JP2007228176A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device which can prevent transmitting data to a mistaken transmission destination when a user inputs a mistaken transmission destination, and can prevent the occurrence of useless transmission cost and leakage of secret. <P>SOLUTION: A permitted transmission destination table 32 is memorized in a setting memory unit 21 of a facsimile device 1 with information regarding to transmission destinations in which transmission is permitted, and data transmission is not performed when transmission destination input by the user input is not included in the permitted transmission destination table 32. Moreover, a restricting time zone table 31 with information regarding to the timing zone performing transmission restriction is memorized in the setting memory unit 21, and restriction of transmission is performed only when time measured by a timer 16 is in the restriction time zone. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus capable of preventing data transmission to an erroneous transmission destination.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, facsimile apparatuses have been widely used as communication apparatuses that can easily transmit image data to a remote place. In a facsimile apparatus, for example, a user inputs a number that designates a transmission destination of about a dozen digits, and causes a reader to read several to tens of sheets of printed paper such as characters or figures. Image data can be transmitted to a specified destination.

  In Patent Document 1, a time zone in which the transmission destination device is frequently used or a time zone in which the communication line quality deteriorates and communication time is required is stored in advance, and data received in this time zone must be transmitted. Instead, a data communication apparatus has been proposed that can efficiently transmit data in a short time by storing in a memory and waiting, and transmitting data at a time other than this time period.

Moreover, in patent document 2, the time zone which can be transmitted for every transmission destination is set manually, among the set time zone, the time zone which performed communication and became unable to communicate is accumulated as a communication history, and is accumulated. By changing the setting of the transmittable time zone based on the received communication history and when the scheduled transmission time entered by the user is not included in the transmittable time zone, by prompting the user to change the scheduled transmission time, There has been proposed a facsimile server system that transmits data only in a transmittable time zone. In this facsimile server system, the time zone in which communication can actually be performed is optimized for each destination, the probability of being able to connect to the destination is increased, wasteful calls can be reduced, and the facsimile is efficiently performed. Communication can be performed.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 64-54863 JP-A-6-164762

  However, designation of a destination in facsimile communication is performed by inputting a facsimile number represented by only a dozen digits, for example, a mail address used for designation of a destination in e-mail, In comparison, there is a problem that the user is more likely to input an incorrect number. As a result, data is transmitted to an incorrect transmission destination, and there is a possibility that useless communication costs are generated. In particular, in recent years, highly confidential data is often transmitted and received using a facsimile machine, and confidential information may be leaked to the outside by erroneously inputting the data transmission destination. .

  Since the data communication device described in Patent Document 1 is configured not to transmit data in a pre-stored time zone, but to store in a memory and wait, and to transmit data at times other than this time zone, Data can be transmitted efficiently, but even if the user inputs the destination incorrectly, the data is transmitted at a time other than the stored time zone. There is a risk of leakage. In addition, since data transmission is not performed immediately, there is a possibility that the user does not notice that an incorrect transmission destination has been input, and data transmission is not performed to a desired transmission destination.

  Similarly, since the facsimile server system described in Patent Document 2 is configured to transmit data only in a communicable time zone that is optimized based on the communication history, the facsimile communication can be performed efficiently. The above-mentioned problem cannot be solved, and the case where the user inputs an incorrect transmission destination is not mentioned.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. The object of the present invention is to previously store a transmission destination that is permitted to be transmitted, and a transmission destination that is permitted by the user. It is determined whether or not there is data, and if it is not permitted, data transmission is prohibited. When the user inputs an incorrect destination, data is transmitted to the wrong destination. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that can prevent the above-described problem.

  Another object of the present invention is to previously store a transmission destination that permits transmission and a time zone that permits transmission to the transmission destination, and permit transmission in a time zone during which transmission is permitted. Data is transmitted to the destinations that have been sent, and even if the destinations are allowed to send data, the transmission is prohibited by prohibiting transmissions during times when transmission is not allowed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that can increase the confidentiality of transmission and can realize the restriction of data transmission suitable for the use state of a device by a user.

  Another object of the present invention is that a user sets a time limit for limiting transmission, and whether or not the destination input by the user is a permitted destination only during this time limit. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device that can realize a transmission restriction suitable for a user's usage status of a device by determining and prohibiting data transmission according to the determination result.

