JP2012134657A - Communication device and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device and a communication system that can give notice corresponding to a character string included in a picture represented by received picture data.SOLUTION: An MFP 1 transmits, to a PC 2, association information associating data of a preset string of N characters with data indicating notification contents corresponding to the string of characters, and fax reception data received by fax communication, receives, from the PC 2, numerical information associated with any character string data included in the association information, and performs notification indicated by data associated with the information. The PC 2 converts the fax reception data received from the MFP 1 into picture data consisting of image data, recognizes a character string included in a picture based on the converted picture data, and transmits numerical information associated with a corresponding character string to the MFP 1 if data of the recognized character string corresponds with data of any character string included in the association information received from the MFP 1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device and a communication system that extract and notify a character string from an image based on image data received by facsimile communication.

  When document image data is received by facsimile communication, a reception end sound is generally notified to the surroundings. In an office where quietness is required, the end sound may be set not to sound. In addition, when a plurality of facsimiles are installed in the same room, it is possible to recognize a facsimile that has received image data with an incoming call lamp. A facsimile forms an image based on received image data on a sheet, and a sheet on which an image of an original is formed, that is, a recording sheet, is placed on a sheet discharge tray.

  On the other hand, even if there is only one facsimile, the user must know whether or not it is an important manuscript until the contents of the recording paper discharged to the paper discharge tray are actually visually confirmed. Is difficult.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, when image data is received by facsimile communication, character data is read from a predetermined position of the image represented by the received image data and recognized as a name, and the telephone and facsimile corresponding to the recognized name are recognized. Each of them discloses a technique for notifying an incoming facsimile and transferring a received document. There, the recognized characters may be displayed on the phone in addition to the name.

JP-A-6-268800

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, only notification to the telephone and transfer to the facsimile are performed based on the result of recognition of characters included in the image represented by the received image data. However, there is a problem in that a device that receives image data cannot perform detailed notification based on characters included in an image represented by the received image data.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device and a communication system capable of performing notification according to a character string included in an image represented by received image data. It is to provide.

  The communication apparatus according to the present invention stores a reception unit that receives setting of one or a plurality of character strings, and character string data received by the reception unit in association with information indicating notification according to the character strings. A storage unit, a FAX communication unit that receives image data by facsimile communication, image data received by the FAX communication unit, and contents stored in the storage unit are transmitted to an external electrical device, and information is received from the outside. An information communication unit that performs the notification indicated by the information received by the information communication unit.

In the present invention, data of one or more character strings set in advance is stored in the storage unit in association with information indicating notification according to the character string, and the storage contents of the storage unit and the facsimile The image data received by communication is transmitted to an external electric device. And the information which the information received from the outside shows is performed.
As a result, when the information associated with the character string data included in the image represented by the image data received by facsimile communication and any character string data stored in the storage unit is received from the outside, Notification according to the character string included in the image represented by the image data received by communication is performed. In this case, the information may be received from a device other than the electrical device.

  The communication device according to the present invention is characterized in that the communication unit receives information associated with any one of the data of the character string from the electric device.

In the present invention, information associated with any of character string data set in advance is received from the electrical device.
As a result, the character string data included in the image represented by the image data received by facsimile communication and the information associated with any character string data stored in the storage unit are stored in the storage contents and image of the storage unit. By receiving the data from the transmission destination, notification according to the character string included in the image represented by the received image data is performed.

  In the communication device according to the present invention, the information communication unit notifies the electric device that the image data has been received and / or the character string setting has been received, and the image data acquisition request from the electric device and In addition, the image data received by the FAX communication unit and / or the content stored in the storage unit are transmitted in response to an acquisition request for the storage content of the storage unit.

In the present invention, the external electrical device is notified that the image data has been received by facsimile communication and / or the character string setting has been received, and the image data acquisition request from the electrical device and / or the storage unit When there is a request for acquisition of stored content, the received image data and / or the content stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the electrical device.
As a result, information stored in the storage unit by accepting image data and / or character string settings received by facsimile communication is transmitted in response to an acquisition request from an electrical device using, for example, the HTTP protocol.

