JP6027949B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for managing facsimile data when the facsimile data is transferred to another device.

  When the facsimile data is received from another facsimile device, the facsimile data is transferred to the other facsimile device or image forming apparatus in preparation for the situation that the receiving facsimile device cannot immediately print the facsimile data. Technologies that enable image formation in such facsimile machines and image forming apparatuses have been proposed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).

JP 2009-182652 A JP 09-65035 A

  According to the above-described conventional technology, a user can obtain a printed matter of received facsimile data by another device, but after transferring the facsimile data from the original facsimile device, the facsimile data is immediately received from the original facsimile device. In the case of erasure, if the transfer destination apparatus fails to print, the facsimile data cannot be guaranteed even though it is normally received facsimile data. On the other hand, if the facsimile data is stored for a long time in the original facsimile apparatus for guaranteeing the facsimile data, there is a possibility that the memory becomes full. Further, if a job for facsimile data that has been transferred to another facsimile machine is subject to long-term management in the original facsimile machine, the processing load on the original facsimile machine is large.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem. In the case where the received facsimile data is transferred to another apparatus different from the receiving apparatus and image formation or display is performed, It is an object of the present invention to reliably guarantee normally received facsimile data while preventing a storage area shortage due to facsimile data storage and reducing the processing load.

  A facsimile apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a facsimile data receiving unit that receives facsimile data from another facsimile apparatus, a first storage unit that stores facsimile data received by the facsimile data receiving unit, and the first A job management unit that manages fax jobs for facsimile data stored in the storage unit, and a transfer instruction that receives a transfer instruction from a user to transfer facsimile data of a fax job managed by the job management unit to another device A reception unit; a password creation unit that creates a password in association with facsimile data to be transferred when the transfer instruction is received by the transfer instruction reception unit; a password created by the password creation unit; Including facsimile data to be transferred. The transfer data is transferred to the other device by the data transfer unit that transfers the data to the other device, the data acquisition unit, the second storage unit that stores the data acquired from the data acquisition unit, and the data transfer unit. A data management unit that moves facsimile data that has been removed from job management by the job management unit to the second storage unit, and of the facsimile data stored in the second storage unit, A deletion instruction receiving unit that receives a deletion instruction by designation and password input from a user, and when the deletion instruction is received by the deletion instruction receiving unit, the data management unit includes facsimile data that is to be deleted by the deletion instruction Is moved to the second storage unit by the movement, and if it is by the movement, The password indicated by the deletion instruction is compared with the password created in association with the facsimile data to be deleted, and the facsimile data to be deleted is stored in the second storage unit on condition that these passwords match. Is to be deleted.

  In the present invention, when the data transfer unit transfers the facsimile data to another device, the password generated by the password generation unit is transmitted together with the transfer data, so that the device receiving the transfer data receives the facsimile data. In addition to data, passwords can be printed and displayed. As a result, the user can obtain the contents and password indicated by the facsimile data in the transfer destination apparatus.

  The job management unit deletes the facsimile data stored in the second storage unit on condition that the password is input by the user and the input password matches the created password. Here, when the user can recognize the password together with the contents indicated by the facsimile data in the transfer destination apparatus, the user can grasp the password for deleting the facsimile data. Is deleted, the facsimile data is printed or displayed on any device. Also, when the password is input, the job management unit can delete the facsimile data and reduce the amount of data stored in the memory or the like, so that memory full is prevented.

  Furthermore, since the transferred facsimile data is stored in the second storage unit out of the management by the job management unit, the processing load for job management is reduced. Further, when the data management unit receives an instruction to delete the facsimile data moved to the second storage unit from the user, it is determined whether or not the facsimile data to be deleted has been stored by the movement. In order to distinguish other data stored in the storage unit, that is, data other than the facsimile data stored by the movement, the facsimile data stored by the movement is deleted on condition that the password matches, the user On the other hand, the facsimile data is protected from inadvertent deletion without asking for recognition of which data stored in the second storage unit is the transferred facsimile data, and the facsimile data is further ensured. Can be guaranteed. By protecting the facsimile data from inadvertent deletion as described above, the facsimile data is guaranteed even if job management of the facsimile data is removed as described above.

  According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, when the received facsimile data is transferred to another apparatus different from the receiving apparatus for image formation or display, the transferred facsimile data is removed from the job management and other By moving to the storage area and deleting the facsimile data from the storage section on condition that the password associated with the facsimile data is entered, it is possible to prevent a storage area shortage due to facsimile data storage in the receiving apparatus and to reduce the processing burden. It is possible to reliably guarantee the normally received facsimile data while reducing.