  Another object of the present invention is to store one or more time zones in advance and store the one or more time zones stored when the user sets a time zone for which transmission is permitted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that allows a user to easily set a time zone for permitting transmission by selecting a permitted time zone from the above.

  Another object of the present invention is that the user can set whether or not to limit transmission to transmit only to the stored transmission destination, so that the user can use the device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that can easily change on / off of a transmission restriction function according to the above.

  In addition, another object of the present invention is a time slot for limiting transmission, a transmission destination for which transmission is permitted, a time period for which transmission to this transmission destination is permitted, or whether transmission is limited. Provided is a communication device that can more reliably prevent data from being transmitted to an erroneous transmission destination by, for example, requiring a password or the like and restricting the change of the setting when the user changes the setting. There is.

  In addition, another object of the present invention is that, when data transmission is prohibited and transmission is not performed, a configuration in which a notification is given to the user, so that the user erroneously inputs a transmission destination. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that can reliably recognize the above.

  Another object of the present invention is to allow a plurality of transmission destinations to be accepted, and determine whether or not transmission is permitted for each accepted transmission destination and prohibit transmission. Can perform so-called broadcast transmission that designates a plurality of transmission destinations for one data, and even if the wrong transmission destination is specified when performing broadcast transmission, the data is sent to the wrong transmission destination. Is to provide a communication device that can reliably prevent the transmission of.

  The communication apparatus according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires transmission data, a transmission destination reception unit that receives a transmission destination of transmission data, and a transmission destination that the transmission destination reception unit receives the transmission data acquired by the acquisition unit. In a communication device comprising a transmission means for transmission, a transmission destination received by the transmission destination reception means based on a transmission destination storage means for storing a transmission destination permitted to be transmitted and a transmission destination stored in the transmission destination storage means Determining means for determining whether or not transmission is permitted, and prohibiting means for prohibiting transmission by the transmitting means when the determining means determines that transmission is not permitted. Features.

  In the present invention, a transmission destination permitted to be transmitted is stored in advance, and it is determined whether or not the transmission destination input by the user is a permitted transmission destination. When a user inputs a destination for transmission, data is transmitted only when the input destination is a permitted destination, and when the destination is not permitted, data is transmitted. Prohibit transmission and do not perform. By limiting the transmission destinations that can be transmitted, data cannot be transmitted to a transmission destination that is not permitted by the user, and erroneous transmission can be prevented.

  In addition, the communication device according to the present invention includes a timing unit that counts time, and the transmission destination storage unit stores a transmission destination that permits transmission and a transmission permission time zone to the transmission destination, The determination unit is configured to perform the determination based on a transmission destination and a transmission permission time zone stored in the transmission destination storage unit and a time measured by the time measurement unit.

  In the present invention, a transmission destination that permits transmission and a time zone in which transmission to this transmission destination is permitted are stored in advance. Even if the transmission destination is permitted, if the transmission time is not within the permitted time zone, data transmission is prohibited and not performed. Therefore, the confidentiality of data transmission can be improved.

  Further, a communication device according to the present invention includes a setting reception unit that receives a setting related to a time limit that restricts transmission, and a time limit storage unit that stores the time limit received by the setting reception unit, The prohibiting means prohibits transmission by the transmitting means based on a determination result of the determining means when the time measured by the time measuring means is within the time limit.

  In the present invention, a time zone for limiting transmission as described above is stored in advance as a time limit. Transmission is prohibited only in this time limit, and data is transmitted regardless of the transmission destination in a time zone other than the time limit. In addition, the time limit period is configured to be settable by the user. Thereby, optimal operation can be performed according to the use condition of a communication apparatus.

  In addition, the communication device according to the present invention includes a setting reception unit that receives a setting related to a transmission destination and a transmission permission time zone stored in the transmission destination storage unit, and a time zone storage unit that stores one or a plurality of time zones. The setting accepting unit is capable of accepting a time zone selected from the time zone stored by the time zone storage unit as the transmission permission time zone.

  In the present invention, the transmission destination permitted to be transmitted and the transmission permission time zone permitted to transmit to the transmission destination can be set by the user. Further, one or a plurality of time zones are stored in advance, and when setting the transmission permission time zone, the time zone stored in advance can be selected and set as the transmission permission time zone. Thereby, when the user sets a large number of transmission destinations and transmission permission time zones, transmission can be easily performed.

