JP4635311B2 - Document delivery method and system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a document delivery method and system In particular, a document delivery method using printer, FAX, e-mail, file transfer, etc. in a private network such as an intranet and a wide-area distributed network such as the Internet, and system About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a private network such as an intranet or a wide-area distributed network such as the Internet, when a document is searched from a terminal having a browser function by browsing, and the document is delivered to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage Think.
[0003]
When searching for a document by browsing from a terminal and delivering the document, the selected document is downloaded to the terminal once, if necessary, the format is converted by the terminal or server, the print protocol (lpd, etc.), A document is delivered from a terminal to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage using a delivery protocol such as a FAX protocol (G3, etc.), an electronic mail protocol (SMTP, etc.), or a file transfer protocol (ftp, etc.).
[0004]
In the case of IPP (Internet Printing Protocol), for example, the URL of the selected document is sent to an IPP-compatible printer, and the printer retrieves the specified document using a protocol such as HTTP, and if necessary, Format conversion is performed by the format conversion function on the printer or network, and the printout is executed.
[0005]
More specifically, the operation in the prior art will be described. Here, printers other than IPP, IPP printers, public network faxes, network faxes, e-mails, and file transfers are described.
[0006]
When searching for a document by browsing from a terminal and printing out the document (other than IPP support), the selected document is downloaded once to the terminal and the application for the document is started in the terminal. The document is converted from the terminal to the printer using a print protocol such as lpd.
[0007]
When a document is searched from a terminal by browsing and the document is printed out by IPP, there are three cases (except for a case similar to a printer that does not support IPP). In the first case, the selected document is downloaded once to the terminal, and the document is converted into a postscript, etc. by launching the application for the document in the terminal and converted to an IPP-compatible printer. The URL is sent, and the printer retrieves the specified document using a protocol such as HTTP.
[0008]
The second case is for an IPP printer that has a format conversion function. The selected document URL is sent to the IPP printer without downloading the selected document to the terminal. The specified document is taken using the protocol, the format is converted by the printer, and the printout is executed.
[0009]
In the third case, the format conversion function is provided on the network. The URL of the selected document is sent to an IPP compatible printer without downloading the selected document to the terminal, and the printer uses a protocol such as HTTP. The document designated by using the file is taken, and the format conversion function on the network performs format conversion, and printout is executed.
[0010]
When searching a document by browsing from a terminal and sending the document to a FAX connected to the public network or a network equivalent thereto, the selected document is downloaded to the terminal once, and the application for the document is downloaded in the terminal. Starts up and converts the format to PostScript, etc., sends the document from the terminal to the FAX server, converts the document to the FAX format specified by G3 etc. on the FAX server, and is specified from the terminal To the destination FAX through a public network or a network equivalent thereto.
[0011]
When searching a document by browsing from a terminal and sending the document to a FAX directly connected to a network such as the Internet, the selected document is downloaded once to the terminal and an application for the document is started in the terminal. Then, convert the format to PostScript, send the document from the terminal to the FAX server, further convert the document to TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format at the FAX server, and specify the e-mail address specified by the terminal Is sent to the FAX using the electronic mail protocol (SMTP).
[0012]
When searching for a document by browsing from a terminal and sending the document by e-mail, the selected document is downloaded to the terminal once, an e-mail application is started on the terminal, and the document is used as an attachment. Create an e-mail and send it to the other e-mail address via the mail server using a protocol such as SMTP.
[0013]
When searching a document by browsing from a terminal and sending the document by file transfer, the selected document is downloaded to the terminal once, a file transfer application is started in the terminal, and a protocol such as ftp is used. Send to remote storage.
[0014]
Regarding the method for determining the document delivery destination (printer / fax / partner email address / partner storage address, etc.) in each of the above explanations, the delivery destination set in the terminal, the user directly entering by hand, For example, or inquire about service management such as a directory service in a closed network.
[0015]
This service management includes directory services, JINI (SUN microsystems), Universal Plug and Play (MicroSoft), and other print management systems sold by printer manufacturers. However, it can be used only in a network within a certain closed range, and the service information inquiry method is also unique (LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol for directory service)).
[0016]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when searching for a document by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and delivering the document to a printer / FAX / partner email address / partner storage, etc., in the prior art, except for IPP, In this method, the document is downloaded to the terminal. When these methods are applied to deliver documents via a wired or wireless public network using a mobile terminal with a browser function, etc., the document is downloaded to the terminal through a low-band public network, and The document is transmitted from the terminal to the printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage. Therefore, the document delivery time is very long in the conventional method.
[0017]
Furthermore, in the case of a mobile phone having a browser function, since there is no storage device such as a hard disk in the terminal, the document cannot be downloaded and the document cannot be delivered.
[0018]
In addition, in the case of IPP, when a document is in a private network and the printer is outside the private network, the printer cannot directly retrieve the specified URL document for security reasons. In this case, in order for the printer to retrieve the document of the specified URL, it may be possible if the user passes authentication information for entering the private network. For example, an authentication method for entering the private network If you are using a one-time password, it is impossible.
[0019]
In the conventional method, an application for a delivery protocol is required for each type of document delivery such as printer, FAX, e-mail, and file transfer. In the case of a mobile phone having a browser function, these applications are operated. I can't.
[0020]
Furthermore, the service management system in the prior art can be applied only to a network within a certain closed range, and cannot search for a document delivery destination across the network.
[0021]
As described above, in the conventional method, when a document is searched from a terminal by browsing and the document is delivered to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage or the like, the document delivery time takes a lot of time, or document delivery There was a problem that it was not possible.
[0022]
In addition, the conventional method requires an application for an individual delivery protocol for each type of document delivery such as printer, FAX, e-mail, file transfer, etc., and document delivery cannot be performed from a terminal having no application. there were.
[0023]
Therefore, the present invention can greatly reduce the document delivery time in a network environment in which a plurality of network environments are connected to each other, can deliver a document from a terminal having no application, and Document delivery method capable of integrating document delivery such as FAX, e-mail, and file transfer, and searching for an unknown document delivery destination beyond the network, and system To provide Eyes Target.
[0024]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the above-described object, the following four points are focused. In other words, the first point is when a document is searched by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and the document is delivered to a printer / FAX / partner email address / partner storage, etc., the document is delivered via the terminal. It is to stop doing and relay on the way. Second, there is no path that cannot pass security, that is, a path that tries to enter from outside the private network without knowing the user's authentication status, and the document is delivered with the user's authentication information already completed. Is to do. The third point is that an application for an individual delivery protocol is not provided for each type of document delivery such as printer, FAX, electronic mail, and file transfer, and the function is provided before the relay point. The fourth point is that a means for searching a document delivery destination beyond the network may be considered, and a relay server is placed in the network beyond the network.
[0025]
Specific means for realizing the above attention point will be described below.
[0026]
In a network environment in which a plurality of networks are connected to each other including the Internet and a private network connected thereto, a relay server is provided between the browser terminal and the document, and between the browser terminal and the document delivery destination. The document is searched by browsing via the relay server, and the relay server retrieves the document selected by the user and transmits it to the document delivery destination. Here, the document delivery destination is a printer, a public network compatible FAX, a network compatible FAX, an e-mail destination mail server, a file transfer destination storage, or the like. There are two types of relay servers: an access server for browsing access and a discovery server for searching for document delivery destinations.
[0027]
There is at least one access server within a range that a user can access among a plurality of networks connected to each other. The access server has a browsing access relay function and a document delivery function. The browsing access relay function relays browsing access from the browser terminal by the user, and through this, the user searches for a document to be delivered. When the user selects a desired document, the document delivery function acquires the document selected by the user using a browsing access path, and causes the user to specify a delivery destination using a discovery server as described later. The acquired document is delivered to the discovery server. Documents to be acquired include documents held on the Web server that the access server accesses using the browsing protocol, pages displayed on the browser terminal when browsing, and the access server using the email reception protocol. There are e-mails held in the mail server to be acquired.
[0028]
The discovery server exists in one or more of a plurality of networks connected to each other. The discovery server has a delivery destination search function and a document delivery function. Each discovery server holds several other discovery server addresses and several service management addresses, and the discovery server receives information about the document delivery destination from one or more service managements in the same network. Is obtained according to the service management protocol. Here, the service management uniquely manages a printer, a FAX, an e-mail address, a storage address, and the like in a single closed network.
[0029]
In order for the user to search for the document delivery destination, the delivery destination search function of the discovery server is used. The access server holds a list of discovery server information and displays the list on the browser terminal. The discovery server holds information on several other discovery servers and information on several document delivery destinations obtained from service management. The information is displayed in a list on the browser terminal, and the user selects a desired discovery server or document delivery destination from the list. That is, the user follows the link, and the user finally selects the document delivery destination managed by a certain service management across the network.
[0030]
The access server uses the document delivery function to search for the document delivery destination and transfers the document to the final discovery server. The discovery server delivers the document according to the delivery destination protocol using the document delivery function. Send first.
[0031]
Here, when the service management has a document delivery function, the discovery server may transmit the document to the delivery destination via the service management according to the service management protocol.
[0032]
When delivering a document, if necessary, convert the format of the document in the access server, in the discovery server, in the document delivery destination, or in the format conversion server on the network that can be directly accessed by the access server or the discovery server. Execute.
[0033]
In addition, as an access server, since browsing access is performed from a browser terminal, it is usually constructed as an HTTP server, for example, but if constructed as a proxy, browsing relay is easy.
[0034]
The protocol between the access server and the discovery server uses a browsing protocol such as HTTP in order to communicate between different networks. It is also possible to use an email protocol such as SMTP.
[0035]
The access server and the discovery server are separate means, but may be realized on one computer as a relay server.
[0036]
In addition, when authentication is required when a user enters a certain network via an access server, there is a risk of impersonation of the user by the access server because the access server passes through a third party. In order to avoid this impersonation, an authentication method different from that used when the user directly enters the network without going through the access server may be used, and there are the following two methods. The first is a method of performing authentication as an access server between the access server and the network instead of authentication for each user. The second is a method of performing authentication for each user (for example, preparing another user ID or password) different from that used when the user directly enters the network.
[0037]
In the above description, the access server, the discovery server, and the service management are all described. However, only the access server and the discovery server, only the access server, and only the discovery server and the service management are possible.
[0038]
In the configuration of only the access server and the discovery server, the information about the document delivery destination cannot be obtained from the service management, but the user can enter the other network by using the delivery destination search function of the discovery server. By inputting the delivery destination, it is possible to deliver the document within the same range as when there is service management.
[0039]
In the configuration using only the access server, the delivery destination cannot be searched using the discovery server. However, when the user inputs the delivery destination, the document can be delivered within the reachable range from the access server.
[0040]
In a configuration with only the discovery server and service management, browsing cannot be relayed by the access server, and the access server cannot retrieve documents and deliver them to the discovery server. Thus, it is possible to deliver the document held by the user to the browser terminal to the document delivery destination specified by the user.
[0041]
Based on the above, the relationship with the claims is shown below.
[0042]
The invention of claim 1 In a document delivery system in an environment in which a plurality of networks including a private network are connected to each other, a browser terminal connected to an access server via the network and having a browser function; A storage server that transmits to the terminal; an access server that relays access to the storage server from the browser terminal for displaying information related to documents; and a discovery server that inquires about information on document delivery destinations. The discovery server is different from the document delivery destination information connected via the same network as the discovery server and the network to which the discovery server is connected. Information on other discovery servers connected via the network, and transmits the information on the delivery destination of the document and information on the other discovery server, and the browser terminal receives information on the received document. Information on a delivery target document selected based on the information, and information on a delivery destination of the delivery target document selected based on the received other discovery server and delivery destination information, The access server obtains the delivery target document from the storage server based on the delivery target document information received from the browser terminal, and selects a delivery destination based on the received delivery destination information. Connected via a network where the delivery destination is different from the access server The document is delivered to a discovery server connected via the same network as the delivery destination, and the discovery server connected via the same network as the delivery destination receives the document delivered from the access server. Deliver to the delivery destination selected by the user It is characterized by that.
[0043]
The invention of claim 2 is the invention of claim 1, The access server delivers the document to the delivery destination when the delivery destination of the acquired document is on the same network as the access server. It is characterized by that.
[0044]
The invention of claim 3 In the invention of claim 1, the access server performs authentication when accessing an access server belonging to a network different from the network to which the access server belongs. It is characterized by that.
[0045]
The invention of claim 4 In the invention of claim 1, when the access server acquires the document, it displays a list of connection destination discovery servers held by itself and a display for inputting a delivery destination and a delivery protocol on the browser terminal. And the document is acquired from the acquisition destination while the input process corresponding to the display is being performed. It is characterized by that.
[0046]
The invention of claim 5 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discovery server acquires the document delivery destination information from a service management unit that manages the document delivery destination according to a protocol of the service management unit. It is characterized by that.
[0047]
The invention of claim 6 2. The document delivery destination according to claim 1, wherein the document delivery destination is any one of a printer, a public network compatible FAX, a network compatible FAX, an e-mail destination mail server, and a file transfer destination storage. It is characterized by that.
[0048]
The invention of claim 7 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the plurality of networks include the Internet. It is characterized by that.
[0049]
The invention of claim 8 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the discovery server delivers the document delivered from the access server to the document delivery destination via the service management means according to a protocol of the service management means for managing the document delivery destination. It is characterized by that.
[0050]
The invention of claim 9 2. The document according to claim 1, wherein the document is a document held in a web server that is accessed by the access server using a browsing protocol. It is characterized by that.
[0051]
The invention of claim 10 2. The document according to claim 1, wherein the document is a page displayed on the browser terminal when the access server is browsing with a browsing protocol. It is characterized by that.
[0052]
The invention of claim 11 2. The document according to claim 1, wherein the document is an e-mail held in a mail server acquired by the access server using an e-mail reception protocol. It is characterized by that.
[0053]
The invention of claim 12 2. The access server according to claim 1, wherein the access server delivers the document to the discovery server using a browsing protocol. It is characterized by that.
[0054]
The invention of claim 13 2. The access server according to claim 1, wherein the access server delivers the document to the discovery server using an e-mail transmission protocol. It is characterized by that.
[0055]
The invention of claim 14 2. The access server according to claim 1, wherein the access server acquires the document by using a path that reaches the document by browsing according to an instruction from the browser terminal. It is characterized by that.
