JP3788235B2 - Internet facsimile machine and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an Internet facsimile machine and a control method therefor, and more particularly, to an Internet facsimile machine and a control method therefor in which various functions of an Internet FAX function can be individually set to be valid or invalid.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional facsimile message transmission / reception via a local area network (hereinafter referred to as LAN) and via the Internet FAX function and the public switched telephone network (hereinafter referred to as PSTN) for connecting to the Internet and exchanging data. An Internet facsimile machine having a FAX function for performing the above is in practical use.
[0003]
Since it is possible to exchange image information between remote locations on the Internet using such an Internet facsimile machine, the communication cost can be greatly reduced.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in this kind of Internet facsimile machine,
1) Scan to Email function that converts image information acquired from the scanner into e-mail and sends it to the other party 2) Email to Print function that prints out the received e-mail 3) Converts the received e-mail into image information Email to FAX function for transmitting to the other party 4) A plurality of functions such as a FAX to Email function for converting the received image information into an electronic mail and transmitting it to the other party can be realized.
[0005]
However, there is a demand that enables these functions to be set to be enabled or disabled independently for reasons such as restrictions on use of the Internet facsimile machine and communication management.
[0006]
In addition, for example, when the Internet FAX function such as the Email to FAX function or the FAX to Email function of the Internet facsimile machine is disabled, there is a job waiting to be executed among the jobs using the Internet FAX function. Then, these jobs will be executed once and will end abnormally. In this case, if the user confirms with the job log etc., it means that the Internet FAX function was disabled and it ended abnormally However, when the Internet FAX function is disabled, it is not possible to check information such as a disabled job and information such as abbreviated dialing related to the disabled function.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an Internet facsimile machine and a control method therefor, in which various functions possessed by the Internet facsimile machine can be individually set to be enabled or disabled independently.
[0008]
The present invention also provides an Internet facsimile machine and a control method therefor, in which information that has become unusable or cannot be referred to when various functions of the Internet facsimile machine are individually enabled or disabled are confirmed. The purpose is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in an Internet facsimile apparatus connected to the Internet and connected to a public switched telephone network, image information obtained from a scanner is converted into an e-mail and transmitted via the Internet. The first function of sending to the other party, the second function of printing out the e-mail received via the Internet, the e-mail received via the Internet converted into image information and the public A third function for transmitting to the other party via the switched telephone network; a fourth function for converting the image information received via the public switched telephone network into an e-mail and transmitting to the other party via the Internet; Control means for controlling to execute at least two of the functions, and a plurality of functions executed by the control means individually Setting means for setting to valid or invalid, and list output means for outputting a list corresponding to the function set to invalid when the function controlled by the control means is invalidated by the setting means It is characterized by comprising.
[0010]
Here, it is not necessary to execute all of the first function to the fourth function, and it is sufficient that at least two functions can be executed from the first function to the fourth function.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein when the abbreviated dial is set corresponding to the function invalidated by the setting unit, the list output means An address list is output.
[0012]
The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the list output means, when there is an execution waiting job corresponding to the function disabled by the setting means, A list is output.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an Internet facsimile apparatus connected to the Internet and connected to a public switched telephone network, wherein image information obtained from a scanner is converted into an electronic mail and transmitted via the Internet. A first function for transmitting to the other party; a second function for printing out an e-mail received via the Internet; and converting the e-mail received via the Internet into image information to convert the public exchange telephone A third function for transmitting to the other party via the network, and a fourth function for converting the image information received via the public switched telephone network into an e-mail and transmitting it to the other party via the Internet. Among these functions, at least two functions are set to be enabled or disabled independently for each function, and certain functions are set to be disabled. If it is, and outputs the list corresponding to the disabled functionality.
