JP3864076B2 - Network communication control system, network communication control device, and network communication method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network communication control system, a network communication control apparatus, a network communication apparatus, and a network communication method for performing network facsimile communication via a LAN or the Internet using a facsimile apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, Internet facsimiles using the Internet have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent No. 3133297 by the same applicant as the present application proposes a network communication control device that can connect an analog communication terminal such as a general telephone or a facsimile machine to perform Internet telephone or Internet facsimile. .
[0003]
According to this communication control device, a general facsimile device and a network (Internet) are connected, data transmitted by facsimile from the facsimile device is converted into a TIFF format file, attached to an e-mail, and the other party's Internet facsimile The data is sent to another communication terminal such as a network communication control device similar to the device, computer, or transmission side. It is also possible to receive electronic mail data from another communication terminal via a network, convert this data into facsimile data, and send the facsimile data to a connected facsimile apparatus.
[0004]
At this time, since only a telephone number can be registered in a general facsimile machine to specify an e-mail destination, a correspondence table between the telephone number and the mail address is set in the network communication control unit, and a telephone call is made from the connected facsimile machine. When a number was entered, the e-mail was sent to the corresponding e-mail address.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when a large number of network communication control devices are connected to the network, the correspondence table between the telephone number and the mail address must be set for each network communication control device, and the setting work is troublesome. It was. Further, when a network communication control device and a facsimile device are newly connected to the network, the telephone number and mail address are added to the tables of all the network communication control devices, and the telephone number and mail are added to the new network communication control device. It is necessary to set up a correspondence table with addresses, and even when the correspondence between telephone numbers and e-mail addresses changes, the correspondence table of all network communication control devices must be rewritten, which makes the work cumbersome. It was apt.
[0006]
The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. A facsimile apparatus is connected and facsimile data from the facsimile apparatus is converted into an electronic mail format for other communication. Provided are a network communication control system, a network communication control device, a network communication device, and a network communication method capable of improving initialization and maintenance ease of a network communication control device connected to a network so as to send an e-mail to a terminal. For the purpose.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a network communication control system for composing an e-mail transmission / reception and a telephone call between network communication control devices on a network, which is connected to the network and has one telephone number and When a gatekeeper having a correspondence table in which two addresses consisting of a mail address and an IP address are associated, a facsimile machine connected to the network communication control apparatus and capable of making a telephone call, and a telephone number input from the facsimile apparatus If the CNG (Calling tone) signal is detected from the facsimile apparatus after that, an inquiry is made to the gatekeeper to obtain the corresponding mail address and IP address. When the e-mail is sent to the acquired e-mail address after being converted into a format and no CNG (Calling tone) signal is detected from the facsimile machine, the voice data from the facsimile machine is sent using the acquired IP address. There is provided a network communication control system comprising: a network communication control device that converts voice data into voice packets and transmits the packet data to other devices and converts the data into voice data . This eliminates the need for a correspondence table for each network communication control device, and only updates the correspondence table of the gatekeeper, so that the network communication control device and the facsimile device can be newly connected to the network. It can easily cope with changes in the response. In addition, in succession after a call by the Internet telephone can be facsimile transmission, thereby enhancing usability. In particular, when a CNG (Calling tone) signal is detected, an electronic mail having data obtained by converting the facsimile data may be transmitted to the mail address.
[0008]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a facsimile apparatus capable of making a telephone call and a network communication control apparatus connected to a network and configured to transmit / receive an electronic mail to / from other apparatuses and to make a telephone call. When a telephone number is input from the facsimile apparatus, it is connected to the network and inquired of a gatekeeper having a correspondence table that associates two addresses consisting of one telephone number, a mail address, and an IP address. If a CNG (Calling tone) signal is detected from the facsimile apparatus, the facsimile data from the facsimile apparatus is converted into an e-mail format, and the e-mail is transmitted to another apparatus. And When a CNG (Calling tone) signal is not detected from the quasi-mill device, the voice data from the facsimile device is packetized and transmitted to another device, and the packetized data is received and converted into voice data. A network communication control device is provided.
[0010]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a network communication method for performing a facsimile communication and a telephone call between a network communication control unit on a network and another communication terminal. A correspondence table in which two telephone addresses, one mail number and two IP addresses are associated with each other is stored in advance, and a facsimile apparatus capable of making a telephone call is connected to the network communication control means. When a telephone number is input from the facsimile apparatus to the network communication control means, an inquiry is made to the gatekeeper to obtain the corresponding mail address and IP address. Thereafter, the network communication control means receives a CNG (Calling tone) from the facsimile apparatus. Check the signal If it is issued, the facsimile data from the facsimile apparatus is converted into an e-mail format and sent to another communication terminal, and the network communication control means does not detect a CNG (Calling tone) signal from the facsimile apparatus. In this case, there is provided a network communication method characterized in that voice data from the facsimile apparatus is packetized and transmitted to another communication terminal, and the packetized data is received and converted into voice data .