[0056]
The invention of claim 15 3. The access server according to claim 1, wherein the access server delivers the document to the discovery server using a path in which the document delivery destination is searched according to an instruction from the browser terminal. It is characterized by that.
[0057]
The invention of claim 16 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the discovery server includes format conversion means for converting the document into a predetermined format. It is characterized by that.
[0058]
The invention of claim 17 3. The access server according to claim 1, further comprising a format conversion means for converting the document into a predetermined format. It is characterized by that.
[0059]
The invention of claim 18 provides 2. The access server according to claim 1, wherein the access server is disposed in a proxy server. It is characterized by that.
[0060]
The invention of claim 19 In the invention of claim 1, the access server and the discovery server are realized on one computer as a relay server. It is characterized by that.
[0061]
The invention of claim 20 A plurality of networks are connected to each other, a browser terminal having a browser function is connected to an access server, a document is stored and a server that transmits information about the document is connected via the same network as the access server, and the browser An access server that relays access for displaying information related to documents stored in the server from a terminal is connected to at least one of the plurality of networks, and a discovery server that inquires about document delivery destination information is the plurality of networks. The document delivery method connected to a network, wherein the discovery server includes information on a document delivery destination connected via the same network as the discovery server, and a network to which the discovery server is connected Holds information on other discovery servers connected via different networks, transmits the held information on the document delivery destination and information on the other discovery servers, and the browser terminal sends the information to the access server. Access for displaying information on a document stored in the server, transmitting information on a delivery target document selected based on information on a document received from a server storing the document, and the discovery server The delivery server selects the delivery destination information selected based on the other discovery server and the delivery destination information received from the access server, and the access server obtains the delivery target document based on the received information about the delivery target document. And the received delivery destination information When the delivery destination selected based on the access server is connected via a network different from the access server, the document is delivered to a discovery server connected via the same network as the delivery destination, and the same network as the delivery destination is provided. The discovery server connected via the server delivers the document delivered from the access server to the delivery destination selected by the user. It is characterized by that.
[0062]
The invention of claim 21 25. The invention of claim 20, wherein the access server delivers the document to the delivery destination when the delivery destination of the acquired document is on the same network as the access server. It is characterized by that.
[0063]
The invention of claim 22 25. The document delivery destination according to claim 20, wherein the document delivery destination is any one of a printer, a public network compatible FAX, a network compatible FAX, an e-mail destination mail server, and a file transfer destination storage. It is characterized by that.
[0064]
The invention of claim 23 provides 25. The invention of claim 20, wherein the plurality of networks include the Internet. It is characterized by that.
[0065]
The invention of claim 24 provides 25. The invention according to claim 20, wherein the discovery server delivers the delivered document to the document delivery destination via the service management means in accordance with a protocol of a service management means for managing the document delivery destination. It is characterized by that.
[0066]
The invention of claim 25 provides 25. The document according to claim 20, wherein the document is a document held in a web server that is accessed by the access server using a browsing protocol. It is characterized by that.
[0067]
The invention of claim 26 provides 25. The document according to claim 20, wherein the document is a page displayed on the browser terminal when the access server is browsing with a browsing protocol. It is characterized by that.
[0068]
The invention of claim 27 provides 25. The document according to claim 20, wherein the document is an e-mail held in a mail server acquired by the access server using an e-mail reception protocol. It is characterized by that.
[0069]
The invention of claim 28 provides 25. The invention of claim 20, wherein the access server delivers the document to the discovery server using a browsing protocol. It is characterized by that.
[0070]
The invention of claim 29 provides 25. The invention of claim 20, wherein the access server delivers the document to the discovery server using an email transmission protocol. It is characterized by that.
[0071]
The invention of claim 30 provides 25. The invention of claim 20, wherein the access server acquires the document by using a path that reaches the document by browsing according to an instruction from the browser terminal. It is characterized by that.
[0072]
The invention of claim 31 provides 25. The invention according to claim 20, wherein the access server delivers the document to the discovery server using a path in which a document delivery destination is searched according to an instruction from the browser terminal. It is characterized by that.
[0073]
The invention of claim 32 provides 25. The invention according to claim 20, wherein the discovery server converts the format of the document and delivers the converted document to the document delivery destination or a service management unit that manages the document delivery destination. It is characterized by that.
[0074]
The invention of claim 33 provides 25. The invention of claim 20, wherein the access server converts the format of the document and delivers the converted document to the discovery server or the document delivery destination. It is characterized by that.
[0075]
The invention of claim 34 provides In the invention of claim 20, when the access server requires authentication when entering one of the plurality of networks, the access server performs authentication as an access server. It is characterized by that.
[0098]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a document delivery method according to the present invention and system One embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0099]
Here, eleven embodiments will be described. In the first embodiment, the overall system configuration of the present invention will be described, and the operations of the access server and the discovery server will be described.
[0100]
In the second and subsequent embodiments, the entire system configuration of the first embodiment is divided into individual cases, and the operation will be described in detail.
[0101]
In the second embodiment, a case where there is only an access server in the private network will be described.
[0102]
In the third embodiment, a case where there are an access server and a discovery server in the private network will be described.
[0103]
In the fourth embodiment, a case where there is only an access server on the Internet will be described.
[0104]
In the fifth embodiment, a case where there are an access server and a discovery server on the Internet will be described.
[0105]
In the sixth embodiment, a case where there is an access server on the Internet and the document is in a private network will be described.
[0106]
In the seventh embodiment, there will be described a case where there are an access server and a discovery server on the Internet, and the document and the document delivery destination are in separate private networks.
[0107]
In the eighth embodiment, a case will be described in which the document and the document delivery destination are in separate private networks, the access server is in the same private network as the document, and the discovery server is in the same private network as the document delivery destination.
[0108]
In the ninth embodiment, a case where only two discovery servers exist in the private network will be described.
[0109]
In the tenth embodiment, as an application of the configuration described in the second to ninth embodiments, the access server receives an e-mail instead of selecting a document by browsing, and only the access server on the Internet is used. Explain when there is.
[0110]
In the eleventh embodiment, similar to the configuration described in the tenth embodiment, the access server receives an e-mail. The access server and the discovery server are on the Internet, and the discovery server is in the private network. Give an explanation.
[0111]
[Example 1]
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a system to which the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 1, the part below the dotted line X in the figure is the main part, and the part above the dotted line X is the auxiliary part. In the following, the description will be focused on the main part.
[0112]
In the main part of FIG. 1, a private network 101 and a private network 201 are connected to the Internet 1. The private network 101 is an example of a private network having a browsing access relay function and a document delivery destination function, and the private network 201 is an example of a private network having a function only as a document delivery destination. The Internet 1 also has a browsing access relay function and a function as a document delivery destination.
[0113]
In the main part of FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, a private network 101 having a browsing access relay function and a document delivery destination function and a private network 201 having a function only as a document delivery destination are shown one by one. There may be a plurality of these.
[0114]
At the entrance of private network 101 or private network 201, there are security 112 and security 212, respectively, and e-mail protocols such as SMTP are allowed to pass in both directions without restrictions, and browsing protocols such as HTTP are the first to enter from outside to inside. As for access, it has a function of allowing user authentication, allowing only those that can be authenticated to enter, and allowing the user to pass from the outside to the inside without restriction when the user first accesses from the inside.
[0115]
Further, if a document delivery destination discovery-related protocol described later is created independently, the same restriction as that of the browsing protocol is performed for the protocol. Other protocols are not allowed to pass through at all. Note that the security of this part actually varies depending on the form of service and the policy of the administrator of the private network.For example, an e-mail protocol such as SMTP and a browsing protocol such as HTTP are passed in both directions without limitation. The protocol may not be passed at all, and as described in the sixth embodiment, the browsing protocol such as HTTP may be one-to-one authentication between operators instead of authentication for each user. In some cases, authentication is not performed based on a contract between the two.
[0116]
As a terminal having a browser function, access is made via a browser terminal 116 in the private network 101, a browser terminal 117 that remotely accesses the private network 101, a base station 42 of the mobile phone system 40 connected to the Internet 1, and a proxy 41. There is a browser terminal 43 that accesses, and a browser terminal 52 that accesses via a proxy 51 of an ISP (Internet Services Provider) 50 connected to the Internet 1. As each browser terminal, a mobile phone with a browser function, a PDA, a notebook PC, a desktop PC, WS, and the like are assumed.
[0117]
As access servers accessed by the browser terminal, there are an access server 20 on the Internet 1 and an access server 120 in the private network 101. The access server 20 and the access server 120 have functions of a browsing access 21 and a document delivery 22, and a browsing access 121 and a document delivery 122, respectively.
[0118]
The documents to be accessed are the document 11 in the Web server 10 connected to the Internet 1 and the document 111 in the Web server 110 connected to the private network 101. In FIG. 1, only one Web server and document are shown in each network for convenience of explanation. However, there may be a plurality of documents in the Web server, and there may be a plurality of Web servers.
[0119]
Document delivery destinations include a printer 4 connected to the Internet 1, a network compatible FAX 5, a mail server 6, a storage 7, and a printer 104 connected to the private network 101, a network compatible FAX 105, a mail server 106, a storage 107, and A printer 204 connected to the private network 201, a network compatible FAX 205, a mail server 206, and a storage 207. In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, only one printer, FAX, mail server, and storage are shown in each network. However, there may be a plurality of these.
[0120]
Further, there are FAX3, FAX103, and FAX203 connected to the public network 2 as document delivery destinations. The FAX 103 and the FAX 203 are not directly connected to the private network 101 or the private network 201 but are under the management thereof, and may be connected to the public network 2 through PBX or the like. In FIG. 1, only one public network compatible FAX is shown in each network for convenience of explanation, but there may be a plurality of these.
[0121]
Service management for managing the delivery destination of these documents includes service management 8 connected to the Internet 1, service management 108 connected to the private network 101, and service management 208 connected to the private network 201. The service management 8 on the Internet 1 manages a public network compatible FAX 3, a printer 4, a network compatible FAX 5, a mail server 6 (exactly an e-mail address), and a storage 7. A service management 108 in the private network 101 is managed. Manages the public network compatible FAX 103, the printer 104, the network compatible FAX 105, the mail server 106 (exactly an e-mail address), and the storage 107. The service management 208 in the private network 201 includes a public network compatible FAX 203, A printer 204, a network compatible FAX 205, a mail server 206 (more precisely, an e-mail address), and a storage 207 are managed. In the main part of FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, only one service management is shown for each network. However, there may be a plurality of services, and each service management includes a printer, a FAX, an e-mail address, It is actually managing one of the storage addresses. Each service is managed by a directory service, JINI (SUN microsystems), Universal Plug and Play (MicroSoft), etc., or a print management system sold by each printer manufacturer, etc. In addition, each service information inquiry method is unique (LDAP for directory services). In addition, there is service management having a Web-based yellow page role on the Internet 1, and the service management 8 may have such a role. Each service management knows at least the type of delivery destination and the address of the delivery destination, knows the delivery protocol accepted by the delivery destination explicitly or implicitly, and may know the status and the like.
[0122]
Discovery servers that cooperate with this service management include a discovery server 30 on the Internet 1, a discovery server 130 in the private network 101, and a discovery server 230 in the private network 201. The discovery server 30, the discovery server 130, and the discovery server 230 have functions of a delivery destination discovery 31 and a document delivery 32, a delivery destination discovery 131 and a document delivery 132, a delivery destination discovery 231 and a document delivery 232, respectively. The discovery server 30 on the Internet 1 cooperates with the service management 8, the discovery server 130 within the private network 101 cooperates with the service management 108, and the discovery server 230 within the private network 201 cooperates with the service management 208. In FIG. 1, for the convenience of explanation, each discovery server is linked to one service management. However, if there are a plurality of service managements in the network, the discovery servers may be linked to a plurality of service managements. As described above, each service management is performed in a network within a closed range, which is a unique method, and the inquiry method of service information is also unique. In response to various methods that will appear in the future, the service management is inquired with a protocol that matches the method. Each discovery server makes an inquiry to a plurality of linked service managements and organizes the obtained document delivery destination information collectively.
[0123]
The discovery server cooperates with other discovery servers in addition to cooperation with one or a plurality of service managements (see FIG. 4 described later). In the main part of FIG. 1, the discovery server 30 on the Internet 1 cooperates with the discovery server 130 in the private network 101 and the discovery server 230 in the private network 201. The discovery server 130 in the private network 101 cooperates with the discovery server 30 on the Internet 1 and the discovery server 230 in the private network 201. The discovery server 230 in the private network 201 cooperates with the discovery server 30 on the Internet 1 and the discovery server 130 in the private network 101.
[0124]
The access server described above cooperates with one or more discovery servers (see FIG. 4 described later). In the main part of FIG. 1, the access server 20 on the Internet 1 is linked to the discovery server 30, and the access server 120 in the private network 101 is linked to the discovery server 130.
[0125]
As described above, the discovery server and service management in each network are exchanged using a protocol based on a unique method of service management. By hiding the unique part in the private network in this way, the network A single protocol can be used for the exchange between the access server and the discovery server across the network and the exchange between the discovery servers. In this embodiment, a browsing protocol such as HTTP is assumed as the document delivery destination discovery protocol, but an original document delivery destination discovery protocol may be defined. Further, in order to pass through the previously extended security 112 or 212, an electronic mail protocol such as SMTP can be used as a protocol for the document delivery destination discovery. Regardless of which protocol is used, the protocol functions include the function to access the discovery server selected by the user, the list of addresses of other discovery servers with which you are linked, and the service management with which you are linked. It is only necessary to have a function for carrying the document delivery destination information and a function for delivering the document.
[0126]
Next, the configuration of the access server and the discovery server will be described in more detail.
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the access server 20 on the Internet 1 as an example, and FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the discovery server 230 in the private network 201 as an example.
