JP2017121090A - Relay device and fax transmission/reception program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a relay device to transmit a communication result as an intermediate step to a terminal device before completing facsimile transmission to all destinations when the terminal device not having a facsimile transmission/reception function causes the relay device having a facsimile transmission/reception function to perform facsimile transmission/reception to/from a plurality of destinations in a lump.SOLUTION: A relay device 1 includes: creation means 105 for creating communication result information including information indicating facsimile transmission is being performed, information indicating a facsimile transmission success, or information indicating a facsimile transmission failure before facsimile communication means 103 completes facsimile transmission for all of a plurality of facsimile transmission instructions on the basis of the facsimile transmission instructions from a terminal device 2a not having a facsimile transmission function; and transmission means 106 for transmitting the communication result information to the terminal device 2a from which mail communication means 100 received the facsimile transmission instructions, before the facsimile communication means 103 completes facsimile transmission for all of the facsimile transmission instructions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a relay apparatus and a FAX transmission / reception program.

  There has been proposed a communication system for managing communication results when FAX transmission is performed from a terminal device not having a FAX function via a relay apparatus having a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as “FAX”) transmission / reception function (for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  The communication system disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a terminal device that does not have a FAX transmission / reception function and a relay device that has a FAX transmission / reception function that can transmit a fax to the outside through a public network. Connected by private network. The communication system uses Internet FAX (Internet Fax), which is an example of a technique for converting information described in a facsimile system into a packet and transmitting the packet over an IP network. An instruction parameter necessary for Internet FAX is added to the relay apparatus, and an Internet FAX off-ramp instruction is given to the relay apparatus, and the relay apparatus performs FAX transmission according to the instruction of the terminal apparatus.

JP 2006-222635 A

  An object of the present invention is to complete fax transmission for all destinations when a terminal device that does not have a fax transmission / reception function causes a relay device having a fax transmission / reception function to collectively send and receive faxes to a plurality of destinations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a relay device and a FAX transmission / reception program for transmitting a halfway progress communication result to a terminal device.

[1] Accepting means for receiving a plurality of facsimile transmission instructions from a terminal device having no facsimile transmission function via a private network;
Based on the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions received by the reception unit, a facsimile communication unit that sequentially transmits a facsimile to the outside via a public network;
Before the facsimile communication means completes facsimile transmission for all of the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions, information indicating that the facsimile transmission is currently in communication, information indicating success of the facsimile transmission, or the facsimile transmission Creating means for creating communication result information including information indicating failure of
Before the facsimile communication means completes facsimile transmission for all of the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions, the communication result information created by the creation means is transmitted to the terminal device from which the acceptance means has accepted the facsimile transmission instruction. And a relay device.

[2] The plurality of facsimile transmission instructions received by the reception unit are broadcast transmissions for transmitting common image information to different destinations,
The relay device according to [1], wherein the creation unit creates communication result information each time the facsimile communication unit performs facsimile transmission.
[3] The creation means creates the communication result information each time facsimile transmission is completed in response to the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions,
The relay device according to [1], wherein the transmission unit transmits the communication result information each time the communication result information is generated by the generation unit.

[4] The relay device according to [1], wherein the creation unit creates communication result information each time the facsimile communication unit performs facsimile transmission and transmission fails.
[5] The relay device according to [4], wherein the creation unit creates communication result information each time transmission based on facsimile transmission of any of the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions fails a predetermined number of times.

[6] The relay device according to [1], wherein the creation unit creates communication result information when the reception unit receives an inquiry from the terminal device that has received a facsimile transmission instruction.

[7] The accepting unit accepts a priority facsimile transmission instruction from the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions together with the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions from the terminal device,
The relay device according to [1], wherein the creation unit creates communication result information each time the facsimile communication unit performs facsimile transmission based on the priority facsimile transmission instruction.

[8] The relay device according to [1], wherein the creation unit creates communication result information when the terminal device requests the facsimile communication unit to cancel execution of facsimile transmission.