  The communication apparatus according to the present invention further includes a setting accepting unit that accepts a setting as to whether or not to restrict transmission, and the prohibiting unit includes a determination result of the determining unit when setting to restrict transmission. Based on the above, transmission by the transmission means is prohibited.

  In the present invention, the user can selectively set whether to limit the transmission as described above. When it becomes necessary to transmit data to a destination other than the stored destination, the setting can be changed so as not to limit transmission.

  In addition, the communication apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that it includes a limiting unit that limits reception of the setting reception unit.

  In the present invention, when the user changes the time limit for limiting transmission, the transmission destination permitted for transmission, the time period permitted for transmission to this transmission destination, or whether or not to limit transmission In addition, for example, a password is required, and only a specific user (so-called administrator) can change the setting. Thereby, since a user other than the administrator cannot change the setting, erroneous transmission can be prevented more reliably, and an optimum operation can be performed according to the use state of the communication device.

  In addition, the communication device according to the present invention is characterized in that the communication device includes a notification unit that performs notification when the prohibition unit prohibits transmission by the transmission unit.

  In the present invention, when a user inputs an incorrect transmission destination and data transmission is prohibited and not performed, the user is notified. As a result, the user can recognize that an incorrect transmission destination has been input, and can reliably retransmit data.

  In the communication apparatus according to the present invention, the transmission destination accepting unit can accept a plurality of transmission destinations, and the determination unit performs the determination for each transmission destination received by the transmission destination reception unit. The prohibiting means prohibits transmission by the transmission means for each transmission destination based on a determination result for each transmission destination by the determination means.

  In the present invention, it is configured to be able to perform broadcast transmission in which one data is transmitted to a plurality of transmission destinations, and in the case of performing broadcast transmission, is the transmission destination permitted for each of the plurality of transmission destinations? Determine whether or not. In the case of inputting a plurality of transmission destinations, the possibility that the user inputs an erroneous transmission destination increases, but erroneous transmission can be reliably prevented by making a determination for each of the plurality of input transmission destinations.

  In the case of the present invention, the transmission destination permitted to transmit is stored in advance, it is determined whether or not the transmission destination input by the user is the permitted transmission destination, and only when the transmission destination is permitted. If data is transmitted and the destination is not permitted, the transmission of data is prohibited and the configuration is not performed. When the user inputs the wrong destination, the data is sent to the wrong destination. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent generation of useless communication costs and leakage of confidential information due to erroneous transmission.

  Further, according to the present invention, a transmission destination permitted to transmit and a time zone permitted to transmit to the transmission destination are stored in advance, and transmission is permitted even if the transmission is permitted. By adopting a configuration in which transmission is prohibited and not performed during a time period that is not performed, it is possible to more reliably prevent leakage of secrets accompanying data transmission.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the user sets a time limit for limiting transmission, limits transmission only in this time limit, and transmits data regardless of the destination in time slots other than the time limit. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to limit data transmission suitable for the usage status of the device by the user, so that the convenience of the communication device can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, one or a plurality of time zones may be stored in advance, and when the transmission permission time zone is set, the pre-stored time zone may be selected and set as the transmission permission time zone. By adopting such a configuration, when the user sets a large number of transmission destinations and transmission permission time zones for which transmission is permitted, settings can be easily performed, so that the convenience of the communication device can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, when it is necessary to transmit data to a transmission destination other than the stored transmission destination by adopting a configuration in which the user can set whether or not to limit transmission. Since it can be changed to a setting that does not restrict transmission, the on / off state of the transmission restriction function can be easily changed according to the use state of the device by the user, and the convenience of the communication device is improved. be able to.

  Further, according to the present invention, the user sets the time limit for limiting transmission, the transmission destination permitted for transmission, the time period permitted for transmission to this transmission destination, or whether or not to limit transmission. When changing the password, for example, a password is required and the setting change is restricted, so that an administrator who knows the password can change the setting, so it is optimal for the usage status of the communication device. Since operation can be performed and a user other than the administrator cannot change the setting, erroneous transmission can be prevented more reliably, and leakage of confidential information due to erroneous transmission can be reliably prevented.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the user inputs an incorrect transmission destination and data transmission is prohibited and is not performed, the user is notified of the transmission destination by configuring the notification to the user. Since it is possible to reliably recognize that an input has been made in error and to reliably retransmit data, the convenience of the communication device can be improved.

