JP3934043B2 - Network terminal equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a network terminal device such as a network facsimile device, for example, when received facsimile image information is received by another terminal device (for example, a personal computer device or the like), it has been performed using electronic mail.
[0003]
There has also been proposed an apparatus (see Patent Document 1) that stores data using various transfer protocols on a network.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-111931
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when image information is transferred using electronic mail, a mail server is required in the network to which the network terminal device belongs.
[0006]
In this way, the conventional network terminal device uses e-mail when transferring image information, so a mail server is required for the network, and a small-scale office can construct a mail server, Complicated setting work such as setting has occurred.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network terminal device capable of easily transferring facsimile image information.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line. A shared area accessible from the terminal device is provided, a shared area for each sender in which the sender identification information is set as the identification information is set in the shared area, and additional image information is set in the shared area for each sender. When the destination-specific shared area in which the destination identification information is set in the identification information is set lower than the sender-specific shared area and the transmission image information is stored in the destination-specific shared area, The identification information set in the separate shared area is acquired as destination identification information, and the stored transmission image information and the above-mentioned transmission above the shared area by destination are stored. The additional image information stored in the finisher by the shared area, in which is to be sent to the destination of the acquired destination identification information.
[0009]
In addition, in a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line, other terminal devices A shared area accessible from the sender, a sender-specific shared area is set in the shared area, and the sender contact information is set in the sender-shared area. A sender information file in which predetermined information including the destination information is stored, and the destination-specific shared area in which the destination identification information is set in the identification information is further set lower than the sender-specific shared area. When transmission image information is saved in the area, the identification information set in the shared area for each destination is acquired as the destination identification information, and the saved transmission The information is transmitted to the destination of the acquired destination identification information, and the sender information file stored in the sender-specific shared area above the destination-specific shared area is acquired and the transmission result is notified. It is a thing.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013]
In the figure, a plurality of workstation devices WS1 to WSn and a network facsimile device FX are connected to the local area network LAN and connected to the Internet via a router device RT. Therefore, the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn and the network facsimile apparatus FX can exchange data with other appropriate terminal apparatuses via the Internet.
[0014]
Further, the workstation devices WS1 to WSn include a file sharing area access function (SMB client function; described later) that allows access to a sharing area provided in another terminal device (for example, the network facsimile apparatus FX), 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 have been introduced and used by specific users. It is what is done. Here, the specific user may be one or a plurality of users.
[0015]
Further, the network facsimile apparatus FX exchanges a file sharing function (SMB server function, which will be described later), image information, various reports, and the like as an e-mail to make it possible to access the shared area provided in the terminal from the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn. And a transmission function for connecting to an analog public line network PSTN and performing image information transmission according to a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure using the public network as a transmission path.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the network facsimile apparatus FX.
[0017]
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.
[0018]
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.
[0019]
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.
[0020]
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.
[0021]
The network control apparatus 11 is for connecting the network facsimile apparatus FX to the analog public line network PSTN, and has an automatic outgoing / incoming function.
[0022]
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.
[0023]
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.
[0024]
Data exchange between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is performed directly.
[0025]
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.
[0026]
Further, when accessing a shared area provided in the network facsimile apparatus FX, an SMB (Server Message Block) protocol is used.
[0027]
Further, communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, POP, and data format and data structure of e-mail are defined by RFC documents issued from IETF. For example, RFC is defined as RFC793, IP as RFC793, SMTP as RFC821, and e-mail format as defined by RFC822, RFC1521, RFC1522 (MIME (Multipurpose Mail Extension) format), respectively.
[0028]
SMB is a protocol that realizes file sharing and printer sharing over a network using Microsoft Windows NT / XP, Windows 95/98/2000, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “Windows OS”). This is application software used by LAN Manager in the so-called MS-DOS era that uses NetBIOS. The SMB protocol is an original protocol developed mainly by Microsoft, and is still being improved, but it has been officially documented so that it can be used as a file sharing service on the Internet. Common Internet File System) protocol, and its specifications are open to the public. In a UNIX-based OS environment (so-called PC-Unix such as Solaris of Sun Microsystems, Linux, FreeBSD, and Net-BSD), Samba, which is a file / printer sharing service that implements the SMB / CIFS protocol, can be used.
[0029]
“Unix” refers to The Open Group Ltd. Is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries licensed exclusively by.
