JP5151834B2 - Facsimile data relay device and facsimile data relay system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a technique for realizing a so-called IP facsimile using a facsimile apparatus (for example, a G3 facsimile machine) that transmits and receives image data via a telephone network.

In Patent Document 1, a facsimile system is constructed by adding a transmission destination specifying device and an IP-FAX device to an existing facsimile machine and a private branch exchange, thereby transmitting a facsimile from a facsimile machine to another facsimile machine via the Internet. A technique for performing the above is disclosed. In the configuration of Patent Document 1, a mail server device is connected to the Internet, and facsimile data is exchanged between the IP-FAX device and the IP-FAX device by a FAX mail function. In this FAX mail function, an IP-FAX device converts facsimile data into, for example, a TIFF format image file, attaches it to an e-mail in MIME format, and sends it to the Internet. The other IP-FAX device sends the e-mail to the e-mail. This is realized by receiving via the server. A routing table is stored in the hard disk of the IP-FAX apparatus, and information indicating a correspondence relationship between the facsimile machine and the IP-FAX apparatus is described in the routing table.
JP 2006-5679 A

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to operate a mail server, and it is necessary to assign a mail address to each IP-FAX device, and the management thereof tends to be complicated. In addition, since the e-mail always passes through the mail server in the FAX mail function, in a large-scale system, the load tends to be concentrated on the mail server. On the other hand, if a failure occurs in the mail server, the IP facsimile can be used throughout the system. There was a risk of disappearing. Furthermore, since facsimile data is stored in a mail server on the Internet in an e-mail format and is received in, for example, the POP protocol, there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of improving real-time communication and security. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile data relay apparatus that can eliminate the need for a mail server and can realize high-speed facsimile communication in real time.

Means and effects for solving the problems

  The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems and the effects thereof will be described.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a facsimile data relay apparatus having the following configuration is provided. That is, the facsimile data relay apparatus includes a telephone line port, a FAX port, a network connection port, a storage unit, and a control unit. A telephone network can be connected to the telephone line port. A facsimile machine can be connected to the FAX port. An IP network can be connected to the network connection port. The storage unit can store at least correspondence address information in which a line number of a facsimile transmission destination is associated with an IP address of a facsimile data relay apparatus other than the own machine. When receiving the facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus by designating the destination line number via the FAX port, the control unit performs the following control. That is, the IP address of the second facsimile data relay apparatus in which the destination facsimile apparatus has at least a telephone line port that can be connected to the telephone network, a FAX port that can be connected to the facsimile apparatus, and a network port that can be connected to the IP network When the corresponding IP address is stored in the storage unit in association with the transmission destination line number , the facsimile image data is transmitted by direct SMTP connection to the second facsimile data relay apparatus via the IP network. Then, the facsimile image data is transmitted to the destination facsimile apparatus via the FAX port of the second facsimile data relay apparatus . On the other hand, when the corresponding IP address is not stored in the storage unit for the destination line number, the facsimile image data is transmitted by connecting to the destination facsimile apparatus via the telephone network. When the control unit receives facsimile image data from another facsimile data relay apparatus through the direct SMTP connection, the control unit transmits the facsimile data to the facsimile apparatus connected to the FAX port of the own machine.

  With this configuration, the facsimile data relay apparatus can be applied to an existing telephone line facsimile apparatus to realize IP transmission of facsimile transmission, and no special operation of the facsimile apparatus is required, so that introduction is easy. Further, since the facsimile image data is transmitted by direct SMTP connection, a mail server can be eliminated and high-speed facsimile communication can be realized in real time. In addition, it is not necessary to assign a mail address to each facsimile data relay apparatus, and an IP facsimile can be realized only by managing the IP address, so that the management cost of the system can be reduced. In addition, since a so-called full mesh system with a flexible communication path can be suitably realized, the communication cost can be effectively reduced by using the IP facsimile more effectively.

  In the facsimile data relay apparatus, the storage unit is preferably configured to be able to store the IP addresses of a plurality of facsimile data relay apparatuses in association with one destination number.