  In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to accept a plurality of transmission destinations, and by determining whether transmission is permitted for each accepted transmission destination and prohibiting transmission, so-called broadcast transmission is performed. Because it can be performed, the convenience of the communication device can be improved, and even if the wrong destination is specified when performing broadcast transmission, data is transmitted to the wrong destination Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent leakage of confidential information due to erroneous transmission.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus (communication apparatus) according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an NCU (Network Control Unit) 11 provided in the facsimile apparatus 1, a modem 12, a ROM 13, a RAM 14, an image memory 15, a timer 16, a reading unit 17, a recording unit 18, a display unit 19, an operation unit 20, and A control unit that controls each unit such as the setting storage unit 21, and the control unit 10 and each unit are connected via a bus 21.

  Specifically, the control unit 10 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), controls the above-described units included in the facsimile machine 1, and performs various software functions according to a control program stored in the ROM 13. Is supposed to be executed.

  The reading unit 17 reads an original with an optical system using, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and outputs the read image data. The recording unit 18 is an electrophotographic printer, and prints an image corresponding to image data of a document read by the reading unit 17 or image data received by facsimile communication on a sheet.

  The display unit 19 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, and the operation state of the facsimile machine 1, the telephone number of the incoming call destination, a message prompting the user to input an operation, or a message to the user A warning message or the like is displayed. The operation unit 20 includes numeric keys, character keys, a transmission button, a setting button, and the like necessary for operating the facsimile apparatus 1. In addition, it is also possible to substitute a part or all of the keys and buttons of the operation unit 20 by using the display unit 19 as a touch panel system.

  The ROM 13 stores various control programs necessary for the operation of the facsimile apparatus 1 and is configured by a nonvolatile memory element such as a mask ROM, an EEPROM, or a flash memory. The RAM 14 stores temporary data generated when the above-described control program is executed, and includes a rewritable memory element such as SRAM, DRAM, or flash memory. The image memory 15 is also composed of a rewritable memory element such as SRAM, DRAM, or flash memory, and stores image data obtained by reading by the reading unit 17 and image data received from other facsimile devices. .

  The timer 16 performs timekeeping processing of the current time. For example, the timer 16 performs timekeeping processing by counting up a counter based on a clock signal obtained from a crystal resonator.

  The setting storage unit 21 is composed of a rewritable nonvolatile memory element such as an EEPROM or a flash memory, and stores information related to settings necessary for the operation of the facsimile apparatus 1. The setting storage unit 21 stores a time limit table 31, a permission destination table 32, a registration time zone table 33, and the like, which will be described later.

  The NCU 11 and the modem 12 can directly exchange data without using the bus 21. The NCU 11 is hardware that performs the operation of closing and opening the line L with the public telephone line network (PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network), and connects the modem 12 to the PSTN as necessary. As a result, the facsimile apparatus 1 is connected to another facsimile apparatus via the PSTN and can perform facsimile communication.

  For example, when the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present invention transmits data to a transmission destination whose facsimile communication destination number is “000-111-2222”, the user mistakenly inputs the transmission destination number from the operation unit 20. When “000-111-2223” is input and transmission is performed, it has a function of preventing data from being transmitted to an incorrect transmission destination. This is realized by the administrator registering in advance the destination to which transmission is permitted in the facsimile apparatus 1 and prohibiting the transmission of data to unregistered destinations. The transmission destination permitted to transmit is stored in the setting storage unit 21.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the time limit table 31 of the facsimile machine 1 according to the present invention. In the time limit table 31 stored in the setting storage unit 21, a plurality of time limits can be registered, and each time limit is stored with a registration number. The time limit registered in the time limit table 31 is a time period in which the above-described transmission restriction function is valid, and is set in advance by the administrator of the facsimile apparatus 1.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the registration time zone table 33 of the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present invention. In the registration time zone table 33 stored in the setting storage unit 21, a plurality of time zones can be registered, and each time zone is stored with a reference number. The time zone registered in the registration time zone table 33 is used when an administrator registers a transmission destination in an allowed transmission destination table 32 described later, and the administrator sets a plurality of time zones in advance. As a result, registration of the transmission destination in the permitted transmission destination table 32 can be simplified.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the permitted transmission destination table 32 of the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present invention. A plurality of transmission destinations can be registered in the permitted transmission destination table 32 stored in the setting storage unit 21. Each transmission destination to be registered includes a registration number, a transmission destination name, a transmission destination number, and a permission. It consists of four pieces of time zone information. The administrator can register an arbitrary character string for the destination name, and the destination number is a fax communication number uniquely assigned to identify the destination, so-called fax number. is there. The permission time zone is a time zone in which data transmission to the transmission destination is permitted, and a plurality of time zones can be registered. Further, by registering the reference number of the registration time zone table 33 in the permission time zone, the time zone registered in the registration time zone table 33 can be set as the permission time zone.