  The communication apparatus according to the present invention stores a reception unit that receives setting of one or a plurality of character strings, and character string data received by the reception unit in association with information indicating notification according to the character strings. A storage unit; a FAX communication unit that receives image data by facsimile communication; a recognition unit that recognizes a character string included in an image based on the image data received by the FAX communication unit; and a character string recognized by the recognition unit. A determination unit that determines whether or not the data and data of any character string stored in the storage unit match, and if the determination unit determines that they match, the determination unit is associated with the data of the matched character string And a notification unit that performs notification indicated by the received information.

In the present invention, when a character string included in an image based on image data received by facsimile communication is recognized, and the recognized character string data matches one of the previously stored character string data In addition, the notification indicated by the information associated with the matched data is performed.
Thereby, notification according to the character string included in the image represented by the image data received by facsimile communication is performed.

  The communication device according to the present invention is characterized in that the notification unit is configured to visually notify.

  In the present invention, since notification is performed visually, notification performed when image data is received by facsimile communication can be recognized by the user regardless of the level of ambient noise, for example.

  The communication system according to the present invention includes a communication device and an information processing device that are communicably connected. The communication device receives a setting of one or more character strings, and a character string received by the receiving unit. Is stored in association with information indicating notification according to the character string, a FAX communication unit that receives image data by facsimile communication, image data received by the FAX communication unit, and the storage An information communication unit that transmits the stored content of the unit to the information processing apparatus and receives information associated with any of the data of the character string, and a notification that performs notification indicated by the information received by the information communication unit A second information communication unit that receives the image data and the storage content of the storage unit from the communication device, and the storage content received by the second information communication unit. Remember A second storage unit, a recognition unit for recognizing a character string included in an image based on the image data received by the second information communication unit, character string data recognized by the recognition unit, and the second A determination unit that determines whether or not the data of any character string stored in the storage unit matches, and when the second information communication unit determines that the determination unit matches, the matched character Information associated with column data is read from the second storage unit and transmitted to the communication device.

In the present invention, the communication device stores data of one or more character strings set in advance in association with information indicating notification according to the character strings in the storage unit, and stores the data in the storage unit The contents and the image data received by facsimile communication are transmitted to the information processing apparatus. And the information matched with the data of any character string memorize | stored in the memory | storage part is received, and the alert | report which the received information shows is performed.
Further, the information processing device receives the storage content and the image data of the storage unit from the communication device, and stores the received storage content in the second storage unit. Then, a character string included in the image based on the received image data is recognized, and when the recognized character string data matches any of the character string data stored in the second storage unit The information associated with the character string is read from the second storage unit and transmitted to the communication device.

  As a result, the content stored in the storage unit and the image data received by facsimile communication are transmitted from the communication device to the information processing device, and the information stored in the storage unit is the second storage unit. Is remembered. In the information processing apparatus, the character string data included in the image represented by the image data is sequentially compared with the character string data stored in the second storage unit, and if the comparison results match, the matching character string is handled. The attached information is transmitted to the communication device. That is, in the communication device, notification according to the character string included in the image represented by the image data received by facsimile communication is performed.

According to the present invention, data of one or a plurality of character strings is associated with information indicating notification according to the character strings in advance and transmitted to an external electric device, and image data received by facsimile communication is transmitted to the electric device. Send. And the information which the information received from the outside shows is performed.
Therefore, when the information associated with the character string data included in the image represented by the image data received by facsimile communication and any character string data stored in the storage unit is received from the outside, the facsimile communication It is possible to perform notification according to the character string included in the image represented by the received image data.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the network structural example of the communication system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the MFP. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of PC. 5 is a chart showing an example of association information stored in a storage area of an MFP. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a CPU that notifies an MFP of information related to a shared folder received by a PC. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a CPU of an MFP that accepts setting of a character string. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a CPU that transmits association information set in an MFP to a PC. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a CPU that transmits numerical information corresponding to a character string recognized by a PC to an MFP. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a CPU of an MFP that performs notification according to received numerical information. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of MFP which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the CPU of the MFP for specifying numerical information corresponding to a character string recognized from image data.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a communication apparatus according to the present invention is applied to an MFP (digital multifunction peripheral) will be described in detail.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a network configuration example of a communication system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an MFP. The MFP 1 is communicably connected to a PC (personal computer; information processing apparatus) 2 via a LAN 3 and via a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 5. The facsimile apparatus 4 is communicably connected. The MFP 1 and the facsimile machine 4 may be connected via, for example, an intranet or the Internet. The LAN 3 is not limited to a standard wired LAN line but may be a wireless LAN line or a communication line other than the LAN 3.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the MFP 1. The MFP 1 includes a CPU 10. The CPU 10 includes an internal storage device including a ROM 11 that stores information such as a program loader, a RAM 12 that stores temporarily generated information, and a hard disk that stores information such as programs loaded in the RAM 12. 13 is connected to the bus. The CPU 10 executes processing necessary for the operation as the communication device in accordance with the control program loaded into the RAM 12 by the program loader.

