JP4941183B2 - Reception history display device and data receiving device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reception history display device that displays a reception history of data received through a communication line, and a data reception device including the reception history display device.

  In the case of a network fax that transmits and receives a fax by attaching image data to an e-mail using a network line such as the Internet, the communication speed of the line is high, so that even a document with a high resolution and a large number of pages can be transmitted and received. If the size of the data (attached file) to be sent by network fax increases, the facsimile machine or facsimile multifunction machine equipped with this network fax function has multiple data depending on the storage capacity of the network management server. In general, a binary division function is provided on the receiving apparatus side to combine them and handle them as one data.

  However, in the case of binary division that divides based on the data amount, the receiving apparatus cannot perform binary combination unless all the divided and transmitted data is received. For this reason, if a failure occurs on the receiving device side, such as when there is little remaining free space in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or memory, printing cannot be performed.

  In order to solve this drawback, a page division function is also adopted in which data to be transmitted is divided at page breaks so as to have an appropriate size according to the limit value of the server, and is transmitted by a plurality of e-mails. As a result, the receiving apparatus can print out the divided data, and can print out even when the remaining free space of the HDD or memory is small.

  Also, the fax reception history (reception date / time, caller name, reception result, etc.) in network fax is displayed in the order of reception without distinguishing the reception history between the data divided by the page division function and the non-division data. As for page division, the reception history of each data received individually is displayed.

  On the other hand, a technology is disclosed that enables efficient retrieval and extraction of target history information based on various attributes attached to each message from communication history information generated with communication. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). Specifically, for a large number of transmitted message information files or received message information files stored in the storage unit as a communication history, one or more data items (transmission date and time for each message) that serve as a clue to the information to be retrieved.・ Receiving date / time, sender name, destination name, message name, number of message pages, message type, message mode, communication result, etc. Is stored as an AND condition, and the corresponding transmission / reception message information file is extracted, and it is organized into a communication history list report of a predetermined form for display or printing.

JP-A-9-294198

  As described above, since the fax reception history of data divided into pages in the network fax is simply displayed in the order of reception without being distinguished from non-divided data, the display becomes complicated. Furthermore, even if a plurality of page-divided data (e-mails) are transmitted according to the division order, they may not be received according to the division order due to differences in the network route, etc., and related reception histories are arranged according to the division order. The complexity of display may increase, such as being not displayed, or other reception histories that are not relevant in the middle.

  This makes it difficult to check reception histories and associate related reception histories, resulting in inconvenience that the correspondence between the number of pages of the sender information described in the printed matter output on the receiving device side and the reception histories cannot be obtained. There is also. As described above, in the method of displaying without distinguishing the page-divided and non-divided fax reception histories in the network fax, it is difficult to find a desired reception history from a complicated display.

  When a plurality of reception histories related to page-divided data are searched and extracted by the technique of Patent Document 1, depending on the search conditions, reception histories unrelated to the page division are included in the search results displayed in a list. there is a possibility. Further, since it is necessary to specify and input the search condition, the operation becomes complicated, and it is not possible to easily and reliably search for only desired history information.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a reception history display device and a data reception device capable of easily displaying a reception history of data divided into a plurality of parts.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] A reception history display device for displaying a reception history of data received through a communication line,
A display unit for displaying the reception history;
When the received data is data divided into a plurality of pieces, and information indicating the relationship of each data is added to the plurality of pieces of divided data, based on the information indicating the relationship, A control unit that causes the display unit to display a reception history of the data divided into a plurality of reception histories for one communication;
Equipped with a,
When two or more reception states are mixed as the reception state of the data divided into the plurality, the control unit only selects one reception state selected in accordance with a predetermined priority order from the two or more reception states mixed. Is displayed in the reception history for one communication as a reception state representative of the data divided into a plurality of pieces .

In the above invention, when the received data is data divided into a plurality of pieces and information indicating the relationship of each data is added to the plurality of pieces of divided data, the information indicating the relationship is provided. The reception history of the data divided into a plurality is displayed as the reception history for one communication. As a result, the reception history of the data divided into a plurality of parts can be easily viewed, and the reception history can be easily confirmed and searched. Furthermore, when two or more reception states are mixed as reception states of the data divided into a plurality, only one reception state selected from the two or more reception states mixed in accordance with a predetermined priority order is divided into a plurality of reception states. Displayed in the reception history for one communication as a reception state representing the divided data.

[2] The display screen displayed on the display unit by the control unit includes a first display screen on which the reception history of the data divided into the plurality is displayed as the reception history for the one communication, and the plurality And a second display screen on which the reception history of the divided data is displayed for each data,
The reception history display device according to [1], further comprising an operation unit for switching a display screen displayed on the display unit to the first display screen or the second display screen.

  In the said invention, the screen displayed on a display part by operation from an operation part can be switched to a 1st display screen or a 2nd display screen. On the first display screen, the reception history of the data divided into a plurality of data is collectively displayed as one communication, so that a comprehensive reception history for a plurality of related communications can be confirmed. In addition, since the reception history of each piece of data divided into a plurality of pieces is individually displayed on the second display screen, the detailed reception history of each piece of data can be confirmed. In the confirmation and search of the reception history, the desired reception history (search result) can be easily reached by switching the first / second display screen as necessary.

