JP2008172317A - Information transmitting device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information transmitting device which can inform a user that there is information which could not be transmitted. <P>SOLUTION: The information transmitting device comprises a means for receiving information becoming a transmission object and its destination information, and a means for transmitting that information to a specified destination and holding that information if transmission is not completed. On the other hand, it is checked whether there is information which is held without completing transmission or not, and if there is information which is held without completing transmission, a predetermined processing is performed for that information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information transmission apparatus and a program.

Some apparatuses that transmit information, such as a facsimile machine, store information that could not be transmitted for some reason in a memory, and use the stored information at the time of retransmission.
JP-A-5-227403

  In such a device, it is required to notify the user that there is information that could not be transmitted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information transmitting apparatus and program capable of transmitting to a user that there is information that could not be transmitted.

  The invention according to claim 1 is an information transmission device, wherein the transmission image information to be transmitted and the transmission destination information that is the destination of the transmission image information are specified, and the transmission image information is designated. When the transmission is not completed, when the transmission is not completed, the transmission image information is stored as untransmitted information together with the transmission destination information. Processing execution means for executing a predetermined process on the untransmitted information based on whether or not the transmission information holding means has untransmitted information.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the information transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a time of a new transmission process, and the process execution means is a predetermined process. A warning that there is untransmitted information to the same transmission destination information as the destination of the new transmission process, transmission of untransmitted information to the same transmission destination information as the destination of the new transmission process, At least one process of displaying a list of untransmitted information to the same transmission destination information as the destination and changing the destination of the untransmitted information to the same transmission destination information as the destination of the new transmission process is executed. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information transmitting apparatus according to the second aspect, the time point of the new transmission process is a time point when a new transmission process is instructed.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the information transmitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the time point of the new transmission process is a time point when the transmission destination information of the new transmission process is input. .

  The invention according to claim 5 is the information transmission apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the new transmission process is performed when the processing execution unit transmits the untransmitted information. Transmission image information and untransmitted information to the same transmission destination information as the destination in the new transmission process are transmitted together.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the information transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a time when the information transmission function is selected, and the process execution means is a predetermined process. At least one process of: warning of the presence of the unsent information; transmission of the unsent information; display of the list of unsent information; display of destination information of the unsent information; change of destination of the unsent information Is to be executed.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the information transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising user authentication means, wherein the untransmitted information holding means transmits the transmission image information and the transmission destination information together with the transmission image information and the transmission destination information. The predetermined time is the time of the authentication process by the user authentication means, and the process execution means is authenticated by the authentication means as a predetermined process. A warning that there is unsent information by a user, transmission of unsent information by a user who has been authenticated by the authentication means, a list display of unsent information by a user who has been authenticated by the authentication means, and the authentication At least one process of displaying transmission destination information of unsent information by a user authenticated by the means and changing a destination of untransmitted information by a user authenticated by the authentication means is executed. In the is.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the information transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising destination information holding means for holding destination information, wherein the predetermined time point is at least one of the held destination information. The processing execution means changes the display form of the transmission destination information held by the unsent information holding means among the destination information to be displayed as a list as a predetermined process. Is to be displayed.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a program, in which a computer receives a transmission image information to be transmitted and a transmission destination information that is a destination of the transmission image information, and the transmission image information is designated. When the transmission is not completed, the transmission image information is stored as untransmitted information together with the transmission destination information, and the transmission is not completed at a predetermined time. And a procedure for executing a predetermined process for the untransmitted information based on whether or not there is retained information.

  According to the invention described in claim 1 or claim 9, when there is information that could not be transmitted, the existence of the information can be notified, and the information that could not be transmitted is left without being processed indefinitely. Can contribute to prevention.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, claim 3, or claim 4, it is possible to contribute to preventing unsent information to the same destination as that of a new transmission process from being left unattended.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, information that could not be transmitted in the past is transmitted together with information that is newly transmitted by the user, and communication efficiency can be improved.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, when using the information transmission function, it is possible to contribute to preventing information that could not be transmitted from being processed indefinitely.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to help prevent information that was intended to be transmitted in the past but could not be transmitted forever.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, it is possible to inform the operator in an easy-to-understand manner that there is a destination related to information that could not be transmitted in the past in the destination information displayed in a list.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An information transmission apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a facsimile machine, and as shown in FIG. 1, a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a scanner unit 13, a printer unit 14, and an operation unit. 15, a display unit 16, and a communication unit 17. The information transmitting apparatus 1 is connected to a telephone line network as an example of communication means.

