JP2627991B2 - FAX interlocking system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an international standard electronic message protocol, X.264. 400 MHS (Messa
FAX connection device, which is one type of access device that has expanded the functions of the H.ge Handling System, and a LAN (Local Area Network) that provides a network operation system such as a network file system, a 3Com, and a network. The present invention relates to a fax interlocking system that enables a 400 MHS or a user PC to directly transmit mail to a fax. In this specification,
FAX stands for facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art 400 MHS is CCITT X.400.
While using the communication protocol according to H.400, the widely used FAX is typically the public switched telephone network (P
STN) and CCITT T.T. Use communication protocol by series. X. 400 MHS
The information of the text mail created by the above and the information of the document (or the output of the specific word processor) created by the general user PC are information in the form of ASCII code characters, while the FAX is the image data which is the compressed data unique to FAX. Send / Receive in form (G3 FAX format). Therefore, X. The 400 MHS (hereinafter, referred to as MHS) or the user PC and the FAX cannot be linked directly because they are based on mutually different networks, protocols, data formats, and the like. In order to solve this, the conventional MHS network uses a FAX connection device to link the host MHS and the FAX. Figure 1 is MH
This figure shows a network in which the S host transmits a document to a facsimile using a facsimile connection device. The facsimile connection device (2) has a transmission speed of 9600b with the MHS host (1).
ps, which is connected to the asynchronous RS-232C.

[0003]

However, in such a network, a complicated and unique protocol is required between the MHS host (1) and the FAX connection device (2), and a LAN other than the MHS user is required. The above general PC user could not access. Therefore, despite the fact that most machines are connected to the network in the office environment, there is a problem that only limited services are provided without using the advantages of the network. An object of the present invention is to fax not only MHS but also text information of a mail transmitted from any PC on a LAN.
An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile interlocking system that converts a data into a unique compressed data format and enables transmission to a facsimile.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile interlocking system for transmitting a fax to a facsimile (90).
The above user PC (10) and X. 400 MHS (40)
File server (20) for managing the e-mail created in the above in a file format , and fax mail on the system
FAX mail sharing area as shared area (30)
And characters received from the fax mail sharing area (30)
ASCII text data file of the form mail
Convert to image data via font and
Convert the data to compressed data compatible with G3FAX
FAX server that executes FAX communication protocol from
(60) from the fax mail sharing area (30)
An information transmission unit (61) for receiving an e-mail and this information transmission
G3F for the text data of the e-mail received by Tatsubu (61)
A data compression unit (6) for converting into compressed data conforming to AX
2) and a fax model that executes the fax communication protocol
And a FAX server (60) including a FAX server (63) .

[0005] FAX interlocking system according to claim 2, converts the FAX interlock system of claim 1, wherein the data compressing unit (62), the file of the mail ASCII text data via the font image data
A font image connecting means (621) for said seek the <br/> number one image successive pixels while the image data is shifted in the predetermined direction run-length code converting means and (622), the run-length
Means for searching for an MH code corresponding to the code (623)
And sequentially associates each bit of the searched data with G
Data to generate compressed data in 3FAX format
Data generating means (624).

According to a third aspect of the present invention , in the facsimile interlocking system according to the first or second aspect , the user PC (10) and the X.X. 400 MHS (4
0) and the FAX server (60) exchange control data and mail contents in a file format, transmit the control data items to the head of the file, and store the telephone number, mail reservation time, recipient, sender, , And a mail title as the item of the control data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention , in the facsimile interlocking system according to the first or second aspect , the X.O. 400 MHS (40) and the receiving side X.400. 400 when sending mail to FAX of MHS (100). The last recipient of the message transmitter (103) of the 400 MHS (100) is X.400. 400 MHS
This is set in the FAX queue (104) in the same manner as the recipient of (100).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile interlocking system according to the fourth aspect , the recipient facsimile queue (10) of the last message transmission unit (103) is provided.
In 4), an independent processor for polling a FAX queue is provided in order to perform interlocking with the FAX network when mail arrives.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention , in the facsimile interlocking system according to the fourth aspect , the transmitting side X.X. FAX at a long distance with 400 MHS (40)
(90) when the mail is sent to the recipient X. 400 MHS
(100) and FAX server (60) using the FA
X (90).