  The CPU 10 also includes an operation panel having a display unit 141 made of an LCD with a touch panel, an operation unit (accepting unit) 142 for mainly accepting a user's operation through the touch panel, and an incoming lamp (notification unit) 143 made up of a plurality of LEDs. 14, a document reading unit 15 that reads a document and generates image data, an image memory 16 that temporarily stores the generated image data, and an image forming unit 17 that forms an image based on the image data are connected by a bus. Has been. The MFP 1 also has a LAN / I / F (information communication unit) 18 for communicating with the PC 2 via the LAN 3 and a FAX communication I / F (FAX communication) for performing facsimile communication with the facsimile apparatus 4 via the PSTN 5. Part) 19 and these are connected to the CPU 10 by a bus.

  In addition to storing information such as programs in the internal storage device 13, a plurality of character string data set from the operation unit 142 and information indicating notification priority (information indicating notification) are associated with each other. A storage area (storage unit) 131 for storing additional information is secured.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the PC 2. The PC 2 includes a CPU 20. The CPU 20 includes a ROM 21 that stores information such as a program loader, a RAM 22 that stores temporarily generated information, and a hard disk that stores information such as programs loaded in the RAM 22. 23 is connected to the bus. The CPU 20 executes processing necessary for the operation as the information processing apparatus according to the control program loaded into the RAM 22 by the program loader. The PC 2 also has a LAN / I / F (second information communication unit) 25 for communicating with the MFP 1 via the LAN 3, a display I / F 26 for connection to a display unit 261 including an LCD, and a keyboard 271. And an input I / F 27 for connection with the mouse 272, which are connected to the CPU 20 by a bus.

  The internal storage device 23 stores information such as programs and the like, and a storage area (second storage) for storing association information transferred from the storage area 131 of the MFP 1 via the LAN / I / F 18 and 25. Storage section) 231 is secured.

  Each functional block of the CPU 20 is realized by software. The recognition unit 201 has a function of recognizing a character string included in an image based on image data. The determination unit 202 has a function of determining whether or not the character string data recognized by the recognition unit 201 matches any character string data included in the association information stored in the storage area 231.

  FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of association information stored in the storage area 131 of the MFP 1. The correspondence information includes data of the character string 1 to the data of the character string N (N is a natural number of 1 or more), and the data of each character string has a notification priority according to each character string. 1 to N numerical information shown in FIG. Further, the numerical information and the data indicating the notification content are associated in advance so that the notification content corresponding to each character string is indicated by the numerical value information.

In the first embodiment, notification according to each priority is performed by lighting or blinking lamps A, B,... Z (not shown) included in the incoming call lamp 143.
The notification content is not limited to lighting or blinking one of the lamps A, B,... Z, and may be a combination of lighting and / or blinking of a plurality of lamps. The priority order of notification can also be regarded as a simple serial number for performing notification processing.

  By the way, the above-described notification is performed by the MFP 1, and no notification content is required as the association information to be stored in the storage area 231 of the PC 2. For this reason, among the association information read from the storage area 131 of the MFP 1, numerical information indicating the priority order and character string data associated with the numerical information are transmitted to the PC 2 and stored in the storage area 231. It has come to be remembered. However, the same association information stored in the storage area 131 may be stored in the storage area 231.