[0014]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth aspect, when a certain function among the plurality of functions is disabled, a speed dial is set corresponding to the disabled function. If it is, the address list of the speed dial is output.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4, wherein when a function is set to be invalid among the plurality of functions, there is a job waiting for execution corresponding to the function set to be invalid. When executing, a list of jobs waiting to be executed is output.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of an Internet facsimile apparatus and its control method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0021]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, the Internet facsimile apparatus includes a CPU 101 that performs control processing for the entire apparatus, a storage device 102 that stores a control program for the apparatus, an operation display device 103 that a user uses to operate the apparatus, and a transmission original. A reading device 104, a printing device 105 that prints a received image or the like on a recording paper, an image processing device 106 that performs processing such as encoding, decoding, enlargement or reduction on an image, and an image that stores a received or transmitted image Storage device 107, system control unit 108 having a program (ROM) for controlling the entire Internet facsimile, communication control unit 109 for controlling communication suitable for the telephone network, network control unit for controlling communication connected to the network 110, network control device 111 for connecting to the network, low speed mode and high speed mode function A modem 112, which is a modulation / demodulation device, an Ethernet I / F 113 for connecting to the Ethernet, a system bus 114 for exchanging data with each other, a plurality of external line interfaces, and a plurality of internal communication circuits A line switching control device 115 for switching connection is provided.
[0023]
Among the components described above, the CPU 101 to the network control device 111 and the line switching control device 115 are connected via the system bus 114 to exchange data with each other. Further, it has a modem 12 and an Ethernet I / F 113 for reception from a facsimile.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system including the Internet facsimile apparatus 205 according to the present invention.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, this communication system includes a LAN 201, a router 202, a mail server 203 connected to the LAN 201 as a network terminal, a PC (personal computer) a 204a, a PC b 204b, and an Internet facsimile machine 205.
[0026]
The mail server 203 serves as a POP (Post Office Protocol) server for the PCa 204a, PCb 204b, and the Internet facsimile machine 205 of each network terminal, and distributes e-mails to the network terminal received and stored in response to requests from each network terminal. The electronic mail transmitted from the network terminal is relayed and distributed to the destination.
[0027]
The LAN 201 is connected to the Internet 206 via the router 202, and various data can be exchanged between host devices connected to other LANs.
[0028]
The Internet facsimile machine 205 is connected to the PSTN 207, and can send and receive normal facsimile messages to and from other normal facsimile machines a208a and b208b.
[0029]
Next, four main functions provided by the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, for convenience of explanation, portions having the same functions as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 3.
[0030]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, this communication system includes a LAN 301, a router 302, a mail server 303, a PC 304, and an Internet facsimile machine 305 connected to the LAN 301 as network terminals.
[0031]
The LAN 301 is connected to the Internet 306 via the router 302, and various data can be exchanged between host devices connected to other LANs.
[0032]
The Internet facsimile machine 305 is connected to the PSTN 307 and can send and receive normal facsimile messages.
[0033]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the Scan To Email function of the Internet facsimile machine 305 according to the present invention.
[0034]
The Scan To Email function is to convert a facsimile document 309 scanned by the Internet facsimile machine 305 to Email 308 and transmit it via the LAN 301 or the Internet 306.
[0035]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the Email To Print function included in the Internet facsimile machine 305 according to the present invention.
[0036]
The Email To Print function is to receive various Emails 308 that arrive via the LAN 301 or the Internet 306, convert the Email 308 into a facsimile document 309 by the Internet facsimile machine 305, and print it out.
[0037]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the Email To FAX function of the Internet facsimile machine 305 according to the present invention.
[0038]
The Email To FAX function is a method in which the Internet facsimile machine 305 receives various types of Email 308 received via the LAN 301 or the Internet 306, converts the Email 308 into a facsimile document 309, and receives a facsimile transfer instruction. In this case, the facsimile is transferred to the facsimile apparatus 310 via the PSTN 307.
[0039]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the FAX To Email function included in the Internet facsimile machine 305 according to the present invention.
[0040]
The FAX To Email function is used when the Internet facsimile apparatus 305 receives various facsimile documents 309 received via the PSTN 307, converts the facsimile document 309 to Email 308 by the Internet facsimile apparatus 305, and receives an Email transfer instruction. Email transmission to the PC 304 via the LAN 301 or the Internet 306 or the like.
[0041]
Here, the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is configured to enable or disable various Internet FAX functions provided by the Internet facsimile apparatus.
[0042]
FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a password input screen for setting validity or invalidity of various Internet FAX functions provided by the Internet facsimile apparatus.
[0043]
Here, the administrator or user of the Internet facsimile machine must input a password in order to set validity or invalidity of various Internet FAX functions provided by the Internet facsimile machine.
