JP3106891B2 - Facsimile information service equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile information service apparatus for performing processing such as registration and retrieval of a facsimile message from a facsimile apparatus or a terminal connected via a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general facsimile information service includes:
The facsimile message registered by the information provider is realized by the information user by specifying a box number or a message number from a facsimile machine or a terminal device at hand.

[0003] Depending on the service form, an updated box provided to hold only one latest message, an additional box for adding a message to the same box, or when the message is taken out from the user A post-office box-type box from which a message is deleted is prepared and used for various needs.

[0004] In the facsimile information service apparatus as described above, how to delete an unnecessary message is an important issue in order to effectively use limited storage resources.

Generally, in the case of the update type box, the existing message is deleted when a new message is registered, and in the case of the post-office box type box, the message is deleted when the message is taken out from the user. However, in the case of the additional type box, since a message is continuously accumulated, a method of setting a validity period for each box in advance and sequentially deleting the messages whose validity period has elapsed is adopted.

[0006] In an update type box or a post-office box type box, a validity period is often set similarly to the additional type box in order to prevent a situation in which an unnecessary electronic message remains for a long time. FIG. 5 shows the configuration of such a facsimile information service device.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes a facsimile device, 502 denotes a terminal device, 503 denotes a communication line, 504 denotes a communication control unit, 505 denotes a message management unit, 505 denotes a management information storage unit, and 507 denotes a facsimile information storage unit.

[0008] In the facsimile information service device configured as described above, taking a case where a message registered in the additional type box is deleted after a valid period has passed,
The operation will be described.

First, an information provider sends a communication line 50 from a facsimile device 501 or a terminal device 502 at hand.
After the connection to the communication control unit 504 through Step 3, the user designates a box number and inputs a facsimile message based on guidance from the communication control unit.

This facsimile message is sent to the message management unit 505.
Is stored in a designated box in the facsimile information storage unit 507. At this time, the validity period of the corresponding message is utilized by using the validity period information for each box set in the management information storage unit 506. The expiration time is calculated, and the content is registered in the management information storage unit.

The message management unit checks at regular intervals whether there is any message whose validity period has expired, and if there is a corresponding message, the data in the facsimile information storage unit and the data in the management information storage unit relating to the message are checked. Delete data.

In some cases, a separate expiration date expiration message search unit is provided for checking the expiration date expiration message, but there is no difference in basic processing.

As the validity period information for each box, in addition to a method of designating a period (number of days, time, etc.) until deletion, a method of directly designating a date and time to be deleted may be adopted. It is used to limit the period.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-94849, there is a method in which a user can directly specify a deletion date and time at the time of message registration so that a valid period according to the contents of the message can be set. .

[0015]

Problems with the conventional facsimile information service device are described below.

First, in the method of setting a validity period for each box in advance, information that is still in high demand for retrieval but is deleted because the set period has passed or information that is hardly retrieved is expired. There is a problem that it will remain forever because it does not become a problem, and there has been a demand for a function of adjusting the validity period according to the take-out demand.

Second, when message registration is concentrated beyond prediction, there is a possibility that the storage resource runs out of free space and new message registration is interrupted. In such a case, there is a problem that the administrator has to individually issue an instruction to delete an unnecessary message, which takes time and effort in management.

Third, simply determining the validity period for each box, that is, for each type of information, may not be able to cope with diversified service requests. There has been a demand for a function of changing a validity period according to a user or extending a validity period of a message having high importance.

[0019]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a facsimile information service device according to the present invention comprises a management information storage unit for recording a validity period of each message, and a message for deleting the corresponding message after the validity period has elapsed. It is composed of a management unit and a user information storage unit that records validity period information for each user .

[0020]

In this configuration, the validity period adjustment unit updates the validity period of the corresponding message registered in the management information storage unit at the time of registering the message at regular intervals by using information recorded in the use history storage unit and the like. By doing so, the validity period of the message can be adjusted according to the usage status.

In the case of using the information on the frequency of taking out messages stored in the use history storage unit, the validity period of a message with a high demand is relatively long, and the validity period of a message with a low use demand is relatively short. can do.

When the usage rate of the storage resource recorded in the resource management unit is used, the validity period of the registered message becomes shorter as the free area of the storage resource decreases, and the messages are deleted in order. Operation management can be saved.

Further, by using the validity period information for each user set in the user status storage unit, the validity period can be adjusted according to the user even for a message registered in the same box. it can.

By using the information recorded in the message management information recording unit, it is possible to adjust the validity period of a message of high importance relatively long and adjust the validity period of a message of low importance relatively short. it can.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 101 is a facsimile device, 102 is a terminal device, 103 is a communication line, 104 is a communication control unit, 105 is a message management unit, 106 is a management information storage unit, 107 is a facsimile information storage unit, and 108 is a facsimile information storage unit. An effective period adjustment unit 109 is a use history storage unit.

In the facsimile information service apparatus configured as described above, a case where a message (telegram number 101) registered in the additional type box “new product information” is deleted after the expiration of the validity period will be described. The operation will be described.

