JP3537654B2 - Control method for facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling a facsimile apparatus connected to a personal computer apparatus and providing a facsimile communication function to the personal computer apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus connected to a personal computer apparatus and providing a facsimile communication function to the personal computer apparatus has been put to practical use.

In this case, a command system for instructing the facsimile apparatus to perform a transmission operation or the like from the personal computer apparatus is, for example, EIA.
(Electric Industries Ass
location) -592 (class 2) or E
The so-called AT command system of IA-591 (class 1) is applied. These command systems are
Since it is widely used as a so-called de facto standard (a de facto standard in the industry), a detailed description thereof will be omitted in the description of the present invention.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional apparatus, when a transmission start is instructed from a personal computer, the transmission operation is started unconditionally. Since such information cannot be applied to such application techniques, there is a possibility that personal information stored in a personal computer device is transmitted to the outside without permission.

[0005] In addition, when communication history information representing a transmission result is created and stored, communication history information is created for all transmission operations, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of communication confidentiality.

At the time of transmission, image data (or image information) to be transmitted is received from a personal computer device, temporarily stored, and then subjected to an image information transmission operation.
At this time, if you leave the transmitted image data as it is,
A situation has arisen in which the secrecy of communication cannot be maintained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a control method of a facsimile apparatus capable of restricting the number of users and effectively keeping communication secret. .

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a facsimile apparatus for providing a facsimile communication function to a personal computer apparatus by connecting the personal computer apparatus to start transmission. After that, when the password included in the predetermined command information received from the personal computer device matches the registered password registered in advance, the history information relating to the transmission operation is not created, and If the password does not match the registered password, history information relating to the transmission operation is created and registered.

[0009]

In a control method of a facsimile apparatus for providing a facsimile communication function to a personal computer apparatus by connecting to the personal computer apparatus, a transmission start command is issued from the personal computer apparatus, and then a reception is performed from the personal computer apparatus. If the password included in the specified command information matches the registered password registered in advance,
The transmission image data received from the personal computer device during the transmission operation is erased, and when the password received from the personal computer device does not match the registered password, the transmission image data received from the personal computer device during the transmission operation is retained. It was done.

The predetermined command information may be an ATD command of an AT command system or an AT + FLID command.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 shows a group 3 facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 performs a control process of each unit of the facsimile apparatus and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. A system memory 2 stores a control process program executed by the system control unit 1. , And various data required when executing the processing program, and constitutes a work area of the system control unit 1. The parameter memory 3 stores various information unique to the group 3 facsimile apparatus. The clock circuit 4 is for outputting current time information.

The scanner 5 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 7 is a facsimile apparatus. To operate,
It consists of various operation keys and various indicators.

The encoding / decoding section 8 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal.
This is for storing a large number of image information in a coded and compressed state.

The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing a group 3 facsimile modem function. The group 3 facsimile modem 10 has a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals, and mainly exchanges image information. High-speed modem function (V.17 modem,
V. 34 modem, V.34. 29 modem, V.29. 27ter modem etc.).

The network control device 11 is for connecting the facsimile machine to a public telephone line network and has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The personal computer interface circuit 12 comprises, for example, a serial data interface circuit, and is connected to an external personal computer PC.
To exchange various data according to a predetermined data transmission procedure.

The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, image storage device 9, group 3 facsimile modem The network control device 10, the network control device 11, and the personal computer interface circuit 12 are connected to an internal bus 13. Data exchange between these components is mainly performed through the internal bus 13.

Data exchange between the network controller 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is directly performed.

Also, a personal computer PC
Is a personal computer interface circuit 12
And a function of transmitting and receiving image information, various command information, and the like to and from a group 3 facsimile machine in accordance with a predetermined point-to-point transmission procedure.

Further, the system control unit 1 communicates with the personal computer PC via the personal computer interface circuit 12 in accordance with the above-mentioned AT command system transmission procedure. It also has the function of sending and receiving data.

The group 3 facsimile apparatus has a printer function (the plotter 6 acts as a printer) and an image reading function (transfers image data read by the scanner 5) to the personal computer PC.
And various other functions can also be provided.

When this group 3 facsimile apparatus performs a transmission / reception operation with a personal computer PC or another facsimile apparatus, it creates communication history information as shown in FIG. It is stored in the communication management table.

