JP3509694B2 - Facsimile machine and communication network system - 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 a communication network system in which a connection to a communication network is configured by an option board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a communication network system in which a facsimile machine, a mail server, a personal computer and the like are connected to each other using a communication network is becoming popular. For this reason, some of the recent facsimile machines are configured to connect to the communication network by adding an option board to the facsimile machine main body.

[0003]

By the way, the transmission / reception log includes a transmission / reception log based on communication managed by the facsimile apparatus main body via a public line network like an ordinary FAX transmission, and an option like an Internet FAX transmission. There is a transmission / reception log managed by the option board via the board and the communication network. There are also cases where the transmission / reception log is inquired from the main body of the facsimile apparatus or a personal computer connected to the communication network. For this reason, it is necessary to make it possible to easily respond to inquiry requests from a plurality of request sources by using a plurality of types of transmission / reception logs.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a facsimile apparatus and a communication network system capable of efficiently managing a transmission / reception log. is there.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the invention according to claim 1, the connection means is provided with a first storage means for storing a transmission / reception log based on communication connecting to the public line network. An option board having a second storage unit for storing a transmission / reception log based on communication for connecting to a communication network, an option board slot section equipped with the option board, and a transmission / reception log based on communication via the connection unit. A first control means for storing in the first storage means and a second control means for storing a transmission / reception log based on communication via the option board in the second storage means are provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, the transmission / reception log includes the FAX number of the destination, the communication start time, the communication time, the number of documents, the resolution, the encoding method, and the communication. As a result, it is configured to include information about communication options.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the second aspect, the communication option includes information regarding broadcast transmission, time designation communication, and confidential communication. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication network system to which the facsimile apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects is connected, the communication network system including a mail server and a communication terminal device, and the mail. The server broadcasts the electronic mail received by the communication terminal device to the facsimile device.

In the embodiments of the invention described below, the "first connecting means" described in the claims or means for solving the problems corresponds to the NCU 21, and the "second connecting means" is also the same. Corresponds to the option board 30,
Similarly, the "first storage means" corresponds to the RAM 13, the "second storage means" corresponds to the RAM 33, and the "control means" also corresponds to the MPU 11, the ROM 12, and the RAM 13.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication network system includes a facsimile machine (FA) having a telephone line L1.
X) 1, a gateway 2 connected to the Internet via a dedicated line L2, a mail server 3, a plurality of personal computers 4 and a hub (HUB) for mutually connecting the devices 1 to 4
5, a transceiver 6, an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable 7, an AUI cable 8, and a twisted pair cable 9.

The facsimile machine 1, gateway 2, mail server 3 and personal computer 4 are connected to the hub 5 via a twisted pair cable 9. Hub 5 is AUI
It is connected to the transceiver 6 via the cable 8.
The transceiver 6 is connected to another transceiver 6 via the Ethernet cable 7. Facsimile device 1, gateway 2, mail server 3 and personal computer 4
Incorporates an interface for connecting to the twisted pair cable 9. The hub 5 is provided to connect the twisted pair cable 9 and the AUI cable 8, and also functions as a concentrator in connecting the communication network T. The transceiver 6 is provided to connect the AUI cable 8 and the Ethernet cable 7.

As a client on the communication network T, the facsimile apparatus 1 has a mail address. The gateway 2 includes a communication protocol that controls communication with other devices than those on the communication network T. The gateway 2 also has a firewall function for preventing unauthorized entry into the communication network T.

The mail server 3 has a communication protocol (SMTP, POP3, etc.) used for electronic mail. If you attach the image data to this e-mail and send it,
Internet FAX can be realized.

The plurality of personal computers 4 are a control unit for controlling the whole personal computer 4 and an LCD for displaying various information.
And the like, a keyboard and a mouse for inputting predetermined characters and the like while giving instructions to various information displayed on the display unit, and a storage unit such as a hard disk. In addition, the plurality of personal computers 4 are connected between the facsimile device 1, the gateway 2, the mail server 3 and another personal computer 4, and between the facsimile device 1 or the external facsimile device via the mail server 3 and the gateway 2. It has a communication protocol for transmission and reception. Further, the plurality of personal computers 4 have mail addresses as clients on the communication network T.