[0127]
As described above, the access server 20 includes browsing access 21 and document delivery 22 functions. The document delivery 22 further includes document acquisition 23, delivery destination information acquisition 25, and document transmission 26 functions. The Here, the browsing access 21 is a function for relaying the browsing access from the browser terminal and searching for the document 11 on the Web server 10 on the Internet 1 or the document 111 on the Web server 110 in the private network 101. The document acquisition 23 is a function for acquiring the document 11 or the document 111 by using a browsing access path. The delivery destination information acquisition 25 is a function of acquiring document delivery destination information from the discovery server 30 on the Internet 1 and the delivery server 230 on the private network 201 using a browsing protocol when searching for a document delivery destination. The document transmission 26 is a delivery destination input by the user, that is, the printer 4 on the Internet 1, the storage 7, the mail server 6, the network compatible FAX 5, the FAX 3 via the public network 2, or the mail server 206 on the private work 201. One of the function for directly transmitting the document 11 or the document 111 acquired by the document acquisition 23 to the FAX 203 via the network-compatible FAX 205 or the public network 2 and the delivery destination information obtained by the delivery destination information acquisition 25 is a user. Is selected, the document 11 or the document 111 is transmitted to the discovery server 30 or the discovery server 230 using the delivery destination search path. The document delivery 22 of the access server 20 has an e-mail acquisition 24 function, which will be described in the tenth and eleventh embodiments with reference to FIG. Although not shown in the figure, the configuration of the access server 120 is exactly the same as the configuration of the access server 20, and is configured by the functions of browsing access 121 and document delivery 122. The document delivery 122 further includes document acquisition 123, It consists of functions of delivery destination information acquisition 125 and document transmission 126.
[0128]
As previously described, the discovery server 230 includes functions of a delivery destination discovery 231 and a document delivery 232, and the delivery destination discovery 231 further includes functions of a delivery destination information acquisition 233 and a delivery destination information provision 234. The document delivery 232 includes functions of document reception 235 and document transmission 236. Here, the delivery destination information acquisition 233 has a function of acquiring information related to the document delivery destination from the service management 208. The delivery destination information provision 234 sends the document delivery destination information acquired by the delivery destination information acquisition 233 to the access server 20 on the Internet 1, the access server 120 in the private network 101, or the browser terminal 116 in the private network 101 (this is (Embodiment 9 only) has the function provided. The document reception 235 has a function of receiving a document from the access server 20, the access server 120, or the browser terminal 116 using a browsing protocol. The document transmission 236 has a function of transmitting the document received by the document reception 235 to the printer 203 on the private network 201, the storage 207, the mail server 206, the network compatible FAX 205, and the FAX 203 via the public network 2. Further, the document transmission 236 does not directly deliver the document to the printer 204 but the service management 208 when the service management 208 has a function of delivering the document (such as a print management system sold by each printer manufacturer). It has a function to deliver documents. Although not shown in the figure, the configuration of the discovery server 30 is exactly the same as the configuration of the discovery server 230, and includes the functions of the delivery destination discovery 31 and the document delivery 32. The delivery destination discovery 31 further includes a delivery destination. The document delivery 32 is composed of functions of a document reception 35 and a document transmission 36. Similarly, the configuration in the discovery server 130 is also composed of the functions of the delivery destination discovery 131 and the document delivery 132, and the delivery destination discovery 131 is further composed of the functions of the delivery destination information acquisition 133 and the delivery destination information providing 134, and the document delivery. Reference numeral 132 denotes a function of document reception 135 and document transmission 136.
[0129]
Next, the operation will be described.
The configuration in FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration, and the operation differs depending on the location of the access server, the location of the document, and the location of the document delivery destination. Accordingly, the operation will be described in the second and subsequent embodiments by dividing each case. Here, the operations of the access server and the discovery server will be described first.
[0130]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a cooperative relationship between the access server and the discovery server.
FIG. 4 shows only the network, access server, discovery server, and service management extracted from FIG.
[0131]
In FIG. 4, a private network 101, a private network 201, and a private network 1101 are connected to the Internet 1. Within each private network, the security of a certain policy is maintained against entry from outside (the security function is not shown in FIG. 4). Each private network may further include several sub private networks. In FIG. 4, for example, there are sub private networks 1201 in the private network 1101. FIG. 4 shows an example in which there is one sub private network, but there may be sub private networks in many depths.
[0132]
The access server may be anywhere as long as the user can access it using a browser terminal (not shown in FIG. 4). In FIG. 4, for example, two access servers 20 and 1020 are provided on the Internet 1. There is one access server 120 in the private network 101 and one access server 1120 in the private network 1101. Each access server is linked to one or more discovery servers. For example, the access server 20 is linked to the discovery server 30, the access server 1020 is linked to the discovery server 1030, the access server 120 is linked to the discovery server 130, and the access server 1120 is linked to the discovery servers 1030 and 1130. It is linked with.
[0133]
The discovery server is linked with other discovery servers (0, 1, or plural) and one or plural service management, and at least one discovery server is necessary in the network to be discovered. In FIG. 4, for example, there are two discovery servers 30 and 1030 on the Internet 1, one discovery server 130 in the private network 101, one discovery server 1130 in the private network 1101, and one discovery in the private network 1201. There is a server 1230. The discovery server 30 is linked with the discovery servers 1030, 130, and 230. The discovery server 130 is linked with the discovery servers 30 and 230. The discovery server 230 is linked with the discovery servers 30 and 130. The server 1030 is linked to the discovery servers 30 and 1130, the discovery server 1130 is linked to the discovery servers 1030 and 1230, and the discovery server 1230 is linked to the discovery server 1130.
[0134]
The discovery server is linked to one or more service management. For example, in FIG. 4, the discovery server 30 is linked to the service management 8, the discovery server 130 is linked to the service management 108, the discovery server 230 is linked to the service management 208, and the discovery server 1030 is The discovery server 1130 is linked to the service management 1108 and 1118, and the discovery server 1230 is linked to the service management 1208.
[0135]
The service management manages any of a plurality of printers, FAX, e-mail address, storage, etc. (not shown in FIG. 4).
[0136]
In this configuration, the operation of the access server and the discovery server when a user searches for a document by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and delivers the document to a printer / fax / partner e-mail address / partner storage, etc. will be described. Do.
[0137]
FIG. 5 shows the operation of the access server, and FIG. 6 shows the operation of the discovery server.
In FIG. 5, steps A1 to A6 are browsing access functions in the access server, and steps A7 and after are document delivery functions in the access server. Further, among the document delivery functions, a delivery destination information acquisition function, a document acquisition function, and a document transmission function are each enclosed by dotted lines. That is, steps A13 to A16 are the delivery destination information acquisition function, steps A10 and A17 are the document acquisition function, and others are the document transmission function.
[0138]
In FIG. 6, steps D1 to D5 are functions of delivery destination discovery in the discovery server, and steps after step D6 are functions of document delivery in the discovery server server. In addition, among the delivery destination discovery functions, the delivery destination information acquisition function and the delivery destination information provision function are indicated by dotted lines, and the document reception function and document transmission function of the document delivery functions are indicated by dotted lines. ing. That is, step D1 is a delivery destination information acquisition function, steps D2 to D5 are delivery destination information provision functions, steps D6 to D9 are document reception functions, and steps D10 and subsequent are document transmission functions.
[0139]
First, the operation of the access server will be described with reference to FIG. The access servers are the access servers 20 and 1020 on the Internet 1 in FIG. 4, the access server 120 of the private network 101, and the access server 1120 of the private network 1101.
[0140]
In FIG. 4, a user connects to one of the access servers described above from a browser terminal (not shown in FIG. 4). This corresponds to step A1 in FIG. As for the browsing relay method on the access server, the link destination in the page displayed on the browser terminal is rewritten, and the functions of ordinary browsers, that is, browser buttons and URL input fields such as HOME, BACK, and RELOAD are added. By performing the operation of embedding in the page, browsing can be relayed. Furthermore, a button for starting a service for delivering the page itself displayed on the browser terminal may be embedded in the page. Alternatively, if the function of the access server is added to the proxy (not shown in FIG. 4), it is not necessary to rewrite the page displayed on the browser terminal as described above, and browsing can be easily relayed. However, even when the access server function is added to the proxy, in order to deliver the page displayed on the browser terminal itself, it is necessary to embed a button for starting this service in the page. In addition, in the method of rewriting a page, when the browser terminal is a mobile phone, it is necessary to devise such as minimizing browser buttons to be embedded in the page.
[0141]
Step A2 is authentication for receiving the service of the access server. In the case of the access server 20 or 1020 on the Internet 1, the user may be authenticated from the relationship of accounting or the like, and the access server 120 in the private network may be authenticated. In the case of 1120, it is not necessary to perform authentication.
[0142]
When proceeding from step A2 to A3, a homepage preset by the user is displayed on the user's browser terminal. In step A3, access is made to the designated link destination. When the user tries to enter from outside any private network, authentication occurs in step A4, and the page is displayed on the browser terminal in step A5. Is displayed. As described above, when a page is rewritten, a rewriting operation occurs before step A5. When the user selects another link destination in step A6, the process returns to step A3. While the user is searching for a document by browsing, step A3 to step A6 are repeated many times.
[0143]
When the user reaches the page of the document to be delivered, the user selects the document in step A6. Alternatively, when it is desired to deliver the page itself displayed by the user, the service activation button embedded in the page is selected in step A6. Next, in step A7, the access server displays a list of discovery servers at the link destination held by the access server and fields for allowing the user to input the delivery destination / delivery protocol. The link-destination discovery servers held by the access servers 20, 1020, 120, and 1120 are as described above.
[0144]
When the user selects to input himself / herself in step A8 and inputs the delivery destination / delivery protocol in step A9, the access server takes the document selected by the user using the browsing path in step A10. come. Alternatively, to save time, the document may be retrieved while the user is processing the input. As for the delivery destination / delivery protocol input by the user in step A9, there are a method in which the user directly inputs by hand, or a method using the user's address book in the browser terminal or access server. At this time, if a user searches for a document before, even if the user authenticates and enters the private net in step A4, the document cannot be taken to use this same path. Is possible.
[0145]
Next, the access server performs format conversion according to the type of the document delivery destination in step A11, and transmits the document to the delivery destination using the protocol specified by the user in step A12. The detailed operation of this part will be described in the second and subsequent embodiments.
[0146]
If the user selects the document delivery destination search by the discovery server in step A8, the user accesses the discovery server designated by the user in step A13. This corresponds to step D2 in FIG. When the user attempts to enter from outside any private network, authentication occurs in step A14, and the page designated in step D4 of the discovery server is displayed on the browser terminal in step A15. When the user selects another discovery server in step A16, the process returns to step A13. While the user is searching for the document delivery destination, step A13 to step A16 are repeated many times. By repeating this step, the discovery server can be traced over several stages to reach the target delivery destination. The discovery servers at the link destinations held by the discovery servers 30, 1030, 130, 230, 1130, and 1230 are as described above. For example, in FIG. 4, if the user knows all the authentication information, the access server 120 → Discovery server 130 → Discovery server 30 → Discovery server 1030 → Discovery server 1130 → Discovery server 1230.
[0147]
When the user reaches the delivery destination network, the user selects a delivery destination / delivery protocol in step A16. Alternatively, in step A16, the user inputs a delivery destination / delivery protocol. As for the delivery destination / delivery protocol input by the user, there is a method in which the user directly inputs by hand, or by using the user's address book in the browser terminal or the access server.
[0148]
When the delivery destination / delivery protocol is determined, the access server takes the document selected by the user using the browsing path in step A17. Alternatively, in order to save time, the document may be retrieved while the discovery server is performing a document delivery destination search. At this time, if a user searches for a document before, even if the user authenticates and enters the private network in step A4, the document can be taken to use this same path. It is.
[0149]
In step A18 and subsequent steps, it is determined whether the document can be transmitted directly from the access server to the delivery destination according to the type of delivery destination / delivery protocol. If the document delivery destination is in the same network as the access server (step A18), the access server performs format conversion if necessary in step A11, and sends the document to the delivery destination in step A12. The detailed operation of this part will be described in the second and subsequent embodiments.
[0150]
If the document delivery destination is not in the same network as the access server, in step A19, the type of delivery protocol is determined, and if the delivery protocol allows the document to be sent directly from the access server to the delivery destination, for example, e-mail, In the case of network compatible FAX, public network compatible FAX, etc., format conversion is performed if necessary in step A20, and the document is transmitted to the delivery destination in step A21. The detailed operation of this part will be described in the second and subsequent embodiments.
[0151]
In step A19, in the case of a delivery protocol in which a document cannot be transmitted directly from the access server to the delivery destination, for example, in the case of printer, file transfer, etc., format conversion is performed in step A22 if necessary, Then, the document delivery destination search path is used to transmit the document to the discovery server, and the process proceeds to step D9 in FIG. At this time, if a document delivery destination is previously searched, even if the user authenticates and enters the private net in step A14, the document is transmitted to use this same path. Is possible. The detailed operation of this part will be described in the second and subsequent embodiments.
[0152]
In this example, it is determined in step A18 whether the delivery destination is on the same network, and the processing is divided. However, the process moves from step A18 to step A19 regardless of whether the delivery destination is on the same network. May be.
[0153]
Here, the processing is determined by determining the type of delivery protocol in step A19, but the process may be shifted from step A19 to step A22 regardless of the type of delivery protocol.
[0154]
Next, the operation of the discovery server will be described with reference to FIG. The discovery servers in FIG. 4 are the discovery servers 30 and 1030 on the Internet 1, the discovery server 130 of the private network 101, the discovery server 1130 of the private network 1101, and the discovery server 1230 of the private network 1201. The discovery server is requested to search for a document delivery destination from the access server or another discovery server. Note that the user may directly request the discovery server to search for a document delivery destination (see Example 9). Here, a case where a search for a document delivery destination is requested by an access server or another discovery server will be described.
[0155]
First, in step D1, the discovery server can use a plurality of printers, faxes, e-mail addresses, storage addresses managed by the service management from one or more service managements linked to the discovery server in advance. Get the appropriate protocol, status, etc., and organize the document delivery destination information in a batch.
[0156]
When the user searches for a document via the access server and selects a document delivery destination search, the access is made from step A13 in FIG. 5 of the access server to step D2 in FIG. 6 of the delivery server. Step D3 is authentication for receiving the service of the discovery server. If the search of the document delivery destination is requested from the access server or another discovery server, the authentication may not be performed. Note that authentication may be performed when the user directly connects to the discovery server and requests a document delivery destination search.
[0157]
In step D4, the discovery server displays the document delivery destination information list acquired in advance in step D1 and the list of other linked discovery servers to the user via step A15 of the access server.