  In the configuration described above, the MFP 1 performs facsimile communication (hereinafter referred to as FAX communication) with the facsimile apparatus 4 to receive image data (here, FAX reception data composed of facsimile encoded data), and the received FAX reception data is transmitted to the PC 2. Are transferred to a shared folder preset in the internal storage device 23. When the PC 2 detects that the FAX reception data has been transferred to the shared folder, the PC 2 decodes the FAX reception data in the shared folder into image data composed of image data, and recognizes a character string included in the image represented by the decoded image data. To do. Then, the PC 2 determines whether or not the recognized character string data matches any character string data included in the association information stored in the storage area 231 in advance, and the matched character string data Is sent to the MFP 1. The MFP 1 that has received the numerical information transmitted from the PC 2 performs notification according to the data of the notification content indicated by the received numerical information.

Hereinafter, the operations of the MFP 1 and the PC 2 described above will be described with reference to flowcharts showing the operations.
In the PC 2, a shared folder that can be accessed from other devices connected to the LAN 3 is set in the internal storage device 23 in advance. In order for such a shared folder to be accessible by a control program executed by the CPU 10 of the MFP 1, the information on the shared folder and the password information need to be notified to the MFP 1 in advance.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the CPUs 10 and 20 for notifying the MFP 1 of information related to the shared folder received by the PC 2. The MFP 1 has a function as an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) server, and when the request from the client connected to the LAN 3 can be received, the processing in FIG. 5 is started. In the PC 2, after the shared folder is set, the user designates and activates the processing of FIG. 5 from the keyboard 271 or the mouse 272. Thereafter, input by the user in the PC 2 is performed from the keyboard 271 or the mouse 272.

  When each process of FIG. 5 is activated, the CPU 20 of the PC 2 displays a screen for prompting the input of the IP address of the MFP 1 and receives the IP address of the MFP 1 input by the user (S101). The IP address is stored in the RAM 22 (S102). The CPU 20 also displays a screen for prompting input of shared folder information, receives information on the shared folder input by the user (S103), and stores the received shared folder information in the RAM 22 (S104). The information on the shared folder input here is, for example, the computer name of the PC 2 and the name of the set shared folder.

Thereafter, the CPU 20 displays a screen for prompting input of password information of the shared folder, receives password information of the shared folder input by the user (S105), and stores the received password information of the shared folder in the RAM 22 ( S106). The password information of the shared folder input here is, for example, the user name of the user who set the shared folder and the password input by the user when setting the shared folder.
Next, the CPU 20 transmits the shared folder information as HTTP data to the MFP 1 specified by the IP address stored in the RAM 22 (S107), and transmits the password information as HTTP data (S108). The process of FIG. 5 is terminated.

  On the other hand, the CPU 10 of the MFP 1 determines whether or not data is received together with the HTTP request (S11), and waits until the data is received (S11: NO). When the HTTP data is received (S11: YES), the CPU 10 determines whether the received data is information on the shared folder (S12). When the data is not information on the shared folder (S12: NO), the CPU 10 receives the data. The other processing according to the HTTP request is executed (S13), and the processing of FIG.

  When the received data is shared folder information (S12: YES), the CPU 10 stores the received shared folder information in the internal storage device 13 (S14). The CPU 10 further determines whether or not password information is received as HTTP data from the client (S15), and waits until it is received (S15: NO). When the password information is received (S15: YES), the CPU 10 stores the received password information in the internal storage device 13 in association with the previously received information on the shared folder (S16), and ends the process of FIG. To do.

  As described above, the association information stored in the storage area 231 of the MFP 1 is written in advance by the control program so that the numerical information indicating the priority and the data indicating the notification content correspond to each other. The character string data that should correspond to the numerical information needs to be set by the user in the MFP 1. The association information set in the MFP 1 is transmitted to the PC 2.

  FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the CPU 10 of the MFP 1 that accepts setting of a character string, and FIG. 6B is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the CPUs 10 and 20 for transmitting the association information set in the MFP 1 to the PC 2. . When the MFP 1 becomes ready to accept the setting of the character string related to the association information, the process of FIG. 6A is activated and the process of FIG. 6B is taken over. In the PC 2, the process shown in FIG. 6B is activated as a resident process.

