JP3299640B2 - Network compatible facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a LAN (local area n
The present invention relates to a network-compatible facsimile apparatus connected to a network such as an E.work, VAN (value added network).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus of this kind, for example, LA
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-2
What is described in 36761 is known. The facsimile device of this publication transfers registration data and read image data to another facsimile device when the storage device of the station is full when registering a speed dial or reading a document for transmission, and in other facsimile devices, The received registration data is registered in a storage device, and the image data is transmitted via a public line. In many cases, the storage device becomes full when the previous image data is stored while waiting for redial or when there is no recording paper and the image data is waiting for printing.

[0003]

However, even in this publication, even if image data obtained by reading an original for transmission can be encoded and stored in a storage device, the image data is transmitted using a line. It is not possible to transmit newly input image data during transmission, so it is necessary to wait until the transmission of the previous image data is completed, and to deal with transmission of image data that requires urgency There was an inconvenience that it was not possible.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, when image data to be newly transmitted occurs while a facsimile apparatus of its own station uses a line, another facsimile apparatus not in use connected to a network. And a network-compatible facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting urgent image data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when image data to be newly transmitted occurs while a facsimile apparatus of its own station uses a line, another facsimile apparatus not in use connected to a network. Can be used to cope with the transmission of image data requiring urgency, and further, the identification number of the transfer source can be transmitted to the partner facsimile apparatus that transmits the image data, thereby enabling the transmission from the partner facsimile apparatus. Provided is a network-compatible facsimile apparatus that enables a response to be received by a transfer source facsimile apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when image data to be newly transmitted is generated while a facsimile apparatus of its own station uses a line, another facsimile apparatus not in use connected to the network. Can be used to transmit urgent image data, and the amount of communication data can be reduced by using a facsimile machine with the highest coding capability among facsimile machines that are not in use. And a network-compatible facsimile apparatus capable of reducing communication costs.

[0007]

The invention corresponding to claim 1 is:
It is connected to a network such as a LAN or VAN, and encodes image data of a document read by a document reading unit or image data received from the network and transmits the coded image data to a facsimile apparatus via a public line or received via a public line. and outputs to the recording printing unit of the self-decodes the image data of the other party facsimile device, the network-compatible facsimile machine to the network, connected to the network
Facsimile transmission using another facsimile machine
A switch for selecting to, to come and there is input of the image data to be transmitted from the document reading unit or network during communication via the counterpart facsimile machine and a public line to another party facsimile device, when an operation switch Means for transmitting a facsimile operation detection command to detect whether or not another facsimile apparatus connected to the network is in use; and, when this means detects a facsimile apparatus not in use, encodes the input image data. Means for transferring to a facsimile machine not in use via the network with a destination telephone number attached thereto, and receiving a facsimile operation detection command from another facsimile apparatus connected to the network when the facsimile machine is not in use and receiving other facsimile operation commands. Means for receiving image data with a destination telephone number from the device; The image data received by the unit via the public line is provided with a means for transmitting to the partner facsimile apparatus to specify the destination telephone number.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a facsimile apparatus is connected to a network such as a LAN or VAN, encodes image data of a document read by a document reading unit or image data received from the network, and transmits the encoded data to a partner facsimile apparatus via a public line. In a network-compatible facsimile apparatus that transmits or decodes image data of a partner facsimile apparatus received via a public line and outputs the image data to its own recording / printing unit, or transmits to a network , other facsimile apparatuses connected to the network
Select to send facsimile using a similiar device
And input of image data to be transmitted from the document reading unit or the network to another facsimile apparatus during communication with the other facsimile apparatus via the public line.
When a switch is operated, a facsimile operation detection command is sent to detect whether or not another facsimile device connected to the network is in use, and this means detects a facsimile device not in use. Then, the means for encoding the input image data, adding the destination telephone number and the identification number of the own station to the facsimile apparatus which is not in use via the network, and the means for connecting to the network when the apparatus is not in use. Receiving a facsimile operation detection command from the other facsimile apparatus, receiving, from the other facsimile apparatuses, image data with the destination telephone number and the identification number of the transmission source; ID number of your own station
Means for transmitting the received image data and the replaced identification number of the own station to the other party facsimile apparatus designated by the other party telephone number via a public line.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a facsimile apparatus connected to a network such as a LAN or VAN, encodes image data of an original read by an original reading unit or image data received from the network, and sends the encoded data to a partner facsimile apparatus via a public line. In a network-compatible facsimile apparatus that transmits or decodes image data of a partner facsimile apparatus received via a public line and outputs the image data to its own recording / printing unit, or transmits to a network , other facsimile apparatuses connected to the network
Select to send facsimile using a similiar device
And input of image data to be transmitted from the document reading unit or the network to another facsimile apparatus during communication with the other facsimile apparatus via the public line.
When a switch is operated, a facsimile operation detection command is sent to detect whether or not another facsimile device connected to the network is in use. Is detected, means for selecting a facsimile apparatus having the highest encoding capability from the facsimile apparatus, and image data inputted according to the encoding capability of the facsimile apparatus selected by this means, and a destination telephone number is added. Means for transferring to the selected facsimile apparatus via the network, and receiving a facsimile operation detection command from another facsimile apparatus connected to the network when the facsimile apparatus is not in use, the other party's telephone number and transmission from the other facsimile apparatus. means for receiving the image data given the original identification number, this means Own more sender identification number received
Replaced as the station identification number, received image data and
Means for re-encoding the replaced identification number of the own station by the own station coding method and transmitting the re-encoded identification number to the other party facsimile apparatus designated by the other party telephone number via the public line.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when image data to be transmitted from a document reading unit or a network to another facsimile apparatus during communication with a facsimile apparatus via a public line, a facsimile operation detection command is issued. To detect other facsimile machines not in use connected to the network. Then, the image data input to the facsimile apparatus is encoded, a destination telephone number is attached, and the image data is transferred via a network.