[0158]
If the user selects another linked discovery server in step A16 of the access server, the process proceeds to step D2 of the other discovery server. At this time, when the process moves to step D2 of another discovery server, since the exchange between the access server and the transfer destination discovery server starts, the process of this discovery server ends. A method of relaying a path without ending the processing of the discovery server may be used. When the discovery server relays the path, if a browsing protocol such as HTTP is used as the protocol between the access server and the discovery server and between the discovery servers, the access server relays the browsing as described above. You can take the same method as you did. Alternatively, if you use your own protocol as the protocol here or use an e-mail protocol such as SMTP, there is no mechanism for jumping to the link destination, so it is special to relay There is no need for a method.
[0159]
When the user selects a delivery destination and a delivery protocol in step A16 of the access server, or when the user inputs a delivery destination / delivery protocol, the discovery server proceeds from step D5 to steps D6 and D7, and the document If the delivery destination is in the same network as the access server, the document is directly delivered from the access server, and the processing of the discovery server ends.
[0160]
In step D7, if the document delivery destination is not in the same network as the access server, in step D8, the type of delivery protocol is determined, and if the delivery protocol allows the document to be sent directly from the access server to the delivery destination, In the case of e-mail, network compatible FAX, public network compatible FAX, etc., the process of the discovery server ends.
[0161]
In the case of a delivery protocol in which a document cannot be sent directly from the access server to the delivery destination in step D8, for example, in the case of a printer, file transfer, etc., the discovery server sends the document that the access server sends in step A23 to step D9. In step D10, if necessary, format conversion is performed, and in step D11, the document is transmitted to the delivery destination. The detailed operation of this part will be described in the second and subsequent embodiments.
[0162]
Here, in step D7, it is determined whether the delivery destination is on the same network, and the processing is divided. However, the access server performs steps from step A18 to step A18 regardless of whether the delivery destination is on the same network. If it moves to A19, the discovery server also moves from step D7 to step D8 regardless of whether the delivery destination is on the same network.
[0163]
Here, the processing is determined by determining the type of delivery protocol in step D8, but if the access server moves from step A19 to step A22 regardless of the type of delivery protocol, the discovery server also Regardless of the type of delivery protocol, the process proceeds from step D8 to step D9.
[0164]
5 and 6, after the explanation of the operation of the access server and the discovery server is completed, a supplementary explanation of an example of the cooperative relationship between the access server and the discovery server shown in FIG. 4 will be given. The access server may be anywhere as long as the user can access it using a browser terminal (not shown in FIG. 4). This corresponds to step A1 of the access server in FIG. Further, although each access server is linked to one or more discovery servers, this corresponds to step A7 of the access server in FIG. Although the discovery server is linked to other discovery servers (0, 1, or multiple) and one or more service management, this corresponds to steps D1 and D4 of the discovery server in FIG. ing. Furthermore, by repeating steps A13 to A16 of the access server and steps D2 to D5 of the discovery server, the user can follow the discovery server over several stages and reach the target delivery destination.
[0165]
In FIG. 4, the plurality of access servers 20 and 1020 and the plurality of discovery servers 30 and 1030 are arranged on the Internet 1 because adaptation to the whole world is taken into consideration. For example, if the lower side of the horizontal line in FIG. 4 is Japan and the upper side is another country, considering the speed of access, it is better to access the access server 20 in Japan to receive services in Japan. It is clear. If the discovery servers 30 and 1030 are linked, it is possible to deliver a document from Japan to another country (and vice versa).
[0166]
If the discovery server in the private network is configured to cooperate with the discovery server in another private network, neither an access server nor a discovery server is required on the Internet 1. For example, in FIG. 4, when considering only the private network 101 and the private network 201, if the discovery server 130 in the private network 101 and the discovery server 230 in the private network 201 cooperate, Neither discovery server is required.
[0167]
The operation of the access server and discovery server has been described above. Next, it is necessary to apply the operations of these servers to FIG. 1 and to explain the operations in detail in the configuration of FIG. 1, but the operations differ depending on the location of the access server, the location of the document, and the location of the document delivery destination. There are several cases. Accordingly, the operation will be described in the second and subsequent embodiments by dividing each case.
[0168]
[Example 2]
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram for explaining the second embodiment. FIG. 7 shows only necessary portions extracted from the configuration of FIG. 1 shown in the description of the first embodiment, and shows a case where there is only an access server in the private network. In this configuration, there is no discovery server, and there is no access server on the Internet 1.
[0169]
In FIG. 7, a private network 101 and a private network 201 are connected to the Internet 1. In this embodiment, the private network 101 is a private network having a browsing access relay function and a document delivery destination function, and the private network 201 is a private network having a function only as a document delivery destination. The Internet 1 also has a function as a document delivery destination.
[0170]
There is a security 112 or a security 212 at the entrance of the private network 101 or the private network 201, and the function is as described in the first embodiment.
[0171]
As a terminal having a browser function, access is made via a browser terminal 116 in the private network 101, a browser terminal 117 that remotely accesses the private network 101, a base station 42 of the mobile phone system 40 connected to the Internet 1, and a proxy 41. A browser terminal 43 that accesses the Internet 1 via a proxy 51 of an ISP 50 connected to the Internet 1.
[0172]
As an access server, there is an access server 120 in the private network 101. The access server 120 has functions of browsing access 121 and document delivery 122.
[0173]
The documents to be accessed are the document 11 in the Web server 10 connected to the Internet 1 and the document 111 in the Web server 110 connected to the private network 101.
[0174]
Document delivery destinations include a printer 4 connected to the Internet 1, a network compatible FAX 5, a mail server 6, a storage 7, and a printer 104 connected to the private network 101, a network compatible FAX 105, a mail server 106, a storage 107, and And a network-compatible FAX 205 and a mail server 206 connected to the private network 201. Further, there are FAX3, FAX103, and FAX203 connected to the public network 2 as document delivery destinations.
[0175]
In this configuration, a description will be given of an operation in which a user searches for a document by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and delivers the document to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage. The sequence of the operation in the configuration of FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the step symbols used in FIG. 5 describing the operation of the access server are used.
[0176]
First, the user connects to the browsing access 121 of the access server 120 from the browser terminal 116 connected to the private network 101 (step A1 in FIGS. 5 and 8). At this time, the browser terminal 117 that remotely accesses the private network 101, the base station 42 of the mobile phone system 40 connected to the Internet 1 and the browser terminal 43 that is accessed via the proxy 41, and the proxy of the ISP 50 connected to the Internet 1 Even if the browser terminal 52 accessed via the browser 51 is connected to the browsing access 121 of the access server 120, the operation is exactly the same except that there is user authentication in the security 112. The browsing access 121 can relay browsing by rewriting the page displayed on the browser terminal 116 in the same manner as described in the first embodiment. Alternatively, if the function of the access server 120 is added to the proxy 113, browsing can be easily relayed.
[0177]
5 or 8, the user selects the document 111 on the Web server 110 on the private network 101, or the service embedded in the page to deliver the page itself displayed by the user Select the start button. Here, even if the document selected by the user is the document 11 in the Web server 10 on the Internet, the operation is exactly the same. In the following description, the case where the user selects the document 111 will be mainly described.
[0178]
Next, the document delivery 122 of the access server 120 allows the user to directly input by hand, or to input the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in the browser terminal 116 or using the user's address book in the access server 120. (Step A9 in FIGS. 5 and 8). When the delivery protocol and the delivery destination are determined, the document delivery 122 of the access server 120 retrieves the document 111 using the browsing path (step A10 in FIGS. 5 and 8). Alternatively, to save time, the document 111 may be fetched while the user is performing input processing. In the case of a page displayed by the user, there is no processing in step A10.
[0179]
Next, the document delivery 122 of the access server 120 performs the following processing depending on the type of the document delivery destination (steps A11 and A12 in FIGS. 5 and 8). When the document delivery destination is a printer, the document delivery 122 converts the document 111 into a print format such as Postscript by the format conversion 109 connected to the private network 101, and a printer (for example, a private network) designated by the user. A printer 104 on 101 or a printer 4) on the Internet 1) is transmitted by a designated print protocol (lpd, IPP, etc.).
[0180]
When the document delivery destination is a fax compatible with the public network, the document delivery 122 converts the document 111 into a FAX format such as G3 by the format conversion 109, and is connected to the public network 2 (for example, in the private network 101). FAX 103, FAX 203 in the private network 201, or FAX 3 in the public network 2).
[0181]
When the document delivery destination is a network compatible FAX, the document delivery 122 converts the document 111 into the TIFF format by the format conversion 109 and uses it for an e-mail protocol such as SMTP. It is transmitted to the FAX 105 on the network 101, the FAX 205 on the private network 201, or the FAX 5 on the Internet 1.
[0182]
When the document delivery destination is the other party's e-mail address, the document delivery 122 creates an e-mail with the document 111 as an attached file, and uses an e-mail protocol such as SMTP to specify the other party's e-mail address (for example, The data is transmitted via the relay mail server 114 to the mail server 106 on the private network 101, the mail server 206 on the private network 201, or the mail server 6) on the Internet 1.
[0183]
When the document delivery destination is a storage, the document delivery 122 uses a file transfer protocol such as ftp to the file transfer destination designated by the user (for example, the storage 107 in the private network 101 or the storage 7 on the Internet 1). The document 111 is transmitted.
[0184]
In this embodiment, when the document delivery destination is a public network compatible FAX, the document delivery 122 in the access server 120 transmits to FAX 3, but when the FAX server 115 exists on the private network 101, The document 111 may be transmitted via the FAX server 115.
[0185]
Further, in this embodiment, when the document delivery destination is a printer, the document delivery 122 in the access server 120 directly transmits to the printer 104. However, the document delivery 122 transmits to the printer 104 via the print server (not shown in FIG. 7). You may make it transmit.
[0186]
In this embodiment, the format conversion 109 connected to the private network 101 is used as the format conversion of the document 111. However, the access server 120 may have a format conversion function.
[0187]
In the present embodiment, the access server 120 and the proxy 113 are described as separate ones, but the function of the access server 120 may be added to the proxy 113.
[0188]
[Example 3]
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram for explaining the third embodiment. FIG. 9 shows only necessary portions extracted from the configuration of FIG. 1 shown in the description of the first embodiment, and is obtained by adding a discovery server to the configuration of the second embodiment. In this configuration, there are no access server and discovery server on the Internet 1, the access server 120 and the discovery server 130 exist only in the private network 101, and the delivery destination within the range indicated by the discovery server 130 is the user. Is the one to choose. As shown in the difference from the second embodiment, a discovery server 130 and a service management 108 are added to the private network 101, the printer 4 connected to the Internet 1, the network compatible FAX 5, the mail server 6, the storage 7, and the private network 201. The network compatible FAX 205, the mail server 207, and the FAX 3 and FAX 203 connected to the public network 2 are deleted. The discovery server 130 has functions of a delivery destination discovery 131 and a document delivery 132, and the service management 108 in the private network 101 manages the public network compatible FAX 103, the printer 104, the network compatible FAX 105, the mail server 106, and the storage 107.
[0189]
In this configuration, a description will be given of an operation in which a user searches for a document by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and delivers the document to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage. The sequence of the operation in the configuration of FIG. 9 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, the code | symbol of the step used in FIG. 5 which demonstrated operation | movement of the access server, and the code | symbol of the step used in FIG. 6 which demonstrated operation | movement of the discovery server are used.
[0190]
The user connecting to the access server 120 from the browser terminal 43, 52, 116, or 117 is exactly the same as in the second embodiment, and is omitted here.
[0191]
5 or 10, the user selects the document 111 on the Web server 110 on the private network 101, or the service embedded in the page in order to deliver the page itself displayed by the user Select the start button. Here, even if the document selected by the user is the document 11 in the Web server 10 on the Internet, the operation is exactly the same. In the following description, the case where the user selects the document 111 will be mainly described.
[0192]
Next, the access server 120 causes the discovery server 130 to perform a document delivery destination search according to a user instruction (steps A13 to A16 in FIG. 5 and steps D2 to D5 in FIG. 6). The delivery destination discovery 131 of the discovery server 130 makes an inquiry to the service management 108 on the private network 101 in advance to arrange document delivery destination information (step D1 in FIGS. 6 and 10). The user designates the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol from the screen displayed on the browser terminal 116, or the user directly inputs the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in the private network 101, or the browser terminal 116 Alternatively, when the user's address book in the access server 120 is used to input the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in the private network 101 (step A16 in FIGS. 5 and 10), the document delivery 122 of the access server 120 is used for browsing. The document 111 is retrieved using the path (step A17 in FIGS. 5 and 10). Alternatively, in order to save time, the document 111 may be retrieved while the discovery server 130 searches for a delivery destination. In the case of a page displayed by the user, there is no processing in step A16.
[0193]
Next, the document delivery 122 of the access server 120 determines whether the document delivery destination is on the same network (step A18 in FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the document delivery destination 122 is on the same network. Then, the process proceeds directly to the process of transmitting the document (steps A11 and A12 in FIGS. 5 and 10). Since the subsequent processing is exactly the same as in the second embodiment, it is omitted here.
[0194]
In the present embodiment, when the user directly inputs the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in step A8 of FIG. 5 of the access server 120 or using the user's address book in the browser terminal 116, It is clear that the document is delivered to the document delivery destination shown in the second embodiment.
[0195]
Further, in this embodiment, in step A18 of FIG. 5 of the access server 120 (corresponding to step D7 of FIG. 6 of the discovery server 230), it is determined whether the delivery destination is in the same network. As described in the first embodiment, the process may move from step A18 to step A19 (corresponding to step D7 to step D8) regardless of whether the delivery destination is in the same network. In this case, processing after step A19 (corresponding to step D8) as shown in the seventh embodiment is required.
[0196]
In this embodiment, the access server 120 and the discovery server 130 are described as separate servers, but may be combined as one relay server. In this case, the document delivery 122 and the document delivery function 132 may be combined into one.
[0197]
In this embodiment, the format conversion 109 connected to the private network 101 is used as the format conversion of the document 111. However, the access server 120 or the discovery server 130 may have a format conversion function.