  For example, in the example of the permitted transmission destination table 32 illustrated in FIG. 4, the registration number 1 includes a transmission destination name “AAA” and a transmission destination number “000-111-2222”. It is registered so that data can be transmitted in the time period from 30 to 15:00. In addition, in the registration number 2, the transmission destination name “BBB” and the transmission destination number “333-444-5555” are transmitted to the transmission time zone of the reference number 1 in the registration time zone table 33, that is, In the example shown in FIG. 3, it is registered so that data can be transmitted in the time zone from 8:30 to 12:00.

  FIG. 5 is a graph schematically showing an example registered in the tables of FIGS. Note that a transmission destination n (n = 1, 2, 3,...) Shown in the figure indicates a transmission destination registered in the registration number n of the permitted transmission destination table 32. In this example, two time zones, 8:30 to 17:00 and 18: 0 to 20:00, are registered as the time limits for restricting data transmission. Transmission is restricted, and transmission is not restricted in times other than this time zone. In addition, by registering, for example, 0: 0 to 24:00 in the time limit of the time limit table 31, it is possible to always limit transmission.

  In this example, three transmission destinations are registered as transmission destinations that are permitted to be transmitted. Transmission destination 1 is permitted to transmit in the time zone from 8:30 to 15:00, and transmission destination 2 is Transmission is permitted in the time zone from 8:30 to 12:00, and transmission is permitted in the transmission destination 3 in the time zone from 18:00 to 20:00. The permitted time zone of the permitted transmission destination table 32 may be configured such that an arbitrary time zone can be registered. For example, the permitted time zone can be registered only within the limited time zone registered in the limited time zone table 31. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which a warning is issued when a time zone exceeding the time limit registered in the time limit table 31 is set. In addition, by registering 0: 0 to 24:00 in the permitted time zone of the permitted transmission destination table 32, it is possible to register so that data transmission to this transmission destination can always be performed.

  When adding new contents or changing the contents to the tables shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the administrator displays these tables on the display unit 19 of the facsimile apparatus 1 and operates the operation unit 20. So that it can be done. In addition, when adding or changing the contents, the facsimile machine 1 requests input of a password, and only when the input password is correct, the contents can be added or changed. is there. In addition to adding or changing the contents of the table, the administrator can selectively change whether to enable the function that restricts transmission, and disable this function. When set to, data can be transmitted to any destination regardless of the contents of the above table.

  6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the procedure of data transmission processing performed by the control unit 10 of the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present invention. First, the control unit 10 checks whether or not a transmission destination number indicating a transmission destination has been input using the numeric keypad of the operation unit 20 (step S1). If it has not been input (S1: NO), it is input. stand by.

  When the transmission destination number of the transmission destination is input (S1: YES), it is checked whether or not a transmission button provided on the operation unit 20 is pressed (step S2). If the transmission button is not pressed (S2: NO), it is checked whether or not the transmission destination addition button provided on the operation unit 20 is pressed (step S3). The transmission destination addition button is a button used when transmitting one transmission data to a plurality of transmission destinations, that is, when performing broadcast transmission. The transmission destination number input and the transmission destination addition button are pressed repeatedly. Thus, a plurality of transmission destinations can be input.

  If the transmission destination addition button is not pressed (S3: NO), the process returns to step S2 and waits until either the transmission button or the transmission destination addition button is pressed. When the transmission destination addition button is pressed (S3: YES), the transmission destination number of the input transmission destination is temporarily stored in the RAM 14 (step S4), the process returns to step S1, and the transmission destination of the next transmission destination is stored. Wait for the number to be entered. When the transmission button is pressed (S2: YES), the input transmission destination number is temporarily stored in the RAM 14 (step S5), and the reading unit 17 starts reading data (step S5). S6).

