JP2007306297A - Mail server device, customer terminating device, and facsimile communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a device other than a dedicated facsimile equipment to receive a FAX image without a time lag. <P>SOLUTION: An IP facsimile apparatus 1 transmits origination information comprising a telephone number of a transmission destination (reception side) and a domain name of a mail server 3 to transmit the FAX image to the mail server 3 through an IP network 2. The mail server 3 converts the telephone number added to the origination information to an IP address of a reception-side customer terminating device 4 according to the origination information of the IP facsimile apparatus 1, and attaches the FAX image to mail using SMTP and transfers them to the customer terminating device 4. The customer terminating device 4 once receiving the mail with the attached image data stores the image data attached to the received mail and reports the reception of the mail with the attached image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mail server device that performs facsimile communication using an IP network, a home terminal device, and a facsimile communication system.

  Conventionally, several methods have been proposed and implemented for facsimile (hereinafter also referred to as fax) communication using an IP network such as the Internet.

(1) Real-time type As a real-time type, a dedicated adapter is installed at the connection part between the facsimile machine on the transmission side and the Internet line, and the ITU-T TT. There is a technique for converting a modem signal into a packet in accordance with a communication procedure according to Recommendation 38 and transmitting it in real time to a receiving facsimile machine. As another method, a dedicated adapter is installed at the connection portion between the transmitting facsimile machine and the Internet line, and the modem signal is transmitted to the receiving facsimile machine in real time as voice (deemed voice) by the dedicated adapter. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In general, a personal computer, an analog facsimile machine, or the like is connected to the Internet directly or via a router. Therefore, if a fax image can be sent regardless of whether or not the receiving terminal has a fax function, the fax image can be sent more flexibly without using a dedicated facsimile machine or a dedicated adapter. It becomes possible.

  However, in the real-time type, the receiving side must be a facsimile machine, and a fax image cannot be transmitted directly to the Internet or directly to a personal computer connected via a router or the like.

Therefore, a technique has been proposed in which a fax image can be received (or viewed) even by a device such as a personal computer connected to the Internet.
(2) Storage and exchange type As a storage and exchange type, when a mail server is arranged at a connection portion with the Internet line and there is an access from a terminal (personal computer) on the receiving side, the ITU-T TT. There is a technique in which a fax image is converted into a MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) format according to a communication procedure according to 37 recommendation, and attached to a mail using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and transferred. As another example, a fax server connected to the public line is installed at the connection part with the Internet line, and fax images read by the facsimile apparatus are stored in the fax server. Facsimile communication is performed according to the communication procedure (TIFF-FX) according to 37 recommendations.

For example, as a conventional technique, page information for access linked to received distribution request data is created and released to the network, and distribution on the network specified by the distribution destination information notified along with the received distribution request data First, an e-mail including location information of the access page information in the network is transmitted. Then, when the access page information is transferred to the network terminal that has selected the access page information and the distribution request data received through the access page information is selected, A technique for transferring has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-309701 A JP-A-11-177614