  Thereby, broadcast transmission by IP facsimile can be easily realized.

  The facsimile data relay apparatus preferably has the following configuration. That is, the control unit is configured to update the corresponding address information stored in the storage unit of its own device when receiving an information change command from the adapter management server connected to the IP network. The adapter management server can transmit the information change command to a plurality of facsimile data relay apparatuses connected to the IP network.

  Thus, by operating the adapter management server, it is possible to rewrite the corresponding address information of a large number of facsimile data relay apparatuses all at once. Accordingly, it is possible to easily cope with the expansion, replacement, change of the number of facsimile machines, change of the IP address of the facsimile data relay apparatus, etc., and the maintainability is improved.

  The facsimile data relay apparatus preferably has the following configuration. That is, this facsimile data relay device has at least one of a communication journal with a facsimile device via the FAX port, a communication journal with a facsimile device via a telephone network, and a communication journal with another facsimile data relay device. A journal information storage unit capable of storing the included journal information; The control unit is configured to be able to transmit the journal information to the adapter management server via the IP network.

  With this configuration, since communication journals obtained by a large number of FAX adapters can be collected in the adapter management server, communication status monitoring, failure cause analysis, and the like are facilitated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a facsimile data relay system having the following configuration is provided. That is, the facsimile data relay system includes a first facsimile data relay device and a second facsimile data relay device connected to an IP network and a telephone network. Each of the first facsimile data relay apparatus and the second facsimile data relay apparatus includes a FAX port, a storage unit, and a control unit. A facsimile machine can be connected to the FAX port. The storage unit can store corresponding address information in which the line number of the facsimile transmission destination is associated with the IP address of the facsimile data relay apparatus. When the control unit of the first facsimile data relay apparatus receives the facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus by designating the transmission destination line number, the control is performed as follows. That is, the destination facsimile apparatus is connected to the FAX port of the second facsimile data relay apparatus , and the corresponding IP address, which is the IP address of the second facsimile data relay apparatus , is associated with the destination line number in the memory. The facsimile image data is transmitted by direct SMTP connection to the second facsimile data relay apparatus via the IP network and transmitted to the destination via the FAX port of the second facsimile data relay apparatus. The facsimile image data is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus . On the other hand, when the corresponding IP address for the transmission destination line number is not stored in the storage unit, the facsimile image data is transmitted by connecting to the transmission destination facsimile apparatus via the telephone network. When the control unit receives facsimile image data from another facsimile data relay apparatus through the direct SMTP connection, the control unit transmits the facsimile data to the facsimile apparatus connected to the FAX port of the own machine.

  With this configuration, the facsimile data relay apparatus can be applied to an existing telephone line facsimile apparatus to realize IP transmission of facsimile transmission, and no special operation of the facsimile apparatus is required, so that introduction is easy. Further, since the facsimile image data is transmitted by direct SMTP connection, a mail server can be eliminated and high-speed facsimile communication can be realized in real time. In addition, it is not necessary to assign a mail address to each facsimile data relay apparatus, and an IP facsimile can be realized only by managing the IP address, so that the management cost of the system can be reduced. In addition, since a so-called full mesh system with a flexible communication path can be suitably realized, the communication cost can be effectively reduced by using the IP facsimile more effectively.

  Next, embodiments of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a facsimile communication system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing configurations of a facsimile apparatus 71 and a FAX adapter 81. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the corresponding address storage unit 43 in the FAX adapter. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the adapter management server 85.

  An example of a facsimile communication system built in a company is shown in FIG. In the facsimile communication system 100 of the present embodiment, facsimile apparatuses 71, 72, and 73 are installed at a plurality of bases A, B, and C that are remote from each other. The facsimile apparatuses 71, 72, 73 have a function of performing facsimile transmission / reception through the telephone network in the known G3 format, for example. However, the facsimile apparatuses 71, 72, 73 are not directly connected to the telephone network (PSTN 51), but are connected to the PSTN 51 via FAX adapters 81, 82, 83 as facsimile data relay apparatuses.