1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an image forming apparatus as a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an internal configuration of a multifunction machine as a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of fax transfer processing by the multifunction peripheral. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of fax transfer processing by the multifunction peripheral. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. It is a figure which shows an operation part and a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of fax transfer processing by the multifunction peripheral. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment of fax transfer processing by the multifunction machine. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a display part.

  Hereinafter, a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an image forming apparatus as a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. An image forming apparatus as a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a multifunction machine 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes an apparatus main body 10 including a housing.

  The apparatus main body 10 includes a lower housing 3, an upper housing 4 provided on the upper portion thereof, and a connecting housing 8 that connects both the housings. A sheet stack portion 5 is formed at an intermediate portion between the lower housing 3 and the upper housing 4 so as to enter the inner side in a substantially horizontal direction from the side. An operation unit 47 is provided on the front surface of the upper housing 4. The sheet stack unit 5 is provided with a sheet tray 6 on which sheets discharged from the lower housing 3 are stacked.

  The upper housing 4 has an image reading unit 2 having a flat bed inside and reading a document on the flat bed by a scanner unit or the like. The lower housing 3 incorporates an image forming unit 130 (FIG. 2) such as a photosensitive drum for forming a toner image on a sheet, an exposure unit and a developing unit, and a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the sheet. . The lower housing 3 is further provided with a paper feed cassette 7 for storing recording paper. In this embodiment, an example in which two paper feed cassettes 7 are provided is shown, but the number of paper feed cassettes is not particularly limited. The connection housing 8 incorporates a paper conveyance path for conveying the recording paper after fixing in the image forming process and discharging it to the sheet tray 6.

  In the multifunction device 1, the original image read by the image reading unit 2 is formed on a recording sheet fed from one of the sheet feeding cassettes 7 by the image forming mechanism built in the lower housing 3, The recording paper after image formation is discharged from the paper conveyance path in the connection housing 8 to the sheet tray 6.

  Next, the configuration of the multifunction machine 1 as the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the internal configuration of the multifunction machine 1 as the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The multi-function device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a control unit 100, an image reading unit 2, an image memory 120, an image forming unit 130, a facsimile communication unit 140, and an HDD 191.

  The image reading unit 2 includes a scanner that reads a document and obtains a document image. The image reading unit 2 is, for example, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) having a document placing table, a scanner that reads an image of a document conveyed from the document placing table, and a discharge mechanism that discharges a read document. The image reading unit 2 reads a document to be faxed one by one and generates data to be faxed.

  The image memory (first storage unit) 120 is an image of the image forming unit 130 such as document data read by the image reading unit 2, data to be transmitted by the facsimile communication unit 140 or the communication interface 160, and the like. This is an area for temporarily storing data to be formed (printed). The image reading unit 2, the facsimile communication unit 140, and the communication interface 160 are examples of a data acquisition unit in the claims.

  The image forming unit 130 reads data stored in the image memory 120 such as data of a document read by the image reading unit 2, data acquired by the facsimile communication unit 140 or the communication interface 160, and the like. Image formation (printing) is performed using the data.

  A facsimile communication unit (facsimile data receiving unit) 140 executes various functions necessary for facsimile communication and transmits / receives image data to / from an external facsimile apparatus through a public line.

  An HDD (second storage unit) 191 is, for example, a large-capacity hard disk drive, data obtained by reading by the image reading unit 2, data acquired from another computer by the communication interface 160, and a data management unit to be described later The facsimile data moved from the image memory 120 is stored by 108. Various data stored in the HDD 191 is used for image formation by the image forming unit 130 and transmission to other devices by the communication interface 160. In the present embodiment, the HDD 191 is provided with a storage area named “document box”, and the various data are stored in the document box area.

  The control unit 100 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and governs the overall operation of the multifunction device 1. The control unit 100 includes a control unit 101, a job management unit 102, a transfer instruction reception unit 103, a password creation unit 104, a data transfer control unit 105, a deletion instruction reception unit 106, and a data management unit 108. ing.

  Note that the fax job management program of the multifunction device 1 is stored in the HDD 170 or a ROM (not shown), and the control unit 100 operates according to the fax job management program, thereby controlling the control unit 101, the job management unit 102, and the like. The transfer instruction receiving unit 103, the password creating unit 104, the data transfer control unit 105, the deletion instruction receiving unit 106, and the data management unit 108 function as these units.

  With regard to the control unit 101, the functional part related to fax job management shown as each embodiment is realized by an operation according to a fax job management program. However, the control unit 101 (control unit 101 for functions related to fax job management), job management unit 102, transfer instruction reception unit 103, password creation unit 104, data transfer control unit 105, deletion instruction reception unit 106, and data management unit Reference numerals 108 may be configured by hardware circuits regardless of the operation based on the fax job management program. The same applies to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  Each unit of the control unit 101 to the data management unit 108 is a constituent element of the multifunction machine 1 as an embodiment of the present invention as long as it is necessary in each embodiment described later.

