JP3657144B2 - Network facsimile machine and network facsimile machine program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus connected to a server and having a function of performing facsimile communication, and a program thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a facsimile is connected to a local area network or the Internet and performs image information communication using e-mail, and a facsimile is connected to a public network and connected to a facsimile machine via the public network using a predetermined facsimile transmission procedure. A network facsimile apparatus having a function of exchanging data and a facsimile apparatus function has been put into practical use.
[0003]
By using such a network facsimile apparatus, it is possible to reduce a communication charge in long-distance communication. Further, since it is possible to perform facsimile communication from the outside of the Internet to users of workstation apparatuses connected to the Internet, it is very convenient.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a conventional apparatus, when image information is transmitted using e-mail, a transmission original image is read, image data obtained thereby is converted into a TIFF-F format, and further converted into MIME (described later), Text information to be arranged in the e-mail is created, and an e-mail transmission operation is performed using the text information.
[0005]
On the other hand, if the destination e-mail address specified by the user is wrong, an error in the destination e-mail address may be found when the e-mail is actually transmitted to the mail server.
[0006]
However, in such a case, an error in the destination mail address is not discovered until the transmission operation of the network facsimile apparatus is started, so it takes a long time for the transmitting user to notice the situation, and resending image information, etc. It took a long time to complete.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network facsimile apparatus and a program therefor that can promptly notify a transmission user of an error in a destination mail address.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a network facsimile apparatus connected to a server and having a function of performing facsimile communication, a reading means for reading a document, an input means for inputting destination information, and a destination information storage means for storing the destination information. And determination means for determining whether or not the destination information input by the input means is stored in the destination information storage means, and control means for controlling the operation of each means, the control means comprising: When it is determined that the data is stored by the determination means, the reading operation by the reading means is started. Further, the control means stores the destination information input by the input means in the destination information storage means when it is determined that the information is not stored by the determination means and the connection to the server is successful. The reading operation by the reading means is started. In addition, the control means further notifies an error when connection to the server fails. The destination information is an e-mail address or domain information of the e-mail address.
[0009]
Further, in a network facsimile apparatus program connected to a server and having a function of performing facsimile communication, the network facsimile apparatus includes a reading unit that reads a document, an input unit that inputs destination information, and the destination information. A destination information storage unit for storing; and a determination unit for determining whether the destination information input by the input unit is stored in the destination information storage unit; In this case, a step of starting a reading operation by the reading unit is included. Further, the step stores the destination information input by the input means in the destination information storage means when it is determined that the information is not stored by the determination means and the connection to the server is successful, It has processing which starts reading operation by reading means. Further, the step further includes a process of notifying an error when connection to the server fails. The destination information is an e-mail address or domain information of the e-mail address.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0021]
FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0022]
In the figure, a plurality of workstation devices WS1 to WSn, a mail server device SM, and a network facsimile device FX are connected to the local area network LAN.
[0023]
Here, the mail server device SM is a known e-mail collection and distribution service for users using the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and the network network facsimile device FX. Is to provide.
[0024]
In the workstation devices WS1 to WSn, various programs such as facsimile application software for creating and displaying facsimile image information and various software for exchanging various data via the local area network LAN. Has been introduced and is used by specific users. Here, the specific user may be one or a plurality of users.
[0025]
The network facsimile machine FX is connected to an electronic mail processing function for exchanging image information and various reports as electronic mail, and a public network (PSTN), and this public network is used as a transmission path to make a group 3 facsimile. A transmission function for transmitting image information according to a transmission procedure is provided.
[0026]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the network facsimile apparatus FX.
[0027]
In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each part of the network facsimile apparatus FX and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The system memory 2 is executed by the system control unit 1. The control processing program and various data necessary for executing the processing program are stored, and the work area of the system control unit 1 is configured. The parameter memory 3 is unique to the network facsimile apparatus FX. The clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.
[0028]
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 operates the network facsimile apparatus FX. It consists of various operation keys and various displays.