[3] The information indicating the relationship includes identification information indicating that the division source of the plurality of divided data is the same, and the number of divisions, the division order, and the number of pages at the time of data transmission The reception history display device according to [1] or [2], characterized in that at least one of them can be included.

  In the said invention, based on the identification information contained in the information which shows the relationship, the data which the division | segmentation origin is the same can be identified, and the reception log | history of each identified data can be displayed as 1 communication part.

  In addition, when the number of divisions is included in the information indicating the relationship, it is possible to grasp the completion / uncompletion of the reception of all data based on the number of divisions, and to recognize data reception abnormalities due to communication errors. . When the division order is included, even if the reception order of the data divided into a plurality is different from the division order, the received data can be rearranged and displayed in the original order. When the number of pages at the time of data transmission is included, the number of pages finally reached can be grasped in advance by displaying the number of pages, and the remaining number of communications can be predicted.

[4] A data receiving device including the reception history display device according to any one of [1] to [3].

  In the above invention, in a data receiving device having a function of receiving data through a communication line, when receiving a plurality of divided data, the reception history is displayed on the reception history display device in an easy-to-read manner.

  According to the reception history display device and the data reception device according to the present invention, it is possible to display the reception history of the data divided into a plurality of pieces in an easy-to-view manner.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a control system of an image forming apparatus 10 provided with a reception history display device 25 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is configured as a multifunction machine having a copy function for reading a document, printing a corresponding image on paper, and outputting, a scanner function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like. In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 has an Internet fax function (iFAX function) that transmits and receives image data of a scanned document as an attached file of an e-mail via an intranet or the Internet, and the size of image data transmitted by the Internet fax is e-mail. A page division (transmission) function that divides image data at page breaks and sends it by a plurality of e-mails so as to have an appropriate size according to the limit value of the server, facsimile (FAX) or the Internet A communication history display function for displaying a transmission / reception history (communication record) in a fax is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an input / output buffer 14, an HDD 15, and a history. An information storage unit 16, a mail header analysis unit 17, an image tag analysis unit 18, an operation display unit 19, a reading unit 20, a printing unit 21, and a network interface unit 22 are provided. They are connected to each other via a bus 23 for transmission. Further, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a clock unit 24, and the clock unit 24 is connected to the bus 23.

  The CPU 11 has an arithmetic processing function and a function as a control unit that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10. The ROM 12 has a function of storing a program related to arithmetic processing and control executed by the CPU 11 and various data used when the program is executed.

  The RAM 13 functions as a work area for the CPU 11 to temporarily store programs and data, and to function as an image memory for temporarily storing image data read by a scanning operation. The input / output buffer 14 has a buffer function for temporarily storing input data and output data in order to compensate for differences in processing speed and transfer speed when data is exchanged between the respective units in the image forming apparatus 10. Fulfill.

  The HDD 15 includes various programs such as an OS (Operating System) and various applications and programs that run on the OS, various data including image data, various types unique to the model such as the manufacturer name, model name, and serial number of the image forming apparatus 10. It fulfills the function of storing parameters and the like. The program stored in the HDD 15 is expanded from the HDD 15 to the RAM 13 and is operated by executing a startup program in the CPU 11 when the image forming apparatus 10 is started up.

  The history information storage unit 16 has a function of storing history information for displaying a history of transmission / reception in a facsimile or Internet fax.

  The mail header analysis unit 17 performs a function of analyzing header information of an electronic mail received by Internet fax. The image tag analysis unit 18 performs a function of analyzing header information (tag) of image data attached to an e-mail received by Internet fax.

  The operation display unit 19 is configured as a touch panel type operation panel capable of screen display and touch operation. The operation display unit 19 relates to the operation state and operation method of the image forming apparatus 10, warnings, errors, transmission / reception history in facsimile and Internet fax, and the like. In addition to performing various displays, it fulfills the function of accepting input operations from the user.

  The reading unit 20 has a function of reading a document by a scanning operation. The printing unit 21 has a function of printing an image based on the image data on a sheet by an electrophotographic process and outputting it.

  The network interface unit 22 functions to control communication and data transfer with external devices including the E-mail server 40 connected via the network. The clock unit 24 keeps date and time.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is configured as described above, and the reception history display device 25 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a history information storage unit 16, a mail header analysis unit 17, and an image tag analysis unit 18. , An operation display unit 19, a network interface unit 22, a clock unit 24, and the like.

  The E-mail server 40 has a function of managing transmission / reception of electronic mail through the network. The E-mail server 40 has a preset maximum size per e-mail permitted to be transmitted / received as a limit value (upper limit value) for e-mail transmission / reception.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  FIG. 2 shows a processing flow of an Internet fax transmission operation by the image forming apparatus 10. FIG. 3 shows the header information added to the header of the e-mail transmitted by Internet fax and the header of the image data attached to the e-mail.