  However, in the above-described conventional storage exchange type technology, it is necessary to make an inquiry from the receiving terminal to the mail server periodically (usually at intervals of several minutes), so that it cannot be received immediately and lacks real-time capability. There is a problem. In addition, it is conceivable to specify the IP address of the receiving side terminal and directly transmit it. However, if the receiving side terminal is connected to the LAN side of a home terminal device such as a VoIP router using an IP phone, Since the address is not fixed, it is difficult to communicate directly from the Internet, and there is still a problem of lacking real-time property.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mail server device capable of receiving a fax image without a time lag even if it is not a dedicated facsimile device, a home terminal device, And providing a facsimile communication system.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention relates to a storage unit that stores a telephone number assigned to a terminal device connected to an IP network and an IP address assigned to the terminal device in association with each other; Receiving means for receiving via the IP network a mail including a fax image attached and a destination telephone number of the fax image, and a correspondence stored in the storage means Based on the information, an address conversion unit that reads an IP address corresponding to a destination telephone number included in the mail received by the reception unit, and converts the IP address of the transmission destination of the mail into the read IP address; A transmission unit configured to transmit an e-mail to which the fax image is attached after the IP address of the transmission destination is converted by the address conversion unit to the IP network. A mail server device, characterized by.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a receiving unit that receives a mail attached with a fax image transmitted via an IP network, and the fax image received by the receiving unit is attached. An in-home terminal terminal comprising storage means for storing the received mail and notification means for notifying that the mail attached with the fax image has been received by the receiving means.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention relates to a storage unit that stores a telephone number assigned to a terminal device connected to an IP network in association with an IP address assigned to the terminal device; A first receiving means for receiving, via the IP network, a mail including a destination address of an IP address assigned to the terminal, a fax image attached thereto, and a destination telephone number of the fax image; and the storage means The IP address corresponding to the destination telephone number included in the mail received by the receiving means is read based on the correspondence information stored in the mail, and the IP address of the mail destination is converted into the read IP address. An address conversion unit, and a destination IP address converted by the address conversion unit, and a mail attached with the fax image is transmitted to the IP network. A mail server device comprising: a sending means; a second receiving means for receiving a mail attached with the fax image transmitted from the mail sending means of the mail server device; and received by the second receiving means. An in-home terminal comprising: storage means for storing the mail attached with the fax image; and notification means for notifying that the mail attached with the fax image has been received by the second receiving means. A facsimile communication system comprising:

  According to the present invention, in the above invention, a third receiving means for receiving a fax image transmitted via a public network and a mail generation for generating a mail attached with the fax image received by the third receiving means. And a fax server apparatus comprising a second transmission means for transmitting the mail generated by the mail generation means to the mail server apparatus via the IP network.

  According to this invention, the mail server device stores the telephone number assigned to the terminal device connected to the IP network and the IP address assigned to the terminal device in association with each other in the storage means, and the receiving means The destination is the IP address assigned to the terminal, a fax image is attached, and a mail including the destination telephone number of the fax image is received via the IP network and stored in the storage unit by the address conversion unit. Based on the correspondence information, the IP address corresponding to the destination telephone number included in the mail received by the receiving means is read, the IP address of the mail destination is converted into the read IP address, and the first transmitting means Then, an e-mail with the fax image attached with the destination IP address converted is transmitted to the IP network. Therefore, the mail server device can directly transfer the mail with the fax image attached to the terminal device without any inquiry from the terminal device, and the fax image can be delivered without a time lag even if it is not a dedicated facsimile device. The advantage that it can be made is obtained.

  Further, according to the present invention, the home terminal receives the mail attached with the fax image transmitted via the IP network, stores the received mail attached with the fax image in the storage means, and notifies the notification means. To notify that an e-mail attached with a fax image has been received. Therefore, in the home terminal, there is an advantage that the user can be immediately notified that the fax image has been received.

  According to the present invention, in the facsimile communication system mail server device, the telephone number assigned to the terminal device connected to the IP network and the IP address assigned to the terminal device are stored in the storage means in association with each other. The first receiving unit receives the IP address assigned to the terminal as a transmission destination, receives a mail including the transmission destination telephone number of the fax image and the fax image via the IP network, and the address conversion unit Based on the correspondence information stored in the storage means, the IP address corresponding to the destination telephone number included in the mail received by the receiving means is read, the IP address of the mail destination is converted into the read IP address, The first transmission means transmits a mail including a fax image in which the destination IP address is converted to the IP network. 2 receives the mail with the fax image attached, stores the received mail with the fax image attached in the storage means, and notifies that the mail with the fax image attached is received by the notification means. Inform. Therefore, the mail server device can directly transfer the mail with the fax image attached to the home terminal without an inquiry from the home terminal, and even if it is not a dedicated facsimile device, the fax image can be sent without a time lag. Can be delivered, and the user can be immediately notified that a fax image has been received.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the facsimile communication system, a fax image transmitted via the public network is received, a mail generating unit generates a mail attached with the received fax image, and the IP network transmitting unit A fax server device that transmits the mail to the mail server device via the IP network is provided. Therefore, even in fax communication via a public network, the fax server device generates a mail with a fax image attached and sends it to the mail server device, and the mail server device sends a mail with a fax image attached. Can be directly transferred to the home terminal, and the fax image can be delivered without a time lag even if it is not a dedicated facsimile apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