[0010] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile interlocking system according to the first or second aspect , the FAX server (60) manages a mail received from the FAX (90) at the time of transmission to a recipient. A person directly distributes the mail to the recipient on the network.

The FAX interlocking system according to claim 8 is the FAX interlocking system according to claim 7 , wherein
The X server (60) matches the telephone exchange number of the recipient and transmits the mail to the final recipient.

[0012]

In the facsimile interlocking system according to the first aspect, the user PC (10) and the X. 400 MHS (40)
When the created mail is transmitted to the facsimile (90), the mail is stored in a specific directory of the facsimile mail sharing area (30) of the file server (20). Thereafter, the FAX server (60) transmits the ASC of the character- format mail stored in the FAX mail sharing area (30).
II Text files can be imported via fonts.
Image data and convert the image data to G3 FAX
After converting into compatible compressed data, and transmits the communication protocol to run to FAX mail (90). On the other hand, from FAX (90) to PC (10) or X. 400 M
When transmitting mail to the HS (40), the fax (6
0) and the file server (20), the mail is sent to the PC (10) or X.X. 400 MHS (4
0).

As described above, the facsimile interlocking system provides
A user PC (10) on the LAN and X. 400 MHS
FAX mail can be easily transmitted between (40) and FAX (90) without using a complicated original protocol. Furthermore, the e-mail service can be significantly improved by effectively utilizing the network. And F
AX server (60), the information transmission section (61), the data compression unit (62), because it contains FAX modem (63), normal unspecified number of FAX utilizing a public telephone switching network Email can be exchanged between

[0014] In the FAX interlocking system according to claim 2, effects similar to those of claim 1 can Ru obtained, the data compression unit (62), font image connecting means (621)
And run-length code conversion means (622)
And a means for searching for an MH code (623) and a data generating means (624) for transmitting mail using a font image without scanning characters and images.
Mail can be transmitted with clear image quality.

[0015] In FAX interlocking system according to claim 3, that obtained the same effect as claim 1 or claim 2
Is the user PC (10) and X. 400 MHS (40)
And the FAX server (60) exchange control data and mail contents in a file format, transmit the control data items to the head of the file, and store the telephone number, mail reservation time, receiver, sender, and mail Since the title is the item of the control data, the PC (10) and X. 400 MH
S (40) is the receiving FA via the FAX server (60).
Mail can be transmitted to X reliably and at the desired time.

[0016] In FAX interlocking system according to claim 4, that is obtained the same effect as claim 1 or claim 2
Is the X. 400 MHS (40) and the receiving side X.400.
When a mail is transmitted to a FAX of 400 MHS (100), the recipient X. The last recipient of the message transmitter (103) of the 400 MHS (100) is X.400. 400 MHS (10
0) is set in the FAX queue (104) in the same manner as the receiver of the final receiver X. After the mail arrives at the 400 MHS (100), the FAX server (60) converts the mail into FAX image data, so that the amount of communication data can be reduced and the communication cost can be reduced.

[0017] In the FAX interlocking system according to claim 5, although operations and effects similar to those of claim 4 Ru obtained, the recipient FAX queue of the final message transmission unit (103) (10
In step 4), an independent processor for polling a FAX queue is provided to perform interlocking with the FAX network when mail arrives. Therefore, the FAX network can be easily interlocked with this processor.

[0018] In the FAX interlocking system it is according to claim 6, operations and effects similar to those of claim 4 Ru obtained, sender X.
FAX (90) located at a long distance with 400 MHS (40)
When a mail is sent to the recipient X. 400 MHS (10
0) and the FAX server (60) using the FAX (9).
0), the mail is transmitted. 400
It is possible to transmit data to the MHS (100) and the FAX (90) efficiently and at a low communication cost.

[0019] In FAX interlocking system according to claim 7, that obtained the same effect as claim 1 or claim 2
However , when the FAX server (60) transmits the mail received from the FAX (90) to the recipient, the administrator directly distributes the mail to the recipient on the network, so that the mail is quickly transmitted to the final recipient. I can do it.