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows a state in which an Internet communication control device 1 as a network communication control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention to which a facsimile telephone 2 as a facsimile device is connected is connected to the Internet 5 via a LAN 4. FIG. The Internet 5 includes another Internet communication control device 1, a computer 6 having an Internet facsimile function, a dedicated Internet facsimile device 7, and a gatekeeper 8 that associates an IP address and an electronic mail address with a telephone number via another LAN. Etc. are connected to constitute an Internet communication control system according to the present invention.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the Internet communication control device 1. The communication control device 1 includes a facsimile communication control unit 12 connected to the telephone with facsimile 2 via the interface unit 11 to perform facsimile processing, and a network control unit 13 for controlling communication with the LAN 4 side connected to the LAN 4. Are connected to the LAN 4 side according to the SMTP protocol in accordance with the SMTP protocol, the SMTP transmission / reception processing unit 14, the facsimile communication control unit 12 and the SMTP transmission / reception processing unit 14, and the facsimile data from the facsimile telephone 2 is converted into mail data. A mail data generation / development unit 15 for converting and converting mail data from the LAN 4 side to facsimile data is provided. In addition, in order to perform telephone call processing, the terminal is connected to the facsimile-equipped telephone 2 via the interface unit 11 to packetize voices every predetermined time and to develop voices packetized and sent from the LAN 4 side. A packet generation / expansion unit 16 and a VOIP processing unit 17 connected to the packet generation / expansion unit 16 and the network control unit 13 in order to control the Internet telephone procedure according to a standard procedure described later. Here, a CNG (Calling tone) detection unit 18 is connected to the facsimile telephone 2 via the interface unit 11 in order to determine whether a telephone call is made from the facsimile telephone 2 or a facsimile transmission is performed. When CNG from the telephone 2 is detected, the facsimile telephone 2 is processed by the facsimile communication control unit 12, the mail data generation / decompression unit 15, and the SMTP transmission / reception processing unit 14 in order to perform the facsimile processing (facsimile mode). If CNG from the telephone set 2 is not detected, the packet generation / expansion unit 16 and the VOIP processing unit 17 perform processing for telephone call processing.
[0014]
On the other hand, a telephone number acquisition unit 19 is connected to the facsimile telephone 2 via an interface unit 11. The telephone number acquisition unit 19 temporarily stores the telephone number input from the facsimile-equipped telephone 2 in the storage unit 20, and the gatekeeper 8 via the gatekeeper inquiry unit 21, the network control unit 13, the LAN 4, and the Internet 5. The IP address and / or mail address corresponding to the telephone number entered in is inquired and obtained. Needless to say, the mail data generation / decompression unit 15 and the packet generation / decompression unit 16 are also connected to the storage unit 20 to store the data generated / development by them.
[0015]
Note that an off-hook detection unit 22 and a DT (Dial tone) generation unit 23 are also connected to the facsimile telephone 2 via the interface unit 11 so that when the facsimile telephone 2 is off-hooked, dialing is performed to prompt a call from the facsimile telephone 2. The tone is sent to the telephone 2 with facsimile.
[0016]
Below, with reference to FIGS. 3-5, the principal part of the operating procedure of the said internet communication control apparatus 1, especially a telephone and a facsimile transmission procedure is demonstrated. First, as shown in FIG. 4, a GRQ (Gatekeeper Request) command from each Internet communication control device 1 to the gatekeeper 8, a GCF (Gatekeeper Confirmation) command from the gatekeeper 8 to each Internet communication control device 1, Before the normal transmission / reception is performed by the RRQ (registration request) command from the Internet communication control device 1 to the gatekeeper 8 and the RCF (registration confirmation) command from the gatekeeper 8 to each Internet communication control device 1, a facsimile is attached in advance. It is assumed that the telephone number of the telephone 2 and the telephone number on the Internet communication control apparatus 1 side and the corresponding IP address and mail address are registered.
[0017]
3 and 4, when the hook-off detection unit 22 of the Internet communication control device 1 detects an off-hook (step 1), a dial tone is transmitted from the DT (Dial tone) generation unit 23 to the facsimile. This is sent to the attached telephone 2 (step 2), and the DTMF reception mode is set (DT in FIG. 4, step 3). Then, the telephone number received by DTMF in step 4 is stored in the storage unit 20, and the IP address and / or mail address corresponding to the telephone number input to the gatekeeper 8 via the network control unit 13, the LAN 4 and the Internet 5 (ARQ (call admission judgment request) in FIG. 4, step 5), and this is acquired (ACF (call admission judgment confirmation) in FIG. 4, step 6).
