JP2014121056A - Internet facsimile transmission propriety determination system, facsimile transmission propriety determination device, and method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent unauthorized transmission using an Internet FAX by means of unauthorized use or forgery of a transmission sheet.SOLUTION: A facsimile transmission propriety determination device comprises: transmission job setting means for previously generating information on facsimile transmission as a transmission job, and outputting an identifier of the transmission job; transmission job storage means for registering and storing the transmission job generated by the transmission job setting means in association with the identifier; facsimile transmission/reception means for receiving an e-mail to which an image file of a transmission manuscript including the identifier of the transmission job is attached; and transmission propriety determination means which identifies presence/absence of registration/storage of a transmission job corresponding to the identifier included in attachment data of the e-mail received by the facsimile transmission/reception means, determines that facsimile transmission is possible when a content of the registered/stored transmission job agrees with a content of the e-mail and the attachment data, and deletes the registered/stored transmission job when it is determined that the facsimile transmission is possible.

Description

  The present invention relates to an Internet fax transmission availability determination system, a fax transmission availability determination device, and a method thereof that control Internet fax transmission processing.

  In recent years, digital multifunction peripherals (hereinafter simply referred to as “multifunction peripherals”) that have the functions of office machines such as copiers, printers, image scanners, and fax machines in a single housing have become widely used. It is installed in various places such as places. Some of these multifunction devices have an Internet fax function.

  Internet fax refers to systems and services that send and receive faxes over the Internet. The Internet fax can convert a document read by an image scanner of a multifunction machine into an image file and send it attached to an e-mail. In the Internet fax, an electronic document created by a PC (personal computer) or the like can be transmitted as it is to a multifunction machine at the other end and output on paper by a printer.

  There are two ways to implement Internet fax: using a dedicated device with an Internet fax function, such as a multifunction machine, or using a PC via a fax server connected to the Internet and capable of receiving faxes 24 hours a day. There is a way. The technique described here relates to an Internet fax using a dedicated device represented by the former multifunction peripheral.

  Multi-function devices installed in various places like this tend to easily allow unauthorized use by third parties. In particular, when a third party maliciously and illegally uses, for example, for the purpose of stealing a confidential document, there is a possibility that the confidential document is faxed to the outside using the Internet fax function. .

  Some MFPs are equipped with a function to prevent unauthorized use by third parties by entering a password or reading a user authentication card when using an Internet fax machine, but all MFPs have such a user authentication function. I don't have it.

  As techniques for preventing unauthorized use and erroneous transmission of a fax machine, there are techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 5.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 discloses a technique that permits fax transmission of only a document to be transmitted within the valid time range of “time information” shown on a delivery slip in order to prevent unauthorized use of the fax machine. That is, a delivery slip having “time information” is read together with the transmission original, and the information is sent to the facsimile transmission availability determination device. The fax transmission availability determination device determines whether or not the current time is within the valid time range of the “time information” indicated in the delivery slip, and determines whether or not the transmission document read at the same time can be faxed. As a result, fax transmission is not permitted if the valid time of the “time information” shown in the delivery slip has passed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for preventing unauthorized use of a fax machine and preventing erroneous transmission. According to this technique, the delivery form in which the destination information is described is approved by the superior, and the delivery form is transmitted by fax together with the transmission document. The transmission data is transmitted to the fax server. When the transmission data arrives at the fax server, the operator of the fax server management center compares the transmission destination information described in the delivery slip with the transmission data transmission destination information. The operator executes transmission after confirming that the destination information matches.

  Patent Documents 3 to 5 disclose techniques for preventing erroneous transmission in fax transmission.

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, a bar code indicating a destination FAX number is attached to a transmission document. The fax machine also reads a bar code indicating a destination FAX number when reading a transmission document. Then, the fax machine compares the read fax number with the fax number input by the user to the fax machine, and transmits the document only when both match.

  Patent Document 4 is a technology that permits only FAX transmission with a FAX number registered in the address book of a multifunction peripheral as a destination. A matrix form two-dimensional code represented by a QR code (registered trademark) storing information related to transmission including a destination FAX number is added to the delivery slip, and is read into the multifunction peripheral together with the transmission original. The multifunction device sends the read information to the management device. The management apparatus extracts the destination FAX number from the read matrix type two-dimensional code, and permits the FAX transmission when the FAX number is included in the FAX number registered in the address book.

  Patent Document 5 is a technique for preventing erroneous transmission of information by checking whether an incorrect transmission destination is designated before the information reaches the transmission destination when transmitting information to the transmission destination. . According to this system, the unique information of the destination input by the sender is compared with the correct unique information by the checking means, and if the unique information of the destination input by the sender is different from the correct unique information, it is determined whether or not transmission is possible. If the means determines, the transmission information is not transmitted to the receiver side. For example, when the information transmitting means is FAX, FAX transmission is performed together with a cover sheet in which “transmission symbol” is described. The transmission information reaches the fax mistransmission prevention system, and the fax mistransmission prevention system compares the fax number associated with the “transmission symbol” on the cover sheet with the number entered in the fax machine to determine the presence or absence of mistransmission. To do.

JP2011-228893A JP 2007-096385 A JP 2007-060284 A JP 2007-325168 A JP 2007-150387 A

  However, the following problems remain in the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 5 described above.

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, if a used delivery slip is in the hands of an unauthorized user, transmission by the unauthorized user is performed within the valid time of “time information”. Moreover, if a delivery slip with falsified time information is created, transmission by an unauthorized user is performed.

  The technique of Patent Document 2 requires a plurality of artificial approvals in the process until the transmission information reaches the destination. For this reason, it takes time for the information to reach the other party after the sender transmits the information by fax, and the information transmission lacks immediacy. This is particularly noticeable when there is no approver. Also, from the viewpoint of unauthorized use, there is a risk that a used delivery slip that has been approved by the senior manager will be diverted.

  In Patent Documents 3 to 5, only prevention of erroneous transmission is considered. Therefore, in the technique of Patent Document 3, if a bar code is forged and added to a transmission original, the original is transmitted to an arbitrary transmission destination. Further, in the techniques of Patent Documents 4 and 5, when a used delivery slip or cover letter is in the hands of an unauthorized user, it is within the registered transmission destination number range, but is sent by FAX. End up.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a system for determining whether or not an Internet fax can be transmitted, which can prevent transmission by an unauthorized user even if an unauthorized user diverts or forges a delivery slip used for transmission management, and fax transmission. An apparatus for determining availability and a method thereof are provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, an Internet fax transmission availability determination system according to one aspect of the present invention creates, registers and stores information relating to fax transmission for each fax transmission in advance as a transmission job, and identifies the transmission job. Output information of a transmission job identifier to be transmitted, a fax transmission permission determination unit that determines whether or not to transmit a fax based on the transmission job, and converts image information of a transmission document including the information of the transmission job identifier into an image file, Internet fax transmission means for transmitting the converted image file as attachment data to an e-mail, and identifying the transmission source e-mail address and presence / absence of attachment data for the input e-mail, wherein the transmission e-mail address is the Internet Same as the email address of the fax sending means And an electronic mail filtering transfer means for transferring the input electronic mail to the fax transmission availability determination means when it has attached data, the fax transmission availability determination means from the email filtering transfer means The transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier included in the transferred attachment data of the e-mail is registered and stored in the fax transmission availability determination unit, and the contents of the e-mail and the attached data are registered and stored. If the content of the transmitted transmission job matches the content of the transmitted transmission job, it is determined that the facsimile transmission is possible, and if it is determined that the facsimile transmission is possible, the registered transmission job is deleted.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for determining whether or not a fax can be transmitted. A transmission job that generates information relating to fax transmission for each fax transmission in advance as a transmission job and outputs information on a transmission job identifier that identifies the transmission job. A setting job, a transmission job storage unit for registering and saving the transmission job created by the transmission job setting unit in association with the transmission job identifier, and image information of the transmission original including information on the transmission job identifier is an image file. A fax transmission / reception means for receiving an e-mail attached to the attached data, and identifying the transmission job identifier included in the attached data of the e-mail received by the fax transmission / reception means, and corresponding to the transmission job identifier Whether the transmission job is registered and stored in the transmission job storage means When the content of the transmission job that is identified and registered and stored in the transmission job storage means matches the content of the e-mail and the attached data, it is determined that the fax transmission is possible and the fax transmission is determined to be possible. A transmission permission / inhibition determining means for deleting the transmission job registered and stored in the transmission job storage means.