[0030]
Then, the network facsimile apparatus FX transfers the read document image to another group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public line network PSTN, or via the local area network LAN (or the Internet), workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn. Image information received from other group 3 facsimile apparatuses via the analog public line network PSTN to the user corresponding to the subaddress designated at that time, Transfer service function for transferring image information received from the workstation device WS of the local area network LAN to the group 3 facsimile device of the designated analog public line network PSTN It is equipped with a.
[0031]
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.
[0032]
In this embodiment, the SMB client function can be used simply by installing a Windows OS on the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn, so that the shared area provided in the network facsimile apparatus FX is appropriately accessed. Therefore, it is not necessary to install other special software in order to provide the SMB client function, which is very convenient.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a folder (also referred to as a “directory”) for each transmission user is formed in the shared area provided in the network facsimile apparatus FX, and the destination user folder is classified into each transmission user folder. The destination folder information and the contact information file are stored. Further, transmission image information is stored in each destination folder.
[0034]
Here, the shared area can be accessed as a shared folder named “¥¥ Server ¥ Share” via the local area network LAN. In this case, “Server” is a host name, and “Share” is a top-level identification name (shared folder name) of the shared folder.
[0035]
In addition, folder names “NAME_USER1,” “NAME_USER2,”... Are given to the transmission user folder. Normally, a specific user name is applied to each of “USER1” and “USER2”.
[0036]
Further, folder names “FAX_ (destination # 1)”, “FAX_ (destination # 2)”,..., “FAX_ (destination #n)” are given to the destination folder. The destination folder name portion “(destination # 1)” is given the contents of the telephone number of the destination facsimile.
[0037]
The file name of cover page information stored in the transmission user folder is “Coverpage.tif”, and the file name of the contact information file is “Senderinfo.txt”.
[0038]
Further, the contact information file in this case is a text file, and includes a description of an e-mail address applied to notify the transmission user of the transmission result and the like. In addition, when a means other than electronic mail is used as the contact means, the contents of the contact address corresponding to the contact means are described. For example, if the transmission result is notified to the group 3 facsimile apparatus, the contents of the destination telephone number of the group 3 facsimile apparatus that wants to receive the transmission result can be described. In addition, a plurality of types of communication means and contact information (e-mail address, destination telephone number, etc.) corresponding to the type of the communication means are described in pairs, and a desired one is selected by designation of the transmission user. It can also be done.
[0039]
With the above configuration, when the transmission image information is stored in one of the destination folders from the workstation device WS via the local area network LAN, the destination telephone number is obtained by referring to the name of the destination folder, A call is made to the acquired destination telephone number, and the stored transmission image information is transmitted using the group 3 facsimile transmission procedure.
[0040]
At that time, when the cover page image information is stored in the destination folder in which the transmission image information is stored, the cover page image information is transmitted as the image information of the first page. It is transmitted as image information for the second and subsequent pages.
[0041]
If the contact information file is stored in the destination folder where the transmission image information is stored, the e-mail notifying the transmission result at that time is sent to the e-mail address described in the contact information file. Send.
[0042]
In this way, in this embodiment, it is possible to identify the transmission user who requests the network facsimile apparatus FX to transmit the image information, and therefore it is possible to provide an appropriate service for each transmission user. For example, the cover sheet image information can be transmitted to the first page when the image information is transmitted, and the transmission result can be transmitted to a destination described in the contact information file.
[0043]
FIG. 4 shows an example of image information transmission processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX.
[0044]
First, the network facsimile apparatus FX monitors the reception of an SMB request from a user of any workstation apparatus WS (NO loop of decision 101).
[0045]
When the SMB request is received, the access right is checked for the user at that time (process 102), and it is checked whether or not the requested access is permitted (decision 103). When the result of determination 103 is NO, the SMB request at that time is not accepted and the process ends in error.
[0046]
If the result of determination 103 is YES, the type of the SMB request received at that time is determined (process 104), and it is checked whether the file is stored (determination 105). When the result of determination 105 is NO, the processing requested at that time is performed (processing 106).
[0047]
If the result of determination 105 is YES, the received file is saved in the designated area (process 107). The designated area in this case is one of the destination folders of the transmission user folder described above. Next, image information transmission processing is performed on the stored image information file (processing 108), and the image information file whose transmission has been completed is deleted (processing 109).