  A facsimile machine 79 is also installed outside the company, and this facsimile machine 79 is directly connected to the PSTN 51.

  The facsimile communication system 100 includes one adapter management server 85 for managing the FAX adapters 81, 82, and 83 installed at each base. Each FAX adapter 81, 82, 83 and adapter management server 85 is connected to the Internet 52 as a WAN line via the corresponding router 91, 92, 93, 95, so-called virtual closed network (IP network, Internet VPN). 53) is constructed as a whole. The Internet VPN 53 is realized by using a function such as IPSec provided in the routers 91, 92, 93 and 95. As the WAN line, a dedicated line other than the Internet, a wide area LAN, or the like can be used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the facsimile apparatus 71 and the FAX adapter 81. Since all the facsimile apparatuses 71, 72, 73, 79 described in FIG. 1 have the same configuration, the configuration of the facsimile apparatus 71 will be described as a representative in FIG. Similarly, since all of the FAX adapters 81, 82, 83 described in FIG. 1 have the same configuration, the configuration of the FAX adapter 81 will be described as a representative in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile apparatus 71 includes a reading unit 11, a recording unit 12, an operation unit 13, and an image storage unit 14. The reading unit 11 is for obtaining image data by reading a document, and is configured as a known auto document feed scanner, for example. The recording unit 12 records image data on a recording medium such as paper. For example, an image forming unit such as an electrophotographic system or an inkjet system can be used. The operation unit 13 is used by the user to give various instructions to the facsimile apparatus 71. The operation unit 13 includes, for example, a touch panel display, an arrow key, a numeric keypad, and the like. The image storage unit 14 includes a known RAM or the like, and is used for temporarily storing image data acquired by the reading unit 11.

  The facsimile apparatus 71 further includes a network control unit (NCU) 21, a FAX modem 22 as a modem, a facsimile control unit 23, and a codec unit 24. The NCU 21 of the facsimile apparatus 71 is originally provided for line control of the PSTN 51, but in this embodiment, the NCU 21 of the facsimile apparatus 71 is used to communicate with the FAX adapter 81. The FAX modem 22 realizes a function for mutual conversion between an audio signal and a data string. The facsimile control unit 23 is provided to control each unit including the NCU 21 and the FAX modem 22 and is configured as a microcomputer, for example. The codec unit 24 is configured to compress or expand image data in a known compression format such as MH, MR, or MMR.

  The FAX adapter 81 includes a telephone line connection port (telephone line port) 61 that can be connected to a PSTN (telephone network) 51, and a FAX terminal connection port (FAX port) 62 that can connect the facsimile apparatus 71. The FAX adapter 81 includes an NCU 26, a FAX modem 27, and a facsimile control unit 28. The NCU 26 has a function of a pseudo exchange and can control communication with the PSTN 51 or the facsimile apparatus 71. For example, the NCU 26 supplies a direct current to the facsimile apparatus 71, generates a calling signal, and the like, and operates to connect the facsimile apparatus 71 directly to the PSTN 51 during standby. The FAX modem 27 and the facsimile control unit 28 have the same configuration as the FAX modem 22 and the facsimile control unit 23 in the facsimile apparatus 71, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The FAX adapter 81 further includes a data storage unit 29. The data storage unit 29 is configured to temporarily store a data string converted from an audio signal by the FAX modem 27.

  The FAX adapter 81 includes a network adapter (NIC) 31 for connecting to the Internet VPN 53. The network adapter 31 has a port (network connection port 63) into which a network cable can be inserted. The FAX adapter 81 includes a CPU as a calculation unit, a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, a nonvolatile memory, and the like as a storage unit. A program is stored in these storage means, and the TCP-IP unit 32 is configured by the hardware and software, so that it can communicate with other FAX adapters 82, 83, etc. according to the TCP / IP protocol. It has become. Further, the FAX adapter 81 includes an SMTP unit 33 that implements a simple electronic mail transfer protocol (SMTP).