[0044]
This is to prevent other users from setting the Internet FAX function without permission. The management of the password is performed by the system control unit 108 in FIG. When the correct administrator password is input, a setting screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed.
[0045]
FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a screen on which the Internet FAX function of the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is set to be effective.
[0046]
In this screen, when the Internet FAX function is enabled, it can be enabled by pressing the effective display portion. When the Internet FAX function is enabled, the effective display portion is highlighted. The validity of the Internet FAX function is recorded in the system control unit 108 in FIG.
[0047]
Here, when the Internet FAX function is enabled, the above-described Scan To Email function, Email To Print function, Email To FAX function, and FAX To Email function can be individually set to be enabled or disabled.
[0048]
For example, since the Scan To Email function, the Email To FAX function, and the FAX To Email function are enabled here, the display section of these three functions is highlighted. Further, since the Email To Print function is disabled, the display section of the Email To Print function is grayed out.
[0049]
Here, when the Email To Print function is to be validated, the Email To Print display section is highlighted to highlight it, and the Email To Print function is validated. On the other hand, when it is desired to disable the Scan To Email function, the display is grayed by pressing the Scan To Email display section, and the Scan To Email function is disabled. The settings made on this screen are recorded in the system control unit 108 of FIG.
[0050]
In addition, by pressing the next page of the setting screen, a setting screen for inputting other settings of the Internet FAX function is developed.
[0051]
Further, when the Internet FAX function is set to be invalid, a setting screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed by pressing the invalid display portion.
[0052]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a screen in which the Internet FAX function of the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is set to be invalid.
[0053]
When the Internet FAX function is disabled, the Scan To Email function, the Email To Print function, the Email To FAX function, and the FAX To Email function that the Internet FAX function has cannot be executed and are not displayed on the setting screen. As a result, when the Internet FAX function is disabled, the above four functions cannot be enabled or disabled.
[0054]
Here, when the Internet FAX function is disabled, the speed dial corresponding to the Internet FAX function cannot be used.
[0055]
Therefore, the system control unit 108 in FIG. 1 instructs to output a speed dial registration list corresponding to the Internet FAX function.
[0056]
FIG. 10 is an output example of a speed dial registration list corresponding to the Internet FAX function output by the above processing.
[0057]
In this registration list, the name of the other party corresponding to each speed dial and the e-mail address of the other party are recorded.
[0058]
When the Internet FAX function is disabled, the speed dial registration list shown in FIG. 10 is output, so that the administrator and the user can use the Internet FAX function that has been disabled due to the Internet FAX function being disabled. Corresponding speed dial address can be confirmed.
[0059]
When the Internet FAX function is disabled, a job waiting for execution corresponding to the Internet FAX function cannot be executed.
[0060]
Therefore, the system control unit 108 in FIG. 1 instructs to output a job list waiting for execution.
[0061]
FIG. 11 is an output example of an execution waiting job list corresponding to the Internet FAX function output by the above processing.
[0062]
In this waiting job list, the date, time, destination name, communication function, number of transmissions, communication result, and document number corresponding to each waiting job are recorded.
[0063]
When the Internet FAX function is set to invalid, the job waiting list shown in FIG. 11 is output, so that the administrator and the user can confirm jobs that cannot be executed due to the invalid setting.
[0064]
Further, the user can confirm the setting of the Internet FAX function and the setting of the four functions of the Internet FAX function on the display unit 103 of the operation display device of the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
[0065]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a FAX function setting screen displayed on the operation display device of the Internet facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.
[0066]
This configuration example shows that the user can set image quality, document type, and transmission density on this setting screen. By pressing the next page of the setting screen, a setting screen that can input other settings of the FAX function is developed.
[0067]
If the Internet FAX function display unit is pressed on the FAX function setting screen shown in FIG. 12, the Internet FAX function setting screen shown in FIG. 13 is displayed.
[0068]
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a setting screen when the Internet FAX function is enabled in the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
[0069]
In this configuration example, the Internet FAX function is enabled, and the display sections of the Scan To Email function, the Email To FAX function, and the FAX To Email function are grayed out, so these three functions are enabled. It shows that. In addition, since the display part of the Email To Print function is not displayed in gray, the Email To Print function is disabled.
