JP4201053B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that transmits and receives facsimile data via an IP network using the Internet protocol (IP).

  Recently, with the spread of the Internet, various services using the Internet line have been proposed, and a facsimile for transmitting and receiving facsimile data via the Internet has also been proposed. Such a facsimile is an Internet facsimile (hereinafter referred to as IP-FAX). is called.

  When a private network is configured by a plurality of terminal devices including such IP-FAX and the IP-FAX is directly accessed from an external IP-FAX or the like connected to the Internet via the router device, An IP-FAX port number to be accessed together with the global IP address is required.

  That is, when an IP-FAX is connected to a private network and the IP-FAX is accessed directly from an external device connected to the Internet via the router device, the external device URL and the IP-FAX private network When the above port number is input and transmitted, the transmitted packet is received by the router device. In this router device, the IP-FAX private IP address connected to the private network and the port number are stored in association with each other, and the IP address associated with the destination port number of the transmission packet received by the router device. By transmitting the transmission packet to the IP-FAX having the transmission packet, the transmission packet from the external device on the Internet can be received by the IP-FAX.

By the way, in the case where a plurality of IP-FAXs having the same initial port number value are connected to a private network, although the private IP address of each IP-FAX is different, the port number is the same. The IP-FAX cannot be directly accessed from the connected external device via the router device.
For this reason, conventionally, when connecting to an IP-FAX private network or when it is necessary to change the IP-FAX port number, the IP-FAX port number is changed and the IP-FAX port is connected to the private network. The router device is accessed from a Web browser of a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer), and the port number setting of the router device is changed.

  On the other hand, IP addresses that do not overlap each other are fixedly assigned in advance to terminal devices such as WWW servers and mail servers directly connected to the Internet. However, it is difficult for humans to identify such IP addresses. For this reason, a DNS (Domain Name System) that manages a domain name and a host name that are easily identified by a person in association with an IP address is used. Using this DNS system, it is possible to convert to an IP address by specifying a domain name or a host name and making an inquiry, and it is widely used in the current Internet.

  However, in such a DNS system, it is necessary to register the host name and IP address of each terminal device in a one-to-one correspondence in the DNS server database, and the host name of each terminal device to be registered. And the IP address must be fixed, and it is difficult to apply to a private network system of a so-called dynamic IP address system in which the IP address changes with each connection to the network.

  For this reason, in a private network system adopting the dynamic IP address system, as a router as a communication terminal, every time a router accesses the communication network, a dynamic network including at least an IP address and a host name assigned to the router. A dedicated router having a function of registering DNS (DDNS) information in a DNS server for dynamic IP is used.

  As mentioned above, IP-FAX port forwarding settings are conventionally managed by a router. If the port number used by IP-FAX is changed, it is necessary to perform maintenance on the router side as well. There was a problem that it took.

  That is, the IP-FAX has various server functions such as an HTTP server function for taking on the role of a document management server such as storage of received facsimile documents, and operations for remotely accessing these server functions. Therefore, it is necessary to set a plurality of ports in the apparatus, and in that case, maintenance has to be performed together with the router side, which causes a problem that a very troublesome operation is required.

  In addition, when another system is newly introduced into the private network and the port setting of that system must be prioritized, the IP-FAX port setting must be changed. It took time and effort to change port forwarding settings.

  On the other hand, as described above, every time a router is connected to a communication network, it is necessary to register dynamic DNS information including at least an IP address and a host name assigned to the router in the dynamic IP DNS server. However, recently, a broadband environment has already been constructed, and if a dedicated router is arranged for DDNS, routers are duplicated, making it difficult to construct a system. For this reason, it is conceivable to incorporate a router function in the facsimile apparatus. However, if the router function is incorporated in the facsimile apparatus, there arises a problem that the facsimile apparatus becomes expensive.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can easily perform port forwarding settings, can use a DDNS system without requiring a dedicated router, can be easily constructed, and can be maintained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile machine having the characteristics.

