JP2008099142A - Facsimile system and facsimile apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile system and facsimile apparatus in which erroneous transmission caused by a transmission number input error or the like can be prevented regardless of a type of an opposite-side facsimile apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Facsimile destination information candidates are converted into a QR code image, for example, and the QR code image is written into a target document 2, so that a composite document 4 is generated. In transmission, the QR code image is decoded, the facsimile destination information candidates are displayed and the composite document 4 that is the target document or an image obtained by removing the QR code image therefrom is transmitted to a destination represented by facsimile destination information user-selected from the displayed candidates. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile system and a facsimile apparatus.

  In a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as “FAX”) apparatus, in order to start communication, an operation for inputting the telephone number of the other party is required on the caller side as in the case of a voice call. The telephone number input operation is artificially performed, and an error may occur in the input.

Conventionally, in order to prevent erroneous transmission, the individual number entered together with the other party's telephone number is compared with the individual number of the other facsimile machine issued from the other party's facsimile machine during the handshake. A facsimile apparatus is proposed that includes a control means for ending the communication and terminating the communication when they do not match (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-5-3532

  However, according to the facsimile apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when both the transmission-side and reception-side facsimile apparatuses are not equipped with the above-described control means, the two facsimile apparatuses communicate with each other. I can't.

  Also, when the sender makes a call to a destination that is different from the destination intended by the creator of the document, such as when the creator of the document to be sent does not necessarily match the sender. I can not cope with.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile system and a facsimile apparatus that can prevent erroneous transmission due to a transmission number input error or the like regardless of the model of the other party's facsimile apparatus. I will.

  A facsimile system according to the present invention for solving the problems of the prior art includes a code image conversion unit that converts a facsimile destination information candidate designated for a target document to be facsimile-transmitted into a code image, and the code conversion A code writing unit that writes the code image converted by the copy unit to the target document; and the facsimile destination information candidate is read by decoding the code image written by the code writing unit The facsimile destination information candidate display unit for displaying the facsimile destination information candidate, and the target corresponding to the facsimile destination information selected by the user from the facsimile destination information candidates displayed on the facsimile destination information candidate display unit A facsimile transmission section for transmitting a document. It is characterized by comprising a Kushimiri device.

  The facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes a target document that is a target document to be facsimile-transmitted and includes a code image that represents a facsimile destination information candidate in advance, and the acquired target document includes: Decode the included code image to read the facsimile destination information candidate, display the facsimile destination information candidate that has been read, and the facsimile destination information candidate displayed on the facsimile destination information candidate display unit And a facsimile transmission unit that selects desired facsimile destination information from among them and transmits the target document to a destination corresponding to the desired facsimile destination information.

  Here, at the time of facsimile transmission, the code image portion written in the target document may be removed and transmitted.

  Embodiments of a facsimile system and a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The example of the facsimile system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a client computer 10, a server computer 20, a first multifunction device 40 having at least a printer function, at least a scanner function and a facsimile function. And a second multi-function device 50 equipped with the above.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the client computer 10 receives the instruction from the user and generates a target document 2A that is a target of facsimile transmission. The target document 2A may be generated, for example, by a key input operation by a user, or may be generated by reading a document printed on paper with a scanner or the like.

  Further, the client computer 10 accepts at least one input of facsimile destination information which is a transmission destination of the target document 2A. Then, the client computer 10 transmits the received facsimile destination information and the generated target document 2A (document data) to the server computer 20.

  The target document 2 is not limited to the case where it is generated by the client computer 10, but for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the target document 2B is read using the scanner function of the second multi-function device 50, and the second composite The device 50 may transmit the read target document 2B to the server computer 20 as document data. In this case, the user inputs facsimile destination information that is the transmission destination of the target document 2B, which is document data, in the second multi-function device 50, and the facsimile destination information as the input destination is input to the server together with the target document 2B. Send to computer 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the server computer 20 includes a receiving unit 21, a code image converting unit 22, and a code writing unit 23. Here, the receiving unit 21 receives the document data of the target document 2 and the facsimile destination information as the transmission destination from the client computer 10 or the like.

  Further, the code image conversion unit 22 of the server computer 20 converts the facsimile destination information designated for the target document 2 into a predetermined code image as a destination candidate. Here, the code image may be any image as long as it includes computer-readable information such as a barcode. In this embodiment, the code image is described as a QR code image. This destination candidate may include a plurality of destination candidate entries identified by index numbers, for example, as shown in FIG. Each destination candidate entry includes a destination name, a FAX number, and an expiration date.