[0020] In the FAX interlocking system according to claim 8, Ru obtained the same effect as claim 7, FAX server (60) is in alignment with the telephone exchange number of the recipient mail to final recipients The transmission ensures that the mail is transmitted to the final recipient.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained as described in the section of the operation. F according to claim 1
According to the AX interlocking system, the file server (20), the fax mail sharing area (30), and the fax server (60)
Is provided, the user PC (10) on the LAN and X.
A simple FA protocol between 400 MHS (40) and FAX (90) without using complicated proprietary protocols.
X mail can be transmitted. Further, the e-mail service can be significantly improved by effectively utilizing the network. Moreover, FAX server (60), the information transmission section (61), the data compression unit (62), because it contains a FAX modem (63), normal unspecified number of FAX utilizing a public telephone switching network Email can be exchanged between

According to FAX interlocking system according to claim 2, Ru obtained the same effect as claim 1, the data compression unit (62) includes a font image connecting means (621),
run-length code conversion means (622);
Since it includes a means for searching for an H code (623) and a data generating means (624), the mail is transmitted using a font image without scanning characters and images, so that the mail is transmitted with a clear image quality. I can do it.

According to FAX interlocking system according to claim 3, the same effect as claim 1 or claim 2 Ru obtained,
X. User PC (10) 400 MHS (40) and F
The AX server (60) exchanges the control data and the contents of the mail in the form of a file, transmits the items of the control data to the head of the file, and stores the telephone number, the mail reservation time, the receiver, the sender, and the mail title. Is the item of the control data, the PC (10) and X. 400 MHS
(40) is a reception side FA via the FAX server (60).
Mail can be transmitted to X reliably and at the desired time.

According to FAX interlocking system according to claim 4, a similar effect to that of claim 1 or claim 2 Ru obtained,
X. on the sending side 400 MHS (40) and the receiving side X.400. 40
When the mail is transmitted to the FAX of the MHS (100), the receiving side X. 400 MHS (100) message transmission unit (1
03) as the final recipient. 400 MHS (100)
Is set in the FAX queue (104) in the same manner as the receiver of the final receiver X. After the mail reaches 400 MHS (100), the FAX server (60) sends the mail to F
By converting the data into AX image data, the amount of communication data can be reduced, and the communication cost can be reduced.

According to FAX interlocking system according to claim 5, although Ru obtained the same effects as claim 4, recipient FAX queue of the final message transmission unit (103) (104)
It has an independent processor that polls the fax queue to perform interlocking with the fax network when mail arrives, so this processor can
X network can be linked.

According to the FAX interlocking system according to the sixth aspect , the same effects as those of the fourth aspect can be obtained. 4
00 MHS (40) when sending a mail to a FAX (90) located at a long distance. 400 MHS (100)
FAX (90) using FAX server (60)
The mail is transmitted to X. 400MH
The transmission can be performed efficiently and at a low communication cost to the S (100) and the FAX (90).

According to FAX interlocking system according to claim 7, a similar effect to that of claim 1 or claim 2 Ru obtained,
When the FAX server (60) transmits the mail received from the FAX (90) to the recipient, the administrator directly distributes the mail to the recipient on the network, so that the mail can be quickly transmitted to the final recipient. I can do it.

According to the FAX interlocking system according to the eighth aspect , the same effect as that of the seventh aspect can be obtained, but the FAX server (60) matches the telephone exchange number of the recipient and sends the mail to the final recipient. The transmission ensures that the mail is transmitted to the final recipient.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a network configured using the FAX interlocking system according to the present invention. The mail stored in the user PC (10) and the MHS (40) is faxed through the FAX interlocking system (110).
(90). The FAX server (60) connects the character information of the created e-mail to its own font to generate data in the form of an image, and then G3.
Compress to FAX format (T.4) and perform FAX communication protocol (CITT T.30).

The FAX interlocking system (110) is composed of a network file system so that the user's PC (10) and MHS (40) can share mail with the FAX server (60). User's PC (10)
Uses a specific directory defined in the FAX mail sharing area (30) of the file server (20) as its own directory area in order to share mail with the FAX server (60) through the network file system (NFS). .

At this time, the user PC (10) transmits the fax
GUI (Graphical User Interf)
ace), the FAX of the file server (20) which is the target directory after creating the FAX message.
Copies to a directory existing in the X-mail sharing area (30) using a network file system. F
The AX server (60) is a fax mail sharing area (30)
If there is a fax mail in the directory inside the PSTN, the fax mail is compressed and the PSTN (Public
Switched Telephone Network
rk: 70) to perform the FAX protocol.

