JP3307348B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device such as a facsimile device having a function of relaying an image received from a communication terminal device to a destination specified by the communication terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Non-standard functions (non-standard functions) within a range not interfering with standard procedures and standard functions defined by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) -T for facsimile communication, namely time-specified transmission, confidential transmission, A facsimile apparatus having functions such as polling, broadcast transmission, and relay distribution is provided.

[0003] The time designation transmission is a function for designating a transmission time. The relay distribution is a function of transmitting image data from a calling device to a receiving device serving as a relay device, and then transmitting the image data to a final destination using the relay device as a calling device. In the conventional relay distribution, the repeater immediately transmits the image data received from the calling device to the other party when the own device is in a transmittable state.

[0004] Therefore, in order to adjust the time of relay distribution, it is only necessary to specify the time of transmission to the repeater in the calling device that requested the relay distribution. The non-standard functions as described above are set by operating key switches of various functions provided on the panel of the facsimile apparatus.

[0005]

In the conventional relay distribution,
Although it is possible to indirectly specify the time of the relay delivery as described above, it was not possible to specify a periodic relay delivery such as at what time of the day, on what day of the week, or on what day of the month. .

For this reason, for example, even if image data, such as an invoice, which should be transmitted all at once at a fixed time immediately before the closing date, the image data is distributed to the destination each time there is a request for relay distribution. In such a case, each time a call must be made to the other party to exchange the communication procedure signal, a communication fee during that time is charged.

Further, for example, image data such as a bill is
If the image data is transmitted at random, the management of the received image data becomes complicated at the transmission destination.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a relay distribution requester,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that reduces the communication cost by periodically relaying an image received from a device to a second device, and facilitates management of image data at a destination of the relay distribution.

[0009]

According to the present invention , there is provided a communication apparatus for distributing a received image to a designated destination device among a plurality of devices, wherein the received image is transmitted to a designated destination device. Storage means for storing in a storage area of a predetermined day of each week designated as a distribution cycle in a received image
Or a means for detecting a predetermined day of each month,
Registering means for registering a distribution time for each storage area of the storage means for each distribution cycle ; detecting means for detecting arrival of a distribution time registered for each storage area in the registration means; Depending on the distribution cycle registered in the area
And a distribution unit that distributes the image stored in the storage area to the specified destination device when the arrival of the same distribution time is detected.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

According to the present invention , a received image is stored in a storage area (mailbox) for each specified destination device, and a distribution cycle specified for the received image, for example, a fixed time (daily ), weekly fixed day of the week (weekly), or at the time of delivery, which is registered in accordance with the delivery period such as month at a certain date (monthly)
At the same time, collectively store the images stored in the storage area,
Relay distribution to each specified destination device.
Thus, the cycle of the relay distribution can be specified from the device that has requested the relay distribution.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system using a facsimile apparatus 200 according to the present invention as a repeater. The transmission source 100, which is the first device, requests the facsimile device 200, which is a relay device, to perform the relay distribution to the destination device 300, which is the second device.

The configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. The main control unit 1 executes software stored in the ROM 6 and controls not only the hardware units of the facsimile apparatus via the bus but also
Encoding / decoding, image (TIFF), which encodes or decodes the image data of the manuscript by encoding methods such as MH, MR, MMR
The software stored in the ROM 6, such as a communication procedure including conversion, binary text conversion, mail editing, modem switching, control of RS232C by AT commands, and the like, is executed.

The main control unit 1 stores the image received from the transmission source 100 in the image memory 8 according to a procedure described later, and sets the time according to the cycle registered in the RAM 7 in advance, that is, every day. At a fixed time, a fixed day of the week, or a fixed date of each month, software that relays and distributes the images stored in the image memory 8 to the destination 300 specified by the transmission source 100 is executed.

The main control unit 1 includes a plurality of storage areas provided in the image memory 8 for storing images, for example, IT
Source 100 is specified in multiple boxes specified by sub-addresses (1 to 20 digits) that can be added as an option in the communication procedure signal from source 100 specified by UT.30 Then, software that stores an image received from the transmission source 100 in a storage area to be registered and registers a cycle of relay distribution to the destination 300 or this cycle and a time corresponding to this cycle for each storage area.