[0029]
The encoding / decoding unit 8 encodes and compresses the image signal, and also decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. The image storage device 9 performs encoding and compression. This is for storing a large number of image information in the selected state.
[0030]
The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing the modem function of the group 3 facsimile, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals and mainly for exchanging image information. A high-speed modem function (V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27ter modem, etc.) is provided.
[0031]
The network control device 11 is for connecting the facsimile apparatus to a public network (PSTN), and has an automatic outgoing / incoming function.
[0032]
The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the network facsimile apparatus FX to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 13 is connected to other data terminal apparatuses via the local area network LAN. It is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data between them.
[0033]
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 10, network The control device 11 and the local area network transmission control unit 13 are connected to an internal bus 14, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed via the internal bus 14.
[0034]
Data exchange between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is performed directly.
[0035]
Here, in the present embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called TCP / IP, and more. This is performed by applying a combination with a higher layer communication protocol (so-called protocol suite). For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, a communication protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied as an upper layer communication protocol.
[0036]
Further, as a protocol applied to each mail terminal device SM for confirmation of receiving or obtaining an e-mail addressed to the user, a so-called POP (Post Office Protocol) can be applied.
[0037]
In addition, communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, and POP, and the data format and data structure of e-mails are issued by organizations that compile technical contents related to the Internet called IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). RFC (Request For Comments) document. For example, RFC is defined as RFC793, IP is defined as RFC793, SMTP is defined as RFC821, and e-mail formats are defined in RFC822, RFC1521, and RFC1522 (MIME (Multipurpose Mail Extension) format).
[0038]
Then, the network facsimile apparatus FX sends the read document image to another group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network PSTN or the users of the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn via the local area network LAN (or the Internet). The image information received from the other group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network PSTN to the user corresponding to the sub-address designated at that time, using e-mail, or A transfer service function for transferring image information received (by electronic mail) from the workstation WS of the local area network LAN to the group 3 facsimile apparatus of the designated public network PSTN is provided.
[0039]
In addition, for the e-mail received to the terminal itself, the image information arranged in the text information is taken out and recorded and output.
[0040]
Here, since the facsimile image information is binary data, and the e-mail cannot include binary data directly, readable information (7-bit encoding) is applied by applying a predetermined conversion method (for example, Base64 encoding method). The character code is converted into a character code and included in the e-mail. The format of the text information of such an e-mail is called MIME format.
[0041]
An example of the e-mail used when transmitting the image information in this way is shown in FIG.
[0042]
This e-mail is an e-mail in a multi-part MIME format having a plurality of body parts. The e-mail transmission date (“Date” field), the destination e-mail address (“To” field), and the source e-mail address (“From” “Field”), a mail header part comprising predetermined information, a text part part for carrying text data, and a binary part part for carrying picture information. In the binary part part, the picture information is MIME-converted. MIME encoded data obtained in this way is arranged.
[0043]
The image information carried by e-mail is the original image data compressed by MH encoding and converted into TIFF-F format. Therefore, as MIME encoded data, this TIFF-F data is A MIME converted version is placed.
[0044]
Here, in the TIFF-F format, image data of a plurality of pages can be collected as one file, so that data of one transmission image information file consisting of a plurality of pages can be arranged in one binary part portion. .
[0045]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a communication protocol performed between the sending SMTP client (for example, the network facsimile apparatus FX or the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn) and the receiving SMTP server (for example, the mail server apparatus SM) when sending e-mail. Is shown.
[0046]
First, the transmission-side SMTP client makes a connection connection request to the reception-side SMTP server using TCP port 25. The receiving SMTP server that has received this connection connection request responds with a code “220” as a connection response and an appropriate comment character string (in this case, “msrva1.abc.co.jp Service ready”), Send to the sending SMTP client.
