JP2008263656A - Data transmission apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data transmission apparatus capable of setting a transmission source address, corresponding to an acquisition destination of data to be transmitted. <P>SOLUTION: A data transmission apparatus 1 comprises a transmission means 11 for transmitting data and an address setting means 16 for setting a transmission source address in transmitting data by the transmission means, wherein the address setting means 16 sets different transmission source addresses, according to acquisition destinations of data to be transmitted. When data are acquired from a data storage means 12, the address-setting means 16 allows the address of the owner of the data storage means and the address of an operator to be selected as transmission source addresses. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data transmission apparatus that transmits data such as images and documents by transmission means such as electronic mail, facsimile, and Internet facsimile, and automatically sets a transmission source address upon transmission.

  In the data transmission apparatus as described above, an apparatus-specific address is conventionally used as a transmission source address set at the time of transmission, and only the administrator can change the transmission source address. For this reason, it was not easy to use.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a data transmission apparatus configured such that a transmission source address can be set to an address different from the address of the present apparatus by an operator's operation.

Further, Patent Document 2 proposes a facsimile apparatus in which, when operator identification information is input, a mail address corresponding to the input information is automatically set as a transmission source address.
JP 2003-233560 A JP 2003-32426 A

  However, the data transmission device described in Patent Document 1 has poor operability because the transmission source address is set by an operator's manual input operation. In addition, since the operator can freely set the transmission source address, use of another person's address may cause an unnecessary transmission pretending to be another person.

  Further, in the facsimile apparatus described in Patent Document 2, address setting according to the operator is automatically performed, but there is an inconvenience that the operator cannot change the set transmission source address.

  Further, with the techniques of Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, it is not possible to set a transmission source address according to a transmission mode or a transmission data acquisition destination.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a technical background. In addition to enabling automatic setting of an address according to the operator, the operator can change the set transmission source address. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data transmission device that can reduce the possibility of transmission pretending to be someone else, or a data transmission device that can set a transmission source address according to a transmission mode or a transmission data acquisition destination. To do.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) In a data transmission apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits data; and an address setting unit that sets a transmission source address when data is transmitted by the transmission unit, the address setting unit obtains data to be transmitted. A data transmission apparatus, wherein a different transmission source address is set according to a destination.
(2) When the data is acquired from the data storage unit, the address setting unit selects the address of the owner of the data storage unit and the address of the operator as the transmission source address. Data transmission device.
(3) When the operator's address is selected as the transmission source address, the address setting means sets the address of the owner of the data storage means in the “CC (carbon copy)” column. Data transmission device.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (1), it is possible to set different transmission source addresses depending on acquisition destinations of data to be transmitted, and the convenience of the apparatus can be improved.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (2), since the address of the owner of the data storage means and the address of the operator are selected as the transmission source address, the substitute of the owner of the data storage means performs proxy transmission. In this case, the address of the owner of the data storage means can be set.

  According to the invention described in item (3) above, when the operator's address is selected as the transmission source address, the address of the owner of the data storage means is set in the “CC” field. Data is also transmitted to the owner of the data, and the owner can confirm the contents of the transmitted data.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network system using a data transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a data transmission device, and 2 denotes an authentication server. The data transmission device 1 and the authentication server 2 are connected via a network 3. The data transmitting apparatus 1 is configured by, for example, an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) that is a multi-function image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a data transmission function such as image data. Yes.

  A data transmission apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a communication interface unit (communication I / F) 11, a hard disk (HDD) 12, a user interface unit (user I / F) 13, a scanner 14, a RAM 15, and a CPU 16.

  The communication interface unit 11 functions as a communication means for connecting the data transmission device 1 to the network 3 or a public line network (not shown). In this embodiment, image data, document data, and the like can be transmitted via the communication interface unit 11 in each transmission mode such as e-mail, facsimile, and Internet facsimile.

  The hard disk 12 stores a program executed by the CPU 16, data to be transmitted, and information about a user and the like. A folder (hereinafter referred to as a box) 121 that is one or a plurality of data storage areas owned by a user or group is set in the hard disk 12, and the image data and document data of the owner are stored in each box 121. Etc. are stored. Note that a nonvolatile RAM may be used in place of the hard disk 12.

  The user interface unit 13 includes a display device having a touch panel and a keyboard, and has a display function and a function for a user to operate.

  The scanner 14 reads an original, and image data of the read original is transmitted to an external device through a network (telephone line) or stored in the predetermined box 121.

  The RAM 15 functions as a work area for the CPU 16.

  The CPU 16 controls the entire data transmission device 1 in an integrated manner. For example, when a user accesses the apparatus to use the data transmission apparatus 1, the authentication server 2 authenticates the user, and transmission of predetermined image data, document data, etc. is instructed by the user who has been successfully authenticated. Then, the data is transmitted to the designated transmission destination.

  Further, the CPU 16 also has a function as a transmission source address setting means for setting a transmission source address when transmitting data. This point will be described later.

