JP3295190B2 - Facsimile apparatus, communication method of facsimile apparatus, and facsimile communication system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a facsimile apparatus and a facsimile communication method capable of performing broadcast communication, and at least one server apparatus and a client apparatus capable of communicating with another facsimile apparatus via a public line network. those related to that facsimile communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for performing facsimile broadcast transmission, there has been a facsimile device having a simple broadcast function with only one telephone line connected. However, in the case of this type of facsimile with a broadcast function, there is a time limit because there is only one telephone line, and the maximum number of broadcast destinations is a practical limit of more than ten. .

On the other hand, as a special example, there is a facsimile server device with a broadcasting function in which a plurality of telephone lines, for example, 24 telephone lines are connected. In the case of this facsimile server device, the broadcast transmission based on the broadcast destination list is performed by 2
Since the processing is performed using four telephone lines, there is a capability of completing transmission of a multi-address broadcast of several hundreds in about one hour. As described above, in the facsimile server device, 2
Since four telephone lines are connected, it can be seen that they have a considerably large broadcast transmission processing capability.

[0004] For example, one set of facsimile server devices is installed in Japan and one set in the United States, and a single dedicated line is connected between them. Then, the facsimile transmissions destined for the United States from the Japanese users are collected and sent together to the United States via a dedicated line, and the facsimile server device in the United States distributes to the destination facsimile devices in various parts of the United States. As a result, communication costs can be considerably reduced as compared with a case where a facsimile machine in Japan and a facsimile machine in the United States directly communicate with each other to perform facsimile transmission and reception.

On the other hand, in addition to the advantage of economy in one-to-one facsimile transmission / reception, the facsimile server 1
There is a method of using the fact that 24 telephone lines are connected to the stand, and that it is called a mass broadcast for a short time. As described above, since the facsimile server device is connected to 24 telephone lines, it is understood that the facsimile server device has a considerably large broadcast transmission processing capability. Therefore, even when there are hundreds of broadcast destinations, as in the case of using facsimile communication for mass advertising, distribution can be completed in about one hour, which is very effective for advertising. This is because a general facsimile machine with a broadcast function has only one telephone line connected, so mass broadcasts in a short period of time are practically impossible. Is the limit.

A transmission facsimile apparatus owned by a user and an automatic calling apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "dialer") connected to the facsimile apparatus and acting as a proxy for calling processing to a server apparatus via a public network. ) Is connected to a telephone network and a server device and a destination facsimile are connected to the telephone network. In a facsimile communication system, a user has conventionally been connected to a destination via a facsimile server device. When a facsimile is transmitted to a facsimile apparatus, a user dialing process is simplified.

Assuming that there is no dialer, the user first inputs the number of the facsimile server, calls the facsimile server, inputs the user ID with the push button, and further inputs the destination number, and then enters the destination. The complicated operation of reading the device and transmitting it by facsimile, which is troublesome, was inevitable. However, when there is a dialer, for example, the user presses, for example, “191-04” from a push button or the like of the connected facsimile machine.
4-44-4444 ", when a call is made with a three-digit dialer identification code at the beginning and then a destination facsimile number, the dialer automatically calls the facsimile server device and calls the facsimile server device. It is possible to automatically input a user ID and set a destination facsimile number. Note that the telephone number and user ID of the facsimile server device are registered in the dialer in advance.

[0008] Thereafter, normal facsimile transmission is performed from the facsimile apparatus to the facsimile server apparatus. Also, if the user enters a number without a three-digit calling code, the dialer does nothing and
Just connect to the exchange with the same number. On the other hand, when a user's facsimile apparatus performs facsimile reception via a dialer, the dialer does nothing and simply passes a reception signal to the user's facsimile side.

[0009]

However, even if the number of telephone lines is increased and the broadcast capability is further increased to 1000 or more, the following drawbacks and unreasonableness arise. (1) The control unit of the facsimile server device must centrally control transmission to a plurality of telephone lines at the same time, but this type of control is limited to about 24 telephone lines due to the performance of the CPU of the control unit. If the number of faxes exceeds this number, the fax image being transmitted is lost. (2) The facsimile server device is expensive because it is a special device as a facsimile storage and switching device. (3) The 24 telephone lines connected are facsimile transmission / reception telephone lines dedicated to the facsimile server device. When there is no facsimile transmission / reception, even if the telephone line is used as a business telephone, the public telephone network is used. The number of telephone lines that lead connection lines into the office has increased,
There are drawbacks such as increased telephone charges, and it is difficult to realize. (4) If a user sends a facsimile transmission to a facsimile server and requests a distribution immediately afterward, as a simple method, the facsimile server creates a facsimile image that is to be distributed again, and Must be called and sent by facsimile. That is, it is the same as a delivery report, a non-delivery report, and the like. For this reason, in this method, the schedule of the distribution schedule report is further interrupted in the dense distribution schedule of the facsimile server device, and it is difficult. Further, there is a problem that the user's facsimile apparatus has to be called again and a telephone charge is additionally required. (5) As a facsimile device to be transmitted to the facsimile server device, any general type of G3 standard facsimile device is used. However, it is almost impossible to modify the facsimile device according to the standard. It's gone. (6) Normally, when performing a broadcast, the facsimile server device tries transmission from the first broadcast list in order according to a broadcast list in which a number of destination telephone numbers are arranged. If the facsimile transmission is not successful, a predetermined number of times,
For example, facsimile transmission is attempted up to three times. Similarly, the above procedure was repeated when a broadcast was executed twice or more using the same broadcast list. In other words, transmission is attempted sequentially from the first broadcast list, and a new call is made without distinguishing between the telephone number that was successfully transmitted in the previous broadcast and the telephone number that failed to be transmitted. If not,
Attempt to call at least three times each time.

That is, there is a drawback that the same time is required for the completion of the broadcast every time no matter how many times the broadcast is performed, without making use of the experience of the previous transmission failure. (7) The facsimile server device attempts facsimile communication about three times as described above, even if a call cannot be connected to each broadcast destination at one time for distribution to the broadcast destination. As a whole result, the delivery report, which is a list of successful recipients, and the non-delivery report, which is a list of failed recipients, are notified to the requester of the broadcast. If you want to send to a group of phone numbers that failed to be delivered, the requester will not be able to use the broadcast function this time.
It was necessary to perform a very troublesome operation such that there was no other way than to retry facsimile transmission to a telephone number group that failed in manual one-to-one facsimile transmission.

The reason why the facsimile cannot be transmitted in the above-described case is that the current number is not used, the other party's facsimile apparatus is out of order, the other party's facsimile apparatus is in use (busy), the other party's facsimile apparatus is used. Is out of paper, the other party's facsimile machine is turned off, the line is crowded and cannot be connected, the line is disconnected, and so on. However, for more than half of these reasons, facsimile delivery may be successful if delivery is attempted at another time.

[0012] In particular, there is a high demand for a requester to distribute to a broadcast destination as much as possible in the case of advertisement or the like. (8) When a facsimile transmission is performed via a facsimile server device, it is anxious whether the facsimile communication image has reached the destination of the destination. It is often done to confirm by putting on. Furthermore, if the user transmits a facsimile via the facsimile server device, the facsimile image is temporarily stored in the facsimile server device. is there. It may be 30 minutes, 1 hour, or even 24 hours.

[0013] In this case, the user cannot send an important and urgent facsimile via the facsimile server apparatus without worry. Of course, the facsimile server device returns the above-described delivery report or the non-delivery report, but the user could not receive it at all even if he wanted a delivery schedule before then.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and has the following structure as one means for solving the above-mentioned problems. That is, broadcast
A communicable facsimile machine that successfully broadcasts
A new group of phone numbers
It has a success list creating means.

Also, a facsimile apparatus capable of performing broadcast communication is provided.
This is a communication method, and a new set of telephone numbers that have been successfully broadcast
Create as a broadcast list.

Also, a facsimile having a broadcasting function
A facsimile communication system with a server
Broadcast to the facsimile server
To create a new distribution list
It has a strike creation means.

Also, in a facsimile apparatus capable of broadcasting , when a plurality of broadcasts are performed using a broadcast list , a telephone number group which succeeded in the previous broadcast , a previous broadcast
Broadcast communication execution means is provided which preferentially broadcasts in the order of a telephone number group newly added to the broadcast list after communication and a telephone number group in which the previous broadcast failed.

A method of communicating a facsimile apparatus capable of performing broadcast, wherein when a plurality of broadcasts are performed using a broadcast list , a group of telephone numbers which succeeded in the previous broadcast,
Broadcasting is performed with priority in the order of telephone numbers newly added to the broadcast list after the previous broadcast communication and telephone numbers that failed in the previous broadcast.

Also, in a facsimile communication system to which a facsimile server device having a broadcast communication function is connected, when performing a plurality of times of broadcast communication using a broadcast list to the facsimile server device, Broadcasting that gives priority to broadcast in the order of telephone numbers that succeeded in broadcasting, telephone numbers that were newly added to the broadcast list after the previous broadcasting, and telephone numbers that failed in the previous broadcasting. Communication execution means is provided.

[0020]

[0021]

[Operation] In the above configuration, distribution is executed after execution of broadcast communication.
To be able to create distribution lists of successful phone numbers
This allows the broadcast requester to easily recognize the distribution result.
For example, broadcast again only to the group that succeeded in distribution
Has the effect that it is very easy to
You.

[0022] In addition, when you run several times broadcast by using the same distribution list, phone number group that was successful in the previous broadcast, before
A new telephone number is added to the broadcast list by giving priority to the newly added telephone numbers after the first broadcast and the telephone numbers that failed in the previous broadcast. Even if it is added, there is an effect that the processing efficiency of the entire broadcast processing can be improved.

[0023]

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, 1 is an LA in a server and client format.
In the N system, a client machine 2, a facsimile server device (hereinafter referred to as "server") 3, a LAN cable 3 connecting the client machine 1 and the server 2, and a public network 5 are shown.

In the facsimile communication system of the present embodiment having the above configuration, the client 1 and the server 2
Is actually configured by a general-purpose personal computer. The biggest difference between the client 1 and the server 2 is that the server 2 has a built-in hard disk 2a having a large capacity of about several hundred megabytes. The client machine 1 is further connected to a public network 5 via a telephone line 4, and can perform facsimile transmission / reception and a call with another facsimile apparatus, telephone, or the like connected to the public network 5.

A detailed configuration of the client 1 having the above configuration is shown in a block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 2, 1-1
Is a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as "personal computer") main body, 1-2 is a facsimile transmission / reception device that performs facsimile transmission and reception in accordance with instructions of the personal computer main body 1-1, and 1-3 is a handset for performing a normal telephone call. is there.

The facsimile transmitting / receiving apparatus 1-2 is in the form of an expansion card that can be set in the housing of the personal computer 1-1, and a telephone-only connector for connecting to the handset 1-3 is provided at the rear of the card. Has been established. Further, inside the facsimile transmitting / receiving apparatus 1-2, a network control unit (hereinafter, referred to as "NCU") for determining whether an external call is a normal call or a call for facsimile communication. Handset 1-3, if it is determined that the call is a normal call.
Side is connected to a telephone line (call), and when it is determined that the call is for facsimile communication, the telephone line (call) is connected to the facsimile processing side. This determination is made, for example, by the NCU responding to the called party and detecting a carrier signal within a predetermined time, a call for facsimile communication, and a call for a call if no carrier signal is detected. Is determined.

Similarly, when the user goes on-hook on the handset 1-3 in a non-communication state, the handset 1-3 is connected to the telephone line 4. 1-4 is LAN
The connection device is connected to the server 2 via the LAN cable 3. Similarly to the facsimile transmission / reception device 1-2, the LAN connection device 1-4 is in the form of an expansion card that can be set in the housing of the personal computer main unit 1-1.
It is set in one housing. Reference numeral 1-5 denotes a hard disk device connected to the personal computer 1-1.

FIG. 3 shows a memory map of the personal computer 1-1 during operation of the client. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 denotes an operating system (hereinafter referred to as "OS") storage area, which is a storage area for an OS program, which is a program for performing basic input / output control of the personal computer 1-1 and operation control of each program. It is. OS 10 of this embodiment
Adopts a multitasking format that allows each program to process simultaneously in parallel.

A LAN connection program storage area 11 stores a program for accessing the server 2 via the LAN connection device 1-4. By using this program, the personal computer main unit 1-1 of the client 1 can access and handle the hard disk device 2a in the server 2 in the same manner as its own hard disk. A facsimile transmission / reception program 12 controls the facsimile transmission / reception device 1-2 to perform facsimile transmission / reception with an external facsimile device via the public network 5. The facsimile transmission / reception apparatus 1-2 transmits and receives a connection command in a protocol with a partner facsimile apparatus at the time of transmission / reception, but transfers the received facsimile image data to the personal computer 1-1 at the time of facsimile reception. The personal computer body 1-1 stores the data as an image data file on its own hard disk 1-5.

At the time of transmission, the personal computer 1-1 transmits the contents of the data file of the facsimile image on its own hard disk 1-5 to the destination connected to the public network 5 via the facsimile transmission / reception device 1-2. Send a facsimile to a facsimile. That is, the facsimile transmission / reception device 1-2 itself stores and stores the facsimile image.
Do not save.

The broadcast setting program 13 shown in FIG. 3 first creates a broadcast list file which is a list of broadcast destination telephone numbers according to a user's instruction. Next, based on a document file specified by the user or a data file such as a previously received facsimile file, an MH conversion facsimile image file, an MR conversion facsimile image file, and an MMR that can be used for facsimile transmission immediately.
Create three files of the converted facsimile image file. Then, the broadcast list file and the three facsimile image files are moved to the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2. This means that the request for the broadcast execution has been completed.

The actual broadcast execution process is performed by the broadcast execution program 14 on each of the plurality of client machines 1. The broadcast execution program 14 first checks whether or not the broadcast list file exists in the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2, and if not, waits for one minute without doing anything. Repeat the check.

If the broadcast list file exists in the shared directory, the destination telephone number (facsimile number) for which transmission processing has not been performed yet in the broadcast list.
Is found, and if there is a destination that has not yet performed transmission processing, the facsimile transmission / reception program 12 calls and connects the destination device specified by the facsimile number.

Then, according to the facsimile communication capability of the other party, the MH conversion facsimile image file or M
R conversion facsimile image file or MMR
A facsimile image transmission is executed using the converted facsimile image file. When the transmission is completed, a mark indicating the completion of transmission is marked at a corresponding position of the broadcast list file in the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2. This means that transmission of one item in the broadcast list has been completed.

The structure of the broadcast list file will be described later in detail with reference to the drawings. Thereafter, the search for the destination that has not yet performed transmission and the transmission processing of the destination are repeated. Even if there are a plurality of broadcast list files, the same processing is repeated for each broadcast list file. Further, after moving the broadcast list file and the three facsimile image files to the hard disk 2a of the server 2, the broadcast setting program 13 transmits all facsimile transmissions to each destination on the broadcast list file to which the user has moved. The completion is repeatedly checked every minute.

When all the facsimile transmissions to each destination on the broadcast list file have been completed, the broadcast list file is transferred from the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2 to its own hard disk 1-5.
While moving up, MH conversion facsimile image file, MR conversion facsimile image file, MMR
Delete the facsimile image file. This completes all the broadcast processing, and the server 2 returns to the previous state.

Note that both the broadcast setting program 13 and the broadcast execution program 14 are configured to be able to accept an interruption command from the user at any time. For this reason, when there is a possibility that a problem may occur if the user temporarily executes the broadcast-related program when performing normal business,
Can be interrupted at any time. Reference numeral 15 denotes a work area used by the OS 10, the LAN connection program 11, the facsimile transmission / reception program 12, the broadcast setting program 13, and the broadcast execution program 14.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a start command line of the broadcast setting program 13 and the broadcast execution program 14 in this embodiment. "DOHOSET" is a start command of the broadcast setting program 13 and follows. The parameter “H: @ FAXDOHO.SVR” indicates a shared directory on the hard disk 2 a of the server 2.
Similarly, “DOHOJIKO” is the broadcast execution program 1
4 is a start command of "H: @ FAXDOHO.S
“VR” is a shared directory on the hard disk 2 a of the server 2.

The broadcast execution program 14 is started when the power of the personal computer 1-1 is turned on, and is resident in the memory. FIG. 5 shows a memory map of the server 2. FIG.
, 20 is a network OS, and the server 2
It performs basic input / output control, file and directory sharing management, login user management, security management, high-speed access control of the hard disk 2a, and the like.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a LAN connection program for the server 2, which is connected to each client 1 via the LAN cable 3. Each client 1-1 can access the hard disk 2a of the server 2 by using this program as an intermediary, and can treat it as a hard disk drive 1-5 directly connected to its own client machine 1. Reference numeral 22 denotes a work area for each of the network OS 20 and the LAN connection program 21.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the broadcast list file according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 41 denotes a destination telephone number of the broadcast, and reference numeral 42 denotes a list under trial.
"N" indicates that the broadcast execution program 14 is currently making a call or facsimile transmission to the destination telephone number in this row in any one of the clients 1. On the other hand, if this is "OFF", it indicates that no processing such as transmission is performed from any client 1 to the destination telephone number in this row.

Numerals 43 to 45 are used to enter a number indicating the reason for failure when transmission is finally failed after calling the other party. Even if the transmission to the other party fails, control is performed so that the transmission process is repeatedly attempted up to three times. 43 indicates the first failure, 44 indicates the second failure, and 45 indicates the third failure. If the transmission is successful, “0 (zero)” is entered in this list. If the transmission process has not been tried yet, it is empty.

FIG. 7 shows an example of this failure reason. In FIG. 7, the number “0” indicates “successful transmission” and the number “1” indicates “facsimile in use”. "Busy", "2" is "line is busy", "3" is "out of paper", "4" is "facsimile failure", "5" is "power off", "6" is "Line disconnection" and "7" are followed by "" This telephone number is not currently used "", and the higher the number, the lower the number of failure reasons that are less likely to be able to connect even if the call is made again.
In particular, in the case of the last “7”, even if a call is made again, the possibility of connection is a rare reason for failure.

The length of each view on each file shown in FIG. 6 is a fixed length, and is filled with a space symbol at the time of a blank view. Since the terminator of each list uses a comma and the terminator of each line uses a line feed code, it is easy to handle as a simple text file. The reason why the fixed length is used in the present embodiment is that when the broadcast list file exists in the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2, the client 1 can easily write a part of the broadcast list file. is there.

The first line of the destination telephone number column 61 indicates that the third transmission processing to the destination "044-44-4444" is being executed. Of these, the first time "Facsimile in use" and the call failed,
The second time, transmission failed due to "out of paper" of the destination facsimile. The second line is "044-55-555"
5 "to indicate that the first pass was successful and that the transmission was already completed.
Indicates that no transmission has been attempted.

FIG. 8 illustrates file names when the broadcast setting program 13 of the client 1 creates a broadcast list file and three facsimile image files. The first “broadcast 1234” is a broadcast list file name, and up to “broadcast” is a broadcast list file, and “1234” is a random number. The reason for using a random number is to distinguish a plurality of broadcast list files when there are a plurality of broadcast list files in a shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2. Using this random number,
The three facsimile image files set with the broadcast list file are "1234.MH" and "123.
4. MR "and" 1234.MMR ". The extension distinguishes each type.

It should be noted that even if a random number is used, the file name on the hard disk 2a of the server 2 does not always match, so the broadcast setting program 13 sends the server 2 a broadcast list file and three facsimile files. Immediately before moving the image file, check whether the file name matches the distribution list file already on the server, and if it does, change the random number part of the file name and Make a move.