In order to achieve the above object, the facsimile apparatus of the invention according to claim 1 is connected via a LAN to a router connected to an Internet network provided with an external server for managing domain names corresponding to IP addresses. And a storage means for storing the address information and account information of the external server and the domain name of the own apparatus, and a registration means for registering or updating the domain name and address information of the own apparatus in the external server. When an acquisition unit for acquiring the global address information of the router, the and means for counting the time of the domain name and address information of its own device to the external server after the registration or updating, the obtaining unit is a predetermined to obtain the global address information periodically the router by interval, is obtained global address information If it is changed from the round of acquiring information, said with registration means immediately updates the domain name and address information of the own apparatus, when the acquired global address information has not been changed since the last acquisition information, the time the determination whether a predetermined time after registration or the last update based on the time information of the means for counting has elapsed, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the registration or the last update, the registration means the own device The domain name and address information is updated.

  According to the facsimile apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, since the domain name of the own apparatus is automatically registered in the external server apparatus, the DDNS system can be used without requiring a dedicated router. In addition to simplifying the construction, the global address information of the router is periodically acquired at a predetermined interval, and if it has been changed from the previous acquisition information, the registered information registered in the external server is immediately updated. In addition, the DDNS server needs to update the registration information at regular intervals, but the registration information is automatically updated when a predetermined time has elapsed since the address information was registered in the external server. Can be easily maintained.

Embodiments of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration example when the facsimile apparatus of the present invention is connected to the Internet.
As shown in FIG. 1, an Internet facsimile machine (IP-FAX) 1 and a personal computer (PC) 2 are connected to a router 4 via a LAN (Local Area Network) 3. The router 4 is connected to an Internet network 6 via a WAN (Wide Area Network) 5, and a DDNS server 7 is provided on the Internet network 6.

  The router 4 is assigned a global IP address, for example, “200.1.10.100” from an ISP (Internet service provider) when connected to the Internet. The router 4 has “192.168.1.1” as a private IP address, and stores a communication port and a private IP address of a transfer destination in association with each other as shown in FIG. A private IP address “192.168.1.100” is assigned to FAX 1 and a private IP address “192.168.1.300” is assigned to PC 2. Further, the private IP address of the router 4, the global IP address, the server address of the DDNS server 7, account information, and the like are registered in the IP-FAX 1.

  As shown in the hardware configuration block diagram of FIG. 3, the IP-FAX 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a display / operation unit 14, a reading unit 15, an image memory 16, The recording unit 17, codec 18, modem 19, network control unit NCU 20, timer 21, and LAN interface (I / F) 22 are connected to each other via a bus 23.

  The CPU 11 controls the hardware parts of the IP-FAX 1 via the bus 23 and executes various programs based on the programs stored in the ROM 12. The ROM 12 performs various programs and operations necessary for the operation of the IP-FAX 1. Messages and the like are stored in advance. The RAM 13 is composed of an SRAM or the like, stores temporary data generated when the program is executed, and the private IP address of the router 4, the global IP address acquired when the router 4 is connected to the communication network, 4 stores the address of the DDNS server 7 as shown in FIG. 4, for example, “ddns.server1”, account information such as a user ID and password, and the domain name of the own apparatus, for example, “ip.fax.net”.

  The display / operation unit 14 includes a display unit that displays the operation state of the IP-FAX 1 and displays operation screens of various functions, and a plurality of keys for operating the IP-FAX 1, as shown in FIG. As described above, the display unit 31 includes an LCD display unit 31 and a number of operation keys. The LCD display unit 31 is provided with a touch panel switch, and by pressing an item part displayed on the LCD display unit 31, a corresponding item can be selected and a function can be executed. As operation keys, various keys such as a numeric keypad 32, a start key 33, a reset key 34, a stop key 35, a plurality of one-touch dial keys 36, a cross key 37, a return key 38, and a set key 39 are provided. Note that some or all of these operation keys can be substituted by the LCD display unit 31.

  The reading unit 15 includes a reading document placing table such as an auto document feeder (ADF) or a flatbed scanner (FBS), reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data converted into black and white binary. . The image memory 16 is configured by using a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted or received image data or image data read by the reading unit 15, and a recording unit 17 is a printer device such as an electrophotographic system. Prepare and print out the received data.

  The codec 18 encodes and decodes in accordance with a predetermined protocol. In order to transmit the image data of the read original, the codec 18 is encoded by the MH, MR, or MMR method, and decodes the image data received from the outside. Also, encoding and decoding are also performed in correspondence with the TIFF method, which is an image format generally used as a file that can be attached to an e-mail.