[9] The relay device according to [1], wherein the creation unit creates communication result information when the terminal device requests the facsimile communication unit to interrupt execution of facsimile transmission.

[10] When the facsimile transmission instruction is changed and the facsimile transmission restart instruction is issued from the terminal device to the facsimile communication means after the facsimile transmission execution is interrupted, the creating means outputs the communication result information. The relay device according to [9], which is created together with a change in the facsimile transmission instruction.

[11] The computer
Receiving means for receiving a plurality of facsimile transmission instructions from a terminal device having no facsimile transmission function via a private network;
Based on the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions received by the reception unit, a facsimile communication unit that sequentially transmits a facsimile to the outside via a public network;
Before the facsimile communication means completes facsimile transmission for all of the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions, information indicating that the facsimile transmission is currently in communication, information indicating success of the facsimile transmission, or the facsimile transmission Creating means for creating communication result information including information indicating failure of
Before the facsimile communication means completes facsimile transmission for all of the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions, the communication result information created by the creation means is transmitted to the terminal device from which the acceptance means has accepted the facsimile transmission instruction. FAX transmission / reception program for functioning as transmission means.

  According to the invention according to claim 1, 3, 5 or 11, when the terminal device having no facsimile transmission / reception function causes the relay device having the facsimile transmission / reception function to collectively send / receive facsimiles to a plurality of destinations, Before the facsimile transmission to all destinations is completed, an intermediate communication result can be transmitted to the terminal device.

  According to the invention of claim 2, every time the facsimile communication means performs facsimile transmission, it is possible to transmit an intermediate communication result to the terminal device.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, every time the facsimile communication means performs facsimile transmission and transmission fails, the intermediate communication result can be transmitted to the terminal device.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the accepting unit receives an inquiry from the terminal device that has received the facsimile transmission instruction, the intermediate communication result can be transmitted to the terminal device.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, every time the facsimile communication means performs facsimile transmission based on a facsimile transmission instruction in which priority is given, an intermediate communication result can be transmitted to the terminal device.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when the terminal device requests the facsimile communication means to cancel the execution of facsimile transmission, it is possible to transmit the intermediate communication result to the terminal device.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the terminal device requests the facsimile communication means to interrupt execution of facsimile transmission, it is possible to transmit the intermediate communication result to the terminal device.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when the facsimile transmission instruction is changed and the instruction for resuming the facsimile transmission is issued from the terminal device to the facsimile communication means after the interruption of the facsimile transmission execution, the communication result is transmitted to the facsimile transmission instruction. It can be created together with the contents of the change, and the communication result in the middle can be transmitted to the terminal device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the relay apparatus. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the terminal device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of communication result information. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an operation of creating and transmitting communication result information from the relay device to the end device. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation of creating and transmitting the communication result information to the end device by the relay device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation of creating and transmitting the communication result information to the end device by the relay device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation for creating and transmitting the communication result information to the end device by the relay device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining another example of the operation for creating and transmitting the communication result information to the end device by the relay device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention related to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation of creating and transmitting the communication result information to the end device by the relay device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[First Embodiment]
(Configuration of communication system)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The communication system 5 is configured by connecting the relay device 1 and the terminal devices 2a to 2c so that they can communicate with each other via a private network 4. The relay device 1 is connected to the external devices 6a and 6b through the public network 7 so as to be communicable, and is mainly a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as “FAX”) system between the external devices 6a and 6b. To send and receive information.

  The relay apparatus 1 is an apparatus having a FAX transmission / reception function, a printer, a scanner, and a copy function, and includes electronic components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a flash memory having a function for processing information. The relay apparatus 1 performs FAX transmission alone, but in the present embodiment, a case will be described in which FAX transmission is performed in accordance with the FAX transmission instruction of the terminal apparatuses 2a-2c based on the Internet FAX (Internet Fax) standard. .

  The terminal devices 2a to 2c are devices that do not have a FAX transmission / reception function but have a printer, a scanner, and a copy function, and include electronic components such as a CPU and a flash memory that have a function for processing information. The terminal devices 2a to 2c give a FAX transmission instruction to the relay device 1.