First, the information provider sends the communication line 10 from the facsimile machine 101 or the terminal device 102 at hand.
Then, based on the guidance from the communication control unit, the user designates a box number of "new product information" and inputs a facsimile message.

This facsimile message is sent to the message management unit 105.
Is stored in the “new product information” box in the facsimile information storage unit 107. At this time, the standard validity period information in the “new product information” box set in the management information storage unit 106 (Table 1) Is used to determine the remaining valid days of the message, and the contents are registered in the management information storage unit as shown in (Table 2).

[0030]

[Table 1]

[0031]

[Table 2]

Thereafter, each time the information user retrieves this message, the message management unit collects the usage history and records it in the usage history storage unit 109 as shown in (Table 3).

[0033]

[Table 3]

The validity period adjusting unit 108 is activated at regular intervals, and updates the remaining valid days of the message registered in the management information storage unit using the usage frequency of each message recorded in the use history storage unit. . In this example, it is activated once a day at midnight hours when usage is low, and the conversion of the remaining effective days is (Equation 1)
Shall be performed using

[0035]

(Equation 1)

When the number of remaining valid days becomes 0 or less, the data in the facsimile information storage unit and the data in the management information storage unit regarding the corresponding message are deleted by the message management unit.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the validity period adjusting unit for adjusting the validity period of a telegram using the telegram fetching frequency information recorded in the usage history storage unit, the usage demand is reduced. The validity period of a high message can be adjusted to be relatively long, and the validity period of a message whose use demand is low can be adjusted to be relatively short. As a result, the stored resources can be used effectively.

In the present embodiment, the method of registering the number of remaining valid days in the management information storage unit is employed. However, the same effect can be obtained even if the remaining valid period is time or seconds. Further, as described in the related art, the same effect can be obtained by the method of registering the expiration time.

In this embodiment, (Equation 1) is used when the validity period is adjusted by using the use frequency. However, it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained by using a mathematical expression including the use frequency as a parameter. No.

(Embodiment 2) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a facsimile machine, 202 denotes a terminal device, 203 denotes a communication line, 204 denotes a communication control unit, 205 denotes a message management unit, 206 denotes a management information storage unit, 207 denotes a facsimile information storage unit, and 208 denotes a facsimile information storage unit. The above is the same as the configuration of FIG. The difference from the configuration of FIG. 1 is that the resource management unit 2 is used instead of the use history storage unit.
09 is provided.

In the facsimile information service apparatus configured as described above, a case where the message (telegram number 101) registered in the additional type box “new product information” is deleted after the expiration of the validity period is taken as an example. The operation will be described.

First, the information provider sends the communication line 20 from the facsimile device 201 or the terminal device 202 at hand.
Then, based on the guidance from the communication control unit, the user designates a box number of "new product information" and inputs a facsimile message.

This facsimile message is sent to the message management unit 205
Is stored in the “new product information” box in the facsimile information storage unit 207. At this time, the standard validity period information in the “new product information” box set in the management information storage unit 206 (Table 1) Is used to determine the remaining valid days of the message, and the contents are registered in the management information storage unit as shown in (Table 2).

The resource management unit 209 is started every time a message is registered and deleted, and records the use status of the stored resources for each box as shown in (Table 4).

[0046]

[Table 4]

The validity period adjusting unit 208 is activated at regular intervals, and uses the usage rate of the stored resources for each box recorded in the resource management unit to determine the remaining valid days of the message registered in the management information storage unit. Update. In this example, it is activated once a day in the late-night period when usage is low, and the conversion of the remaining effective days is performed using (Equation 2).

[0048]

(Equation 2)

When the number of remaining effective days becomes 0 or less, the data in the facsimile information storage unit and the data in the management information storage unit regarding the corresponding message are deleted by the message management unit.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the validity period adjusting unit for adjusting the validity period of the telegram using the usage rate of the stored resources recorded in the resource management unit, the available resources of the stored resources can be used. As the area becomes smaller, the validity period of the registered message is changed to be shorter, so that it is less likely that a vacant area of the stored resources runs out. Further, even when the free space of the storage resources is exhausted, the telegram is automatically deleted, so that the operation management can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the method of registering the number of remaining valid days in the management information storage unit is adopted. However, the same effect can be obtained even if the remaining valid period is time or seconds. Further, as described in the related art, the same effect can be obtained by the method of registering the expiration time.

In this embodiment, the validity period is adjusted by using the storage resource usage rate for each box. However, the same effect can be obtained by using the storage resource usage rate for each user.
Similarly, the same effect can be obtained for (Equation 2) if it is a mathematical expression that includes the usage rate of the stored resources as a parameter.

(Embodiment 3) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 301 denotes a facsimile machine, 302 denotes a terminal device, 303 denotes a communication line, 304 denotes a communication control unit, 305 denotes a message management unit, 306 denotes a management information storage unit, and 307 denotes a facsimile information storage unit. Is similar to the configuration of FIG. 1 is different from the configuration of FIG. 1 in that a user information storage unit 30 is used instead of the use history storage unit and the validity period adjustment unit.
8 is provided.