As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile machine 1
Is the facsimile apparatus main body 1a and the option board 30.
It consists of and. The facsimile device body 1a is
MPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, reading unit 14, recording unit 15, operation unit 16, display unit 17, image memory 18,
It is composed of a codec 19, a modem 20, an NCU 21, and an option board slot unit 22, and each unit 11 to 22 is connected via a bus 23.

The MPU 11 controls each part of the facsimile machine 1. The ROM 12 stores a program for controlling the facsimile device 1. RAM13
Temporarily stores various information regarding transmission / reception of the facsimile apparatus 1. Specifically, the RAM 13 is a normal F
It includes a transmission log area 13a and a reception log area 13b for storing transmission logs and reception logs of the AX and salutation FAX, and transmission logs and reception logs of the Internet FAX via the mail server 3 and the gateway 2. In addition, the RAM 13 is a queue 13 that stores jobs.
It has c.

The reading unit 14 reads the image data on the document and outputs black and white binary image data. The recording unit 15 is composed of an electrophotographic printer, and records the received image data or the image data of the document read by the reading unit 14 on a recording paper in the recording operation or the copying operation of the received image data.

The operation unit 16 includes ten keys (including * and # keys) 16a for inputting a telephone number, abbreviated keys 16b for registering a shortened number or making a call from a shortened number, a telephone number or a fax number registered in advance. One-touch key 16c for designating one-touch, a start key 16d for starting a document reading operation, "Communication (FA
X) ”operation or communication for setting“ copy ”operation /
Various operation keys such as a copy key 16e are provided. LC
The display unit 17 made of D or the like is used for the facsimile apparatus main body 1a.
It displays various information such as the operating status of.

The image memory 18 is read by the received image data and the reading unit 14 and binarized, and the MM is read by the codec 19.
The image data encoded according to the R method is temporarily stored. The image memory 18 also temporarily stores image data sent from the personal computer 4 via the option board slot section 22.

The codec 19 encodes the image data read by the reading unit 14 in accordance with the MH, MR, MMR system or the like for transmission. The codec 19 also decodes the received image data.

The modem 20 uses the ITU-T recommendation T.264. Facsimile transmission control procedure according to V.30 and V.30. 17, V.I. Two
7 ter, V.I. The transmission / reception data is modulated and demodulated according to 29 or the like. The NCU 21 has a function of closing and opening the telephone line L1, and a function of detecting transmission and reception of a dial signal corresponding to the FAX number of the other party.

The option board slot section 22 has an option board 3 for connecting to the communication network T.
Equipped with 0. That is, this option board 30
When the option board slot section 22 is equipped with, the connection to the communication network T becomes possible.

As shown in FIG. 3, the option board 30
Is composed of an MPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an image memory 34, a data conversion section 35, a PC card interface 36, a PC card type memory 37, a communication protocol control section 38 and a network interface 39, and each section 31 to 36, 38. Are respectively connected via the bus 40.

The MPU 31 controls each part of the option board 30. The ROM 32 stores a basic program for controlling the option board 30. The RAM 33 temporarily stores various information regarding the option board 30. The image memory 34 stores the image data sent from the personal computer 4.

The data converter 35 is a TIFF, BM sent from the personal computer 4 via the communication network T.
Image data of P, GIF, JPEG, PCX, DCX, etc. can be converted to MH, MR, MMR system, TIFF-MH, TIF.
Converts to image data of F-MR, TIFF-MMR method, etc. On the contrary, the MH, MR, MMR system and the TIFF-MH, TIFF- received via the telephone line L1.
In order to make the image data of the MR, TIFF-MMR method, etc. easy to handle for a plurality of personal computers 4, the TIF
Convert to image data such as F, BMP, GIF, JPEG, PCX, DCX.