  When transmitting a document using the Internet fax function of the image forming apparatus 10, the user scans the document with the reading unit 20 of the image forming apparatus 10, and then designates a destination by an input operation from the operation display unit 19. Instruct to send by fax.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 on the transmission side, the CPU 11 temporarily stores the image data of the document read by the scanning operation in the RAM 13. When the operation display unit 19 receives an Internet fax transmission instruction (step S101), the CPU 11 compares the size of the image data stored in the RAM 13 with the limit value of the E-mail server 40, and divides the image data into pages. It is determined whether or not to transmit (step S102).

  If the data size is equal to or less than the limit value of the E-mail server 40, the CPU 11 does not perform page division (step S102; No), reads the image data from the RAM 13, and transmits it by Internet fax (step S105). Specifically, the CPU 11 creates one e-mail with a predetermined file ID (file name), attaches the image data read from the RAM 13 to the e-mail, and designates the designated destination (e-mail address). input. Then, the electronic mail is transmitted to the E-mail server 40 via the network interface unit 22. When the transmission of the e-mail is finished, this process is terminated.

  For the file ID to be given to the e-mail, the CPU 11 acquires information such as the manufacturer name, model name, serial number, etc. of the image forming apparatus 10 from the HDD 15, and the date and time information (time stamp) at the time of file creation from the clock unit 24. Acquire them and combine them arbitrarily to create unique IDs. For example, if the model name is “bh350” and the file creation date is “January 10, 2007, 9:57:25”, a file ID such as “bh350-20070110095725” is created by combining them. And give it to the email.

  If the data size exceeds the limit value of the E-mail server 40, the page is divided and transmitted (step S102; Yes). More specifically, first, the CPU 11 divides the image data of the document by a predetermined number of pages from the top page so as to be equal to or less than the limit value of the E-mail server 40 (step S103).

  The division condition in this page division is set in advance by the network system administrator or the like according to the limit value of the E-mail server 40. For example, image data having a small size per page such as a normal monochrome image is simply divided into a certain number of pages (for example, every 5 pages or every 10 pages). In this case, for example, if the image data of a document having a total number of 100 pages is divided every 10 pages, the number of divisions becomes 10. In addition, for image data having a large size per page such as a color image or a photograph, the unit of the number of pages to be divided may be reduced according to the size per page (for example, 2 Page by page).

  Subsequently, the CPU 11 creates the same number of e-mails as the number of divisions in order to transmit the divided image data obtained by page division (hereinafter referred to as “division image data”) by Internet fax. The divided image data is attached to the e-mail one by one. Further, the same file ID is assigned to each e-mail so that it can be identified that the division source of the divided image data attached to each e-mail is the same.

  As in the above example, when image data having a total number of 100 pages is divided in units of 10 pages, the image data is divided into 10 divided image data of 10 pages in order from the first page. Ten e-mails having the same number as the division number 10 are created, and one piece of divided image data is attached to the ten e-mails. The file IDs of these 10 e-mails are made the same as, for example, “bh350-20070110095725” etc.

  Further, the CPU 11 generates information indicating the relationship between the divided image data and adds the information to the divided image data (step S104). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, the number of pages (total number of pages) of image data that is the source of the divided image data attached to the e-mail and the number of divisions are included in the header of each e-mail. And the number of pages of the divided image data (the total number of pages of this mail) and the division order (division order) indicating the number of divided image data from the beginning of the divided image data. And are added. In this embodiment, the denominator of “current mail” indicates the number of divisions, and the numerator indicates the division order (current mail = division order / division number), and the current mail includes the number of divisions and the division order. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the total page number and page number of the image data are added to the header of each page of the image data attached to the e-mail.

FIG. 3 exemplifies e-mail header information and header information of each page of image data when image data having a total number of 100 pages is divided into 10 pages.
(A) Email header information (if the division order is fifth)
・ Total number of pages: 100
-Number of divisions: 10
・ Total number of pages in this email: 10
・ Current mail: 5/10
(B) Header information of each page of image data (in case of page 45)
・ Total number of pages: 100
・ Current page: 45th page

  Then, the CPU 11 inputs a designated destination (e-mail address) to each e-mail to which the divided image data is attached, and sequentially sends each e-mail to the e-mail server 40 via the network interface unit 22 (step S1). S105), this process is terminated.

  FIG. 4 shows a processing flow of the Internet fax reception operation by the image forming apparatus 10. FIG. 5 shows a data structure of history information stored in the history information storage unit 16 in order to display the fax reception history of the Internet fax.

  The fax reception history is a communication record including fax reception date and time, received data attribute information, and the like. In this embodiment, the items displayed as the fax reception history are (see FIG. 7 and FIG. 8), (1) reception ID, (2) reception date and time ((year /) month / day / hour / minute), ( 3) Source name, (4) Source email address, (5) Reception start time (hour / minute / second), (6) Reception end time (hour / minute / second), (7) Number of received pages (8) Reception / print output state (result). Note that these display items are merely examples, and arbitrary items that can grasp the communication record may be displayed.

  Further, the history information storage unit 16 secures the history list 50 or the history list 60 shown in FIG. 5, and stores the file ID of the received electronic mail and the history information for displaying each item described above. I have to. The history lists 50 and 60 include main data storage units 50A and 60A in which the history information (1) to (4) among the display items described above are stored, and the history information (5) to (8). Sub-data storage units 50B and 60B to be stored are provided.