[0047]
The sending SMTP client that has received the connection response then uses the command “HELO” to send the host name of the terminal (command argument, in this case “ifaxa.abc.co.jp”) to the receiving SMTP server. Is sent to. When the reception-side SMTP server normally receives the command “HELO”, a code “250” indicating a normal response and a server host name (in this case, “msrva1.abc.co.jp”) as a comment are transmitted to the transmission-side SMTP client. Respond to.
[0048]
The sending SMTP client that has received the normal response sends a command “MAIL FROM: <ifaxa@abc.co.jp>” notifying the sender mail address to the receiving SMTP server. Here, the source mail address is set in the part of the argument “<ifaxa@abc.co.jp>” of the command “MAIL FROM:” that is enclosed by “<” and “>”.
[0049]
When receiving the command “MAIL FROM: <ifaxa@abc.co.jp>”, the receiving SMTP server extracts the sender mail address from the received argument “<ifaxa@abc.co.jp>”, and the sender Check the email address format. In this format check, if the character “@” is included in the transmission source mail address, it is a domain other than its own domain, so it is checked whether the address format is appropriate. Further, when the character “@” is not included in the transmission source mail address, since it belongs to the own domain, it is checked whether it is a registered mail address. Note that this format check may include further different forms of inspection (such as Alias) depending on the setting status of the receiving SMTP server.
[0050]
If it is determined that the format check is normal, the receiving-end SMTP server sends a code “250” indicating a normal response and a character string “OK” indicating that the format check is normally completed as a comment to the transmitting-end SMTP client. To send.
[0051]
The sending SMTP client that has received the normal response then sends a command “RCP TO: <ifaxb1@xyz.co.jp>” notifying the destination mail address to the receiving SMTP server. Here, the destination e-mail address is set in the part of the argument “<ifaxb1@xyz.co.jp>” of the command “RCP TO:” enclosed by “<” and “>”.
[0052]
When the command “RCP TO: <ifaxb1@xyz.co.jp>” is received, the receiving SMTP server extracts the destination mail address from the received argument “<ifaxb1@xyz.co.jp>”, and the destination mail address. The same format check as described above is performed.
[0053]
If it is determined that the format check is normal, the receiving-end SMTP server sends a code “250” indicating a normal response and a character string “OK” indicating that the format check is normally completed as a comment to the transmitting-end SMTP client. To send.
[0054]
In this way, when the connection to the SMTP server is completed, the inspection of the sender mail address and the destination mail address is completed, and the preparation for sending the e-mail is completed, the sending SMTP client sends the command “DATA” Commands the receiving SMTP server to shift to the data phase.
[0055]
The receiving SMTP server that has received the command “DATA” sends a code “250” in order to respond normally, and a message indicating the start of e-mail input and a code indicating the end of e-mail input as a comment “Start mail input; end “with <CR / LF>. <CR / LF>” is transmitted to the SMTP client on the transmission side. In this case, if the sequence “<CR / LF>. <CR / LF>” is sent, the end of the e-mail is notified to the receiving SMTP server.
[0056]
The sending SMTP client that has received the normal response sends the header information and body information of the e-mail sequentially to the receiving SMTP client as sending messages, and when sending of all the data is completed, the designated “< A sequence of “CR / LF>. <CR / LF>” is transmitted.
[0057]
When the end code is received, the receiving-end SMTP server checks whether or not the transmission message at that time is normally received, and if it is normally received, the code “250” indicating a normal response and a comment form A character string “OK” indicating that the check is normally completed is sent to the SMTP client on the transmission side.
[0058]
The sending SMTP client that has received the normal response sends a command “QUIT” for notifying the end of the sending of the e-mail to the receiving SMTP server. Upon receiving this command [QUIT], the receiving SMTP server starts distributing the received e-mail, and at the same time, sends a code “221” and an appropriate comment character string (in this case, “msrva1.abc.co.jp”). Service Closing transmission channel ") is sent to the sending SMTP client.
[0059]
The transmitting SMTP client that has received the code “221” requests the receiving SMTP server to disconnect the connection.
[0060]
By such a procedure, the sending SMTP client sends an e-mail to the receiving SMTP server.
