JP4408063B2 - Network facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to a network facsimile apparatus that automatically selects a communication service to be used by searching for a plurality of available communication services and performs communication by selecting a public line.

  Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus is used as a so-called stand-alone that operates by itself, and a conventional facsimile communication procedure (transmission procedure) is ITU (International Telecommunication Union) -T Recommendation T.264. 30.

  In recent years, the Internet has become widespread due to the development of communication networks, and Internet facsimile apparatuses that perform facsimile communication using the Internet have also appeared in facsimile apparatuses (see Patent Document 1 and the like).

  Today, due to the rapid development of the Internet, ENUM (IETF RFC2916), which is a mechanism for converting telephone numbers and various addresses on the Internet, is attracting attention. By using this ENUM to associate telephone numbers with various addresses on the network, it is possible to search mail addresses, URLs (Uniform Resource Locators), etc. from telephone numbers, and users can specify complex addresses for each service. There is an advantage of not having to remember.

  Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 164 recommended in 164. 164 number. The service information can be received from the resource code (NAPTR record) registered in the DNS by further converting the 164 number into an ENUM domain name and inquiring DNS (Domain Name System). In this DNS resource code, a service protocol and its URI (Uniform Resource Identifiers) can be registered, and a plurality of registrations can be performed by specifying a priority.

  Conventionally, media that can be used by a user are registered in a media list, and when a call is made using a logical number, the media list of the called user and its attribute information are converted into a logical number based on the logical number. Referring to the logical number management database stored in association with each other, obtain the media list of the destinations to which the priority is given, determine the media to communicate from the available media in the destination media list, and determine If the medium is not activated, a technique has been proposed in which the medium is activated and the address of the destination medium is transmitted to the calling user terminal for the application (see Patent Document 2).

  According to this prior art, each media application uses a common logical number, automatically monitors the status of the media application, and automatically launches another media application when communication with one media is not possible By doing so, it is possible to reliably perform communication without performing a cumbersome operation such as a user starting an application or inputting a logical number.

JP-A-11-234343 JP 2004-70750 A

  However, the above-described prior art needs to be improved in order to further improve usability when applied to a network facsimile apparatus.

  That is, for example, when a telephone number is registered in advance with a one-touch key, and the key is designated for transmission, the server on the network should be inquired whether the call should be made directly to the public network using the telephone number. The network facsimile apparatus itself cannot determine whether one service should be selected from the communication services acquired from the server, and can be used even if the conventional technology is applied as it is. There was a need for improvement.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when a registered destination number is designated, whether the network facsimile apparatus transmits to the destination of the number using the public line network, or It is an object of the present invention to provide a network facsimile apparatus that can determine whether to make an inquiry to a server using a number .

The network facsimile apparatus of the present invention is connected to the network and the public line network that is connected to a communication server for providing various communication services, using any of the communication services provided by the public network and the communication server a network facsimile apparatus for communicating, and number of transmission destination, a storage means for storing the communication type selection criterion information corresponding to the No.該番, any communication services provided by the public network and the communication server and selecting means for selecting whether to transmit using, the number is specified as the transmission destination, based on the corresponding to the specified number stored in the storage means the communication type selection criteria information, the If the selection means selects the public network or the communication service, the selection means selects the public network is the designation While directly sends the number as the telephone number of the public network, if the selection means selects the communication service, information possible the communication service from the communication server based on the specified number acquires, is obtained by one of the communication service to be transmitted automatically selected.

The network facsimile apparatus selects a communication service to be used among communication services acquired from the communication server, and manually selects or automatically selects the communication service to be used using the service selection means. Selection method setting means for setting the selection method, and a predetermined display means, and when the manual selection is selected as the communication service selection method by the selection method setting means, the acquired from the communication server A list of communication services is displayed on the display means, and when the communication service to be used by the service selection means is selected based on the display, transmission is performed using the selected communication service. Also good.

The network facsimile apparatus selects one of the communication services acquired from the communication server and transmits it to a predetermined destination. When a communication error occurs in the transmission and retransmission is performed to the destination, the network facsimile apparatus When there is a transmitted page in the transmission in which the error has occurred, the retransmission may be performed using the same communication service as the communication service in which the communication error has occurred.

According to the network facsimile apparatus of the present invention as described above, when a registered destination number is designated, whether the network facsimile apparatus transmits to the destination of the number using the public line network, the number It is possible to determine whether to make an inquiry to the server using.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 4 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of the network facsimile apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the network facsimile apparatus 1 to which the first embodiment of the network facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied. It is.

