JP3610586B2 - Facsimile device with mailbox function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a mailbox function, and more particularly to a facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function suitable for efficiently distributing received facsimile information to a mailbox.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, applications of OCR (Optical Character Reader) using a scanner of a facsimile machine have become widespread in various fields. For example, an OCR recognizes an order form in an order receipt slip, The code data recognized by the OCR from the received facsimile message is used for reprocessing by a word processor.
Further, as a technique for storing and retrieving a facsimile message addressed to an individual in a memory, there is a technique for storing a facsimile message in a mailbox of a partner by specifying a password, such as confidential transmission. However, in this technique, since a destination is specified using a password in advance in confidential transmission, the communication partner needs to have the same function, and communication compatibility with other apparatuses cannot be obtained.
[0003]
In addition, an OCR application using a conventional facsimile apparatus has a single target process and cannot be used to receive other general facsimile information. The apparatus itself must be used as a dedicated apparatus. If there are a plurality of recipients, it is necessary to install another facsimile machine.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Sho 62-120158 and Hei 2-50653 disclose techniques that combine a conventional facsimile apparatus and OCR. However, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-120158 is based on code data recognized by an OCR apparatus from facsimile information for the purpose of transmitting facsimile information (image information) that requires enormous time for transmission at a low cost. Is telex-transmitted. Also, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-50653 is received from a facsimile information to a destination facsimile that matches the character information recognized by the OCR apparatus of two different algorithms from the facsimile information for the purpose of performing the facsimile accumulation relay with high reliability. It relays facsimile information. Therefore, with these technologies, it is not possible to perform control related to the distribution and distribution to the mailbox in the receiving facsimile.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The problem to be solved is that the conventional technology cannot efficiently perform control related to the distribution and distribution to the mailbox in the receiving facsimile.
The object of the present invention is to solve these problems of the prior art, eliminate the need for manual distribution of facsimile information on the receiving side, and reduce the occurrence of erroneous mailbox distribution due to OCR misrecognition and transmission side errors. Furthermore, it is to provide a facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function that makes it possible to easily find out a mail box distribution error that has occurred.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function according to the present invention is (1) a facsimile apparatus for storing received facsimile information in a mailbox addressed to an individual, and a first image of the received facsimile information. and OCR processing means for information OCR processing, from image OCR processing by the OCR processing unit, a word extraction means for extracting a word indicating the least destined also, from the terms before and after the word extracted in said word extraction means , At least a destination name, a destination comment sender recognition unit for recognizing a sender name or a comment, and a destination name following a term indicating an instruction for distributing the first image information of the received facsimile information. Number registering means for registering in advance in association with the selected number of the facsimile machine, and the destination comment sender recognizing means A copy distribution unit that searches for the number registration unit and transfers the received facsimile information to the corresponding destination when the destination name following the destination term is recognized, and the destination comment sender recognition unit The received facsimile information is stored in a mailbox with a destination name that matches the destination name recognized in step 1. If there is no mailbox that matches the destination name recognized by the destination comment sender recognition means, A mailbox having a destination name most similar to the destination name is selected, and the received facsimile information is stored in the selected mailbox.
(2) In the facsimile machine with a mailbox function described in (1) above,
At least the first image information of the received facsimile information, the name of the mailbox storing the received facsimile information, and the recognized destination name are printed out as a list.
(3) In the facsimile machine with a mailbox function described in (1) above,
At least the first image information of the received facsimile information, the name of the mailbox storing the received facsimile information, and the recognized destination name are displayed and output as a list.
(4) In the facsimile machine with a mailbox function described in (1) above,
At least the first image information of the received facsimile information, the name of the mailbox storing the received facsimile information, and the recognized destination name are displayed in a list on the screen of the LAN administrator's computer terminal. It is characterized by that.
[0006]
[Action]
In the present invention, code data is generated from the received facsimile information by OCR, and a destination, a comment, a sender, and the like are recognized from the code data. Based on the recognition result, the received facsimile information is stored in the corresponding mailbox. In this way, even if the received facsimile information is sent from an ordinary facsimile machine, the facsimile machine on the receiving side stores the facsimile message in the personal mail box without performing any special processing at the destination. Can do.