  When the process of FIG. 6A is activated in the MFP 1, the CPU 10 includes the contents of the character string having the designated priority level with an initial value of 1 (that is, the designated priority level) among the association information stored in the storage area 131. A character string represented by character string data associated with the numerical information shown (the same applies hereinafter) is displayed on the display unit 141 (S20). In this case, in addition to the contents of the character string, the designation priority at that time, an up key and a down key, a character string addition / change button, and a setting end button are displayed on the display unit 141.

  Thereafter, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the up key of the operation unit 142 is pressed (S21). When the up key is pressed (S21: YES), the display on the display unit 141 has a higher priority. The display is changed to display the contents of the character string (S22), and the process returns to step S20. When the up key is not pressed (S21: NO), the CPU 10 determines whether or not the down key of the operation unit 142 is pressed (S23). When the down key is pressed (S23: YES), the display is performed. The display in the section 141 is changed to display the contents of the character string having one lower priority (S24), and the process returns to step S20.

  When the down key is not pressed (S23: NO), the CPU 10 determines whether or not the character string addition / change button of the operation unit 142 is pressed (S25), and the character string addition / change button is pressed. In the case (S25: YES), a character string input screen is displayed on the display unit 141 (S26), and input (including changes) of the character string is accepted (S27). Thereafter, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the input of the character string has been completed (S28). If not completed, the process returns to step S26, and if completed, the process returns to step S20.

When the character string addition / change button is not pressed in step S25 (S25: NO), the CPU 10 determines whether the setting end button of the operation unit 142 is pressed (S29). The process returns to step S20, and if pressed, the process proceeds to step S31 in FIG. 6B.
An example of the character string set in this way is shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, “Please give me by now” as the character string 1, but “Emergency / Urgent (“ / ”is a delimiter indicating that any of the preceding and following character strings may be used)” as the character string 2. Then, “Hurry up” is set as the character string 3.

  Next, FIG. 6B will be described. In step S31, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the setting content of the character string is changed (S31). If there is no change (S31: NO), the process proceeds to step S33. If there is a change (S31: YES), the CPU 10 updates the changed character string data by overwriting the association information stored in the storage area 131 (S32). Thereafter, the CPU 10 notifies the resident process of the PC 2 that the setting (acceptance) of the character string has been completed (S33), determines whether or not HTTP data has been received from the PC 2 (S34) until it is received. Wait (S34: NO).

  In step S33, the PC 2 may be notified only when the association information is updated. In this case, it is determined in step S31 that there is no change in the setting contents (S31: NO), and the process of FIG.

  In the other PC 2, the CPU 20 determines whether or not there is a character string change notification for the association information (S 111), waits until there is a change notification (S 111: NO), and there is a change notification. If this is the case (S111: YES), an association information acquisition request to be stored in the storage area 231 is transmitted to the MFP 1 as HTTP data (S112). Thereafter, the CPU 20 determines whether or not an HTTP response has been received (S113) and waits until it is received (S113: NO).

  If there is no notification of the end of the character string setting from the MFP 1 to the PC 2, for example, the association information acquisition request may be periodically transmitted from the PC 2 to the MFP 1 using HTTP data.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 10 of the MFP 1 receives HTTP data in step S34 (S34: YES), the CPU 10 determines whether or not the received data is a request for acquiring association information (S35). When it is a request for acquisition of correspondence information (S35: YES), the CPU 10 transmits information excluding the data of the notification content among the correspondence information stored in the storage area 131 as an HTTP response (S36). End the process. In this case, all of the association information stored in the storage area 131 may be transmitted. When the received data is not a request for acquiring association information (S35: NO), the CPU 10 executes other processing according to the received HTTP request (S37) and ends the processing in FIG. 6B.

  The processes shown in FIGS. 5 to 6A and 6B are processes to be executed before the MFP 1 performs FAX communication. Hereinafter, a process in which MFP 1 performs FAX communication to transmit image data to PC 2 and performs notification indicated by numerical information received from PC 2 will be described.