  For page division, a history list 50 provided with the same number of sub-data storage units 50B as the number of divisions is secured, and history information for the number of divisions related to (5) to (8) is stored in each sub-data storage unit 50B. I am trying to store it. That is, history information for the number of divisions related to (5) to (8) is stored in the history list 50 in a lump. For non-division, a history list 60 having one sub data storage unit 60B is secured, and history information for one communication regarding (5) to (8) is stored in the sub data storage unit 60B. Like to do.

  In this embodiment, every time the image forming apparatus 10 receives one outgoing mail by Internet fax regardless of page division / non-division, the processing shown in FIG. 60, the history information for one communication is stored.

  When the image forming apparatus 10 on the receiving side receives an Internet fax transmission mail from the E-mail server 40 via the network interface unit 22 (step S111), the CPU 11 stores the image data attached to the received mail in the HDD 15. Store once.

  Further, the mail header analysis unit 17 analyzes the header information of the received mail and notifies the CPU 11 of the analysis result. For example, when the total number of pages of image data shown in FIG. 3A, the number of divisions, the total number of pages of divided image data attached to this mail, and the order of division (current mail) are added to the header of the received mail. Notify that information. The image tag analysis unit 18 analyzes the header information (tag) of the image data attached to the received mail and notifies the CPU 11 of the analysis result. For example, when the total page number and page number (current page) of the image data shown in FIG. 3B are added to the header of the image data, such information is notified.

  Based on the notified analysis result, the CPU 11 determines whether the image data attached to the received mail has been divided into pages (step S112).

  When the notification from the mail header analysis unit 17 includes the number of divisions or the order of division, the CPU 11 determines that the received mail is a mail by page division, and the image data attached to the received mail is divided into pages. It is determined that it is one of the divided image data (step S112; Yes).

  Here, the CPU 11 refers to the division order included in the notification from the mail header analysis unit 17 and when the division order is the first (for example, “current mail: 1 / N” see FIG. 3A). Reads the first divided image data from the HDD 15, transfers it to the printing unit 21, and instructs the printing unit 21 to print. If it is not the first, printing is not instructed until the first appears in the division order included in the notification from the mail header analysis unit 17, and the first divided image data is read from the HDD 15 when the first appears. To the printing unit 21 to instruct printing. In the first and subsequent sections, the divided image data is read from the HDD 15 in the division order, transferred to the printing unit 21, and printing according to the division order is instructed.

  In addition to instructing printing immediately when the first division order appears as described above, for example, printing is not instructed until all divided e-mails are received and image data is ready, and image After the data is collected, the division order may be transferred from the first divided image data to the printing unit 21 according to the division order to instruct printing according to the division order.

  When the printing unit 21 receives the transfer of divided image data and a print instruction from the CPU 11, the printing unit 21 executes print output based on the divided image data according to the division order. As a result, print output is performed in the page order for the original image data.

  Further, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a history list 50 (see FIG. 5) storing the same file ID as the file ID of the received mail exists in the history information storage unit 16 (step S113).

  If there is no history list 50 storing the same file ID (step S113; No), the CPU 11 newly secures the history list 50 shown in FIG. 5 in the history information storage unit 16 (step S114).

  The history list 50 includes one main data storage unit 50A and sub data storage units 50B having the same number as the number of divisions (N in the case of the division number N).

  Further, the main data storage unit 50A stores a file ID data storage area 51 for storing the file ID of the received mail, a reception ID data storage area 52 for storing the reception ID, and a reception date and time. A reception date / time data storage area 53, a sender name data storage area 54 for storing the sender name of the received mail, and an address data storage area 55 for storing the sender's e-mail address are provided. The sub data storage unit 50B includes a reception start time data storage area 56 for storing the reception start time, a reception end time data storage area 57 for storing the reception end time, and image data attached to the received mail. A page number data storage area 58 for storing the number of pages and a status data storage area 59 for storing data indicating a state (result) from reception to print output are provided. Further, the sub data storage units 50B provided in the same number as the number of divisions are associated with the division order.

  For example, referring to information indicating the current mail included in the notification from the mail header analysis unit 17 (for example, current mail: 1 / N to N / N), the history information of the received mail with the first division order is 1 The second (1 / N) sub-data storage unit 50B stores the history information of the received mail whose division order is second, and the second (2 / N) sub-data storage unit 50B stores,. Correspondence is performed such that the history information of the Nth received mail in the order is stored in the Nth (N / N) subdata storage unit 50B. By such association, the storage location (address) of the history information becomes information indicating the division order, and the division order can be recognized from the storage location of the history information without storing the data indicating the division order in the history list 50 separately. become. Instead of such association, data indicating the division order may be stored in each sub-data storage unit 50B, and the division order may be recognized based on the data.

  When the history list 50 is secured, the CPU 11 uses (1) reception ID, (2) reception date and time, (3) sender name, and (4) sender email as history information used for displaying the fax reception history. Each data of the address is created and stored in the corresponding data storage areas 51 to 55 of the main data storage unit 50A. Further, (5) reception start time, (6) reception end time, (7) number of received pages, and (8) reception / print output status data are created and sub-data corresponding to the division order of this received mail The data is stored in the corresponding data storage areas 56 to 59 of the storage unit 50B (step S115 / step S116).