  In the FAX adapter 81, the Internet facsimile control unit 40 is configured by a combination of the hardware and software. The Internet facsimile control unit 40 creates an e-mail attached with a data sequence of a facsimile image received from the facsimile apparatus 71 in an appropriate image format (for example, a known TIFF format), and sends it to other FAX adapters 82 and 83. The electronic mail can be transmitted by connecting as an SMTP client. The e-mail can be created in accordance with, for example, the known MIME standard and BASE64 standard.

  The Internet facsimile control unit 40 operates like an SMTP server when another FAX adapter (for example, the FAX adapter 82) is connected to the FAX adapter 81 as an SMTP client, and analyzes the received e-mail. A data string of the facsimile image can be taken out and stored in the data storage unit 29. As described above, so-called direct SMTP that exchanges electronic mail without using a mail server is realized.

  The FAX adapter 81 includes a control unit 41 for controlling each unit such as the facsimile control unit 28 and the Internet facsimile control unit 40. When the control unit 41 relays facsimile data received from the facsimile device 71 connected to the FAX terminal connection port 62 to another facsimile device, the control unit 41 relays using the Internet VPN (direct SMTP), It is configured to automatically select whether to relay using the PSTN 51. This facsimile data transmission route selection function (routing) is realized by providing the FAX adapter 81 with the corresponding address storage unit 43.

  An example of the contents stored in the corresponding address storage unit 43 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the corresponding address storage unit 43 includes a line number assigned to the facsimile apparatuses 71, 72, 73 installed in the facsimile communication system 100, and the facsimile apparatuses 71, 72, 73 are FAX terminals. Information (corresponding address information, route information) in which the IP addresses assigned to the FAX adapters 81, 82, and 83 connected to the connection port 62 are associated with each other can be stored. The corresponding address storage unit 43 can be realized by a non-volatile memory, for example. In the present embodiment, the stored contents of the corresponding address storage unit 43 are the same for all FAX adapters 81, 82, 83.

  3 will be described in detail. For example, in the first line of the table, the line number (075-121111) of the facsimile apparatus 71 at the site A and the IP of the FAX adapter 81 to which the facsimile apparatus 71 is connected. An address (192.168.11.21) is stored in association with each other. In the second line of the table, the line number (06-4567-2222) of the facsimile machine 72 at the base B, the IP address (192.168.11.31) of the FAX adapter 82 to which the facsimile machine 72 is connected, Are stored in association with each other. In the third line of the table, the line number (03-8912-3333) of the facsimile machine 73 at the base C, the IP address (192.168.11.41) of the FAX adapter 83 to which the facsimile machine 73 is connected, Are stored in association with each other.

  In the fourth row of the table, the IP address (192.168.11.31) of the FAX adapter 82 at the site B is stored in association with the special transmission destination number “# 1”. Further, in the fifth row of the table, the IP address (192.168.11.41) of the FAX adapter 83 at the base C is stored in association with the same destination number “# 1”. As described above, the corresponding address storage unit 43 is configured to be capable of storing a plurality of FAX adapters in association with one number. Note that the stored contents in FIG. 3 are merely examples, and can be arbitrarily changed depending on the system configuration or the like.

  With the above configuration, an employee (user) at the site A shown in FIG. 1 operates the facsimile apparatus 71 to read a document, inputs the line number of the facsimile apparatus 73 at the site C as a transmission destination, and instructs facsimile transmission. And First, the facsimile apparatus 71 performs an off-hook operation by the NCU 21 shown in FIG. When the FAX adapter 81 detects off-hook, it intercepts a signal on the line. A dial tone from the PSTN 51 is sent to the facsimile apparatus 71.

  The facsimile apparatus 71 that has detected the dial tone signal transmits a DTMF signal corresponding to the designated transmission destination number (03-8912-3333). The FAX adapter 81 analyzes the DTMF signal to acquire the transmission destination number and opens the PSTN 51 to transmit a signal to the facsimile apparatus 71 as if the facsimile apparatus 73 is responding over the PSTN 51. To do. The facsimile apparatus 71 starts transmitting facsimile data, and the FAX adapter 81 receives facsimile data from the facsimile apparatus 71 instead of the facsimile apparatus 73. When the image data of all pages is transmitted, communication via the FAX terminal connection port 62 is disconnected. The communication log information (journal) between the FAX adapter 81 and the facsimile apparatus 71 is stored in the journal storage unit 44 provided in the FAX adapter 81.