The PC card interface 36 is M
The PC card type memory 37 is accessed through the PC card adapter 36a based on the control signal from the PU 31. PC card type memory 37 is "PC Card Standard"
In accordance with the above, it is configured by a flash memory (EEPROM), for example, and stores data relating to transmission / reception via the option board 30. That is, even when the power of the facsimile apparatus 1 is stopped or a power failure occurs, the data regarding transmission and reception is not lost.

The communication protocol control unit 38 communicates with other devices on the communication network T via the network interface 39, and the network interface 3
9 and a public line network or the like to provide a communication protocol for controlling communication with other devices than the communication network T. Specifically, for example, SMTP (mail transmission protocol), POP3 (mail reception protocol), IT
UT Recommendation T.T. 30, that is, the communication protocol of the facsimile transmission control procedure, Salutation.
It is equipped with a communication protocol for salutation specified by the consortium.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a during transmission of a normal FAX and a salutation FAX will be described. First, the facsimile apparatus main body 1a
The transmission instruction process from the transmission instruction to the writing of the transmission job in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. It should be noted that this operation is executed under the control of the MPU 11 based on the program stored in the ROM 12 (hereinafter the same as the operation of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a).

In step S1, a normal FAX transmission instruction is issued from the operation unit 16. Specifically, after the communication / copy key 16e is operated to switch to the communication (FAX) mode, the document is placed on the reading unit 14.
Then, in the case of normal fax transmission, the fax number of the other party is input and the start key 16d is operated.

In step S2, the document is read by the reading unit 1.
4 and the image data of the read document is encoded by the codec 19 according to the MMR method or the like,
It is stored in the image memory 18.

In step S3, the transmission job is R
It is written in the queue 13c of the AM 13. Next, a transmission instruction process from the transmission instruction of the salutation FAX to the writing of the transmission job by any of the personal computers 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that this operation is executed under the control of the MPU 31 based on the program stored in the ROM 32.

In step S11, the transmission job and the image data are transferred from one of the personal computers 4 to the option board 30 and received by the option board 30.

In step S12, the image data is stored in the image memory 34 of the option board 30. In step S13, the transmission job is written in the queue 13c of the RAM 13.

Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the operation of transmitting image data by a normal FAX or a salutation FAX based on a transmission job from the facsimile apparatus main body 1a or any one of the personal computers 4 will be described. explain.

In step S21, the transmission job is read from the queue 13c of the RAM 13. In step S22, the image data stored in the image memory 18 of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a or the image memory 34 of the option board 30 is read based on the transmission job.

In step S23, normal fax transmission or salutation fax transmission is executed for the other party. That is, the image data is transmitted to the other party by a normal FAX or a salutation FAX.

In step S24, the transmission job is deleted from the queue 13c of the RAM 13. Step S
In 25, transmission log data is created and the transmission log data is stored in the transmission log area 13 a of the RAM 13.

Next, the normal FAX and salutation FAX reception processing in the facsimile apparatus main body 1a will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
In step S31, when the NCU 21 detects an incoming call, the image data is received and the image data is stored in the image memory 18.

In step S32, reception log data is created and the reception log data is stored in the reception log area 13b of the RAM 13. In step S33, it is determined whether distribution is necessary. Specifically, in the case of salutation FAX, it is determined whether or not delivery is necessary based on whether or not the user name of the delivery destination indicated in the salutation / facsimile transmission control procedure is stored. . If the distribution is necessary, the process proceeds to step S34. On the other hand, if the distribution is not necessary, that is, in the case of a normal FAX, the process proceeds to step S35.

In step S34, image data distribution processing is performed based on the user name. Step S3
In 5, the normal FAX printing process is executed.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a during transmission of the Internet FAX will be described. First, the transmission instruction process from the transmission instruction to the writing of the transmission job in the facsimile apparatus main body 1a will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step S41, the operation unit 16 issues an Internet FAX transmission instruction. Specifically, the address of the other party is entered and the start key 1
6d is operated.

In step S 42, the document is read by the reading unit 14, the image data of the read document is coded by the codec 19 according to the MMR method, etc., and then stored in the image memory 18.

