmation notification is surely sent to the sender by another notification means. Can be sent.

  Furthermore, since the sender designates a notification address and transmits it to the receiver side together with the original image every time facsimile transmission is performed, it is not necessary to register the notification address in advance on the receiver side. Furthermore, since it is not necessary for the receiver to manually input the notification address, the probability of erroneous transmission (incorrect reply) is reduced.

  The sender information including the notification destination information can be transmitted together with the document image in a text format. Since it is arranged and combined with either a margin area or a page newly added to the original image, and sent by facsimile, the sender information is smaller than the case where the sender information is expressed in a text format. A lot of information can be included and transmitted to the recipient. In addition, when a code image is arranged and combined with a document image, the content of the document image itself and the sender information are easily distinguished and recognized. Further, the aesthetic appearance of the original image itself is not impaired.

  Further, in the above, when transmitting a facsimile-received original image, the sender information and the forwarder information are transmitted together with the original image to be transferred. A reception confirmation notification can be transmitted to either one.

  FIG. 8A is a diagram for explaining a reception confirmation notification process performed when transmitting a facsimile received original image together with the sender information and the original image to be transferred. As shown in FIG. 8A, first, the sender S performs facsimile transmission from the sender S to the transferer F (1), and the transferer F performs facsimile transmission (2) to the receivers R1 and R2. At this time, Since the sender information and the forwarder information are transferred together with the document image, the receivers R1 and R2 can directly notify the forwarder F, which is the previous sender, or the sender S of the reception confirmation ( 3a, 3b).

  Further, the transferer F who relayed the facsimile transmission may transmit the transferer information together with the original image by facsimile instead of the sender information.

  In the case of this modification, as shown in FIG. 8B, the forwarder F replaces the code image of the sender information with the code image of the forwarder information when transferring to the receivers R1 and R2. It is arranged and combined with the original image and transmitted (2). For this reason, the receivers R1 and R2 notify the transferer F only of reception confirmation (3). Further, the forwarder F stores the sender information of the sender S. The forwarder F waits for the reception confirmation notification from the receivers R1 and R2, and transmits the reception confirmation notification to the sender F using the stored sender information (4). As a result, the sender S can confirm that all the recipients R1, R2 have received the facsimile.

  Note that, in the case shown in FIG. 8A, when the reception confirmation notification is transmitted only to the forwarder F, the forwarder F, like the sender, The sender information is stored, and when the reception confirmation notification is received from the transfer destination, the transfer person F may transfer the reception confirmation notification to the sender S.

  In the above embodiment, the sender information is converted into a code image including transmission message information and reception confirmation notification message information, and is transmitted together with the original image by facsimile. Therefore, the facsimile receiver uses these messages. Thus, the reception confirmation notification can be easily transmitted.

  In addition, the configuration of the sender information is configured for each of a plurality of notification means information and notification address (notification destination information) pairs so that the message to the recipient can be changed according to the type of notification means. Transmission message information and reception confirmation notification message information may be individually specified.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the notification destination information is selected on the reception side has been described. However, the notification destination is not a selection type, all the received notification destination information is displayed, and the original image received by the receiver is confirmed. After that, the reception confirmation notification may be transmitted to all the displayed notification addresses. By notifying simultaneously by a plurality of notification means in this way, even when one notification means cannot be notified due to a failure or the like, notification can be performed by other notification means, and notification confirmation can be performed reliably. it can.

  Note that the types of notification means that cannot be used are registered in advance in the device, and only the notification destination information of the notification means that can be used on the receiver side is displayed among a plurality of notification destination information included in the received code image. The communication destination information that cannot be used may be displayed so that it cannot be used so that it cannot be selected. Also in this case, the notification destination may not be selected, and the receiver device may automatically determine the notification address of the notification means available on the receiver side and transmit a reception confirmation notification.

  Furthermore, the priority order of the notification means that can be used in advance is determined in the receiver side device, and the reception confirmation notification is sent to the notification address of the notification means with the higher priority order from the notification destination information received together with the document image. May be transmitted.