  The private network 4 is a communication network capable of high-speed communication. For example, the private network 4 is a communication network such as an intranet or a local area network (LAN), and may be wired or wireless.

  The external devices 6a and 6b may be any information processing device having a FAX transmission / reception function, such as a printer or a PC.

  The public network 7 is, for example, a pay communication network set up by a communication operating company, and is an external network such as a public switched communication network (PSTN) or an integrated service digital network (ISDN). is there.

  Hereinafter, a case will be described in which a fax transmission instruction is sent from the terminal devices 2a-2c to the relay device 1 and a plurality of destinations collectively send and receive faxes (hereinafter referred to as "broadcast transmission"). The originals sent to a plurality of destinations at a time are common, but the contents may be changed for each destination using a common template.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the relay device 1.

  The relay device 1 includes a CPU and the like, and controls each unit and executes various programs, a storage unit 11 that includes a storage medium such as a flash memory and stores information, and a private network 4. A communication unit 12 that communicates with the outside via the public network 7, a FAX communication unit 13 that communicates with the outside via the public network 7 by a FAX method, a printing unit 14 that executes printing on paper, and characters and images are written. A scanning unit 15 that optically scans the paper is provided. Further, a display unit for displaying characters, images, and the like, and an operation unit for operating the relay device 1 may be provided.

  The control unit 10 executes a FAX transmission / reception program 110, which will be described later, to thereby create a mail communication unit 100, a mail title analysis unit 101, a mail text analysis unit 102, a FAX communication unit 103, a received FAX distribution unit 104, and communication result information creation. Functions as the means 105 and the communication result information transmitting means 106.

  The mail communication means 100 transmits / receives electronic mail to / from the end devices 2a-2c via the private network 4. In addition, the mail communication unit 100 also functions as a reception unit that receives a mail including an Internet FAX FAX transmission instruction.

  The mail title analysis unit 101 analyzes the FAX transmission destination and the like from the Internet FAX FAX transmission instruction included in the mail title of the e-mail received by the mail communication unit 100.

  The mail body analyzing unit 102 analyzes the setting at the time of FAX transmission from the mail body of the electronic mail received by the mail communication unit 100.

  A FAX communication unit 103 controls the FAX communication unit 13 to transmit and receive image information of a document by a FAX method.

  The reception FAX distribution unit 104 distributes the image information of the document received via the FAX communication unit 13 to the distribution box according to the destination of the document.

  When the FAX communication unit 103 transmits / receives the image information of the document, the communication result information creating unit 105 transmits the date / time when the document is transmitted / received, the other party of communication, the time required for communication, the number of pages of the document, Information such as whether or not the communication has ended normally is collected and created as communication result information 113.

  The communication result information transmitting unit 106 transmits the communication result information 113 created by the communication result information creating unit 105 to the corresponding end devices 2a-2c.

  The storage unit 11 stores a FAX transmission / reception program 110 that causes the control unit 10 to operate as the above-described units 100 to 106, box-specific transfer destination information 111, dial-in number-specific distribution box information 112, communication result information 113, and the like.

  The box-specific transfer destination information 111 associates an identifier of a distribution box in which image information of a document received by FAX is temporarily stored with an IP address of a transfer destination (terminal device 2a-2c) assigned to each distribution box. Information.

  The dial-in number distribution box information 112 is information that associates a telephone number, which is a destination of image information of a document received by FAX, with an identifier of the distribution box. Note that it is assumed that a plurality of telephone numbers are registered in the relay apparatus by a dial-in method, and the registered numbers are associated with the terminal apparatuses 2a to 2c, respectively.

  The communication unit 12 transmits / receives data via the private network 4 in accordance with a communication protocol such as TCP / IP, and performs control related to the network and e-mail transmission / reception control.

  The FAX communication unit 13 has a modem function for performing modulation / demodulation of image data according to a facsimile protocol such as G3 and G4, and an NCU function for controlling connection with the public network 7, and performs FAX communication via the public network 7. .