Next, the main operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the broadcast setting program 13. When the broadcast setting program 13 is started by a user's instruction, the processing shifts to the processing in FIG. First, in step S1, from a data file specified by the user,
An MH conversion facsimile image file, an MR conversion facsimile image file, and an MMR conversion facsimile image file are created. Here, the "data file designated by the user" is a document file created by word processing software or the like, or a facsimile image file received by the client 1 via the public network 5.

Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S2, where a broadcast list file which is a list of destination telephone numbers is created according to a user's instruction. Then, the file transfer operation to the server 2 is started. First, in step S3, it is determined whether a file having the same name as the created broadcast list file already exists in the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2. Find out.

If a file with the same name as the already created broadcast list file already exists in the shared directory, the process proceeds to step S4, where the broadcast list file name, M
Change the names of the converted facsimile image files of H, MR, and MMR. What is changed is the random number portion of the file name described with reference to FIG. Then, returning to step S3, the file name is checked again.

If there is no file having the same name as the created broadcast list file in the shared directory in step S3, the flow advances to step S5 to move the broadcast list file and the three facsimile image files to the server 2. Do. At this point, the request for the execution of the broadcast processing has been completed. Thereafter, the process enters a loop for monitoring whether or not all the broadcasts have been transmitted by each client. First, it waits for one minute in step S6, and checks in step S7 whether or not the broadcast processing is completed in the broadcast list on the server 2. If it is determined that the broadcast is completed in step S8, the process proceeds to step S10, where the broadcast list file is moved from the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2 to the client 1 and simultaneously, the MH, MR, Delete each facsimile image file of MMR. Then, the program ends.

In step S6, "wait for one minute" is supposed. If the user instructs to stop the operation of the program within one minute, step S7 is immediately performed at that time.
Move to In this case, since the broadcast is not completed in the judgment of step S8, the process proceeds to step S9, and it is checked whether or not the stop command is instructed during the waiting time of step S6.
If a stop command is instructed during the waiting time in step S6, an end process is performed in step S10, and the program ends.

On the other hand, if the stop command has not been instructed during the waiting time of step S6 in step S9, the process returns to step S6, and the above-described loop processing is executed again. Then, in this loop, it waits for the broadcast to be completed. In the above-described processing, the broadcast list file and the three facsimile image files handled as objects to be moved, checked, and deleted including the hard disk 2a of the server 2 are broadcast lists created by the client itself. File and facsimile image file. Even if the broadcast list file created by the other client 1 exists in the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2, it is not subject to the check in the above-described processing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the broadcast execution program 14 in this embodiment. The broadcast execution program 14 is resident in the memory on the plurality of clients 1 and waits for the broadcast list file to move to the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2. When the broadcast execution program 14 according to the present embodiment is started, the processing shifts to the processing in FIG.
First, in step S20, it is determined whether or not a termination command or an interruption command for the program has been issued from the user. When the user issues a termination command or an interruption command for the program, the program processing is terminated. The interruption command is a user command issued during execution of step S22, which will be described later.

If it is determined in step S20 that there is no termination command or interruption command of the program from the user, step S2 is executed.
In step 1, the client 1 checks whether the user is currently making a telephone call using the handset 1-3, or whether the client 1 is receiving a facsimile from the public network 5. If a telephone call or facsimile reception is in progress, the process proceeds to step S22, where it waits for one minute and returns to step S20 after one minute to form a loop. Step S
If the user instructs the interruption command while waiting for one minute at 22, the process immediately proceeds to step S20 even before one minute has elapsed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 that a telephone call or facsimile reception is not in progress, the flow advances to step S23 to check whether or not a broadcast list file exists in the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2. If the broadcast list file does not exist in the shared directory, the process proceeds to step S22. If the broadcast list file exists in the shared directory in step S23,
That is, if there is a broadcast list file on the hard disk 2a of the server 2, the process proceeds to step S24. Then, in step S24, the number of broadcast list files is counted and set to a variable n. Subsequently, "1" is set to a variable m in step S25. Then, in a step S26, it is checked whether or not the variable m is equal to or less than the variable n.

If the variable m is not equal to or smaller than the variable n, the flow returns to step S20 to form a loop. On the other hand, if the variable m is equal to or smaller than the variable n, the process proceeds to step S27, and the server 2
The m-th broadcast list file in the shared directory on the hard disk 2a is read out to the memory of the client 1. Then, in the subsequent step S28, it is checked whether or not the destination telephone number for which transmission processing needs to be performed remains in the broadcast list. If there is a destination telephone number that needs to be transmitted in the broadcast list, the process advances to step S30 to execute transmission processing to the destination telephone number specified in the list. Then, the process returns to step S20 to form a loop.

On the other hand, if there is no other party's telephone number in the broadcast list that needs to be transmitted in step S28, the process proceeds to step S29, where "1" is added to the variable m, and the process returns to step S26. , Forming a loop. By executing the above processing, each client 1 attempts facsimile transmission to each of the distribution list files regardless of the number of distribution list files in the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2. .

FIGS. 11 and 12 show steps S in FIG.
It is a flowchart for demonstrating the detail of the transmission process shown by 30. 11 and 12, first, in step S40, in the distribution list file in the shared directory on the hard disk 2a of the server 2, the "Trialing" list of the line of the destination telephone number to be transmitted is displayed. Write ON.

Next, in step S41, the destination telephone number is sent to the public network 5 using the facsimile transmission / reception device 1-2 to call the destination device. And the following step S42
Check if the connection is successful. If the connection is unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step S43, and the failure reason number is entered in the failure reason list of the broadcast list file on the hard disk 2a of the server 2. Then, the process proceeds to step S54, where "OFF" is written in the "Trialing" list of the broadcast list file on the hard disk 2a of the server 2, and the process returns.

On the other hand, if the connection with the destination apparatus is successful in step S42, the flow advances to step S44 to check whether the image compression mode of the destination facsimile is MH conversion, MR conversion, or MMR conversion. If the image compression mode is MH conversion, the process proceeds to step S45, where the server 2
1 starts facsimile transmission with the data of the MH conversion facsimile image file on the hard disk 2a of FIG.
The process proceeds to Step S48 of Step 2.

If the image compression mode is MR conversion in step S44, the flow advances to step S46 to start facsimile transmission using the data of the MR conversion facsimile image file on the hard disk 2a of the server 2, and then to step S48 in FIG. Further, if the image compression mode is M
In the case of MR conversion, the process proceeds to step S47, in which facsimile transmission is started using the data of the MMR converted facsimile image file on the hard disk 2a of the server 2 and FIG.
Go to step S48.

In step S48 of FIG. 12, it is checked whether or not the user has received an instruction to interrupt the broadcast execution program 14 during facsimile transmission. If a check is made and an interruption command is input, the flow advances to step S49 to perform processing for interrupting facsimile transmission, to the processing in step S54, and thereafter returns from this routine. Step S4
The “interruption command” whose input has been detected in step 8 is also determined to be an “interruption command” in step S20 of the broadcast execution program 14 shown in FIG. 10, and the broadcast execution program 14 ends.

At step S48, the broadcast execution program 14
If there has been no interruption command, the process proceeds to step S50,
Check whether the facsimile transmission is completed. If the facsimile transmission has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S51, the facsimile transmission is continued, the process returns to step S48, and the above loop is executed until the facsimile transmission is completed.

If the facsimile transmission has been completed in step S50, the flow advances to step S52 to check whether the facsimile transmission has been normally completed. In the case of normal termination, the process proceeds to step S53, where the hard disk 2 of the server 2
“0” (success) is written in the failure reason list of the broadcast list file on “a”, the process proceeds to step S54, and thereafter, the process returns from this routine.

On the other hand, if the facsimile transmission has not ended normally in step S52, the flow advances to step S43. Note that the writing of “ON” and “OFF” in the trial list in steps S40 and S54 prevents a plurality of clients 1 from simultaneously transmitting to the same destination.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the effects specific to the following embodiments can be obtained. (1) Facsimile transmitting / receiving apparatus 1-2 of client 1
Since the handset 1-3 is connected to the telephone set, the telephone line can be used not only for facsimile broadcasting processing but also for ordinary telephone calls. Therefore, there is no need to draw a telephone line dedicated to facsimile broadcasting. (2) MH, MR, M for transmission before actual broadcast processing
Since the MR converted facsimile image files are prepared, there is no need to create a facsimile image in accordance with each destination facsimile at the time of transmission, and the speed of the broadcast processing can be increased. (3) Since each item in the broadcast list file has a fixed length,
It has a structure that allows easy writing to a part of the file. (4) In the broadcast list file, since the terminator of each item is a comma or a line feed code and can be handled as a simple text file, a general text editor can be used at the time of editing and content checking. No special editor for binary data is required.

Note that, depending on the LAN system, the distinction between the server machine and the client machine may not be clear as in the above-described embodiment. However, even in such a case, by providing a shared directory on one specific machine that can be freely accessed from another machine, a system similar to that of the above-described first embodiment can be constructed, and the same operation and effect can be achieved. Can be achieved.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the creation of the broadcast list and the like are all performed by the client machine alone. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described example. It is also possible to provide database management software above and store and manage the data of the broadcast list and the destination telephone number in the broadcast list.
In this case, the distribution list creation program on the client serves as a user interface for communicating with the database on the server.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a shared directory is set on the server, a facsimile transmission / reception device is added on the client side, and a broadcast list file creation program, facsimile image data file A creation program, a program for moving a broadcast list file and a facsimile image data file to a server are operated, and a broadcast transmission is performed on the client based on the broadcast list file on the server and the facsimile image data file. Since a program to be executed one by one has been set, many clients can share one broadcast and perform high-speed transmission processing. (1) The number of connected telephone lines is the same as the number of connected client machines. You can increase the number. (2) The client machine is specifically a personal computer, and the system construction cost is low. (3) A normal business telephone line can be used as the telephone line, and there is no need to newly provide a dedicated telephone line.