If the recognized destination does not match the mailbox name, the most likely mailbox is selected, and the received facsimile information is stored in this mailbox. As described above, when the destination is unclear, it is possible to reduce received data without a destination due to an error on the transmission side or an OCR misrecognition by selecting a destination that seems to be most applicable .
In addition, when a term indicating distribution such as “cc” is recognized, the distribution destination (telephone number) after the distribution instruction term is searched for, and the received facsimile information is automatically transferred to the distribution destination. The operator's distribution work can be simplified.
[0007]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a configuration according to the present invention of a facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function according to the present invention.
In this figure, 1 is a scanner that reads image information from a document to be transmitted, 2 is a modem that modulates and demodulates signals, 3 is a plotter that receives and prints out information, and 4 is communication control that performs transmission and reception control of image information. 5 is an encoding / decoding unit that compresses / decompresses image information, 6 is an NCU (Network Control Unit) that controls connection with a line (PSTN), 7 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a central processing unit. 8 is a system control unit for controlling the overall operation of the facsimile apparatus, 8 is an operation display unit for inputting instructions and displaying notifications from a user, and 9 is a mail box according to the present invention for storing received facsimile information for each destination. Image memory 10 reads code data from the received facsimile information of the first sheet An OCR processing mechanism according to the present invention, 12 is a word extraction mechanism according to the present invention that extracts specific words such as a destination and a sender from code data read by the OCR processing mechanism 10, and 11 is extracted by this word extraction mechanism 12 The destination comment sender recognition mechanism according to the present invention recognizes at least a characteristic word indicating a destination from terms before and after the word.
With this configuration, the facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function according to the present embodiment reads the code data from the first page of the received facsimile information once stored by the OCR processing mechanism 10 and specifies the code data from the code data by the word extraction mechanism 12. And the received facsimile information is stored in the destination mailbox (image memory 9) recognized by the destination comment sender recognition mechanism 11 from the terms before and after the extracted word.
Thus, by recognizing the destination of the received facsimile information by OCR, the received facsimile information from the normal facsimile can be stored in the mailbox.
Such an operation will be described with reference to FIG.
[0008]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the processing operation according to the present invention of the facsimile machine with a mailbox function in FIG.
For all image information on the first page of the received facsimile information, the code data is read by the OCR processing mechanism 10 in FIG. 1, the specific word is extracted by the word extracting mechanism 12 in FIG. 1, and the destination in FIG. Characters before and after the specific word are recognized by the comment sender recognition mechanism 11 (steps 201 to 213). Here, if “To:”, “cc:”, etc. are extracted as specific words (step 202), the subsequent words are entered in the destination table (step 203). If “From:” or the like is extracted as a specific word (step 204), the subsequent word is placed in the sender's table (step 205), and “destination” or “name” is extracted as the specific word (step 204). 206), the subsequent word is put in the destination table (step 207), and if "dono" or "sama" is extracted as the specific word (step 208), the previous word is put in the destination table (step 209), If “transmission” or the like is extracted as the specific word (step 210), the subsequent word is put in the sender's table (step 211), and “comment” or “memo” or the like is extracted as the specific word (step 212). The subsequent document is entered into the comment table (step 213).
[0009]
In this way, when each word has been put in the destination, sender, and comment tables, it is determined whether or not the contents of the destination table are in the mailbox (step 214). If there is, the received facsimile information is stored in a mailbox with a matching name (step 215). While there are destinations in the table, the processes of steps 214 and 215 are repeated (step 216).
In this way, keywords indicating destinations, senders, comments, etc. are extracted based on the code data for each specific word, and the word that follows or precedes it is extracted (however, a line feed is performed on the document). Therefore, the search is performed in consideration of the relationship between the upper and lower sides), and it is recognized as a destination, a sender, and a comment, and is registered on the table. When the data on the first page is finished, the name entered in the destination table is compared with the name of the mailbox, and if they match, the received facsimile information and the sender's name are stored in that person's mailbox. , Accumulate comments, etc.
If there is no mailbox with a matching name in the processing of this example, the fuzzy search shown in FIG. 3 is performed, the mailbox with the most similar name is selected, and the received facsimile information is stored in the mailbox. accumulate.
[0010]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the processing operation according to the present invention of the facsimile machine with a mailbox function in FIG.
This example shows an ambiguous search processing procedure when there is no mailbox that matches the recognized destination name. First, the destination is read from the destination table (step 301), and the character strings in the destination table are compared (step 301). Strcmp) is performed (step 302). From this comparison result, it is determined whether or not the difference between the character strings is within a preset range (step 303). If it is within the range, the character string is registered in the table as a destination candidate (step 304). If registration of destination candidates for all destinations in the destination table is completed (step 301), the most similar among the destination candidates is determined as a mailbox (step 305).
In this way, in the part where the extracted destination name is compared with the name of the mailbox, a search is performed at a previously set level of ambiguity, and the received facsimile information or sender is sent to the closest matching mailbox. Accumulate names and comments.
[0011]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of a configuration according to the present invention of a facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function according to the present invention.
The facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function in this example is previously registered in the facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function in FIG. 1 in association with the distribution destination name of the received facsimile information and the selection number of the facsimile apparatus at the distribution destination. The telephone directory 14 as a number registration unit of the present invention, and a copy distribution mechanism that refers to the telephone directory 14 and controls transfer of received facsimile information to a corresponding distribution destination (in the figure, cc: described as destination transfer mechanism) 13 is provided.
When the word extraction mechanism 12 extracts a word indicating a distribution instruction such as “CC:”, for example, the destination comment sender recognition mechanism 11 recognizes the distribution destination name from the term after “CC:”. If there is a mailbox (image memory 9) with a destination name matching this distribution destination name, the received facsimile information is copied and distributed to that mailbox, but if there is no mailbox with a destination name matching the distribution destination name. For example, the copy distribution mechanism 13 searches the telephone directory 14 using the distribution destination name as a key, reads the selection number corresponding to the distribution destination name, and transfers the received facsimile information to the facsimile machine of this selection number.
Such an operation will be described with reference to FIG.
[0012]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the processing operation according to the present invention of the facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function in FIG.
This example shows the operation when there is no mailbox whose destination name matches the distribution destination name recognized by the destination comment sender recognition mechanism 11 in FIG. 5, that is, when “cc:” does not correspond to the destination table. It is.
If there is a word (keyword) for requesting transfer such as “please forward” after the copy distribution destination name (step 501), it is checked whether the distribution destination name is in the telephone directory 14 of FIG. 5 (step 502). . If there is, call is made to the destination of the telephone directory (step 503).
In this way, when the extracted word is “cc: destination” and the destination name is not in the mailbox, the destination that needs to be transferred is determined, and the number corresponding to the destination is read. Make a call automatically. In this case, a cover letter “cc: transfer” is given to the destination.
[0013]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a list output procedure of mailbox storage states according to the present invention of the facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function according to the present invention.
Reception of facsimile information, storage of received facsimile information in a joint mailbox, retrieval of received facsimile information from the joint mailbox, separation of the first page as a cover letter, OCR processing of this cover letter, and the destination part of speech Estimate and select a destination name, select a personal mailbox closest to the destination name, and store the received facsimile information in this personal mailbox.
Then, a list of cover letters, destination names, storage destination mailbox names, etc. is created, and this list is displayed on a printer output, a display, or a display of a computer terminal connected via a LAN or the like. .
[0014]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a list output in the procedure of FIG.
In the list 81 in this example, received date and time 82 and 82a, cover letter images 83 and 83a, destination partial images 84 and 84a, and stored mailbox names 85 and 85a are displayed.
From this list 81 printed or displayed on the display, it is possible to confirm at a glance to which mailbox the facsimile information of the cover letter to which and to whom the cover letter is stored.