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the end devices 2a-2c. Since the configuration of the terminal devices 2a-2c is common, the terminal device 2a will be described as a representative.

  The terminal device 2a is composed of a CPU or the like, and controls each part, and executes a control unit 20 that executes various programs, a storage unit 21 that is composed of a storage medium such as a flash memory and stores information, and a private network 4. A communication unit 22 that communicates with the outside, a printing unit 23 that executes printing on paper, and a scanning unit 24 that optically scans paper on which characters, images, and the like are written. Further, a display unit for displaying characters, images, and the like, and an operation unit for operating the relay device 1 may be provided.

  The control unit 20 functions as a FAX reception unit 200, a mail body creation unit 201, a mail title generation unit 202, a mail communication unit 203, a reception FAX reception unit 204, and the like by executing a FAX transmission / reception program 210 described later.

  The FAX receiving unit 200 receives a FAX transmission request from the user of the terminal device 2a. The FAX transmission request is input together with the telephone number of the transmission destination when the operation unit (not shown) is operated by the user, and the document to be transmitted by FAX is read by the scanning unit 24.

  The mail body creation unit 201 creates a body of an e-mail to be transmitted to the relay apparatus 1 based on the FAX transmission request received by the FAX receiving unit 200 and the destination telephone number.

  The mail title creating unit 202 creates a mail title of an email to be transmitted to the relay apparatus 1 based on the FAX transmission request received by the FAX receiving unit 200 and the destination telephone number.

  The mail communication unit 203 transmits and receives electronic mail to and from the relay device 1 via the private network 4.

  The reception FAX receiving unit 204 receives, via the private network 4, the FAX stored in the distribution box corresponding to the terminal device 2 a among the FAX temporarily stored in the relay device 1.

  The storage unit 21 stores a FAX transmission / reception program 210, relay device information 211, and the like that cause the control unit 20 to operate as the above-described units 200-204.

  The relay device information 211 is information on the IP address of a relay device to which the terminal device 2a can transmit a FAX transmission instruction.

(Operation of communication system)
Hereinafter, the operation of the communication system 5 according to the first embodiment will be described as (1) basic operation, (2) communication result information generation operation, and (3) communication result information transmission operation with reference to FIGS. Separately described. In addition, the case where FAX transmission is performed by broadcast transmission from the terminal device 2a via the relay device 1 will be described on behalf of the terminal device 2a-2c.

(1) Basic operation First, the user of the terminal device 2a operates an operation unit (not shown) of the terminal device 2a to prepare for FAX reception.

  The FAX receiving unit 200 of the terminal device 2a starts receiving a FAX transmission request in response to a user operation, receives a destination telephone number, and transmits a FAX to the document table of the scanning unit 24 of the terminal device 2a. Prompt the user to set the original document.

  The user inputs the telephone number of the transmission destination, sets the document on the document table, and operates the operation unit to cause the scanning unit 24 to read the document.

  The FAX receiving unit 200 of the terminal device 2a generates image information by optically scanning the document in the scanning unit 24.

  Next, the mail text creation unit 201 creates the text of the email to be transmitted to the relay apparatus 1 based on the FAX transmission request received by the FAX receiving unit 200 and the destination telephone number. In the first embodiment, the fact that it is broadcast transmission is entered in the text.

  Further, the mail title creating unit 202 creates a mail title of an e-mail to be transmitted to the relay apparatus 1 based on the FAX transmission request received by the FAX receiving unit 200 and the destination telephone number.

  The mail title is described as “FAX = 044BBB1111 @ [192.168.1.33]” as an example. This indicates that the FAX number is instructed to the relay apparatus 1 whose IP address is “192.168.1.33” for the telephone number “044BBB1111”. It is assumed that there are a plurality of destination telephone numbers because it is broadcast transmission.

  Next, the mail communication unit 203 attaches the image information to the email created by the email body creation unit 201 and the email title creation unit 202 and sends the email to the relay apparatus 1.