In step S43, the transmission job is written in the queue 13c of the RAM 13. Next, the operation of transmitting image data by Internet FAX based on the transmission job from the facsimile apparatus main body 1a will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step S51, the transmission job is read from the queue 13c of the RAM 13. In step S52, the image data stored in the image memory 18 of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a is read based on the transmission job.

In step S53, Internet FAX transmission is executed to the other party. Specifically, the image data in the electronic mail format is transferred to the mail server 3 via the option board 30. Then, the image data is transmitted to the other party via the Internet FAX via the gateway 2.

In step S54, the transmission job is deleted from the queue 13c of the RAM 13. Step S
At 55, transmission log data is created, and the transmission log data is stored in the transmission log area 13a of the RAM 13.

Next, the Internet FAX receiving process in the facsimile apparatus main body 1a will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In step S61, when the mail server 3 receives the Internet FAX via the gateway 2, the received mail is transmitted via the option board 30 to the facsimile apparatus main body 1
The received mail is transferred to a and stored in the image memory 18.

In step S62, reception log data is created and the reception log data is stored in the reception log area 13b of the RAM 13. In step S63, the printing process associated with the Internet FAX reception is executed.

Next, the operation of outputting the communication management record based on the transmission log stored in the transmission log area 13a of the RAM 13 and the reception log stored in the reception log area 13b will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. It demonstrates using.

In step S71, the transmission log data stored in the transmission log area 13a and the reception log data stored in the reception log area 13b are read out based on an instruction from the operation unit 16 or one of the personal computers 4. .

In step S72, the normal FA
X, Salutation FAX and Internet FAX
A communication management record is created based on the transmission / reception log of.
Specifically, in the case of a normal FAX, as shown in FIG. 11, "destination FAX number", "communication start time", "communication time", "number of originals", "mode (resolution)", A communication management record including items of “encoding method”, “communication result”, and “communication option” is created for each transmission and reception. Here, the "communication option" includes broadcast transmission,
There are applied communications such as time-specified communications and confidential communications.

In the case of salutation FAX,
In addition to each item in the normal FAX, a communication management record to which an item of "user name" is added is created for each transmission and reception.

Further, in the case of Internet FAX,
As shown in FIG. 12, "destination email address",
Communication management record consisting of "communication start time", "data amount (byte count)", "number of originals", "mode (resolution)", "encoding method", "communication result", and "communication option" Are created for each transmission and reception.

In step S73, the communication management record is output based on the instruction from the operation unit 16 or one of the personal computers 4. That is, in the case of an instruction from the operation unit 16, the communication management record is recorded on the recording paper by the recording unit 15. On the other hand, in the case of an instruction from any of the personal computers 4, the communication management record is transferred to the instructed personal computer 4. Then, the communication management record is displayed on the screen of the instructed personal computer 4.

As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the following actions and effects can be obtained. Transmission / reception log data of normal FAX, salutation FAX, and Internet FAX are stored in the transmission log area 13a and the reception log area 13b of the RAM 13. That is, based on instructions from the facsimile apparatus main body 1a and any one of the personal computers 4, normal FAX transmission / reception and salutation FAX transmission / reception performed by the facsimile apparatus main body 1a, and a mail server based on instructions from the facsimile apparatus main body 1a. The transmission / reception log data with the Internet FAX transmission / reception performed via
It is stored in the transmission log area 13a and the reception log area 13b of M13. Therefore, the facsimile apparatus body 1a
Even when inquiring about a plurality of types of transmission / reception logs from the personal computer 4 or the like connected via the option board 30 or the communication network, it is possible to easily respond. Therefore, the transmission / reception log can be efficiently managed. As a result, it becomes easy to create a communication management record based on the transmission / reception log.

The above embodiment can be modified and embodied as follows. In the above embodiment, the RA of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a
Although the configuration was to manage the transmission / reception log in M13,
Alternatively, the RAM 33 of the option board 30 may be configured to manage the transmission / reception log. With this configuration, for example, the inquiry of the transmission / reception log from the personal computer 4 can be made to the RAM 33 of the option board 30. Therefore, access from the personal computer 4 to the transmission / reception log is improved. Therefore, the transmission / reception log can be efficiently managed.