[0015]
As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, the facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function according to this embodiment not only encodes image information received from a normal facsimile but also automatically converts the destination information. recognize. As a result, each facsimile message received from a normal facsimile can be stored efficiently for each individual, and the distribution work of facsimile information on the receiving side becomes unnecessary. Further, since the destination of the recognized received facsimile information can be matched with the name of the mailbox by fuzzy search, it is possible to prevent a mailbox distribution mistake due to an OCR misrecognition or a transmission side error. Further, recognition of “cc: destination” and distribution processing thereof can be performed automatically, and the subsequent work load on the recipient of facsimile information can be reduced.
Also, a list of cover letters, destination parts, and stored mailbox names can be printed out or displayed on the computer or a computer terminal connected to the LAN, making it easy to find OCR mistakes or mistakes in the destination mailbox. can do.
In addition, this invention is not limited to the Example demonstrated using FIGS. 1-7, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, various changes are possible.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently perform control related to the distribution and distribution of the mailboxes in the facsimile on the receiving side, and it is not necessary to manually distribute facsimile information on the receiving side, and erroneous recognition and transmission by OCR. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of mailbox distribution mistakes due to mistakes on the side, and to easily detect the mailbox distribution mistakes that have occurred.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a configuration according to the present invention of a facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the processing operation according to the present invention of the facsimile machine with a mailbox function in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the processing operation according to the present invention of the facsimile machine with a mailbox function in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of a configuration according to the present invention of a facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function according to the present invention.
5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the processing operation of the facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function in FIG. 4 according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a list output procedure of mailbox storage states according to the present invention of a facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function according to the present invention.
7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of contents of a list output in the procedure in FIG. 6. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Scanner 2 Modem 3 Plotter 4 Communication Control Unit 5 Encoding / Decoding Unit 6 NCU
7 CPU
8 Operation display section 9 Image memory 10 OCR processing mechanism 11 Destination comment sender recognition mechanism 12 Word extraction mechanism 13 Copy distribution mechanism 14 Phonebook 81 List 82, 82a Date and time of reception 83, 83a Cover letter image 84, 84a Destination partial image 85, 85a Stored mailbox name

Claims (4)

In a facsimile machine that stores received facsimile information in a personal mailbox,
OCR processing means for OCR processing the first image information of the received facsimile information;
Word extraction means for extracting at least a word indicating a destination from the image subjected to OCR processing by the OCR processing means;
From the terms before and after the word extracted by the word extraction means, at least a destination name, and other destination comment sender recognition means for recognizing the sender name or comment ,
Number registration means for preregistering a destination name following a term indicating a distribution instruction of the first image information of the received facsimile information in association with a selection number of a facsimile apparatus at the destination;
When the destination comment sender recognition unit recognizes a destination name that follows the destination term, a copy distribution unit that searches the number registration unit and forwards the received facsimile information to the corresponding destination is provided. ,
The received facsimile information is stored in a mailbox with a destination name that matches the destination name recognized by the destination comment sender recognition means, and there is no mailbox that matches the destination name recognized by the destination comment sender recognition means. In this case, a facsimile apparatus with a mailbox function, wherein a mailbox having a destination name most similar to the recognized destination name is selected, and the received facsimile information is stored in the selected mailbox. The facsimile machine with a mailbox function according to claim 1,
A facsimile with a mailbox function, wherein at least the first image information of the received facsimile information, a mailbox name storing the received facsimile information, and the recognized destination name are printed out as a list. apparatus. The facsimile machine with a mailbox function according to claim 1,
A facsimile with a mailbox function, wherein at least the first image information of the received facsimile information, the name of a mailbox storing the received facsimile information, and the recognized destination name are displayed in a list. apparatus. The facsimile machine with a mailbox function according to claim 1,
At least the first image information of the received facsimile information, the name of the mailbox storing the received facsimile information, and the recognized destination name are displayed in a list on the screen of the LAN administrator's computer terminal. A facsimile machine with a mailbox function.

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