  Furthermore, a fax transmission permission / inhibition determination method according to another aspect of the present invention is created by generating information relating to fax transmission for each fax transmission in advance as a transmission job and outputting information of a transmission job identifier for identifying the transmission job. The transmission job is registered and stored in correspondence with the transmission job identifier, and an e-mail in which image information of the transmission original including the transmission job identifier information is attached to the attached data as an image file is received and received. The transmission job identifier included in the attached data of the electronic mail is identified to determine whether or not the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is registered and stored, and the content of the transmission job registered and stored is the electronic mail And if it matches the contents of the attached data, it is judged that the fax can be sent and the fax can be sent. If it is determined, and deletes the transmission job that is registered saved.

  The present invention can prevent an unauthorized user from transmitting an Internet fax even if an unauthorized user diverts or forges a delivery slip used for transmission management.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the internet fax transmission availability determination system of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fax transmission availability determination means of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the fax transmission availability determination means of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the internet fax transmission availability determination system containing the structure of the fax transmission availability determination apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence chart which shows the creation operation of a transmission job. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission job registered and stored in a transmission job registration storage unit. It is a figure which shows the example of the delivery slip output on paper. It is a flowchart which shows the filtering transmission operation | movement which an electronic mail filtering transmission apparatus performs. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the fax transmission availability determination apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of transmission permission / inhibition determination.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Note that the embodiment is an exemplification, and the disclosed invention is not limited to the structure of the following embodiment.

(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment, which is a basic embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the Internet fax transmission availability determination system according to the first embodiment.

  The Internet fax transmission availability determination system 1 includes a fax transmission availability determination means 10, an Internet fax transmission means 20, and an electronic mail filtering transfer means 30.

  The fax transmission permission / inhibition determination means 10 creates and registers and saves information relating to fax transmission for each fax transmission in advance as a transmission job, outputs information of a transmission job identifier for identifying the transmission job, and transmits the fax based on the transmission job. Determine whether or not.

  The Internet fax transmission unit 20 converts the image information of the transmission original including the transmission job identifier information into an image file, and transmits the converted image file as an attachment data to an electronic mail.

  The e-mail filtering transfer means 30 identifies the sender e-mail address and the presence / absence of attached data for the input e-mail. If the identified sender mail address matches the mail address of the Internet fax transmission means and has the attached data, the inputted electronic mail is transferred to the fax transmission availability determination means 10.

  Then, the fax transmission availability determination unit 10 identifies the transmission job identifier included in the attached data of the e-mail transferred from the e-mail filtering transfer unit 30. When the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is registered and stored in the fax transmission permission determination unit 10 and the contents of the e-mail and the attached data match the contents of the registered and stored transmission job, the fax is transmitted. It is determined that transmission is possible. When it is determined that fax transmission is possible, the registered transmission job is deleted.

  As described above, in the Internet fax transmission availability determination system 1 according to the first embodiment, fax transmission is managed by a transmission job. The transmission job is information related to fax transmission, and a transmission job is created in advance by the fax transmission availability determination unit 10 for each fax transmission. The created transmission job is registered and stored in the fax transmission availability determination means 10 in correspondence with a transmission job identifier (or transmission job ID, Identifier) that uniquely identifies the transmission job. Then, information on the transmission job identifier is output from the fax transmission availability determination means 10.

  Internet fax converts image information (for example, image information read by an image scanner) into an image file, and transmits the converted image file as attachment data to an e-mail. In the Internet fax transmission availability determination system 1 according to the first embodiment, a user reads, for example, a transmission original including information on a transmission job identifier output from the above-described fax transmission availability determination means 10 using an image scanner.

  In other words, an image file including information on a transmission job identifier is attached to the electronic mail transmitted from the Internet fax transmission means 20. The electronic mail transmitted from the Internet fax transmission means 20 will be described as “electronic mail A”.

  On the other hand, the e-mail filtering / transfer means 30 monitors e-mails sent to an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server (not shown). The electronic mail sent to the SMTP server includes not only the electronic mail A transmitted from the Internet fax transmission means 20 but also other electronic mails (referred to as electronic mail B).

  Then, the e-mail filtering transfer means 30 filters only the e-mail A transmitted from the Internet fax transmission means 20 and transfers it to the fax transmission availability determination means 10. At this time, the condition for filtering transfer is that the sender mail address of the electronic mail matches the mail address of the Internet fax transmission means and has the attached data.

  The e-mail A transmitted from the Internet fax transmission means 20 is filtered by the e-mail filtering / forwarding means 30 and sent to the fax transmission availability determination means 10 where the availability of fax transmission is determined. If it is determined that fax transmission is possible, the electronic mail A is sent from the fax transmission permission determination means 10 to the SMTP server and is transmitted to the destination of the mail address.

  The fax transmission availability determination unit 10 identifies the transmission job identifier from the transmission job identifier information included in the image file attached to the electronic mail A. If the transmission job is properly transmitted, the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is registered and stored in the facsimile transmission availability determination unit 10. If the content of the transmission job matches the content of the e-mail and attached data, it is determined that fax transmission is possible. For example, the mail address indicated in the transmission job matches the destination mail address of the e-mail, and the number of originals indicated in the transmission job matches the number of originals based on the attached data image file. If it is determined that fax transmission is possible, the registered transmission job is deleted.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the fax transmission availability determination unit according to the first embodiment.

  The fax transmission availability determination unit 10 includes a transmission job setting unit 11, a transmission job storage unit 12, a fax transmission / reception unit 13, and a transmission availability determination unit 14.

  The transmission job setting unit 11 creates in advance information related to fax transmission for each fax transmission as a transmission job, and outputs information of a transmission job identifier for identifying the transmission job.

  The transmission job storage unit 12 registers and stores the transmission job created by the transmission job setting unit 11 in association with the transmission job identifier.

  The fax transmission / reception means 13 receives an e-mail in which image information of a transmission document including information on a transmission job identifier is attached to attached data as an image file.

  The transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 14 identifies the transmission job identifier indicated by the transmission job identifier information included in the attached data of the email received by the fax transmission / reception unit 13. Then, it is identified whether or not the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is registered and stored in the transmission job storage unit 12. Then, when the content of the transmission job registered and stored in the transmission job storage unit 12 matches the content of the e-mail and attached data, it is determined that the fax transmission is possible. When it is determined that fax transmission is possible, the transmission job registered and stored in the transmission job storage unit 12 is deleted.

