JP3651323B2 - Relay device and image transmission device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a relay apparatus and an image transmission apparatus that transmit a facsimile image via a network, and more particularly to an improvement in image quality of a facsimile image to be transmitted.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, a so-called Internet facsimile has been developed in which a facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving a facsimile image is connected to a network (for example, an Internet communication network) and the facsimile image is exchanged via the network.
[0003]
Since the Internet facsimile is via the Internet communication network, there is an advantage that, for example, the reliability of data communication can be improved while reducing the communication cost in overseas communication.
[0004]
In addition, the Internet facsimile is used as a relay device, and an image is transmitted to a conventional G3 facsimile or the like to reduce a communication cost while using the conventional facsimile (off-ramp gateway relay technology). ) Has been developed.
[0005]
In this case, data of a facsimile image obtained by compressing a 200 dpi image that can be received by a general G3 facsimile by MH (Modified Huffman) compression is generated, and the facsimile image is electronically converted into an image file in a TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format. Send it as an email attachment. Then, the Internet facsimile as an off-ramp gateway extracts G3 facsimile image data from the image file, and transmits it to the destination G3 facsimile via a public line or the like.
[0006]
Such an off-ramp gateway is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-242326, “facsimile electronic mail apparatus”. Further, a standard for Internet facsimile is disclosed in No. 2305 of an RFC (Request For Comments) document by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force).
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above conventional Internet facsimile, even when the destination G3 facsimile can receive a high-resolution facsimile image such as 400 dpi, for example, the transmission source passes through the relay device, so that the transmission source is negotiated with the final destination G3 facsimile. No resolution is determined, and only 200 dpi facsimile images that can be commonly handled by G3 facsimile can be relayed according to the standard. Therefore, there is a problem that the facsimile image cannot be reproduced with the best image quality.
[0008]
Therefore, an image of 200 dpi is always relayed, and in a business journal system that performs OCR (optical character recognition), character recognition efficiency deteriorates.
[0009]
Therefore, the 400 dpi image may be transmitted to the relay apparatus, and the conditions regarding the image quality such as resolution may be determined by negotiation with the G3 facsimile which is the final destination in the relay apparatus. Since it is transmitted, the load on the network increases.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a relay apparatus and an image transmission apparatus capable of transmitting a facsimile image having the best image quality in accordance with the performance of a destination G3 facsimile.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a relay device and an image transmission device that can reduce the load on the network.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention of claim 1 for solving the problems of the conventional example is as follows: In the relay apparatus connected to the image transmission apparatus via the network and connected to the image processing apparatus via the telephone line, drawing instruction information including the converted facsimile image is displayed. Over the network From the image transmission device Receiving means for receiving and received by the receiving means Drawing instructions Information Painting Of image processing equipment Destination Detecting means, and received by the receiving means Drawing instructions From information Image file written in page description language The Get And means for extracting Image file An image generating means for generating a facsimile image based on the transmission means, a transmitting means for transmitting the generated facsimile image to the image processing apparatus via a telephone line, Performance information acquisition means for acquiring performance information indicating the resolution and the like of the image processing apparatus; Including Only , The image generation unit generates a facsimile image according to the image file and the acquired performance information. It is characterized by that.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 2 for solving the problems of the conventional example described above is that the relay apparatus according to claim 1 can further process the image transmission apparatus by the relay apparatus itself. Page description language It includes a means for transmitting information representing the type of the above.
[0015]
Claims for solving the problems of the conventional example 3 The described invention is claimed. 2 In the relay device according to claim 1, Performance Storage means for storing the performance information acquired by the information acquisition means, and the performance information acquisition means acquires the performance information from the storage means when the performance information acquired in the past is stored in the storage means. When not stored, the image processing apparatus is accessed via a telephone line to acquire performance information.