A. First embodiment A-1. Configuration of First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an IP facsimile machine 1 is directly connected to an IP network 2 and has an image reading function, a function for holding a read fax image, and a transmission function, and converts the fax image into a tiff format image. Attach the image, that is, generate a mail in MIME format that includes the image, and send the mail to the ITU-T TT. The data is transmitted to the mail server 3 via the IP network 2 according to the communication procedure according to the recommendation 37. At this time, the IP facsimile machine 1 uses, for example, the format of “0422 × 1000 @ mail server domain name” using the transmission information including the telephone number on the receiving side and the domain name of the mail server 3. The IP network 2 is a network in which transmission / reception is performed by an IP address such as the Internet.

  The mail server 3 sends the fax image from the IP facsimile machine 1 to the ITU-T TT. 37 according to the communication procedure according to the recommendation of 37. 37: a receiving function, a function for converting the telephone number added to the calling information into the IP address of the receiving end terminal device 4 according to the calling information of the IP facsimile machine 1, It has an SMTP transmission function for transmitting mail received from the IP facsimile machine 1 by SMTP.

  The home terminal device 4 is connected to the IP network 2 and is given an IP address in advance. The in-home terminal device 4 has an SMTP reception function for receiving mail attached with image data transferred from the mail server 3, a function for accumulating received mail, a function for notifying that mail has been received, received mail ITU-T TT. 37, or T.W. It has a transmission function for transmitting to an external terminal such as a connected personal computer 5 or analog facsimile machine 6 in accordance with a communication procedure according to 38 recommendations.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mail server according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, the mail server 3 includes a reception unit 3-1, a database 3-2, an address conversion unit 3-3, and a transmission unit 3-4. The receiving unit 3-1 transmits the fax image from the IP facsimile apparatus 1 via the IP network 2 to the ITU-T TT. It is received according to the communication procedure according to 37 recommendations. As shown in FIG. 3, the database 3-2 stores a telephone number and an IP address assigned in advance to the home terminal device 4 corresponding to the telephone number.

  The address conversion unit 3-3 refers to the database 3-2 and determines the mail server domain name of the outgoing information according to the telephone number added to the outgoing information of the IP facsimile machine 1 and the IP of the receiving end terminal device 4 on the receiving side. Convert to address. In the example of FIG. 3, the domain name is converted to an IP address “10.10.20.3” corresponding to “telephone number“ 0422xx1000 ”, and“ 0422xx1000 @ 10. 10.20.3 "is generated. The transmission unit 3-4 transfers the mail received by the reception unit 3-1, to the home terminal device 4 indicated by the converted transfer destination address.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the home terminal device according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the home terminal device 4 includes a receiving unit 4-1, a mail image storage unit 4-2, a mail reception notifying unit 4-3, a mail reception notifying unit 4-4, and a mail image transmitting unit 4-5. The receiving unit 4-1 receives the ITU-T T.264 from the mail server 3. An e-mail attached with image data transferred according to the communication procedure according to the recommendation 37 is received.

  The mail image storage unit 4-2 stores image data (or mail itself) attached to the received mail. When the mail reception notification unit 4-3 receives a mail from the mail server 3, the lamp, LED, etc. are turned on (flashing) to notify that the mail with the attached image data has been received. In addition, you may make it alert | report by the output of the audio | voice containing an electronic sound provided with the audio | voice output means containing a speaker etc.