Here, the method in which the MHS (40) transfers a mail to the FAX (90) using the FAX interlocking system (110) is as follows. The MHS (40) creates an F (User Interface) created by its own UI (User Interface).
The AX mail is transmitted to the PSDN (Panel) using the address of the receiving MHS (100) in the same manner as in the normal MHS mail transmission method.
cked Switched Data Network
k: 80) and the final receiving MHS (100)
To be transmitted.

At this time, when the receiving MHS (100) recognizes that the received mail is a facsimile mail, the PC (10) on the LAN transmits the received mail to the facsimile (90) in the same manner. The side MHS (100) is F
The AX server 60 performs an FAX network interlocking function. In this case, the final receiver MHS
After the text mail arrives at (100), the FAX server (60) converts the text mail into FAX image data, so that the amount of communication data is reduced and the overall communication ratio can be reduced.

Finally, from the general FAX (90) to the user's PC (10) on the LAN, 400 MHS (4
The method of transmitting the mail to (0, 100) is as follows. An administrator who manages the FAX interlocking system (110) can directly connect each user PC (90) or X.100 on the LAN. MHS
The transmission of the mail by copying the mail to the receiving directory of (40, 100) or the FAX server (60) of the FAX interlocking system (110) matches the telephone exchange number of the receiver to the final recipient. Look for and send email.

FIG. 3 shows a route in which mail is transmitted from the MHS (40) on the transmitting side to the MHS (100) on the final receiving side. Each transmission queue is embodied in a directory. First, the user unit (41) of the MHS (40) on the transmitting side
When the incoming fax mail arrives at the sender queue (42), the message transmission unit (43) of the transmission side, which transmits the message to the system that intends to transmit the message and provides a necessary user interface, The e-mail is transmitted to the desired receiving-side message transmission unit (103) using the e-mail address. If the received mail is a facsimile mail, the message transmitting unit (103) on the receiving side does not transmit the mail to the recipient queue (102) assigned to each user one by one. To communicate.

At this time, when the processor that checks the FAX queue knows that the mail exists, the FAX mail sharing area (3) of the file server (20).
0) and send the mail to the fax server (60) again.
Compresses the mail and transmits it to FAX (90). In addition, F of the recipient of the final message transmission unit (103)
Fax when mail arrives at AX queue (104)
An independent processor can be placed to poll the fax queue to perform interworking with the network.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the facsimile server (60).
An information transmitting section (61) for bringing the mail created by the HS to itself, and a data compressing section (62) for compressing the character information of the mail transmitted through the information transmitting section (61) into a G3 FAX format unique to FAX. ) And FA
And a FAX modem (63) for executing the X communication protocol. PC (10) or MHS (40) is F
In order to communicate with the AX server (60), data must be exchanged to exchange protocols between each other. At this time, since the transmission of data between each other uses a network file system, the MHS (40) or the user PC (10) can transmit data with a file without requiring an independent protocol.

Table 1 shows the format of a file for the PC of the MHS7 user to transmit the control data necessary for the conversion of the FAX server and the protocol and the text data as the contents of the mail.

[Table 1] The control data transmitted through the head of the file is as follows. structure HEADER @ char Phone-number [20]; char DataTime [20]; int Length char to [80]; char from [80]; char title [80];

Here, the phone-number corresponds to the telephone number of the receiving fax machine with the recipient ID.
Data Time is an item corresponding to a reservation function for transmitting an e-mail at a time desired by a sender.
The format of 1-10: 22 (10:22 on January 24, 1991) can be given as an example. Length indicates the total number of lines of outgoing mail, and indicates the total number of mails. to is the last recipient ID of the mail, from is the sender ID of the mail, title
Is an item indicating the title of the mail. FAX server (6
0) performs the protocol conversion to the FAX communication protocol (CCITT T.30) using the telephone number, and the other information of the head performs a function such as a recipient or mail reservation as a selection function. In the text data part of the file, the actual contents of the mail are placed.