[0198]
[Example 4]
FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 shows only necessary portions extracted from the configuration of FIG. 1 shown in the description of the first embodiment, and shows a case where there is only an access server on the Internet. In this configuration, there is no discovery server, and there is no access server in the private network. In FIG. 11, a private network 201 is connected to the Internet 1. In this embodiment, the private network 201 is a private network having a function only as a document delivery destination.
[0199]
As a terminal having a browser function, a browser terminal 43 is accessed via a base station 42 and a proxy 41 of a mobile phone system 40 connected to the Internet 1, and is accessed via a proxy 51 of an ISP 50 connected to the Internet 1. There is a browser terminal 52 that performs.
[0200]
As an access server, there is an access server 20 on the Internet 1. The access server 20 has functions of browsing access 21 and document delivery 22.
[0201]
The document to be accessed is a document 11 in the Web server 10 connected to the Internet 1.
[0202]
As document delivery destinations, there are a printer 4, a network compatible FAX 5, a mail server 6, a storage 7 connected to the Internet 1, and a network compatible FAX 205 and a mail server 206 connected to a private network 201. Further, there are FAX 3 and FAX 203 connected to the public network 2 as document delivery destinations.
[0203]
In this configuration, a description will be given of an operation in which a user searches for a document by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and delivers the document to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage. The sequence of operations in the configuration of FIG. 11 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 12, the code | symbol of the step used in FIG. 5 explaining operation | movement of the access server is used.
[0204]
The user first connects to the browsing access 21 of the access server 20 from the browser terminal 43 that is accessed via the base station 42 and the proxy 41 of the mobile phone system 40 connected to the Internet 1 (FIGS. 5 and 12). Step A1). In the case of this configuration, when connecting to the browsing access 21 of the access server 20, user authentication may be performed in consideration of accounting (step A2 in FIGS. 5 and 12). At this time, even if the browser terminal 52 accessed via the proxy 51 of the ISP 50 connected to the Internet 1 is connected to the browsing access 21 of the access server 20, the operation is exactly the same. The browsing access 21 can relay browsing by rewriting the page displayed on the browser terminal 43 in the same manner as described in the first embodiment. Or if the function of the access server 20 is added to the proxy 41, browsing can be relayed easily.
[0205]
In step A6 of FIGS. 5 and 12, the user selects the document 11 in the Web server 10 on the Internet 1 or starts the service embedded in the page in order to deliver the page itself displayed by the user. Select the button for. In the following description, the case where the user selects the document 11 will be mainly described.
[0206]
Next, the document delivery 22 of the access server 20 allows the user to directly input by hand, or by inputting the user within the browser terminal 43 or using the user's address book in the access server 20, so that the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol can be obtained. (Step A9 in FIGS. 5 and 12). When the delivery protocol and the delivery destination are determined, the document delivery 22 of the access server 20 takes the document 11 using the browsing path (step A10 in FIGS. 5 and 12). Alternatively, to save time, the document 11 may be fetched while the user is performing input processing. In the case of a page displayed by the user, there is no processing in step A10.
[0207]
Next, the document delivery 22 of the access server 20 performs the following processing according to the type of the document delivery destination (steps A11 and A12 in FIGS. 5 and 12). When the document delivery destination is a printer, the document delivery 22 converts the document 11 into a print format such as a postscript by the format conversion 9 connected to the Internet 1, and a printer designated by the user (for example, on the Internet 1). The printer 4) transmits the data using the designated print protocol (IPP or the like).
[0208]
When the document delivery destination is a fax compatible with the public network, the document delivery 22 converts the document 11 into a fax format such as G3 by the format conversion 9, and is connected to the public network 2 (for example, in the private network 201). FAX 203 or FAX 3 of the public network 2).
[0209]
When the document delivery destination is a network compatible FAX, the document delivery 22 converts the document 11 into the TIFF format by the format conversion 9 and uses it for an e-mail protocol such as SMTP, so that the FAX specified by the user (for example, private The data is transmitted to FAX 205 on the network 201 or FAX 5 on the Internet 1.
[0210]
When the document delivery destination is the other party's e-mail address, the document delivery 22 creates an e-mail with the document 11 as an attached file and uses an e-mail protocol such as SMTP to send the other party's e-mail address (for example, It is transmitted to the mail server 206 on the private network 201 or the mail server 6) on the Internet 1.
[0211]
When the document delivery destination is storage, the document delivery 22 transmits the document 11 to a file transfer destination designated by the user (for example, the storage 7 on the Internet 1) using a file transfer protocol such as ftp.
[0212]
In this embodiment, the access server 20 is described as being on the Internet 1. However, the proxy 41 of the mobile phone system 40 connected to the Internet 1 and the proxy 51 of the ISP 50 connected to the Internet 1 are accessed. The function of the server 20 may be added.
[0213]
Further, in this embodiment, when the document delivery destination is a printer, the document delivery 22 in the access server 20 directly transmits to the printer 4, but the printer 4 passes through the print server (not shown in FIG. 11) to the printer 4. You may send it.
[0214]
In this embodiment, the format conversion 9 connected to the Internet 1 is used as the format conversion of the document 11. However, the access server 20 may have a format conversion function.
[0215]
[Example 5]
FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram for explaining the fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 shows only necessary portions extracted from the configuration of FIG. 1 shown in the description of the first embodiment, and is obtained by adding a discovery server to the configuration of the fourth embodiment. In this configuration, the access server and the discovery server do not exist in the private network, the access server 20 and the discovery server 30 exist only on the Internet 1, and the delivery destination within the range indicated by the discovery server 30 is determined by the user. To choose. As a difference from the fourth embodiment, the discovery server 30 and the service management 8 are added to the Internet 1, and the public network compatible FAX 203, the network compatible FAX 205, and the mail server 207 in the private network 201 are deleted. The discovery server 30 has functions of a delivery destination discovery 31 and a document delivery 32, and the service management 8 of the Internet 1 manages the public network compatible FAX 3, the printer 4, the network compatible FAX 5, the mail server 6, and the storage 7.
[0216]
In this configuration, a description will be given of an operation in which a user searches for a document by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and delivers the document to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage. The sequence of operations in the configuration of FIG. 13 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 14, the step symbols used in FIG. 5 describing the operation of the access server and the step symbols used in FIG. 6 describing the operation of the discovery server are used.
[0217]
The user connecting to the access server 20 from the browser terminal 43 or 52 is exactly the same as in the fourth embodiment, and is omitted here.
[0218]
In step A6 of FIGS. 5 and 14, the user selects the document 11 on the Web server 10 on the Internet 1 or starts the service embedded in the page in order to deliver the page itself displayed by the user. Select the button for. In the following description, the case where the user selects the document 11 will be mainly described.
[0219]
Next, the access server 20 causes the discovery server 30 to perform a document delivery destination search according to a user instruction (steps A13 to A16 in FIG. 5 and steps D2 to D5 in FIG. 6). The delivery destination discovery 31 of the discovery server 30 makes an inquiry to the service management 8 on the Internet 1 in advance to arrange document delivery destination information (step D1 in FIGS. 6 and 14). The user designates the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol from the screen displayed on the browser terminal 43, or the user directly inputs the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol on the Internet 1, or in the browser terminal 43 or When the document delivery destination and delivery protocol on the Internet 1 are input using the user address book in the access server 20 (step A16 in FIGS. 5 and 14), the document delivery 22 in the access server 20 sets the browsing path. The document 11 is retrieved by using it (step A17 in FIGS. 5 and 14). Alternatively, in order to save time, the document 11 may be retrieved while the discovery server 30 searches for a delivery destination. In the case of a page displayed by the user, there is no processing in step A17.
[0220]
Next, the document delivery 22 of the access server 20 determines whether the document delivery destination is on the same network (step A18 in FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the document delivery destination 22 is on the same network. Then, the process proceeds directly to the process of transmitting the document (steps A11 and A12 in FIGS. 5 and 14). Since the subsequent processing is exactly the same as in the fourth embodiment, it is omitted here.
[0221]
In this embodiment, when the user directly inputs the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in step A8 of FIG. 5 of the access server 20 or using the user address book in the browser terminal 43, Obviously, the document is delivered to the document delivery destination shown in the fourth embodiment.
[0222]
In this embodiment, the access server 20 and the discovery server 30 are described as separate servers, but may be combined as one relay server. In this case, the document delivery 22 and the document delivery function 32 may be combined into one.
[0223]
In this embodiment, the format conversion 9 connected to the Internet 1 is used as the format conversion of the document 11. However, the access server 20 or the discovery server 30 may have a format conversion function.
[0224]
[Example 6]
FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram for explaining the sixth embodiment. FIG. 15 shows only necessary portions extracted from the configuration of FIG. 1 shown in the description of the first embodiment, and the position of the document in the fourth embodiment is moved from the Internet 1 to the private network 101. As shown in the difference from the fourth embodiment, the Web server 10 and the document 11 on the Internet 1 are deleted, and the Web server 110 and the document 111 are added on the private network 101.
[0225]
In this configuration, a description will be given of an operation in which a user searches for a document by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and delivers the document to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage. The sequence of operations in the configuration of FIG. 15 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 16, the reference numerals of the steps used in FIG. 5 describing the operation of the access server are used.
[0226]
The user connecting to the access server 20 from the browser terminal 43 or 52 is exactly the same as in the fourth embodiment, and is omitted here.
[0227]
In order to access the document 111 on the Web server 110 on the private network 101 (step A3 in FIGS. 5 and 16), the user needs to pass the security 112. The function of the security 112 is as described in the first embodiment. In this case, since this is the first access from the outside to the inside by a browsing protocol such as HTTP, authentication occurs (step A4 in FIGS. 5 and 16). ). As a simple method of this authentication, an authentication method for each user that is exactly the same as that used when the user directly enters the private network 101 is used, and the user exchanges authentication information via the browsing access 21 of the access server 20. Is to do. Here, there is a risk of impersonation of the user by the access server 20 on the Internet 1, and in order to avoid this impersonation, a method different from the authentication method used when the user directly enters the private network 101 is used. For example, there are two methods. The first method is that the authentication method in the security 112 does not perform authentication for each user, and after obtaining trust by making a contract between the access server 20 and the private network 101, one-to-one between business operators. By performing the authentication, it is possible to prevent impersonation of the user by the access server 20. As a second method, authentication is performed for each user. However, when a third party such as the access server 20 is used, authentication different from authentication used when the user directly enters the private network 101 (for example, A method of preparing another user ID or password). Whichever method is used, since it can be seen that the private network 101 has entered the private network 101 via a third party such as the access server 20, the administrator of the private network 101 can determine whether the user has passed through the third party. When it comes in, it can be set to limit the accessible range to a certain range.
[0228]
In step A6 in FIGS. 5 and 16, the user selects the document 111 on the Web server 110 on the private network 101, or the service embedded in the page to deliver the page itself displayed by the user Select the start button. In the following description, the case where the user selects the document 111 will be mainly described.
[0229]
Next, the document delivery 22 of the access server 20 allows the user to directly input by hand, or by inputting the user within the browser terminal 43 or using the user's address book in the access server 20, so that the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol can be obtained. (Step A9 in FIGS. 5 and 16). When the delivery protocol and the delivery destination are determined, the document delivery 22 of the access server 20 takes the document 111 using the browsing path (step A10 in FIGS. 5 and 16). Alternatively, to save time, the document 111 may be fetched while the user is performing input processing. This path is a path that has already been authenticated and passed in step A4 in FIG. 5 when the user has previously searched for the document, so that the document can be delivered using this path. . In the case of a page displayed by the user, there is no processing in step A10.
[0230]
The subsequent document delivery processing by the document delivery 22 of the access server 20 is exactly the same as in the case of the fourth embodiment, and is omitted here.
[0231]
[Example 7]
FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram for explaining the seventh embodiment. FIG. 17 shows only necessary portions extracted from the configuration of FIG. 1 shown in the description of the first embodiment. The document position in the fifth embodiment is moved from the Internet 1 to the private network 101, and the delivery destination of the document is changed. The network is moved from the Internet 1 to the private network 201, and a discovery server is added to the private network 201. In this configuration, the access server 20 and the discovery server 30 exist on the Internet 1, the discovery server 230 exists on the private network 201, and the user selects a delivery destination within the range indicated by the discovery server 230. is there. As shown in the difference from the fifth embodiment, the Web server 10 and the document 11 on the Internet 1 are deleted, and the Web server 110 and the document 111 are added on the private network 101. In addition, a discovery server 230, a public network compatible FAX 203, a printer 204, a network compatible FAX 205, a mail server 206, a storage 207, and a service management 208 are added to the private network 201, and the printer 4, the network compatible FAX 5, and the mail connected to the Internet 1 are added. The server 6, the storage 7, the service management 8, and the FAX 3 connected to the public network 2 are deleted. The discovery server 230 has functions of delivery destination discovery 231 and document delivery 232, and the service management 208 of the private network 201 manages the public network compatible FAX 203, printer 204, network compatible FAX 205, mail server 206, and storage 207.
[0232]
In this configuration, a description will be given of an operation in which a user searches for a document by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and delivers the document to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage. The sequence of operations in the configuration of FIG. 17 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 18, the step symbols used in FIG. 5 describing the operation of the access server and the step symbols used in FIG. 6 describing the operation of the discovery server are used.
[0233]
The user connecting to the access server 20 from the browser terminal 43 or 52 is exactly the same as in the fourth embodiment, and is omitted here.
[0234]
Since the user accessing the document 111 on the Web server 110 on the private network 101 is exactly the same as in the sixth embodiment, it is omitted here.
[0235]
In step A6 in FIGS. 5 and 18, the user selects the document 111 on the Web server 110 on the private network 101, or a service embedded in the page to deliver the page itself displayed by the user Select the start button. In the following description, the case where the user selects the document 111 will be mainly described.
[0236]
Next, the access server 20 causes the discovery server 30 to perform a document delivery destination search according to a user instruction (steps A13 to A16 in FIG. 5 and steps D2 to D5 in FIG. 6). The delivery destination discovery 31 of the discovery server 30 displays a list of document delivery destination information managed by itself and a list of other discovery services linked by the user in step D4 of FIG. 6 and FIG. When the discovery server 230 is selected in step D5 (corresponding to step A16), the process moves to step D2 of the discovery server 230, and the exchange between the access server 20 and the discovery server 230 starts.