  Similarly, the sender side can specify the priority of the notification means that the sender wants to use for sending the reception confirmation notification as the sender information, and the notification destination information is displayed on the display means on the receiver side. When doing so, it may be displayed in order of priority, or a numerical value or icon indicating the priority may be displayed. Thereby, the reception confirmation notification can be exchanged by a notification means convenient for both the sender side and the receiver side.

  Furthermore, the recipient can select the desired recipient information from the recipient information, or the recipient information that meets the conditions automatically determined by the recipient's device automatically (or all conditions). It may be possible for the sender side to specify at the time of facsimile transmission whether to automatically send a reception confirmation notification based on In this case, the receiver side device can also specify whether or not to allow automatic transmission of the reception confirmation notification. If automatic transmission is permitted, the notification destination information is displayed on the display means. It is also possible to automatically send a reception confirmation notification without displaying it. In addition, even if the receiver side device permits automatic processing, only when the notification destination information is displayed on the display terminal for a predetermined time and there is no input from the receiver. The reception confirmation notification may be automatically transmitted.

  In addition, in order to be able to make a reception confirmation notice after the receiver confirms the contents of the document image transmitted by facsimile, a transmission included in the sender information is displayed on the display means of the apparatus on the receiver side. The document image received together with the message indicated by the message information may be displayed at the same time.

  Furthermore, normally, the original image received by facsimile is printed immediately after reception, but the received original image may be printed after notification of reception confirmation.

  In the above description, the document input unit 21, the code image conversion unit 22, the FAX transmission unit 23, the code image recognition unit 24, the reception confirmation notification control unit 25, the display / operation unit 26, and each notification means for transmitting the reception confirmation notification. Although an example has been described in which each of the e-mail transmission unit 27 and the Web service calling unit 28 is a module in the multi-function device 10 that performs facsimile communication, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration of the multi-function device 10 that performs facsimile communication is not limited thereto. May be a module mounted in another device (for example, a module in the PC 30 in the above embodiment).

  In this case, processing can be performed as follows. Here, it is assumed that the sender side and the receiver side have the same system configuration.

  First, the sender PC 30 generates a code image of the sender information and generates image data arranged and combined with the original image. The image data is transferred to the MFP 10 for facsimile transmission. The image data received by facsimile in 10 is acquired, the code image included in the original image is recognized from the acquired image data, and a process of transmitting a reception confirmation notification is performed.

  Even with such a configuration, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the network system which concerns on this Embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of PC. FIG. 2 is a block diagram functionally illustrating a main configuration of a multifunction peripheral. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a facsimile transmission process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a reception confirmation notification transmission process. (A) is a diagram showing a document image, (B) is a diagram in which a code image is arranged in a blank portion of the document image, and (C) is a diagram in which a code image obtained by converting forwarder information is separated from a code image of sender information It is the figure arrange | positioned in position. (A) is a diagram for explaining a reception confirmation notification process performed when transmitting a facsimile received original image together with the sender information and the original image to be transferred, and (B). FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a reception confirmation notification process performed when the transferer F who relays facsimile transmission transmits the transferer information together with the original image instead of the sender information.

Explanation of symbols

5 Network 10 Multifunction Machine 11 Scanner Unit 12 Printer Unit 13 FAX Unit 14 Controller 15 HDD
16 Display Panel 18 Communication Control Unit 20 FAX Reception Unit 21 Document Input Unit 22 Code Image Conversion Unit 23 Transmission Unit 24 Code Image Recognition Unit 25 Reception Confirmation Notification Control Unit 26 Display / Operation Unit 27 E-mail Transmission Unit 28 Web Service Unit 29 Transmission Information management unit 30 PC
34 display 50 mail server 60 web server

Claims (14)