The communication history information includes a communication date and time, a communication mode (G3 or PC reception, transmission / reception / column communication / confidential / relay / polling / storage transmission / reception / time designation transmission / memory transfer / ECM / line density (resolution)) / Reduction / remote relay / information service / extension information), communication time indicating the time required for communication, number of images transmitted / received, communication result, communication fee, user's department name specified at transmission, transmission / reception The file number assigned to the image information file and the other party information (telephone number, name, etc.).

When a predetermined number of pieces of communication history information are stored in the communication history table, or when a user requests output of a communication management report, the facsimile apparatus is stored in the communication history table. Create a communication management report based on multiple pieces of communication management information,
The recording is output from the plotter 6.

When class 1 of the AT command system is applied, when the transmission operation from the personal computer PC to the facsimile apparatus is started, commands are exchanged as shown in FIG.

That is, first, the personal computer PC sends a command "AT" to the facsimile machine.
By transmitting "+ FCLASS = 1", it is declared that the subsequent transmission operation is to be performed using the class 1 function of the AT command system, and the facsimile apparatus
Response "OK" to personal computer PC
In response, the request of the personal computer PC is accepted.

Next, the personal computer PC
Sends the command "ATDT" to the facsimile machine.
(Telephone number) ", specifies the telephone number of the call destination, and receives the command" ATDT (telephone number) ". The facsimile apparatus starts a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure.

Thereafter, the facsimile apparatus transmits various kinds of information exchanged with the partner terminal in the group 3 facsimile transmission procedure and transmission image data (image information) to the class 1 command of the AT command system. And transmits the image data received from the personal computer PC to the destination terminal.

When class 2 of the AT command system is applied, when the transmission operation from the personal computer PC to the facsimile apparatus is started, commands are exchanged as shown in FIG.

That is, first, the personal computer PC sends a command “AT” to the facsimile machine.
By transmitting "+ FCLASS = 2", it is declared that the subsequent transmission operation is to be performed using the class 2 function of the AT command system, while the facsimile apparatus
Response "OK" to personal computer PC
In response, the request of the personal computer PC is accepted.

Next, the personal computer PC
Sends the command “AT + FD” to the facsimile machine.
IS = (parameter) "to notify the facsimile apparatus of the transmission function to be used. In response to this, the facsimile apparatus responds with a response" OK "to the personal computer PC and transmits the response to the personal computer PC. Accepts instructions from

Next, the personal computer PC
Sends the command “AT + FL” to the facsimile machine.
ID = (parameter) "to notify the facsimile apparatus of the identification information registered in the terminal itself. In response, the facsimile apparatus responds with" OK "
To the personal computer PC to receive a command from the personal computer PC.

The personal computer PC
Sends the command "ATDT" to the facsimile machine.
(Telephone number) ", specifies the telephone number of the call destination, and receives the command" ATDT (telephone number) ". The facsimile apparatus starts a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure.

Thereafter, the facsimile apparatus transmits various kinds of information exchanged with the partner terminal in the group 3 facsimile transmission procedure and transmission image data (image information) to the class 2 command of the AT command system. And transmits the image data received from the personal computer PC to the destination terminal.

In the present embodiment, when using the transmission function of the facsimile machine, a password for designating whether or not the use is permitted is provided and registered in the facsimile machine.

When transmitting a password from the personal computer PC to the facsimile machine, the above-mentioned command "ATDT (telephone number)" is used. The outgoing call command is basically a command "ATD", and the next "T" specifies that the line to be used is a tone dial line. Also,
When a pulse dial line is used, the corresponding command is “ATDP”.

Here, since the command "ATDT" takes the value of a telephone number as its field, in this embodiment, a telephone number with a password in the following signal format is applied.

"(Password) # (telephone number)"

Therefore, if the password value is "111"
1 "and the phone number is" 0123-456-7890 "
In the case of, the telephone number with the password has the following content.

"1111 # 01234567890"

Then, the facsimile apparatus checks whether the telephone number notified by the command "ATDT (telephone number)" is a telephone number with a password. By extracting a password from the telephone number and comparing the extracted password with a registered password, authentication as to whether transmission operation is possible is performed.

Further, when a telephone number without a password is received, the transmission operation is performed only when the transmission operation without a password is set in the apparatus so that the facsimile apparatus can be managed. The user can manage the desired transmission operation.