  The code writing unit 23 of the server computer 20 writes the QR code image converted by the code image conversion unit 22 into the document data of the target document 2A, and transmits the document data to the first multifunction device 40.

  The first multifunction device 40 receives from the server computer 20 a synthesized document 4A obtained by synthesizing a QR code image with the target sentence 2A, and forms the synthesized document 4A on a sheet.

  The second multi-function device 50 includes a user interface that accepts an instruction operation such as information display and selection, such as a touch panel. Functionally, as shown in FIG. And a transmission unit 52. Here, the facsimile destination information candidate display unit 51 determines whether or not a QR code image including the facsimile destination information is formed in the image data read as a facsimile transmission target by the scanner included in the second multifunction device 50. Check out. If a QR code image including facsimile destination information is formed, the QR code image is decoded and the facsimile destination information is read. Then, a list of destination candidate entries included in the read facsimile destination information is displayed. When the user performs an operation of selecting at least one destination candidate entry from the list, the facsimile destination information candidate display unit 51 outputs a FAX number included in the selected at least one destination candidate entry.

  At the time of displaying this list, the facsimile destination information candidate display unit 51 obtains date / time information representing the date and time at the time of the list display process from a timing unit (not shown), and the date / time represented by the obtained date / time information, It may be controlled not to display destination candidate entries whose expiration dates are earlier than the date and time indicated by the date and time information by comparing the information with the expiration date included in each of the destination candidate entries.

  In response to the input of the FAX number output from the facsimile destination information candidate display unit 51, the facsimile transmission unit 52 of the second multi-function device 50 calls the FAX number. When the other party's facsimile arrives and responds, the image data read as a facsimile transmission target is transmitted to the other party.

  At this time, the facsimile transmission unit 52 deletes and transmits the QR code image (QR code image including facsimile destination information) portion included in the image data from the image data read as a facsimile transmission target. Also good. In this case, for example, when the facsimile destination information candidate display unit 51 detects a QR code image including the facsimile destination information, it generates information on an area including the detected QR code image and outputs the information to the facsimile transmission unit 52. In the facsimile transmission unit 52, the area specified by the input information in the image data subjected to facsimile transmission may be replaced with white (paper color) and transmitted.

  Thus, for example, in the second multifunction device 50, the sheet on which the composite document 4A is formed is read, the QR code image formed on the sheet is decoded, and is included in the combined QR code image. Display each candidate destination entry. When the user performs an operation of selecting at least one of the destination candidate entries, the image data is transmitted to the FAX number included in the selected at least one destination candidate entry. As a result, regardless of the model of the other party's facsimile machine, it is possible to prevent erroneous transmission due to a transmission number input error, etc., and to transmit to a FAX number specified by a QR code image attached at the time of creation by the document creator. be able to.

  In the above description, an example in which facsimile destination candidates are formed as QR code images has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and barcodes may be used as long as destination candidates can be formed in a computer-readable state. In this case, the code may be a code image in which the destination candidate included can be read reliably (if it cannot be read, an error occurs).

  In the present embodiment, the number of code images including facsimile destination information such as a QR code image may not be one. The second MFP 50, when the image data read by the scanner includes a plurality of QR destination images, each of which includes a destination candidate obtained by decoding each QR code image. If the destination candidates decoded from the QR code images match each other, the decoded destination candidates may be displayed and output for use by the user.

  In addition, when a part of the destination candidates decoded from each QR code matches, the matched part of the destination candidates may be displayed and output for user selection. If there is no destination candidate to be selected by the user, such as when there is no matching destination candidate, a display for rejecting the facsimile transmission may be displayed to interrupt the processing or to input a FAX number. It is good as well. When inputting the FAX number, the FAX number of the other party may be input a plurality of times, and the image data may be transmitted to the input FAX number only when they match.

  When a plurality of QR code images are included, the following processing may be added. That is, a plurality of destinations are compared, and different portions are highlighted. As a specific example, when the FAX number and the destination name are different from each other, a plurality of different information is displayed side by side and different portions are highlighted. The highlighting includes, for example, a method of making the color of the part different from other parts. Note that any one of the different information may be selected, the selected information may be displayed, and a portion different from the other may be highlighted.