  When an external terminal such as a personal computer 5 is connected to the in-home terminal device 4, the mail reception notifying unit 4-4 indicates that the external terminal has received a mail with image data attached. , Notification via video (including icons) and pop-up screen. The mail image transmission unit 4-5 is stored in the mail image storage unit 4-2 in response to a request from an external terminal such as the personal computer 5 or the analog facsimile machine 6 connected to the home terminal device 4. The mail itself or the image data attached to the mail is transmitted to the external terminal. The external terminal may be a printing device such as a printer.

A-2. Operation of First Embodiment Next, the operation of the first embodiment described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the facsimile communication system according to the first embodiment. First, the IP facsimile machine 1 scans a document or the like to read image data (fax image), converts the fax image into a tiff format image, generates a MIME format mail with the image attached, and sends it to a destination ( Using the transmission information composed of the telephone number of the receiving side and the domain name of the mail server 3, for example, in the format of “0422xx1000 @ mail server domain name” (S1), the above mail is sent to the ITU-T T.A. In accordance with the communication procedure according to the recommendation 37, it is transmitted to the mail server 3 via the IP network 2 (S2).

  In the mail server 3, the reception unit 3-1 receives a fax image from the IP facsimile machine 1 via the IP network 2, and the address conversion unit 3-3 refers to the database 3-2 to obtain the IP facsimile machine. According to the telephone number added to the transmission information of 1, the mail server domain name of the transmission information is converted to the IP address of the receiving end terminal device 4 (S3). Next, in the mail server 3, the mail received by the receiving unit 3-1 is transferred by the transmitting unit 3-4 to the home terminal device 4 indicated by the converted transfer destination address (S4).

  In the home terminal device 4, when the receiving unit 4-1 receives a mail attached with image data transferred from the mail server 3, the image data (or mail itself) attached to the received mail is stored as a mail image. Store in the part 4-2 (S5). Next, in the home terminal device 4, when the mail reception notification unit 4-3 receives a mail from the mail server 3, the lamp, the LED, etc. are turned on (flashing), and the mail with the attached image data is received. It is notified (S6).

  In this way, by transferring the mail with the fax image attached to the home terminal device 4 from the mail server 3, the fax image can be directly delivered to the home terminal device 4 in real time without a time lag. Further, by turning on (flashing) the lamp, LED, etc. of the home terminal device 4, it is possible to immediately notify the user that the fax has been received.

  Further, when an external terminal such as a personal computer 5 is connected to the in-home terminal device 4, the mail reception notification unit 4-4 indicates that the external terminal has received a mail with image data attached. Notification is made by voice, video (including icons, etc.) (S7). When the user requests browsing (output) from an external terminal such as the personal computer 5 or the analog facsimile machine 6 (S8), the mail stored in the mail image storage unit 4-2 is attached to the mail itself or the mail. The processed image data is transmitted to an external terminal such as the personal computer 5 or the analog facsimile machine 6 (S9).

B. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

B-1. Configuration of Second Embodiment FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile communication system according to the second embodiment. It should be noted that portions corresponding to those in FIG. The facsimile apparatus 10 has an image reading function, a function for holding a read fax image, and a transmission function. The fax image is transmitted via the public network 11 to another analog facsimile machine connected to the public network 11 in accordance with a communication procedure according to 30 recommendations.

  In the second embodiment, the facsimile machine 10 further transmits the fax image to the home terminal device 4 connected to the IP network 2 in addition to the other facsimile devices connected to the public network 11. It has become. At this time, the facsimile apparatus 10 first makes a call to the fax server 12 and then sends the fax information together with the call information including the telephone number of the receiving side to which the fax image is sent in response to a request from the fax server 12. The image is transmitted to the fax server 12. The public network 11 performs transmission / reception using the telephone number 0AB-J.

  When the fax server 12 receives an incoming call from the facsimile apparatus 10, the fax server 12 requests the facsimile apparatus 10 for a telephone number on the receiving side to which the fax image is to be transmitted. Transmission information including the telephone number and the domain name of the mail server 3, for example, “0422xx1000 @ mail server domain name” is generated. The fax server 12 converts the fax image received from the facsimile apparatus 10 into a tiff format image, and generates a MIME format mail with the image attached. In addition, the fax server 12 is an ITU-T TT. In accordance with the communication procedure according to the recommendation 37, the mail with the image and the image attached is transmitted to the mail server 4 via the IP network 2.