The following effects can be obtained. As described above, the most characteristic feature of the present embodiment is that there is no part for centrally controlling the broadcast transmission processing including the server. Even if a failure occurs, there is an effect that the broadcast system as a whole is not greatly affected and no system change is required.

[Second Embodiment] The above description has been given of the case where each client 1 plays a part in broadcast communication.
However, depending on the result of the broadcast, there is a high possibility that the next broadcast will not be possible. It also needs to be done. Therefore, a second embodiment according to the present invention configured to cope with the request in such a case will be described below.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a second embodiment according to the present invention. In FIG. 13, reference numeral 51 denotes a transmission source facsimile machine, and a user sends a pair of facsimile transmission requests or a facsimile transmission from the transmission source facsimile device 51 to a server 55 (corresponding to the server 2 of the first embodiment). Make a report transmission request. The transmission source facsimile device 51 is a facsimile device with a telephone, and in the second embodiment, using a push button of the attached telephone, creates and modifies a broadcast list in the server 55 via the voice response device 58. , Addition, deletion, etc.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a dialer (automatic calling device) for making a proxy call of the server 55. For example, when the transmission source facsimile device 51 makes a call request to the dialer 52 with "044-44-4444", the destination facsimile of the telephone number corresponding to the call number is transmitted via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 53. Apparatus such as facsimile machine 7
Is automatically called to form a communication path with the other party's facsimile machine. Thereafter, normal facsimile image transmission is performed. At this time, the server 55 does not pass.

However, the transmission source facsimile includes, for example, "191-044" including "191" which is the number of the server 55.
-44-4444, the dialer 52 determines that the first three digits "191" are the dialer identification code, and first forms a communication path with the server 55. When the communication path with the server 55 is formed, the ID number is continuously transmitted to the server 55, and the destination facsimile number “044-44-444” is further transmitted.
Send "4". After that, the facsimile image is transmitted from the transmission source facsimile device 51 to the server 55 in the usual procedure. The telephone number and the ID number of the server 55 are built in the dialer 52 in advance.

Reference numeral 54 denotes a facsimile transmission / reception device which receives a call for facsimile communication (call from the server 55) from the transmission source facsimile device 51 via the server 55, receives a facsimile image from the server 55, and The facsimile device 57 sends a call and transmits a facsimile image after the communication path is formed. In the second embodiment, a total of 24 facsimile transmission / reception devices 54 are installed, each of which is connected to the public line network 53 via one telephone line (a total of 24 telephone lines).

The server 55 stores the facsimile image, the facsimile transmission / reception device 54 and the voice response device 5
8, but also performs a distribution schedule management, a distribution execution command, a broadcast list management, a broadcast execution, and the like, which will be described later. Specifically, the server 55 is constituted by a personal computer having communication software built therein, and is connected to the facsimile transmitting / receiving device 54 and the voice response device 58 via an interface. Reference numeral 56 denotes a control console of the server 55.

The operation of the second embodiment having the above configuration will now be described. The source facsimile device 51 is the server 55
When a broadcast is requested to the user, a call is made as in "191-1". The dialer 52 determines that “191” is the dialer identification code “1” as the broadcast list number, and sends the ID to the server 55.
Number and distribution list number. Thereafter, normal facsimile image transmission / reception is performed.

The broadcast processing in the server 55 receiving the facsimile transmission information in this manner will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the broadcast processing in the server 55. Of course, in addition to the above,
Although there is a process related to one-to-one facsimile transmission and reception, the following description will be limited to the broadcast process shown in FIG.

The process shown in FIG. 14 starts at the same time when the power of the server 55 is turned on. First, in step S61, it is determined whether or not the administrator of the server 55 has turned off the power switch of the server 55. If the power of the apparatus is turned off here, the process ends. If the power of the apparatus has not been turned off, the process proceeds to step S62, and it is determined whether or not a broadcast transmission request has been received from the user according to the above-described control. If there is a broadcast transmission request, the process proceeds to step S63, receives a facsimile image from the user according to the above-described control, and stores it in a memory (not shown) (for example, the hard disk 2a of the first embodiment). Start execution of transmission processing. Then, the process returns to step S61. The process of step S63 is a process of performing transmission processing by sequentially allocating to the facsimile transmitting / receiving apparatus 54 one after another in accordance with the broadcast list specified by the user, from the highest order. FIG. 15 shows an example of the broadcast list.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a broadcast list of the server 55 in the second embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 15, after executing the first broadcast, the result of the first broadcast is executed, a sort process described later is executed, and the user adds a new broadcast destination, This shows the state after the sorting. In the second embodiment, the next broadcast is executed by using the sorted broadcast list.

In FIG. 15, one item indicated by 61 is the order of trials at the time of executing the next broadcast communication, two items indicated by 62 are broadcast destination telephone numbers, and items 3, 4 and 5 indicated by 63 are the last time. , Three items indicate whether the previous transmission was successful or failed, four items indicate the number of calls attempted at that time, and five items indicate the reason for the failure. Number. The reason for the failure of each number will be described later. Six items indicated by 64 are the number of trials when transmission was not possible at the time of executing the next broadcast communication.

If there is no broadcast transmission request from the user in step S62 in FIG. 14, the flow advances to step S64 to check whether or not the user has made a broadcast list correction request. If there is a correction request, the process proceeds to step S65, and the distribution list is created, corrected, added, and deleted according to the user's instruction. Then, the process proceeds to step S66, in which a broadcast list sorting process described in detail later is performed, and after the sorting process, the process proceeds to step S61. On the other hand, if there is no correction request, the process proceeds from step S64 to step S67.

In step S67, it is checked whether or not there is any remaining in the broadcast transmission schedule, that is, whether or not there is any other party's telephone number on the broadcast list that has not entered the transmission trial operation or is working. If there is any remaining in the broadcast transmission schedule, the process proceeds to step S68 to continue the broadcast transmission work, and then returns to step S61. On the other hand, if there is no remaining in the broadcast transmission schedule in step S67, the process proceeds to step S69, and it is determined whether or not all of the broadcast transmission operations being processed have been completed. If all of the broadcast transmission operations that have been processed have not been completed, the process returns to step S61. If all of the broadcast transmission processing has been completed, the process proceeds to step S70, where the result of the broadcast transmission is reported to the user by facsimile, and the subsequent step S71 is performed.
Performs sort processing of the broadcast list based on the broadcast result.
After the sorting process, the process returns to step S61 to wait for the next broadcast transmission request.

Note that the above steps S61 to S
At the time of the judgment of 69, a normal one which is not a broadcast request from the user
When a one-to-one facsimile communication request is received, normal communication via the server device 55 is performed. Next, details of the sort processing in the transmission trial order indicated by 61 in the broadcast list shown in FIG. 15 in steps S66 and S71 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing details of the broadcast list sorting process in the second embodiment.

First, in step S80, a telephone number group of the other party who succeeded in the previous broadcast transmission is preferentially selected. Then, in step S81, the telephone numbers having the smaller number of trials at the time of the previous broadcast are further sorted in this order in priority. The order of the other party having the same condition does not matter. For example, the order of the previous trial may be used. In the example of FIG. 15, numbers 1 to 6 in the order of transmission trial indicated by 61 are the telephone numbers of the other party who succeeded in the previous broadcast transmission, and further include the number of trials in the previous broadcast. Sorted in ascending order.

Next, in step S82, the telephone numbers newly added to the broadcast list by the user are sorted. In the example of FIG. 14, numbers 7 to 10 are telephone numbers newly added to the broadcast list by the user. Then, in step S83, the number of next attempts for the other party who succeeded in the previous broadcast communication and the number of next attempts (64) for the telephone number group newly added to the broadcast list by the user are all set to three times.

Finally, in step S84, the group of telephone numbers for which the previous broadcast communication has failed is sorted. In this case, in the telephone number group in which the broadcast communication has failed, sorting is performed in ascending order of the failure reason number. In the example of FIG.
Numbers 1 to 20 are telephone numbers that failed in the previous broadcast communication. Then, in step S85, the number of times of the next trial for the other party for which the previous broadcast communication has failed is set to one. This terminates the sorting process and returns.

In FIG. 15, the list continues from the 21st place onward, all of which are telephone numbers for which transmission failed previously. When the server 55 to which a plurality of telephone lines are connected performs broadcasting using the broadcast list, each facsimile transmitting / receiving device 54 corresponds to the number of telephone lines from the top of the broadcasting slit.
And facsimile transmission to each destination facsimile device 57 is performed. For a partner who cannot be connected by a single call, call processing (call) is attempted for the number of attempts. A call path is not formed even with the number of calls
If facsimile transmission is not possible, broadcast transmission fails.

When the first broadcast to the respective facsimile transmitting / receiving apparatuses 54 is completed (including abnormal termination), each facsimile is transmitted by the number of the next telephone line from the transmission trial order of the broadcast list. Distribution to the transmitting / receiving device 54 and calling processing are performed, and facsimile transmission to each destination facsimile device 57 is performed as described above. This operation is repeated until there is no other party's telephone number on the broadcast list.

When all the broadcasting operations including the number of calls for the number of trials are completed, the broadcasting list is sorted in the above-described step S71 based on the result of the success or the failure of the broadcasting. . Also, when the user adds a new destination telephone number to the broadcast list, the sorting process of step S66 is performed immediately after the addition work, and as shown in FIG. Next, a new group of telephone numbers is added.