[0237]
To access the discovery server 230, it is necessary to pass through the security 212. The function of the security 212 is as described in the first embodiment. In this case, since this is the first access from the outside to the inside by a browsing protocol such as HTTP, authentication occurs (step A14 in FIGS. 5 and 18). ). This authentication method is technically exactly the same as the case of authentication that occurred when the user relayed the access server 20 and passed through the security 112 on the private network 101 shown in the sixth embodiment. What is necessary is just to take the method as shown in Example 6. In the present embodiment, a browsing protocol such as HTTP is assumed as an exchange between the access server 20 and the discovery server 30 and between the access server 20 and the discovery server 230. You may define a protocol for document delivery destination discovery. In order to pass through the security 212, an electronic mail protocol such as SMTP can be used as a protocol for discovery of the document delivery destination. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the user selects the discovery server 230 in step D5 of the discovery server 30, the access server 20 and the discovery server 230 start to communicate with each other. However, the discovery server 30 is connected to the access server 20 and the discovery server. You may relay between 230. This relay method is also as described in the first embodiment.
[0238]
The delivery destination discovery 231 of the discovery server 230 makes an inquiry to the service management 208 on the private network 201 in advance to arrange document delivery destination information (step D1 in FIGS. 6 and 18). The user designates the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol from the screen displayed on the browser terminal 43, or the user directly inputs the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in the private network 201, or in the browser terminal 43 Alternatively, when the user's address book in the access server 20 is used to input the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in the private network 201 (step A16 in FIGS. 5 and 18), the document delivery 22 in the access server 20 is used for browsing. The document 111 is retrieved using the path (step A17 in FIGS. 5 and 18). Alternatively, in order to save time, the document 111 may be retrieved while the discovery server 30 and the discovery server 230 are searching for a delivery destination. This path is as described in the sixth embodiment. In the case of a page displayed by the user, there is no processing in step A17.
[0239]
Next, the document delivery 22 of the access server 20 determines whether the document delivery destination is on the same network (step A18 in FIG. 5). In the case of a delivery protocol in which the type of protocol is determined (step A19 in FIG. 5) and a document can be transmitted directly from the access server to the delivery destination, for example, in the case of e-mail, network compatible FAX, public network compatible FAX, etc. The following process is performed (steps A20 and A21 in FIGS. 5 and 18).
[0240]
When the document delivery destination is a fax compatible with the public network, the document delivery 22 converts the document 111 into a fax format such as G3 by the format conversion 9, and is connected to the public network 2 (for example, in the private network 201). Fax 203).
[0241]
When the document delivery destination is a network compatible FAX, the document delivery 22 converts the document 111 into the TIFF format by the format conversion 9 and uses it for an e-mail protocol such as SMTP. To the FAX 205) on the network 201.
[0242]
When the document delivery destination is the other party's e-mail address, the document delivery 22 creates an e-mail with the document 111 as an attached file and uses an e-mail protocol such as SMTP to send the other party's e-mail address (for example, To the mail server 206) on the private network 201.
[0243]
If it is determined in step A19 in FIG. 5 that the document delivery 22 of the access server 20 is a delivery protocol that cannot directly send a document to the delivery destination, for example, in the case of a printer, file transfer, etc. The document 111 is transferred to the document delivery 232 of the discovery server 230 by using the path (step A23 in FIGS. 5 and 18). This path is a path that has already been authenticated and passed in step A14 in FIG. 5 when the user previously searched for the document delivery destination, so that the document can be delivered using this path. It becomes.
[0244]
Upon receiving this document 111, the document delivery 232 of the discovery server 230 (step D9 in FIGS. 6 and 18) performs the following processing (steps D10 and D11 in FIGS. 6 and 18) depending on the type of the document delivery destination. ).
[0245]
When the document delivery destination is a printer, the document delivery 232 converts the document 111 into a print format such as a postscript by a format conversion 209 connected to the private network 201, and a printer (for example, a private network) designated by the user. The data is transmitted by a print protocol (lpd, IPP, etc.) designated by the printer 204 on 201.
[0246]
When the document delivery destination is a storage in the private network 201, the document delivery 232 is used for a file transfer protocol such as ftp, and the document 111 is sent to a file transfer destination designated by the user (for example, the storage 207 in the private network 201). Send.
[0247]
In this embodiment, when the user directly inputs the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in step A8 of FIG. 5 of the access server 20 or using the user address book in the browser terminal 43, Obviously, the document is delivered to the document delivery destination shown in the fourth embodiment.
[0248]
Further, in this embodiment, in step A18 of FIG. 5 of the access server 20 (corresponding to step D7 of FIG. 6 of the discovery server 230), it is determined whether the delivery destination is in the same network. As described in the first embodiment, the process may move from step A18 to step A19 (corresponding to step D7 to step D8) regardless of whether the delivery destination is in the same network.
[0249]
In this embodiment, the processing is divided by determining the delivery protocol in step A19 of FIG. 5 of the access server 20 (corresponding to step D8 of FIG. 6 of the discovery server 230). However, as described in the first embodiment, too. In addition, the process may proceed from step A19 to step A22 (corresponding to step D8 to step D9) regardless of the type of delivery protocol. In this case, processing in the case of a public network compatible FAX, a network compatible FAX, and a partner electronic mail address as described in steps A20 and A21 is added to steps D10 and D11.
[0250]
In this embodiment, the document delivery destination is limited to the private network 201. However, in step A16 in FIG. 6, as the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol, a public network compatible FAX outside the private network 201 and a network correspondence are provided. When the user directly inputs the FAX and the other party's e-mail address or uses the user's address book in the browser terminal 43, the document is delivered to the document delivery destination input by the user in step A21. It is clear. At this time, if the process proceeds from step A19 to step A22 (corresponding to step D8 to step D9) regardless of the type of delivery protocol, the document is delivered to the document delivery destination input by the user in step D11. .
[0251]
Further, in this embodiment, when the document delivery destination is a printer, the document delivery 232 in the discovery server 230 directly transmits to the printer 204. However, the document delivery destination 232 directly sends to the printer 204 via the print server (not shown in FIG. 17). You may send it.
[0252]
In this embodiment, the service management 208 has a function that only knows the addresses of the public network compatible FAX 203, the printer 204, the network compatible FAX 205, the mail server 206, and the storage 207 and the delivery protocols accepted by them. For example, in some print management systems sold by printer manufacturers, the service management 208 has a function of delivering a print document. Therefore, when the service management 208 has a document delivery function in this way, the document delivery 232 of the discovery server 230 delivers the document 111 to the service management 208 instead of delivering the document 111 directly to the printer 204 or the like. . At this time, as described in the first embodiment, the document delivery 232 delivers in accordance with the service management 208 original method.
[0253]
Further, in this embodiment, the format conversion 9 connected to the Internet 1 and the format conversion 209 connected to the private network 201 are used as the format conversion of the document 111, but in the access server 20 or the discovery server 230 May have a format conversion function.
[0254]
In this embodiment, when searching for a document delivery destination, a link is established from the access server 20 on the Internet 1 to the discovery server 30, and a link is established from the discovery server 30 to the discovery server 230 in the private network 201. Although an example is shown, since there is no limit on the number of repetitions of steps A13 to A16 in FIG. 5 and steps D2 to D5 in FIG. 6, the discovery server in the private network 201 from the access server 20 of the Internet 1 230 may be directly linked.
[0255]
[Example 8]
FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram for explaining the eighth embodiment. FIG. 19 shows only necessary portions extracted from the configuration of FIG. 1 shown in the description of the first embodiment. The location of the access server in the seventh embodiment is moved from the Internet 1 to the private network 101, and on the private network 101. To which a discovery server is added. In this configuration, there are no access server and discovery server on the Internet 1, the access server 120 and discovery server 130 exist in the private network 101, and only the discovery server 230 exists in the private network 201. In addition, the user selects a delivery destination within the range indicated by the discovery server 230. As shown in the difference from the seventh embodiment, the access server 120 and the discovery server 130 are added to the private network 101, and the access server 20 and the discovery server 30 are deleted from the Internet 1. The access server 120 has functions of browsing access 121 and document delivery 122, and the discovery server 130 has functions of delivery destination discovery 131.
[0256]
In this configuration, a description will be given of an operation in which a user searches for a document by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and delivers the document to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage. For the operation in the configuration of FIG. 19, the sequence is shown in FIG. In FIG. 20, the code | symbol of the step used in FIG. 5 which demonstrated operation | movement of the access server, and the code | symbol of the step used in FIG. 6 which demonstrated operation | movement of the discovery server are used.
[0257]
The user connecting to the access server 120 from the browser terminal 43, 52, 116, or 117 is exactly the same as in the second embodiment, and is omitted here.
[0258]
In step A6 in FIGS. 5 and 20, the user selects the document 111 on the Web server 110 on the private network 101, or the service embedded in the page to deliver the page itself displayed by the user Select the start button. Here, even if the document selected by the user is the document 11 in the Web server 10 on the Internet, the operation is exactly the same. In the following description, the case where the user selects the document 111 will be mainly described.
[0259]
Next, the access server 120 causes the discovery server 130 to perform a document delivery destination search according to a user instruction (steps A13 to A16 in FIG. 5 and steps D2 to D5 in FIG. 6). In step D4 of FIGS. 6 and 20, the delivery destination discovery 131 of the discovery server 130 displays a list of document delivery destination information managed by itself and a list of other linked discovery services. When the discovery server 230 is selected in step D5 (corresponding to step A16), the process proceeds to step D2 of the discovery server 230, and the exchange between the access server 120 and the discovery server 230 starts.
[0260]
To access the discovery server 230, it is necessary to pass through the security 212. The function of the security 212 is as described in the first embodiment. In this case, since this is the first access from the outside to the inside by a browsing protocol such as HTTP, authentication occurs (step A14 in FIGS. 5 and 20). ). This authentication method is technically exactly the same as the case of authentication that occurred when the user relayed the access server 20 and passed through the security 112 on the private network 101 shown in the sixth embodiment. What is necessary is just to take the method as shown in Example 6. In the present embodiment, a browsing protocol such as HTTP is assumed as an exchange between the access server 120 and the discovery 130 and between the access server 120 and the discovery server 230. You may define a protocol for document delivery destination discovery. In order to pass through the security 212, an electronic mail protocol such as SMTP can be used as a protocol for discovery of the document delivery destination. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the user selects the discovery server 230 in step D5 of the discovery server 130, the access server 120 and the discovery server 230 start to communicate with each other. However, the discovery server 130 is connected to the access server 120 and the discovery server. You may relay between 230. This relay method is also as described in the first embodiment.
[0261]
The delivery destination discovery 231 of the discovery server 230 displays a list of document delivery destination information to the user in step D4 of FIGS. The user designates the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol from the screen displayed on the browser terminal 116, or the user directly inputs the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in the private network 201, or the browser terminal 116 Alternatively, when the user's address book in the access server 120 is used to input the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in the private network 201 (step A16 in FIGS. 5 and 20), the document delivery 122 of the access server 120 is used for browsing. The document 111 is retrieved using the path (step A17 in FIGS. 5 and 20). Alternatively, in order to save time, the document 111 may be retrieved while the discovery server 130 and the discovery server 230 are searching for a delivery destination. In the case of a page displayed by the user, there is no processing in step A17.
[0262]
Next, the document delivery 122 of the access server 120 determines whether or not the document delivery destination is on the same network (step A18 in FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the document delivery 122 is not on the same network. In the case of a delivery protocol in which the type of protocol is determined (step A19 in FIG. 5) and a document can be transmitted directly from the access server to the delivery destination, for example, in the case of e-mail, network compatible FAX, public network compatible FAX, etc. The following process is performed (steps A20 and A21 in FIGS. 5 and 20).
[0263]
When the document delivery destination is a public network compatible FAX, the document delivery 122 converts the document 111 into a FAX format such as G3 by the format conversion 109, and is connected to the public network 2 (for example, in the private network 201). Fax 203).
[0264]
When the document delivery destination is a network compatible FAX, the document delivery 122 converts the document 111 into the TIFF format by the format conversion 109 and uses it for an e-mail protocol such as SMTP. To the FAX 205) on the network 201.
[0265]
When the document delivery destination is the other party's e-mail address, the document delivery 122 creates an e-mail with the document 111 as an attached file, and uses an e-mail protocol such as SMTP to specify the other party's e-mail address (for example, To the mail server 206 on the private network 201).
[0266]
In step A19 in FIG. 5, when it is determined that the document delivery 122 of the access server 120 is a delivery protocol that cannot send the document directly to the delivery destination, for example, in the case of a printer, file transfer, etc., the document delivery destination search The document 111 is transferred to the document delivery 232 of the discovery server 230 by using the path (step A23 in FIGS. 5 and 20). This path is a path that has already been authenticated and passed in step A14 in FIG. 5 when the user previously searched for the document delivery destination, so that the document can be delivered using this path. It becomes.
[0267]
Since the operation of the document delivery 232 of the discovery server 230 that has received the document 111 is exactly the same as that described in the seventh embodiment, it is omitted here.
[0268]
In the present embodiment, when the user directly inputs the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in step A8 of FIG. 5 of the access server 120 or using the user's address book in the browser terminal 116, It is clear that the document is delivered to the document delivery destination shown in the second embodiment.
[0269]
Further, in this embodiment, in step A18 of FIG. 5 of the access server 120 (corresponding to step D7 of FIG. 6 of the discovery server 230), it is determined whether the delivery destination is in the same network. As described in the first embodiment, the process may move from step A18 to step A19 (corresponding to step D7 to step D8) regardless of whether the delivery destination is in the same network.
[0270]
In this embodiment, the processing is divided by determining the delivery protocol in step A19 of FIG. 5 of the access server 120 (corresponding to step D8 of FIG. 6 of the discovery server 230), but as described in the first embodiment as well. In addition, the process may proceed from step A19 to step A22 (corresponding to step D8 to step D9) regardless of the type of delivery protocol. In this case, processing in the case of a public network compatible FAX, a network compatible FAX, and a partner electronic mail address as described in steps A20 and A21 is added to steps D10 and D11.
[0271]
In this embodiment, the document delivery destination is limited to the private network 201. However, in step A16 in FIG. 6, as the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol, a public network compatible FAX outside the private network 201 and a network correspondence are provided. When the user directly inputs the FAX and the other party's e-mail address or uses the user's address book in the browser terminal 116, the document is delivered to the document delivery destination entered by the user in step A21. It is clear. At this time, if the process proceeds from step A19 to step A22 (corresponding to step D8 to step D9) regardless of the type of delivery protocol, the document is delivered to the document delivery destination input by the user in step D11. .