  In the mail server 4, as in the first embodiment described above, when mail from the fax server 12 is received, the mail server domain of the outgoing information is referred to according to the telephone number added to the outgoing information with reference to the database 3-2. The name is converted into the IP address of the receiving end device 4 on the receiving side, and the received mail is transferred to the in-home terminal device 4 indicated by the transfer destination difference address composed of the converted IP address.

  Next, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the fax server according to the second embodiment. The fax server 12 includes a reception unit 12-1, an address generation unit 12-2, a mail generation unit 12-3, and a transmission unit 12-4. The receiving unit 12-1 transmits the fax image from the facsimile apparatus 10 via the public network 11 to the ITU-T TT. Receive according to the communication procedure according to 30 recommendations.

  The address generation unit 11-2 generates transmission information including the telephone number on the receiving side from the facsimile apparatus 10 and the domain name of the mail server, for example, “0422xx1000 @ mail server domain name”. The mail generation unit 12-3 converts the fax image from the facsimile apparatus 10 into a tiff format image, and generates a MIME format mail with the image attached. The transmission unit 12-4 transmits the ITU-T TT. According to the communication procedure according to the recommendation 37, a mail with a fax image attached is transmitted to the mail server 4 according to the transmission information.

B-2. Operation of the Second Embodiment Next, the operation of the second embodiment described above will be described. FIG. 8 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the facsimile communication system according to the second embodiment. First, the facsimile apparatus 10 scans a document or the like, reads image data (fax image), and sends it to the fax server 12 (S20). When there is an incoming call from the facsimile machine 10, the fax server 12 requests the facsimile machine 10 for a telephone number on the receiving side to which a fax image should be transmitted (S21).

  In response to a request from the fax server 12, the facsimile apparatus 10 inputs the telephone number on the receiving side that is the destination of the fax image (S22), and transmits the fax image together with the telephone number to the fax server 12 ( S23). In the fax server 12, when the reception unit 12-1 receives a fax image from the facsimile apparatus 10 via the public network 11, the address generation unit 12-2 uses the destination (receiving side) telephone number and mail server. 3 is generated, the mail generation unit 12-3 converts the fax image into a tiff format image, and generates a MIME format mail with the image attached (S24). Then, the transmission unit 12-4 transmits the mail with the fax image attached thereto by SMTP to the mail server 3 via the IP network 2 in accordance with the transmission information (S25).

  In the mail server 3, the reception unit 3-1 receives the fax image from the fax server 12 via the IP network 2, and the address conversion unit 3-3 refers to the database 3-2 to receive the fax image from the fax server 12. The telephone number added to the call information is converted into the IP address of the receiving end device 4 on the receiving side (S26). Next, in the mail server 3, the mail received by the receiving unit 3-1 is transferred by the transmitting unit 3-4 to the home terminal device 4 indicated by the converted transfer destination address (S27).

  In the home terminal device 4, when the receiving unit 4-1 receives a mail attached with image data transferred from the mail server 3, the image data (or mail itself) attached to the received mail is stored as a mail image. Stored in the section 4-2 (S28). Next, in the home terminal device 4, when the mail reception notification unit 4-3 receives a mail from the mail server 3, the lamp, the LED, etc. are turned on (flashing), and the mail with the attached image data is received. It is notified (S29).

  In this way, by transferring the mail with the fax image attached to the home terminal device 4 from the mail server 3, the fax image can be directly delivered to the home terminal device 4 in real time without a time lag. Further, by turning on (flashing) the lamp, LED, etc. of the home terminal device 4, it is possible to immediately notify the user that the fax has been received.