  The authentication server 2 performs user authentication based on an instruction from the data transmission device 1. Note that an authentication unit may be provided inside the data transmission device 1 and user authentication may be performed by the authentication unit.

  Next, an example of a transmission source address setting process performed by the CPU 16 of the data transmission device 1 when the data transmission device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 transmits data to an external device will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a transmission source address is automatically set according to a user who is an operator. In the following description and drawings, step is abbreviated as S.

  User information is stored in the hard disk 12 in advance for each user. As shown in FIG. 3, the user information includes an address set by default when each user indicated by the user ID transmits data, and the presence / absence of change authority for the address.

  In S <b> 1 of FIG. 2, when a user who is an operator operates the user interface unit 13 and inputs identification information for user authentication, the CPU 16 causes the authentication server 2 to perform authentication.

  When the authentication is completed and usable, the CPU 16 obtains the user information shown in FIG. 3 from the hard disk 12 for the authenticated user in S2, and changes the transmission source address and the transmission source address shown therein. Get permission status.

  When the user designates the transmission mode and the transmission destination, the CPU 16 sets the acquired address as the transmission source address in S3, displays the transmission source address set on the display device of the user interface unit 13 in S4, and then S5 Then, permission or prohibition of the change of the source address is set based on the presence or absence of the authority to change the source address in the user information.

  For example, when the operator is the user A or the user C, the address A or the address C is set and displayed as the default transmission source address, and the address change permission is set. Therefore, the user A or the user C can change the transmission source address using the user interface unit 13.

  On the other hand, when the operator is the user B, the address B is set and displayed as a default source address, and the change of the address is prohibited. Therefore, the user B is prohibited from changing the transmission source address, and the change process is not accepted even if the user B tries to perform the change operation.

  Thereafter, by the user's instruction operation, for example, image data of a document read by the scanner 14 is transmitted to a designated transmission destination together with a transmission source address.

  As described above, since the transmission source address is automatically set according to the user who is the operator, not only the operability is good, but the change permission or prohibition of the set transmission source address is set according to the user. Is done. For this reason, it is convenient for a highly reliable user (users A and C in this example) to receive an incoming notification or reply to the address desired by the user by permitting the change of the source address. . On the other hand, for other users (user B in this example), by prohibiting the change of the transmission source address, unnecessary transmissions pretending to be someone else can be suppressed.

  Next, another example of a transmission source address setting process performed by the CPU of the data transmission apparatus when data is transmitted to the external apparatus by the data transmission apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this embodiment, the transmission source address is automatically set according to the transmission mode. As a transmission mode, e-mail transmission using a network, facsimile transmission (including Internet facsimile transmission), a mode in which image data read from the scanner 14 is transmitted, and image data stored in the box 121 of the hard disk 12 are transmitted. In this example, e-mail transmission and facsimile transmission are exemplified.

  The hard disk 12 stores user information and transmission mode-specific address information in advance. The user information includes an address set by default when each user transmits data as shown in FIG. Further, the address information for each transmission mode includes a transmission source address set for each transmission mode as shown in FIG. 6 and the presence / absence of change authority for the address. In this example, when the transmission mode is mail transmission, a user address is set as the transmission source address and change authority is set, and in the case of facsimile transmission, a unique address of the data transmission apparatus main body is set. And no change authority is set.

  In S <b> 11 of FIG. 4, when the user who is an operator operates the user interface unit 13 and inputs identification information for user authentication, the CPU 16 causes the authentication server 2 to perform authentication.

  When the authentication is completed and usable, the CPU 16 obtains the user information shown in FIG. 5 from the hard disk 12 for the authenticated user and further acquires the address information for each transmission mode shown in FIG. The indicated transmission source address and presence / absence of authority to change the transmission source address are acquired.

  Next, in S13, the transmission mode is determined based on the user input.

  Next, in S14, it is determined whether the determined transmission mode is mail transmission or facsimile transmission. If the transmission mode is mail transmission (YES in S14), the process proceeds to S15 and is not mail transmission (determination in S14). Is NO), the process proceeds to S17.

  In S15, the user's address is set as the transmission source address based on the transmission mode-specific address information shown in FIG. If the user is the user A, the address A is set, if the user B is the address B, and if the user C is the address C, the address C is set. In S16, permission to change the source address is set, and the process proceeds to S19. .

  On the other hand, in S17, a unique address (telephone number) of the data transmission device is set as the transmission source address, and in S18, the change of the transmission source address is prohibited and the process proceeds to S19.

  In S19, the set transmission source address is displayed on the display device of the user interface unit 13. Since the address change permission is set in the mail transmission mode, the user who is an operator can change the transmission source address using the user interface unit 13.

  On the other hand, in the facsimile transmission mode, since the address change prohibition is set, even if the user performs a change operation, the change process is not accepted.

  Thereafter, by the user's instruction operation, for example, the image data of the document read by the scanner 14 is transmitted together with the transmission source address to the transmission destination designated in the designated transmission mode.