Further, in a communication system in which an agreement is made between the transmission source 100 and the facsimile apparatus 200 as a repeater so that information on a delivery cycle to the destination 300 is provided as an option of a communication procedure signal. The main control unit 1 stores the image received from the transmission source 100 in the image memory 8, and sets a period designated by the transmission source 100, for example, a fixed time every day (daily), a fixed day of the week (weekly), Or a fixed date of every month (Monthly)
At the time when the images stored in the image memory 8 are registered in the RAM 7 for each period according to such a period, the software that relays and distributes the images stored in the image memory 8 to the destination 300 specified by the source 100 is executed.

The reading section 2 reads a document by a CCD or the like and outputs image data of a black and white binary document. The recording unit 3 includes an electrophotographic printer or the like, and records image data of a document received from another G3 facsimile apparatus or the Internet on recording paper cut to a prescribed length. Display unit 4
Is provided with a liquid crystal display device and the like, and displays an operation state of the facsimile apparatus and image data of a document.

The operation unit 5 has ten keys, abbreviated dial keys, one-touch dial keys, various function keys, etc. necessary for operating the facsimile machine. The RAM 7 is composed of an SRAM, a flash memory, or the like, and stores temporary data generated when executing software.

In this example, a daily transmission is performed for each box such as a mailbox which is a storage area for image information and designated by a sub-address by using a communication procedure signal defined by ITU-T.30 from a transmission source. In the case of relay delivery such as a fixed time (daily delivery), a fixed day of the week (weekly delivery), or a fixed date of every month (monthly delivery), and a delivery time according to the cycle, that is, in the case of daily delivery, A distribution management table is registered for each of the destinations 300 at what time, what time, weekday, what time and minute for weekly distribution, and what day and what time for monthly distribution. FIG. 5A is a conceptual diagram of such a distribution management table. Note that the time of this relay distribution need not be registered for each box, but may be registered for each period of the facsimile apparatus 200 as a whole.

Further, the RAM 7 stores a distribution command file created by the main control unit 1 including a box number, a distribution time, a storage address of an image file to be transmitted at this distribution time, a telephone number of a destination, and the like. Is done.

Also, in the case of a communication system in which an agreement has been made between the transmission source 100 and the facsimile machine 200 as a repeater so that information on the distribution cycle to the destination 300 is provided as an option of the communication procedure signal. Is a distribution management table in which the time of day for daily delivery, the weekly delivery for weekly delivery, and the monthly delivery day for monthly delivery are registered. Is provided. FIG. 5B is a conceptual diagram of such a distribution management table. The time of the relay distribution may be registered for each box.

The image memory 8 is composed of a DRAM or the like, and stores image data of a document read by the reading unit 2 and the like. The image memory 8 is divided into storage areas (boxes) assigned to store received image information, for example, for each of “addressed to sales section 1” and “addressed to sales section 2”. An address called a subaddress of 1 to 20 digits is assigned. When specifying the box that stores the transmission information from the sender, specify the box sub address (SUB) as an option in the communication procedure signal from the transmitting side specified by ITU-T.30 can do.

The modem 9 is connected to the bus, facsimile-transmits the image data of the original read by the reading unit 2,
In addition, it has a function as a normal FAX modem for receiving facsimile data transmitted from another facsimile apparatus, and also functions as a data communication modem capable of Internet communication. Also, the modem 9
Similarly, it is connected to the NCU 11 connected to the bus. NCU
Reference numeral 11 connects and disconnects the analog line, and connects the modem 9 to the analog line as necessary. It is also possible to perform G4 facsimile communication by connecting to a digital line by a DSU (digital line connection device: not shown).

The clock 20 calculates the current date and time by referring to the system clock. The main control unit 1 refers to the clock 20 to detect whether or not the time to relay and deliver to the destination 300 has arrived.

Next, a procedure for registering a relay box in the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 and a conceptual diagram of the distribution management table of FIG. Note that this procedure shows a procedure in the case where registration is made to the facsimile apparatus 200 from the operation unit 5 of the facsimile apparatus 200. No. 1 to No. 1 provided in the image memory 8
From the box of No. 50, select a box number in which the relay delivery cycle is to be registered (step S2-1), and enter a 4-digit password indicating that there is a valid user of the facsimile apparatus 200 ( Step S2-2).