[0018]
When the ACF is returned from the gatekeeper 8 to the transmitting-side Internet communication control device 1, a Setup command is sent from the transmitting-side Internet communication control device 1 to the receiving-side Internet communication control device 1, and the receiving-side Internet communication control device 1 and the gatekeeper 8 Call acceptance judgment by ARQ and ACF commands is performed between the receiving side Internet communication control device 1 and the transmitting side Internet communication control device 1, a Connect command is sent to the sending side Internet communication control device 1 and the receiving side Internet communication. Connection with the control apparatus 1 is established (ARQ, ACF, Setup, Connect in FIG. 4).
[0019]
Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the gatekeeper 8 manages a correspondence table of telephone numbers, IP addresses, and mail addresses, and returns IP addresses and mail addresses when the telephone numbers are transmitted. .
[0020]
Then, in step 7, it is determined whether or not CNG from the telephone with facsimile 2 is detected by the CNG detection unit 18, and if CNG is not detected, it is determined that a telephone call is selected and the process proceeds to step 8. . In step 8, the acquired IP address is connected and the process proceeds to step 9 where the voice is packetized by the packet generation / expansion unit 16 and sent to the connected IP address, or the packetized voice is expanded and the facsimile telephone is connected. 2 until the on-hook is detected at step 10 or CNG is detected at step 11. 245, H.M. 323, G.G. Call processing is performed in accordance with the procedure defined in 729 (H.245, G.729 in FIG. 4). When the call is finished and on-hook is detected in step 10, as shown in FIG. 4, the DRQ command from the transmission-side Internet communication control device 1 to the gatekeeper 8, and the transmission-side Internet communication control device 1 to the reception-side Internet communication control. Release Complete command to the device 1, DRQ command from the receiving-side Internet communication control device 1 to the gatekeeper 8, DCF command from the gatekeeper 8 to the transmitting-side Internet communication control device 1, and the receiving-side Internet communication control device 1 to the receiving side The communication is terminated by performing a call termination process such as a Disconnect command to the Internet communication control device 1 and a DCF command from the gatekeeper 8 to the receiving-side Internet communication control device 1.
[0021]
On the other hand, when CNG is detected in step 7 or step 11, the facsimile mode is set (step 13), facsimile data is received from the telephone with facsimile 2 (G3 in FIG. 4, step 14), and stored in the storage unit 20. (Step 15), converted into mail data (Step 16). Then, the mail destination is set to the mail address acquired in steps 5 and 6 (step 17), and the converted mail data is transmitted to the transmission partner via the mail server (not shown) by the SMTP protocol (Release, SMTP in FIG. 4). Step 18), the process is terminated. In the receiving-side Internet communication control device 1, the received mail data is converted into facsimile data, the facsimile device connected to the Internet communication control device 1 is called, and the facsimile data is transmitted (Call, G3 in FIG. 4). Step 14). Thereafter, the above call termination process is performed and the process is terminated.
[0022]
Although the above configuration shows the case where the telephone with facsimile 2 is connected to the Internet communication control apparatus 1, the packet in the Internet communication control apparatus 1 is shown when a facsimile apparatus that does not assume a telephone call is connected. The generation / development unit 16 and the VOIP processing unit 17 are not required, and the above steps 8 to 11 are not required. Other configurations and processing procedures are the same as described above.
[0023]
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the same portions as FIG. 2, and the detailed description thereof is omitted. In this configuration, an Internet (network) communication device 31 with a facsimile and telephone function is connected to the LAN 4 in place of the Internet communication control device.