The reason for failure when the broadcast of the five items indicated by reference numeral 63 in FIG. 15 fails will be described below with reference to FIG.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the reason for failure when transmission fails in the second embodiment. In FIG. 17, one of the reasons for failure is
The third is "Facsimile in use. Busy." There are seven failure reasons below, and the last seventh failure reason is "This telephone number is not currently used." The higher the number, the higher the possibility of transmission if the call is made again, and the lower the number, the lower the possibility of connection even if the call is made again.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the following distinctive and remarkable effects can be obtained. (1) At the time of sorting the broadcast list, a difference is made between the telephone number of the last successful transmission and the next trial number of the telephone number of the previous failed transmission. For the failed telephone number group, the number of next trials is set to one, and useless call attempts can be reduced, and the time until the completion of the entire broadcast processing can be shortened.

(2) Among the telephone numbers that have been successfully transmitted, sorting was performed with priority given to the one with the least number of previous trials. As a result, the broadcasting process can be performed ahead of time with respect to the other party who can easily transmit. (3) Among the telephone numbers that failed to transmit the last time, the order is sorted from lighter to more serious ones for the reason of the previous failure, so even if the previous transmission failed, there is a possibility of transmission. Broadcasting processing is advanced ahead of the destination with the destination, and waste can be prevented as much as possible.

[Third Embodiment] In the second embodiment described above, a case has been described in which broadcast communication is performed using a facsimile server device having a broadcast function to which 24 telephone lines are connected. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example, and similar effects can be achieved by applying the present invention to a facsimile apparatus with a broadcasting function in which only one telephone line is connected.

In this case, in FIG.
5 is changed to a facsimile machine with a broadcasting function in which only one telephone line is connected, and only one calling line and one facsimile transmitting / receiving apparatus 54 are used.
What is necessary is just to make the structure except the dialer 52, the voice response device 58, the console 6, etc. The operation of creating, modifying, adding, and deleting a broadcast list by a user is performed from a liquid crystal panel or the like of the facsimile main body.

However, in this case, since there is only one telephone line, considering the completion time of the broadcast processing, at most ten or more destination telephone numbers can be included in one broadcast list. It is better to limit to the extent. [Fourth Embodiment] In the second embodiment, a group of telephone numbers that could not be transmitted last time is sorted in the order of the number of the reason for failure. In other words, no matter what the reason for the failure, the call is always tried once in the next broadcast processing. However, even for a destination telephone number that has no connection possibility even if it is called repeatedly, for example, the failure reason 7 in FIG. 17 “This telephone number is not currently used.” Once a call is attempted. This does not lead to a shortened broadcast completion time.

Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, at the time of sorting, a process of setting the number of times of the next trial to 0 (zero) may be added to the telephone number having the failure reason 7 which could not be transmitted last time. Speaking of a specific example of the broadcast list, the number of next trials in the order of the 19th and 20th trials shown in FIG. In the fourth embodiment, after step S85 in the flowchart of FIG. 16 of the second embodiment described above,
As step S86, "the telephone number of the failure reason 7 is
The next trial count is set to 0. "

With the above arrangement, the time required for completing the broadcast can be further reduced, and efficient broadcast communication can be performed. As described above, according to the second, third, and fourth embodiments, when a broadcast is executed several times using the same broadcast list, the broadcast performed in the previous broadcast in the broadcast list Priority is given to the telephone number that has been successfully transmitted, then the telephone number newly added by the user is added, and finally, the telephone number that failed to transmit last time is set. By limiting the number of calls that can be made when a connection cannot be made,
Most of the valid destination phone numbers in the distribution list
The processing can be collected and processed in the first half of the execution time, and the total time until the completion of the broadcast processing can be reduced.

[Fifth Embodiment] The above-described second, third, and fourth embodiments
In the above example, there is only one distribution list. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example, and a fifth embodiment according to the present invention will be described below, which is configured to create a list of broadcast partners whose distribution has failed as a broadcast list.
In other words, if you want to perform broadcast communication, but always want to send facsimile data to the designated broadcast destination,
It is necessary to repeatedly broadcast to the other party who could not send. The focus of the fifth embodiment is to effectively deal with such a case.

In the fifth embodiment, the basic system configuration is the same as the configuration of the second embodiment shown in FIG. The fifth embodiment differs from the above-described second embodiment in the method of creating a broadcast list and a broadcast list. The different parts will be described below. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a broadcast list group of the server 55 in the facsimile communication system having the configuration of FIG. As shown in FIG. 18, the server device 55 of the fifth embodiment first receives a broadcast request from another facsimile device connected to the public line network 53, for example, a transmission source facsimile device 51.
The broadcast communication based on the “broadcast list 1” indicated by 71 in 8 is executed.

When the broadcast using the “broadcast list 1” is executed, the “broadcast list 2” (72) that summarizes the telephone numbers that have been successfully broadcast and the telephone number group that has failed to broadcast. An integrated “broadcast list 3” (73) is created. At this time, the server 55 also determines, for the transmission source facsimile device 51, the telephone numbers that have been successfully broadcast, the telephone numbers that have failed to be broadcast, and the existence of the “broadcast list 2” and the “broadcast list 3”. Facsimile in the form of a report.

Further, when the transmission source facsimile machine 51 requests a broadcast using the "broadcast list 2" following the broadcast using the "broadcast list 1", the "broadcast list 2" is used. Broadcast communication. After the broadcast processing, a “broadcast list 4” that summarizes the telephone numbers that have been successfully broadcast and a “broadcast list 5” that summarizes the failed telephone numbers are created.

Similarly, the transmission source facsimile device 5
When the user 1 requests the broadcast using the “broadcast list 3” following the broadcast using the “broadcast list 1”, the broadcast using the “broadcast list 3” is performed. After the broadcast processing, a "broadcast list 6" summarizing the telephone numbers successfully broadcasted,
A “broadcast list 7” that summarizes the failed telephone number groups is created.

Thereafter, similarly, a "successful broadcast list" summarizing a group of telephone numbers successfully broadcast based on the result of performing each broadcast communication, and a "failure broadcast list" summarizing a group of failed telephone numbers. Will be created. As a result, the user who has requested the broadcast does not need to send a one-to-one facsimile transmission to the group of numbers that failed in the first broadcast request, but only to the other party who has failed the broadcast again. You can broadcast.

As another usage, another type of additional facsimile can be continuously transmitted only to the group that succeeds in the first broadcast. FIG. 19 shows that after the server 55 executes the broadcast communication, the source facsimile device 5
7 is an example of a broadcast execution report for notifying a broadcast execution result of facsimile transmission to No. 1; As shown in FIG. 19, the broadcast execution report from the server 55 of the fifth embodiment includes a telephone number group that has been successfully broadcast and its broadcast list number, a telephone number group that has failed in broadcast, and its broadcast. The list number is described, and it is notified that such a broadcast list has been created in the server 55.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a facsimile communication message when two types of facsimile communication messages are sent, for example, by utilizing the fact that the above-mentioned broadcast list is created in the server 55.
FIG. 20 shows an example of a facsimile message sent in the first broadcast and a message sent only to the broadcast destination successfully transmitted in the first broadcast.
An example of the facsimile message of the second broadcast is shown.

The server 5 of the fifth embodiment having the above configuration
5 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining the broadcast processing of the server of the fifth embodiment. The process in FIG. 21 starts at the same time when the power of the server 55 is turned on. And first, step S10
In step 1, it is checked whether or not the administrator of the server 55 has turned off the power switch of the server 55. If the power of the device is O
If the FF is set, the process ends. Device power is off
If not, the flow advances to step S102 to check whether or not the user has received a one-to-one single facsimile distribution request. If the user receives a one-to-one single facsimile distribution request, the process advances to step S103 to receive the facsimile and store the subsequently transmitted facsimile image in a built-in memory to determine a distribution schedule. Then, the process returns to step S101.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S102 that the user has not received a one-to-one single facsimile distribution request, the flow advances to step S104 to check whether a broadcast transmission request has been received from the user. If there is a broadcast transmission request, the process proceeds to step S105, receives a facsimile image from the user in the same manner as in the above-described second embodiment, and stores it in a memory (not shown) (for example, the hard disk 2a of the first embodiment).
Etc.), a broadcast distribution schedule is determined, and execution of the broadcast transmission process is started. And step S101
Return to The processing of step S105 is performed by the facsimile transmitting / receiving apparatus 5 one after another according to the broadcast list specified by the user.
4 is a process for performing transmission processing.

If there is no broadcast transmission request from the user in step S104, the flow advances to step S106 to check whether or not the user has made a broadcast list correction request. If there is a correction request, the process proceeds to step S107, and the distribution list is created, modified, added, and deleted according to the user's instruction. Then, the process proceeds to step S101. On the other hand, if there is no correction request, the process proceeds from step S106 to step S108.
To see if there are any more in your broadcast schedule,
That is, it is checked whether or not there is any other party's telephone number on the broadcast list that has not entered the transmission trial operation or is working. If there is any remaining in the broadcast transmission schedule, the process proceeds to step S109, where the broadcast transmission work is continued, and the next distribution is performed. Then, the process returns to step S101.

On the other hand, if there is no remaining in the broadcast transmission schedule in step S108, the process proceeds to step S110,
It is checked whether or not all the broadcast transmission processing that has been processed has been completed. If all of the broadcast transmission operations being processed have not been completed, the process returns to step S101. If all of the broadcast transmission processes being processed are completed, the process proceeds to step S1.
In step 11, a broadcast list of telephone numbers of successful broadcast destinations and a broadcast list of telephone numbers for which broadcast communication has failed are created and stored. Then, in the following step S112, the result of the above-mentioned broadcast transmission is reported to the user by facsimile, and the process returns to step S101 to wait for the next broadcast transmission request. In addition,
The above described creation, modification, addition, deletion, etc. of the broadcast list can be performed by the requesting user by connecting to the server 55 via the voice response device 58, and the requester can perform these operations using a touch-tone telephone. It is configured to be able to.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, after performing the broadcast to the broadcast function of the facsimile server, the broadcast list of the telephone numbers successfully distributed, and the broadcast of the telephone number group that failed to distribute. By providing the function of creating a list, there is an effect that a broadcast request source can try again a broadcast transmission only to, for example, a group in which distribution has failed, or only to a group in which distribution has succeeded.