In other facsimile machines not in use,
When a facsimile operation detection command is received from the transfer source facsimile device, image data with a destination telephone number is received, and the received image data is transmitted via a public line to the destination facsimile device designated by the destination telephone number. Send to

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image data input to another facsimile apparatus not in use is encoded and transferred with the destination telephone number and the identification number of the own station.

In other facsimile machines not in use,
When receiving the image data with the destination telephone number and the identification number from the transfer source facsimile apparatus, the received image data and the identification number are transmitted to the destination facsimile apparatus specified by the destination telephone number via the public line.

Thus, since the other party's facsimile machine can know the transfer source of the image data from the identification number, it is possible to transmit a response to the transfer source facsimile machine based on the identification number.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when there is input of image data to be transmitted from a document reading unit or a network to another facsimile apparatus during communication with the facsimile apparatus via a public line, a facsimile operation detection command is issued. To detect a plurality of other facsimile machines not in use connected to the network. Then, the facsimile apparatus having the highest encoding capability is selected from the plurality of facsimile devices, and if the selected facsimile device is equal to or more than the encoding capability of the facsimile device of its own station, the input image data is the highest of its own station. The data is coded by the coding capability, the destination telephone number is added, and the data is transferred to the selected facsimile apparatus via the network.

When the other selected facsimile apparatus receives the image data with the destination telephone number from the transfer source facsimile apparatus, it re-encodes the received image data by its own local coding system and then connects the public line. To the other party's facsimile device designated by the other party's telephone number.

[0017]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the entire network. For example, four facsimile apparatuses 121, 122, 123, 1 are connected to a LAN (local area network) 11.
24 and 4 computer devices 131, 132, 133
, 134 are connected. Each facsimile machine 1
21 to 124 are also connected to public lines.

Each of the computer devices 131 to 134 includes a display device, a printing device, a keyboard, an external storage device, and the like. For example, image data is created by key input from a keyboard, and image data is fetched from an external storage device. The input image data can be sent to the LAN 11, and the image data can be fetched from the LAN 11 and displayed on a display device or printed out by a printing device.

Each of the facsimile machines 121 to 124
As shown in FIG. 2, a document reading unit 21 that reads a document to be set and outputs image data, a recording and printing unit 22 that prints out decoded image data, and transmits image data to a facsimile machine of the other party. A coding / decoding unit 23 for encoding or decoding image data received from the other party's facsimile machine, displaying the other party's telephone number and ID at the time of facsimile transmission, and displaying the communication mode,
When an error occurs, a display unit 24 for displaying an error, etc., a storage unit 25 for registering coded image data and decoded image data and other telephone numbers, and a public line connected to a public facsimile machine and the public A line control unit 26 for performing facsimile communication via a line, a LAN control unit 27 for connecting to the LAN 11 and controlling communication via the LAN 11, a numeric key, abbreviated dial key, one-touch key for designating a destination telephone number An operating unit 28 provided with an emergency switch or the like for performing various types of keys used for facsimile communication and a facsimile communication using another facsimile device while the own station is using the line, and a control unit 29 for controlling these units, They are connected to each other by a bus line 30.