[0272]
In this embodiment, when the document delivery destination is a public network compatible FAX, the document delivery 122 in the access server 120 transmits to the FAX 203. However, when the FAX server 115 is on the private network 101, The document 111 may be transmitted via the FAX server 115.
[0273]
In this embodiment, as the format conversion of the document 111, the format conversion 109 connected to the private network 101 and the format conversion 209 connected to the private network 201 are used. However, in the access server 20 or the discovery server 230 It may have a format conversion function.
[0274]
In this embodiment, when searching for a document delivery destination, a link is established from the access server 120 in the private network 101 to the discovery server 130, and a link is established from the discovery server 130 to the discovery server 230 in the private network 201. Although an example of performing the search has been shown, there is no limit on the number of repetitions of steps A13 to A16 in FIG. 5 and steps D2 to D5 in FIG. 6, so the access server 120 in the private network 101 changes to the private network 201. A direct link to the discovery server 230 may be established. Alternatively, the discovery server 30 may be arranged on the Internet 1 and may be linked in the order of access server 120 → discovery server 130 → discovery server 30 → discovery server 230. Further, in this configuration, a link may be established as access server 120 → discovery server 30 → discovery server 230.
[0275]
[Example 9]
FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram for explaining the ninth embodiment. FIG. 21 shows only necessary portions extracted from the configuration of FIG. 1 shown in the description of the first embodiment, and is obtained by deleting the access server in the eighth embodiment. In this configuration, there is no access server, no discovery server on the Internet 1, only the discovery server 130 exists in the private network 101, and only the discovery server 230 exists in the private network 201. In addition, the user selects a delivery destination within the range indicated by the discovery server 230. In this embodiment, the user directly requests the discovery server to search for the document delivery destination, and delivers the document (not shown in FIG. 21) held in the browser terminal. As a difference from the eighth embodiment, the access server 120 and the document 111 are deleted from the private network 101, and the document 11 is deleted from the Internet 1.
[0276]
In this configuration, an operation will be described in which a user accesses a discovery server from a terminal having a browser function and delivers a document held in the browser terminal to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage. The sequence of operations in the configuration of FIG. 21 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 22, the code | symbol of the step used in FIG. 6 explaining operation | movement of the discovery server is used.
[0277]
A user accesses the discovery server 130 from the browser terminal 116 in the private network 101. This corresponds to step D2 in FIGS. In step D4 of FIGS. 6 and 22, the delivery destination discovery 131 of the discovery server 130 displays a list of document delivery destination information managed by itself and a list of other linked discovery services. When the discovery server 230 is selected in step D5, the process proceeds to step D2 of the discovery server 230, and the exchange between the browser terminal 116 and the discovery server 230 starts.
[0278]
In order to access the discovery server 230, it is necessary to pass through the security 212, and authentication occurs. However, in this embodiment, there is no problem for direct authentication by the user. In this embodiment, when the user selects the discovery server 230 in step D5 of the discovery server 130, the browser terminal 116 and the discovery server 230 start to interact with each other. However, the discovery server 130 is connected to the browser terminal 116 and the discovery server 230. You may relay between them. When relaying, the exchange between the discovery 130 and the discovery server 230 may define a unique document delivery destination discovery protocol as described in the first embodiment in addition to a browsing protocol such as HTTP. In order to pass through the security 212, an electronic mail protocol such as SMTP can be used as a protocol for discovery of the document delivery destination. The relay method is as described in the first embodiment.
[0279]
The delivery destination discovery 231 of the discovery server 230 makes an inquiry to the service management 208 on the private network 201 in advance to arrange document delivery destination information (step D1 in FIGS. 6 and 22). The delivery destination discovery 231 of the discovery server 230 displays a list of document delivery destination information to the user in step D4 of FIGS. The user designates the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol from the screen displayed on the browser terminal 116, or the user directly inputs the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in the private network 201, or the browser terminal 116 When the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in the private network 201 are input using the user address book in FIG. 6 (step D5 in FIGS. 6 and 22), from step D6, in this embodiment, the delivery source is the access server. Since there is no browser terminal 116 of the user, the process proceeds to step D9.
[0280]
Next, the browser terminal 116 uses the document delivery destination search path to transfer the document held in the browser terminal 116 (not shown in FIG. 21) to the document delivery 232 of the discovery server 230 (FIGS. 6 and 22). Step D9).
[0281]
Next, the document delivery 232 of the discovery server 230 performs the following processing depending on the type of the document delivery destination (steps D10 and D11 in FIGS. 6 and 22). When the document delivery destination is a printer, the document delivery 232 converts the document into a print format such as a postscript by the format conversion 209 connected to the private network 201, and the printer designated by the user (for example, on the private network 201). The printer 204) transmits the data using a print protocol (lpd, IPP, etc.) designated.
[0282]
When the document delivery destination is a public network compatible FAX, the document delivery 232 converts the document into a FAX format such as G3 by the format conversion 209 and transmits a FAX connected to the public network 2 (for example, in the private network 201). FAX 203) Send.
[0283]
When the document delivery destination is a network compatible FAX, the document delivery 232 converts the document into the TIFF format by the format conversion 209, and uses the fax (for example, a private network) designated by the user using an e-mail protocol such as SMTP. 201 is transmitted to FAX 205 on 201.
[0284]
When the document delivery destination is the other party's e-mail address, the document delivery 232 creates an e-mail with the document as an attached file, and uses the e-mail protocol such as SMTP to send the other party's e-mail address (for example, private To the mail server 206) on the network 201.
[0285]
When the document delivery destination is storage, the document delivery 232 transmits the document to a file transfer destination designated by the user (for example, the storage 207 in the private network 201) using a file transfer protocol such as ftp.
[0286]
In this embodiment, the document delivery destination is limited to the private network 201. However, in step D5 in FIG. 6, the public network compatible FAX outside the private network 201 and the network correspondence are used as the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol. When the user directly inputs the FAX and the other party's e-mail address or uses the user's address book in the browser terminal 116, the document is delivered to the document delivery destination entered by the user in step D11. It is clear.
[0287]
Further, in this embodiment, when the document delivery destination is a printer, the document delivery 232 in the discovery server 230 directly transmits to the printer 204. However, the document delivery destination 232 directly sends to the printer 204 via the print server (not shown in FIG. 21). You may send it.
[0288]
In this embodiment, the service management 208 has a function that only knows the addresses of the public network compatible FAX 203, the printer 204, the network compatible FAX 205, the mail server 206, and the storage 207 and the delivery protocols accepted by them. For example, in some print management systems sold by printer manufacturers, the service management 208 has a function of delivering a print document. Therefore, when the service management 208 has a document delivery function in this way, the document delivery 232 of the discovery server 230 delivers the document to the service management 208 instead of delivering the document directly to the printer 204 or the like. At this time, as described in the first embodiment, the document delivery 232 delivers in accordance with the service management 208 original method.
[0289]
In this embodiment, the format conversion 209 connected to the private network 201 is used as the format conversion of the document. However, the discovery server 230 may have a format conversion function.
[0290]
In this embodiment, when the document delivery destination is a public network compatible FAX, the document delivery 232 in the discovery server 230 transmits to the FAX 203. However, when the FAX server 215 is on the private network 201, The document may be transmitted via the FAX server 215.
[0291]
Further, in the present embodiment, when searching for a document delivery destination, an example is shown in which a search is performed by making a link from the discovery server 130 in the private network 101 to the discovery server 230 in the private network 201. FIG. Since there is no limit to the number of times that steps D2 to D5 are repeated, the discovery server 30 may be arranged on the Internet 1 and the links may be established as discovery server 130 → discovery server 30 → discovery server 230.
[0292]
[Example 10]
FIG. 23 is a configuration diagram for explaining the tenth embodiment. FIG. 23 shows only necessary portions extracted from the configuration of FIG. 1 shown in the description of the first embodiment. Unlike the second to ninth embodiments, as an application example of these, a document is selected by browsing. Instead, the access server picks up the e-mail on the mail server using an e-mail protocol such as POP / APOP.
[0293]
As a configuration, there is no discovery server, only the access server 20 on the Internet, and no access server in the private network. In FIG. 23, a private network 201 is connected to the Internet 1. In this embodiment, the private network 201 is a private network having a function only as a document delivery destination.
[0294]
As a terminal having a browser function, a browser terminal 43 is accessed via a base station 42 and a proxy 41 of a mobile phone system 40 connected to the Internet 1, and is accessed via a proxy 51 of an ISP 50 connected to the Internet 1. There is a browser terminal 52 that performs.
[0295]
As an access server, there is an access server 20 on the Internet 1. The access server 20 has functions of browsing access 21 and document delivery 22.
[0296]
The delivery source document is an electronic mail (not shown in FIG. 23) in the mail server 6 on the Internet 1.
[0297]
As document delivery destinations, there are a printer 4, a network compatible FAX 5, a mail server 6, a storage 7 connected to the Internet 1, and a network compatible FAX 205 and a mail server 206 connected to a private network 201. Further, there are FAX 3 and FAX 203 connected to the public network 2 as document delivery destinations.
[0298]
In this configuration, an operation in which a user accesses an access server by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and delivers a received electronic mail to a printer / FAX / partner electronic mail address / partner storage will be described. For the operation in the configuration of FIG. 23, the sequence is shown in FIG. In FIG. 24, the step symbols used in FIG. 5 describing the operation of the access server are used. Further, FIG. 25 is added to explain the operation of the access server in this embodiment. 25, the process jumps from step A6 of the access server of FIG. 5 to step A101 of FIG. 25, and returns to the step of FIG.
[0299]
The user connecting to the access server 20 from the browser terminal 43 or 52 is exactly the same as in the fourth embodiment, and is omitted here. When connected to the access server, as described in the first embodiment, a home page designated in advance by the user is displayed in step A5 of FIGS. It is assumed that the address of the mail server 6 to be received is set in this page. When the user selects access to the mail server 6 in step A6 of FIGS. 5 and 24, the browsing access 21 of the access server 20 is a mail server on the Internet 1 using an electronic mail protocol such as POP / APOP. 6 is accessed, and the processing moves from step A6 in FIG. 5 to step A101 in FIG.
[0300]
When accessing the mail server 6 on the Internet 1, usually user authentication is required (step A102 in FIGS. 25 and 24), and the mail server 6 is in step A103 in FIGS. When the access server 20 receives the electronic mail, the access server 20 displays a list of received mails on the screen of the browser terminal 43 in step A103 of FIGS.
[0301]
Next, when the user selects an e-mail to be viewed in step A105 of FIGS. 25 and 24, the browsing access 21 of the access server 20 is displayed on the screen of the browser terminal 43 in step A106 of FIGS. Displays the text and attachment name of the selected email. At the same time, a button for causing the user to select whether or not to deliver the electronic mail is also displayed. Here, when the user selects e-mail delivery in step A107 in FIGS. 25 and 24, the process proceeds to step A7 in FIG.
[0302]
The document delivery 22 of the access server 20 allows the user to specify the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol by direct input by hand or by using the user's address book in the browser terminal 43 or the access server 20. (Step A9 in FIGS. 5 and 24). In this embodiment, since the document (e-mail) to be delivered is already in the access server 20, there is no processing in step A10 in FIG.
[0303]
The subsequent document delivery (e-mail) processing by the document delivery 22 of the access server 20 is exactly the same as in the case of the fourth embodiment, and is omitted here.
[0304]
In this embodiment, the access server 20 is described as being on the Internet 1. However, the proxy 41 of the mobile phone system 40 connected to the Internet 1 and the proxy 51 of the ISP 50 connected to the Internet 1 are accessed. The function of the server 20 may be added.
[0305]
Example 11
FIG. 26 is a configuration diagram for explaining the eleventh embodiment. FIG. 26 shows only necessary portions extracted from the configuration of FIG. 1 shown in the description of the first embodiment. As in the tenth embodiment, instead of selecting a document by browsing, an access server such as POP / APOP is used. The e-mail protocol is used to retrieve e-mail on the mail server. In this embodiment, a discovery server is added to the configuration of the tenth embodiment, the delivery destination of the document (e-mail) is moved from the Internet 1 to the private network 201, and the discovery server is added to the private network 201. .
[0306]
In this configuration, the access server 20 and the discovery server 30 exist on the Internet 1, the discovery server 230 exists on the private network 201, and the user selects a delivery destination within the range indicated by the discovery server 230. is there. A difference from the tenth embodiment shows that a discovery server 30 is added on the Internet 1 and a discovery server 230, a public network compatible FAX 203, a printer 204, a network compatible FAX 205, a mail server 206, a storage 207, and service management are added to the private network 201. 208 is added, and the printer 4 connected to the Internet 1, the network compatible FAX 5, the storage 7, and the FAX 3 connected to the public network 2 are deleted. The discovery server 30 has a delivery destination discovery 31 function, the discovery server 230 has a delivery destination discovery 231 and document delivery 232 functions, and the service management 208 of the private network 201 includes a public network compatible FAX 203, a printer 204, and a network compatible FAX 205. The mail server 206 and the storage 207 are managed.
[0307]
In this configuration, an operation in which a user accesses an access server by browsing from a terminal having a browser function and delivers a received electronic mail to a printer / FAX / partner electronic mail address / partner storage will be described. The sequence of the operation in the configuration of FIG. 26 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 27, the step symbols used in FIGS. 5 and 25 describing the operation of the access server are used.
[0308]
The user connecting to the access server 20 from the browser terminal 43 or 52 is exactly the same as in the fourth embodiment, and is omitted here. After the user connects to the access server 20, the browsing access 21 of the access server 20 receives the e-mail in the mail server 6, and the user selects e-mail delivery because it is exactly the same as in the tenth embodiment. I will omit it.
[0309]
Next, the access server 20 causes the discovery server 30 to perform a document delivery destination search according to a user instruction (steps A13 to A16 in FIG. 5 and steps D2 to D5 in FIG. 6). The delivery destination discovery 31 of the discovery server 30 displays a list of document delivery destination information managed by itself and a list of other discovery services linked by the user in step D4 of FIGS. When the discovery server 230 is selected in step D5 (corresponding to step A16), the process moves to step D2 of the discovery server 230, and the exchange between the access server 20 and the discovery server 230 starts.