  Next, the control unit 41 of the FAX adapter 81 collates the obtained transmission destination number with the corresponding address storage unit 43. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the destination number (03-8912-3333) is associated with the IP address (192.168.11.41) of the FAX adapter 83. Therefore, the control unit 41 sends a signal to the Internet facsimile control unit 40 so as to make an SMTP connection. The Internet facsimile control unit 40 creates e-mail data and then makes a direct SMTP connection to the FAX adapter 83 via the Internet VPN 53. Send an email. The communication log information (journal) between the FAX adapters 81 and 83 is stored in the journal storage unit 44 provided in the FAX adapters 81 and 83, respectively.

  The FAX adapter 83 that has received the e-mail by the direct SMTP is as if the facsimile apparatus 71 makes a call through the PSTN 51 to the facsimile apparatus 73 connected to the FAX terminal connection port 62 of the FAX adapter 83. Send a call signal. When the facsimile apparatus 73 responds to the call, the FAX adapter 83 converts the image data extracted from the received electronic mail into a voice signal and transmits it to the facsimile apparatus 73. The facsimile machine 73 converts the received audio signal into an image and prints it out at the recording unit 12. When the image data of all pages is transmitted, communication via the FAX terminal connection port 62 is disconnected. The communication log information (journal) between the FAX adapter 83 and the facsimile machine 73 is stored in the journal storage unit 44 provided in the FAX adapter 83.

  On the other hand, consider a case where a user at site A operates the facsimile apparatus 71 to specify the line number (052-345-4444) of the facsimile apparatus 79 outside the company as the transmission destination and instruct facsimile transmission. In this case, the control unit 41 of the FAX adapter 81 checks the transmission destination number (052-345-4444) acquired from the intercepted DTMF signal with the corresponding address storage unit 43 in the same manner as described above. However, in this case, there is no IP address associated with the destination number. Accordingly, the control unit 41 of the FAX adapter 81 maintains the connection state between the facsimile apparatus 71 and the PSTN 51, and thereby image data is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 79. The communication log information (journal) of the FAX adapter 81 and the facsimile apparatus 79 is stored in the journal storage unit 44 provided in the FAX adapter 81.

  Next, consider a case where a user at site A operates the facsimile apparatus 71 to designate a special number (# 1) as a transmission destination and instruct facsimile transmission. In this case, the control unit 41 of the FAX adapter 81 collates the destination number (# 1) acquired from the DTMF signal with the corresponding address storage unit 43 as a result, and as a result, the control unit 41 matches the number 2 Two IP addresses (192.168.11.31 and 192.168.11.41) are obtained. Accordingly, the control unit 41 sequentially performs direct SMTP connection to the FAX adapters 82 and 83, and transmits e-mails attached with image data having the same contents. The FAX adapters 82 and 83 that have received the e-mail send facsimile data to the facsimile apparatuses 72 and 73 and cause the recording unit 12 to print them out. As a result, so-called Internet facsimile broadcast transmission is realized. The log information (journal) in this case is stored in the journal storage unit 44 provided in each of the FAX adapters 81, 82, and 83.

  With the above control, the Internet protocol (direct SMTP) is used when transmitting from the facsimile apparatus 71 at the base A to the facsimile apparatus 73 at the base C, and the PSTN 51 is used when transmitting to the external facsimile apparatus 79. In addition, the mode of facsimile transmission can be properly used depending on the situation.

  Next, the configuration of the adapter management server 85 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the adapter management server 85 includes a network adapter 111 for connecting to the Internet VPN 53. The adapter management server 85 includes a CPU as a calculation unit, a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, a nonvolatile memory, and the like as a storage unit. A program is stored in these storage means, and the TCP-IP unit 112 is configured by the hardware and software, and can communicate with other devices in accordance with the TCP / IP protocol. ing. Further, the adapter management server 85 includes a control unit 121 for controlling each unit, an SMTP unit 113 for realizing a simple e-mail transfer protocol (SMTP), an HTTP unit 114 for realizing a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), and the like. Has been.

