JP3431976B2 - Facsimile apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine connectable to a LAN and its control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in addition to existing communication lines such as public telephone networks (PSTN), there are known facsimile machines (hereinafter referred to as LAN-FAX) which can be connected to LAN. No LAN-FAX has a function of detecting a LAN abnormality. Therefore, in order for the user to recognize the abnormality of the LAN, it is necessary for the user to visually check the disconnection of the line cable or the like.

[0003]

In order to solve this problem, the LAN is equipped with a function for automatically detecting abnormality in the LAN.
-It is possible to have FAX.

However, if the abnormality detection of the LAN is carried out in a fixed cycle and the abnormality detection cycle cannot be varied, it may take time to notice the abnormality of the LAN in some cases, and LA
Even if N is abnormal, the user interface may be inferior, such as wasteful operations for using the LAN. Also, when a LAN abnormality is detected, the same problem is not reported to the user by an external display or the like, and when the transmission operation is performed to the LAN, the abnormality is reported. Occur.

Further, if a function for restricting incoming calls from existing lines is not provided depending on the state of the LAN, L
When the image data related to the delivery request is received when the AN is abnormal, the image data cannot be delivered via the LAN, so the image memory in the LAN-FAX overflows and the LAN-FAX functions normally. Failure to do so will lead to obstacles.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and its object is to provide a facsimile apparatus connected to an existing communication line and a LAN, and a control method thereof.
It is to detect an abnormality in the LAN so that the LAN can be dealt with appropriately.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention delivers a received image to an information processing terminal connected to the LAN in a facsimile apparatus connected to an existing communication line and LAN. Delivery means and the existing
When the LA is not communicating through the communication line of
Abnormality detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of abnormality of N, and the LAN
And an abnormality output means for outputting the abnormality to the outside, and when the abnormality detecting means detects the abnormality in the LAN, there is an incoming call related to the image data delivery request through the existing communication line. When the incoming call is received, the incoming call is rejected, and when the incoming call related to normal facsimile communication is received, the incoming call is accepted. Further, the present invention provides a method for controlling a facsimile apparatus connected to an existing communication line and a LAN, wherein communication is performed via the existing communication line.
Detects whether there is an abnormality in the LAN when not performing
And, in a state in which abnormality of the LAN is detected, when there is an incoming call according to the distribution request of the image data through the existing communication line to the information processing terminal on the LAN rejects the incoming When an incoming call related to normal facsimile communication is received, the incoming call is configured to be accepted.

[0008]

The present facsimile machine is compatible with existing communication lines and LAs.
It is connected to N and delivers the received image to the information processing terminal connected to the LAN. Also, through existing communication lines
When communication is not performed, the presence / absence of a LAN abnormality is detected at a changeably set cycle or the like, and is output to the outside in a form appealing to the eyes, hearing, and the like.

When an abnormality is detected in the LAN and an incoming call is received via the existing communication line for the image data delivery request to the information processing terminal on the LAN,
When the incoming call is rejected and there is an incoming call related to normal facsimile communication for recording received data, the incoming call is accepted.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a communication system to which a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment is a LAN 100.
A LAN-FAX 101 that can be directly connected to the LAN is also connected to the public telephone network (PSTN) 102 which is an existing communication line.

The LAN 100 includes a plurality of client machines (information processing terminals) 104, a server machine 103 for managing the LAN 100, and a client machine 1.
A printer server 105 that receives a print request from 04 and performs print output control is also connected. The server machine 103 also functions as a file server that manages files on the LAN. A printer device 106 that outputs print image data is also connected to the printer server 105.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the LAN-FAX 101. LAN-FAX 101 is C
The PU 201 is used as a core to perform various processes related to facsimile communication. The CPU 201 includes a ROM.
202, RAM 203, image memory 204, resolution conversion processing unit 205, communication encoding / decoding processing unit 206, reading / recording encoding / decoding processing unit 207, modem 208, N
The CU 209, the image processing unit 210, the scanner 211, the operation unit 212, the line buffer 213, the LAN interface 214, the printer 215, and the printer formatter 216 are connected.

Various control programs are preset in the ROM 202, and the CPU 201 executes various processes described later according to these control programs. RA
The M203 is composed of a static RAM or the like and is used as a work memory for storing program control variables. The RAM 20 also stores various setting values registered by the operator via the operation unit 212 and device management data.
3 is stored. The image memory 204 is a dynamic R
It is composed of AM and is used for accumulating image data.