[0061]
Here, in the following description, among the above-described protocols, after the sending SMTP client sends a connection connection request, the receiving SMTP server sends the code “250” and the comment “Start mail input; end with <CR / The part until “LF>. <CR / LF>” is sent to the sending SMTP client is called “protocol before message sending”, and after the sending SMTP client starts sending the sending message, the receiving SMTP The part until the server sends the code “250” and the comment “OK” to the sending SMTP client is called “message sending protocol”. After the sending SMTP client sends the command “QUIT”, the sending SMTP The client connects to the receiving SMTP server The part up to the request for disconnection is called “protocol after message transmission”.
[0062]
Therefore, since the sender mail address and the destination mail address are inspected to some extent by the receiving SMTP server, it is possible to determine the normality / abnormality of the destination mail address designated by the user at the pre-transmission protocol stage. This can be notified to the user at a stage before the actual transmission of the e-mail is started.
[0063]
FIG. 5 shows an example of processing when image information is transmitted using the electronic mail according to the present invention.
[0064]
When a document is set on the scanner 5 (the result of determination 101 is YES), a destination mail address is input (process 102), and the start key of the operation display unit 7 is pressed to start transmission (determination 103). The result is YES).
[0065]
When the transmission start is instructed, the network facsimile apparatus FX connects to the SMTP server of the mail server apparatus SM (process 104), and executes the predetermined pre-message transmission protocol (process 105).
[0066]
When the pre-message transmission protocol ends, a mail header as described above is created for the electronic mail at that time, and the mail header is transmitted to the SMTP server (process 106).
[0067]
Next, the original document for one page is read by the scanner 5 (process 107), the image data obtained thereby is converted into the TIFF-F format (process 108), and the image data in the TIFF-F format obtained thereby. Is converted into MIME data (process 109), and the MIME data is transmitted to the SMTP server (process 110).
[0068]
Then, it is checked whether or not the next page is set in the scanner 4 (determination 111). When the result of determination 111 is YES, the process returns to processing 107, and the image information of the original image of the next page is transmitted.
[0069]
Further, when the transmission of the image information is completed for all the transmission originals and the result of determination 111 is NO, the above-described predetermined post-message transmission protocol is executed (process 112), and this transmission operation is terminated. .
[0070]
FIG. 6 shows another example of processing when image information is transmitted using electronic mail according to the present invention.
[0071]
When the document is set on the scanner 5 (the result of determination 201 is YES), the destination mail address is input (process 202), and the start key of the operation display unit 7 is pressed to start transmission (determination 203). The result is YES).
[0072]
When the transmission start is instructed, the network facsimile apparatus FX connects to the SMTP server of the mail server apparatus SM (process 204), and checks whether the connection is successful (decision 205).
[0073]
When the connection to the SMTP server is successful and the result of determination 205 is YES, the above-mentioned predetermined pre-message transmission protocol is executed (process 206) to check whether the pre-message transmission protocol has been completed normally. (Decision 207).
[0074]
If the pre-message transmission protocol ends normally and the result of determination 207 is YES, the e-mail transmission operation is continued.
[0075]
That is, first, a mail header as described above is created for the electronic mail at that time, and the mail header is transmitted to the SMTP server (process 208).
[0076]
Next, the scanner 5 reads an original for one page (process 209), converts the image data obtained thereby into the TIFF-F format (process 210), and obtains the image data in the TIFF-F format obtained thereby. Is converted to MIME data (process 211), and the MIME data is transmitted to the SMTP server (process 212).
[0077]
Then, it is checked whether or not the next page is set in the scanner 4 (determination 213). When the result of determination 213 is YES, the process returns to processing 209, and the image information of the original image of the next page is transmitted.
[0078]
Further, when the transmission of the image information is completed for all the transmission originals, and the result of the determination 213 is NO, the above-mentioned predetermined post-message transmission protocol is executed (process 214), and this transmission operation is terminated. .