[0070]
The user can check whether each function is enabled or disabled by checking whether the display section of each function is grayed out. However, since this setting screen only displays the setting of each function, the user cannot set whether to enable or disable each function from this setting screen.
[0071]
When the Internet FAX function is disabled, when the Internet FAX function display unit is pressed on the FAX function setting screen shown in FIG. 12, the setting confirmation screen for the Internet FAX function shown in FIG. 14 is displayed.
[0072]
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a setting screen when the Internet FAX function is disabled in the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
[0073]
In this configuration example, “Internet FAX function is disabled” is displayed, and the user can confirm that the Internet FAX function is disabled.
[0074]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, various functions of the Internet facsimile apparatus can be individually set to be valid or invalid, and the apparatus can be easily managed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system including an Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a Scan To Email function included in the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an Email To Print function included in the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an Email To FAX function possessed by the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a FAX To Email function included in the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a screen on which the Internet FAX function of the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is set to be valid.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a screen on which the Internet FAX function of the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is set to be valid.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a screen in which the Internet FAX function of the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is set to be invalid.
FIG. 10 is an output example of a registration list of speed dials set corresponding to the Internet FAX function.
FIG. 11 is an output example of a job list waiting for execution which is set to correspond to the Internet FAX function.
12 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a FAX function setting screen displayed on the operation display device of the Internet facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a setting screen when the Internet FAX function is enabled in the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a setting screen when the Internet FAX function is disabled in the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Memory | storage device 103 Operation display apparatus 104 Reading apparatus 105 Printing apparatus 106 Image processing apparatus 107 Image storage apparatus 108 System control part 109 Communication control part 110 Network control part 111 Network control apparatus 112 Modem 113 Ethernet I / F
114 System bus 115 Line switching control device 201 LAN
202 Router 203 Mail server 204a PCa
204b PCb
205 Internet facsimile machine 206 Internet 207 PSTN
208a facsimile machine a
208b facsimile machine b
301 LAN
302 Router 303 Mail server 304 PC
305 Internet facsimile machine 306 Internet 307 PSTN
308 Email
309 Facsimile Document 310 Facsimile Device

Claims (6)

In an Internet facsimile machine connected to the Internet and connected to the public switched telephone network,
A first function for converting image information acquired from a scanner into an e-mail and transmitting it to the other party via the Internet; a second function for printing out an e-mail received via the Internet; A third function of converting e-mail received via the public image into image information and transmitting it to the other party via the public switched telephone network, e-mail image information received via the public switched telephone network Control means for performing control so as to execute at least two functions among the fourth functions that are converted into data and transmitted to the other party via the Internet;
A setting means for individually setting a plurality of functions executed by the control means to be valid or invalid;
An Internet facsimile machine comprising: a list output unit that outputs a list corresponding to the disabled function when the function controlled by the control unit is disabled by the setting unit . The list output means includes
2. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a speed dial is set corresponding to the function disabled by the setting means, an address list of the speed dial is output. The list output means includes
2. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when there is a job waiting for execution corresponding to the function disabled by the setting means, a list of the job waiting for execution is output. In a method for controlling an Internet facsimile machine connected to the Internet and connected to a public switched telephone network,
A first function for converting image information acquired from a scanner into an e-mail and transmitting it to the other party via the Internet; a second function for printing out an e-mail received via the Internet; A third function for converting e-mail received via the public image into image information and transmitting it to the other party via the public switched telephone network, e-mail image information received via the public switched telephone network Of at least two functions among the fourth functions that are converted to and transmitted to the other party via the Internet, are set to be enabled or disabled independently for each function,
A method for controlling an Internet facsimile machine, comprising: outputting a list corresponding to a disabled function when a function is disabled among the plurality of functions. When a certain function among the plurality of functions is set to invalid, if a speed dial is set corresponding to the disabled function, an address list of the speed dial is output. 5. The method for controlling an Internet facsimile machine according to claim 4, wherein: When a function among the plurality of functions is set to invalid, and there is an execution waiting job corresponding to the disabled function, a list of the execution waiting jobs is output. 5. A method for controlling an Internet facsimile machine according to claim 4.

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