[0016]
Claims for solving the problems of the conventional example 4 The described invention In the relay apparatus connected to the image transmission apparatus via the network and connected to the image processing apparatus via the telephone line, drawing instruction information including the converted facsimile image is displayed. Over the network From the image transmission device Receiving means for receiving and received by the receiving means Drawing instructions Information Images Processing equipment Destination Detecting means, and received by the receiving means Drawing instructions From information Image file written in page description language Means for extracting reference information representing the storage location of the data, and based on the reference information Image file A means for generating a facsimile image based on the acquired image file, a transmission means for transmitting the generated facsimile image to the image processing device via a telephone line, Performance information acquisition means for acquiring performance information including image resolution of the image processing device; Including Only , The image generation unit generates a facsimile image according to the acquired performance information. It is characterized by that.
[0017]
Claims for solving the problems of the conventional example 5 The described invention can be processed by a relay device connected via a network. Image file written in page description language A type acquisition means for acquiring the type of When the type acquisition unit is able to acquire the type information, the destination for converting the image file into the page description language with the acquired type and transmitting it to the image processing apparatus is included. It includes generation means for generating drawing instruction information and means for transmitting the generated drawing instruction information to the relay apparatus.
[0018]
Claims for solving the problems of the conventional example 6 The described invention is claimed. 5 In the image transmission device according to claim 1, the generation unit includes: Said When the type acquisition means could not acquire the type information, Image file Facsimile image And drawing instruction information including the destination It is characterized by generating.
[0019]
Claims for solving the problems of the conventional example 7 The described invention is claimed. 5 In the image transmission device according to claim 1, the generation unit includes: Said When the type acquisition means cannot acquire the type information, the preset type Convert image file to page description language and generate drawing instruction information including the destination It is characterized by doing.
[0020]
Claims for solving the problems of the conventional example 8 The described invention is claimed. 5 In the image transmission device according to claim 1, the generation unit includes: Acquired If there are multiple types, Type Of which size is the smallest Select the type and convert the image file to the selected page description language It is characterized by that.
[0021]
Claims for solving the problems of the conventional example 9 The described invention is claimed. 5 The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit that stores, for each relay device, the type of the drawing instruction information acquired by the type acquisition unit, wherein the type acquisition unit has acquired in the storage unit in the past Page description language If the type is stored, the type is acquired from the storage means. If not, the relay device is accessed via the network and can be processed. Page description language It is characterized by acquiring the type.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
The relay apparatus and the image transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention form a relay system as shown in FIG. The relay system shown in FIG. 1 includes an image transmission device 1, a relay device 2 connected to the image transmission device 1 via a network, and a G3 facsimile 3 connected to the relay device 2 via a telephone line. It is configured. Here, the image transmission apparatus 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a hard disk 14, an operation display unit 15, a network interface 16 and a scanner unit 17 connected to a network, and are connected to each other via a bus. ing.
[0024]
The relay apparatus 2 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a hard disk 24, an operation display unit 25, a network interface 26 connected to a network, a telephone line interface 27 connected to a telephone line, and a scanner unit. 28 and a printer unit 29. These units are connected to each other by a bus. A G3 facsimile 3 as an image processing apparatus prints out a facsimile image received via a telephone line.
[0025]
The CPU 11 of the image transmission apparatus 1 executes a processing program stored in the ROM 12 or the hard disk 14 while using the RAM 13 as a work memory, and controls each unit. Further, the CPU 11 performs a process for inquiring the type of a drawing instruction file that can be processed to the relay apparatus 2 and a process for converting a facsimile image into an image file. The specific processing contents of the CPU 11 will be described later. The ROM 12 stores a program processed by the CPU 11. The RAM 13 operates as a work memory for the CPU 11 and also operates as a buffer for information transmitted / received via the network interface 16. The hard disk 14 stores a processing program processed by the CPU 11. The operation display unit 15 includes an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard and an output device such as a display device. The operation display unit 15 transmits user operation contents to the CPU 11 and performs various displays according to instructions input from the CPU 11. . The network interface 16 is connected to the network, transmits and outputs information input from the CPU 11 via the network, and transmits information received via the network to the CPU 11. The scanner unit 17 reads a facsimile document.