  Further, when an external terminal such as a personal computer 5 is connected to the in-home terminal device 4, the mail reception notification unit 4-4 indicates that the external terminal has received a mail with image data attached. Notification is made by voice, video (including icons, etc.) (S30). When the user requests viewing (output) from an external terminal such as the personal computer 5 or the analog facsimile machine 6 (S31), the mail is stored in the mail image storage unit 4-2 or attached to the mail itself. The image data thus transmitted is transmitted to an external terminal such as the personal computer 5 or the analog facsimile machine 6 (S32).

  According to the first and second embodiments described above, since the telephone number on the receiving side and the IP address of the in-home terminal device are converted, the sender can easily send a fax to the telephone number to be sent. And the recipient can receive a fax immediately. Further, it is possible to output with a normal facsimile machine without introducing an expensive IP facsimile machine. Furthermore, by making it easily viewable with a personal computer, it is only necessary to print what seems to be important, and printing paper can be saved. Further, by using the IP network, no communication fee is required, and facsimile communication can be performed at a minimum necessary cost.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the facsimile communication system by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mail server by this 1st Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the database of the mail server by this 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the subscriber | terminal terminal apparatus by this 1st Embodiment. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the facsimile communication system according to the first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the facsimile communication system by this 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fax server by this 2nd Embodiment. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement of the facsimile communication system by this 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IP facsimile machine 2 IP network 3 Mail server 3-1 Receiving part (Receiving means, 1st receiving means)
3-2 Database (storage means)
3-3 Address converter (address converter)
3-4 Transmitter (transmitter)
4 In-home terminal device 4-1 Receiving unit (receiving means, second receiving means)
4-2 Mail image storage (storage means)
4-3 Mail reception notification section (notification means)
4-4 Mail reception notification part (notification means)
4-5 Mail image transmission unit (fax image presentation means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Personal computer 6 Facsimile apparatus 10 Facsimile apparatus 11 Public network 12 Fax server 12-1 Receiving part (3rd receiving means)
12-2 Address generator 12-3 Mail generator (mail generator)
12-4 Transmitter (transmitter)

Claims (4)

Storage means for storing a telephone number assigned to a terminal device connected to the IP network in association with an IP address assigned to the terminal device;
Receiving means for receiving, via the IP network, an IP address assigned to the terminal as a destination, a fax image attached thereto, and a mail including the destination telephone number of the fax image;
Based on the correspondence information stored in the storage unit, the IP address corresponding to the destination telephone number included in the mail received by the receiving unit is read, and the IP address of the destination of the mail is read out. Address conversion means for converting to
A mail server apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that converts a destination IP address by the address conversion unit and transmits a mail with the fax image attached thereto to the IP network. Receiving means for receiving a mail attached with a fax image transmitted via the IP network;
Accumulating means for accumulating the mail attached with the fax image received by the receiving means;
An in-home terminal terminal comprising: an informing means for informing that the mail with the fax image attached is received by the receiving means. Storage means for storing a telephone number assigned to a terminal device connected to the IP network in association with an IP address assigned to the terminal device;
First receiving means for receiving, via the IP network, an IP address assigned to the terminal as a destination, a fax image attached thereto, and a mail including the destination telephone number of the fax image;
Based on the correspondence information stored in the storage unit, the IP address corresponding to the destination telephone number included in the mail received by the receiving unit is read, and the IP address of the destination of the mail is read out. Address conversion means for converting to
A mail server device comprising: a first transmission unit configured to transmit a mail to which the IP address of the transmission destination is converted by the address conversion unit and the fax image is attached to the IP network;
Second receiving means for receiving a mail attached with the fax image transmitted from a mail transmitting means of the mail server device;
Storage means for storing the mail received by the second receiving means and attached with the fax image;
A facsimile communication system, comprising: an in-home terminal terminal comprising notification means for notifying that a mail with a fax image attached has been received by the second reception means. Third receiving means for receiving a fax image transmitted via the public network;
Mail generating means for generating a mail attached with a fax image received by the third receiving means;
4. The facsimile according to claim 3, further comprising: a fax server device comprising a second transmission means for transmitting the mail generated by the mail generation means to the mail server device via the IP network. Communications system.

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