  Next, the control unit 10 checks whether or not the function for limiting transmission is set to be effective by the administrator (step S11). When the function for limiting transmission is set to be valid (S11: YES), the current time measured by the timer 16 is acquired, and the time limit table 31 stored in the setting storage unit 21 is referred to. It is checked whether or not the current time is within the time limit (step S12). If the function that restricts transmission is not set to be valid in step S11 (S11: NO), or if the current time is not within the time limit in step S12 (S12: NO), the data read in step S6 Is transmitted (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S19.

  If the current time is within the time limit (S12: YES), the transmission destination is stored in one of the transmission destinations stored in the RAM 14 with reference to the permitted transmission destination table 32 stored in the setting storage unit 21. It is checked whether or not it is registered in the permitted transmission destination table 32, that is, whether or not the transmission is permitted for transmission (step S13). When the transmission is permitted for transmission (S13: YES), the current time measured by the timer 16 is acquired, and the current time is within the permitted time zone of the transmission destination by referring to the permitted transmission destination table 32. Is checked (step S14). If the current time is within the permitted time zone (S14: YES), the destination name and destination number are displayed on the display unit 19 as a destination, and a destination confirmation message is also displayed (step S15). Whether to approve the transmission of data is confirmed (step S17). If transmission of data is approved by the user (S17: YES), the data read in step S6 is transmitted (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S19.

  When the transmission destination stored in the RAM 14 in step S13 is not the transmission destination permitted to transmit (S13: NO), or when the current time is not within the permitted time zone of the transmission destination in step S14 (S14: NO), An error message is displayed on the display unit 19 (step S16), and the process proceeds to step S19 without transmitting data. Further, if the data transmission is not approved by the user in step S17 (S17: NO), the process proceeds to step S19 without transmitting the data.

  In step S19, it is checked whether or not the processes in steps S11 to S18 described above have been completed for all transmission destinations stored in the RAM 14 (step S19). If the processing has not been completed for all the transmission destinations (S19: NO), the process returns to step S11 and is repeated until the above-described processing is completed for all the transmission destinations. When the processing is completed for all the transmission destinations (S19: YES), the control unit 10 ends the data transmission processing.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the setting change process performed by the control unit 10 of the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present invention. First, the control unit 10 checks whether or not the setting button provided on the operation unit 20 has been pressed (step S31). If the setting button has not been pressed (S31: NO), the setting button has been pressed. Wait until

  When the setting button is pressed (S31: YES), a message requesting a password is displayed on the display unit 19 (step S32), and the user is prompted to input the password. Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the password input by the user is completed (step S33). If the password input is not completed (S33: NO), the process returns to step S32 and waits until the password input is completed. To do. When the input of the password is completed (S33: YES), it is checked whether or not the input password is a correct password (step S34). When the correct password is not input (S34: NO), the display unit 19 is displayed. An error message is displayed (step S38), and the process is terminated.

  If the input password is the correct password (S34: YES), change the setting whether or not to enable the transmission restriction function, change the setting of the time limit table 31, and set the permission destination table 32 A change in various settings such as a change or a change in settings in the registration time zone table 33 is accepted (step S35). The setting is changed, for example, by displaying the current setting or various tables on the display unit 19 and accepting a value input by the user operating the numeric keypad, character key, or the like of the operation unit 20 as a setting value. . Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the setting change is finished by the user (step S36). If the setting change is not finished (S36: NO), the process returns to step S35 to accept the setting change and change the setting. Wait for the changes to finish. When the setting change is completed (S36: YES), the changed setting is stored in the setting storage unit 21 (step S37), and the process is terminated.

  The facsimile apparatus 1 having the above configuration transmits data to the transmission destination registered in the permitted transmission destination table 32 only within the registered permitted time period in the limited time period of the limited time period table 31. Since the data is not transmitted when the user inputs an incorrect destination number, it is possible to prevent erroneous transmission and prevent unnecessary communication costs and leakage of confidential information due to erroneous transmission. it can. In addition, the setting to enable or disable the transmission restriction function and the contents of various tables can be changed only after the password has been entered. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent generation of useless communication costs and leakage of confidential information due to erroneous transmission. Further, when it is necessary to transmit data to a transmission destination not registered in the permitted transmission destination table 32 by adopting a configuration in which the administrator can change the setting of whether to enable the transmission restriction function. In addition, since the transmission restriction function can be easily disabled, the convenience of the facsimile apparatus 1 can be enhanced.