[0310]
To access the discovery server 230, it is necessary to pass through the security 212. The function of the security 212 is as described in the first embodiment. In this case, since this is the first access from the outside to the inside by a browsing protocol such as HTTP, authentication occurs (step A14 in FIGS. 5 and 27). ). This authentication method is technically exactly the same as the case of authentication that occurred when the user relayed the access server 20 and passed through the security 112 on the private network 101 shown in the sixth embodiment. What is necessary is just to take the method as shown in Example 6. In the present embodiment, a browsing protocol such as HTTP is assumed as an exchange between the access server 20 and the discovery server 30 and between the access server 20 and the discovery server 230. You may define a protocol for document delivery destination discovery. In order to pass through the security 212, an electronic mail protocol such as SMTP can be used as a protocol for discovery of the document delivery destination. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the user selects the discovery server 230 in step D5 of the discovery server 30, the access server 20 and the discovery server 230 start to communicate with each other. However, the discovery server 30 is connected to the access server 20 and the discovery server. You may relay between 230. This relay method is also as described in the first embodiment.
[0311]
Next, the delivery destination discovery 231 of the discovery server 230 displays a list of document delivery destination information to the user in step D4 of FIGS. The user designates the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol from the screen displayed on the browser terminal 43, or the user directly inputs the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in the private network 201, or in the browser terminal 43 Alternatively, the user's address book in the access server 20 is used to input the document delivery destination and delivery protocol in the private network 201 (step A16 in FIGS. 5 and 27). In the present embodiment, since the document (e-mail) to be delivered is already in the access server 20, there is no processing in step A17 in FIG.
[0312]
Subsequent document delivery (e-mail) processing by the document delivery 22 of the access server 20 is the same as that in the seventh embodiment, and is omitted here. In this embodiment, when the user directly inputs the document delivery destination and the delivery protocol in step A8 of FIG. 5 of the access server 20 or using the user address book in the browser terminal 43, Obviously, the document is delivered to the document delivery destination shown in the fourth embodiment.
[0313]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a document is searched from a terminal by browsing and the document is delivered to a printer / FAX / partner e-mail address / partner storage, the terminal instructs the document delivery. Since the document itself is delivered via the access server and the discovery server without going through the terminal, the document delivery time can be greatly shortened even when accessed from a low-band public network.
[0314]
In addition, there is no need for an application for individual delivery protocols for each type of document delivery such as printer, fax, e-mail, file transfer, etc. on the terminal itself, and there are already existing mobile phones with browser functions that are already abundant in the world. Since the browser terminal can be used as it is, many users can easily receive the document delivery service. Furthermore, since the document delivery operation is unified, it is not necessary to take a separate procedure for each protocol, which is easy to use.
[0315]
In addition, it is now possible to search for document delivery destinations beyond the network, and document delivery destinations such as existing printers that are assumed to be used only within a closed network can also be used without modification. Since it can be incorporated into the system, many document delivery destinations can be easily obtained. Furthermore, since various service management methods that already exist or will appear in the future can be used as they are, no cost is required for system construction.
[0316]
Finally, since the document is delivered using the path searched by the user during browsing and document delivery destination discovery, the document cannot be delivered as long as the user can authenticate, and within that range Any document can be retrieved and sent to any delivery destination. For this reason, it is not necessary to make any special changes to various existing or emerging authentication methods.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an access server 20 on the Internet 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a discovery server 230 in a private network 201. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cooperative relationship between an access server and a discovery server.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of an access server.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a discovery server.
7 is a configuration diagram for explaining Example 2; FIG.
FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in the configuration of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram for explaining Example 3;
10 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in the configuration of FIG. 9. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram for explaining Example 4;
12 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in the configuration of FIG.
FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram for explaining Example 5;
14 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in the configuration of FIG.
FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram for explaining Example 6;
16 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in the configuration of FIG.
FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram for explaining Example 7;
18 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in the configuration of FIG.
FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram for explaining Example 8;
20 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in the configuration of FIG. 19;
FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram for explaining Example 9;
22 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in the configuration of FIG. 21. FIG.
FIG. 23 is a configuration diagram for explaining Example 10;
24 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in the configuration of FIG. 23. FIG.
FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the access server in the tenth embodiment;
FIG. 26 is a configuration diagram for explaining Example 11;
FIG. 27 is a sequence diagram showing an operation in the configuration of FIG. 26;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Internet
2 Public network
3 Public network compatible FAX connected to the public network 2
4 Printer connected to the Internet 1
5 Internet-compatible FAX connected to Internet 1
6 Mail server connected to the Internet 1
7 Storage connected to Internet 1
8 Service management connected to the Internet 1
9 Format conversion connected to Internet 1
10 Web server connected to the Internet 1
11 Documents in the Web server 10
20 Access server connected to Internet 1
21 Browsing access in the access server 20
22 Document delivery in the access server 20
23 Document acquisition of the document delivery 22 in the access server 20
24 E-mail acquisition of the document delivery 22 in the access server 20
25 Obtaining delivery destination information of the document delivery 22 in the access server 20
26 Document transmission of the document delivery 22 in the access server 20
30 Discovery server connected to Internet 1
31 Delivery destination discovery in the discovery server 30
32 Document delivery in the discovery server 30
33 Provision of delivery destination information of delivery destination discovery 31 in the discovery server 30
34 Acquisition of delivery destination information of delivery destination discovery 31 in discovery server 30
35 Document reception of document delivery 32 in discovery server 30
36 Document transmission of document delivery 32 in discovery server 30
40 Mobile phone system connected to the Internet 1
41 Proxy in cellular phone system 40
42 Base station in mobile phone system 40
43 Browser terminal in mobile phone system 40
50 ISP connected to Internet 1
51 Proxy in ISP50
52 Browser terminal in ISP50
101 Private network connected to Internet 1
103 FAX for public network in private network 101 connected to public network 2
104 Printer connected to private network 101
105 Internet-compatible FAX connected to private network 101
106 Mail server connected to private network 101
107 Storage connected to private network 101
108 Service management connected to private network 101
109 Format conversion connected to private network 101
110 Web server connected to private network 101
111 Documents in the Web server 110
112 Security connected to private network 101
113 Proxy connected to private network 101
114 Relay mail server connected to private network 101
115 FAX server connected to private network 101
116 Browser terminal connected to private network 101
117 Browser terminal for remote access to private network 101
120 Access server connected to private network 101
121 Browsing access in the access server 120
122 Document delivery in the access server 120
123 Document acquisition of the document delivery 122 in the access server 120
124 E-mail Acquisition of Document Delivery 122 in Access Server 120
125 Obtaining delivery destination information of document delivery 122 in access server 120
126 Document transmission of document delivery 122 in access server 120
130 Discovery server connected to private network 101
131 Delivery destination discovery in the discovery server 130
132 Document delivery in the discovery server 130
133 Provision of delivery destination information of delivery destination discovery 131 in the discovery server 130
134 Acquisition of delivery destination information of delivery destination discovery 131 in discovery server 130
135 Document reception of document delivery 132 in discovery server 130
136 Document transmission of document delivery 132 in discovery server 130
201 Private network connected to Internet 1
203 Fax for public network in private network 201 connected to public network 2
204 Printer connected to private network 201
205 Internet-compatible FAX connected to private network 201
206 Mail server connected to private network 201
207 Storage connected to private network 201
208 Service management connected to private network 201
209 Format conversion connected to private network 201
212 Security connected to private network 201
214 Relay Mail Server Connected to Private Network 201
215 FAX server connected to private network 201
230 Discovery server connected to private network 201
231 Delivery destination discovery in the discovery server 230
232 Document delivery in the discovery server 230
233 Provision of delivery destination information of delivery destination discovery 231 in discovery server 230
234 Delivery destination information acquisition of delivery destination discovery 231 in discovery server 230
235 Document reception of document delivery 232 in discovery server 230
236 Document transmission of the document delivery 232 in the discovery server 230
1008 Service management connected to Internet 1
1018 Service management connected to the Internet 1
1020 Access server connected to the Internet 1
1030 Discovery server connected to the Internet 1
1040 Mobile phone system connected to the Internet 1
1050 ISP connected to Internet 1
1101 Private network connected to the Internet 1
1108 Service management connected to private network 1101
1118 Service management connected to private network 1101
1120 Access server connected to private network 1101
1130 Discovery server connected to private network 1101
1201 Private network connected to private network 1101
1208 Service management connected to private network 1201
1230 Discovery server connected to private network 1201

Claims (34)

In a document delivery system in an environment where multiple networks including a private network are connected to each other,
A browser terminal connected to the access server via the network and having a browser function;
A storage server that stores the document and transmits information about the document to the browser terminal;
An access server that relays access to the storage server for displaying information related to the document from the browser terminal to the storage server;
A discovery server that inquires about document delivery destination information
Comprising
The discovery server
Holding document delivery destination information connected via the same network as the discovery server, and information of other discovery servers connected via a network different from the network to which the discovery server is connected,
Transmitting the held information on the document delivery destination and the information on the other discovery server;
The browser terminal transmits information on a delivery target document selected based on the received information on the document, and the delivery target document selected on the basis of the received other discovery server and delivery destination information. Send information about the shipping address,
The access server acquires the delivery target document from the storage server based on the delivery target document information received from the browser terminal, and selects a delivery destination based on the received delivery destination information. Delivering the document to a discovery server connected via the same network as the delivery destination when the delivery destination is connected via a different network from the access server;
The discovery server connected via the same network as the delivery destination delivers the document delivered from the access server to the delivery destination selected by the user.
A document delivery system characterized by this. 2. The document delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the access server delivers the document to the delivery destination when the delivery destination of the acquired document is on the same network as the access server. The document delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the access server performs authentication when accessing an access server belonging to a network different from a network to which the access server belongs. When the access server acquires the document, the access server displays a list of connection destination discovery servers held by itself and a display for inputting a delivery destination and a delivery protocol on the browser terminal, and the display 2. The document delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the document is acquired from the acquisition destination while the corresponding input processing is being performed. The discovery server, the document distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the from the service managing means for managing the document delivery destination acquires information of the document delivery destination according to the protocol of the service management unit. The document delivery destination printer, the public network corresponding FAX, networkable FAX, a document delivery system according to claim 1, characterized in that e-mail destination mail server, any of the file transfer destination storage. Wherein the plurality of networks, document delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the including the Internet. The discovery server delivers a document delivered from the access server to the document delivery destination via the service management unit according to a protocol of a service management unit that manages the document delivery destination. The document delivery system according to 1 . The document is a document delivery system of claim 1, wherein said access server is characterized in that it is a document which is held in the web server to be accessed by browsing protocol. The document is a document delivery system of claim 1, wherein said access server and said said that a page displayed in the browser terminal when you are browsing at browsing protocol. The document is a document delivery system of claim 1, wherein said access server is an e-mail that is held in the mail server to retrieve by e-mail receiving protocol. The access server, the document distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the using the browsing protocol to deliver the document to the discovery server. The access server, the document distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the using the e-mail transmission protocol to deliver the document to the discovery server. The access server, the document distribution system according to claim 1, wherein by utilizing the path has reached the document by browsing by an instruction from the browser terminal and obtains the document. The access server, the document distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the using the path search was performed of the document delivery destination according to an instruction from the browser terminal to deliver the document to the discovery server. The discovery server, the document distribution system according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a format converting means for converting the document into a predetermined format. The access server, the document distribution system according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a format converting means for converting the document into a predetermined format. The access server, the document distribution system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is disposed in a proxy server. Said access server and said discovery server, the document distribution system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is implemented on a single computer as a relay server. A plurality of networks are connected to each other, a browser terminal having a browser function is connected to an access server, a document is stored and a server that transmits information about the document is connected via the same network as the access server, and the browser An access server that relays access for displaying information related to documents stored in the server from a terminal is connected to at least one of the plurality of networks, and a discovery server that inquires about document delivery destination information is the plurality of networks. A document delivery method connected to
The discovery server
Holding document delivery destination information connected via the same network as the discovery server, and information of other discovery servers connected via a network different from the network to which the discovery server is connected,
Transmitting the held information on the document delivery destination and the information on the other discovery server;
The browser terminal accesses the access server for display of information related to a document stored in the server, and is a delivery target document selected based on information related to the document received from the server in which the document is stored The information of the delivery destination selected based on the information of the other discovery server and the delivery destination received from the discovery server,
The access server obtains a delivery target document based on the received information about the delivery target document, and a delivery destination selected based on the received delivery destination information is different from the access server via a network. When connected, deliver the document to a discovery server connected via the same network as the delivery destination;
The discovery server connected via the same network as the delivery destination delivers the document delivered from the access server to the delivery destination selected by the user.
Document delivery method characterized by the above. 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20, wherein the access server delivers the document to the delivery destination when the delivery destination of the acquired document is on the same network as the access server. 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the document delivery destination is any one of a printer, a public network compatible FAX, a network compatible FAX, an e-mail destination mail server, and a file transfer destination storage. 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the plurality of networks include the Internet. The discovery server, the delivered the document, according to claim 20, wherein the through the service management unit according to the protocol of the service management means for managing the document delivery destination is delivered to the document delivery destination Document delivery method. 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the document is a document held in a web server that is accessed by the access server using a browsing protocol. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the document is a page displayed on the browser terminal when the access server is browsing with a browsing protocol. 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the document is an e-mail held in a mail server acquired by the access server using an e-mail reception protocol. 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the access server delivers the document to the discovery server using a browsing protocol. 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the access server delivers the document to the discovery server using an e-mail transmission protocol. 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the access server acquires the document by using a path reaching the document by browsing according to an instruction from the browser terminal. 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the access server delivers the document to the discovery server using a path in which a document delivery destination is searched according to an instruction from the browser terminal. 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the discovery server converts the format of the document, and delivers the converted document to the document delivery destination or a service management unit that manages the document delivery destination . 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the access server converts the format of the document and delivers the converted document to the discovery server or the document delivery destination. 21. The document delivery method according to claim 20 , wherein the access server performs authentication as an access server when authentication is required when entering the one of the plurality of networks.

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