Here, the personal computer PC
Then, after asking the user to enter the destination phone number,
When the user asks whether a password can be entered and the user enters the password, a telephone number with a password is specified as the telephone number of the command "ATDT (telephone number)", while the user does not enter the password. For the command "ATDT (telephone number)", a telephone number in which only the input transmission destination telephone number is arranged is used.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a process executed by the facsimile apparatus when the command “ATDT (telephone number)” is received in this case.

First, number information (telephone number) is extracted from the received command "ATDT (telephone number)" (Process 1).
01), it is analyzed whether the notified telephone number is a telephone number with a password (process 102).

If the notified telephone number is a telephone number with a password, the result of decision 103 is YE
When it becomes S, the password is extracted from the notified telephone number, and the registered password is extracted (processing 104).
It is checked whether the extracted password matches the registered password (decision 105).

If the extracted password matches the registered password and the result of determination 105 is YES, the transmission operation is continuously executed.

If the extracted password does not match the registered password and the result of determination 105 is NO, the transmitting operation is interrupted (process 106) and the process ends with an error.

If the notified telephone number is not a telephone number with a password, the result of decision 103 is NO.
Is checked, it is checked whether or not the setting to permit the transmission operation without a password is set in the apparatus (decision 10).
7) If the result of determination 107 is YES, it is further checked whether the remaining capacity of the image storage device 9 is equal to or more than a predetermined value (determination 108). Then, when the result of the determination 108 is YES, the transmission operation is continuously executed.

When it is set in the apparatus that transmission operation without a password is not permitted and the result of determination 107 is NO, or when the remaining capacity of the image storage apparatus 9 is not more than a predetermined value. , The result of decision 108 is NO
If the answer is "Yes", the process proceeds to step 106, where the transmission operation is interrupted and an error is terminated.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the transmission function of the facsimile apparatus is used, a password for designating whether or not the use is permitted is provided, and the authentication of the transmission operation is performed. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which personal information and the like stored in the personal computer PC are transmitted to the outside without permission.

By the way, from the viewpoint of communication confidentiality, if the communication history information described above is left unconditionally, a problem may occur.

Therefore, the determination as to whether or not to register the communication history information in the communication management table can be made based on the password comparison result described above.

That is, in this case, when the transmission operation is completed, a process as shown in FIG. 6 is performed to create communication history information and register it in the communication management table.

First, the stored command "ATDT"
(Phone number) "to extract the number information (Phone number) (Process 201) and analyze whether the notified telephone number is a telephone number with a password (Process 202).

If the notified telephone number is a telephone number with a password, the result of decision 203 is YE
When it becomes S, the password is extracted from the notified telephone number, and the registered password is taken out (process 204).
It is checked whether the extracted password matches the registered password (decision 205).

If the extracted password matches the registered password and the result of determination 205 is YES, this operation ends without creating communication history information.

If the notified telephone number is not a telephone number with a password, the result of determination 203 is NO.
Or if the extracted password does not match the registered password and the result of determination 205 is NO, the communication history information described above is created for the transmission operation at that time (process 206), and the communication The history information is registered in the communication management table (process 207), and this operation ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, whether or not to retain the communication history information on the transmission operation can be designated by the password, so that whether or not to retain the communication history information can be specified by the user. Can be done on purpose.

In this case, at the start of the transmission operation, it is possible to determine the transmission operation as in the above-described embodiment. In this case, the password for permitting the transmission and the content of the password for determining whether or not to retain the communication history information can be changed.

When image data for transmission is received and held from the personal computer PC, when another user designates the image data and instructs recording output, the other user receives another image data. Since the contents transmitted by the user can be viewed, there is a possibility that a situation may occur in which the secrecy of communication cannot be maintained.

Therefore, the personal computer PC
Such a situation can be avoided if the above-mentioned password can be used to determine whether or not to delete the image data received and held immediately after transmission.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the processing executed by the facsimile apparatus when the transmission operation is completed in this case.

First, the stored command “ATDT”
(Phone number) "to extract the number information (Phone number) (Step 301), and analyze whether the notified telephone number is a telephone number with a password (Step 302).

Then, when the notified telephone number is a telephone number with a password, the result of decision 303 is YE
When it becomes S, the password is extracted from the notified telephone number, and the registered password is extracted (process 304).
It is checked whether the extracted password matches the registered password (decision 305).

If the extracted password and the registered password match, and the result of determination 305 is YES, the transmission image information stored in the image storage device 9 is deleted (process 306), and this operation ends. .

If the notified telephone number is not a telephone number with a password, the result of decision 303 is NO.
Or if the extracted password and the registered password do not match, and the result of determination 305 is NO, the transmission image information stored in the image storage device 9 is held (processing 706), and this operation is performed. To end.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the registered password has been notified from the personal computer PC, the personal computer P
Since the image data received and held from C is deleted immediately after transmission, it is possible to avoid a problem that another user mistakenly or intentionally looks at another user's transmission original. it can.

In this case, at the start of the transmission operation, the determination of the transmission operation as in the above-described embodiment is performed, or after the transmission operation, the determination as to whether or not the communication history information can be registered as in the above-described embodiment is performed. You can also. In this case, the contents of the password for permitting the transmission, the password for determining whether or not to retain the communication history information, and the password for erasing the image data can be changed.

In each of the above-described embodiments, when the personal computer PC notifies the facsimile apparatus of the password, the command "ATDT" is used.
However, the password can be notified using other commands, for example, the command “AT + FLID = (parameter)” (only in the case of the AT command system class 2).

Also in this case, the value of the “parameter” is
For example, a signal format of "(password) # (parameter)" can be used. The delimiter that separates the password and the parameter is the command “AT + FLI”.
It can be arbitrarily selected from the types of characters that can be arranged in the "parameter" of "D".

Normally, the command "AT + FLI"
As the value of the parameter "D", the value of CSI (calling terminal identifier) registered in the personal computer PC is arranged.

Therefore, in this case, after the user inputs the telephone number of the transmission destination, the personal computer PC asks the user whether the password can be input. When the user inputs the password, the command “AT + FL” is issued.
CSI with password as the value of the parameter "ID"
If the user does not enter the password while specifying the command "AT + FLID", a parameter in which only CSI is arranged may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where an analog public telephone line is used as a line has been described. However, even when an ISDN is used as a line, or when both an analog public telephone line and ISDN are used,
The present invention can be similarly applied.

In the above-described embodiment, the AT command system is applied as a command system for instructing the facsimile machine to perform a transmission operation or the like from the personal computer device. The present invention can be carried out in the same manner even when is used.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since whether or not to retain the communication history information on the transmission operation can be designated by using a password, an effect is also obtained that the designation as to whether or not to retain the communication history information can be made by the user's intention.

[0080]

When the registered password is notified from the personal computer, the image data received and held from the personal computer is deleted immediately after transmission, so that other data is deleted. It is also possible to avoid a problem that a user mistakenly or intentionally looks at a transmission document of another user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a group 3 facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of communication history information.

FIG. 3 illustrates a case where class 1 of the AT command system is applied.
6 is a time chart showing an example of command exchange when starting a transmission operation from the personal computer PC to the facsimile machine.

FIG. 4 illustrates a case where class 2 of the AT command system is applied.
6 is a time chart showing an example of command exchange when starting a transmission operation from the personal computer PC to the facsimile machine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by the facsimile apparatus when a command “ATDT (telephone number)” is received.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when a transmission operation is completed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing when the transmission operation is completed.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00 G06F 13/00 H04L 29/02-29/10

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of controlling a facsimile apparatus for providing a facsimile communication function to a personal computer apparatus by connecting the personal computer apparatus to a facsimile apparatus. When the password included in the predetermined command information matches the registered password registered in advance, the history information related to the transmission operation is not created, and the password received from the personal computer device does not match the registered password. A method of controlling a facsimile apparatus, which sometimes creates and registers history information related to the transmission operation. 2. A method of controlling a facsimile apparatus for providing a facsimile communication function to a personal computer apparatus by connecting the personal computer apparatus to a facsimile apparatus. When the password included in the predetermined command information matches the registered password registered in advance, the transmission image data received from the personal computer during the transmission operation is deleted, and the password received from the personal computer is registered in the registered password. A method for controlling a facsimile apparatus, wherein when a password does not match, transmission image data received from a personal computer device during a transmission operation is retained. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined command information is an ATD command of an AT command system. 4. The control method for a facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined command information is an AT + FLID command of an AT command system.