  As described above, the facsimile transmission availability determination unit 10 of the first embodiment has two main functions. The first main function is creation of a transmission job for managing fax transmission and a transmission job identifier that is an identifier thereof, output of information on the created transmission job identifier, and registration and storage of the created transmission job. The second main function is to determine whether or not to transmit an e-mail transmitted as an Internet fax, and to delete a transmission job when it is determined that transmission is possible.

  The former functions in response to work performed in advance by a legitimate user who intends to send a fax. That is, in the fax transmission availability determination unit 10, the transmission job setting unit 11 creates in advance information related to fax transmission input by the authorized user as a transmission job. A transmission job identifier is generated as information for specifying the transmission job, and the transmission job is registered and stored in the fax transmission availability determination unit 10 (transmission job storage unit 12) in association with the transmission job identifier. Then, the transmission job setting unit 11 of the fax transmission availability determination unit 10 outputs information on a transmission job identifier corresponding to the created transmission job.

  For example, the user acquires information on the transmission job identifier output from the fax transmission permission determination unit 10 by using a paper medium (for example, a delivery slip) on which the transmission job identifier is printed, and places the delivery slip on the transmission original. To send a fax. That is, the delivery slip and the transmission original are read by the image scanner, and the image information is attached as an image file to an electronic mail and transmitted as an Internet fax.

  The latter works when an e-mail sent in this way as an Internet fax is captured. In other words, the fax transmission availability determination unit 10 receives the email by the fax transmission / reception unit 13. Then, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 14 identifies the transmission job identifier from the transmission job identifier information (for example, a sending slip) included in the image file attached to the received electronic mail. The transmission permission / non-permission determination unit 14 searches the transmission job storage unit 12 and takes out a transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier. If the transmission job is properly transmitted, the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is registered and stored in the transmission job storage unit 12. In the fax transmission permission / inhibition determining means 10, the transmission permission / inhibition determining means 14 determines that the fax transmission is possible when the contents of the transmission job match the contents of the e-mail and the attached data. For example, the mail address indicated in the transmission job matches the destination mail address of the e-mail, and the number of originals indicated in the transmission job matches the number of originals based on the attached data image file. Then, when it is determined that the fax transmission is possible, the transmission permission determination unit 14 deletes the transmission job registered and stored in the transmission job storage unit 12.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile transmission availability determination unit 10 according to the first embodiment. In the figure, the transmission job identifier is expressed as a transmission job ID.

  First, information related to fax transmission for each fax transmission is created in advance as a transmission job, and information on a transmission job identifier for identifying the transmission job is output (S101).

  The created transmission job is registered and stored in association with the transmission job identifier (S102).

  An e-mail in which the image information of the transmission original including the transmission job identifier information is attached to the attached data as an image file is received (S103).

  The transmission job identifier indicated by the transmission job identifier information included in the received attached data of the e-mail is identified to determine whether the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is stored or not (S104).

  If the contents of the registered and stored transmission job match the contents of the e-mail and attached data, it is determined that fax transmission is possible (S105).

  When it is determined that fax transmission is possible, the registered transmission job is deleted (S106).

  As described above, in the first embodiment, information related to fax transmission for each fax transmission is created in advance as a transmission job, and is registered and stored in association with the transmission job identifier. Thereafter, the e-mail sent by the user as an Internet fax and its attached data are compared with a registered transmission job. If the comparison results match, it is determined that fax transmission is possible. If it is determined that fax transmission is possible, the registered and saved transmission job is deleted.

  As described above, when it is confirmed that the Internet fax transmitted by the user is a valid transmission, the transmission job used for the confirmation is deleted. That is, the transmission job identifier used for transmission management and the transmission job have a one-time correspondence. For this reason, even if an unauthorized user misappropriates or forges a delivery slip on which a transmission job identifier is printed, there is no corresponding transmission job, which prevents transmission by an unauthorized user. it can.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an Internet fax transmission availability determination system including the configuration of the fax transmission availability determination device according to the second embodiment.

(Usage environment)
First, the usage environment of this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the Internet fax transmission availability determination system 2 according to the second embodiment includes an Internet fax device 200, an e-mail filtering transfer device 300, a fax transmission availability determination device 100, and a setting terminal 400. Yes.

  The Internet fax machine 200 reads a transmission original by the image scanner 202, converts the read image information into an image file by the Internet fax transmission / reception unit 201, and transmits the converted image file as attachment data to an electronic mail. In FIG. 4, an e-mail A represents an e-mail transmitted by the Internet fax machine 200, and an e-mail B represents another e-mail.

  The e-mail filtering transfer device 300 determines whether or not the e-mail sent to the SMTP server is an e-mail sent as an Internet fax, and transfers the e-mail sent as an Internet fax to the fax transmission availability determination device 100.

  The fax transmission possibility determination device 100 determines whether or not the electronic mail transferred from the electronic mail filtering transfer device 300 is legitimately transmitted as an Internet fax. As a result of the determination, the legitimately transmitted e-mail is transmitted from the fax transmission permission / inhibition determining apparatus 100 to the destination, and the e-mail that is determined not to be legitimately transmitted is discarded.

  The setting terminal 400 is a terminal for setting transfer conditions for the e-mail filtering transfer apparatus 300 and setting a transmission job for the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100. The transmission job is for the user to set various conditions for transmitting properly as an Internet fax.

  The setting terminal 400 may be any device as long as it can access the e-mail filtering transfer device 300 and the fax transmission availability determination device 100 via the Internet and can perform communication and screen display by the browser function. A personal computer is exemplified as a typical apparatus. In addition, a printer may be provided to print out a delivery slip to be described later.

  It is assumed that user authentication is performed as a function for preventing unauthorized access to the e-mail filtering transfer device 300 and the fax transmission availability determination device 100. Further, the setting terminal 400 may be operated by dividing the authority of an administrator who manages the system and a user who uses the system. In such a case, it is assumed that the user's setting terminal 400 cannot set transfer conditions for the e-mail filtering transfer device 300. Similarly, it is assumed that a function for setting a legitimate user to access the fax transmission permission determination apparatus 100 is allowed only from the administrator setting terminal 400.

  The above-described apparatus and terminal are installed in an environment connected to a network (hereinafter referred to as the Internet) based on an Internet standard (RFC: Request For Comment 2026) such as the Internet or an intranet. Further, the e-mail filtering transfer device 300 needs to be installed in cooperation with the SMTP server. Therefore, in an environment where there are a plurality of SMTP servers, the e-mail filtering transfer device 300 is installed for each SMTP server.

  Next, as a use environment, transfer condition setting for the e-mail filtering transfer apparatus 300 will be described.

  As described above, the e-mail filtering and transferring apparatus 300 filters e-mails transmitted as Internet faxes among the e-mails that pass through and transfers the e-mails to the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100. An e-mail source address is used as a condition for filtering and transferring an e-mail input by the e-mail filtering transfer apparatus 300. That is, the e-mail filtering transfer device 300 identifies the transmission source address of the e-mail that passes through, and filters the e-mail when it is the e-mail address that the Internet fax machine 200 has.

  The e-mail filtering transfer device 300 is set to transfer the filtered e-mail to the fax transmission availability determination device 100 without sending it to the SMTP server.