[0026]
The CPU 21 of the relay apparatus 2 executes a processing program stored in the ROM 22 or the hard disk 24 while using the RAM 23 as a work memory, and controls each unit. The CPU 21 receives an inquiry about the type of drawing instruction file that can be processed via the network, and returns a type of drawing instruction file that can be processed. Further, the CPU 21 performs a process of generating a facsimile image based on the contents of the electronic mail received via the network. Here, the number of types of drawing instruction files that can be processed is not limited to one, and there may be a plurality of types. In this case, the CPU 21 responds with a plurality of types. The specific processing contents of the CPU 21 will be described later.
[0027]
The ROM 22 stores a program processed by the CPU 21. The RAM 23 operates as a work memory of the CPU 21 and also operates as a buffer for information transmitted / received via the network interface 26 or the telephone line interface 27. The hard disk 24 stores a processing program processed by the CPU 21. The operation display unit 25 includes an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard and an output device such as a display device. The operation display unit 25 transmits user operation contents to the CPU 21 and performs various displays according to instructions input from the CPU 21. . The network interface 26 is connected to the network, transmits and outputs information input from the CPU 21 via the network, and transmits information received via the network to the CPU 21. The telephone line interface 27 is connected to the telephone line, transmits and outputs information input from the CPU 21 via the telephone line, and transmits information received via the telephone line to the CPU 21. The scanner unit 28 reads a facsimile document. The printer unit 29 prints out an image based on an instruction input from the CPU 21.
[0028]
Here, the processing of the CPU 11 of the image transmission apparatus 1 will be described. Specifically, the CPU 11 receives a user operation from the operation display unit 15 and starts the process shown in FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the RAM 13 stores an image file already read by the scanner unit 17 and a file received from an external device (not shown) via a network or the like.
[0029]
The CPU 11 identifies the type of the drawing instruction file (hereinafter referred to as “designated file”) designated by the user's operation (S1). Here, the type is a difference in PDL (Page Description Language), data structure, compression method, etc. For example, PostScript (trademark) as PDL, JPEG (Joint Photographics Experts Group) as bitmap image, GIF (Graphics Interchange). Format). In addition, there is HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) as a file type including layout information of the entire page. These identifications may be performed based on, for example, file extensions (.ps, .html, etc.). Then, the CPU 11 accesses the relay apparatus 2 via the network and inquires about the type of file that can generate a facsimile image by the relay apparatus 2 (S2). This inquiry may be specifically made by e-mail using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) or may be made by acquiring a Management Information Base (MIB) using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or the like. .
[0030]
Then, the CPU 11 checks whether or not there is a response of the file type that can be processed in response to the inquiry made in the process S2 (S3), and if there is a response (if Yes), the response received in the process S3. The type of file to be transmitted is determined based on the file (S4), the determined type of file is attached to the e-mail addressed to the relay apparatus 2, and the e-mail is transmitted. Output (S5), the process is terminated. The contents of the e-mail transmitted here are specifically as shown in FIG. At this time, the telephone number of the G3 facsimile 3 which is the destination of the final facsimile image is included in the destination. For example, when transmitting a facsimile image to the G3 facsimile 3 having the telephone number 765-3000 via the relay device 2 having the address of relay.domain2.co.jp, the CPU 11 designates the destination of this e-mail as “FAX = 7653000@relay.domain2.co.jp ". If there is no response in step S3 (if No), the CPU 11 generates a TIFF format image file based on the designated file (S7) as in the prior art, and converts the image file into an e-mail. Attach and output it (S8).
[0031]
Whether or not there is a response in step S3 may be determined based on whether or not there is a response before a predetermined time elapses, or when an error message is received in response to an inquiry. It may be determined that there was no.