  The control unit 11 is a program control device such as a CPU, and operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 12. The control unit 11 of the present embodiment performs the following process as the same process as a normal facsimile. That is, the control unit 11 receives an input of a destination telephone number from the user via the operation unit 15 and accepts an operation for transmitting a facsimile. Then, the control unit 11 optically reads the document set on the scanner unit 13 and acquires the image data. Then, the control unit 11 causes the telephone number input to the communication unit 17 to be called, and when the other party receives an incoming call, the control unit 11 transmits the image data using a facsimile transmission protocol. Also, the image data transmitted by facsimile from the communication unit 17 is accepted and output to the printer unit 14. If the transmission of the image data is not completed during the transmission process, the transmission process is repeatedly performed every predetermined time for a predetermined number of retries, but the transmission cannot be completed for some reason. In this case, the document is stored as an unsent document.

  If the transmission of image data is not completed in the course of this processing, the control unit 11 according to the present embodiment performs transmission processing for a predetermined number of retries, but still fails for some reason. In some cases, image data subject to transmission that has not been delivered as a result of performing such a predetermined retry is used as an untransmitted document, associating with destination telephone number information, etc. as an untransmitted database. The data is stored in the storage unit 12 (FIG. 2).

  The control unit 11 investigates whether there is information held in the storage unit 12 without completing transmission at a predetermined timing. If there is information held without completing transmission, the control unit 11 A predetermined process is executed. The details of the processing of the control unit 11 will be described in detail later.

  The storage unit 12 includes a memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage unit 12 may include a disk device such as a hard disk.

  The storage unit 12 holds a program executed by the control unit 11. The storage unit 12 also operates as a work memory of the control unit 11 and holds, for example, information that has not been transmitted (untransmitted database that associates image data with information on the destination). This program may be provided in a state stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM.

  The scanner unit 13 includes, for example, a line sensor, and is a scanner device that optically scans and reads an original while feeding it one page at a time. The scanner unit 13 optically reads a set original according to an instruction input from the control unit 11. The scanner unit 13 outputs image data obtained by reading to the control unit 11.

  The printer unit 14 is a laser printer or the like, and forms an image based on the image data on a medium such as paper in accordance with an instruction input from the control unit 11.

  The operation unit 15 is, for example, a touch panel provided with a transparent electrode, and receives the input of the user's instruction operation and outputs the content of the instruction operation to the control unit 11. The display unit 16 is a liquid crystal display that is visible through the touch panel of the operation unit 15, and displays information according to instructions input from the control unit 11.

  The communication unit 17 is a modem here. When a call is received, the communication unit 17 responds to the call, receives information, and outputs the information to the control unit 11. Further, the communication unit 17 calls a designated telephone number in accordance with an instruction input from the control unit 11. When the other party who made the call does not receive the call (when the call is busy, when it is disconnected, or when the call is not received at a predetermined time, etc.), the communication unit 17 includes information indicating the cause. , Information indicating that no incoming call has been received is output to the control unit 11.

  Also, the communication unit 17 cannot transmit image data even if the other party receives a call (when the call is disconnected even though the transmission is not completed, or communication with the other party's modem is not possible). In such a case, information indicating the cause and information indicating that the transmission could not be performed are output to the control unit 11.

  Further, when the transmission of the image data is completed, the communication unit 17 outputs information indicating that to the control unit 11.

  Here, an operation example of the control unit 11 of the present embodiment when information that has not been transmitted is accumulated in the storage unit 12 will be described. The control unit 11 investigates whether there is information held in the storage unit 12 without completing transmission at a predetermined timing. Here, the predetermined timing may be a periodic timing, for example, or may be a timing when the user performs some operation.

  For example, the predetermined timing may be a timing at which a new transmission instruction is given to the destination of the information held without completing the transmission. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when a user inputs a telephone number as a facsimile destination and instructs facsimile transmission, the control unit 11 controls the scanner unit 13 to acquire image data to be transmitted. (S1). The acquired image data is hereinafter referred to as current designation data.

  The control unit 11 further searches the input telephone number from the untransmitted database stored in the storage unit 12 (S2). When the telephone number input here is found from the untransmitted database, the control unit 11 reads out image data stored in association with the input telephone number in the untransmitted database (S3). Then, the control unit 11 calls the designated destination (telephone number) to the communication unit 17, and when the other party receives the call, the current designated data and the read image data are transmitted to the communication unit 17 together. (S4). That is, the current designation data and the image data read out in step S3 are transmitted continuously (for example, as continuous pages) without disconnecting the call.

  If the input telephone number is not found from the unsent database in the process S2, the control unit 11 causes the communication unit 17 to call the designated destination (telephone number), and the other party receives a call. The current designated data is transmitted (S5).

  Further, when the transmission result is input from the communication unit 17 subsequent to the processing S4 or S5, the control unit 11 receives information (error information) indicating that the other party has not received or transmitted. It is checked whether or not there is (S6). If it is error information, the image data to be transmitted is stored in the untransmitted database of the storage unit 12 in association with the destination information and error information (information indicating the cause of the error) (S7). In this process S7, the information read in process S3 (or the image data information to be transmitted together with the current designated data in process S4) may be deleted. If the information input in step S6 is not error information, the process ends.