  Such transfer conditions are set in the e-mail filtering transfer device 300 in advance. Specifically, the administrator of this system starts up a browser at the setting terminal 400 and accesses the e-mail filtering transfer apparatus 300 from the browser via the Internet. The administrator performs user authentication as an administrator on the browser and logs into the e-mail filtering transfer apparatus 300. And the mail address which the Internet fax machine 200 has is registered into the transmission source address made into filtering object. In addition, a port to which the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100 is connected is set as a transfer destination. The filtering transfer conditions set in this way are set in the system setting unit 301 of the e-mail filtering transfer device 300.

  Next, conditions set as a use environment in the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100 will be described.

  The administrator of this system makes settings so that a legitimate user can use this system. Specifically, the administrator of this system starts up a browser at the setting terminal 400 and accesses the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100 from the browser via the Internet. The administrator performs user authentication as an administrator on the browser and logs in to the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100. Then, identification information of all legitimate users who are expected to use this system is registered.

  In addition, as a use environment in system operation, data scanned by the image scanner of the Internet fax machine 200 is set to be in a format for using the Internet fax. Since the fax transmission permission determination device 100 analyzes a file attached to an e-mail, it must be in a format that can be analyzed by the device. Formats that can be used are, for example, formats that support multiple pages, such as TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) and PDF (Portable Document Format).

(Create transmission job and save registration)
The transmission job is structure data for managing fax transmission. The transmission job has, as member data, a transmission job ID (identifier, Identifier), a transmission destination address, the number of transmission originals, a transmission job valid time, and the like. One transmission job is created for one fax transmission.

  The transmission job is created by the fax transmission availability determination device 100 and registered and stored. In FIG. 4, an input reception unit 101, a transmission job setting unit 102, and a transmission job registration storage unit 103 of the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100 are involved in the creation and registration storage processing.

  Prior to fax transmission, the user accesses the fax transmission permission determination apparatus 100 and creates a transmission job as management information of the fax to be transmitted.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence chart showing a transmission job creation operation.

  The user starts up a browser on the setting terminal 400, and accesses the input reception unit 101 of the fax transmission availability determination device 100 from the browser via the Internet (S201). The legitimate user performs user authentication in response to the authentication request sent from the input receiving unit 101 on the browser, and logs in to the fax transmission permission determination apparatus 100 (S202). At this stage, the user setting terminal 400 is connected to the transmission job setting unit 102 via the input receiving unit 101.

  The transmission job setting unit 102 requests the login user to specify a transmission destination address (S203). At this time, the address book in which the destination mail address of the Internet fax corresponding to the login user is registered is displayed on the browser of the setting terminal 400.

  The user selects a destination from the displayed address book. If the destination is not registered, the destination mail address is input as new registration information (S204).

  When the transmission destination address is designated, the user is requested to input other information of the transmission job (S205).

  The user sequentially sets the number of originals of the fax to be transmitted and the transmission job valid time on the browser of the setting terminal 400 (S206).

  The transmission job effective time is an effective time from when a transmission job is created until an Internet fax is transmitted. An Internet fax sent after this valid time is exceeded is invalidated as will be described later. The transmission job valid time can be arbitrarily set by the user within a predetermined time range (for example, 30 minutes). Also, a predetermined fixed time (for example, 10 minutes) may be set without the user inputting.

  When the user finishes inputting information necessary for the transmission job, the transmission job setting unit 102 generates a transmission job ID for uniquely identifying the created transmission job. The transmission job ID is character string data having a predetermined number of digits that is randomly generated by the transmission job setting unit 102. Then, the transmission job setting unit 102 registers and stores the transmission job in the transmission job registration storage unit 103 in association with the generated transmission job ID (S207).

  That is, in correspondence with the transmission job ID, the transmission destination address, the number of transmission originals, and the transmission job valid time input by the user are registered and stored as a transmission job in the transmission job registration storage unit 103 together with the creation time of the transmission job. . FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission job registered in the transmission job registration storage unit 103.

  When the transmission job setting unit 102 registers the transmission job in the transmission job registration storage unit 103, the transmission job setting unit 102 creates a delivery slip file as information on the transmission job ID (S208).

  The delivery slip file is a PDF document file in which image data in the BMP (Bit MaP) format in which the transmission job ID is converted into a matrix type two-dimensional code is pasted at the center of a one-page PDF document.

  This delivery slip file is transferred to the user setting terminal 400 (S209).

  The user outputs the delivery slip on paper using the printer (S210). The delivery slip may be printed on what is displayed on the browser without being transferred to the setting terminal 400 of the user. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a delivery slip output by a user on paper.

  Further, the delivery slip file may be a PDF document file in which a barcode is pasted at the center of a one-page PDF document instead of a matrix type two-dimensional code. Further, instead of a barcode, a PDF document file in which character string data of a predetermined number of digits randomly generated by the transmission job setting unit 102 is pasted at the center of a one-page PDF document may be used.

  Furthermore, instead of creating a delivery slip file, the transmission job setting unit 102 displays character string data of a predetermined number of digits randomly generated on the browser of the setting terminal 400 and notifies the user. Also good. In this case, the user needs to copy the notified character string data of the transmission job ID separately at a predetermined position on the first page of the delivery slip.

  As will be described later, the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100 determines whether or not there is a transmission job corresponding to the transmission job ID as one of the transmission availability determinations. When one fax transmission corresponding to the transmission job is completed, the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100 deletes the transmission job. For this reason, once fax transmission is completed, unauthorized fax transmission can be prevented even if the transmission job ID is stolen or forged.

  Therefore, the transmission job ID information may be basically used in any form, and may be arbitrarily determined according to the environment where the Internet fax machine 200 is installed.

  Here, the following description is continued on the assumption that a delivery form on which a matrix type two-dimensional code is printed is used.

  As described above, a transmission job is created, a delivery slip including a transmission job ID for specifying the transmission job is printed, and the user is ready to perform Internet fax transmission.

(Send Internet fax)
The user puts a delivery slip on which the transmission job ID is printed at the top of the transmission original and performs a transmission operation on the Internet fax machine 200. That is, the user sets a delivery slip and a transmission document on the image scanner 202 of the Internet fax machine 200, inputs or designates a transmission destination address, and executes transmission.

  The delivery slip and transmission document scanned by the image scanner 202 are converted into an image file in a predetermined format by the Internet fax transmission / reception unit 201, attached to an e-mail having a designated transmission destination address, and sent to an SMTP server (not shown). . The source address of this e-mail is a mail address that the Internet fax machine 200 has. The first page of the attached data is data of a delivery slip including an image obtained by converting the transmission job ID into a matrix type two-dimensional code.

  The e-mail transmitted from the Internet fax machine 200 is input to the e-mail filtering transfer apparatus 300.

  In the e-mail filtering and transferring apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 4, the e-mail monitoring unit 302 monitors e-mails sent to an SMTP server (not shown). Then, the transfer determination unit 303 determines whether or not filtering is necessary with reference to the transfer conditions set in the system setting unit 301. The transfer determination unit 303 outputs the filtered e-mail to a port connected to the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100.

  The electronic mail sent to the SMTP server includes not only the electronic mail (electronic mail A) transmitted from the Internet fax machine 200 but also other electronic mail (electronic mail B). Then, the e-mail filtering / forwarding apparatus 300 filters only the e-mail A transmitted from the Internet fax apparatus 200 and transfers it to the fax transmission permission / inhibition determining apparatus 100. The other e-mail B is sent to the SMTP server without being filtered by the e-mail filtering transfer device 300, and is sent to the destination of the e-mail address.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a filtering transfer operation performed by the e-mail filtering transfer device 300.