  In FIG. 1, a network facsimile apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 2, a user I / F unit 3, a scanner unit 4, a plotter unit 5, a memory unit 6, a network I / F unit 7, a public network I / F unit 8, a protocol. A creation / analysis unit 9, an image conversion control unit 10, an address management unit 11, and the like are connected. Type Internet facsimile function (T.38).

  The system control unit 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and the CPU uses the RAM as a work memory based on a program in the ROM while performing a network facsimile. Each part of the apparatus 1 is controlled to execute processing as the network facsimile apparatus 1 and to execute communication method selection processing described later.

  The user I / F unit (selection unit, service selection unit, selection method setting unit) 3 includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key, and also includes a display (for example, a liquid crystal display) as a display unit. Various commands such as a transmission operation are input from the key, and the content of the command input from the operation key and various information notified to the operator from the network facsimile apparatus 1 are displayed on the display.

  For example, an image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like is used as the scanner unit 4 and generally includes an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder). A plurality of originals are set in the ADF, and the ADF feeds the set originals one by one to the original reading position of the scanner unit 4. The scanner unit 4 scans a document conveyed from the ADF and reads an image of the document with a predetermined resolution.

  For example, an electrophotographic recording device or the like is used as the plotter unit 5, and the plotter unit 5 records and outputs an image on a sheet based on the received image data and the image data read by the scanner unit 4.

  The memory unit 6 includes a RAM or a hard disk, and mainly stores received image information, transmitted image information, and the like, and also stores system setting information.

  The network I / F unit 7 is an interface with a network NW such as a LAN (Local Area Network) shown in FIG. 2 or the Internet, and has a function of exchanging various data via the network NW.

  The public network I / F unit 8 is a connection interface with the public line network (PSTN (Public Swiched Telephone Network)) PT shown in FIG. 2, and controls facsimile transmission / reception.

  The protocol creation / analysis unit 9 includes a facsimile and T.264 protocol. When transmitting at 38, a protocol is created / analyzed.

  The image conversion control unit 10 compresses an image in order to increase the efficiency of storing image information (image data) in the memory unit 6 and shorten the transmission time, expands the compressed image, Perform image scaling and line density conversion.

  The address management unit 11 stores and manages a communication partner's telephone number, logical address data, and the like in correspondence with one-touch, a group, and the like.

  Then, the network facsimile apparatus 1 is preliminarily input communication destination data corresponding to the one-touch key or group key from the user I / F unit 3 as the selection means, and stores the input communication destination data in the address management unit 11. Then, the identification information is also registered as the communication type selection criterion information indicating whether the communication method and the communication line are automatically selected using the communication destination data or the communication is performed using the public line network PT. That is, from the user I / F unit 3, for example, in the case where identification information (communication type selection criterion information) indicating whether or not a registration address for a one-touch or group key is a logical address is set in advance and registered, an operator or network facsimile apparatus When the administrator of 1 registers an address in association with the one-touch key or group key provided in the user I / F unit 3 of the network facsimile apparatus 1, the telephone number of the address is registered in advance in the actual public network PT. Whether it is an address or a logical address using a name space based on a telephone number is designated and input, and stored in the address management unit 11 as identification information.

  In this embodiment, ENUM is used as a mechanism for converting a logical address to a real address.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the network facsimile apparatus 1 is connected to another network facsimile apparatus 30 or a DNS server 40 or the like through a network NW such as a LAN or the Internet, and a DNS server (communication server). 40) includes a database 41, which stores various data required for various services (communication services) provided by the DNS server 40. The DNS server 40 replies with a list of various services that can be provided in response to an instruction from each terminal such as the network facsimile apparatus 1 via the network NW, and is requested in response to a service request based on the list. Provide service.

  In the above description, the address and whether it is a logical address or an actual public ability PT address are specified when registering in the address management unit 11, but the destination such as transmission is specified not at the time of registration. In doing so, it may be specified whether or not it is a logical address.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the network facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a destination address is registered in advance in the address management unit 11 corresponding to a one-touch key or a group key, and whether or not the registered address is a logical address is determined in advance. Judging according to the designation or designation at the time of communication, select a communication method and communicate appropriately. In the following description, for simplicity of explanation, only the case where an address is registered for a one-touch key will be described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to other registration keys such as a group key. it can.

  That is, the network facsimile apparatus 1 specifies a one-touch key registered in advance at the time of transmission as shown in FIG. 3 when transmitting, with a transmission destination address registered in association with a one-touch key or a group key. When a transmission instruction is issued (step S101), it is determined whether or not the destination specified by the one-touch key is a logical address (step S102).