Sixth Embodiment In the fourth and fifth embodiments described above, a case has been described in which broadcast communication is performed using a facsimile server apparatus having a broadcast function to which 24 telephone lines are connected. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example, and similar effects can be achieved by applying the present invention to a facsimile apparatus with a broadcasting function in which only one telephone line is connected.

In this case, in FIG.
5 is changed to a facsimile machine with a broadcasting function in which only one telephone line is connected, and only one calling line and one facsimile transmitting / receiving apparatus 54 are used.
What is necessary is just to make the structure except the dialer 52, the voice response device 8, the console 6, etc. The operation of creating, modifying, adding, and deleting a broadcast list by a user is performed from a liquid crystal panel or the like of the facsimile main body.

However, in this case, since there is only one telephone line, considering the completion time of the broadcast processing, at most ten or more destination telephone numbers can be included in one broadcast list. It is better to limit to the extent. However, if it is a high-speed facsimile apparatus in which the transmission time per case is about several seconds, there is a possibility that the processing can be performed even on a scale of several hundred cases.

[Seventh Embodiment] Hereinafter, a seventh embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the seventh embodiment, in the second to sixth embodiments described above, the case where the dialer 52 is a normal type has been described. However, as described above, the standard of the facsimile apparatus is strictly determined in order to secure general versatility, and this cannot be changed unnecessarily. However, this dialer does not have such a standard and can be designed relatively freely. Therefore, a facsimile communication system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention including a dialer suitable for performing facsimile data distribution processing using a server or the like will be described below.

FIG. 22 is an external view of a dialer according to the seventh embodiment. 80 is a dialer main body, 82 is a power switch, 83 is a power cord, 84 is a telephone line connected to a user's transmission source, for example, a G3 standard facsimile device 59,
Reference numeral 85 denotes a telephone line connected to the public network (PSTN) 110 side. FIG. 23 shows a detailed configuration of the dialer 80 including the system configuration of the facsimile communication system of the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 23, a thick arrow line indicates an internal telephone line, and a thin line indicates a control line of each component by the control unit 90.

First, the configuration of the facsimile communication system according to the seventh embodiment including the dialer 80 shown in FIG. 23 will be described. A transmission facsimile apparatus 59 owned by the user is described here by taking a G3 standard facsimile apparatus as an example. Not only the transmission source facsimile device 59 but also a facsimile can be received. 84 is the above-mentioned facsimile-side telephone line, 85 is a public-network (PSTN) -side telephone line, 110
Is the public switched telephone network (PSTN), 120 is the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 1
Servers A and 130 connected to server 10 are servers 120
A high-speed dedicated line connecting the server B and the server 140 connected to the public network (PSTN) 150;
50 is the public network (PSTN) 160 is the public network (PSTN)
For example, the transmission source facsimile device 59 connected to the destination facsimile device 59 is a destination facsimile device that desires transmission, and a G3 standard facsimile device will also be described as an example.

The server A 120 and the server B 140 are connected to each other by a high-speed dedicated line 130, and the server A 12
0 collectively sends the facsimile images collected from each user to the server B 140 and sends the facsimile
60. This is more economical than the transmission source facsimile device 59 and the destination facsimile device 160 repeating facsimile transmission and reception individually. still,
As a specific example, it is conceivable that the server A120 is installed in Japan, the server B140 is installed in the United States, and the dedicated line takes the form of a submarine cable or a communication satellite.

Next, a detailed configuration of the dialer 80 of the seventh embodiment having the above configuration will be described. A control unit 90 controls all the components in the dialer 80 from initial setting after the power switch 82 is turned on to post-processing after the power is turned off. Reference numeral 91 denotes a transmission monitoring unit. When the transmission source facsimile device 59 performs a destination call process and presses a push button, the call number is recorded and notified to the control unit 90. Also, during facsimile transmission, a disconnection instruction command (DC
N command) is issued, and when it is issued, the control unit 90 is notified.

Reference numeral 92 denotes a switching unit A for connecting and disconnecting the telephone line of the transmission source facsimile apparatus 59, the telephone line of the switching unit B93, and the telephone line of the power supply unit 97. Immediately after the power is turned on and in a transmission / reception standby state, the power supply unit 97
Side, the source facsimile machine 59 side is in a connected state, and the switching unit B93 side is in a disconnected state. This is based on a command from the control unit 90.

Similarly, the switching unit B93 includes a telephone line on the switching unit A92 side, a telephone line on the call processing unit 98 side, a telephone line on the character data storage unit 100, and a telephone line on the public network (PSTN) 110 side. , Are connected and disconnected. Immediately after the power is turned on and in the transmission / reception standby state, the public network (PSTN) 1
Only the 10 side is connected and the others are disconnected. This also depends on a command from the control unit 90.

Reference numeral 94 denotes a reception monitoring unit, which detects an incoming call from the outside and immediately notifies the control unit 90 of the fact. The control unit 90 sets a connection state between the switching unit A92 and the switching unit B93, and sets a disconnection state between the switching unit A92 and the power supply unit 97, and sets a public network (PSTN) 110
The side line 85 and the transmission source facsimile device 59 are directly connected, and thereafter, normal facsimile image reception is performed. The “external facsimile” is the server A12
It can be zero.

Reference numeral 95 denotes a facsimile calling unit; 96, an image transmitting unit; 97, a power supply unit;
Immediately after, and in the transmission / reception standby state, the switching unit A92 and the switching unit B93 are in a disconnected state, and the public network (PSTN) 110
, But is an element for supplying power to the transmission source facsimile device 59 instead. As a result, the transmission source facsimile apparatus 59 can perform a calling operation even when disconnected from the public network.

Reference numeral 98 denotes a call processing unit which performs a call processing to the server A 120 in place of the transmission source facsimile apparatus 59. Of course, the switching unit B93 and the telephone line on the call processing unit 98 are connected in advance. There are two types of call processing by the call processing unit 98, and the transmission monitoring unit 91 checks that the call number of the transmission source facsimile device 59 is "1".
When the dialer identification code “191” is at the head, such as “91-044-44-4444”, the telephone number of the server A 120 built in the call processing unit 98 is used to provide the telephone number to the public network (PSTN) 110. Make a call.

When the connection to the server A120 is successful, the call processing unit 98 sends the ID code and the destination facsimile number “044-44-4444” to the server A120.
After that, the connection between the switching unit A92 and the switching unit B93 becomes a connection state, while the switching unit B93 and the call processing unit 98, the switching unit A
The transmission facsimile apparatus 59 and the server A 120 are directly connected to each other in a disconnected state between the transmission facsimile apparatus 92 and the power supply unit 97.
Facsimile transmission is performed from the transmission source facsimile device 59 to the server A120.

The server A via the dialer 80 from the transmission source facsimile apparatus 59 in the seventh embodiment.
FIG. 24 shows an example of a facsimile sheet containing the scheduled delivery time delivered from the server 120 in response to the delivery request to the server 120. As shown in FIG. 24, a distribution schedule also serving as a reception confirmation notification is sent from the server A 120 together with a reception number and a document number which is a confirmation number later. Accordingly, the transmission source facsimile device 59 can confirm reception of facsimile transmission and the like by looking at the facsimile paper.

On the other hand, when the dialer identification code "191" is not at the head, such as "044-44-4444", in the calling number of the transmission source facsimile apparatus 59, the calling processing unit 98 sets "044-44". The number "-4444" is sent to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 110 as it is, and a normal call is made. If the connection to the destination facsimile is successful, the switching unit A92 and the switching unit B93 are connected, and the switching unit A
Between the power supply unit 92 and the switching unit B93 and the call processing unit 98
In this state, the transmission source facsimile device 59 and the destination facsimile device 160 are directly connected to each other, and thereafter normal facsimile image transmission is performed.

As described above, the connection and disconnection of the switching units A92 and B93 are all controlled by the control unit 90. Reference numeral 99 denotes an image developing unit, 100 denotes a character data storage unit, and 101 denotes a line disconnecting unit. When the transmission source facsimile device 59 is performing facsimile transmission to the server A 120, transmission of all image data and the like is completed, and it is determined that transmission is completed, and a disconnection command command (DC
When the transmission monitoring unit 91 detects that the transmission command unit (N command) has been issued, the control unit 90 switches the switching unit B93 and the character data storage unit 10
0 is connected. At the same time, the switching unit A92 and the power supply unit 9
7 to a connected state, and disconnects the switching unit A92 and the switching unit B93.

As a result, the source facsimile machine 59 and the server A120 are disconnected, but the call is maintained between the server A120 and the character data storage unit 100. In this state, the character string data including the scheduled distribution time is transmitted from server A120, and character data storage unit 100 stores the character string data. In this case, a communication protocol that conforms to a protocol used in general personal computer communication is used. However, since the data amount is small, data reception is completed in one or two seconds. Therefore, there is little need to worry about the increase in telephone charges during this time.

The above protocol is completely different from the facsimile protocol conforming to the G3 standard. Therefore, there is no need to change or modify the existing facsimile communication standard on the facsimile machine side. When the data reception is completed, the line disconnecting unit 1
01 releases the call to server A120. afterwards,
The control unit 90 disconnects the switching unit B93 from the character data storage unit 100.

At this point, the call between the transmission source facsimile device 59 and the power supply unit 97 has been released by the disconnection processing on the transmission source facsimile device 59 side. Overall,
Although the transmission / reception standby state can be said, the control unit 90 knows that the character string data is stored in the character data storage unit 100, develops the character string data into a facsimile image in the image development unit 99, and further calls the G3 facsimile. Causes the unit 95 to call the transmission source facsimile device 59,
The developed facsimile image is transmitted to the image transmitting unit 1-11 to the transmission source facsimile.