  FIG. 7A is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPUs 10 and 20 for transmitting numerical information corresponding to the character string recognized by the PC 2 to the MFP 1, and FIG. 7B is the CPU 10 of the MFP 1 that performs notification according to the received numerical information. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of. In the MFP 1, when the FAX communication becomes possible, the process of FIG. 7A is activated and is taken over by the process of FIG. 7B. In the PC 2, the process shown in FIG. 7B is activated as a resident process.

  When the process of FIG. 7A is activated in the MFP 1, the CPU 10 determines whether or not there is a FAX incoming call (S41), and waits until there is a FAX incoming call (S41: NO). If there is (S41: YES), FAX communication is performed (S42). When the FAX communication is completed, the CPU 10 uses the SMB protocol to receive the received FAX reception data based on the shared folder information and password information (see the process of FIG. 5) stored in the internal storage device 13 in advance. (S43). In this case, image data obtained by decoding facsimile encoded data included in FAX reception data may be transferred. Decoding may be performed by software or by a codec (not shown). Thereafter, the CPU 10 determines whether or not numerical information is received as HTTP data (S44), and waits until it is received (S44: NO).

  In the other PC 2, the CPU 20 determines whether or not there is FAX reception data in the shared folder (S 121), waits until there is FAX reception data (S 121: NO), and there is FAX reception data. In this case (S121: YES), the FAX reception data is copied from the shared folder to the RAM 22 (S122), and the FAX data in the shared folder is deleted (S123). Thereafter, the CPU 20 decodes (decodes) the FAX reception data, that is, facsimile encoded data copied to the RAM 22 (S124), and converts it into image data consisting of image data.

If the FAX reception data is not positively transferred from the MFP 1 to the PC 2, for example, an acquisition request for FAX reception data may be periodically transmitted from the PC 2 to the MFP 1 using HTTP data.
Further, when image data including image data is received from the MFP 1 instead of the FAX reception data, the process of step S124 is not necessary.

  Next, the CPU 20 performs OCR processing on the converted image data (S125), recognizes a character string included in the image based on the image data, and recognizes a character string included in the association information stored in the storage area 231. Are sequentially compared with the character strings recognized by the OCR process (S126). Then, the CPU 20 determines whether or not there is a matching character string as a comparison result (S127). If there is a matching character string (S127: YES), the numerical information corresponding to the data of the matching character string is obtained. The data is transmitted to the MFP 1 as HTTP data (S128), and the processing in FIG. 7A is terminated. If there is no matching character string (S127: NO), the CPU 20 transmits default numerical value information (here, 4) to the MFP 1 as HTTP data (S129), and ends the processing of FIG. 7A. .

    On the other hand, when the CPU 10 of the MFP 1 receives numerical information as HTTP data (S44: YES), the process proceeds to step S45 in FIG. 7B.

  Next, FIG. 7B will be described. In step S45, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the priority indicated by the received numerical information is 1 (S45). When the priority is 1 (S45: YES), that is, when the received document includes the character string “Please do it before”, the CPU 10 gives priority to the correspondence information stored in the storage area 131. The notification content data corresponding to the rank 1 is read, and the incoming call lamp 143 is turned on (including blinking, the same applies hereinafter) with the lighting pattern (in this case, the lamp A blinks) indicated by the read data (S46), and the process is performed. Proceed to S52.

  When the priority is not 1 (S45: NO), the CPU 10 determines whether or not the priority is 2 (S47), and when the priority is 2 (S47: YES), that is, the received document is not received. When the character string “emergency” or “urgent” is included, the incoming call lamp 143 is turned on with a lighting pattern (in this case, lamp A is lit) indicated by the notification content data corresponding to the priority 2 (S48), The process proceeds to step S52. If the priority is not 2 (S47: NO), the CPU 10 determines whether or not the priority is 3 (S49). If the priority is 3 (S49: YES), that is, the received document is not received. If the character string “Hurry” is included, the incoming lamp 143 is turned on with a lighting pattern (here, lamp B is lit) indicated by the data of the notification content corresponding to the priority 3 (S50), and the process is stepped. Proceed to S52.