  The e-mail monitoring unit 302 passes the e-mail transmission data passing therethrough to the transfer determination unit 303 (S301). The transfer determination unit 303 refers to the transfer conditions set in the system setting unit 301 and determines whether the transmission source address of the e-mail transmission data matches the mail address of the Internet fax machine 100 (S302). Further, the transfer determination unit 303 determines whether attachment data exists in the e-mail transmission data (S303).

  The e-mail filtering transfer apparatus 300 performs filtering of input e-mails using the determination conditions of steps S302 and S303 as filtering conditions. Then, the electronic mail determined as “YES” in both the determinations in steps S302 and S303 is transferred to the fax transmission availability determination device 100 (S304). The e-mail that has not been determined as “YES” in both the determinations in steps S302 and S303 passes through as it is and is sent to the SMTP server (S305).

  That is, in the system setting unit 301, as a filtering condition, the transmission source address of the email transmission data is set as a comparison target, and the mail address of the Internet fax machine 100 is set. Then, it is set in the system setting unit 301 as a transfer condition that the filtered e-mail is output to a port connected to the fax transmission permission determination apparatus 100. The transfer condition setting for the e-mail filtering transfer apparatus 300 is as described above as the use environment.

  Note that, as a method of transferring the filtered electronic mail to the fax transmission permission determination apparatus 100, the output port of the electronic mail filtering transfer apparatus 300 has been described as being switched, but other methods may be used. For example, although it outputs from the same port as another e-mail, the form which adds the transfer address which routes to the fax transmission permission determination apparatus 100 may be added to the filtered e-mail.

(Configuration of fax transmission availability determination device and transmission availability determination operation)
Next, the configuration of the fax transmission permission / inhibition determination device 100 and the operation for determining whether or not to transmit the transferred electronic mail will be described.

  The configuration of the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100 described here involves the Internet fax transmission / reception unit 104, the transmission availability determination unit 105, and the transmission job registration storage unit 103 of the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100 shown in FIG.

  The Internet fax transmission / reception unit 104 receives the e-mail transferred from the e-mail filtering transfer device 300 and passes the transmission data to the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105. The transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 analyzes the email transmission data and determines whether or not the email can be transmitted. The transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 refers to the content of the transmission job registered and stored in the transmission job registration / storage unit 103 when determining transmission permission / inhibition.

  When it is determined that transmission is possible, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 instructs the Internet fax transmission / reception unit 104 to transmit an e-mail. Then, the transmission job registered and stored in the transmission job registration storage unit 103 is deleted.

  When it is determined that transmission is not possible, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 instructs the Internet fax transmission / reception unit 104 to delete the electronic mail.

  Moreover, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 outputs a determination result of transmission permission / inhibition to the outside. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, there is an operation mode for notifying the Internet fax machine 200 of the determination result of whether transmission is possible or not. In this case, the result of whether or not to send a fax is displayed on the Internet fax machine 200.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the fax transmission availability determination apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment.

  The Internet fax transmission / reception unit 104 of the fax transmission determination device 100 receives the email transferred from the email filtering transfer device 300, and passes the transmission data to the transmission determination unit 105 (S401).

  The transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 analyzes the attached data of the email transmission data according to the format.

  The transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 identifies whether or not a predetermined transmission job ID is included in the first page of the attached data (S402). Assuming that a sending slip obtained by converting the transmission job ID into a matrix type two-dimensional code and printing it is used for the top page, the top page is analyzed by a matrix type two-dimensional code reader. The matrix type two-dimensional code reader is software that decodes the matrix type two-dimensional code drawn in the image data and reads the information converted into the matrix type two-dimensional code.

  If the transmission job ID cannot be identified by this analysis, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 determines that transmission is not possible (S402, NO).

  On the other hand, when the transmission job ID can be identified by this analysis (S402, YES), the transmission permission determination unit 105 is registered and stored in the transmission job registration storage unit 103 using the identified transmission job ID as a search key. A transmission job is searched (S403).

  If the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job ID used as the search key is not found as a result of this search, the transmission permission / inhibition determining unit 105 determines that transmission is not possible (S404, NO).

  On the other hand, if the transmission job can be acquired as a result of this search (S404, YES), the transmission permission determination unit 105 compares the content of the transmission job with the content of the e-mail and attached data (S405). . For example, when the transmission destination address, the number of originals, and the transmission job effective time are set for the transmission job, the setting contents of the transmission job are compared with the transmission destination address of the e-mail, the number of originals of the attached data, and the current time, respectively. The

  The transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 determines that transmission is not possible when there is a mismatch in the contents as a result of the contents comparison (S406, NO).

  On the other hand, if all the contents match as a result of the contents comparison (S406, YES), the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 determines that the transmission of the e-mail is permitted.

  When it is determined as “NO” in any of the determinations in steps S402, S404, and S406, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 outputs information of the transmission determination result NG (S411). Then, the e-mail transmitted from the Internet fax machine 200 is deleted (S412), and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if “YES” is determined in the determination in step S406, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 deletes the delivery slip in which the transmission job ID is printed with the matrix type two-dimensional code included in the attached data of the email. (S407). Then, the Internet fax transmission / reception unit 104 is instructed to transmit an electronic mail having attached data from which the delivery slip is deleted. This electronic mail is transmitted from the Internet fax transmission / reception unit 104 to the transmission destination (S408).

  Subsequently, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 outputs information of the transmission determination result OK (S409). Then, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 deletes the transmission job used in the determination of whether or not the facsimile transmission is possible from the transmission job registration storage unit 103 (S410), and ends the processing.

  With reference to FIG. 10, the transmission permission / inhibition determination operation performed by the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 will be described more specifically.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation for determining whether or not transmission is possible, and in particular, the determination NG flag output by the transmission / non-transmission determination unit 105 will be described. This determination NG flag is sent to, for example, the Internet fax machine 200 and used as information for notifying the user of success or failure of fax transmission.

  First, the determination NG flag will be described. The determination NG flag is flag information having a bit corresponding to each determination condition, as shown in the example in the square frame of FIG. Here, the determination OK or the determination NG is displayed corresponding to each of 5 bits of 0 to 4.

  For each bit, for example, the 0th bit corresponds to “the presence / absence of a delivery slip”, and “0” is set when there is a delivery slip, and “1” is set when there is no delivery slip. The delivery form referred to here is equivalent to the presence or absence of a transmission job ID. The first bit corresponds to “transmission job registration presence / absence”, and is set to “0” when registered, and “1” when not registered. The second bit corresponds to the “destination address match status”, where “0” is set if they match, and “1” is set if they do not match. The third bit corresponds to the “number of originals matching status”, and “0” is set if they match, and “1” is set if they do not match. The fourth bit corresponds to “existence of valid time excess”, “0” is set when there is no excess (valid), and “1” is set when there is an excess (invalid).

  That is, in the determination NG flag, “1” is set in the bit position of the condition determined as transmission impossible in the transmission availability determination. When “0” is set in all the bit positions, it means that it is determined that transmission is possible.

  This determination NG flag is output according to the result of the transmission permission / inhibition determination operation performed by the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 and is transmitted to, for example, the Internet fax machine 200.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 10, steps S501, S502, S503, and S505 correspond to steps S401, S402, S403, and S404 of FIG. 9, respectively.