  Note that whether the destination address specified by the one-touch key is a logical address or an actual address is specified when the address specified by the one-touch key is registered or when the destination is specified by the one-touch key, as described above. In response to the designation, the network facsimile apparatus 1 determines whether the destination address designated by the one-touch key is a logical address or an actual address.

  If the destination specified by the one-touch key is a logical address in step S102, the network facsimile apparatus 1 temporarily sets the number registered in the address management unit 11 corresponding to the one-touch key to E.D. It is converted into a 164 number (step S103), further converted into an ENUM domain name (step S104), and an inquiry is made to the DNS server 40 via the network NW (step S105).

  When there is an inquiry from the network facsimile apparatus 1, the DNS server 40 extracts a list of available services from the information in the database 41 and replies to the requested network facsimile apparatus 1. This service list is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 and includes priority, service name, and URI.

  When the network facsimile apparatus 1 receives a response from the DNS server 40, the network facsimile apparatus 1 acquires the service list (step S106), and whether there is a service available in the service list, that is, the transmission service supported by the own machine. It is checked whether there is any (step S107).

  If there is an available service in step S107, the network facsimile apparatus 1 selects / determines the available service as a service to be used for the current transmission (step S108), and selects the selected service (URI). The designated connection is made (step S109), the transmission is performed, and the process is terminated (step S110).

  If there is no service available in step S107, the network facsimile apparatus 1 performs error processing because there is no service for transmission, and ends the process (step S111).

  When the logical address is not a logical address in step S102, it is an actual public network PT address (telephone number), so the network facsimile apparatus 1 connects to the public network PT (step S112) and performs normal program transmission processing. Is transmitted (step S110).

  As described above, the network facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to the network NW to which the DNS server 40 that provides various communication services is connected and the public line network PT, and is provided by the public line network PT and the DNS server 40. When a communication is performed using any of the services to be performed, if a number is designated as a transmission destination and the public line network PT is selected by the user I / F unit 3, the number is used as the telephone number of the public line network PT. If the communication service is selected in the user I / F unit 3, information on the available communication service is acquired from the DNS server 40 based on the number, and one of the communication services is automatically selected. Then send.

  Therefore, when a number is designated as a transmission destination, when the number designated as the destination is a public network address (telephone number), it is determined whether or not it is an actual public network PT address on the network NW. It is possible to connect and transmit to the public network PT without performing useless access such as inquiring to the DNS server 40. In addition, when using a communication service, the network connection by a logical address is appropriately performed. Can improve usability.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing transmission processing by the network facsimile apparatus to which the second embodiment of the network facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied.

  The present embodiment is applied to a network facsimile apparatus similar to the network facsimile apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment, the description of the first embodiment is made as necessary. The description will be made using the reference numerals used in the above as they are.

  In the network facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, an operator manually selects a service to be used for transmission among services provided by the DNS server 40.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, in the network facsimile apparatus 1, when a destination for which a logical address is designated is selected with a one-touch key or the like, a request for manual connection is instructed by the user I / F unit 3. (Step S201), the logical address is once assigned to E.E. It is converted into a 164 number (step S202), further converted into an ENUM domain name (step S203), and an inquiry is made to the DNS server 40 via the network NW (step S204).

  When there is an inquiry from the network facsimile apparatus 1, the DNS server 40 extracts a list of available services from the information in the database 41 and replies to the requested network facsimile apparatus 1.

  When the network facsimile apparatus 1 receives a response from the DNS server 40, the network facsimile apparatus 1 acquires the service list (step S205), and whether there is a service available in the service list, that is, the transmission service supported by the own machine. It is checked whether there is any (step S206).

  In step S206, if there is an available service, the network facsimile apparatus 1 checks whether manual transmission is designated (step S207). If manual connection is selected, the service list acquired from the DNS server 40 ( (URI list) is displayed on the display of the user I / F unit 3, and a service selection request is made to the operator (step S208).

  The operator uses the user I / F unit 3 to designate a service (URI) to be used for transmission from the service list displayed on the display, and prompts the network facsimile apparatus 1 to continue processing.

  When the service to be used is designated / determined by the operator (step S209), the network facsimile apparatus 1 queries the DNS server 40 for the instructed service (URI) and designates the designated service using the IP address. To connect to the destination (step S210) and perform transmission processing (step S211).

  In step S207, if a manual connection request is not issued from the operator at the time of transmission instruction, the service list is automatically used from the service list notified from the DNS server 40 without displaying the service list. Is selected (step S209), the URI is designated to connect to the other party (step S210), and transmission processing is performed (step S211).

  Further, when there is no service available in step S206, the network facsimile apparatus 1 performs error processing because there is no service for transmission, and ends the processing (step S212).

  As described above, when the user I / F unit 3 that sets the selection method for manually selecting or automatically selecting the communication service to be used is selected, the network facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to perform DNS. When a list of communication services acquired from the server 40 is displayed on the display of the user I / F unit 3 and a communication service to be used by the user I / F unit 3 is selected based on the display, the selected communication Sending using the service.

  Therefore, when there are a plurality of communication services for a logical number, it is possible to reliably prevent the operator from manually selecting the communication service to be transmitted to a destination contrary to the operator's will. Normally, the communication service can be selected and transmitted by automatic transmission, and when important information is transmitted, the communication service can be selected and transmitted by manual selection. Safety can be improved.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing transmission processing by the network facsimile apparatus to which the third embodiment of the network facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied.

  The present embodiment is applied to a network facsimile apparatus similar to the network facsimile apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment, the description of the first embodiment is made as necessary. The description will be made using the reference numerals used in the above as they are.

  The network facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when an error occurs during transmission performed by automatically or manually selecting a service to be used for transmission from among the services provided by the DNS server 40, is already transmitted. If there is a page that has been sent, it will be resent using the service in which the error occurred.

  In other words, the network facsimile apparatus 1 designates a one-touch key registered in advance at the time of transmission as shown in FIG. 6 at the time of transmission with the transmission destination address registered in association with the one-touch key or group key When a transmission instruction is issued, it is determined whether the destination designated by the one-touch key is a logical address (step S301). If the destination is a logical address, it is checked whether it is a retransmission (step S302).

  In this check for retransmission, the network facsimile apparatus 1 not only determines whether or not the transmission to the transmission destination is retransmission, but even if it is retransmission, the retransmission has already been transmitted. It is re-transmission when the number of pages is one page or more, and it is checked whether or not it is re-transmission including whether there is a URI stored for the transmission.

  If it is determined in step S302 that retransmission is not performed, the network facsimile apparatus 1 temporarily sets the number registered in the address management unit 11 corresponding to the one-touch key to E.E. It is converted into a 164 number (step S303), further converted into an ENUM domain name (step S304), and an inquiry is made to the DNS server 40 via the network NW (step S305).

  When receiving an inquiry from the network facsimile apparatus 1, the DNS server 40 extracts a list of available services (see FIG. 4) from the information in the database 41 and replies to the requested network facsimile apparatus 1.

  When there is a reply from the DNS server 40, the network facsimile apparatus 1 acquires the service list (step S306), and whether there is a service available in the service list, that is, the transmission service supported by the own machine is present. It is checked whether there is any (step S307).

  In step S307, when there is an available service, the network facsimile apparatus 1 selects and determines the available service as a service to be used for the current transmission (step S308), and selects the selected service (URI). The designated connection is made (step S309), the transmission is performed, and the process is terminated (step S310).

  If there is no service available in step S307, the network facsimile apparatus 1 performs error processing because there is no service for transmission, and ends the process (step S311).

  In step S302, at the time of re-transmission, that is, re-transmission in the case of the re-transmission and the number of already transmitted pages is 1 page or more, and there is a stored URI for the transmission The network facsimile apparatus 1 reads the stored URI, that is, the URI in which an error has occurred (step S312), specifies the read service (URI), connects (step S313), and transmits. Then, the process ends (step S310).

  For example, a communication error occurred while a logical address was specified and a SIP URI was selected from services acquired from the DNS server 40 and a real-time Internet FAX (T.38) was being transmitted. In this case, if the number of transmitted pages is one or more in the transmission, the network facsimile apparatus 1 stores the URI at that time when the error ends.

  Then, at the time of retransmission processing, the network facsimile apparatus 1 first checks whether the transmission address is a telephone number of the public network PT or a logical address. Is transmitted, and it is checked whether or not it is re-transmission from the second page and after, and whether or not there is a stored URI for the transmission (step S302).

  The network facsimile apparatus 1 retransmits from the second page onward, and when retransmitting when there is a stored URI, the network facsimile machine 1 does not inquire the communication service to the DNS server 40 on the network NW, and stores the stored URI. Re-send.

  Further, when the retransmission is retransmission from the first page, the network facsimile apparatus 1 acquires a communication service to the DNS server 40 on the network NW, and performs transmission processing using the available service.

  If it is not a logical address in step S301, it is an address of the actual public network PT. Therefore, the network facsimile apparatus 1 connects to the public network PT (step S314) and performs normal program transmission processing for transmission. (Step S310).

  As described above, the network facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment selects one of the communication services acquired from the DNS server 40 and transmits the selected service to a predetermined destination. When performing retransmission, when there is a transmitted page in the transmission in which the communication error has occurred, the retransmission is performed using the same communication service as the communication service in which the communication error has occurred.

Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent one document from being divided and output to different terminals, and to improve the safety and usability of communication.
Further, according to the network facsimile apparatus as described above, one of the services provided by the public line network and the communication server is connected to the network connected to the communication server providing various communication services and the public line network. When communication is used, if a number is specified as the transmission destination and the public line network is selected by the selection means, the number is directly transmitted as the telephone number of the public line network, and the communication service is selected by the selection means. If the number is designated as the destination, the information of the available communication service is acquired from the communication server based on the number, and one of the communication services is automatically selected and transmitted. If the number specified as the destination is a public network address (telephone number), it is determined whether it is an actual public network address. It is possible to connect to the public network without sending unnecessary access to the communication server on the network, and when using the communication service, the network connection with the logical address is appropriately set. It is possible to improve the usability.
In addition, when manual selection is selected by the selection method setting means for setting a selection method for manually selecting or automatically selecting a communication service to be used, a list of communication services acquired from the communication server is displayed on the display means. When a communication service to be used is selected by the service selection means based on the display, if there is a plurality of communication services for a logical number, the transmission is performed using the selected communication service. If the operator manually selects the communication service, it can be reliably prevented from being sent to a destination contrary to the operator's intention. For example, the communication service is usually selected and transmitted automatically. , When important information is transmitted, it is possible to select and transmit a communication service by manual selection, which can further improve usability and safety It is possible to improve the.
In addition, when one of the communication services acquired from the communication server is selected and transmitted to a predetermined destination, a communication error occurs in the transmission, and retransmission is performed to the destination, the transmission in which the communication error has occurred When there is a page that has already been transmitted, if the retransmission is performed using the same communication service as the communication service in which the communication error has occurred, one document may be divided and output to different terminals. This can be surely prevented, and the safety and availability of communication can be improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be applied not only to a normal telephone line but also to a network facsimile apparatus that improves the usability by simply and appropriately selecting a communication service when facsimile transmission is possible using a plurality of communication services.

1 is a block diagram of a network facsimile apparatus to which a first embodiment of a network facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied. The figure which shows the network system to which the network facsimile apparatus of FIG. 1 is connected. 3 is a flowchart showing service automatic selection transmission processing by the network facsimile apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the service list notified from the DNS server of FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing automatic service selection transmission processing by a network facsimile apparatus to which a second embodiment of the network facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied. 9 is a flowchart showing automatic service selection transmission processing by a network facsimile apparatus to which a third embodiment of the network facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied. The figure which shows matching with a telephone number and the various addresses on a network.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network facsimile apparatus 2 System control part 3 User I / F part 4 Scanner part 5 Plotter part 6 Memory part 7 Network I / F part 8 Public network I / F part 9 Protocol preparation / analysis part 10 Image conversion control part 11 Address management Section 12 Bus 30 Network facsimile machine 40 DNS server 41 Database PT Public line network NW network

Claims (3)

A network facsimile apparatus that is connected to a network connected to a communication server that provides various communication services and a public line network and performs communication using both the public line network and the communication service provided by the communication server. Te,
Storage means for storing a transmission destination number and communication type selection criterion information corresponding to the number;
Selecting means for selecting which of the public line network and the communication service provided by the communication server is used for transmission ;
When a number is designated as the transmission destination , the selection means selects the public line network or the communication service based on the communication type selection criterion information stored in the storage means corresponding to the designated number, If the selection means selects the public network, while transmitting directly the designated number as a telephone number of the public network, if the selection means has selected the communication service it has been the designated A network facsimile apparatus , wherein information on the communication service available from the communication server is acquired based on a number , and one of the communication services is automatically selected and transmitted.   The network facsimile apparatus selects a communication service to be used among communication services acquired from the communication server, and manually selects or automatically selects the communication service to be used using the service selection means. Selection method setting means for setting the selection method, and a predetermined display means, and when the manual selection is selected as the communication service selection method by the selection method setting means, the acquired from the communication server A list of communication services is displayed on the display means, and when the communication service to be used by the service selection means is selected based on the display, transmission is performed using the selected communication service. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1.   The network facsimile apparatus selects one of the communication services acquired from the communication server and transmits it to a predetermined destination. When a communication error occurs in the transmission and retransmission is performed to the destination, the network facsimile apparatus 3. The network facsimile according to claim 1, wherein when there is a transmitted page in the transmission in which an error has occurred, the retransmission is performed using the same communication service as the communication service in which the communication error has occurred. apparatus.

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