In the facsimile information service apparatus configured as described above, a case where the message (telegram number 101) registered in the additional type box "new product information" is deleted after the expiration of the validity period is taken as an example. The operation will be described.

First, the information provider sends the communication line 30 from the facsimile machine 301 or the terminal device 302 at hand.
Then, based on the guidance from the communication control unit, the user designates a box number of "new product information" and inputs a facsimile message.

This facsimile message is sent to the message management unit 305.
Is stored in the "new product information" box in the facsimile information storage unit 307. At this time, the standard validity period information in the "new product information" box set in the management information storage unit 306 (Table 1) And the user information storage unit 308
Of validity period for registrants set in the table (Table 5)
, The expiration time of the corresponding message is determined, and the content is registered in the management information storage unit. The formula for calculating the validity period expiration time used here is shown in (Equation 3).

[0058]

[Table 5]

[0059]

(Equation 3)

The message management unit 305 checks at regular intervals whether there is any message whose validity period has expired, and if there is a corresponding message, the data in the facsimile information storage unit and the management information storage unit for the corresponding message. Delete data from.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the validity period of a message is adjusted by using the validity period information for each registrant recorded in the user information storage unit, so that the validity period with a high degree of freedom is increased. Can be set.

In this embodiment, the method of registering the expiration time of the validity period in the management information storage unit is employed. However, the same effect can be obtained by the method of registering the remaining validity time.

In this embodiment, (Equation 3) is used when adjusting the validity period using the user information. However, the same effect can be obtained by using a mathematical expression including parameters defined for each user. can get.

(Embodiment 4) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a facsimile machine, 402 denotes a terminal device, 403 denotes a communication line, 404 denotes a communication control unit, 405 denotes a message management unit, 406 denotes a management information storage unit, and 407 denotes a facsimile information storage unit. Is similar to the configuration of FIG. The difference from the configuration of FIG. 3 is that instead of the user information storage unit, there is provided a means for recording the importance of the message specified by the registrant in the management information storage unit.

The operation of the facsimile information service apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to an example in which the valid period of a message (telegram number 101) registered in the additional type box "new product information" is determined. I do.

First, the information provider sends the communication line 40 from the facsimile machine 401 or the terminal device 402 at hand.
Then, based on the guidance from the communication control unit, the user designates the box number of "new product information" and the importance of the message, and inputs the facsimile message.

This facsimile message is sent to the message management unit 405.
Is stored in the "new product information" box in the facsimile information storage unit 407, and the designated importance is recorded in the management information storage unit 406 as shown in (Table 6).

[0069]

[Table 6]

At this time, using the standard validity period information (Table 1) in the “new product information” box set in the management information storage unit 406 and the importance of the message, the validity period expiration time of the message is determined. It is determined and its contents are registered in the management information storage unit. The formula for calculating the validity period expiration time used here is shown in (Equation 4).

[0071]

(Equation 4)

The message management unit 405 checks at regular intervals whether there is a message whose validity period has expired. If there is a corresponding message, the data in the facsimile information storage unit and the data in the management information storage unit regarding the message are checked. Delete data from.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the validity period of a message is adjusted by using the importance of the message recorded in the management information storage unit, so that the free validity period according to the importance is adjusted. Setting is possible.

In this embodiment, the method of registering the expiration time of the validity period in the management information storage unit is employed. However, the same effect can be obtained by the method of registering the remaining validity time.

In this embodiment, (Equation 4) is used when adjusting the validity period by using the importance. However, the same effect can be obtained by using a mathematical expression that includes the importance as a parameter.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, the management information storage unit for recording the validity period of each message, the message management unit for deleting the corresponding message after the validity period has elapsed , and the validity period information for each user are stored. By providing the user information storage unit for recording, the conventional technology can be improved in the following points.

[0077]

[0078]

[0079] Since it is possible <br/> or change the validity period according to the user, it is possible to cope with various service forms.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional facsimile information service device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 facsimile device 102 terminal device 103 communication line 104 communication control unit 105 message management unit 106 management information storage unit 107 facsimile information storage unit 108 validity period adjustment unit 109 usage history storage unit 201 facsimile device 202 terminal device 203 communication line 204 communication control Unit 205 message management unit 206 management information storage unit 207 facsimile information storage unit 208 validity period adjustment unit 209 resource management unit 301 facsimile device 302 terminal device 303 communication line 304 communication control unit 305 message management unit 306 management information storage unit 307 facsimile information Storage unit 308 User information storage unit 401 Facsimile device 402 Terminal device 403 Communication line 404 Communication control unit 405 Message management unit 406 Management information storage unit 407 Facsimile information storage Part 501 facsimile apparatus 502 terminal device 503 communication line 504 the communication control section 505 message management section 506 managing information storage unit 507 facsimile information storing unit section

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04L 12/54 H04L 12/58 H04N 1/00 104

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A management information storage unit for recording a validity period of each message, a message management unit for deleting the corresponding message after the validity period has elapsed, and a user information storage unit for recording validity period information for each user. And a facsimile information service device that adjusts the validity period of the message according to the registrant.