  The modem 19 is connected to the bus 23 and has a function as a fax modem capable of facsimile communication. The modem 19 is also connected to the NCU 20 connected to the bus 23. The NCU 20 is hardware that closes and opens an analog line, connects the modem 19 to the public line network (PSTN) 8 as necessary, and the timer 21 measures time.

  The LAN I / F 22 is connected to the LAN 3 and receives a signal from the Internet network 6 via the router 4, and transmits a signal and data to the LAN 3. An interface for signal conversion, protocol conversion, etc. Execute the process.

  The registration means and acquisition means of claim 1 are constituted by the CPU 11, the ROM 12, the RAM 13, and the LAN I / F 22, all of which functions are executed by a program stored in the ROM 12.

  The IP-FAX 1 has the above-described configuration. During G3 facsimile transmission, image data of a document is read by the reading unit 15, compressed by the codec 18, and stored in the image memory 16. The compressed image data is read from the image memory 16, modulated by the modem 19, and transmitted from the NCU 20 to the communication partner through the PSTN 8. At the time of facsimile reception, the received image data is demodulated by the modem 19, stored in the image memory 16, decoded by the codec 18, and printed by the recording unit 17.

  Also, when performing e-mail transmission, the CPU 11 converts the image data stored in the image memory 16 into a file format (for example, TIFF format file) that can be attached to the e-mail by the codec 18 and attaches it for e-mail. An e-mail is sent by creating a file and sending a mail with the created attached file to the mail address included in the destination information via the LAN I / F 22.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the IP-FAX 1 has the communication port “8000” as the communication type “HTTP”, the communication port “2500” as the communication type “SMTP”, and the communication port “6000” as the communication type “IP”. -FAX "is set in association with" FAX ". When such a port number is set when the IP-FAX1 is connected to the private network or when the port number is changed, the IP-FAX1 automatically sets the router 4 The operation of the IP-FAX 1 at the time of this port transfer setting will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The CPU 11 of the IP-FAX 1 always executes the port setting / change program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7. When this program is started, the CPU 11 first determines whether or not the port information has been changed (step 101). If the port information has not been changed, the process returns to step 101. On the other hand, when the user changes the port setting from the LCD display unit 31 or the like of the display / operation unit 14, the CPU 11 transmits a port transfer setting acquisition command to the private address of the router 4 stored in the RAM 13. (Step 102).

  As a result, the port transfer setting information for accessing the inside from the outside via the router 4 is returned from the router 4, and the CPU 11 compares the port transfer setting information with the port changed by the user, so that the user can It is determined whether or not the changed port can be used (step 103). If the port setting changed by the user is already used in the router 4 and the port cannot be used, the CPU 11 displays on the LCD display unit 31 that the port setting set by the user is not usable, Alternatively, an error is notified by notifying the recording unit 17 by list printing (step 104).

  If it is determined in step 103 that the port changed by the user is usable, the CPU 11 transmits a port transfer setting command to the router 4 (step 105), and the program ends. Thereby, the port forwarding setting of the router 4 is automatically updated with the port setting changed by the user.

  In the above embodiment, it is determined whether or not the port changed by the user is usable based on the port transfer setting information from the router 4, but prior to the user port change, the port transfer setting information of the router 4 by the IP-FAX1. It is also possible for the user to check the current port transfer setting of the router 4 and to select a vacant port and change the port by printing it by the recording unit 17.

  Further, the port setting can be performed automatically based on the port transfer setting information of the router 4 acquired by the IP-FAX 1. Hereinafter, the operation of the IP-FAX 1 when the port setting is performed fully automatically will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  For example, when the user instructs automatic port setting from the LCD display unit 31, the CPU 11 of the IP-FAX 1 starts a port automatic setting program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8. First, the CPU 11 stores the router 4 stored in the RAM 13. A port transfer setting acquisition command is transmitted to the private address (step 201). As a result, since the port transfer setting information is returned from the router 4, the CPU 11 determines a port to be used in its own device by selecting an available port based on the port transfer setting information of the router 4 (step 202). ).

  Next, the CPU 11 transmits a port transfer setting command including the determined port information to the router 4, sets the determined port setting in the router 4 (step 203), and then displays the determined port setting on the LCD display unit 31. (Step 204).