[0032]
If there is no response in step S3, the TIFF format image file may be attached in step S8, and the designated file may be attached as it is. In this case, the transmitted e-mail is as shown in FIG. In this way, the relay device 2 can generate a facsimile image based on the designated file if possible, so that a facsimile image matching the performance of the G3 facsimile 3 can be generated even when the response is impossible. It can be improved. Further, in this case, the designated file may be converted into a file of a preset type and attached to the e-mail. This is because it can be converted into a file of a type with many compatible models, and the processing possibility in the relay apparatus 2 is increased.
[0033]
Here, the specific contents of the process for determining the type of file to be transmitted by the CPU 11 (process S4) will be described with reference to FIG. First, the CPU 11 checks whether or not the type of the file designated by the user is the same as the type indicated in the response received in step S3 (S11), and if it is the same (if Yes), the step S1. The file identified in (1) is determined as a file to be transmitted as it is (S12), and the process is terminated.
[0034]
In step S11, if they are not the same (if No), among the types indicated in the response received in step S3, the file whose converted file size is minimum when the specified file is converted The file specified in the selected type is converted (S14), and the converted file is determined as a file to be transmitted (S15), and the process ends.
[0035]
Here, the relay device 2 responds to the type of file that can be processed in response to the request, but if the type of file that can be processed by the relay device 2 is known in advance, the relay device 2 The information regarding the type of file that can be processed in is registered in another server, for example, a database server such as Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), and the image transmission apparatus 1 may make an inquiry to such a server. . In addition, it is preferable to store the information regarding the type of processable file once inquired and store it in the hard disk 14 because the network load can be further reduced.
[0036]
In the above example, when the file type indicated in the response from the relay apparatus 2 is the same as the file type specified by the user, the file size is reduced by converting to another type of file. The processing is simplified by sending the data as it is without judging whether or not, but if you want to reduce the network load as much as possible, check the size of the file when converted to another type of file, If the size of the file becomes smaller due to the conversion to this file, another file of another type may be generated by the conversion, and this may be a file to be transmitted. The other type of file mentioned here includes a TIFF file including the facsimile image itself. In other words, if the size of simply transmitting the facsimile image itself is smaller than the size of the drawing instruction file represented by, for example, PostScript (trademark), the file is converted into the file.
[0037]
Next, a specific operation of the CPU 21 of the relay apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIG. When the network interface 26 receives an electronic mail via the network, the CPU 21 of the relay device 2 starts the process shown in FIG. 6 and identifies the type of file attached to the received electronic mail (S21). This identification can be based on the header of the email. For example, it can be identified from the value shown in the Content-Type field of the MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) header. Then, the CPU 21 checks whether or not the received e-mail is a request for relay (S22), and if it is a request for relay (if Yes), the attached file is processed and a facsimile image is processed. Is generated (S23). The process of generating a facsimile image in the process S23 corresponds to, for example, a process of developing a PostScript (trademark) format file into a bitmap having a predetermined resolution with a gray scale of a predetermined gradation. The performance information such as gradation and resolution here may be inquired by a publicly known method for each G3 facsimile 3 as a transmission destination, or the inquiry result is associated with the telephone number of the G3 facsimile 3 on the hard disk 24. It is preferable to store the data in the cache, since the time for connecting the telephone line can be shortened by calling the G3 facsimile 3 after expanding the bitmap into the bitmap. Also, in this process S23, when a plurality of types of files are attached to the received e-mail, the CPU 21 selects a file that can easily generate an image having a gradation and resolution according to the performance information. For example, if a JPEG file that is a 200 dpi bitmap image and a PostScript (trademark) file that is a PDL are attached to an e-mail when generating a 400 dpi facsimile image, the PostScript (trademark) file is selected and A facsimile image with high image quality is generated.
[0038]
Then, the CPU 21 outputs the facsimile image generated in step S23 to the telephone line interface 27 (S24), transmits this facsimile image to the G3 facsimile 3 as the destination via the telephone line, and ends the process.