  If the priority is not 3 (S49: NO), the CPU 10 lights the incoming lamp 143 with the lighting pattern indicated by the notification content data corresponding to the default priority 4 (S51). Thereafter, the CPU 10 starts timing by a timer (not shown) (S52), and prints a FAX received document using the image forming unit 17 based on the image data decoded in step S125 (S53). Then, the CPU 10 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of timing (S54), and waits until it elapses (S54: NO). When the predetermined time has elapsed (S54: YES), the CPU 10 turns off the incoming call lamp 143 (S55), and ends the process of FIG. 7B.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the association information in which the data of N character strings set in advance is associated with the data indicating the notification content corresponding to the character strings is stored in the internal storage device of the MFP. Are stored in the storage area and transmitted to the outside of the MFP together with the FAX reception data received by FAX communication. Then, notification indicated by numerical information received from the outside is performed by the MFP.
Therefore, when numerical information associated with the character string data included in the image represented by the image data received by FAX communication and any character string data included in the association information is received from the outside, Notification according to a character string included in an image represented by image data received by FAX communication can be performed.

Also, the association information and FAX reception data are transmitted from the MFP to the PC, and numerical information associated with any of the character string data included in the association information is received from the PC.
Therefore, the information associated with the character string data included in the image represented by the image data received by FAX communication and any character string data included in the association information is represented by the association information and the FAX reception data. Can be notified according to the character string contained in the image represented by the image data received by FAX communication.

Furthermore, the MFP is notified that the image data has been received by FAX communication and / or the acceptance of the character string setting has been completed, and a request for acquiring FAX reception data and / or a request for acquiring correspondence information from the PC. If there is, FAX reception data and / or correspondence information is transmitted to the PC.
As a result, it is possible to transmit image data and / or character string settings received by FAX communication and the contents stored in the storage unit in response to an acquisition request from an electrical device using, for example, the HTTP protocol.

  Furthermore, since notification is performed by display, it is possible to make the user recognize the notification performed when image data is received by FAX communication regardless of the level of ambient noise, for example.

Furthermore, the MFP stores association information in which N pieces of character string data set in advance are associated with data indicating notification contents corresponding to the character strings in a storage area of the internal storage device of the MFP. Then, the data is transmitted to the PC together with the FAX reception data received by FAX communication. Then, numerical information associated with any of the character string data included in the association information is received from the PC, and notification indicated by the data associated with the received information is performed.
Further, the PC receives the association information and FAX reception data from the MFP, and stores the received association information in the storage area of the internal storage device. Then, the FAX reception data is converted into image data composed of image data, the character string included in the image based on the converted image data is recognized, and the recognized character string data and any character included in the association information are recognized. When the column data matches, the numerical information associated with the matched character string is read from the storage area and transmitted to the MFP.

  Therefore, the PC recognizes the character string included in the image represented by the image data, and sequentially compares the recognized character string data with the character string data included in the association information, and the comparison results match. In this case, numerical information associated with the matched character string is transmitted to the MFP, so that the MFP that has received the numerical information notifies the character string included in the image represented by the image data received by FAX communication. Can be done.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the FAX image data received by the MFP 1 is transferred to the PC 2, the numerical information corresponding to the character string recognized from the image based on the image data by the PC 2 is transmitted to the MFP 1, and the MFP 1 is indicated by the numerical information. In contrast to the notification, in the second embodiment, the MFP 1 performs all these processes. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the PC 2 is not necessary in the network configuration of the communication system shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of MFP 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Each functional block of the CPU 10 is realized by software. The recognition unit 101 has a function of recognizing a character string included in an image based on image data. The determination unit 102 has a function of determining whether or not the character string data recognized by the recognition unit 101 matches any character string data included in the association information stored in the storage area 131.

  With respect to the flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPUs 10 and 20, the processing of FIG. 5 for notifying the MFP 1 of information related to the shared folder received by the PC 2 is not necessary. 6A is necessary for the MFP 1 to accept the setting of the character string. However, since the association information including the set character string is used only by the MFP 1, the association information set by the MFP 1 is used as the PC2. All the processes of FIG.

Hereinafter, a process applied instead of the process of FIG. 7A in which numerical information corresponding to the character string recognized by the PC 2 is transmitted to the MFP 1 will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the CPU 10 of the MFP 1 for specifying numerical information corresponding to the character string recognized from the image data. The processes in steps S141 to S142 and steps S144 to S147 in FIG. 9 are the same as the processes in steps S41 to S42 and steps S124 to S127 in FIG.