[0024]
In order to realize the same function as the facsimile transmission processing, an operation unit 32 for inputting various settings, a destination (telephone number), and the like, and a scanner unit 33 for reading an image of a document are connected to the storage unit 20. Image data read by the scanner unit 33 is stored in the storage unit 20, converted into mail data by the mail data generation / decompression unit 15, and transmitted via the SMTP transmission / reception processing unit 14 and the network control unit 13. Yes. In order to realize the same function as the facsimile reception process, a printer unit 34 is connected to the mail data generation / decompression unit 15 so that the received mail data is expanded and printed. Further, the transmission / reception unit 35 is connected to the packet generation / expansion unit 16 so that Internet telephone calls can be made via the VOIP processing unit 17 and the network control unit 13. Other structures such as an inquiry to the gatekeeper 8 are the same as those in the first embodiment. In this configuration, the network control unit 13, the SMTP transmission / reception processing unit 14, the mail data generation / decompression unit 15, the packet generation / decompression unit 16, the VOIP processing unit 17, the storage unit 20, and the gatekeeper inquiry unit 21 are connected to the network communication. It corresponds to the control means.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the network communication control system of the present invention, a network communication control system configured to send and receive e-mails and make phone calls between network communication control devices on the network, which is connected to the network. And a gatekeeper having a correspondence table in which two telephone addresses, two addresses including a mail address and an IP address are associated with each other, a facsimile apparatus connected to the network communication control apparatus and capable of making a telephone call, and the facsimile When a telephone number is input from the apparatus, the gatekeeper is inquired to obtain a corresponding mail address and IP address. Thereafter, when a CNG (Calling tone) signal is detected from the facsimile apparatus, the facsimile If the facsimile data from the remote device is converted into an e-mail format and sent to the e-mail address, and the CNG (Calling tone) signal is not detected from the facsimile device, the acquired IP address is used. And a network communication control device that converts voice data from the facsimile device into voice packets and transmits them to other devices, and receives the packetized data and converts them into voice data. No need for a table, just updating the correspondence table of the gatekeeper, so it is easy to connect a network communication control device and a facsimile machine to the network or when the correspondence between telephone numbers and e-mail addresses changes. Network communication The ease of control device initialization and maintenance is improved. In addition, in succession after a call by the Internet telephone can be facsimile transmission, thereby enhancing usability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network communication control system showing a state in which an Internet communication control device as a network communication control device according to the present invention connected to a telephone with a facsimile is connected to the Internet via a LAN.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the Internet communication control device according to the first embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of an Internet communication control system and a communication control apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an operation procedure of an Internet communication control system and a communication control apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a correspondence table managed by a gatekeeper constituting the Internet communication control system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an Internet communication apparatus according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Internet communication control device 2 Telephone with facsimile 4 LAN
5 Internet 6 Computer 7 Internet facsimile machine 8 Gatekeeper 11 Interface unit 12 Facsimile communication control unit 13 Network control unit 14 SMTP transmission / reception processing unit 15 Mail data generation / decompression unit 16 Packet generation / decompression unit 17 VOIP processing unit 18 CNG detection unit 19 Telephone number acquisition unit 20 Storage unit 21 Gatekeeper inquiry unit 22 Hook-off detection unit 23 DT generation unit 31 Internet communication device 32 Operation unit 33 Scanner unit 34 Printer unit 35 Transmission / reception unit

Claims (3)

A network communication control system configured to send and receive e-mails and telephone calls between network communication control devices on a network, and is connected to a network and supports two addresses consisting of one telephone number, a mail address and an IP address A gatekeeper having a correspondence table attached thereto, a facsimile apparatus connected to the network communication control apparatus and capable of making a telephone call, and an e-mail address and an IP address corresponding to an inquiry to the gatekeeper when a telephone number is input from the facsimile apparatus When an address is acquired and then a CNG (Calling tone) signal is detected from the facsimile apparatus, the facsimile data from the facsimile apparatus is converted into an e-mail format and the acquired mail address is converted. If the CNG (Calling tone) signal is not detected from the facsimile apparatus, the voice data from the facsimile apparatus is converted into a voice packet using the acquired IP address and transmitted to another apparatus. And a network communication control device that receives the packetized data and converts it into voice data . A facsimile communication apparatus capable of making a telephone call and a network communication control apparatus connected to a network and configured to send and receive e-mails with other apparatuses and to make a telephone call. When a telephone number is input from the facsimile apparatus Inquires of a gatekeeper having a correspondence table that is connected to a network and associates two addresses consisting of one telephone number, a mail address and an IP address, and obtains the corresponding mail address and IP address. When a CNG (Calling tone) signal is detected from the apparatus, the facsimile data from the facsimile apparatus is converted into an e-mail format, and e-mail is transmitted to another apparatus, and the CNG (Calling tone) is transmitted from the facsimile apparatus. e) When no signal is detected, the network communication control apparatus characterized in that the voice data from the facsimile apparatus is packetized and transmitted to another apparatus, and the packetized data is received and converted into voice data. A network communication method for carrying out a facsimile communication and a telephone call between a network communication control means on a network and another communication terminal, comprising two telephone numbers, a mail address and an IP address for a gatekeeper on the network A correspondence table in which two addresses are associated with each other is stored in advance, and a facsimile apparatus capable of making a telephone call is connected to the network communication control means, and a telephone number is input from the facsimile apparatus to the network communication control means. When the network communication control means detects a CNG (Calling tone) signal from the facsimile apparatus, the network communication control means then obtains a corresponding mail address and IP address by inquiring the gatekeeper. If the simil data is converted into an e-mail format and sent to another communication terminal by e-mail, and the network communication control means does not detect a CNG (Calling tone) signal from the facsimile machine, the voice data from the facsimile machine is sent. A network communication method characterized in that packetized data is transmitted to another communication terminal and the packetized data is received and converted into voice data.

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