[0039]
In step S22, if the received electronic mail is not a request for relay (if No), the CPU 21 processes the attached file to generate an image for printing (S25). Is printed out by the printer unit 29 (S26).
[0040]
Since each part has been specifically described above, the operation of the relay system including the image transmission device 1 and the relay device 2 according to the present embodiment will be described below.
[0041]
First, the user designates a drawing instruction file stored in the hard disk 14 via the operation display unit 15 of the image transmission apparatus 1, specifies the telephone number of the G3 facsimile 3, and issues an instruction to transmit to the G3 facsimile 3. input. Then, the CPU 11 accesses the relay apparatus 2 via the network and acquires the type of drawing instruction file that can be processed by the relay apparatus 2.
[0042]
If the type can be acquired here, the CPU 11 transmits the acquired drawing instruction file of the type to the relay apparatus 2 via the network. If the type cannot be acquired, the CPU 11 develops a 200 dpi bitmap image into MH-compressed facsimile image data, and transmits the data to the relay apparatus 2 via the network. When the acquired type is not the same as the type of the drawing instruction file stored in the hard disk 14, the CPU 11 converts the drawing instruction file stored in the hard disk 14 into the acquired type of drawing instruction file. If the conversion is impossible, the 200 dpi bitmap image is developed into the data of the MH compressed facsimile image itself and then transmitted to the relay apparatus 2 via the network. If the type cannot be acquired or the drawing instruction file cannot be converted into the acquired type, not only the facsimile image itself is transmitted to the relay apparatus 2 via the network but also a highly versatile drawing instruction file is included. May be transmitted.
[0043]
According to such an image transmission apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since a drawing instruction file of a type that can be processed by the relay apparatus 2 is transmitted, a PDL file whose file size is generally reduced by the relay apparatus 2 is processed. If possible, the load on the network can be reduced, and a facsimile image having the best image quality can be transmitted in accordance with the performance of the G3 facsimile 3. Further, when the type that can be processed by the relay apparatus 2 is unknown, or when the drawing instruction file of the type that can be processed cannot be prepared, the facsimile image itself is generated and transmitted, so that the facsimile image can be transmitted reliably.
[0044]
When the relay apparatus 2 receives the drawing instruction file from the image transmission apparatus 1, the relay apparatus 2 generates a facsimile image having a predetermined gradation and a predetermined resolution based on the drawing instruction file, and transmits the facsimile image to the G3 facsimile 3 via the telephone line.
[0045]
According to the relay apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, the file type that can be the basis of the facsimile image is notified to the file transmission source, the file of that type is received and processed by e-mail, and the facsimile image is processed. Since it is generated and sent out via a telephone line, it is possible to reduce the network load by making it possible to process PDL files that generally have a smaller file size, and to generate bitmap images based on PDL Thus, a facsimile image having a desired gradation and resolution can be generated, and the image quality can be improved.
[0046]
In addition, the CPU 11 of the image transmission apparatus 1 may selectively transmit various drawing instruction files and facsimile images themselves that have the smallest size to the relay apparatus 2. In this case, a facsimile image with high image quality that matches the performance of the G3 facsimile 3 cannot be transmitted, but the load on the network can be reduced.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
According to the relay apparatus of the present invention, drawing instruction information that is the basis of a facsimile image is received, a facsimile image is generated based on the received drawing instruction information, and transmitted to a destination image processing apparatus via a telephone line. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the network load by transmitting a drawing instruction of a smaller size instead of the image itself, and to generate a facsimile image having a desired resolution based on the drawing instruction, and to match the destination image processing apparatus. A facsimile image with the best image quality can be relayed.