Each of the facsimile machines 121 to 124
Has the image data transmission function shown in FIGS.

First, when the facsimile machine is the transfer source, the control unit 29 detects the setting of the transmission original to the original reading unit 21 in step S1 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and then proceeds to step S2. Then, it is determined whether or not the public line of the own station is in use, and if not, normal transmission is performed in step S3. This is because the original reading unit 21 reads the original by inputting the other party's telephone number at the operation unit 28 and operating the start key, the read image data is encoded by the code decoding unit 23, and then the line control unit 26. Transmit to the other party facsimile machine via public line.

If the public line is in use, the processing of display A is performed in step S4. That is, the display unit 24
Is displayed on the screen, "The line is currently in use. Would you like to send it immediately with another facsimile machine?" To prompt the operator to determine whether the original to be sent is urgent.

In this state, if the operator does not operate the emergency switch within a certain period of time, it is determined that there is no urgency, and the process of display B is performed in step S5. That is, the display unit 24 displays "Automatic transmission after the current line is used. Press the start key after inputting the other party's telephone number."

In this state, when the operator inputs the other party's telephone number using the operation unit 28 and operates the start key, the document reading unit 21 reads the document in step S6, and the read image data is decoded by the code decoding unit. Storage unit 2 after encoding at 23
5 is stored. After the use of the line of the own station is completed, the storage unit 2
5 to read out the encoded image data,
6. Automatic transmission to the partner facsimile machine via the public line.

When the operator operates the emergency switch within a certain period of time, the control unit 29 controls the LAN control unit 27 in step S7 so that all of the facsimile machines other than the local station on the LAN are controlled via the LAN 11. A facsimile operation detection command is sent over the LAN 11 to check the usage status.

In this state, in step S8, an operation status response from another facsimile machine is received. Subsequently, in step S9, the storage unit 2 of the other facsimile apparatus receives an operation status response from the other facsimile apparatus.
It is determined from the free space of No. 5 and the use status of the line whether or not it is in use.

If all of the other facsimile machines have insufficient free space in the storage unit or if the line is in use, it is determined that they are all in use, and the processing of display C is performed in step S10. That is, the display unit 24 displays "All other facsimile machines are in use. Press the start key after inputting the other party's telephone number."

In this state, when the operator inputs the telephone number of the other party by operating the operation section 28 and operates the start key, the document reading section 21 reads the document in step S6, and the read image data is decoded by the code decoding section. Storage unit 2 after encoding at 23
5 is stored. After the use of the line of the own station is completed, the storage unit 2
5 to read out the encoded image data,
6. Automatic transmission to the partner facsimile machine via the public line.

In step S9, a search is made for a facsimile apparatus in which the line is not in use and the storage capacity of the storage unit 25 is sufficient among the other facsimile apparatuses. And outputs a capability display request command through the LAN 11.

In this state, in step S12, a capability display response from another facsimile apparatus not in use is received. Subsequently, the capability display response received in step S13 is searched, and a line use request command is output through the LAN 11 to the facsimile machine having the highest encoding capability.

In this state, when a line use permission command is received from the facsimile machine which transmitted the line use request command in step S14, the process of display D is performed in step S15. That is, the display unit 24 displays "Send by another facsimile machine. Press the start key after inputting the other party's telephone number."

In this state, if there is a destination telephone number input operation and a start key operation on the operation unit 28 in step S16, the communication capability of the transfer destination facsimile apparatus which has been permitted to use in step S17 and the communication of the own station. Compare abilities. Note that the communication capability refers to a capability of an encoding method and a communication speed.

If the communication capability of the facsimile machine at the transfer destination is equal to or higher than the communication capability of the own station, the image data is encoded by the own station in step S18. If the communication capability of the destination facsimile device is lower than the communication capability of its own station, the image data is encoded in step S19 according to the communication capability of the destination facsimile device.

Subsequently, in step S20, the coded image data, coding method, document width, own station ID (identification number), and destination telephone number are transferred to the destination facsimile machine.

In this state, when a transmission end notification is received from the facsimile machine of the transfer destination in step S21, a series of control is ended.