When the transmission is completed, the G3 facsimile calling unit 95 releases the call between the transmission source facsimile device 59 and the power supply unit 97. Then, the stored character data in the character data storage unit 100 is also cleared. As a result, the facsimile paper to be distributed arrives at the transmission source facsimile device 59, and at the same time, the dialer main body enters a transmission / reception standby state. When the power switch 2 is turned off, the control unit 90 connects and fixes the switching unit A92 in the direction of the transmission source facsimile device 59 and the switching unit B93. Further, the switching unit B93 is also in the direction of the switching unit A92 and the public network (PSTN) 1
10 directions are connected and fixed. Then, each component is put into a rest state. In other words, when the power is off,
Public network (PSTN) 110 and source facsimile machine 5
9 is in a directly connected state.

Next, the facsimile communication control of the seventh embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIGS. 25 and 26 are flowcharts showing the overall operation of the dialer 80. As described above, all the operations are performed according to instructions from the control unit 90. FIG. 25, FIG.
Is started at the same time when the power switch 82 is turned on.

First, in step S201, the switching unit A92,
And all the switching units B93 are in the disconnected state. In the subsequent step S202, the switching unit A92, the switching unit B93, and the control unit 9
All elements other than 0 are inactive. Then, in step S203, the switching unit A92 is controlled so that the transmission source facsimile apparatus 59 and the power supply unit 97 are connected. Next, in step S204, the power supply unit 97 is turned on to be in a start-up state. If the transmission source facsimile apparatus 59 is in an on-hook state, the power supply state is changed to a state in which power is supplied in the same manner as when directly connected to the PSTN 110. I do.

Then, in step S205, the transmission monitoring section 91
Is turned on to be in a start-up state, and a state is monitored in which the connection facsimile apparatus, that is, the transmission source facsimile apparatus 59 originates a call. Subsequently, in step S206, the switching unit B93 and the public network (PSTN) 110 side are connected, and
The reception monitoring unit 94 is turned on to be in an activated state. The details of the check and subsequent operations in the transmission monitoring unit 91 and the contents of the check and subsequent operations in the reception monitoring unit 94 have already been outlined in the description of FIG.

Thereafter, the flow advances to step S207 in FIG.
It is determined whether the user has turned off the power switch 82. If the user turns off the power switch 82, the process proceeds to step S208, where only the switching unit A92 and the switching unit B93, and the direction of the transmission source facsimile device 59 and the direction of the public network (PSTN) 110 are connected. The other components are fixed and the other components are disconnected (the dialer 80 is set in the through state), the other elements are put into the resting state in step S209, the power is turned off in step S210, and the process ends. After that, it waits until the power is turned on again.

If it is determined in step S207 that the user has not turned off the power switch 82, the flow advances to step S211 to determine whether the reception monitoring unit 94 has detected a call from the public network (PSTN) 110 side. If the called signal has been detected, the process proceeds to step S212, where a facsimile reception process, which will be described in detail later, is performed, and the received data is transmitted to the connection facsimile device 59. And step S201
And returns the dialer 80 to the initial state in steps S201 to S06.

On the other hand, the reception monitoring section 94 is connected to a public network (PST).
N) If a call from the 110 side has not been detected, the flow advances to step S213 to determine whether or not the transmission monitoring unit 91 has detected a call from the transmission source facsimile device 59.
If the transmission monitoring unit 91 has not detected the call from the transmission source facsimile device 59, the process returns to step S207.
Then, steps S207 and S21 in this state are performed.
The loop processing of S213 indicates that the dialer 80 is in a transmission / reception standby state.

If the transmission monitoring unit 91 has detected a call from the transmission source facsimile machine 59 in step S213, the flow advances to step S214 to perform a transmission process described in detail later, and returns to step S201 after the transmission process ends. Then, the dialer main body is returned to the initial state in steps S201 to S206. Next, details of the reception processing in step S212 described above will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

First, in step S220, the switching unit A92 and the switching unit B93 are connected to each other in the same direction.
Then, in step S221, the switching unit A92 and the power supply unit 97 side are disconnected. As a result, the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 110
The received facsimile data is directly sent to the connected facsimile device 59 via the reception monitoring unit 94, the switching B unit 93, the switching A unit 92, and the transmission monitoring unit 91, and is received by facsimile. That is, the facsimile apparatus 59 can perform the same reception processing as if the dialer 80 was not connected.

In the following step S222, the process of monitoring the completion of facsimile reception (whether or not the facsimile reception has ended and the line has been opened) in the reception monitoring unit 94 is started. In step S223, a loop is drawn until the reception is completed. When the reception is completed in step S223, the process returns from this routine. Next, FIG.
The details of the transmission process in step S214 in FIG. 26 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, at step S230 in FIG. 28, the transmission source facsimile device 59 performs the dialer 8 in the calling process.
It is checked whether or not there is a calling code of the facsimile server (dialer) at the head of the destination number sent to 0.
For example, the number is "191-04-44-4444"
In this case, "191" is the dialer call code in the sixth embodiment.

Here, if there is a calling code of the facsimile server (dialer) at the head of the destination number, the flow advances to step S231, and the switching unit B93 switches to the public network (PST).
N) Connect the 110 side and the call processing section 98 side. Subsequently, the server A120 is called from the calling processing unit 98 in step S232. The telephone number of the server A 120 is stored in the calling processing unit 98.
Is registered in advance, and the server A120 is called with reference to the registered contents. Next, in step S233, is the server A120 successfully called (server A12
0 is responded and a communication path is formed). If the call to the server A 120 is unsuccessful, transmission is not possible, so the transmission processing ends and the routine returns.

If the server A 120 has been successfully called, the flow advances to step S 234 to send the ID code and the destination facsimile number from the call processor 98 to the server A 12.
Send to 0. The ID code is included in the calling processing unit 98, and the destination facsimile number is included in the calling destination number from which the transmission source facsimile apparatus 59 has called. For example, in the above example, it is "04-44-4444".
Next, in step S235, the switching unit B93 switches the switching unit A92.
The switching unit A92 is connected to the switching unit B93 by the switching unit A92 in the next step S236, and the switching unit A92 and the switching unit B93 are connected.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S237, wherein the switching unit B
At 93, the call processing section 98 is disconnected. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S238 in FIG. 29, where the switching unit A92 disconnects the power supply unit 97 side. Then, in step S239, the transmission monitoring unit 91 starts checking whether a DCN command indicating the end of transmission from the connected facsimile apparatus 59 has been transmitted. If the DCN command has not been sent in step S240, the flow advances to step S241 to check whether or not the facsimile communication has ended abnormally. If abnormal termination has not been performed, the process returns to step S240 to monitor abnormal termination or a DCN command being sent.

If the transmission of the facsimile transmission data from the connection facsimile device 59 has been completed and the DCN command has been transmitted, the process proceeds from step S240 to step S242, where the switching unit A92 connects to the power supply unit 97 side. And maintain the line connection state. In the following step S243, the switching unit B93 connects to the character data storage unit 100 side, and in step S244, the switching unit A92 and the switching unit B9
The three directions are disconnected from each other, and the code data of the character string as shown in FIG. 24 transmitted from the server A 120 in step S245 is stored in the character data storage unit 100, for example. When the reception of the facsimile data from the server A 120 is completed, the process proceeds to step S246,
The line connection state is released by the line disconnecting unit 101, and the public network (P
STN) Terminate the line from the 110 side.

Subsequently, the flow advances to step S247 in FIG.
The character string data stored in the character data storage unit 100 is sent to the image expansion unit 99, and the image expansion unit 99 expands the data into a facsimile image. And step S2
At 48, the transmission source facsimile device 59 is called using the facsimile calling unit 95. Here, for example, a calling signal may be transmitted to the transmission source facsimile device 59. When the transmission source facsimile device 59 responds in response, the facsimile image developed by the image development unit 99 is transmitted to the transmission source facsimile device 59 via the image transmission unit 96 in step S249. When the transmission is completed, the process proceeds to step S250, where the facsimile calling unit 95 releases the connection, terminates the call with the connected facsimile apparatus 59, and returns from the transmission processing.

In the above-described step S230, the source facsimile device 59 performs the dialer 8 in the calling process.
If there is no calling code of the facsimile server (dialer) at the head of the destination number sent to 0, the process proceeds to step S251, and the switching unit B93 switches to the public network (PSTN) 1
10 and the call processing unit 98 are connected. Subsequently, in step S252, the calling party number specified by the transmission source facsimile device 59 from the call processing unit 98 is switched via the switching unit A92, the switching unit 93, and the reception monitoring unit 94 to the public network (PST).
N) 110 to perform processing for calling the destination facsimile machine. That is, in this case, the public switched telephone network (PSTN) is used directly without passing through the server A120 or the server B140.
Connect only with 110. In FIG. 23, the public network (PS
Although the TN 110 and the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 140 are shown as separate and different public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), this is for the convenience of explanation of facsimile communication using a server. The public network (PSTN) is all connected to each other, and the destination facsimile apparatus 160 is also connected to the public network (PSTN) 110. Therefore, the destination facsimile apparatus 160 can be called here.

Thereafter, in step S253, it is checked whether or not the calling of the destination facsimile apparatus (for example, the destination facsimile apparatus 160) is successful and the destination has answered. If it fails, it returns from the transmission processing routine. On the other hand, if the call of the other party is successful, step S2
Proceeding to 54, the switching unit B93 connects to the switching unit A92 side,
In the following step S255, the switching unit A92 connects the switching unit B93 side to the transmission source facsimile apparatus 59 side. And
In step S256, the call processing unit 98 is disconnected by the switching unit B93, and in step S257, the power supply unit 9 is switched by the switching unit A92.
Cut the 7 side.

With the above control, the transmission source facsimile apparatus 59
A communication path is formed between the destination facsimile machine and
Facsimile transmission will be performed. Therefore, in step S258, the transmission monitoring unit 91 starts a process of monitoring that the transmission source facsimile device 59 ends the facsimile communication and opens the line 84. Then, in step S259, the transmission monitoring unit 91 waits for the transmission source facsimile device 59 to release the line 84. When the facsimile communication is completed and the transmission source facsimile apparatus releases the line, the process returns from the transmission processing routine. In this case, the dialer 80 does not control to hold the loop of the line 85 and the source facsimile apparatus
When the line 4 is released, the line 85 is also released.