The resolution conversion processing unit 205 performs resolution conversion processing such as milli-inch resolution conversion of raster data, and the communication encoding / decoding processing unit 206 and the reading / recording encoding / decoding processing unit 207 respectively. , For communication, read /
The image data is encoded and decoded for recording.
The modem 208 modulates / demodulates a facsimile transmission / reception signal, and the NCU 209 sends a selection signal (dial pulse or tone dialer) to the communication line 102, detects a ringing tone, and performs an automatic incoming call operation. Perform line control.

The scanner 211 is a CS image sensor,
It is composed of a document feeding mechanism and the like, and reads document information optically and converts it into electrical image data. The image processing unit 210 performs various correction processes on the image data read by the scanner 211 and outputs it as high-definition image data. The operation unit 212 includes a keyboard and the like, and is used by the operator to perform various input operations.

The external display unit 213 is used for blinking when the LAN 100 is abnormal, and for notifying the user of the abnormality by a message or the like. LAN interface 21
Reference numeral 4 is an interface for connecting to the LAN 100. In this embodiment, the LAN 100 is TCP
(Transmission Control Pro
tocol) / IP (Internet Protocol)
ol) protocol compliant network, L
The AN interface 214 also complies with the TCP / IP protocol.

The printer 215 is a laser beam printer that prints received images and file data on recording paper.
The printer formatter 216 is the client machine 1.
When printing file data from 04 or the like, the printer description language is analyzed and converted into image data.

Next, the receiving operation of the LAN-FAX 101 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the receiving service stored in the frame received from the transmitting station at the time of incoming call is analyzed (step S301). The analysis of the reception service means DCS (digital command signal), NS in G3 facsimile.
This is an F (non-standard terminal function) frame analysis process. As a result of the analysis, it is determined whether or not the reception service is a transfer request to the terminal on the LAN 100 (step S302), and if it is a transfer request, it is determined whether or not the state of the LAN 100 is abnormal (step S303). The status of the LAN 100 is set in the flowchart of FIG. 4 described later. When the status of the LAN 100 is newly determined to be abnormal, line disconnection processing is performed (step S3
11) and ends. In this line disconnection process, for example, in the G3 facsimile procedure, DCN (disconnection command) is sent out after receiving NSF and TCF (training check).

If it is determined in step S303 that the status of the LAN 100 is normal, a process for normally receiving data from the other party is performed (step S304).
After the reception is completed, the line on the existing network (public telephone network) 102 side is disconnected (step S305), and the received data is distributed (step S306). This delivery process is LAN-F
This is a process in which the AX 101 transfers the received data to the file server 103.

The transfer control to the file server 103 will be described below. First, the file server 103
A transfer image (received image) file is created based on the address on the LAN 100. This transfer image file is
The transfer image file is constructed according to the protocol of the connected LAN 100, and in this embodiment, the protocol of the LAN 100 complies with the TCP / IP protocol as described above, so that the transfer image file also complies with the TCP / IP protocol. It is configured. Then, the created transfer image file is transmitted to the LAN 100 via the LAN interface 214 in the LAN-FAX 101 and transferred to the file server 103. The received image file transferred to the file server 103 is the LAN-F
When a print instruction is issued from the user of the AX 101, a retransfer request is automatically sent to the file server 103, and recording control is performed.

As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 6, the TCP / IP data structure has a MAC (Media Access Concession).
control) address / IP header / TCP header / data section. 603 is a MAC address (6 bytes) indicating the destination of data,
Reference numeral 604 is a MAC address (6 bytes) indicating a transmission source. The MAC address is an address unique to the device connected to the LAN 100 and corresponds to the data link layer in the OSI layer 7.

Reference numeral 606 is an IP header, which corresponds to the protocol of the network layer in the OSI layer 7. In this IP header, an address for accessing a device on the network is set, and a source IP address 606a and a destination IP address 606b are stored.

Reference numeral 607 denotes a TCP header, which corresponds to a transport layer which defines the securing of reliability of data transfer. Reference numeral 608 denotes data, and image data, command data, and the like are stored in this data portion. This data part corresponds to the application layer in the OSI layer 7.

The structure of the transfer image file is TCP / IP.
Because it follows the protocol of
It is composed of a header, a TCP header, a data part, and the like. In the present embodiment, when storing the image data to be transferred in the memory of the file server 103, it is necessary to recognize the file type and file number. And the image data file in which is stored in the data section, and transfer control is performed by transmitting these two files. In addition, the command data file is analyzed by the file type analysis application software on the file server 103, and the image file type of the transfer image file and the like are analyzed by the file server 103.
I am trying to manage it.

After transferring the image file related to the reception, the LAN-FAX 101 executes the received data deleting process (step S307) and ends the processing. In this deletion process,
The transfer image data stored in the image memory 204 is deleted.

When it is determined in step S302 that the content received from the existing network is not a transfer request, normal reception processing is performed (step S308) and line disconnection processing is performed (step S309). After disconnecting the line, the received image data is recorded and output by the printer 215 (step S310), and the process ends.

The processing of steps S308 to S310 is processing of a normal facsimile apparatus not connected to the LAN 100, and the received data may be output before the line is disconnected or may not be output depending on the service. Good. Further, the processes of steps S305 and S306 may be performed in reverse order or simultaneously.

Next, the abnormality (error) detection processing of the LAN 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The abnormality detection process of the LAN 100 is performed by the LAN-
The FAX 101 performs this every time the TL timer times out (step S401). The time setting for the TL timer is arbitrarily performed by the user. When the TL timer times out, this LAN-FA
It is determined whether the X 101 is currently in communication (step S402). When the LAN-FAX 102 is in communication, it waits until the communication is completed and detects an abnormality in the LAN 100 (step S408).

If the LAN-FAX 102 is not in communication, immediately, if in communication, as described above, after the communication is completed, L
The abnormality detection process of the AN100 is performed. In this abnormality detection process, first, dummy data for checking is sent to the LAN.
It is sent to 100 (step S403).

Normally, the terminal connected to the LAN is
It has two ports for transmission and reception, and the two ports are used to enable simultaneous operation of transmission and reception. Also in the present embodiment, it is premised that this simultaneous operation is possible. In addition, in a normal LAN such as Ethernet, communication between arbitrary terminals is realized by a bus type network, and received data reaches all terminals connected to the LAN including the terminal that transmitted the data. The same applies to the present embodiment.

Therefore, in step S404, the dummy data for checking sent to the LAN 100 in step S403 and the dummy data relating to the sending are sent to the LAN 10.
The received data when received from 0 is compared. Then, it is determined whether or not the both data match (step S405). If both data match, LAN
If 100 is normal, a predetermined LAN normal process is performed (step S407), and the process returns to step S401. If the two data do not match, LAN 100 is determined to be abnormal, and a predetermined LAN abnormality process is performed. (Step S406), the process returns to step S401.

In the LAN normal process, the LAN normal process notifies the external display unit 213 that the LAN 100 is normal, or does not give any notification to the external display unit 213. LAN1 for LAN status
Write that 00 is normal. Further, in the LAN abnormality processing, notification that the LAN 100 is abnormal is displayed on the external display unit 213, and the LAN status is displayed as LAN100.
Writes that it is abnormal. This LAN status is shown in Figure 3.
Is referred to in the reception control. As mentioned above,
By returning to step S401, the latest LAN is always available.
The status of 100 will be notified to the user.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an informing unit for informing the user of the LAN status.

In FIG. 5, reference numerals 51 and 52 constitute a part of the operation section 212 in FIG. 2, and 51 is a PB.
Generate tones and dial pulses, for example, T
Abnormality detection time (abnormality detection cycle) for L timer
A numeric keypad button for inputting data peculiar to the apparatus, for example, is set, and reference numerals 52 are a start key and a stop key used when requesting the start of operation of the facsimile apparatus and ending the operation.

Reference numerals 53 and 54 designate the external display section 21 in FIG.
3, 53 is a message display unit composed of an LCD or the like, and 54 is an L for notifying a LAN abnormality.
It is ED. When a LAN abnormality occurs, the message display section 53 also displays, for example, a message indicating the action for the LAN abnormality as illustrated. 55 is LA
N is a speaker unit for notifying an abnormal notification by sound.

While the LAN status indicates that the LAN 100 is abnormal, the message display unit 5
Although the LAN abnormality notification by the LED 3, the LED 54 and the speaker unit 55 is continuously performed, when the operation unit 212 is operated, the user is informed of the LAN abnormality notification and the LAN status is displayed. Write that LAN 100 is normal, message display 53, LED5
4. The LAN abnormality notification by the speaker unit 55 is stopped.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, in the reception control, when the abnormality of the LAN 100 is detected, the control for rejecting the incoming call is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the incoming call is rejected. The data requested for transfer may be printed without being rejected. In this case, if it is determined in step S303 in FIG. 3 that the LAN status indicates abnormality, step S303 is performed.
The processes of 308 to S310 may be performed.