  The transmission permission / inhibition determining unit 105 acquires the email transmission data transferred from the email filtering transfer device 300 (S501). It is assumed that the determination NG flag is initially set to all 0 prior to the transmission permission / inhibition determination process.

  The transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 analyzes the attached data of the email transmission data according to the format.

  The transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 identifies whether or not a predetermined transmission job ID is included in the first page of the attached data (S502).

  If the transmission job ID cannot be identified in this analysis, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 determines that transmission is not possible (S502, NO). In this case, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 sets 1 to the 0th bit of the determination NG flag and ends the process (S504, S514: Yes, S516). Therefore, in this case, a determination NG flag in which 1 is set only in the 0th bit is output.

  On the other hand, if the transmission job ID can be identified by this analysis (S502, YES), the transmission permission determination unit 105 is registered and stored in the transmission job registration storage unit 103 using the identified transmission job ID as a search key. A transmission job is searched (S503).

  If the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job ID used as the search key is not found as a result of this search, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 determines that transmission is not possible (S505, NO). In this case, the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 sets 1 to the first bit of the determination NG flag and ends the processing (S507, S514: Yes, S516). Therefore, in this case, a determination NG flag in which 1 is set only for the first bit is output.

  On the other hand, if the transmission job can be acquired as a result of the search in step S503 (S505, YES), the transmission permission determination unit 105 starts comparing the content of the transmission job with the content of the e-mail and attached data. To do.

  It is assumed that a transmission destination address, the number of originals, and a transmission job effective time are set for the transmission job.

  The transmission destination mail address set in the transmission job is compared with the transmission destination address of the received electronic mail (S508). If the comparison results in a mismatch (S508, NO), the transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 sets 1 to the second bit of the determination NG flag (S511) and proceeds to the next determination. If the determination in step S508 indicates a match (S508, YES), the transmission permission determination unit 105 proceeds to the next determination.

  In step S509, the number of documents is compared. If the comparison results in a mismatch (S509, NO), the transmission availability determination unit 105 sets 1 to the third bit of the determination NG flag (S512) and proceeds to the next determination. If the determination in step S509 indicates a match (S509, YES), the transmission permission determination unit 105 proceeds to the next determination.

  In step S510, it is compared whether the transmission job valid time has been exceeded. In the transmission job, a time when the transmission job is created and a transmission job valid time are set. Then, the time obtained by adding the transmission job valid time to the transmission job creation time is compared with the current time. If it is determined in this comparison that the transmission job valid time has been exceeded (S510, NO), the transmission availability determination unit 105 sets 1 to the fourth bit of the determination NG flag (S513), and proceeds to the next determination. When it is determined that the valid time is within the determination in step S510 (S510, YES), the transmission permission determination unit 105 proceeds to the next determination.

  The transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 105 checks whether or not the determination NG flag is set based on the result of the determination process described above (S514). As a result of this confirmation, when 1 is not set in all the bits of the determination NG flag (S514, none), it is determined that the determination result is OK (S515). As a result of this confirmation, if 1 is set in any bit of the determination NG flag (S514: Yes), it is determined as a determination result NG (S516). In any determination, the determination NG flag is output.

  The subsequent processing is the same as the processing described in FIG. That is, when it is determined that the determination result is NG, the processes of steps S411 and S412 in FIG. 9 are performed. Further, if it is determined that the determination result is OK, the processing of steps S407 to S410 in FIG. 9 is performed.

  In step S411 in FIG. 9, a determination NG flag corresponding to step S516 in FIG. 10 is output and transmitted to the Internet fax machine 200. In step S409 in FIG. 9, a determination NG flag corresponding to step S515 in FIG. 10 is output and transmitted to the Internet fax machine 200.

  The Internet fax machine 200 can know the reason for the determination result OK or NG by referring to each bit of the received determination NG flag. The fax transmission result can be displayed based on the notified contents of the determination NG flag. If all the determination NG flags are set to 0, transmission is completed, and if any bit of the determination NG flag is 1, it can be displayed that transmission is impossible for that reason. As a result, even if the fax transmission fails, the legitimate user has failed to send the fax due to, for example, forgetting to attach a delivery slip, a mistake in specifying the destination address, a setting mistake in the number of originals to be sent, or expiration of the validity period. Can know.

(Handling of a send job when a fax is not sent after the valid time)
As is clear from the above description, the transmission job registered and stored in the transmission job registration storage unit 103 of the fax transmission permission determination apparatus 100 is deleted when the fax transmission is normally executed. In other words, as long as the fax transmission is not executed normally, the transmission job remains registered and stored in the transmission job registration storage unit 103 even if the valid time is exceeded. A fax transmission corresponding to a transmission job that has exceeded the valid time is determined to be acceptable even if the other conditions (the destination address and the number of originals) of the transmission job match. Absent.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, the presence or absence of such a transmission job is confirmed every day at a predetermined time. If there is such a transmission job, the transmission job is deleted from the transmission job registration storage unit 103. At the same time, a list of the deleted transmission jobs is created and output to the outside.

  For example, the list is transmitted to the Internet fax machine 200. When the Internet fax machine 200 receives the list, it prints out.

  By configuring in this way, the system administrator can collect statistics on matters that have created a transmission job but did not execute fax transmission, and can obtain a guideline for determining the optimum effective time. it can.

(Effects against unauthorized fax transmission)
In this embodiment, the fax transmission is permitted because the conditions of the actually transmitted fax match the transmission job created in advance in the fax transmission permission determination apparatus, and the transmission job is deleted after the fax transmission. It has become.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the diversion of the delivery slip on which the transmission job ID is printed.

  This means that it is possible to prevent an unauthorized user from transmitting an Internet fax even if a delivery slip on which a transmission job ID is printed passes in the hands of an unauthorized user. That is, the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job ID printed on the delivery slip has already been deleted in the fax transmission permission determination device, and therefore it is determined that transmission is not possible in the determination processing in step S505 described with reference to FIG. .

  Also, the present embodiment is configured to store the contents of a transmission job that defines various conditions relating to fax transmission in the fax transmission permission determination apparatus.

  Therefore, even if the delivery slip on which the transmission job ID is printed reaches the unauthorized user before the authorized user transmits the fax, it is possible to prevent the unauthorized user from transmitting the Internet fax. That is, only the transmission job ID can be read from the delivery slip, and the content of the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job ID is not known. Since the destination address of the fax to be transmitted by the unauthorized user should be different from the destination intended by the authorized user, it is determined that the transmission is impossible in the determination process of step S508 described with reference to FIG.

  In this embodiment, the transmission job ID is a character string data having a predetermined number of digits generated randomly.

  For this reason, even if an unauthorized user tries to forge a delivery slip, the unauthorized user cannot easily know the transmission job ID. Also, even if the same transmission job ID is known and a fax is sent with a fake delivery slip, the determination of whether or not to send a fax is made because the transmission job cannot be deleted or the content of the transmission job cannot be known as described above. It is determined that transmission cannot be performed by the device.

  For this reason, even in this embodiment, even if an unauthorized user misuses or forges a delivery slip on which a transmission job identifier is printed, the transmission can be prevented.

(Effect of proper use)
In the present embodiment, a destination address to which a legitimate user intends to send a fax is stored in advance in the fax transmission availability determination device, and a match with the destination address of the actually transmitted fax is confirmed. Yes.

  For this reason, even if the user designates an incorrect destination address during fax transmission and executes a transmission operation, the erroneous transmission can be prevented.

  Also, the present embodiment is configured to output the contents of transmission permission / inhibition determined by the fax transmission permission / inhibition determination apparatus using a determination NG flag and notify the internet fax apparatus, for example.

  Therefore, based on the transmission permission / inhibition information displayed by the Internet fax machine, the user could not send a fax such as forgetting to attach a delivery slip, misdesignation of the destination address, mismatched number of documents to be sent, or exceeding the valid transmission time. Can know.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a single Internet fax machine is described. However, a plurality of Internet fax machines may exist. In that case, the system setting unit 301 of the e-mail filtering transfer device 300 may specify a plurality of source addresses of the target Internet fax device.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fax transmission permission determination device 100 and the e-mail filtering transfer device 300 have been described as different device configurations. However, the fax transmission permission determination device 100 and the e-mail filtering transfer device 300 are configured as one device. May be.

  A part or all of the above embodiments can be described as in the following supplementary notes, but is not limited thereto.

(Appendix 1)
Fax for creating and registering information relating to fax transmission for each fax transmission in advance, registering and storing the information, outputting information on a transmission job identifier for identifying the transmission job, and determining whether or not the fax transmission is possible based on the transmission job A transmission enable / disable determination unit; an Internet fax transmission unit that converts image information of a transmission document including information on the transmission job identifier into an image file; and transmits the converted image file as attachment data to an e-mail. If the sender email address and the presence or absence of attached data are identified for the email, and the sender email address matches the email address of the Internet fax transmission means and has attached data, the entered email Is transferred to the means for determining whether or not to send a fax E-mail filtering transfer means, and the fax transmission availability determination means includes the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier included in the attached data of the e-mail transferred from the e-mail filtering transfer means, If registered and stored in the fax transmission permission determination means, and the contents of the e-mail and the attached data match the contents of the registered and stored transmission job, it is determined that the fax transmission is possible, and the fax transmission is performed. An Internet fax transmission permission / inhibition determination system, wherein the transmission job registered and stored is deleted when it is determined to be permitted.

(Appendix 2)
The contents of the transmission job include at least a transmission destination address of the fax and a transmission job effective time indicating an effective time for using the transmission job for determining whether or not to transmit a fax. When the transmission job identifier cannot be identified, even when the transmission job identifier can be identified, the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is not registered and stored, and the transmission job is registered and stored Even when the transmission destination address set in the transmission job does not match the transmission destination address of the e-mail, and when the transmission job valid time set in the transmission job has passed, In either case, it is determined that fax transmission is not possible and fax transmission is determined to be impossible. , The Internet fax transmission determination system according to Note 1, wherein the deleting the e-mail received.

(Appendix 3)
The Internet fax transmission availability determination system according to appendix 2, wherein the fax transmission availability determination unit generates and outputs character string data having a predetermined number of digits that is randomly generated as the transmission job identifier.

(Appendix 4)
The fax transmission availability determination means converts the character string data into image data of a matrix type two-dimensional code or barcode, and outputs a one-page document file with the image data pasted at a predetermined position as a delivery slip. The Internet fax transmission permission / inhibition determination system according to Supplementary Note 3, characterized by:

(Appendix 5)
The Internet according to any one of appendices 2 to 4, wherein the fax transmission permission / inhibition determining unit notifies the Internet fax transmission unit of a reason for the determination when the fax transmission is determined to be impossible. Fax transmission availability determination system.

(Appendix 6)
The fax transmission permission / inhibition judging means checks at a predetermined time whether or not the transmission job whose registration time has exceeded the transmission job has been registered, and if there is, the registration and storage of the transmission job whose transmission job has exceeded the validity time. The Internet fax transmission availability determination system according to appendix 2 or appendix 5, wherein the system is deleted.

(Appendix 7)
The fax transmission availability determination unit creates and outputs a list of the transmission jobs whose deleted transmission job valid time has exceeded, and the Internet fax transmission unit receives the list output by the fax transmission availability determination unit. The Internet fax transmission availability determination system according to appendix 6, wherein the system is printed out.

(Appendix 8)
Information relating to fax transmission for each fax transmission is created in advance as a transmission job, transmission job setting means for outputting information of a transmission job identifier for identifying the transmission job, and the transmission job created by the transmission job setting means, A transmission job storing means for registering and storing in correspondence with the transmission job identifier, a fax transmission / reception means for receiving an e-mail in which image information of a transmission document including information on the transmission job identifier is attached to attached data as an image file, Identify the transmission job identifier included in the attached data of the e-mail received by the fax transmission / reception means, and determine whether the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is registered and stored in the transmission job storage means. Identify and send the transmission registered and stored in the transmission job storage means. If the content of the job matches the content of the e-mail and the attached data, it is determined that fax transmission is possible, and if it is determined that fax transmission is possible, the transmission registered and stored in the transmission job storage means A fax transmission availability determination device comprising: a transmission availability determination means for deleting a job.

(Appendix 9)
The content of the transmission job includes at least a transmission destination address of the fax and a transmission job effective time indicating an effective time for using the transmission job for determining whether or not to transmit a fax. When the job identifier cannot be identified, or even when the transmission job identifier can be identified, if the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is not registered and stored in the transmission job storage unit, the transmission job is registered. Even if it is stored, the transmission destination address set in the transmission job does not match the transmission destination address of the e-mail, and the transmission job valid time set in the transmission job has passed. In either case, it is determined that fax transmission is not possible and fax transmission is disabled. And if it is determined, facsimile transmission determination apparatus according to note 8, wherein the deleting the e-mail the fax means receives.

(Appendix 10)
The fax transmission availability determination device according to appendix 9, wherein the transmission job setting unit generates and outputs character string data having a predetermined number of digits generated at random as the transmission job identifier.

(Appendix 11)
The transmission job setting means converts the character string data into image data of a matrix type two-dimensional code or barcode, and outputs a one-page document file with the image data pasted at a predetermined position as a delivery slip. The fax transmission permission / inhibition determination device according to appendix 10, which is characterized by the above.

(Appendix 12)
12. The fax transmission permission / inhibition judging device according to any one of supplementary notes 9 to 11, wherein the transmission permission / non-permission determining means outputs the reason for the determination impossibility to the outside when it is determined that fax transmission is impossible.

(Appendix 13)
The transmission permission / inhibition determining means checks at a predetermined time whether or not the transmission job storage means has registered and stored in the transmission job storage means for which the transmission job effective time has been exceeded, and if it exists, the transmission job effective time has been exceeded. 13. The apparatus for determining whether or not to transmit a fax according to appendix 9 or appendix 12, wherein the registration save of the transmission job is deleted from the transmission job storage means.

(Appendix 14)
14. The facsimile transmission availability determination unit according to appendix 13, wherein the transmission availability determination unit creates a list of the transmission jobs that have been deleted from the transmission job storage unit and have exceeded the transmission job valid time and outputs the list to the outside. apparatus.

(Appendix 15)
Information relating to fax transmission for each fax transmission is created in advance as a transmission job, information on a transmission job identifier for identifying the transmission job is output, and the created transmission job is registered and stored in association with the transmission job identifier. Receiving an e-mail in which image information of a transmission original including information on the transmission job identifier is attached to attached data as an image file, and identifying the transmission job identifier included in the attached data of the received e-mail Identifies whether the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is registered and stored, and determines that fax transmission is possible when the content of the registered transmission job matches the content of the e-mail and the attached data If it is determined that fax transmission is possible, the registered transmission job is deleted. Fax transmission availability determination method characterized by and.

(Appendix 16)
The content of the transmission job includes at least a transmission job valid time indicating a transmission destination address of the fax and a valid time used to determine whether or not the transmission job can be faxed. When the transmission job identifier cannot be identified from the attached data, Even if the transmission job identifier can be identified, even if the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is not registered and stored, even if the transmission job is registered and stored, the transmission job If the destination address set in the e-mail and the destination address of the e-mail do not match, or if the sending job valid time set in the sending job has passed, fax transmission is performed. If it is determined that it is not possible to send a fax, the received e-mail is deleted. Fax transmission determination method according to note 15, wherein Rukoto.

(Appendix 17)
The method according to claim 16, wherein the transmission job identifier is character string data having a predetermined number of digits generated randomly.

(Appendix 18)
The output transmission job identifier information is a one-page document file sending slip in which the character string data is converted into image data of a matrix type two-dimensional code or barcode and the image data is pasted at a predetermined position. Item 18. The method for determining whether or not to transmit a fax according to appendix 17, wherein:

(Appendix 19)
The fax transmission availability determination method according to any one of supplementary notes 16 to 18, wherein when it is determined that fax transmission is impossible, the reason for the determination is output to the outside.

(Appendix 20)
Whether or not the transmission job whose registration time has exceeded the transmission job is confirmed at a predetermined time, and if there is, the registration and storage of the transmission job whose transmission job has exceeded the validity period is deleted. The method for determining whether or not to transmit a fax according to appendix 17 or appendix 19.

(Appendix 21)
The fax transmission availability determination method according to appendix 20, wherein a list of the deleted transmission jobs whose transmission job valid time has been exceeded is created and output to the outside.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Internet fax transmission permission determination system 10 Fax transmission permission determination means 11 Transmission job setting means 12 Transmission job storage means 13 Fax transmission / reception means 14 Transmission permission determination means 20 Internet fax transmission means 30 E-mail filtering transfer means 100 Fax transmission permission determination Device 101 Input accepting unit 102 Transmission job setting unit 103 Transmission job registration / storing unit 104 Internet fax transmission / reception unit 105 Transmission enable / disable determination unit 200 Internet fax device 201 Internet fax transmission / reception unit 202 Image scanner 300 Email filtering transfer device 301 System setting unit 302 Electronic Mail monitoring unit 303 Transfer determination unit 400 Setting terminal

Claims (10)

Fax for creating and registering information relating to fax transmission for each fax transmission in advance, registering and storing the information, outputting information on a transmission job identifier for identifying the transmission job, and determining whether or not the fax transmission is possible based on the transmission job A transmission permission determination means;
Internet fax transmission means for converting image information of a transmission original including information on the transmission job identifier into an image file, and transmitting the converted image file as attachment data to an e-mail;
Identifies the presence or absence of the source mail address and attached data for the input e-mail, and if the source mail address matches the mail address of the Internet fax transmission means and has the attached data, the input E-mail filtering transfer means for transferring e-mail to the fax transmission availability determination means,
The fax transmission permission / inhibition determining means is configured such that the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier included in the attached data of the email transferred from the email filtering / forwarding means is registered and stored in the fax transmission permission / inhibition determining means. If the contents of the e-mail and the attached data match the contents of the registered transmission job, it is determined that fax transmission is possible, and if it is determined that fax transmission is possible, it is registered and stored. An internet fax transmission availability determination system, wherein the transmission job is deleted. A transmission job setting means for generating information related to fax transmission for each fax transmission in advance as a transmission job and outputting information of a transmission job identifier for identifying the transmission job;
A transmission job storing means for registering and storing the transmission job created by the transmission job setting means in association with the transmission job identifier;
Fax transmission / reception means for receiving an e-mail in which image information of a transmission document including information of the transmission job identifier is attached to attached data as an image file;
Identify the transmission job identifier included in the attached data of the e-mail received by the fax transmission / reception means, and determine whether the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is registered and stored in the transmission job storage means. When the content of the transmission job that is identified and registered and stored in the transmission job storage means matches the content of the e-mail and the attached data, it is determined that the fax transmission is possible and the fax transmission is determined to be possible. A transmission permission / inhibition determining unit for deleting the transmission job registered and stored in the transmission job storing unit. The content of the transmission job includes at least a transmission job valid time indicating a transmission destination address of the fax and a valid time for using the transmission job to determine whether or not to allow fax transmission,
When the transmission job identifier cannot be identified from the attached data, or even when the transmission job identifier can be identified, the transmission permission determination unit determines that the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is the transmission job storage unit. The transmission destination address set in the transmission job and the transmission destination address of the e-mail do not match even when the transmission job is registered and stored, and the transmission When the transmission job valid time set for the job has passed, in any of the cases, it is determined that fax transmission is not possible, and when it is determined that fax transmission is not possible, the electronic data received by the fax transmission / reception means is received. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the e-mail is deleted. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmission job setting unit generates and outputs character string data of a predetermined number of digits generated at random as the transmission job identifier. The transmission job setting means converts the character string data into image data of a matrix type two-dimensional code or barcode, and outputs a one-page document file with the image data pasted at a predetermined position as a delivery slip. The fax transmission availability determination device according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The fax transmission availability determination unit according to claim 3, wherein when it is determined that fax transmission is impossible, the transmission availability determination unit outputs a reason for the determination to the outside. apparatus. The transmission permission / inhibition determining means checks at a predetermined time whether or not the transmission job storage means has registered and stored in the transmission job storage means for which the transmission job effective time has been exceeded, and if it exists, the transmission job effective time has been exceeded. 7. The apparatus for determining whether or not to transmit a fax according to claim 3 or 6, wherein registration and storage of a transmission job is deleted from the transmission job storage means. The fax transmission permission / inhibition means according to claim 7, wherein the transmission permission / inhibition determination means creates a list of the transmission jobs that have been deleted from the transmission job storage means and have exceeded the effective time of the transmission job and outputs the list to the outside. Judgment device. Information relating to fax transmission for each fax transmission is created in advance as a transmission job and output information of a transmission job identifier for identifying the transmission job;
The created transmission job is registered and stored in association with the transmission job identifier,
Receiving an e-mail in which image information of a transmission document including information of the transmission job identifier is attached to attached data as an image file;
Identifying the transmission job identifier included in the attached data of the received email and identifying whether or not the transmission job is registered and stored corresponding to the transmission job identifier;
If the content of the transmission job registered and stored matches the content of the e-mail and the attached data, it is determined that fax transmission is possible,
A method for determining whether or not a fax can be transmitted, wherein the transmission job registered and stored is deleted when it is determined that fax transmission is possible. The content of the transmission job includes at least a transmission job valid time indicating a transmission destination address of the fax and a valid time for using the transmission job to determine whether or not to allow fax transmission,
When the transmission job identifier cannot be identified from the attached data, even when the transmission job identifier can be identified, if the transmission job corresponding to the transmission job identifier is not registered and stored, the transmission job is registered. Even if it is stored, the transmission destination address set in the transmission job does not match the transmission destination address of the e-mail, and the transmission job valid time set in the transmission job has passed. 10. The fax transmission permission / inhibition according to claim 9, wherein the fax transmission is determined to be impossible in any of the cases, and the received e-mail is deleted when it is determined that the fax transmission is impossible. Judgment method.

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