  In this way, different source addresses can be automatically set according to the transmission mode, so that in addition to improving the convenience of the device, in the case of mail transmission, permission to change the source address is set Therefore, a return for transmission can be received at an arbitrary destination. In the case of a facsimile, since the change of the transmission source address is prohibited, delivery confirmation can be surely performed on the main body.

  Next, still another example of the source address setting process performed by the CPU of the data transmission apparatus when data is transmitted to the external apparatus by the data transmission apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. .

  In this embodiment, the transmission source address is automatically set according to the transmission data acquisition destination. The transmission data acquisition destination may be acquired from the box 121 or may be acquired by reading from the scanner 14. .

  User information and box information are stored in the hard disk 12 in advance. The user information includes the address of each user as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the box information includes, for each box specified by the box ID, information on the owner of the box and other users who can access the box.

  In S21 of FIG. 7, when a user who is an operator operates the user interface unit 13 to input identification information for user authentication, the CPU 16 causes the authentication server 2 to perform authentication.

  When the authentication is completed and usable, the CPU 16 causes the user to select whether to acquire the transmission data from the box 121 or the scanner 14 other than the box in S22. Next, in S23, it is determined based on the user's input instruction whether the transmission data acquisition destination is the box 121 or the scanner 14 or the like.

  If the acquisition destination of the transmission data is the scanner 14 or the like (NO in S23), the process proceeds to S24, and after setting the user's address as the transmission source address, in S25, the transmission source address change permission is set. In S26, the transmission source address is displayed on the display device of the user interface unit 13. Note that permission to change the transmission source address may be set according to the user.

  On the other hand, if the transmission data acquisition destination is the box 121 in S23 (Yes in S23), the process proceeds to S27, and after the user selects the transmission data storage destination box 121, the user involved in the operation in S28. Determines whether the specified box 121 is accessible based on the box information.

  If the box 121 specified by the user is not accessible (NO in S28), that effect is displayed on the display device of the user interface unit 13, and the process returns to S22 to prompt the selection of the transmission data acquisition destination again. If access is possible (YES at S28), a list of data stored in the box 121 is displayed on the display device of the user interface unit 13 and the user is allowed to select it. In S29, after determining the transmission data based on the user's input instruction, in S30, the user's address and the box owner's address are displayed on the display device and selected by the user. In this case, it is possible to permit change of the address.

  Next, in S31, it is determined which address has been selected. If a user address has been selected (YES in S31), the user address is set as the source address in S32, and then the process proceeds to S33. move on. On the other hand, when the address of the box owner is selected (NO in S31), the address of the box owner is searched from the user information in S35, and the searched address is set as the source address.

  In S33, it is determined from the box information and the user information whether or not the user and the box owner are the same. If the user and the box owner are the same (Yes in S33), nothing is done. If the user and the box owner are different (NO in S33), the address of the box owner is set in the transmission destination “CC” in S34.

  Thereafter, the image data of the document read by the scanner 14, the document data in the designated box 121, and the like are transmitted to the designated transmission destination together with the transmission source address by the user's instruction operation.

  In S30, after automatically setting the user address as the transmission source address without selecting the user address and the box owner address, if the user and the box owner are not the same, the transmission destination “CC” Alternatively, the address of the box owner may be set.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a different transmission source address can be automatically set according to an acquisition destination of transmitted data, which is convenient. In addition, since either the user's address or the box owner's address can be selected, a user who can access the box other than the box owner sends the data in the box 121 as a substitute for the box owner. In addition, by selecting the address of the box owner, the address of the box owner can be set as the source address. In addition, when the user who is an agent sets the address of the user as the sender address and sends it, the address of the box owner is automatically set in the transmission destination “CC”. The contents of the data can be confirmed.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment. For example, the user performs operations such as a transmission instruction, selection of a transmission mode, selection of transmission data, and the like using the user interface unit 13, but the user terminal may be operated via a network.

1 is a block diagram of a system using a data transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission source address setting process which CPU of a data transmission device performs in the case of data transmission. It is a figure which shows an example of user information. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the transmission source address setting process which CPU of a data transmission device performs in the case of transmission of data. It is a figure which shows the other example of user information. It is a figure which shows the address information classified by transmission mode. 12 is a flowchart illustrating still another example of a transmission source address setting process performed by the CPU of the data transmission device when transmitting data. It is a figure which shows box information.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Data transmitter 2 Authentication server 3 Network 11 Communication interface part (data transmission means)
16 CPU (address setting means)
12 hard disk 121 box (data storage means)

Claims (3)

In a data transmission apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits data; and an address setting unit that sets a transmission source address when transmitting data by the transmission unit.
The address setting means sets a different source address according to an acquisition destination of data to be transmitted.   2. The data according to claim 1, wherein when the data is obtained from a data storage unit, the address setting unit selects an address of an owner of the data storage unit and an address of an operator as a transmission source address. Transmitter device.   3. The data transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when an operator's address is selected as a transmission source address, the address setting means sets the address of the owner of the data storage means in the “CC” column.

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