  Specifically, first, the file ID of the received mail is stored in the file ID data storage area 51. This file ID is used as information for identifying the history list 50. Further, a reception ID (for example, a number assigned according to the reception order) of the received mail is created and stored in the reception ID data storage area 52.

  As for the reception date and time, date / time information is acquired from the clock unit 24 at the start of reception of the received mail, and year / month / date / hour / minute is stored in the reception date / time data storage area 53. As for the sender name, the sender name described in the received mail is acquired and stored in the sender name data storage area 54. For the sender email address, the sender email address described in the received mail is acquired and stored in the address data storage area 55.

  As for the reception start time, the hour / minute / second of the date / time information acquired from the clock unit 24 at the start of reception of the received mail is stored in the reception start time data storage area 56. As for the reception end time, date / time information is acquired from the clock unit 24 at the end of reception of the received mail, and the hour / minute / second is stored in the reception end time data storage area 57.

  As for the number of received pages, the total number of pages of this mail (see FIG. 3) included in the analysis result notified from the mail header analysis unit 17 is stored in the page number data storage area 58. Regarding the status of reception / print output, status data indicating any one of abnormality (communication error), waiting for printing, print page number, and normal is stored in the status data storage area 59.

  As for the details of the status data, for example, when a communication error occurs when receiving a page-split e-mail, data indicating an abnormality is stored. When printing of the image data attached to the received mail is in a standby state, data indicating the waiting for printing is stored. If printing is in progress, data indicating the page number being printed is stored. When printing is stopped due to paper jam or out of paper, data indicating the page number where printing is finished is stored. When the print output ends normally, data indicating normality is stored.

  As for communication errors, when the number of emails for page division (number of divisions) is known, if the last outgoing email cannot be received or the outgoing email in the middle cannot be received, communication is performed with a certain timeout period. Judged as an error. Also, from the printing instruction by the CPU 11 to the end of the print output by the printing unit 21, the state changes in the order of waiting for printing, printing in progress (print stop in some cases), and normal end of print output. The state data stored in the state data storage area 59 is exchanged according to the change in the operation state.

  When the CPU 11 stores each of the above data in the history list 50 secured in the history information storage unit 16 for one communication portion of the received mail divided into pages, this process is terminated.

  If there is a history list 50 storing the same file ID (step S113; Yes), the CPU 11 creates only the reception start time data, reception end time data, page number data, and status data of this received mail. (Step S115). Each created data is stored in each data storage area 56 to 59 of the sub data storage unit 50B corresponding to the division order of the received mail in the history list 50 of the same file ID (step S116).

  Thus, for a plurality of received mails with the same file ID divided into pages, a new history list 50 is secured in the history information storage unit 16 when the first mail is received, and the history Each data of the file ID, reception ID, sender name, sender email address is stored in the main data storage unit 50A of the list 50, and the reception start time, reception end time for the first received mail, Each data of the number of received pages and the status of reception / print output is stored in the sub data storage unit 50B corresponding to the division order of the received mail. When the second and subsequent mails are received, only the data of the reception start time, the reception end time, the number of received pages, and the reception / print output status for the received mail after the second mail are stored in the history list 50 that has already been secured. Is stored in the sub-data storage unit 50B corresponding to the division order of the received mail. When all mails with the same file ID are received, data storage in all data storage areas in one history list 50 is completed.

  Note that data storage in the plurality of sub data storage units 50B provided in the history list 50 is performed in accordance with the order of receiving mail. Even if a plurality of page-divided electronic mails are transmitted according to the division order, they may not be received according to the division order due to differences in network paths. Therefore, data storage in the sub data storage unit 50B may not be performed according to the division order. In some cases, all emails with the same file ID may not be received continuously due to differences in network paths. For example, when an e-mail with a different file ID is received on the way, a new history list corresponding to the file ID is secured in the history information storage unit 16 to store data. In some cases, data is stored in parallel to the history list.

  On the other hand, if the notification from the mail header analysis unit 17 does not include the number of divisions or the order of division, the CPU 11 determines that the received mail is not a page-divided mail and the image data attached to the received mail is a page. It determines with not being divided | segmented (step S112; No). In this case, the CPU 11 transfers the image data stored in the HDD 15 to the printing unit 21 and instructs printing.

  Further, the CPU 11 secures a history list 60 (see FIG. 5) for storing history information of the received mail in the history information storage unit 16 (step S114). Similar to the history list 50, the history list 60 includes a file ID data storage area 61, a reception ID data storage area 62, a reception date / time data storage area 63, a sender name data storage area 64, and an address data storage area 65. One main data storage unit 60A is provided. Further, only one sub data storage unit 60B having a reception start time data storage area 66, a reception end time data storage area 67, a page number data storage area 68, and a status data storage area 69 is provided.