[0079]
On the other hand, if the connection to the SMTP server cannot be performed normally and the result of determination 205 is NO, or if the pre-message transmission protocol does not end normally, the result of determination 207 is NO. In some cases, an error message (for example, “destination mail address error”) and an e-mail transmission error are displayed and output on the operation display unit 7 (process 215), and this process ends in error.
[0080]
In this way, in this embodiment, when the connection to the SMTP server could not be terminated normally, or when the pre-message transmission protocol did not terminate normally, the e-mail transmission operation was not performed. Since the user is notified of the e-mail transmission error, the user can know the e-mail transmission error before the e-mail in which the transmission document remains in the scanner 5 is transmitted. A retransmission operation can be performed quickly and accurately.
[0081]
By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the same operation is performed for all image information transmission operations. However, an e-mail is appropriately transmitted to the destination e-mail address at which the e-mail has been successfully transmitted once at the next opportunity. You can expect to.
[0082]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when a mail address table for registering a destination mail address that has successfully transmitted an e-mail is provided, a destination mail address designated by the user is registered in this mail address table. As in the prior art, when the e-mail transmission operation is performed after the e-mail is created, the user can be released from the operation of the network facsimile apparatus FX at an early stage, and the usability of the network facsimile apparatus FX is greatly improved. improves.
[0083]
FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show an example of processing when image information is transmitted using e-mail in this case.
[0084]
When an original is set on the scanner 5 (the result of determination 301 is YES), a destination mail address is input (process 302), and the start key of the operation display unit 7 is pressed to start transmission (determination 303). The result is YES).
[0085]
When the transmission start is instructed, it is checked whether or not the destination mail address input at that time is registered in the mail address table (decision 304).
[0086]
If the destination e-mail address input at that time is not registered in the e-mail address table and the result of determination 304 is NO, the network facsimile apparatus FX connects to the SMTP server of the mail server apparatus SM (processing) 305), it is checked whether the connection is successful (decision 306).
[0087]
When the connection to the SMTP server is successful and the result of determination 306 is YES, the above-described predetermined pre-message transmission protocol is executed (process 307), and it is checked whether the pre-message transmission protocol has ended normally. (Decision 308).
[0088]
If the pre-message transmission protocol ends normally and the result of determination 308 is YES, after the destination mail address at that time is additionally registered in the mail address table (step 309), the e-mail transmission operation is continued. .
[0089]
That is, first, a mail header as described above is created for the electronic mail at that time, and the mail header is transmitted to the SMTP server (process 310).
[0090]
Next, the scanner 5 reads an original for one page (process 311), converts the image data obtained thereby into the TIFF-F format (process 312), and obtains the image data in the TIFF-F format obtained thereby. Is converted into MIME data (process 313), and the MIME data is transmitted to the SMTP server (process 314).
[0091]
Then, it is checked whether or not the next page is set in the scanner 4 (determination 315). When the result of determination 315 is YES, the process returns to processing 311 to transmit the image information of the original image of the next page.
[0092]
If the transmission of the image information is completed for all transmission documents and the result of determination 315 is NO, the predetermined post-message transmission protocol described above is executed (step 316), and this transmission operation is terminated. .
[0093]
On the other hand, when the connection to the SMTP server cannot be performed normally and the result of determination 306 is NO, or when the pre-message transmission protocol does not end normally, the result of determination 308 is NO. In some cases, an error message (for example, “destination mail address error”) and an e-mail transmission error are displayed and output on the operation display unit 7 (process 317), and this process ends in error.
[0094]
If the destination email address input at that time is registered in the email address table and the result of determination 304 is YES, email data is created and transmitted in a batch.
[0095]
That is, first, a mail header as described above is created and stored for the electronic mail at that time (process 318).
[0096]
Next, the scanner 5 reads an original for one page (process 319), converts the image data obtained thereby into the TIFF-F format (process 320), and obtains the image data in the TIFF-F format obtained thereby. Is converted into MIME data (process 321), and the MIME data is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 322).