[Third Embodiment] The service designation of the received image in the reception control in the first embodiment is the service information stored in the NSF frame, but the designation method is not limited to this.

For example, password data is stored in a password (PWD) frame standardized by ITU-T,
In the LAN-FAX 101, the password data may be converted into service information or the destination of the delivery destination to control delivery of the received image. Also, the existing network is not a public telephone network,
A digital line such as an ISDN network may be used. At that time, the service designation of the received image is performed by the sender from CSS, CDCL, CD.
A command or control document used in G4 facsimile such as S may be used.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the first embodiment, LA
The protocol on the N100 was controlled according to TCP / IP, but the protocol is not limited to this. For example, SP
It may be controlled by a protocol such as X / IPX.

[Fifth Embodiment] In the first embodiment, this LAN is used.
-The FAX 100 is configured to notify the user in a visible or audible expression, but the LAX-FAX 100 itself notifies the system administrator, the system management server, etc. of voice, data, etc. via an existing line, and an appropriate abnormality is detected. It is also possible to perform restoration processing.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the facsimile device connected to the existing communication line and the LAN, and the control method thereof , the presence or absence of abnormality of the LAN is checked .
Detects when there is no communication through the communication line, and
An incoming call related to delivery to the LAN is detected when
If there is, the call is rejected and normal fax communication is
When there is an incoming call related to the communication,
Therefore, due to an abnormality in the LAN, the product cannot be delivered and wasted
If it is known in advance that it will become a belief,
You can reject the call and send it
Incoming calls can be processed as needed, improving usability.
In particular, the presence or absence of LAN abnormality is communicated via a communication line.
Since it is configured to detect when there is no
It is possible to quickly switch whether to accept or not
It is possible to perform a painful process.

Further, by judging the incoming call type and rejecting the incoming call of the transfer request during the abnormal LAN state, it is possible to avoid the abnormal state such as the memory full of the facsimile apparatus and improve the usability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an LA of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the example of a connection to N.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing reception control.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a LAN error detection process.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an informing mechanism for informing a user of a LAN status.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of an IP address used in the TCP / IP protocol.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... LAN 101 ... LAN-FAX 102 ... Public telephone network 103 ... File server (server machine) 104 ... Information processing terminal 105 ... Printer server 106 ... Printer device 201 ... CPU 202 ... ROM 203 ... RAM 204 ... Image memory 209 ... NCU 213 ... External display section 214 ... LAN interface 215 ... Printer

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Koichi Matsumoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Masaya Kondo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. Within the corporation (56) Reference JP-A-1-81042 (JP, A) JP-A-4-72859 (JP, A) JP-A-4-160831 (JP, A) JP-A-7-183988 (JP, A) JP-A-62-57336 (JP, A) JP-A-64-2472 (JP, A) Actual Kaihei 4-31862 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) ) H04L 12/40 H04N 1/00 106

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. In a facsimile device connected to an existing communication line and a LAN, communication is performed via a delivery means for delivering a received image to an information processing terminal connected to the LAN, and the existing communication line. When there is no abnormality , the abnormality detection unit detects abnormality of the LAN, and an abnormality output unit that outputs the abnormality of the LAN to the outside. The abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality of the LAN. If there is an incoming call related to the image data delivery request through the existing communication line, the incoming call is rejected, and if an incoming call related to normal facsimile communication is received, the incoming call is rejected. Facsimile machine characterized by accepting. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality in the LAN at a changeably set cycle. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality output means outputs the abnormality of the LAN to the outside in a form appealing to the eyes or hearing. 4. A method of controlling a facsimile apparatus connected to an existing communication line and a LAN, when communication is not performed via the existing communication line.
The presence / absence of an abnormality in the LAN is detected, and in the state where the abnormality in the LAN is detected, there is an incoming call for a request for delivering image data to the information processing terminal on the LAN via the existing communication line. A method of controlling a facsimile machine, characterized in that the incoming call is rejected, and the incoming call is accepted when an incoming call related to normal facsimile communication is received. 5. The method of controlling a facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the abnormality detection of the LAN is performed in a changeably set cycle. 6. The method of controlling a facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the abnormality of the LAN is output to the outside in a form appealing to the eyes or hearing.