(2) Communication Result Information Creation Operation FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of communication result information creation operation and transmission operation by the relay device to the end device.

  The mail communication means 100 of the relay apparatus 1 accepts the electronic mail transmitted by the terminal apparatus 2a (S100), and the mail title analysis means 101 analyzes the mail title “FAX = 044BBB1111 @ [192.168.1.33]”. Thus, “044-BBB-1111” is recognized as the transmission destination FAX number. It is assumed that there are a plurality of destination telephone numbers because it is broadcast transmission.

  Next, the FAX communication unit 103 first transmits the image information attached to the e-mail to the first destination (S101), for example, to the telephone number “044-BBB-1111” (S102). .

  The communication result information creating unit 105 transmits the image information to the outside via the public network 7 in the above “(1) Basic operation” and terminates the operation (S103). Information relating to FAX reception is created in the storage unit 11 as communication result information 113 (S104).

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the communication result information 113.

  The communication result information 113a is an example of the communication result information 113, and indicates information related to FAX reception transmitted by the FAX communication unit 103. The communication result information 113a indicates a destination (address identification number / total number of destinations) to be sent by broadcast. A FAX transmission destination indicating a telephone number for FAX transmission, a communication result indicating a FAX transmission state, and a page indicating a page amount for FAX transmission.

  As shown in FIG. 4, for example, in the FAX transmission of the broadcast number “1/20”, the destination is the telephone number “03-1234-5678”, the page amount is “5”, and the communication result is “OK”. It is shown that. Also, FAX transmission of the broadcast number “3/20” is addressed to the telephone number “03-1234-9999”, the page amount is “3” pages, and all the five pages are not transmitted. This indicates that transmission has failed and the communication result is “NG” (= failure). Also, the FAX transmission of the broadcast number “4/20” is in the middle of transmitting all 5 pages with the destination being the telephone number “03-1234-5678” and the page amount “2”. The communication result is “CALLING”, indicating that communication is currently being performed.

(3) Communication result information transmission operation

  The communication result information transmitting means 106 of the relay device 1 transmits the communication result information 113a to the terminal device 2a (S105).

  Next, when FAX transmission is not completed for all destinations (S106), steps S102 to S105 are executed for the next destination (S107).

  That is, in the first embodiment, the communication result information creating unit 105 creates the communication result information 113 at a timing when transmission is completed for each of a plurality of destinations for broadcast transmission, and the communication result information transmitting unit. 106 transmits the communication result information 113 each time it is created.

  Note that the communication result information creation unit 105 may create the communication result information 113 only for the destinations for which transmission failed among a plurality of destinations for broadcast transmission. The timing of creating the communication result information 113 may be the time of transmission failure, or may be when transmission has failed even if a predetermined number of retransmissions are executed. In addition, the communication result information 113 may describe the number of transmission failures.

  In addition, although the case where FAX transmission is performed by broadcast transmission from the terminal device 2a via the relay device 1 has been described, the present invention can be similarly applied to cases in which broadcast transmission is not performed.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that communication result information is created and transmitted at the timing when the execution status is inquired from the terminal device 2a to the relay device 1. In the following, the same reference numerals are given to the components common to the first embodiment, and the description of the common operations is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation of creating and transmitting the communication result information to the end device by the relay device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the mail communication means 203 of the terminal device 2a attaches the image information 200a to the email created by the mail text creation means 201 and the mail title creation means 202, and sends the email to the relay apparatus 1 (S210).

  Next, the mail communication unit 100 of the relay device 1 accepts the electronic mail transmitted by the terminal device 2a (S110), and the mail title analysis unit 101 analyzes the mail title.

  Next, the FAX communication unit 103 first transmits the image information attached to the e-mail by FAX in order from the first destination (S111).

  Next, when the user of the terminal device 2a desires an inquiry about the execution state of the broadcast transmission, the user operates the terminal device 2a, and the terminal device 2a makes an execution state inquiry to the relay device 1 according to the operation content. Is transmitted (S211).

  Next, when the relay apparatus 1 receives the execution status inquiry from the terminal apparatus 2a (S112), the communication result information creation means 105 causes the FAX communication means 103 to send image information to the outside via the public network 7 until the inquiry is received. The communication result information 113 is generated in the storage unit 11 as an intermediate process for the communication content transmitted by FAX (S113).

  The communication result information transmitting means 106 of the relay device 1 transmits the communication result information 113 as a halfway progress to the terminal device 2a (S114).

  The terminal device 2a receives the communication result information 113 as the progress in progress (S212).

  Note that the FAX communication unit 103 of the relay apparatus 1 may interrupt or cancel the FAX transmission when receiving the execution state inquiry, or may continue the FAX transmission as it is.

[Third Embodiment]
The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that communication result information is created and transmitted at a timing when a predetermined time has elapsed since the end device 2a started broadcast transmission.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation of creating and transmitting the communication result information to the end device by the relay device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the mail communication means 203 of the terminal device 2a attaches the image information 200a to the electronic mail created by the mail text creation means 201 and the mail title creation means 202, and sends the mail to the relay apparatus 1 (S220).

  Next, the mail communication unit 100 of the relay device 1 accepts the electronic mail transmitted by the terminal device 2a (S120), and the mail title analysis unit 101 analyzes the mail title.

  Next, the FAX communication unit 103 first transmits the image information attached to the e-mail by FAX in order from the first destination (S121).

  Next, when the predetermined time elapses (S122; Yes), the relay apparatus 1 causes the communication result information creation unit 105 to connect the FAX communication unit 103 to the outside via the public network 7 until the predetermined time elapses. The communication result information 113 is generated in the storage unit 11 in the storage unit 11 for the contents of the communication in which the image information is transmitted by FAX (S123).

  The communication result information transmitting means 106 of the relay device 1 transmits the communication result information 113 as the intermediate progress to the terminal device 2a (S124).

  The terminal device 2a receives the communication result information 113 as the intermediate progress (S221).

  The relay device 1 repeats steps S121 to S124 until broadcast transmission is completed for all destinations (S125).

[Fourth Embodiment]
The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that communication result information is generated and transmitted at the timing when FAX transmission is executed in the relay device 1 for the priority destination designated in the terminal device 2a. Different.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation for creating and transmitting the communication result information to the end device by the relay device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the mail communication means 203 of the terminal device 2a attaches the image information 200a to the electronic mail created by the mail text creation means 201 and the mail title creation means 202, and sends the mail to the relay apparatus 1 (S230). At this time, in the mail body of the e-mail, a destination that the user desires to transmit the communication result information with priority is input as a priority destination. When there are a plurality of priority destinations, the plurality of priority destinations may be ranked.

  Next, the mail communication means 100 of the relay device 1 accepts the electronic mail transmitted by the terminal device 2a (S130), the mail title analysis means 101 analyzes the mail title, and the mail text analysis means 102 analyzes the mail text. To receive priority destinations at the same time.

  Next, the FAX communication unit 103 first transmits the image information attached to the e-mail by FAX in order from the first destination (S131).

  When the destination being processed is designated as a priority destination (S132; Yes), the communication result information creation unit 105 of the relay apparatus 1 causes the FAX communication unit 103 to send image information about the priority destination to the outside via the public network 7. The communication result information 113 is generated in the storage unit 11 in the storage unit 11 for the communication contents transmitted by FAX (S133).

  The communication result information transmitting means 106 of the relay device 1 transmits the communication result information 113 as the intermediate progress to the terminal device 2a (S134).

  The terminal device 2a receives the communication result information 113 as the progress in progress (S231).

  The relay device 1 executes steps S131 to S134 for all destinations (S135), and then the communication result information creation unit 105 of the relay device 1 causes the FAX communication unit 103 to externally connect to all destinations via the public network 7. The communication result information 113 is created in the storage unit 11 for the contents of communication in which the image information is transmitted by FAX (S136).

  The communication result information transmitting means 106 of the relay device 1 transmits the communication result information 113 for all destinations to the terminal device 2a (S137).

  The terminal device 2a receives the communication result information 113 for all destinations (S232).

[Fifth Embodiment]
The fifth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that communication result information is created and transmitted at the timing when the end device 2a requests the relay device 1 to stop execution.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation of creating and transmitting the communication result information to the end device by the relay device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the mail communication means 203 of the terminal device 2a attaches the image information 200a to the electronic mail created by the mail text creation means 201 and the mail title creation means 202, and sends the mail to the relay apparatus 1 (S240).

  Next, the mail communication unit 100 of the relay device 1 accepts the electronic mail transmitted by the terminal device 2a (S140), and the mail title analysis unit 101 analyzes the mail title.

  Next, the FAX communication unit 103 first transmits the image information attached to the e-mail by FAX in order from the first destination (S141).

  Next, when the user of the terminal device 2a desires to stop the broadcast transmission, the user operates the terminal device 2a, and the terminal device 2a requests the relay device 1 to cancel the execution according to the operation content. Transmit (S241).

  Next, when the relay device 1 receives a request to stop execution from the terminal device 2a (S142), the communication result information creation unit 105 causes the FAX communication unit 103 to pass through the public network 7 until the request to stop execution is received. The communication result information 113 is generated in the storage unit 11 as a halfway progress for the communication content in which the image information is faxed to the outside (S143).

  The communication result information transmitting means 106 of the relay device 1 transmits the communication result information 113 as a halfway progress to the terminal device 2a (S144).

  The terminal device 2a receives the communication result information 113 as the intermediate progress (S242).

[Sixth Embodiment]
Compared to the first embodiment, the sixth embodiment includes a change in the execution content when the end device 2a has requested to interrupt the relay device 1 and the execution content has been changed. It differs in that the communication result information is created and transmitted.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation of creating and transmitting the communication result information to the end device by the relay device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the mail communication means 203 of the terminal device 2a attaches the image information 200a to the electronic mail created by the mail text creation means 201 and the mail title creation means 202, and sends the mail to the relay apparatus 1 (S250).

  Next, the mail communication means 100 of the relay apparatus 1 accepts the electronic mail transmitted by the terminal apparatus 2a (S150), and the mail title analysis means 101 analyzes the mail title.

  Next, the FAX communication unit 103 first transmits the image information attached to the e-mail by FAX in order from the first destination (S151).

  Next, when the user of the terminal device 2a desires to interrupt the execution of the broadcast transmission, the user operates the terminal device 2a, and the terminal device 2a requests the relay device 1 to interrupt the execution according to the operation content. Transmit (S251).

  Next, the relay device 1 receives a request for suspension of execution from the terminal device 2a (S152), and the FAX communication means 103 suspends execution of broadcast transmission. Note that the communication result information may be created for the progress of the execution state until the execution is interrupted, and transmitted to the terminal device 2a.

  Next, the user of the end device 2a operates the end device 2a in order to change a part of the destination of the broadcast transmission or change the contents of the image information. A request for changing the contents of the broadcast transmission is transmitted to the relay apparatus 1 (S252).

  Next, the relay device 1 receives the content change request from the terminal device 2a (S153), and the FAX communication means 103 resumes the broadcast transmission based on the changed content (S154).

  Next, when the broadcast transmission is completed, the communication result information creation unit 105 performs communication based on the communication content that the FAX communication unit 103 transmits the image information to the outside via the public network 7 and the content change history. Result information 113 is created in the storage unit 11 (S155).

  Next, the communication result information transmitting means 106 of the relay device 1 transmits the communication result information 113 to the terminal device 2a (S156).

  The terminal device 2a receives the communication result information 113 (S253).

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  Further, the FAX transmission / reception programs 110 and 210 can be provided by being stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and can be downloaded from a server device connected to a network such as the Internet to a storage unit in the device. May be. Moreover, you may implement | achieve part or all of each means 100-106 and each means 200-204 by hardware, such as ASIC. Note that each step shown in the operation description of the above embodiment can be changed in order, omitted or added.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Relay device, 2a-2c ... Terminal device, 4 ... Private network, 5 ... Communication system, 6a, 6b ... External device, 7 ... Public network, 10 ... Control part, 11 ... Memory | storage part, 12 ... Communication part, 13 ... FAX communication unit, 14 ... printing unit, 15 ... scanning unit, 20 ... control unit, 21 ... storage unit, 22 ... communication unit, 23 ... printing unit, 24 ... scanning unit, 100 ... mail communication means, 101 ... mail title Analyzing means 102 ... Mail text analyzing means 103 ... FAX communication means 104 ... Receiving FAX sorting means 105 ... Communication result information creating means 106 ... Communication result information transmitting means 110 ... FAX transmission / reception program 111 ... By box Forwarding destination information, 112 ... Sorting box information by dial-in number, 113 ... Communication result information, 200 ... FAX accepting means, 200a ... Image information, 201 ... Mail text creating means, 20 2 ... mail title creation means, 203 ... mail communication means, 204 ... received FAX reception means, 210 ... FAX transmission / reception program, 211 ... relay device information

Claims (11)

Receiving means for receiving a plurality of facsimile transmission instructions from a terminal device having no facsimile transmission function via a private network;
Based on the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions received by the reception unit, a facsimile communication unit that sequentially transmits a facsimile to the outside via a public network;
Before the facsimile communication means completes facsimile transmission for all of the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions, information indicating that the facsimile transmission is currently in communication, information indicating success of the facsimile transmission, or the facsimile transmission Creating means for creating communication result information including information indicating failure of
Before the facsimile communication means completes facsimile transmission for all of the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions, the communication result information created by the creation means is transmitted to the terminal device from which the acceptance means has accepted the facsimile transmission instruction. And a relay device. The plurality of facsimile transmission instructions received by the receiving unit are broadcast transmissions that transmit common image information to different destinations,
The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the creating unit creates communication result information every time the facsimile communication unit performs facsimile transmission. The creation means creates the communication result information each time facsimile transmission is completed in response to the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions,
The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the communication result information every time the communication result information is generated by the generation unit.   The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the creating unit creates communication result information each time the facsimile communication unit performs facsimile transmission and transmission fails.   The relay device according to claim 4, wherein the creation unit creates communication result information each time transmission based on facsimile transmission of any of the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions fails a predetermined number of times.   The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the creating unit creates communication result information when the receiving unit receives an inquiry from the terminal device that has received a facsimile transmission instruction. The accepting means accepts a facsimile transmission instruction to be given priority among the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions together with the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions from the terminal device,
2. The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the creating unit creates communication result information each time the facsimile communication unit performs facsimile transmission based on the priority facsimile transmission instruction.   The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the creation unit creates communication result information when a request to stop execution of facsimile transmission is made from the terminal device to the facsimile communication unit.   The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the creation unit creates communication result information when a request to interrupt execution of facsimile transmission is made from the terminal device to the facsimile communication unit.   When the facsimile transmission instruction is changed from the terminal device to the facsimile communication means together with the change of the content of the facsimile transmission instruction after the execution of the facsimile transmission is interrupted, the creating means sends the communication result information to the facsimile transmission instruction. The relay device according to claim 9, which is created together with the contents of the change. Computer
Receiving means for receiving a plurality of facsimile transmission instructions from a terminal device having no facsimile transmission function via a private network;
Based on the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions received by the reception unit, a facsimile communication unit that sequentially transmits a facsimile to the outside via a public network;
Before the facsimile communication means completes facsimile transmission for all of the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions, information indicating that the facsimile transmission is currently in communication, information indicating success of the facsimile transmission, or the facsimile transmission Creating means for creating communication result information including information indicating failure of
Before the facsimile communication means completes facsimile transmission for all of the plurality of facsimile transmission instructions, the communication result information created by the creation means is transmitted to the terminal device from which the acceptance means has accepted the facsimile transmission instruction. FAX transmission / reception program for functioning as transmission means.

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