  According to the present embodiment, when a user inputs a destination for facsimile transmission and issues a transmission instruction, at that time, the image data addressed to the destination read in the past and not transmitted Will be sent together.

  Note that the operation of the information transmitting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is not limited to the above operation. For example, the timing (predetermined timing) for investigating whether there is information held in the storage unit 12 without completing transmission (whether there is information held in the untransmitted database) is as follows: Such timing may be used.

  That is, when the information transmitting apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having a printer function and a copier function in addition to the facsimile function, the user first performs the facsimile transmission using the operation unit 15. An operation of selecting “facsimile transmission” among the copier and other functions is performed. Therefore, the control unit 11 may investigate whether there is information held in the storage unit 12 without completing the transmission at the timing when the operation of selecting “facsimile transmission” is performed. As a result of this investigation, if there is information held in the unsent database, predetermined countermeasure processing such as displaying that there is such information regardless of the destination may be executed.

  Further, in the above-described example, when an instruction for facsimile transmission is given, it is checked whether there is image data to be transmitted to the same destination as the designated destination in the untransmitted database. However, instead of this, when the destination is designated, it may be investigated whether or not image data to be transmitted to the same destination as the designated destination exists in the untransmitted database.

  Furthermore, when the destination is stored in advance in the storage unit 12 as phonebook information or the like, when displaying a list of destinations registered in the phonebook information, it should be transmitted to the same destination as the destination included in the list It may be investigated whether the image data is in an untransmitted database. In this case, for the destinations associated with the image data stored in the unsent database, the display mode is changed so that the destinations are not associated with the image data stored in the unsent database at the time of listing. May be. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a message (A) or an icon (B) indicating that may be displayed or blinked for the destination associated with the image data stored in the unsent database. .

  Further, when the control unit 11 of the information transmission apparatus 1 performs the process of authenticating the user, it may be investigated whether or not the information is held in the untransmitted database when the user is authenticated. That is, the control unit 11 of the present embodiment requests a user who intends to use the information transmission apparatus 1 to input a combination (set) of authentication information such as a predetermined user name and password. When the authentication information set is input, it is checked whether the authentication information set stored in association with the storage unit 12 in advance matches the input authentication information set. Accept the operation by the user. In addition, there are various methods such as a method of reading authentication information from a card in which authentication information is recorded, and any method may be adopted here.

  When the user is authenticated as described above, the control unit 11 does not transmit the information specifying the user when the information is held in the untransmitted database without completing the transmission of the information. It may be held in association with the information.

  Moreover, the control part 11 may investigate whether there exists the information hold | maintained in the unsent database in relation to the information which identifies the said user at the time of authenticating a user. And the control part 11 is good also as performing a countermeasure process as an object of a display or transmission only about the information linked | related with the information which identifies the authenticated user.

  Furthermore, in addition to these, information stored in the untransmitted database when an operation on the information transmitting apparatus 1 is not performed for a predetermined time, when reset, or when returning from the power saving mode. You may investigate whether there is.

  Furthermore, the information transmission apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, for example, information held without completing transmission instead of or in addition to the above-described processing as countermeasure processing for image data held in the untransmitted database. There may be executed at least one of a warning of the presence of information, a list display of information held without completion of transmission, and a destination change of information held without completion of transmission.

  For example, a list of information held in the unsent database may be displayed at any of the timings described so far (FIG. 5). In the example of FIG. 5, when any information is selected, processing such as “retransmission” and “deletion” can be selected. When “retransmission” is selected here, information specifying the information is held as a retransmission target. When “delete” is selected, the information is deleted from the unsent database.

  When there is information to be retransmitted, information specified by the information held as the retransmission target is read from the untransmitted database, and the image data included in the read information is associated with the associated information. To the destination.

  In FIG. 5, the cause of each error may be included in the list and displayed. At this time, if the cause of the error is based on a temporary cause such as “busy”, accept the retransmission time of the image data associated with the temporary cause (which may eventually stop) It is good. At this time, the control unit 11 waits until the accepted retransmission time (performs standby processing while referring to a clock (not shown)), and when the accepted retransmission time elapses, the image data for which the retransmission time is designated is not transmitted. Send to the destination associated with the database. As described above, in the present embodiment, the content of the countermeasure processing may be changed according to the cause of non-transmission.

  Further, at the time of the processing S4 shown in FIG. 3 or the above-mentioned retransmission, the user may be inquired whether or not to change the destination. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the user inputs a destination telephone number and instructs transmission, a message “There is unsent information at the specified destination” is displayed on the display unit 16. Then, a display for inquiring whether or not to change the destination collectively (meaning that the destination of the current designated data is also changed) is displayed (FIG. 6A). Here, when the user instructs to change the destination collectively, a display prompting the input of the destination is performed (FIG. 6B). Here, when the user inputs a new destination and instructs transmission, the communication unit 17 is caused to call the newly designated destination (telephone number). The current designation data and the read image data are transmitted together.