Next, the facsimile receiving process of the server A 120 will be described with reference to FIG. When the facsimile transmission from the transmission source facsimile device 59 via the dialer 80 starts, the server A120 first proceeds to step S260.
To start receiving and storing the facsimile image. Then, while receiving and storing, step S2 is performed.
A distribution schedule of the facsimile data being received indicated by 61 to the destination, for example, the destination facsimile apparatus 160 is set and set in a predetermined storage area (not shown). This is a response message storage area for notifying reception of the transmission to the transmission source facsimile apparatus and notification of the distribution schedule.

In step S262, the above-described facsimile image is received and stored until a DCN command indicating transmission completion is transmitted from the transmission source facsimile device 59, and the flow waits for the transmission of the DCN command. DC
When the N command is sent, the process proceeds to step S263,
The facsimile image accumulation operation that has been continued is terminated. In step S264, the character string data containing the distribution schedule of the facsimile image received and stored to the destination facsimile machine is transmitted to the line 85. Then, the line is released to release the call, and the reception process ends.

As described above, the dialer 80 transmits the character data string from the server A to the transmission source facsimile device 59.
Are received after the facsimile communication is completed, stored in the character data storage unit 100, developed into an image as shown in FIG. 24, for example, and transmitted to the transmission source facsimile device 59. In the above description, each configuration of the dialer 80 is divided into 11 elements for each function except for the control unit 90, and all the elements are collectively controlled by the control unit 90. Therefore, by configuring the control unit 90 with, for example, a microcomputer, it is possible to cope with various and various uses only by changing the control program of the control unit 90.

As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, the character string code from the server A 120 is received and stored in the dialer 80, the stored character string is developed into an image, and the developed image is transmitted to the connected facsimile apparatus by facsimile. With the addition of the function to perform the facsimile transmission, it is not necessary to add a special function or the like to the facsimile apparatus, and the delivery schedule from the server A120 is transmitted to the dialer 80 immediately before the user finishes the call for facsimile transmission to the server. Can be sent,
The dialer 80 can transmit the distribution schedule to the user's facsimile apparatus by facsimile. For this reason, the user simply connects the dialer 80 of the present embodiment to the facsimile apparatus conforming to the standard without any modification or the like to the facsimile apparatus, and immediately obtains the distribution schedule after the facsimile transmission. There is an effect that can be.

[Eighth Embodiment] In the seventh embodiment described above, the data including the distribution schedule is temporarily stored in the dialer 80 as character string data. However, in this case, the character string data must be developed into a facsimile image in the dialer 80. This function complicates the structure inside the dialer 80. In order to prevent this, for example, the server A120 may develop the facsimile image on the delivery schedule and transmit it, and the dialer 80 may receive and store the facsimile image. An eighth embodiment according to the present invention configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the configuration of the eighth embodiment according to the present invention. The same components as those of the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 23 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 33 does not include the image expansion unit 99 and the character data storage unit 100 shown in FIG. 23, but includes a facsimile image storage unit 102 instead. In the eighth embodiment, with the above configuration, the transmission process is partially
Unlike the embodiment, in place of the processing in step S245 in FIG. 29, the processing for storing the facsimile image sent from the server A120 in the facsimile image storage unit 102 is performed, and the processing in step S247 shown in FIG. 30 is not performed. Instead, the process of transmitting the facsimile image stored in the facsimile image storage unit 102 to the transmission source facsimile device 59 may be performed instead of the process of step S249. Otherwise, the same processing as in the seventh embodiment described above can be performed.

On the server A120 side, the character string to be distributed in step S264 shown in FIG.
It is controlled to send to the 0 side. According to the eighth embodiment configured as described above, the same operation and effect as those of the seventh embodiment can be obtained, and the image developing unit 99 is not required in the dialer 80. However, in this case, the time for transmitting the facsimile image including the distribution schedule from the server A 120 to the dialer 80 is slightly increased.

Note that the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0161]

According to the present invention as described above, according to the present invention, the
Broadcast list of phone numbers that were successfully delivered after the broadcast
By making it possible to create, the broadcast request
Can easily recognize the result, for example, it was successfully delivered
It is extremely easy to try broadcasting again only to the group
There are effects that can be performed.

[0162] In addition, when you run several times broadcast by using the same distribution list, phone number group that was successful in the previous broadcast, before
A new telephone number is added to the broadcast list by giving priority to the newly added telephone numbers after the first broadcast and the telephone numbers that failed in the previous broadcast. Even if it is added, there is an effect that the time until the completion of the entire broadcast processing can be shortened.

[0163]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating details of a client machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory map of the personal computer shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a start command line of the broadcast setting program and the broadcast execution program shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a memory map of the server shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of a broadcast list file according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a failure reason number according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of file names of a broadcast list file and a facsimile image file according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a broadcast setting program according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a broadcast execution program according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating details of a transmission processing routine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating details of a routine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a system configuration diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a broadcast process in a server according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sorted distribution list according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining a broadcast list sorting process in the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a reason for failure when transmission fails in the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a broadcast list group newly created in the server of the fifth embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a distribution report after execution of a broadcast transmitted from the server of the fifth embodiment to a broadcast request source.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a facsimile communication message when performing broadcast communication using the broadcast list according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a broadcast communication process of the server according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is an external view of a dialer according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a dialer including a system configuration of a facsimile communication system according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a delivery reception facsimile sheet containing a delivery schedule from a server according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating the overall operation of the dialer main body in the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating the overall operation of the dialer main body in the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating details of a reception process shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating the transmission processing shown in FIG.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating the transmission processing shown in FIG.

30 is a flowchart illustrating the transmission processing shown in FIG.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating the transmission processing shown in FIG. 26.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a facsimile reception process of the server in the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a dialer including a system configuration of a facsimile communication system of an eighth embodiment according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Client 1-1 Personal computer main body 1-2 Facsimile transmission / reception apparatus 1-3 Handset 1-4 LAN connection apparatus 2 Server 3 LAN cable 4 Telephone line 5 Public network 10 OS 11 LAN connection program 12 Facsimile transmission / reception program 15 Work area 20 Network OS 21 LAN connection program of server 22 Work area of server 51 Source facsimile device with telephone 52 Dialer 53, 110, 150 Public line network 54 Facsimile transmission / reception device 55, 120, 140 Server 56 Console 57 Destination facsimile device 58 Voice response device 71-71 Broadcast list 59 Sender facsimile machine 80 Dialer main body 82 Power switch 83 Power cord 84 Telephone line to facsimile 85 To public network Telephone line 90 control unit 91 transmission monitoring unit 92 switching unit A 93 switching unit B 94 reception monitoring unit 95 facsimile calling unit 96 image transmission unit 97 power supply unit 98 call processing unit 99 image development unit 100 character data storage unit 101 line disconnection Unit 102 facsimile image storage unit 130 high-speed leased line 160 destination facsimile machine

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-186772 (JP, A) JP-A-1-41567 (JP, A) JP-A-62-1213478 (JP, A) JP-A-60-223375 (JP) , A) Hikaru Hei 3-44972 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1 / 00,1 / 32

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus capable of performing broadcast communication, comprising: a success list creating means for newly creating, as a broadcast list, a group of telephone numbers that have been successfully broadcast. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said success list is created by said success list creating means.
Output a broadcast execution report based on the broadcast list
The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. The broadcast report includes the success report.
The identification information of the strike and the telephone numbers that were successfully broadcast
3. The facsimile according to claim 2, wherein:
Equipment . 4. Communication of a facsimile apparatus capable of broadcasting.
The method comprises the steps of newly listing a group of telephone numbers that have been successfully broadcast.
Facsimile machine characterized by being created as
How to trust . 5. A broadcast execution based on the broadcast list.
The report according to claim 4, wherein the report is output.
Communication method for facsimile machine . 6. The broadcast execution report includes the success report.
The identification information of the strike and the telephone numbers that were successfully broadcast
The facsimile according to claim 5, wherein
Device communication method . 7. A facsimile machine having a broadcast communication function.
A facsimile communication system to which a facsimile server device is connected , wherein
A successful list that creates a new group of numbers as a distribution list
Facsimile communication system, comprising:
Tem . 8. A facsimile apparatus capable of performing broadcast communication, wherein when performing a plurality of broadcast communications using a broadcast list , a telephone number group that has succeeded in the previous broadcast communication, Broadcast communication execution means for preferentially broadcasting in the order of a telephone number group newly added to the broadcast list and a telephone number group which failed in the previous broadcast. Facsimile machine. 9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
The number of trials of the telephone number group is
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the number is set to be larger than the number of lines.
A facsimile machine as described . 10. A communication method of a broadcast facsimile apparatus capable, in case of performing broadcast communication a plurality of times using a distribution list, phone number group of successful previous broadcast, the last of the same A communication of a facsimile apparatus which preferentially broadcasts in the order of a telephone number group newly added to the broadcast list and a telephone number group which failed in the previous broadcast communication after the broadcast. Method. 11. The additional broadcast in the next broadcast communication.
The number of trials of the failed telephone number group
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the number is set to be larger than the number of trials.
0. The communication method of the facsimile apparatus according to 0 . 12. A facsimile communication system to which a facsimile server device having a broadcast communication function is connected, wherein when performing a plurality of times of broadcast communication using a broadcast list to the facsimile server device, Broadcasting that gives priority to broadcast in the order of telephone numbers that succeeded in broadcasting, telephone numbers that were newly added to the broadcast list after the previous broadcasting, and telephone numbers that failed in the previous broadcasting. A facsimile communication system comprising communication execution means.