JP3622089B2 - Facsimile system and facsimile server and client device used therefor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Field of the Invention]
The present invention relates to an instruction for transmitting image data with a cover page attached from a client device to a facsimile server in a facsimile system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The facsimile server is connected to a network such as a LAN and is shared by clients such as personal computers. A cover page is attached when facsimile or Internet fax image data is transmitted via a facsimile server in accordance with an instruction from a client. At this time, the cover page image is generated by the personal computer of the client and transmitted to the facsimile server together with the image data, or the embedded information embedded in the cover page image of the standard format stored in the facsimile server is transmitted to the facsimile server. Create a cover page on the side.
[0003]
[Problems of the prior art]
When sending image data, it is cumbersome to create a cover page with image data each time using a client personal computer or the like, and it takes time to instruct communication. When the created cover page is sent as image data, it is sent to the facsimile server. There is a problem that the amount of data increases, and even if the cover page is created with a high resolution on the client personal computer or the like, if the resolution conversion is performed on the facsimile server side during communication, image degradation will occur. Therefore, it is possible to create a cover page image on the facsimile server in advance and send the character information and position information to be embedded from the client, but in this case, only the cover page of a predetermined form can be used. The client cannot use form cover pages as needed.
Especially in broadcast communication, etc., if you want to create cover pages with different contents for multiple destinations, the cover page image is created on the client side for each, so it is difficult to create cover pages. Since the embedded information in each cover page image is transmitted, the amount of data to be communicated increases.
[0004]
[Problems of the Invention]
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily generate cover page information on the client side, reduce the amount of data transmitted from the client to the facsimile server, eliminate the need for resolution conversion at the facsimile server, and achieve resolution conversion. This is to prevent accompanying image deterioration.
[0005]
Furthermore, an additional problem in the invention of claim 3 is that, even when different cover pages are generated for a plurality of destinations, the amount of data to be transmitted is reduced and a plurality of cover pages can be easily generated. (Claim 3).
[0006]
[Structure of the invention]
The facsimile system of the present invention comprises a facsimile server and a client,
The client device includes structured means for generating cover page format information as a structured document of an SVG document and cover page embedding information as a structured document of an XML document, each structured document, and a facsimile. A transmission means for transmitting image data of the data body and a transmission instruction command for instructing a transmission destination of each structured document and image data;
The facsimile server uses the receiving means for receiving the transmission instruction command, each structured document and image data, and the received structured document, and the cover page embedding information is included in the cover page format information. And a transmission means for transmitting the cover page and the image data in accordance with the transmission instruction command. (Claim 1) . In order to generate a cover page, cover page format information and cover page embedding information are required, and the cover page embedding information includes, for example, character information to be embedded and position information thereof. Then, the cover page format information is sent to the facsimile server as SVG and the cover page embedding information as an XML document .
[0007]
The facsimile server of the present invention receives a transmission instruction command for instructing a transmission destination, cover page format information structured in an SVG document, cover page embedding information structured in an XML document, and image data. Receiving means, generating means for generating a cover page by embedding the cover page embedding information in the cover page format information using each received structured document, the cover page and the received image data And a transmission means for transmitting according to the transmission instruction command (claim 2).
Preferably, a plurality of destinations of the transmission instruction command can be specified.
[0008]
Further, the client device of the present invention includes structured means for generating cover page format information as a structured document of an SVG document and cover page embedding information as a structured document of an XML document, and each structured document described above. And transmission means for transmitting the image data of the facsimile data main body and a transmission instruction command for instructing the transmission destination (Claim 4).
[0009]
[Operation and effect of the invention]
In the facsimile system of the present invention, the cover page is structured by separating the cover page format information of the SVG document and the cover page embedding information of the XML document, so that any cover page can be generated freely and easily. it can. In addition, since the image data of the cover page is not transmitted as it is, but is transmitted as the format information and embedded information of the structured document, the amount of data to be transmitted can be reduced. Further, since the cover page is converted into image data by the facsimile server, there is no need for resolution conversion, and there is no possibility of image deterioration due to resolution conversion.
[0010]
Here, since the cover page format information and the cover page embedding information are made into separate structured documents , it is preferable that the format can be generated and modified independently of the format, and the embedded information can be generated and modified independently of the embedded information.
[0011]
The facsimile server uses the structured document format information (SVG document) and the embedded information (XML document) regarding the received cover page, and embeds the embedded information in the format information to generate the cover page as image data. As a result, the facsimile server requires less data to be received. Since it is a structured document that is received with respect to the cover page, the facsimile server does not require resolution conversion, and there is no image quality degradation associated therewith. Then, the image data of the facsimile data body is attached to the generated cover page and transmitted to the destination designated by the client.
[0012]
Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of destinations of the transmission instruction command can be freely specified. For example, even in the case of broadcast communication, the format information and embedded information of each cover page can be structured and sent to the facsimile server. For this reason, even if a different cover page is used for each destination, the data is structured as character data or vector data, so that the amount of data is small and transmission to a plurality of locations can be efficiently processed.