[0097]
Then, it is checked whether or not the next page is set in the scanner 4 (determination 323). If the result of determination 323 is YES, the process returns to processing 319 to accumulate image information of the original image of the next page.
[0098]
Further, when the image information has been stored for all the transmitted originals and all the data of the e-mail has been saved, the network facsimile apparatus FX connects to the SMTP server of the mail server apparatus SM (process 324). Then, the predetermined pre-message transmission protocol described above is executed (process 325).
[0099]
When the pre-message transmission protocol ends, the above-described message transmission protocol processing is executed, the stored e-mail data (mail header and MIME data) is transmitted to the SMTP server (processing 326), and the e-mail transmission ends. Then, the above-mentioned predetermined post-message transmission protocol is executed (process 327), and this transmission operation is terminated.
[0100]
By the way, in the above-described embodiment, a mail address table for registering a destination mail address that has successfully transmitted an e-mail is provided, and when a destination mail address designated by a user is registered in this mail address table, As in the prior art, an e-mail transmission operation is performed after an e-mail is created. However, as shown in FIG. If the domain part of the destination e-mail address designated by the user is registered in this domain table, the e-mail transmission operation may be performed after the e-mail is created as in the prior art. Similar effects can be obtained.
[0101]
11 and 12 show an example of processing when image information is transmitted using e-mail in this case.
[0102]
When a document is set on the scanner 5 (the result of determination 401 is YES), a destination mail address is input (process 402), and the start key of the operation display unit 7 is pressed to start transmission (determination 403). The result is YES).
[0103]
When the transmission start is instructed, it is checked whether or not the contents of the domain part of the destination mail address inputted at that time are registered in the domain table (decision 404).
[0104]
If the domain part of the destination mail address input at that time is not registered in the domain table and the result of determination 404 is NO, the network facsimile apparatus FX connects to the SMTP server of the mail server apparatus SM. (Process 405), it is examined whether or not the connection is successful (decision 406).
[0105]
When the connection to the SMTP server is successful and the result of determination 406 is YES, the above-mentioned predetermined pre-message transmission protocol is executed (process 407) to check whether the pre-message transmission protocol has been completed normally. (Decision 408).
[0106]
If the pre-message transmission protocol ends normally and the result of determination 408 is YES, the contents of the domain part of the destination mail address at that time are additionally registered in the domain table (process 409), and then the e-mail is sent. Continue operation.
[0107]
That is, first, a mail header as described above is created for the electronic mail at that time, and the mail header is transmitted to the SMTP server (process 410).
[0108]
Next, the scanner 5 reads an original for one page (process 411), converts the image data obtained thereby into the TIFF-F format (process 412), and obtains the image data in the TIFF-F format obtained thereby. Is converted into MIME data (process 413), and the MIME data is transmitted to the SMTP server (process 414).
[0109]
Then, it is checked whether or not the next page is set in the scanner 4 (determination 415). When the result of determination 415 is YES, the process returns to processing 411, and the image information of the original image of the next page is transmitted.
[0110]
If the transmission of the image information is completed for all transmission documents and the result of determination 415 is NO, the predetermined post-message transmission protocol described above is executed (process 416), and this transmission operation is terminated. .
[0111]
On the other hand, when the connection to the SMTP server cannot be performed normally and the result of determination 406 is NO, or when the pre-message transmission protocol does not end normally, the result of determination 408 is NO. In some cases, an error message (for example, “destination mail address error”) and an e-mail transmission error are displayed and output on the operation display unit 7 (process 417), and this process ends in error.
[0112]
In addition, when the contents of the domain part of the destination e-mail address input at that time are registered in the domain table and the result of determination 404 is YES, e-mail data is created and sent in a batch. To do.
[0113]
That is, first, a mail header as described above is created and stored for the electronic mail at that time (process 418).
[0114]
Next, the scanner 5 reads an original for one page (process 419), converts the image data obtained thereby into the TIFF-F format (process 420), and obtains the image data in the TIFF-F format obtained thereby. Is converted into MIME data (process 421), and the MIME data is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 422).