  Then, in the same procedure as when receiving the first e-mail of page division, each data of the reception ID, the reception date and time, the sender name, and the sender e-mail address is created, and the file ID of this received mail At the same time, it is stored in each data storage area 61-65 of the main data storage 60A. Further, each data of reception start time, reception end time, number of received pages, reception / print output state is created and stored in each data storage area 66-69 of the sub data storage unit 60B (step S116). The process ends.

  The amount of history information (the number of history records) that can be stored in the history information storage unit 16 is determined according to the capacity of the history information storage unit 16. When the history information storage unit 16 stores new received mail history information, when the capacity is exceeded, the old history information is deleted in order, and new history information is stored.

  FIG. 6 shows the flow of processing in the history display mode for displaying the fax reception history of the Internet fax by the image forming apparatus 10. 7 to 10 show display screens displayed on the operation display unit 19 of the image forming apparatus 10 in the history display mode.

  The CPU 11 determines whether or not the history display mode is selected by an input operation to the operation display unit 19 by the user (step S121). If the history display mode is not selected (step S121; No), this process ends.

  When the history display mode is selected (step S121; Yes), the CPU 11 reads the history information from the history lists 50 and 60 (see FIG. 5) of the history information storage unit 16 and transmits the history information to the operation display unit 19, and the operation display unit. 19 displays the FAX reception history screen 70 (first display screen) shown in FIG. 7 (step S122).

  On the FAX reception history screen 70, a reception history list 71, a detail button 76, and a return button 77 are displayed. The reception history list 71 includes a plurality of columns of reception ID column 72, reception date and time column 73, and transmission source information column 74. Each data read from the main data storage units 50A and 60A of the history lists 50 and 60 includes Such information is displayed. In the result column 75, status information (result) is displayed by the status data read from the sub-data storage units 50B and 60B (status data storage areas 59 and 69) of the history lists 50 and 60.

  In the display in the reception history list 71, the reception IDs stored in the reception ID data storage area 52 (or the reception dates and times stored in the reception date and time data storage area 53) are listed in order from the new history lists 50 and 60. Each piece of data is read out, and each piece of information represented by each piece of data is displayed in a predetermined number (maximum displayable number) arranged from the top to the bottom in the order of reception ID (or reception date and time).

  In the result column 75, “NG” is displayed when an error stops in the middle. When processing is in progress, “-” is displayed. If the print output is completed normally, “OK” is displayed.

  In the case of page division, a plurality of pieces of divided image data are individually received and printed individually, so that the processing state of each piece of divided image data may not be the same. That is, when the process up to print output for all the divided image data has been normally completed, or when all the divided image data has stopped in error, the processing state of each divided image data becomes the same. In addition to these, a plurality of states are mixed. Thus, when a plurality of states are mixed, only one representative state is displayed in the result column 75. For example, in order from the highest priority of display, error stop, processing, and normal termination are performed, and when a plurality of states coexist, only one representative state is displayed according to this priority.

  Further, a detail button 76 is displayed on the right side of the reception history list 71 corresponding to the reception ID, and a return button 77 is displayed below the detail button 76.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the reception history list 71 displays reception histories of reception ID 20 to reception ID 15 for the latest six communications, and the result column 75 indicates that the reception ID 20 is being processed. "Receiving ID 18 is displayed as" NG "indicating that an error has stopped midway, and receiving ID 19 and receiving IDs 17 to ID15 are displayed as" OK "indicating normal termination of print output.

  If the detail button 76 or the return button 77 is not pressed on the FAX reception history screen 70 (Step S123; No / Step S124; No), the display of the FAX reception history screen 70 is continued. When the return button 77 is pressed (step S124; Yes), the CPU 11 exits the history display mode and ends this process.

  When the detail button 76 is pressed (step S123; Yes), the CPU 11 switches to the detailed display of the reception history information corresponding to the reception ID of the pressed detail button 76, and the operation display unit 19 displays FIG. The FAX reception history detail screen 80 (80A, 80B) (second display screen) shown in FIG. 10 is displayed (step S125).

  On the FAX reception history detail screen 80, a reception ID 81, a reception history detail list 82, a return button 88, and a next button 89 as necessary are displayed.

  In the reception history detail list 82, the reception date / time column 83, the transmission source information column 84, and the transmission source address / phone number column 85 are read from the main data storage sections 50A and 60A of the history lists 50 and 60 corresponding to the reception ID. Each piece of data is displayed as information. In the communication history column 86 of the reception history detail list 82, the information is displayed by the respective data read from the sub data storage units 50B and 60B of the same history list 50 and 60. The status column 87 provided corresponding to the communication history column 86 has status information based on status data read from the sub-data storage units 50B and 60B (status data storage areas 59 and 69) of the same history list 50 and 60. Is displayed.

  In the status column 87, “NG” is displayed in the case of an abnormality due to a communication error (see FIG. 10). When waiting for printing, “-” is displayed (see FIGS. 8 and 10). If printing is in progress, the page number being printed is displayed (see FIG. 8). When printing is stopped due to a paper jam or out of paper, the page number of the finished printing is displayed. When the print output is completed normally, “OK” is displayed (see FIGS. 8 and 10).