[0013]
【Example】
1 to 6 show the configuration and operation of the facsimile system 1 of the embodiment. 1 and 2, reference numeral 2 denotes a facsimile server that also functions as a network scanner. The facsimile server 2 is connected to a facsimile apparatus such as G3 or G4 via a public line network (not shown), and is connected to a mail server 6 or a personal computer 8 of a client in the LAN via a LAN 4, and is an Internet facsimile apparatus. Acts as The personal computer 8 is an example of a client of the facsimile server 2. Reference numeral 10 denotes a LAN4 router, which connects the Internet 12 and the LAN4. 14 is an Internet facsimile machine connected to the Internet 12, and 16 is a personal computer.
[0014]
In this way, the facsimile server 2 is a facsimile apparatus connected to the public line network itself, and is also a network scanner and a network printer in the LAN 4, and is also an Internet facsimile terminal via the mail server 6. Become.
[0015]
The personal computer 8 of the client is connected to the facsimile server 2 via a network, and includes cover page information including a transmission command, cover page format information of the structured document, and cover page embedded information of the structured document. The image data may be transmitted to the facsimile server 2 and is not limited to the personal computer 8. The type of network is not limited to LAN4.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the network scanner 2. Reference numeral 20 denotes a main control unit (CPU), 21 is a RAM for storing image data and data being processed, and 22 is a ROM for storing programs. 23 is an image input reading unit, and 24 is a hard print printer. Reference numeral 26 denotes a network control device for connection to a public line network, 27 denotes a modem, and 28 denotes an operation / display unit having a display panel such as a keyboard and an LCD. A codec 29 performs data compression, encoding, and decoding necessary for communication. A LAN interface 30 is connected to a client via the LAN 4. A receiving unit 32 receives a transmission command, cover page format information (format information), cover page embedding information (embedding information), image data, and the like. The format information and the embedded information constitute cover page information, and the embedded information includes information such as character information embedded in the cover page and its position. The format information and the embedded information are received as separate structured documents structured by the personal computer 8 . A cover page generation unit 34 synthesizes structured format information and embedded information to generate a cover page made up of image data. A transmission unit 36 attaches original image data of a facsimile to a cover page generated in an image data format, and transmits it to a destination designated by a transmission command from a client.
[0017]
The personal computer 8 connected to the facsimile server 2 via the LAN 4 is provided with a transmission command generating unit 40 for generating a transmission command for instructing the facsimile server 2 to send a facsimile to the cover page and the image data. The personal computer 8 includes a format information generating unit 42 for generating and storing cover page format information as a structured document, and embedding information generation for generating embedded information on the cover page as a structured document. A portion 44 is provided. These structured documents are in the XML format, for example, and the format information is expressed as vector data in the SVG format . The embedding information is basically character data, and similarly structured in the XML format . The personal computer 8 further includes a transmission unit 46 for transmitting the transmission command, the generated structured document, and the image data to the facsimile server 2. The format information and the embedded information may be included as separate attributes in one structured document, and the transmission command may be included in the structured document of the embedded information.
[0018]
FIG. 3 schematically shows transmission data when an instruction to transmit image data from the personal computer 8 of the client to the facsimile server 2 and data to be generated by the facsimile server and transmitted to the designated destination. Show. In FIG. 3, two types of transmission data 50 and 60 are used for explanation. In the figure, transmission data 50 includes a transmission command 51, format information 52, embedding information 54, and image data 56 of the facsimile data body. The transmission command 51 includes, for example, a transmission destination, “SendFax”, “SendI-Fax”. "Etc." are described. The format information and the embedded information are separated from each other, and are structured in advance by the generating units 42 and 44 (see FIG. 2) of the personal computer 8. Then, the image data 56 to be transmitted is attached to these structured documents and transmitted from the personal computer 8 to the facsimile server 2. In the facsimile server 2, the receiving unit 32 in FIG. 2 receives the data 50, and the cover page generating unit 34 in FIG. 2 embeds the embedded information in the received cover page format information, converts this into image data and covers it. This is page 72. The transmission unit 36 transmits the transmission data 70 with the image data 56 attached to the cover page 72 converted into the image data to the designated destination by, for example, G3 facsimile or Internet facsimile.
[0019]
The transmission data 60 is an example in which three types of cover pages are defined for each destination following the transmission command 61. Three pieces of format information 62a-c and three pieces of embedded information 64a-c are defined, respectively, instructing the facsimile server 2 to perform broadcast communication at three locations. The cover page format information 62a-c is different at the three locations, and the corresponding embedded information 64a-c is used.
[0020]
When the facsimile server 2 receives the transmission data 60, it generates three types of cover pages 82a-c from the format information 62a-c and the embedded information 64a-c, and transmits them together with the image data 66. However, referring to the transmission command 61, if “SendFax” is described, cover pages 82a to 82c are generated and transmitted based on capability information such as the resolution of the transmission destination obtained after the G3 facsimile procedure starts. To do. Further, when “SendI-FAX” is described, if capability information such as resolution corresponding to the transmission destination is stored in advance, cover pages 82a to 82c are generated based on the capability information. ,Send.