[0048]
Then, it is checked whether or not the contact information (Senderinfo.txt) is stored in the upper transmission user folder of the destination folder that stores the image information file (decision 110). When the result of determination 110 is YES, a transmission result notification process (process 111) for notifying the transmission result of process 108 is executed, and this operation is terminated. Further, when the result of determination 110 is NO, processing 111 is not executed.
[0049]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the image information transmission process (process 108).
[0050]
First, the folder name of the destination folder in which the transmission image information file is stored is read, the “(destination # 1)” portion is extracted, and the destination information is acquired (process 201).
[0051]
Next, a call is made to the destination telephone number, which is the destination information acquired in the process 201, using the network control device 11 (process 202), a predetermined pre-transmission procedure process is performed, and the communication function is negotiated with the partner terminal. Etc. (process 203).
[0052]
Here, it is checked whether cover page image information (Coverpage.tif) is stored in the transmission user folder higher than the destination folder storing the image information file at that time (determination 204).
[0053]
When the result of determination 204 is YES, cover page image information is transmitted as image information for the first page (process 205), and a predetermined post-message procedure is performed (process 206). Further, when the result of determination 204 is NO, processes 205 and 206 are not performed.
[0054]
Next, a value “1” is assigned to the counter P for managing the number of transmitted pages of the body (process 207), and the image information of the P page is transmitted (process 208). Next, it is checked whether there is a next transmission page (determination 209). When the result of determination 209 is YES, a predetermined post-message procedure is executed (processing 210), and the value of the counter P is incremented by one ( The process 211) and the process 208 are returned, and the image information transmission operation for the next page is performed.
[0055]
Further, when the transmission of all pages is completed and the result of determination 209 is NO, a signal EOP is sent as a post-message signal (process 212), and a response signal is received from the destination terminal (process 213). The signal DCN is transmitted (process 214), the line is restored (process 215), and the series of image information transmission operations is terminated.
[0056]
FIG. 6 shows an example of the transmission result notification process (process 111).
[0057]
First, header information of a predetermined e-mail is created using the e-mail address of the sending user described in the notification destination information file, the e-mail address set in the terminal itself, etc. (process 301), and the transmission result Is created (process 302).
[0058]
Then, the electronic mail composed of the header information created in the process 301 and the text information created in the process 302 is transmitted to a mail server (not shown) (process 303), and this process is terminated.
[0059]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the group 3 facsimile transmission function is provided as the image information communication function has been described. The present invention can be similarly applied.
[0060]
The present invention can also be similarly applied to a network communication terminal device (so-called network scanner device, MFP, etc.) having a communication function (transmission function) of image information.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since it is possible to identify the transmission user who requests the network facsimile apparatus to transmit image information, it is possible to provide an appropriate service for each transmission user. obtain. For example, it is possible to transmit cover page image information to the first page when transmitting image information, and to transmit a transmission result to a destination described in a contact information file.
[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 a configuration of a shared area provided in the network facsimile apparatus FX.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing at the time of image information transmission executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image information transmission processing (processing 108).
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a transmission result notification process (process 111).
[Explanation of symbols]
1 System control unit 2 System memory 3 Parameter memory

Claims (2)

In a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line,
The own terminal, provided access a shared area from the other terminal devices, in the shared area, set the sender-specific shared area set the transmission source identification information to the identification information,
In the shared area for each sender , the additional image information is stored, and the shared area for each destination in which the destination identification information is set in the identification information is set lower than the shared area for each sender.
When transmission image information is stored in the destination-specific shared area , the identification information set in the destination-specific shared area is acquired as destination identification information, and the stored transmission image information and the higher-level of the destination-specific shared area A network terminal device , wherein the additional image information stored in the sender-specific shared area is transmitted to a destination of the acquired destination identification information . In a network terminal device having a network communication function for exchanging data via a network and a facsimile communication function for exchanging image information by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public line,
The own terminal, provided access a shared area from the other terminal devices, in the shared area, set the sender-specific shared area set the transmission source identification information to the identification information,
In the shared area for each sender, a sender information file in which predetermined information including the sender's contact information is recorded is stored, and the shared area for each destination in which the destination identification information is set in the identification information is transmitted. Set further below the shared area
When transmission image information is stored in the destination-specific shared area , the identification information set in the destination-specific shared area is acquired as destination identification information, and the stored transmission image information is used as the destination of the acquired destination identification information. A network terminal device characterized in that the sender information file stored in the sender-specific shared area above the destination shared area is acquired and a transmission result is notified .

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