  In the display of the status column 87, only when the page number being printed is displayed in the status column 87, the status column 87 is displayed as a status button 87A (see FIG. 8) that accepts a pressing operation. As shown in FIG. 10, when “NG” is displayed in the status column 87, a message such as “cannot be received due to communication error” is displayed in the communication history column 86 instead of the communication history information. Is done.

  Further, when the history list corresponding to the received ID is the history list 50 storing the history information of the received mail divided into pages, a plurality of communication history columns 86 and status columns 87 are provided, and the history list 50 is arranged in accordance with the division order. The communication history is arranged and displayed in a predetermined number (maximum displayable number) from the bottom to the bottom (see FIGS. 8 and 10). Further, in the reception date / time column 83, in addition to the reception date / time (year / month / day), the reception start time (hour / minute) of the first received mail, the reception end time (hour / minute) of the last received mail, all The total number of pages of the received mail is also displayed.

  If the history list 50 (see FIG. 5) of the present embodiment is used, the total number of pages can be calculated by adding the page number data stored in a plurality of page number data storage areas 58 provided. As shown in FIG. 3B, when “total number of pages” is added to the header of the image data, the total page number data is separately stored in the history list 50 to display the total number of pages. You may make it use for.

  Further, in the reception history display of page division, when the number of divisions (reception number) exceeds the displayable number of communication histories in the reception history detailed list 82 (division number (reception number)> number of communication history displayable items), Next button 89 is displayed.

  When the history list corresponding to the received ID is the history list 60 storing the history information of the undivided received mail, the communication history column 86 and the status column 87 are provided in one row, and communication for one communication is performed. A history is displayed (not shown). In this case also, in the reception date / time column 83, in addition to the reception date / time (year / month / day), the reception start time (hour / minute), reception end time (hour / minute), etc. of the received mail is received. Is displayed.

  If the status button 87A, the return button 88, or the next button 89 is not pressed on the FAX reception history detail screen 80 (Step S126; No / Step S127; No / Step S128; No), the FAX reception history detail screen 80 Continue to display. When the return button 88 is pressed (step S127; Yes), the CPU 11 returns the display of the operation display unit 19 to the FAX reception history screen 70 (see step S122 / FIG. 7).

  When the next button 89 is pressed (step S128; Yes), the communication history column 86 and the status column 87 of the FAX reception history detail screen 80 are read from the sub data storage unit 50B of the next number in the history list 50. Using each data, communication history and status information are displayed according to the division order. Also in this display, when the remaining communication history cannot be displayed, the next button 89 is displayed. When the last communication history is displayed by repeatedly pressing the next button 89, the next button 89 is displayed. It will not be done.

  When the status button 87A (see FIG. 8) is pressed (step S126; Yes), the CPU 11 displays the FAX printing screen 90 shown in FIG. 9 on the operation display unit 19 (step S129). On the FAX printing screen 90, information on the page number currently being printed (for example, “printing the 45 / 100th page”) by the printing unit 21 and a return button 91 are displayed.

  If the return button 91 is not pressed (step S131; No), the FAX printing screen 90 is continuously displayed. When the return button 91 is pressed (step S131; Yes), the CPU 11 returns the display of the operation display unit 19 to the FAX reception history detail screen 80 (step S125).

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the reception history of the Internet fax is displayed, the reception history for a plurality of communication by page division is one communication on the FAX reception history screen 70 (see FIG. 7). Therefore, display complexity such as displaying a plurality of related reception histories in a series is eliminated, and the reception histories are easy to see. For example, even when the number of reception history display items is limited due to memory capacity or display area restrictions, multiple related reception histories are not displayed. Many can be displayed easily. Further, since the user does not need to recognize whether or not communication by page division has been performed, it is sufficient to display any reception history for one communication regardless of page division / non-division.

  Further, by pressing the detail button 76 displayed on the FAX reception history screen 70, the display screen can be switched to the FAX reception history detail screen 80 (see FIG. 8 (80A) and FIG. 10 (80B)). By pressing the return button 88 displayed on the FAX reception history detail screen 80, the display screen can be switched to the FAX reception history screen 70. On the FAX reception history screen 70, reception histories for a plurality of communications by page division are collectively displayed as one communication, so that a comprehensive reception history (reception status) for a plurality of related communications can be confirmed. Further, on the FAX reception history detail screen 80, since reception histories for a plurality of communications by page division are individually displayed, it is possible to check each detailed reception history (reception status). In the confirmation and search of the reception history, the desired reception history (search result) can be easily reached by switching the display screen as necessary.

  In addition, in the e-mail to which the divided image data is attached, as information indicating the relationship of each data, a file ID (identification information) indicating that the divided source of the divided data is the same, the number of divisions, A division order and a page for data transmission are added.

  Thereby, the divided image data having the same division source can be identified based on the file ID, and the reception history of the divided image data having the same division source received in a plurality of divisions can be displayed as one communication. Become. Further, it is possible to grasp whether or not all divided image data has been received based on the number of divisions, and to recognize data reception abnormality due to a communication error.

  Regardless of the reception order of the divided image data, when the reception history is displayed individually, it can be rearranged in the original order based on the division order. Furthermore, the divided image data can be printed out according to the division order, and printing output in the page order is also possible.