[0021]
In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the format information and the embedding information are defined separately for each destination. For example, for a plurality of destinations, the cover page format is made common, and the embedding information is separately set for each destination. It may be defined.
[0022]
FIG. 4 shows an example in which the format information is structured in the SVG format, FIG. 5 shows an example in which the embedded information is structured in an XML document, and FIG. 6 shows the cover by combining the format information and the embedded information. The example which produced | generated the page as image data (image data) is shown. In the cover page format information shown in FIG. 4, the title display “Facsimile Message”, “From” field, “To” field, “Title” field, and box lines describing data are described as attributes. In particular, the encircling line is described in a vector format, and the amount of data is reduced as compared with the case where image data is used. The embedded information shown in FIG. 5 is structured in XML format, and is broadcast from “FromNumber” 075-123-4567 to two locations. “ToNumber” is 06-6123-4567 and 03-3456-7890. Yes, it is defined that the title of each data is Order List and FYI: Order List. Note that the cover page in FIG. 6 is an example of embedding information embedded in the format information in FIGS. 4 and 5 and converted into image data, and the message inside the box is omitted.
[0023]
Note that there are XML, SVG, and the like as standards for structured documents, and typical examples of these standards are XML (Extensible Markup Language), and SVG is a standard obtained by extending and changing this to vector data. In the embodiment, the image data is converted from raster format to vector format by SVG (structured document standard for vector graphic description) and structured, and the cover page of FIG. 2 is adapted to the resolution at the time of communication from the facsimile server. The generation unit 32 determines the resolution and converts it into image data.
[0024]
As shown in the embodiment, the personal computer separates the format information and the embedded information, structures them, and transmits them to the facsimile server together with a transmission command and image data. In the personal computer, pages other than the cover page stored in the facsimile server can be freely generated, and an arbitrary cover page can be easily generated. In addition, since the image data of the cover page is not transmitted as it is, but is transmitted as format information and embedded information of the structured document, the amount of transmission data can be reduced. Since the format information is transmitted as a structured document and converted into image data by a facsimile server, there is no need for resolution conversion, and there is no fear of image deterioration due to resolution conversion. Further, since the structured document of the cover page is separated into separate structured documents of the format information and the embedded information, the format can be generated and modified independently of the format, and the embedded information can be generated and modified independently of the embedded information. Even when a different cover page is used for each destination at the time of broadcast communication or the like, since it is structured as character data or vector data, the amount of data is small, and transmission to the facsimile server can be performed efficiently. The facsimile server embeds the embedded information in the format information and transmits it to the instructed destination.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a connection between a facsimile server of an embodiment and a client personal computer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the facsimile server in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing transmission data to the facsimile server and transmission data from the facsimile server. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which the format information of the cover page in the embodiment is structured into an XML document. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which embedded information of a page is structured into an XML document. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of generating a cover page as image data in the embodiment.
1 Facsimile system 2 Facsimile server 4 LAN
6 Mail server 8, 16 Personal computer 10 Router 12 Internet network 14 Internet facsimile machine 20 CPU
21 RAM
22 ROM
23 Reading unit 24 Printer 26 Network control device 27 Modem 28 Operation / display unit 29 Codec 30 LAN interface 32 Reception unit 34 Cover page generation unit 36 Transmission unit 40 Transmission command generation unit 42 Format information generation unit 44 Embedded information generation unit 46 Transmission 50, 60 Transmission data 51, 61 Transmission command 52, 62a-c Format information 54, 64a-c Embedding information 56, 66 Image data 70, 80a-c Facsimile server transmission data 72, 82a-c Generated by facsimile server Cover page

Claims (4)

It consists of a facsimile server and a client.
The client device includes structured means for generating cover page format information as a structured document of an SVG document and cover page embedding information as a structured document of an XML document, each structured document, and a facsimile. A transmission means for transmitting image data of the data body and a transmission instruction command for instructing a transmission destination of each structured document and image data;
The facsimile server includes a receiving means for receiving the transmission instruction command, each structured document, and image data;
Generation means for generating a cover page by embedding the cover page embedding information in the cover page format information using the received structured document;
A facsimile system comprising: transmission means for transmitting the cover page and the image data in accordance with the transmission instruction command. A transmission instruction command for instructing a transmission destination; cover page format information structured in an SVG document; cover page embedding information structured in an XML document; and receiving means for receiving image data;
Generation means for generating a cover page by embedding the cover page embedding information in the cover page format information using each received structured document;
A facsimile server, comprising: a transmission means for transmitting the cover page and the received image data in accordance with the transmission instruction command. 3. The facsimile server according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of destinations of the transmission instruction command can be specified. Structured means for generating cover page format information as a structured document of an SVG document and cover page embedding information as a structured document of an XML document, each structured document, and image data of the facsimile data body And a transmission means for transmitting a transmission instruction command for instructing a transmission destination.

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