When the facsimile machine becomes the transfer destination, the control unit 29 executes step S, as shown in FIG.
When a facsimile operation detection command transmitted from the transfer source facsimile machine via the LAN 11 is detected at 31, the state of the own station, that is, the own station I, is detected at step S32.
D, the line use state, and the free space of the storage unit 25 are sent to the transfer source facsimile machine via the LAN 11 as an operation status response. The contention adjustment between the facsimile apparatuses at the time of simultaneous transmission of a response conforms to the form of the LAN 11.

In this state, if a capability display request command transmitted from the facsimile machine of the transfer source via the LAN 11 is detected in step S33, the capability of its own station, that is, its own station ID, communication speed, code The format and the width of the read original are sent to the transfer source facsimile machine via the LAN 11 as a capability display response. Also in this case, the contention adjustment at the time of simultaneous transmission of the responses between the respective facsimile apparatuses conforms to the form of the LAN 11.

In this state, if a line use request command addressed to the own station transmitted via the LAN 11 from the transfer source facsimile machine is detected in step S35, the flow proceeds to step S36.
Sends a line use permission response to the transfer source facsimile machine via the LAN 11. In this case, since the line use request command and the line use permission response are one-to-one, no conflict occurs on the LAN 11.

Subsequently, in step S37, the encoded data (image data) transmitted from the facsimile machine via the LAN 11 via the LAN 11, the encoding method, the document width, and the source I
D, receives parameters of the other party's telephone number.

Subsequently, in step S38, the encoded data from the transfer source is re-encoded by the best encoding method that can be encoded by the own station and stored in the storage unit 25. Further, in step S39, the ID of the transmission source received Is replaced with the ID of the own station. In addition,
When the level of the coding system of the other party's facsimile apparatus is low, it is adjusted to that.

Subsequently, in step S40, a call is transmitted to the other party's telephone number, and the coded data, the own station ID, and the like are transmitted to the other party's facsimile apparatus via the line controller 26 and the public line.

At this time, when the other party's facsimile apparatus is busy (in use), redialing is performed after a predetermined time, and this is repeated until the other party's facsimile apparatus stops talking.

When the transmission of the encoded data to the other party's facsimile apparatus is completed, in step S41, the transmission end is notified to the transfer source facsimile apparatus, and this control is ended.

In the embodiment having such a configuration, for example, when a situation in which the facsimile apparatus 121 has to send a hurry original to the partner facsimile apparatus while the line of its own station is used occurs, A document to be transmitted is set to the document reading unit 21 in the facsimile apparatus 121. As a result, the display unit 24 displays the message "The line is currently in use. Do you want to send it immediately with another facsimile machine?"
Message is displayed.

Then, when the operator operates the emergency switch of the operation unit 28, the control unit 29 of the facsimile apparatus 121 sends the other facsimile apparatuses 122 to 12 via the LAN 11.
4 Sends a facsimile operation detection command. Upon receiving the facsimile operation detection command, the control unit 29 of the other facsimile devices 122 to 124 sends an operation status response in which the ID of the own station is added to the free space of the storage unit 25 and the use status of the line via the LAN 11 as the transfer source facsimile. Apparatus 1
Send to 21.

The transmission source facsimile apparatus 121 searches for a facsimile apparatus in which the line is not in use and the storage unit 25 has a sufficient free space among the other facsimile apparatuses 122 to 124. For example, facsimile machines 123, 124
If it is determined that the facsimile device 12 can be used,
A capability display request command is transmitted to 3 and 124 via the LAN 11.

When the facsimile apparatuses 123 and 124 receive the capability display request command, they transmit their own station ID, communication speed, encoding system and read original width to the transfer source facsimile apparatus 121 via the LAN 11 as a capability display response.

When the facsimile machine 121 of the transfer source receives the capability display response, the facsimile machine 123,
A facsimile apparatus having a high encoding capability is selected from among 124. For example, if the encoding method of the facsimile machine 123 is M
In the MR method, the encoding method of the facsimile machine 124 is M
In the case of the H system, the facsimile machine 123 is selected as the transfer destination facsimile machine.

The transfer source facsimile machine 121 sends a line use request command to the transfer destination facsimile machine 123. On the other hand, the facsimile machine 123 at the transfer destination transmits a line use permission response to the facsimile machine 121 at the transfer source.

Thus, the facsimile machine 121 of the transfer source
Receives the line use permission response, inputs the destination telephone number and operates the start key to transmit the encoded data to the facsimile machine 123 of the transfer destination. However, it is assumed that the encoding system of the facsimile machine 121 is, for example, the MH system. Then, the facsimile apparatus 121 encodes the image data according to the MH scheme which is its own encoding scheme, and transmits it to the transfer destination facsimile apparatus 123. At this time, the encoding method, document width, own station ID, and destination telephone number of the own station are also transmitted.