The box name of the selected box (“Sales 1
Section, “Sales Section 2” etc.) (step S2-3), the sub-address (1 to 20 digits) assigned to the box is registered (step S2-4), and the password for communication (1) is registered. (Up to 20 digits) (step S2-5). The format of these subaddresses and passwords is ITU-T.
Specified by 30.

Further, the telephone number of the destination 300, which is the relay distribution destination of this box, is set (step S2-6), and the relay distribution time (distribution cycle and distribution time in this example) is set in the following procedure. (Step S2-7), and a password (4) indicating that the user is a valid user of the periodic relay distribution.
Digit) is registered (step S2-8). Note that the destination telephone number in the distribution management table shown in FIG. 5A may be set to a shortened number, a one-touch number, or the like registered in the facsimile machine 200 as a relay.

In the setting of the relay distribution time in step S2-7,
When immediate distribution is set (step S2-71), the timing is not set. To set daily delivery (step S2-72), set the hour and minute (HH: MM) (step S2-72).
S2-73).

When setting weekly distribution (step S2-74), the day of the week (Sun / Mon / Tue / ...) is set (step S2-75), and the hour and minute (HH: MM) are set (step S2-75). Step S2-76). When setting the monthly delivery (step S2-77), the date / hour / minute (DD: HH: MM) is set (step S2-78).

When an image is transmitted from the transmission source 100 to the facsimile apparatus 200 registered and set as described above, the facsimile apparatus 200 associates the image with the box number specified by the received subaddress. Is stored in the image memory 8. In this example, a case has been described in which the relay distribution time is registered in the facsimile apparatus 200 from the operation unit of the facsimile apparatus 200. However, the relay source time may be registered in the facsimile apparatus 200 from the transmission source 100.

Next, the procedure of the relay distribution according to the present invention when the cycle of the relay distribution is registered for each box will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Upon receiving a box relay distribution instruction, that is, a procedure signal including a relay distribution instruction code and a box sub-address code according to the communication procedure (F-Code) defined in ITU-T.30 (step S4-1) ), It is checked whether or not a distribution command file for the box of the designated box number has already been created (step S4-2).

If a distribution command file has already been created for the box with the specified box number,
The same distribution command file is set in the image file of the received image (step S4-3). On the other hand, if the distribution command file has not been created yet, the command file for relay distribution of the received image file is determined (step S4-4).

Referring to the current time of the clock 20, the distribution management table (FIG. 5) for the box of the designated box number
(a)) While monitoring whether or not the distribution time registered in () has been reached (step S4-5), when the distribution time has been reached, the RA
The distribution command file of M7 is executed, and the image of the address stored in the command file for the box having the box number corresponding to the distribution time is distributed to the destination 300 in a batch (step S4-6).

[0037]

Effect of the Invention communication apparatus of the present invention, the finger image receives
Is stored in the constant is the destination device-specific storage area, received
Distribution cycle specified for the selected image, for example, a fixed time every day (daily) , a fixed day of the week (week
Lee) or a fixed day of the month (Monthly)
At the distribution time registered according to the distribution cycle
Since the images stored in the storage area are collectively relayed to the respective designated destination devices, the relay distribution is performed.
Specify the relay distribution cycle from the device that
It has an excellent effect that it can be performed .

[0038]

[0039]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system using a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention as a repeater.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a relay box registration procedure according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a detailed procedure for setting a relay distribution time in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a relay distribution procedure according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a distribution management table according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 main control unit 2 reading unit 3 recording unit 4 display unit 5 operation unit 6 ROM 7 RAM 8 image memory 9 modem 11 NCU 20 clock 100 transmission source (first device) 200 facsimile device (repeater) 300 destination (second device) apparatus)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00 104 G04G 15/00 H04N 1/21 H04N 1/32

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A communication device for distributing a received image to a specified destination device among a plurality of devices, comprising: storage means for storing the received image in a storage area for each of the specified destination devices; Specified as the delivery cycle for the
Means for detecting a predetermined day of each week or a predetermined day of each month
Registration means for registering the distribution time of the received image for each storage area of the storage means for each distribution cycle , and detection means for detecting arrival of the distribution time registered for each storage area in the registration means, and distribution means for distributing to the destination device reaches the delivery timing according to the period of the delivery that is registered in the storage area is designated an image stored in the storage area when it is detected in the storage means A communication device comprising: