JP4429934B2 - Image communication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus, and more particularly, to an image communication apparatus that reliably transmits to an intended destination by communication using address information.

  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).

  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 the telephone numbers, and operators can specify complex addresses for each service. There is an advantage that there is no need to remember (see Patent Document 2).

  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.

  When a telephone number is specified for transmission, the actual address is referenced from the database on the network based on the specified number, and the connection is made to that address. Rather, the actual address is determined at the start of the connection process.

JP 2004-194246 A JP 2004-304711 A

However, in the communication using the ENUM, when a telephone number is designated and transmitted, the actual address is referred to from the database on the network based on the designated number, and the address is connected. Since the actual address is determined at the start of the connection process, not when the destination is specified, the destination address cannot be confirmed where the operator is actually transmitted when the destination is specified. If the address is registered , the destination may change depending on which address is used. This may cause erroneous transmission, and new technology is required to improve usability. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and even when the address information at the time of one-touch registration is changed at the time of actual connection, it can be prevented from being transmitted by mistake, It is another object of the present invention to provide an image communication apparatus that can prevent unnecessary processing from being performed even when it is not delivered.

Image communication apparatus of the present invention is connected to the connected network communication server to provide connection services based on the at least address information, it performs communication using a communication service provided by the communication server, transmission destination one-touch dial dialing information, the dialing information storage means for storing in association with the function dial buttons such as speed dialing, an image communication apparatus having a selection unit for performing various selection operation, a the function dial partner when previously registered, the telephone number is specified, acquires address information corresponding to the telephone number from the communication server based on the telephone number above specified, it is selected by the selection means of the obtained address information was the address information and the specified telephone number to correspond to the above functions dial button and the opponent Registration means for registering to the dial information storing unit as the dialing information, said function when a transmission operation using the dial button is performed, the telephone which is registered in the dialing information storage means in correspondence with the function dial button If the address information corresponding to the telephone number is acquired from the communication server based on the number, and the acquired address information is registered as address information corresponding to the telephone number in the dial information storage unit, While transmitting using the address information, if the acquired address information is not registered as address information corresponding to the telephone number in the dial information storage means, It is equipped with.

Another image communication apparatus of the present invention is connected to a network connected to a communication server that provides a connection service based on at least address information, and performs communication using the communication service provided by the communication server. An image communication apparatus comprising dial information storage means for storing dial information of a communication partner and a selection means for performing various selection operations. When a telephone number is designated as a transmission partner, the above-mentioned designation is made. Address information corresponding to the telephone number is acquired from the communication server based on the received telephone number, and the address information selected by the selection means and the designated telephone number of the acquired address information are used as the transmission partner. Registration means for registering in the dial information storage means as previous dial information; and dial information in the dial information storage means. Is obtained from the communication server based on the telephone number registered in the dial information storage means corresponding to the dial information, and the acquired address information is When registered as address information corresponding to the telephone number in the dial information storage means, transmission is performed using the address information, while the acquired address information is stored in the dial information storage means in the telephone number. If the address information is not registered as address information corresponding to, a transmission means for processing as a non-delivery destination is provided.

A transmission restriction address storage means for registering address information of a destination permitted to be transmitted as a transmission restriction address list is provided, and when a telephone number is designated as the transmission destination, the communication is performed based on the designated telephone number. When address information corresponding to the telephone number is acquired from the server, and the acquired address information is registered as address information permitted to be transmitted in the transmission restricted address list with reference to the transmission restricted address storage means It is better to send only to

According to the image communication apparatus of the present invention as described above, even if the address information at the time of one-touch registration is changed at the time of actual connection, it can be prevented from being transmitted by mistake, Even in the case of non-delivery, there is an effect that unnecessary processing can be prevented from being performed.

  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 9 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image communication apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network facsimile apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of the image communication apparatus of the present invention is applied. .

  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 FAX. A protocol creating / analyzing unit 9, an image conversion control unit 10, an address management unit 11, and the like are connected to each other by a bus 12, and a normal facsimile function, a mail type Internet facsimile function (T.37), and A real-time Internet facsimile function (T.38) is provided.

  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. The respective units of the apparatus 1 are controlled to execute processing as the network facsimile apparatus 1 and to execute transmission destination address selection setting processing described later.

  The user I / F unit (selection means) 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). The display displays the contents of commands input from the operation keys and various information notified from the network facsimile apparatus 1 to the operator, in particular, address information such as an address list acquired from the DNS server 40 (see FIG. 2) described later. The

  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 FAX 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, Performs image scaling, line density conversion, TIFF format conversion, and the like.

  The address management unit (dial information storage means, transmission restriction address storage means) 11 corresponds to function dial buttons such as one-touch dial and speed dial, and uses the telephone number of the communication partner or logical address data as dial information. In addition to storing and managing, address information corresponding to the telephone number acquired from the DNS server 40, which is a communication server, corresponding to the function dial button is stored as dial information.

  Then, the network facsimile apparatus 1 receives dial information of a communication partner corresponding to a function dial button such as a one-touch dial or an abbreviated dial from the user I / F unit 3 as selection means, and the input dial information is addressed. While registering in the management unit 11, using the telephone number of the dial information, the address information corresponding to the telephone number acquired from the DNS server 40 as a communication server is registered. Further, the address management unit 11 registers the address information of the other party whose transmission is restricted as a transmission restricted address list by the operation of the user I / F unit 3.

  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 other network facsimile apparatuses 30, a DNS server 40, a mail server 50, and the like via a network NW such as a LAN or the Internet. The server (communication server) 40 includes a database 41, and the database 41 stores various data required for various services (communication services) provided by the DNS server 40. The DNS server 40 responds to an inquiry for address resolution from each terminal such as the network facsimile apparatus 1 via the network NW, and an address list of one or more addresses registered in the database 41 which is a resource record. To the network facsimile apparatus 1 as address information.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The network facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment acquires the address information of the other party from the DNS server 40 when registering the other party's dial information corresponding to the function dial such as one-touch dial or speed dial. The address information selected from the selected address information is registered so that transmission can be performed with peace of mind.

  In other words, for example, when performing one-touch dial registration as function dial registration, the network facsimile apparatus 1 selects the one-touch registration menu on the user I / F unit 3 as shown in FIG. 3 (step S101). The control unit 2 shifts to the one-touch registration setting mode and displays the one-touch setting menu on the display of the I / F unit 3. When the registered one-touch key is selected according to the one-touch setting menu (step S102) and the telephone number of the other party is input (step S103), the system control unit 2 automatically or in response to a search instruction from the operator. Then, the network I / F unit 7 converts the telephone number into an ENUM domain name (step S104), and makes an inquiry to the DNS server 40 on the network NW for address resolution (step S105).

  When one or more address information (address list) registered in the resource record of the DNS server 40 is received, all the address lists are displayed on the display of the user I / F unit 3 (step S106). Instructs whether to use the address for transmission.

  When the operator selects an appropriate address from the displayed addresses and inputs additional information such as a one-touch dial name (step S107), for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the selected address is displayed. The information is registered in the address management unit 11 as dial information in association with the one-touch dial (function dial), and the registration process is terminated (step S108).

  Then, in a state where address information is registered as dial information corresponding to function dials such as one-touch dial and speed dial, for example, a transmission destination is designated by a one-touch dial key, and a transmission operation is performed. Then, at the start of transmission, the system control unit 2 performs connection processing as it is to the address registered in the address management unit 11 corresponding to the one-touch dial, and performs a transmission operation.

  Therefore, since this address is confirmed and set by the operator, it can be prevented from being automatically transmitted to an address that the operator does not know, and an erroneous connection can be prevented. Can improve the usability.

  In the dial information registration process, address information is registered as dial information in association with a function dial such as a one-touch dial or an abbreviated dial. However, the destination information input during the dial information registration process is registered. The telephone number may also be registered at the same time as shown in FIG.