In addition, R of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a
The transmission / reception log may be managed by both the AM 13 and the RAM 33 of the option board 30. In the case of such a configuration, the facsimile apparatus main body 1a
It is necessary to maintain the sameness between the transmission / reception log stored in the RAM 13 and the transmission / reception log stored in the RAM 33 of the option board 30. Specifically, when updating the log data for the transmission / reception log, the RAM 13 of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a and the RAM 3 of the option board 30 are used.
It is necessary to update the log data for both 3 and 3. However, with this configuration, for example, the inquiry of the transmission / reception log from the personal computer 4 can be made by the option board 3
0 of the RAM 33, and the inquiry of the transmission / reception log from the operation unit 16 can be made to the RAM 13. Therefore, access to the transmission / reception log from the personal computer 4 and the operation unit 16 is improved. Therefore, the transmission / reception log can be efficiently managed.

An electronic mail from the personal computer 4 not via the option board 30, that is, an electronic mail from the personal computer 4 via the mail server 3 and the gateway 2 is broadcast to the facsimile apparatus main body 1a by using the SMTP protocol of the mail server 3. The transmission / reception log from the personal computer 4 is also stored in the RAM 13 and RAM of the option board 30.
33 or RAM 13 and RAM 3 of option board 30
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which management is performed by both 3 and 3.

Further, technical ideas other than the claims understood from the above-described embodiments will be described below together with their effects. [1] A facsimile machine in which communication is facsimile communication. The facsimile communication corresponds to the normal FAX, salutation FAX and Internet FAX in the above embodiment. With this configuration, it is possible to efficiently manage the transmission / reception log based on the facsimile communication.

[2] The communication network system includes a mail server and a communication terminal device, and the mail server broadcasts the electronic mail from the communication terminal device to the facsimile device. The communication terminal device corresponds to the personal computer 4 in the above embodiment. According to this structure, at least the first or second storage unit can efficiently manage the transmission / reception log even for the electronic mail that does not pass through the facsimile device.

[0062]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects. According to the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4, the transmission / reception log can be efficiently managed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication network system.

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

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an option board.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing a transmission instruction process in the facsimile apparatus main body. (B) The flowchart which shows the transmission instruction process from a personal computer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when image data is transmitted by a normal FAX or a salutation FAX based on a transmission job.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a reception process of a normal FAX and a salutation FAX in the facsimile apparatus main body.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a transmission instruction process in the facsimile apparatus main body.

FIG. 8: Internet FAX based on transmission job
6 is a flowchart showing an operation when image data is transmitted by the method.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an Internet FAX reception process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation when outputting a communication management record based on a transmission / reception log.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication management record in the case of a normal FAX.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication management record in the case of Internet FAX.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Facsimile device, 11 ... MP constituting control means
U, 12 ... ROM constituting control means, 13 ... RAM constituting control means and first storage means, 21 ... NCU as first connection means, 30 ... Option board as second connection means, 33 ... Second RAM as storage means, T ...
Communication network.

Front page continuation (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 H04N 1/32-1/36 H04N 1/42-1/44

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connection means having a first storage means for storing a transmission / reception log based on communication connected to a public network, and a second storage means for storing a transmission / reception log based on communication connected to a communication network. An option board, an option board slot section equipped with the option board, a first control means for storing a transmission / reception log based on the communication via the connection means in the first storage means, and a communication via the option board And a second control means for storing a transmission / reception log based on the second storage means. 2. The transmission / reception log is configured to include information about a fax number of a destination, a communication start time, a communication time, the number of documents, a resolution, an encoding method, a communication result, and a communication option. Fax machine. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication option is configured to include information regarding broadcast transmission, time designation communication, and confidential communication. 4. A communication network system to which the facsimile device according to claim 1 is connected, comprising a mail server and a communication terminal device, wherein the mail server is the A communication network system for broadcasting an electronic mail received by a communication terminal device to the facsimile device.