As described above, by instructing automatic port setting, the IP-FAX 1 automatically determines the port to be used in its own device, updates the router's port forwarding settings, and determines it on the LCD display unit 31. Since the port setting is displayed, the user can check the automatically set port information.
In this case, it is necessary to set the port for each function in the IP-FAX 1, but it is also possible to specify the function used by the user and set the port so that only the instructed function can be used.

Next, the operation of the IP-FAX 1 when updating the address information for the DDNS server 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The CPU 11 of the IP-FAX 1 always executes the address information update program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, and the CPU 11 periodically sends an IP address acquisition command on the WAN 5 side to the private address of the router 4 stored in the RAM 13. Transmit the global IP address of the router 4 (step 301).

  Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the acquired address has been changed from the global IP address stored in the RAM 13 (step 302), and when the acquired address is different from the IP address stored in the RAM 13 The CPU 11 rewrites the global IP address stored in the RAM 13 with the acquired address (step 303).

  On the other hand, if the acquired address is the same as the global IP address stored in the RAM 13, the CPU 11 updates the address information to the DDNS server 7 last time based on the timing information of the timer 21 and a predetermined time has elapsed. It is determined whether or not (step 304). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step 301.

When it is determined in step 304 that the predetermined time has elapsed, or when the router information rewriting in step 303 is completed, the CPU 11 stores the user ID and password stored in the RAM 13 with respect to the address of the DDNS server 7 stored in the RAM 13. Is transmitted (step 305). Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is an authentication notification from the DDNS server 7 (step 306). If there is an authentication notification, the CPU 11 transmits a registration command including the domain name of the IP-FAX 1 to the DDNS server 7 ( Step 307).
If necessary, the global IP address information of the router 4 together with the domain name of the IP-FAX 1 can be transmitted as registration information to the DDNS server 7.

  As a result, when the global IP address of the router 4 is changed, the registration information of the DDNS server 7 is automatically updated when a predetermined time has elapsed since the address information was registered in the DDNS server 7. Since it is updated, the information of the DDNS server can be updated without requiring a dedicated router.

In the above-described embodiment, a router is used as an example of an Internet connection device. However, other devices may be used as long as a global IP address is dynamically assigned, such as a telephone line modem, an ADSL modem, It is also possible to use a router having a function equivalent to a router such as a bridge or a CATV modem.
In the above embodiment, the IP-FAX display / operation unit is used for port setting / change, error display, and display of the determined port information. However, the port change is performed on the display screen of the PC 2 or the like connected to the LAN 3. And error display.

It is a figure which shows an example of the network structure to which the facsimile apparatus of this invention is connected. It is a figure which shows an example of the correspondence of the communication port memorize | stored in a router, and the private IP address of a transfer destination. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the facsimile apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the address of DDNS server memorize | stored in RAM, account information, and the domain name of an own apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the panel of a display and operation part. It is a figure which shows an example of a response | compatibility with a communication port and communication classification set to a facsimile apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action of the facsimile apparatus in the case of setting and changing a port number. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile apparatus when port setting is performed fully automatically. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action of the facsimile apparatus in the case of updating the address information with respect to a DDNS server.

Explanation of symbols

1 IP-FAX
2 PC
3 LAN
4 routers 5 WAN
6 Internet network 7 DDNS server 8 PSTN
11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Display / Operation Unit 15 Reading Unit 16 Image Memory 17 Recording Unit 18 Codec 19 Modem 20 NCU
21 Timer 22 LAN I / F
23 Bus

Claims (1)

A facsimile machine connected via a LAN to a router connected to an Internet network provided with an external server for managing a domain name corresponding to an IP address;
Address information and account information of the external server, storage means for storing the domain name of its own device, and registering means for registering or updating the domain name and address information of its own device to the external server, the global address information of the router Acquisition means for acquiring the information, and means for timing the time since registering or updating the domain name and address information of the own device in the external server,
If the global address information which the acquisition unit acquires the global address information periodically the router by a predetermined distance, the acquired has changed from the previous acquisition information, the domain name and address of the registration means immediately own device Whether the specified time has passed since registration or last update based on the timekeeping information of the means for measuring the time when updating the information and the acquired global address information has not been changed from the previous acquired information determines whether, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the registration or the last update, facsimile apparatus the registration means and updates the domain name and address information of its own device.

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