In this case, when a transmission destination is designated by a one-touch dial key and a transmission operation is performed, the system control unit 2 makes a call based on a telephone number registered corresponding to the one-touch dial key at the start of transmission. converts the number into ENUM for domain name, the DNS server 40 on the network NW Te query Align address information, the address information sent from the DNS server 40, the address information registered in the dialing information registration process If it is included, a connection process is performed for the registered address information, and a transmission operation is performed. However, if the address information sent from the DNS server 40 does not include the address information registered in the dial information registration process, the system control unit 2 may have changed the address of the transmission destination. Therefore, it is processed as a non-delivery destination without performing connection processing.

  In this way, even if the address information at the time of one-touch registration is changed at the time of actual connection, it can be prevented from being transmitted by mistake, and it is useless when it is not delivered. No processing can be performed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, when the network facsimile apparatus 1 transmits a telephone number as destination (destination) information (step S <b> 201), the system control unit 2 switches the network I / F unit 7. The telephone number is converted into an ENUM domain name by using the DNS server 40 on the network NW to inquire about address information (step S202), and one or more address information registered in the resource record of the DNS server 40 is obtained. When (address list) is received, the address list is all displayed on the display of the user I / F unit 3, and the operator is instructed to select which address is used for transmission (step S203).

  The system control unit 2 registers (creates a destination file) address information in which the operator selects an appropriate address from the displayed addresses as dial information in the address management unit 11 (step S204), and performs broadcast transmission. It is checked whether there is a next destination (step S205). In this case, the registration can be canceled if the operator looks at the address and does not want to send it.

  When registering an additional destination for broadcast transmission in step S205, the system control unit 2 returns to step S201 and performs the same processing as above (steps S201 to S205).

  When no additional destination is registered in step S205, the system control unit 2 starts connection processing when the start key is pressed in the user I / F unit 3 (step S206) (step S207).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the system control unit 2 starts connection processing (step S301), checks whether the connection is successful (step S302), and performs normal facsimile transmission when the connection is successful (step S302). S303).

  If the connection fails in step S302, the system control unit 2 checks whether or not the retry has exceeded a preset number of retries (step S304). The unit 7 converts the telephone number into an ENUM domain name, and inquires address information to the DNS server 40 on the network NW (step S305).

  When the address information is sent from the DNS server 40, the system control unit 2 checks whether the address information registered in the dial information registration process is included in the sent address information (step S306). When the address information sent from the DNS server 40 includes the address information registered in the dial information registration process, the server waits for retransmission to perform the connection process to the registered address information. (Step S307).

  In step S306, if the address information sent from the DNS server 40 does not include the address information registered in the dial information registration process, the connection destination address may have been changed. Instead, it is processed as a non-delivery destination (step S308).

  If the retry is over in step S304, the system control unit 2 processes the connection as a non-delivery destination without performing connection processing (step S308).

  In this way, at the time of destination designation or actual connection, the operator can confirm the actual connection destination address and set the destination, so that erroneous connection can be reliably prevented and transmission can be performed with peace of mind.

  Further, the network facsimile apparatus 1 may register the destination address information for restricting transmission in the address management unit (transmission restricted address storage unit) 11 as a transmission restricted address list to restrict the connection.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the address information of destinations that can be transmitted is registered in advance in the address management unit 11 as a transmission restricted address list that permits transmission. Note that the transmission restricted address list is not limited to the address list that permits transmission, and address information of a partner that is prohibited from transmission may be registered.

  As described above, when the network facsimile apparatus 1 performs a transmission operation in a state where the address information of the other party whose transmission is permitted is registered in the address management unit 11 as a transmission restricted address list, the system control unit 2 However, the telephone number input at the time of address designation is set as it is in the dial information of the address management unit 11, and the telephone number is read out from the dial information as shown in FIG. 9 during the actual connection processing (step S401). The DNS server 40 converts the telephone number into the ENUM domain name in the network I / F unit 7 and inquires the DNS server 40 on the network NW for address information (step S403).