  Further, in the adapter management server 85, an HTTP server 115 is configured by a combination of the hardware and software. With the HTTP server 115, various settings of the facsimile communication system 100 can be performed from a client PC (not shown) through a Web-based interface.

  The adapter management server 85 includes a corresponding address master storage unit 123 for storing correspondence information (master information) between a number indicating a facsimile destination and an IP address. The stored contents of the corresponding address master storage unit 123 can be the same as that shown in FIG. 3, for example. Then, the adapter management server 85 distributes the stored contents of the corresponding address master storage unit 123 to the above-described FAX adapters 81, 82, 83, so that the contents of the corresponding address storage unit 43 for all the FAX adapters 81, 82, 83 are obtained. It can be rewritten all at once.

  Specifically, the user operates the client PC to connect to the adapter management server 85 using the HTTP protocol, displays the stored contents of the corresponding address master storage unit 123 on the browser application screen, and changes the contents as appropriate. When an operation for confirming the change is performed with the browser application, the control unit 121 of the adapter management server 85 acquires the changed content from the HTTP server 115 and updates the stored content of the corresponding address master storage unit 123. Immediately thereafter, the SMTP unit 113 creates an e-mail including the changed master information, and sequentially makes a direct SMTP connection to each FAX adapter 81, 82, 83 to transmit the e-mail (information change command). The FAX adapters 81, 82, 83 that have received the electronic mail take out the master information from the electronic mail and update the stored contents of the corresponding address storage unit 43. As described above, the contents of the corresponding address storage unit 43 in all the FAX adapters 81, 82, and 83 can be rewritten uniformly.

  Further, each FAX adapter 81, 82, 83 is connected to the adapter management server 85 by direct SMTP periodically (for example, every day at a certain time), and the log information stored in the journal storage unit 44 is, for example, The file is configured to be attached to an e-mail as a CSV file. When the adapter management server 85 receives the e-mail by direct SMTP, the control unit 121 analyzes the CSV file, acquires log information, and stores it in the collected journal storage unit 124. The contents stored in the collected journal storage unit 124 can be easily browsed by the user operating the client PC and connecting to the adapter management server 85 using the HTTP protocol.

  As described above, the FAX adapter 81 of the present embodiment includes the telephone line connection port 61, the FAX terminal connection port 62, the network connection port 63, the corresponding address storage unit 43, and the control unit 41. . The PSTN 51 can be connected to the telephone line connection port 61. A facsimile machine 71 can be connected to the FAX terminal connection port 62. An Internet VPN 53 can be connected to the network connection port 63. The corresponding address storage unit 43 can store corresponding address information in which the facsimile transmission destination number and the IP address of the FAX adapter are associated with each other with respect to the own machine and the FAX adapters 81, 82, and 83 other than the own machine. . When the control unit 41 receives facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus 71 by designating a destination number via the FAX terminal connection port 62, the control unit 41 performs control as follows. That is, when the IP address (corresponding IP address) of the FAX adapter corresponding to the destination number is stored in the corresponding address storage unit 43, the facsimile image is directly connected to the FAX adapter via the Internet VPN 53. Send data. On the other hand, when the corresponding IP address is not stored in the corresponding address storage unit 43 for the destination number, the facsimile image data is transmitted by connecting to the destination facsimile apparatus via the PSTN 51. In addition, when the control unit 41 receives facsimile image data from another FAX adapter by direct SMTP connection, the control unit 41 transmits the facsimile data to the facsimile apparatus connected to the FAX terminal connection port 62 of the own machine.