The destination facsimile machine 123 receives the coded data, the encoding method, the document width, the own station ID, and the other party's telephone number from the source facsimile machine 121. Here, the coding method of the partner facsimile apparatus is MM
If the R system is used, the facsimile machine 1 at the transfer destination
23, the encoded data from the transfer source facsimile apparatus 121 is encoded again by the MMR method and stored in the storage unit 25. The ID of the transfer source is replaced with the ID of the own station.

The facsimile machine 123 at the transfer destination makes a call to the other facsimile machine based on the other party's telephone number, and transmits the image data encoded by the MMR method and the own station ID. When the transmission is completed, the transmission end is notified to the facsimile machine 121 of the transfer source.

As described above, the facsimile apparatus 121 sets an original to be transmitted urgently in the original reading section 21 even when the line of its own station is in use, and when the emergency switch is operated, another facsimile apparatus 121 operates. Devices 122 to 124
A facsimile machine that can be used is searched for, and transmission to a partner facsimile machine can be performed using the searched facsimile machine. Therefore, facsimile transmission of a document requiring urgency can be dealt with, and versatility can be improved.

Further, when there are a plurality of facsimile machines which can be used, the facsimile machine having the highest coding capability is selected, so that the coding capabilities of the destination facsimile device and the partner facsimile device are the same as those of the source facsimile device. If the coding capability is higher than the coding capability of the destination facsimile device, the data can be re-encoded by the destination facsimile device according to the coding capability of the partner facsimile device and then transmitted. As a result, the amount of transmission data can be reduced, so that the communication time can be shortened and the communication cost can be reduced.

Further, since the destination facsimile machine 123 replaces the source ID with the own station ID together with the image data and transmits it to the other party facsimile apparatus, the other party facsimile apparatus displays the ID on the display unit and the communication report. Will be. Since this ID is originally the ID of the facsimile machine 121 of the transfer source, when the partner facsimile machine transmits a response such as a reply based on this ID, the reply is reliably received by the facsimile machine 121 of the transfer source. Therefore, for example, the facsimile apparatuses 121 to 1
It would be very useful if 24 were installed on different floors or different buildings.

Further, for example, the facsimile machine 1 of the transfer source
21 is an MMR system, and the facsimile machine 1
When the facsimile apparatus 124 is not used and only the facsimile apparatus 124 is not in use, and the encoding method of the facsimile apparatus 124 is the MH method and the other party's facsimile apparatus is also the MH method, the facsimile apparatus 121 of the transfer source is the facsimile apparatus 124
Is transmitted as the transfer destination facsimile apparatus, but at this time, the facsimile apparatus 12
Numeral 1 encodes the image data by the MH system which is the encoding system of the facsimile apparatus 124 and transmits it. Since the facsimile apparatus 121 can perform encoding using the MMR method, it is possible to perform encoding using the MH method or the MR method that is lower than this.

As a result, the facsimile apparatus 124 becomes MH
The data encoded by the method is received and transmitted to the other party's facsimile machine.

In this case, the facsimile apparatus 121 encodes the image data by the MMR method, and
4, the facsimile machine 124 receives M
Since recoding from the MR system to the MH system cannot be performed, transmission to the partner facsimile apparatus cannot be performed.

Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to the case where the original set in the original reading section 21 of the transmission source facsimile apparatus is transmitted to the partner facsimile apparatus using another facsimile apparatus, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the image data created or input in the computer devices 131 to 134 is received via the LAN 11 and the image data is to be facsimile-transmitted to the other party's facsimile device, and the public line of the own station is in use. Is also applicable.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where a LAN is used as a network to which each facsimile apparatus is connected is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and another network such as a VAN may be used.