  Here, when a different part is included in the FAX number, it may be controlled not to transmit until the FAX number of the transmission destination is input or a matching correction is accepted. On the other hand, when the names of the destinations are different, a display requesting confirmation of whether or not to transmit by disregarding the difference may be displayed, and transmission may be performed when an instruction to transmit by ignoring is received. .

  In the present embodiment, the processing may be varied depending on the number of QR code images included in the image data read by the scanner. For example, if there is one read QR code image, it is included in the QR code image. Display destination candidates for user selection. If there are a plurality of read QR code images, the above-described processing is performed.

  In the description so far, the server computer 20 combines the QR code images. However, the QR code image may be combined when the document generated by the client computer 10 is printed out. For example, in the printer driver software installed in the client computer 10, an input field for accepting an input of a fax number is presented, and when the fax number is accepted, a code image (QR code image) representing the accepted fax number is displayed. Etc.) may be generated, combined with the image of the document to be printed, and transmitted to the printer.

  In this case, the FAX number of each destination may be input a plurality of times, a plurality of QR code images may be generated for each FAX number input each time, and each may be combined. In addition, as for the FAX number, candidates may be read from a predetermined FAX number database (phone book database), and one selected from the candidates may be accepted.

  When the second multi-function device 50 includes a disk device, an area for storing documents received from the user (acceptance area) and processing of documents received from the user are stored in the disk device. The following processing is performed when an area for storing a processing target document determined to be performed (processing target area) and an area for storing a document not to be processed (error document area) are set. May be.

  In other words, the user stores the composite document with the QR code image to be facsimile transmission target in the receiving area. Then, the second multifunction device 50 reads the composite document, decodes the QR code image included in the composite document, and extracts a FAX number as a destination candidate.

  Then, together with an instruction to transmit to the destination of the extracted FAX number, the composite document (here, processing for removing the QR code image (processing for overwriting the QR code image portion in white) may be performed) Store in the processing target area.

  The second multi-function device 50 processes the document data stored in the processing target area according to an instruction associated with the document data, for example, as processing targets in the order of storage. In other words, when document data associated with an instruction to be facsimile-transmitted to the destination of the designated FAX number is stored together with the designation of the FAX number, the document data is designated according to the instruction. Send a fax to the destination of the number.

  Note that the second multi-function device 50 may request user confirmation prior to processing. In this case, the extracted FAX number and information on the target document (for example, its title information) are transmitted to the specified user by e-mail, and the user permits transmission to the e-mail. When an e-mail indicating this is returned, the document data is stored in the processing target area. When the user returns an e-mail indicating that transmission is not permitted, the document data may be stored in the error area.

  Further, when the composite document includes a plurality of QR code images, the second multi-function device 50 extracts the FAX number from each QR code image, and checks whether or not they match. If not, the document data of the composite document may be stored in the error area, and an e-mail requesting correction may be sent to the designated user.

1 is a configuration block diagram illustrating an example of a facsimile system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a facsimile system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the information of the destination candidate in the facsimile system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile system, 2 Target document, 4 Composite document, 10 Client computer, 20 Server computer, 21 Accepting part, 22 Code image conversion part, 23 Code writing part, 40 1st multifunction machine, 50 2nd multifunction machine, 51 Facsimile destination information candidate display section, 52 facsimile transmission section.

Claims (3)

A code image conversion unit that converts a facsimile destination information candidate designated for a target document to be facsimile-transmitted into a code image;
A code writing unit that writes the code image converted by the code image conversion unit into the target document;
A facsimile destination information candidate display unit for decoding the code image written by the code writing unit to read the facsimile destination information candidate, and displaying the read facsimile destination information candidate;
A facsimile transmission unit including a facsimile transmission unit configured to transmit the target document to a destination corresponding to the facsimile destination information selected by the user from the facsimile destination information candidates displayed on the facsimile destination information candidate display unit. A facsimile system characterized by that. Means for acquiring a target document which is a target document for facsimile transmission and includes a code image representing a facsimile destination information candidate in advance;
A facsimile destination information candidate display unit that decodes a code image included in the acquired target document to read facsimile destination information candidates, and displays the read facsimile destination information candidates;
A facsimile transmission unit that transmits the target document to a destination corresponding to the facsimile destination information selected by the user from the facsimile destination information candidates displayed on the facsimile destination information candidate display unit. Facsimile device. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2,
A facsimile apparatus, wherein the code image portion written in the target document is removed and transmitted during facsimile transmission.

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