  With this configuration, the facsimile adapters 81, 82, and 83 can be applied to the existing G3 type facsimile apparatuses 71, 72, and 73 to realize IP transmission of facsimile transmissions and special operations of the facsimile apparatuses 71, 72, and 73. Is also unnecessary, so introduction is easy. Further, since the facsimile image data is transmitted by direct SMTP connection, a mail server can be eliminated and high-speed facsimile communication can be realized in real time. In addition, since it is not necessary to assign a mail address to each FAX adapter 81, 82, 83, and an IP facsimile can be realized only by managing the IP address, the management cost of the system can be reduced. In addition, since a so-called full mesh system with a flexible communication path can be suitably realized, the communication cost can be effectively reduced by using the IP facsimile more effectively.

  Further, in the FAX adapter 81 of the present embodiment, the corresponding address storage unit 43 is configured to be able to store the IP addresses of a plurality of FAX adapters in association with one transmission destination number.

  Thereby, broadcast transmission by IP facsimile can be easily realized.

  In the FAX adapter 81 of the present embodiment, when the control unit 41 receives an information change command from the adapter management server 85 connected to the Internet VPN 53, the corresponding address information stored in the corresponding address storage unit 43 of the own device. Is configured to update. The adapter management server 85 can transmit an information change command to a plurality of FAX adapters 81, 82, 83 connected to the Internet VPN 53.

  Thus, by operating the adapter management server 85, it is possible to rewrite the corresponding address information of a large number of FAX adapters 81, 82, 83 at remote locations all at once. Accordingly, it is possible to easily cope with expansion, replacement, change of the number of facsimile machines, change of the IP address of the FAX adapter 81, 82, 83, etc., and the maintainability is improved.

  Further, the FAX adapter 81 of the present embodiment stores a communication journal with the facsimile apparatus 71 via the FAX terminal connection port 62, a communication journal with the facsimile apparatus via the PSTN 51, and a communication journal with another FAX adapter. The unit 44 can be stored. The control unit 41 is configured to be able to transmit journal information including the communication journal to the adapter management server 85 via the Internet VPN.

  As a result, the communication journals obtained by the large number of FAX adapters 81, 82, and 83 can be collected in the adapter management server 85, so that it becomes easy to monitor the communication status, analyze the cause of the failure, and the like. This configuration is particularly effective when a large number of FAX adapters are involved in one facsimile communication in cooperation as in the present embodiment, and the communication logs tend to be scattered among a plurality of FAX adapters.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above configuration can be modified as follows, for example.

  In the above embodiment, for example, the correspondence address storage unit 43 of the FAX adapter 81 stores the correspondence between the line number and the IP address for the own machine and all the FAX adapters 81, 82, 83 other than the own machine. However, instead of this configuration, only the FAX adapters 82 and 83 other than the own machine can be changed so that the correspondence between the line number and the IP address is stored in the corresponding address storage unit 43. However, if the correspondence between the line number and the IP address is stored in the corresponding address storage unit 43 for both the own device and the devices other than the own device as in the above embodiment, the stored contents are stored in all the FAX adapters 81, 82, 83. It is preferable in that it can be the same and data management can be simplified.

  The FAX adapters 81, 82, and 83 can be configured to connect to a non-virtual closed network such as a local area network (LAN) instead of connecting to the Internet VPN 53 as described above. Moreover, it can change so that it may replace with PSTN51 and is connected to ISDN.

  The facsimile apparatuses 71, 72, and 73 can be configured as, for example, a multifunction machine having a scanner function, a printer function, and the like, instead of a configuration having only a facsimile function. Further, instead of performing facsimile communication by the G3 system, for example, it can be changed to perform communication by the G4 system.

  The method of distributing the corresponding address information from the adapter management server 85 to each of the FAX adapters 81, 82, 83 (a mode of the information change command) is not limited to the above-described direct SMTP method, but includes, for example, HTTP, FTP, SMB It can be changed to upload to each FAX adapter 81, 82, 83 by the method. Further, the method for collecting communication journals from the respective FAX adapters 81, 82, and 83 is not limited to the direct SMTP method, and the FAX adapters 81, 82, and 83 are allowed to upload to the FAX adapters 81, 82, and 83 by methods such as HTTP, FTP, and SMB. Can be changed.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a facsimile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile machine and a FAX adapter. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of the memory content of the corresponding address memory | storage part in a FAX adapter. The block diagram which shows the structure of an adapter management server.