  Further, the number of pages finally reached by receiving all mails (all data) can be grasped in advance by the total number of pages (pages at the time of data transmission) displayed on the FAX reception history detail screen (see FIGS. 8 and 10). . For example, conventionally, if the total number of pages is not described in the printed matter, it is difficult to determine whether there is next communication, but the number of remaining communication can be predicted by grasping in advance the number of pages finally reached. .

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, when the history information used for displaying the fax reception history is stored in the history information storage unit 16, the history information of a plurality of communications by page division is collectively displayed in the history list 50 (see FIG. 5). Although stored, the history information of a plurality of communications by this page division may be stored individually. In that case, by assigning a search ID or the like to each piece of history information stored individually, each piece of history information is searched based on the search ID, and as described in the embodiment, the history for one communication Information can be displayed.

  In the embodiment, the data structure of the history information in the page division (history list 50) and the data structure of the history information in the non-division (history list 60) are the same data structure, but these data structures are different. May be.

  Further, in the embodiment, as information (additional information) indicating the relationship between each data divided into pages, identification information (file ID) indicating that the divided source of the divided data is the same, the number of divisions , Division order, and page at the time of data transmission are added. However, not all of the additional information is required to display the reception history of the page-divided data as one communication. Since data having the same division source can be identified by the identification information, a plurality of reception histories can be displayed as one communication if there is at least identification information.

  The additional information may be added to either image data or an e-mail to which the image data is attached, or may be added in a distributed manner to the image data and the e-mail.

  In the embodiment, the case where image data of a document scanned by the reading unit 20 of the image forming apparatus 10 is transmitted / received by Internet fax is described as an example. However, data transmitted / received by Internet fax is scanned by the image forming apparatus 10. It is not limited to what you did. For example, image data or document data received in response to an Internet fax request from a personal computer connected via a network may be used.

  The data receiving apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the multi-function apparatus described in the embodiment, but can be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a facsimile apparatus having an Internet fax function.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of an Internet fax transmission operation by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing header information of an email sent by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a header information of image data attached to the email. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of an Internet fax reception operation by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the history information stored in the history information storage part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of an operation in a mode for displaying an Internet fax reception history by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen of a FAX reception history displayed on the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen of FAX reception history details 1 displayed on the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display screen during FAX printing displayed on the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen of FAX reception history details 1 displayed on the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus 11 ... CPU
12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
14 ... I / O buffer 15 ... HDD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 ... History information storage part 17 ... Mail header analysis part 18 ... Image tag analysis part 19 ... Operation display part 20 ... Reading part 21 ... Printing part 22 ... Network interface part 23 ... Bus 24 ... Clock part 25 ... Reception history display apparatus 40 ... E-mail server 50 ... History list 50A ... Main data storage unit 50B ... Sub data storage unit 51 ... File ID data storage area 52 ... Reception ID data storage area 53 ... Reception date data storage area 54 ... Sender name data storage area 55 ... Address data storage area 56 ... Reception start time data storage area 57 ... Reception end time data storage area 58 ... Page count data storage area 59 ... Status data storage area 60 ... History list 60A ... Main data storage section 60B ... Sub data storage 61: File ID data storage area 62: Receive ID data case Area 63 ... Reception date / time data storage area 64 ... Source name data storage area 65 ... Address data storage area 66 ... Reception start time data storage area 67 ... Reception end time data storage area 68 ... Page number data storage area 69 ... Status data storage Area 70 ... FAX reception history screen 71 ... Reception history list 72 ... Reception ID column 73 ... Reception date column 74 ... Sender information column 75 ... Result column 76 ... Detail button 77 ... Return button 80 (80A, 80B) ... FAX reception history Detail screen 81 ... Receive ID
82 ... Reception history details 83 ... Reception date / time column 84 ... Sender information column 85 ... Sender address / phone number column 86 ... Communication history column 87 ... Status column 87A ... Status button 88 ... Back button 89 ... Next button 90 ... Fax printing screen 91 ... Back button

Claims (4)

A reception history display device for displaying a reception history of data received through a communication line,
A display unit for displaying the reception history;
When the received data is data divided into a plurality of pieces, and information indicating the relationship of each data is added to the plurality of pieces of divided data, based on the information indicating the relationship, A control unit that causes the display unit to display a reception history of the data divided into a plurality of reception histories for one communication;
Equipped with a,
When two or more reception states are mixed as the reception state of the data divided into the plurality, the control unit only selects one reception state selected in accordance with a predetermined priority order from the two or more reception states mixed. Is displayed in the reception history for one communication as a reception state representative of the data divided into a plurality of pieces . The display screen displayed on the display unit by the control unit includes a first display screen in which the reception history of the data divided into the plurality is displayed as the reception history for the one communication and the plurality of divisions. Including a second display screen on which the data reception history is displayed for each data,
The reception history display device according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit for switching a display screen displayed on the display unit to the first display screen or the second display screen. The information indicating the relationship includes identification information indicating that the division source of the plurality of divided data is the same, and among the number of divisions, the division order, and the number of pages at the time of data transmission The reception history display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the reception history display devices can be included.   A data receiving device comprising the reception history display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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