  When the FAX communication (S142) is completed in step S142 of FIG. 9, the CPU 10 decodes (decodes) the received FAX reception data without transferring the received FAX reception data to the shared folder of the PC 2 (S144). Is converted into image data. Thereafter, the CPU 10 performs OCR processing on the image data (S145), recognizes a character string included in the image based on the image data, and sequentially compares the character string included in the association information with the recognized character string ( S146). Then, the CPU 10 determines whether or not there is a matching character string as a comparison result (S147). If there is a matching character string (S147: YES), the numerical information corresponding to the data of the matching character string is specified. Then (S148), the process proceeds to step S45 in FIG. 7B. If there is no matching character string (S147: NO), the CPU 10 specifies information of a default numerical value (here, 4) (S149), and moves the process to step S45 in FIG. 7B.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the location corresponding to Embodiment 1, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, FAX reception data received by FAX communication is converted into image data composed of image data, and a character string included in an image based on the converted image data is recognized and recognized. When the data of the character string and the data of any character string included in the association information match, the notification indicated by the information associated with the matched data is performed.
Therefore, notification according to the character string included in the image represented by the image data received by FAX communication can be performed.

  The embodiment disclosed this time is to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the meanings described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 MFP (communication device)
10 CPU
101 recognition unit 102 determination unit 131 storage area (storage unit)
142 Operation part (reception part)
143 Incoming call lamp (notification unit)
18 LAN / I / F (Information and Communication Department)
19 FAX communication I / F (FAX communication section)
2 PC (information processing equipment)
20 CPU
201 recognition unit 202 determination unit 231 storage area (second storage unit)
25 LAN / I / F (Second Information Communication Unit)
3 LAN
4 Facsimile machine 5 PSTN

Claims (6)

An accepting unit that accepts one or more character string settings;
A storage unit that stores data of the character string received by the reception unit in association with information indicating notification according to the character string;
A FAX communication unit that receives image data by facsimile communication;
An image communication unit received by the FAX communication unit, and an information communication unit that transmits information stored in the storage unit to an external electrical device and receives information from the outside;
A communication device comprising: a notification unit that performs notification indicated by information received by the information communication unit.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit receives information associated with any one of the data of the character string from the electric device.   The information communication unit notifies the electric device that the image data has been received and / or the setting of the character string has been received, and the image data acquisition request from the electric device and / or the storage content of the storage unit 3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image data received by the FAX communication unit and / or contents stored in the storage unit are transmitted in response to the acquisition request. An accepting unit that accepts one or more character string settings;
A storage unit that stores data of the character string received by the reception unit in association with information indicating notification according to the character string;
A FAX communication unit that receives image data by facsimile communication;
A recognition unit for recognizing a character string included in an image based on image data received by the FAX communication unit;
A determination unit that determines whether the data of the character string recognized by the recognition unit and the data of any character string stored in the storage unit match;
A communication device comprising: a notification unit that performs notification indicated by information associated with data of a matched character string when it is determined that the determination unit matches.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is configured to visually notify. A communication device and an information processing device are connected to be communicable,
The communication device
An accepting unit that accepts one or more character string settings;
A storage unit that stores data of the character string received by the reception unit in association with information indicating notification according to the character string;
A FAX communication unit that receives image data by facsimile communication;
An information communication unit that transmits the image data received by the FAX communication unit and the storage content of the storage unit to an information processing apparatus and receives information associated with any of the character string data;
A notification unit that performs notification indicated by the information received by the information communication unit,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A second information communication unit that receives the image data and the storage content of the storage unit from the communication device;
A second storage unit for storing the storage content received by the second information communication unit;
A recognition unit for recognizing a character string included in an image based on image data received by the second information communication unit;
A determination unit that determines whether the character string data recognized by the recognition unit and the data of any character string stored in the second storage unit match,
When the second information communication unit determines that the determination unit matches, the second information communication unit reads information associated with the matched character string data from the second storage unit and transmits the information to the communication device. A communication system characterized by being.

Images