[0062]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when image data to be newly transmitted is generated while the facsimile apparatus of the own station is using the line, another facsimile apparatus connected to the network is used. The transmission can be performed using a facsimile apparatus that is not in the middle, and transmission of image data requiring urgency can be dealt with.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when image data to be newly transmitted occurs while the facsimile apparatus of the own station is using the line, the other connected to the network is not in use. It can be transmitted using a facsimile device, can handle urgent image data transmission, and can also transmit the identification number of the transfer source to the other facsimile device that transmits the image data, thereby enabling the other facsimile device Can be received by the transfer source facsimile machine.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, if image data to be newly transmitted occurs while the facsimile apparatus of the own station is using the line, the other connected to the network is not in use. It can be transmitted using a facsimile machine, it can handle urgent image data transmission, and since it uses a facsimile machine with the highest coding capability among facsimile machines that are not in use, the amount of communication data And the communication cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing main part control of a control unit of the facsimile machine which is a transfer source in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing main part control of a control unit of the facsimile machine serving as a transfer source in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing main part control of a control unit of the facsimile machine which is a transfer destination in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... LAN (network) 121-124 ... Facsimile apparatus 21 ... Document reading part 23 ... Code decoding part 26 ... Line control part 27 ... LAN control part 29 ... Control part

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An image data of a document read by a document reading unit or image data received from a network is connected to a network such as a LAN or a VAN and transmitted to a facsimile apparatus via a public line. The other facsimile device connected to the network is used in a network compatible facsimile device that decodes the image data of the other party's facsimile device received through the network and outputs it to its own recording / printing unit, or sends it to the network.
A switch for selecting the facsimile transmission Te, care that there is input of the image data to be transmitted from the document reading unit or network during communication via the counterpart facsimile machine and a public line to another party facsimile device, said Sui
When there is a switch operation, a means for sending a facsimile operation detection command to detect whether or not another facsimile apparatus connected to the network is in use, and when this means detects a facsimile apparatus not in use, Means for encoding the input image data, attaching the other party's telephone number to the facsimile apparatus not in use via the network, and detecting facsimile operation from another facsimile apparatus connected to the network when the apparatus is not in use Upon receiving the command, means for receiving image data with a destination telephone number from another facsimile apparatus, and transmitting the image data received by this means to the destination facsimile apparatus designated by the destination telephone number via a public line A network-compatible facsimile apparatus. 2. A connection to a network such as a LAN or a VAN, encoding of image data of a document read by a document reading unit or image data received from the network, and transmitting the encoded data to a facsimile machine via a public line; The other facsimile device connected to the network is used in a network compatible facsimile device that decodes the image data of the other party's facsimile device received through the network and outputs it to its own recording / printing unit, or sends it to the network.
A switch for selecting the facsimile transmission Te, care that there is input of the image data to be transmitted from the document reading unit or network during communication via the counterpart facsimile machine and a public line to another party facsimile device, said Sui
When there is a switch operation, a means for sending a facsimile operation detection command to detect whether or not another facsimile apparatus connected to the network is in use, and when this means detects a facsimile apparatus not in use, Means for encoding the inputted image data, adding the destination telephone number and the identification number of the own station to the facsimile apparatus not in use via the network, and other means connected to the network when the apparatus is not in use. Upon receiving the facsimile operation detection command from the facsimile apparatus, receiving the image data with the destination telephone number and the identification number of the transmission source from the other facsimile apparatus, and transmitting the identification number of the transmission source received by this means to the own station. As the identification number of
Means for transmitting the received image data and the replaced identification number of the own station to a facsimile apparatus designated by the other party telephone number via a public line. 3. Connecting to a network such as LAN or VAN, encoding image data of a document read by a document reading unit or image data received from the network, transmitting the encoded data to a facsimile apparatus via a public line, The other facsimile device connected to the network is used in a network compatible facsimile device that decodes the image data of the other party's facsimile device received through the network and outputs it to its own recording / printing unit, or sends it to the network.
A switch for selecting the facsimile transmission Te, care that there is input of the image data to be transmitted from the document reading unit or network during communication via the counterpart facsimile machine and a public line to another party facsimile device, said Sui
Means for transmitting a facsimile operation detection command to detect whether or not another facsimile apparatus connected to the network is in use, and this means to detect a plurality of inactive facsimile apparatuses. Then, a means for selecting a facsimile apparatus having the highest encoding capability from the facsimile apparatus, and encoding the image data inputted in accordance with the encoding capability of the facsimile apparatus selected by this means and attaching a destination telephone number to the network, Means for transferring to the selected facsimile apparatus via the facsimile apparatus, and receiving a facsimile operation detection command from another facsimile apparatus connected to the network when the facsimile apparatus is not in use, receives a destination telephone number and
Means for receiving the image data given the source identification number, the source identification number received by the means of its own station
Replaced as identification number, received image data and
Network-enabled facsimile apparatus characterized by comprising a means for transmitting to the partner facsimile apparatus to specify the destination telephone number via a public line and re-encode the identification number of its own station replaced by the own station coding scheme .