[0115]
Then, it is checked whether or not the next page is set in the scanner 4 (determination 423). When the result of determination 423 is YES, the process returns to processing 419, and the image information of the original image of the next page is accumulated.
[0116]
Further, when the image information has been stored for all the transmitted originals and all the data of the e-mail has been saved, the network facsimile apparatus FX connects to the SMTP server of the mail server apparatus SM (process 424). Then, the predetermined pre-message transmission protocol described above is executed (process 425).
[0117]
When the pre-message transmission protocol ends, the message transmission protocol processing described above is executed, the stored e-mail data (mail header and MIME data) is transmitted to the SMTP server (process 426), and the e-mail transmission ends. Then, the above-mentioned predetermined post-message transmission protocol is executed (process 427), and this transmission operation is terminated.
[0118]
In the above-described embodiment, the case of the network facsimile apparatus having the group 3 facsimile apparatus function and connecting to the public network using the PSTN has been described. However, the present invention has the group 3/4 facsimile apparatus function and the ISDN. The same can be applied to a network facsimile apparatus connected to a public network using
[0119]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where SMTP is applied as the MTA of the mail server apparatus has been described. However, the present invention can be applied in the same manner even when other MTA is used.
[0120]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since destination information that has been successfully transmitted in the past is stored in the destination information storage means, it is possible to efficiently transmit to a partner that has once successfully transmitted, If the transmission has not been successful in the past, the reading operation by the reading unit is not performed, so that the effect of not interfering with other jobs such as facsimile reception is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network facsimile apparatus FX.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an electronic mail used when transmitting image information.
FIG. 4 shows an example of a communication protocol performed between a transmission-side SMTP client (for example, the network facsimile apparatus FX or the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn) and a reception-side SMTP server (for example, the mail server apparatus SM) when an electronic mail is transmitted. A time chart showing.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when image information is transmitted using an electronic mail according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of processing when image information is transmitted using electronic mail according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a mail address table.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing still another example of processing when image information is transmitted using electronic mail according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating still another example of processing when image information is transmitted using an electronic mail according to the present invention (continuation).
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a domain table.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another example of processing when image information is transmitted using electronic mail according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another example of processing when image information is transmitted using an electronic mail according to the present invention (continuation).
[Explanation of symbols]
FX network facsimile machine
SM mail server device

Claims (8)

In a network facsimile apparatus connected to a server and having a function of performing facsimile communication,
Reading means for reading a document;
An input means for inputting destination information;
Destination information storage means for storing the destination information;
Determining means for determining whether or not the destination information input by the input means is stored in the destination information storage means;
Control means for controlling the operation of each means,
The network facsimile apparatus, wherein the control means starts a reading operation by the reading means when it is determined that the information is stored by the determining means.   The control means stores the destination information input by the input means in the destination information storage means when it is determined that the information is not stored by the determination means and the connection to the server is successful, and the reading is performed. 2. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reading operation by said means is started.   3. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means further notifies an error when connection to the server fails.   4. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the destination information is an e-mail address or domain information of an e-mail address. In a program of a network facsimile apparatus connected to a server and having a function of performing facsimile communication,
The network facsimile apparatus includes a reading unit that reads a document;
An input means for inputting destination information;
Destination information storage means for storing the destination information;
Determining means for determining whether the destination information input by the input means is stored in the destination information storage means;
A program for a network facsimile machine, comprising: a step of starting a reading operation by the reading unit when it is determined that the data is stored by the determining unit.   The step stores the destination information input by the input means in the destination information storage means when it is determined that the information is not stored by the determination means and the connection to the server is successful, and the reading means 6. The program for a network facsimile apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a process for starting a reading operation by the network.   7. The program for a network facsimile apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said step further includes a process of notifying an error when connection to said server fails.   8. The network facsimile apparatus program according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the destination information is an e-mail address or domain information of an e-mail address.

Images