Storage means for storing a plurality of notification destination information indicating notification destinations for notification of reception confirmation;
A transmission processing means for transmitting a plurality of notification destination information stored in the storage means together with the original image when the original image is transmitted by facsimile;
Notification processing means for transmitting a reception confirmation notification to at least one of the notification destinations indicated by the plurality of notification destination information when a plurality of notification destination information is received by facsimile together with the document image;
An information processing apparatus including: A display processing unit for displaying a plurality of notification destination information received together with the original image on the display unit;
Selecting means for selecting one or more pieces of notification destination information from among a plurality of pieces of notification destination information displayed on the display means;
Further including
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification processing unit transmits a reception confirmation notification to a notification destination indicated by the notification destination information selected by the selection unit. The notification processing unit selects a notification destination satisfying a predetermined condition from a plurality of notification destinations indicated by a plurality of notification destination information received by facsimile, and transmits a reception confirmation notification to the selected notification destination. Item 6. The information processing apparatus according to Item 1. The transmission processing unit arranges an image indicating the plurality of notification destination information on any one of a predetermined area of a document image to be transmitted by facsimile, a margin area of the document image, and a page newly added to the document image. Send a fax,
The notification processing means extracts a plurality of pieces of notification destination information from an image indicating the plurality of pieces of notification destination information received by facsimile, and receives a reception confirmation notification to at least one of the notification destinations indicated by the extracted pieces of notification destination information The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an image indicating the plurality of pieces of notification destination information is represented by a code image.   6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pieces of notification destination information is a different destination number or address given to a different type of notification unit or the same type of notification unit. . In the case where the document image received by facsimile from the first other apparatus together with the plurality of notification destination information is facsimile-transferred to the second other apparatus, the transmission processing means transmits the plurality of notification destination information received by facsimile. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of notification destination information stored in the storage unit is transmitted by facsimile together with the document image to be transferred. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a transfer processing unit configured to transfer the reception confirmation notification to the first other apparatus when the reception confirmation notification is received from the second other apparatus. The storage means further stores message information indicating one or more reception confirmation notification messages,
The transmission processing means transmits the plurality of notification destination information and the one or more message information together with the document image by facsimile,
When the notification processing means receives a plurality of notification destination information and one or more message information together with a document image from another apparatus by facsimile, the notification processing means sends the facsimile to at least one of the notification destinations indicated by the plurality of notification destination information. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a message indicated by at least one message information among the received one or more pieces of message information is transmitted as a reception confirmation notification. A message display processing unit for displaying a plurality of message information received by facsimile on a display means when receiving a plurality of notification destination information and a plurality of message information together with a document image;
Message selection means for selecting one or more message information from a plurality of message information displayed on the display means;
Further including
The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the notification processing unit transmits a message indicated by the message information selected by the message selection unit as a reception confirmation notification. When a document image is transmitted by facsimile, a plurality of notification destination information is read from a storage means storing a plurality of notification destination information indicating notification destinations for notification of reception confirmation, and the plurality of notification destination information is transmitted together with the document image by facsimile transmission. And
A reception confirmation notification method for transmitting a reception confirmation notification to at least one of notification destinations indicated by the plurality of notification destination information when a plurality of pieces of notification destination information are received together with a document image by facsimile. When a plurality of notification destination information is received together with the original image by facsimile, the plurality of notification destination information received together with the original image is displayed on the display means, and one or more of the notification destination information displayed on the display means is displayed. The reception confirmation notification method according to claim 11, wherein notification destination information is selected and a reception confirmation notification is transmitted to a notification destination indicated by the selected one or more pieces of notification destination information. Computer
When a document image is transmitted by facsimile, a plurality of notification destination information is read from a storage means storing a plurality of notification destination information indicating notification destinations for notification of reception confirmation, and the plurality of notification destination information is transmitted together with the document image by facsimile transmission. Function as a transmission processing means,
A program for functioning as notification processing means for transmitting a reception confirmation notification to at least one of the notification destinations indicated by the plurality of notification destination information when a plurality of notification destination information are received together with the document image by facsimile.   When the notification processing means receives a plurality of notification destination information together with the document image by facsimile, the notification processing means displays the plurality of notification destination information received together with the document image on the display means, and the plurality of notification destination information displayed on the display means. 14. The program according to claim 13, wherein a reception confirmation notification is transmitted to a notification destination indicated by one or more pieces of notification destination information selected from the list.

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