  In the present embodiment, the time zone for limiting transmission is stored in the time limit table 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a time zone for permitting transmission may be stored. Further, when the transmission restriction function is valid for 24 hours, a configuration without the restriction time zone table 31 may be used. Similarly, in a case where a 24-hour transmission is permitted to a registered transmission destination, the permitted transmission-destination table 32 may be configured not to include an item for the permitted time zone. Further, the registration time zone table 33 improves the convenience when the administrator registers the transmission destination in the permitted transmission destination table 32, and is not necessarily required, and does not include the registration time zone table 33. It may be.

  In addition, it has been configured so that changes in settings such as whether to enable the transmission restriction function and changes in settings such as the contents of various tables can be made only when the correct password is entered. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to adopt a configuration that does not require a password and can be easily performed by all users. In addition, the function of transmitting the same data to a plurality of transmission destinations, that is, a so-called broadcast transmission function is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration without a broadcast transmission function may be used.

  Further, the setting storage unit 21 and the RAM 14 are configured by different memory elements, but the present invention is not limited to this, and when the RAM 14 is configured by a nonvolatile memory element, the time limit table 31, the permitted transmission destination The table 32 and the registration time zone table 33 may be stored in the RAM 14, and the RAM 14 may serve as the setting storage unit 21. Similarly, the RAM 14 and the image memory 15 may be combined.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the time limit table of the facsimile apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the registration time slot | zone table of the facsimile apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the permission transmission destination table of the facsimile apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a graph which shows typically the example registered into the table of Drawing 2 thru / or Drawing 4. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the data transmission process which the control part of the facsimile apparatus based on this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the data transmission process which the control part of the facsimile apparatus based on this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the setting change process which the control part of the facsimile apparatus based on this invention performs.

Explanation of symbols

1 Facsimile device 10 Control unit (determination means)
11 NCU (Transmission means)
12 Modem (Transmission means)
16 Timer (time measuring means)
17 Reading unit (acquisition means)
18 Recording unit 19 Display unit 20 Operation unit (transmission destination accepting means, setting accepting means)
21 Setting storage section (destination storage means)
31 Time limit table (Time limit storage means)
32 Permitted transmission destination table (transmission destination storage means)
33 Time zone table for registration (time zone storage means)

Claims (8)

Communication comprising: acquisition means for acquiring transmission data; transmission destination reception means for receiving a transmission data transmission destination; and transmission means for transmitting transmission data acquired by the acquisition means to a transmission destination received by the transmission destination reception means. In the device
Transmission destination storage means for storing a transmission destination permitted to transmit;
Determination means for determining whether transmission to the transmission destination accepted by the transmission destination acceptance means is permitted based on the transmission destination stored in the transmission destination storage means;
A communication apparatus comprising: a prohibiting unit that prohibits transmission by the transmitting unit when it is determined by the determining unit that transmission is not permitted. Equipped with a timekeeping means to keep time
The transmission destination storage means stores a transmission destination permitted to transmit and a transmission permission time zone to the transmission destination,
2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit performs the determination based on a transmission destination and a transmission permission time zone stored in the transmission destination storage unit and a time measured by the time measurement unit. . Setting accepting means for accepting a setting related to a time limit for restricting transmission;
A time limit storage means for storing the time limit received by the setting receiving means,
The said prohibiting means prohibits the transmission by the said transmission means based on the determination result of the said determination means, when the time which the said time measuring means measured is in the said time limit. Communication device. Setting accepting means for accepting a setting related to a transmission destination and a transmission permission time zone stored in the transmission destination storage means;
A time zone storage means for storing one or more time zones,
The communication apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the setting accepting unit is capable of accepting a time zone selected from the time zone stored by the time zone storage unit as the transmission permission time zone. A setting accepting means for accepting a setting as to whether or not to limit transmission;
5. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prohibition unit prohibits transmission by the transmission unit based on a determination result of the determination unit when the transmission is set to be restricted. The communication device described.   The communication apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a restriction unit that restricts reception of the setting reception unit.   The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a notification unit that performs notification when the prohibition unit prohibits transmission by the transmission unit. The transmission destination accepting unit is capable of accepting a plurality of transmission destinations,
The determination unit is configured to perform the determination for each transmission destination received by the transmission destination reception unit.
The said prohibition means prohibits transmission by the said transmission means for every transmission destination based on the determination result for every transmission destination by the said determination means, The one of Claim 1 thru | or 7 Communication device.

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