  When the address information is sent from the DNS server 40, the system control unit 2 includes the address information sent from the DNS server 40 including the address information registered in the address restriction address list in the address management unit 11. (Step S404), and if there is authorized address information, it is connected to the authorized address information (step S405) and transmitted (step S406).

In step S404, the address information sent from the DNS server 40, when not included in the address information registered in the transmission limit address list to the address management unit 11, the system controller 2 performs the connection processing The process ends without

In this way, it is possible to appropriately determine at the transmission stage whether the address can be transmitted or not, it is possible to eliminate the disadvantage of fixing the address, and limit the transmission address, The operator can perform transmission processing with peace of mind.
In addition, when registering or connecting to a function dial such as one-touch dial, the address confirmed and selected from the address information acquired from the communication server on the network is registered as the destination address of the function dial. If it is connected to the address that was sent and sent, it can be prevented from being automatically sent to an address that the operator does not know, it can prevent erroneous connection, and the operator's anxiety can be resolved, Usability 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.

  In communication using ENUM, the connection destination address can be appropriately and easily set to an address intended by the operator, and can be applied to an image communication apparatus such as a network facsimile apparatus that transmits to an appropriate destination with confidence.

1 is a block diagram of a network facsimile apparatus to which an embodiment of an image communication 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. 2 is a flowchart showing address information registration processing by the network facsimile apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the dial information registered by the address information registration process of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the dial information at the time of registering a telephone number with address information as address information. The flowchart which shows an address selection / setting transmission process when a telephone number is input at the time of transmission operation. 3 is a flowchart showing connection processing by the network facsimile apparatus of FIG. 1. The figure which shows an example of the transmission limitation address list which registers the address information of the other party who restrict | limits transmission. 10 is a flowchart showing transmission restriction processing based on eight transmission restriction address lists. 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)

Connected to a network to which a communication server providing a connection service based on at least address information is connected, and performs communication using the communication service provided by the communication server, and one-touch dialing and shortening of transmission destination dial information An image communication apparatus comprising dial information storage means for storing corresponding to a function dial button such as a dial, and selection means for performing various selection operations ,
Wherein when the destination register of the function dial, the telephone number is specified, acquires address information corresponding to the telephone number from the communication server based on the designated telephone number, of the obtained address information Registration means for registering the address information selected by the selection means and the designated telephone number in the dial information storage means as the dial information of the destination in association with the function dial button ;
When a transmission operation using the function dial button is performed, address information corresponding to the telephone number from the communication server based on the telephone number registered in the dial information storage unit corresponding to the function dial button If the acquired address information is registered as address information corresponding to the telephone number in the dial information storage means, the address information is used for transmission, while the acquired address information However, if the dial information storage means is not registered as address information corresponding to the telephone number, the image communication apparatus further comprises a transmission means for processing as a non-delivery destination . Dial information that is connected to a network connected to a communication server that provides a connection service based on at least address information, performs communication using the communication service provided by the communication server, and stores dial information of a communication partner An image communication apparatus comprising storage means and selection means for performing various selection operations,
When a telephone number is designated as a transmission destination, address information corresponding to the telephone number is obtained from the communication server based on the designated telephone number, and is selected by the selection means from the obtained address information. Registration means for registering the address information and the designated telephone number in the dial information storage means as dial information of the transmission destination;
At the time of connection using the dial information stored in the dial information storage unit, address information corresponding to the telephone number is acquired from the communication server based on the telephone number registered in the dial information storage unit corresponding to the dial information. When the acquired address information is registered as address information corresponding to the telephone number in the dial information storage means, transmission is performed using the address information, while the acquired address information is An image communication apparatus comprising: transmission means for processing as a non-delivery destination when address information corresponding to the telephone number is not registered in the dial information storage means . Further comprising a transmission restriction address storage means for registering address information of a destination permitted to be transmitted as a transmission restriction address list ,
When said transmitting telephone number as the destination is specified, acquires address information corresponding to the telephone number from the communication server based on the designated telephone number, by referring to the transmission limit address storage means, said 3. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein transmission is performed only when the acquired address information is registered in the transmission restricted address list as address information permitted to be transmitted.

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