FIG. 5 shows a facsimile of a Hangul / English document (ASCII text data) created by MHS or PC.
G3 in the data compression unit (62) for transmission to (90)
FIG. 9 shows a process of converting the data into FAX (T.4) format data. B) Font image linking process; Mail created on MHS or PC (Hangul 16 × 1
6. An 8 × 16 ASCII text data file is converted to bitmap image data using Hangul, English and semi-graphic fonts, so that it can be read through an ordinary FAX scanner. create. B) converting the image data into a run-length code;

While shifting the image data in a predetermined direction, successive identical image pixels (picture e)
element: pel). C) Modified Huffman (Modified H
uffman: MH) Run-le using a code table
a process of searching for an MH code corresponding to the gth code; the MH code table is stored in the form of [length, data], and shifts data by a predetermined run-length code length to obtain an effective code. look for. D) FAX-specific compressed data generation process in the G3 FAX format (T.4); each bit of the data searched in the MH code table, which is the standard data format of G3 FAX, is compressed in order. G3 FAX data obtained. At this time,
Since the actual byte boundaries do not match, a bit operation is performed to combine the data.

As described above, the FAX interlocking system according to the present invention can process FAX messages generated by all PCs or workstations on a LAN, and secondly, FAX service by MHS. When the request is issued, the communication data amount is reduced by the FAX server system converting the document mail into the FAX image data after the mail reaches the final recipient MHS, so that the overall communication cost is low. Third, the image quality is clear because the font image of the FAX server is used instead of scanning a document or video unlike a normal FAX.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. Configuration diagram of a network in which a 400 MHS host transmits mail to a fax using a fax connection device

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a network using the present invention.

FIG. A diagram showing a method of transmitting a message to a fax by 400 MHS

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a fax server.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a data compression process.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 User PC 20 File server 30 FAX mail sharing area 40 X. 400 MHS 100 X. 400 MHS 50 Ethernet 60 FAX server 70 PSTN (public switched)
telephone network) 80 PSDN (packed switched)
data network) 110 FAX interlocking system

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A LAN for transmitting to a facsimile (90)
The above user PC (10) and X. 400 MHS (40)
File server (20) for managing the e-mail created in the above in a file form, and an FA as an area for sharing FAX e-mail on the system
X mail sharing area (30) and character form received from FAX mail sharing area (30)
File of ASCII text data of the e-mail
To the image data via the
Data into G3FAX compatible compressed data
FAX server that executes the FAX communication protocol (6
0), the mail is sent from the fax mail sharing area (30).
Transmitting unit (61) for receiving the file, and the information transmitting unit
The text data of the mail received by (61) is G3FAX
Data compression unit (62) for converting into compressed data conforming to
And a fax modem that executes a fax communication protocol
(63) and FAX interlock system characterized by comprising FAX server (60), the containing. 2. The data compression section (62) converts a file of ASCII text data of a mail via a font .
A run-length code converting means for obtaining a font image connecting means that converts the image data (621), the number of identical image pixel you continuously while shifting the image data in a predetermined direction Te, the run-
means (623) for searching for an MH code corresponding to the length code, and compressing the compressed data in the G3 FAX format by sequentially associating each bit of the searched data.
The facsimile interlocking system according to claim 1 , further comprising a data generating means (624) for generating. 3. The user PC (10) and X. 400
The MHS (40) and the FAX server (60) exchange control data and mail contents in a file format, transmit the control data items to the head of the file, and store a telephone number,
3. The FAX interlocking system according to claim 1, wherein an e-mail reservation time, a recipient, a sender, and an e-mail title are items of the control data. 4. The X.X. 400 MHS (4
0) at the receiving side X. 400 when sending mail to FAX of MHS (100). 400 MHS (100)
The final recipient of the message transmission unit (103) is X. 4
The method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the fax queue (104) is set to be the same as the recipient of the 00 MHS (100).
2. The fax interlocking system according to item 2 . 5. When a mail arrives at a recipient FAX queue (104) of the final message transmission unit (103), a FAX
The FAX interworking system according to claim 4 , further comprising an independent processor that polls a FAX queue to perform interworking with a network. 6. The transmitting side X. 400 MHS (40)
When a mail is transmitted to a FAX (90) located at a long distance by the receiving side X. 400 MHS (100) and FAX server (6
The FAX interlocking system according to claim 4 , wherein the e-mail is transmitted to the FAX (90) by using (0). 7. The FAX server (60) transmits a FAX (9
3. The FAX interlocking system according to claim 1, wherein the administrator distributes the mail directly to the recipient on the network when transmitting the mail received from (0) to the recipient. 8. The FAX interlocking system according to claim 7 , wherein said FAX server matches the telephone exchange number of the recipient and transmits the mail to the final recipient.