[0048]
Further, according to the image transmission apparatus of the present invention, the type of drawing instruction information that can be processed by the relay apparatus is acquired, and the drawing instruction information that is the basis of the facsimile image is generated by the acquired type and transmitted to the relay apparatus. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the load on the network by transmitting a drawing instruction of a smaller size instead of the image itself, and generating a facsimile image of a desired resolution based on the drawing instruction in the relay device, and processing the destination image A facsimile image having the best image quality suitable for the apparatus can be transmitted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a relay system including an image transmission device and a relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing in the image transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an electronic mail transmitted by the image transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an electronic mail transmitted by the image transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing in the image transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing in the relay device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 image transmission device, 2 relay device, 3 G3 facsimile, 11, 21 CPU, 12, 22 ROM, 13, 23 RAM, 14, 24 hard disk, 15, 25 operation display unit, 16, 26 network interface, 17, 28 scanner Part, 27 telephone line interface, 29 printer part.

Claims (9)

In a relay device connected to an image transmission device via a network and connected to an image processing device via a telephone line,
Receiving means for receiving drawing instruction information including the converted facsimile image from the image transmitting apparatus via a network;
Means for detecting the destination of the drawing instruction information or al-image image processing apparatus received by the receiving unit,
Means for obtaining an image file described in a page description language from the drawing instruction information received by the receiving means;
Image generating means for generating a facsimile image based on the extracted image file ;
Transmitting means for transmitting the generated facsimile image to the image processing apparatus via a telephone line;
Performance information acquisition means for acquiring performance information indicating the resolution and the like of the image processing apparatus;
Only including,
The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image generation unit generates a facsimile image according to an image file and the acquired performance information . The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising:
A relay apparatus comprising means for transmitting information representing a type of page description language that can be processed by the relay apparatus to the image transmission apparatus. The relay device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
Storage means for storing performance information acquired by the performance information acquisition means,
The performance information acquisition unit acquires the performance information from the storage unit when the performance information acquired in the past is stored in the storage unit, and the image processing device via a telephone line when the storage unit does not store the performance information. A relay device characterized in that it acquires access to performance information. In a relay device connected to an image transmission device via a network and connected to an image processing device via a telephone line,
Receiving means for receiving drawing instruction information including the converted facsimile image from the image transmitting apparatus via a network;
Means for detecting the destination of the drawing instruction information whether we image processing apparatus received by the receiving unit,
Means for extracting reference information representing a storage location of an image file described in a page description language from the drawing instruction information received by the receiving means;
Means for obtaining an image file based on the reference information;
Means for generating a facsimile image based on the acquired image file;
Transmitting means for transmitting the generated facsimile image to the image processing apparatus via a telephone line;
Performance information acquisition means for acquiring performance information including image resolution of the image processing device;
Only including,
The relay apparatus , wherein the image generation means generates a facsimile image according to the acquired performance information . Type acquisition means for acquiring the type of an image file described in a page description language that can be processed by a relay device connected via a network;
When the type acquisition means can acquire the type information, the image file is converted into a page description language according to the acquired type, and the drawing instruction information including the transmission destination for transmission to the image processing apparatus is generated. Generating means for
Means for transmitting the generated drawing instruction information to the relay device;
An image transmitting apparatus comprising: The image transmission device according to claim 5 ,
The generating means includes
Wherein when the class acquisition means can not acquire the information of the type converts the image file into a facsimile image, the image transmitting apparatus and generates a drawing instruction information including the destination. The image transmission device according to claim 5 ,
The generating means includes
Wherein when the class acquisition means can not acquire the information of the type, the image transmission apparatus characterized by converting the image file to a preset type page description language, and generates a drawing instruction information including the destination . The image transmission device according to claim 5 ,
The generating means includes
If there are a plurality of acquired type, select the type size is the smallest among the type, the image transmission apparatus and converting the image file to the selected page description language. The image transmission device according to claim 5 ,
Storage means for storing the type of drawing instruction information acquired by the type acquisition means for each relay device;
The type acquisition unit acquires the type of page description language acquired in the past in the storage unit, and acquires the type from the storage unit, and when not stored, accesses the relay device via the network. And an image transmitting apparatus that acquires a type of page description language that can be processed.

Images