  In addition to batch change, it is also possible to accept batch transmission, partial (only unsent information only) destination change, or an instruction to send only the current designated data, and perform processing according to the respective instructions. At this time, if buttons for performing all instructions cannot be displayed on the display unit 16, the contents of the instruction to be accepted are switched by key operation, and processing is performed according to the instruction selected when the determination operation is performed. You can do it.

  It should be noted that when all or some of the destinations are changed as described above and the destination before the change is stored in the storage unit 12 as the phone book information or the like, the destination before the change of the phone book information is changed. , It may be overwritten with the changed destination.

  Furthermore, the information transmitting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment may perform a display indicating that on the display unit 16 while the information is held in the untransmitted database. In addition, for example, a notification device such as a light emitting diode indicating that there is untransmitted information may be provided, and the notification device may be used to notify that there is untransmitted information (for example, turning on the light emitting diode). Or blink).

  In this embodiment, the information transmission apparatus 1 is described as an example of a facsimile. However, the information transmission apparatus 1 transmits information via a wired or wireless network such as an apparatus that transmits an e-mail. A device that transmits information by any method, such as a device, may be used. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to inform the user that there is information that could not be transmitted.

It is a block diagram showing the structure of the information transmitter which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and its connection example. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the unsent database hold | maintained in the information transmitter which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart figure showing the example of a part of operation | movement of the information transmitter which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of an information display in the information transmitter which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of a list display of the content of the unsent database performed in the information transmitter which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of an information display performed in the information transmitter which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information transmitter, 11 Control part, 12 Storage part, 13 Scanner part, 14 Printer part, 15 Operation part, 16 Display part, 17 Communication part

Claims (9)

Means for accepting transmission image information to be transmitted and transmission destination information which is a destination of the transmission image information;
A process for transmitting the transmission image information to the designated transmission destination information, and when the transmission is not completed, the transmission image information is stored as untransmitted information together with the transmission destination information. ,
A process execution means for executing a predetermined process on the untransmitted information based on whether or not there is untransmitted information in the untransmitted information holding means at a predetermined time;
An information transmitting apparatus comprising: The predetermined time is a time of a new transmission process,
The process execution means is a predetermined process,
A warning that there is unsent information to the same destination information as the destination of the new transmission process;
Transmission of unsent information to the same destination information as the destination of the new transmission process,
A list display of unsent information to the same destination information as the destination of the new transmission process;
The information transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one process of changing a destination of untransmitted information to the same transmission destination information as the destination of the new transmission process is executed.   The information transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the time point of the new transmission process is a time point when a new transmission process is instructed.   The information transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the time point of the new transmission process is a time point when the transmission destination information of the new transmission process is input.   When the process execution means transmits the untransmitted information, the transmission image information in the new transmission process and the untransmitted information to the same transmission destination information as the destination in the new transmission process are combined. The information transmission device according to claim 2, wherein the information transmission device transmits the information. The predetermined time is a time when the information transmission function is selected,
The process execution means is a predetermined process,
Warning that there is unsent information,
Transmission of the unsent information;
A list of the unsent information,
Display of destination information of the unsent information;
The information transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one process of changing a destination of the untransmitted information is executed. Furthermore, it has user authentication means,
The untransmitted information holding means holds information for identifying a sender together with the transmission image information and the transmission destination information,
The predetermined time is a time of authentication processing by the user authentication means,
The process execution means is a predetermined process,
A warning that there is unsent information by a user who has been authenticated by the authentication means;
Transmission of unsent information by a user who has been authenticated by the authentication means;
A list display of unsent information by a user who has been authenticated by the authentication means;
Display of transmission destination information of unsent information by a user who has been authenticated by the authentication means;
The information transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one process of changing a destination of unsent information by a user who has been authenticated by the authentication unit is executed. Furthermore, it has destination information holding means for holding destination information,
The predetermined time point is a time point at which at least a part of the held destination information is displayed as a list, and the process execution unit is configured as a predetermined process,
2. The information transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein among the pieces of destination information to be displayed in a list, the display format of the transmission destination information held by the non-transmission information holding unit is changed and displayed. On the computer,
A procedure for accepting transmission image information to be transmitted and transmission destination information that is a destination of the transmission image information;
A process of transmitting the transmission image information to the specified transmission destination information, and when the transmission is not completed, the procedure of holding the transmission image information as untransmitted information together with the transmission destination information;
A procedure for performing predetermined processing on the untransmitted information based on whether there is information held without completing transmission at a predetermined time;
A program characterized in that is executed.

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