Explanation of symbols

41 Control unit 43 Corresponding address storage unit 51 PSTN (telephone network)
53 Internet VPN (IP network)
61 Telephone line connection port (telephone line port)
62 FAX terminal connection port (FAX port)
63 Network connection port 71, 72, 73 Facsimile device 81, 82, 83 FAX adapter (facsimile data relay device)
85 Adapter management server 100 Facsimile communication system

Claims (5)

A telephone line port to which a telephone network can be connected;
A FAX port to which a facsimile machine can be connected;
A network connection port capable of connecting an IP network;
A storage unit capable of storing at least correspondence address information in which a line number of a facsimile transmission destination is associated with an IP address of a facsimile data relay apparatus other than the own machine;
A control unit;
With
When the control unit receives facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus by designating a destination line number via the FAX port,
Destination facsimile apparatus, connectable telephone line port of a telephone network, connectable FAX port facsimile apparatus, and, in the FAX port at least comprises second facsimile data relaying device a network port can be connected to the IP network When connected and the corresponding IP address, which is the IP address of the second facsimile data relay apparatus , is stored in the storage unit in association with the destination line number, the second facsimile is transmitted via the IP network. transmits the facsimile image data to the data relaying apparatus by direct SMTP connection, to transmit the facsimile image data to the facsimile apparatus of the transmission destination via the FAX port of the second facsimile data relaying apparatus,
When the corresponding IP address is not stored in the storage unit for the destination line number, the facsimile image data is transmitted by connecting to the destination facsimile apparatus via the telephone network,
The control unit, when receiving facsimile image data from another facsimile data relay apparatus through the direct SMTP connection, transmits the facsimile data to a facsimile apparatus connected to the FAX port of the own machine. Facsimile data relay device. The facsimile data relay device according to claim 1,
2. The facsimile data relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is configured to store a plurality of facsimile data relay apparatus IP addresses in association with one destination number. The facsimile data relay apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The control unit is configured to update the corresponding address information stored in the storage unit of its own device when receiving an information change command from the adapter management server connected to the IP network,
The facsimile data relay device, wherein the adapter management server is capable of transmitting the information change command to a plurality of facsimile data relay devices connected to the IP network. The facsimile data relay device according to claim 3,
Journal information capable of storing journal information including at least one of a communication journal with a facsimile apparatus via the FAX port, a communication journal with a facsimile apparatus via a telephone network, and a communication journal with another facsimile data relay apparatus. A storage unit,
The facsimile data relay apparatus, wherein the control unit is configured to be able to transmit the journal information to the adapter management server via the IP network. A first facsimile data relay device and a second facsimile data relay device connected to an IP network and a telephone network;
The first facsimile data relay device and the second facsimile data relay device are respectively
A FAX port to which a facsimile machine can be connected;
A storage unit capable of storing corresponding address information in which a line number of a facsimile destination is associated with an IP address of a facsimile data relay device;
A control unit;
With
When the control unit of the first facsimile data relay apparatus receives facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus by designating a transmission destination line number via the FAX port,
The destination facsimile apparatus is connected to the FAX port of the second facsimile data relay apparatus , and the corresponding IP address, which is the IP address of the second facsimile data relay apparatus , is associated with the line number of the transmission destination in the storage unit. when stored, it transmits the facsimile image data by direct SMTP connection to the second facsimile data relay apparatus via the IP network, a facsimile destination via a FAX port of the second facsimile data relay apparatus Send the facsimile image data to the device,
When the corresponding IP address for the line number of the destination is not stored in the storage unit, the facsimile image data is transmitted by connecting to the destination facsimile apparatus via the telephone network,
The control unit, when receiving facsimile image data from another facsimile data relay apparatus through the direct SMTP connection, transmits the facsimile data to a facsimile apparatus connected to the FAX port of the own machine. Facsimile data relay system.

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