  The control unit 101 governs the overall operation of the multifunction machine 1. For example, the control unit 101 reads document data of each page read by the image reading unit 2 for fax transmission and temporarily stored in the image memory 120 in the order of pages, and sends it to the facsimile communication unit 140 by the user. Fax transmission is performed to the facsimile machine of the other party specified by the operation of the operation unit 47.

  Further, the control unit 101 reads the facsimile data received by the facsimile communication unit 140 and temporarily stored in the image memory 120 in the page order, and causes the image forming unit 130 to form (print) an image.

  The job management unit 102 adjusts the execution order, execution timing, standby, deletion, addition, and the like for each job received by the multifunction device 1, such as a print job, a scan job, a fax job, and a copy job. For example, the job management unit 102 manages a fax job for each facsimile data received by the facsimile communication unit 140 and stored in the image memory 120. In this case, the job management unit 102 adjusts the timing for causing the image forming unit 130 to perform the received facsimile data and deletes the job for each facsimile data.

  The transfer instruction receiving unit 103 receives an input of a transfer instruction for transferring facsimile data, which is a target of job management by the job management unit 102, to another apparatus from the user. The transfer instruction is input by the operation of the operation unit 47 by the user. The other apparatus is an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image of data received from the outside, such as a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multi-function machine connected to the multi-function machine 1 via a LAN (local area network) or the Internet. The other device may be a device capable of displaying data received from the outside, such as an information display device, or may be an external storage device such as a USB memory or HDD.

  When the transfer instruction receiving unit 103 receives the transfer instruction, the password creating unit 104 creates a password in association with the facsimile data to be transferred. The password creation unit 104 or the job management unit 102 stores the created password in association with a facsimile job of facsimile data.

  The data transfer control unit 105 causes transfer data including the password created by the password creation unit 104 and the facsimile data to be transferred to be transferred from the facsimile communication unit 140 or the communication interface 160 to the other device. . The data transfer control unit 105, the facsimile communication unit 140, and the communication interface 160 are examples of the data transfer unit in the claims.

  The data management unit 108 moves facsimile data of a fax job that is transferred to another apparatus by the data transfer control unit 105 and is out of job management by the job management unit 102 to the HDD (second storage unit) 191. In other words, when the facsimile data and its password are already transferred by the data transfer control unit 105, the job management unit 102 excludes the fax job of the transferred facsimile data from the job management target. In the present embodiment, the data management unit 108 manages the movement and deletion of facsimile data, but the management target may be a fax job. That is, in the following embodiment, the management target of the data management unit 108 will be described as facsimile data, but a mode in which a fax job is the management target is also included in the present invention.

  The deletion instruction accepting unit 106 accepts a deletion instruction by a user specifying a fax job to be deleted and inputting a password for a fax job that is a target of job management by the job management unit 102.

  Further, the deletion instruction reception unit 106 specifies the fax data to be deleted and the password for each data stored in the document box area including the fax data moved to the document box area of the HDD 191 by the data management unit 108. A delete instruction is received from the user. These deletion instructions are input by the operation of the operation unit 47 by the user.

  When the deletion instruction is received by the deletion instruction receiving unit 106, the data management unit 108 determines whether the facsimile data to be deleted is the facsimile data that has been moved in the document box area by the above movement. . Then, if the facsimile data to be deleted is based on the movement, the data management unit 108 is created by the password creating unit 104 in association with the password indicated by the deletion instruction and the facsimile data to be deleted. The passwords are compared, and the facsimile data indicated by the deletion instruction is deleted from the document box on condition that the passwords match.

  The device detection unit 107 detects a device capable of receiving facsimile data to be transferred according to the transfer instruction from devices in the local area network to which the multifunction device 1 is connected. For example, the apparatus detection unit 107 detects an image forming apparatus or an information processing apparatus that is set to be able to perform LAN communication with the multifunction machine 1 from within the local area network, and enables data transmission to the detected apparatus. Then, the IP address is acquired from each device.

  In addition, the multifunction machine 1 includes an operation unit 47 and a display unit 150. The operation unit 47 includes an image formation or transmission start key, a numeric keypad, an abbreviated number key, and the like. Various operation instructions from the user, for example, a transfer instruction of facsimile data that is the object of job management in the present embodiment. And an input of a delete instruction.

  The display unit 150 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like that displays operation guidance for the user. The display unit 150 may include a touch panel function to accept various operation instructions from the user as the operation unit 47.

  Further, the multifunction device 1 communicates various data between the image processing unit 190 that performs editing and processing of the image read by the image reading unit 2 and another personal computer or server connected to the network. Communication interface 160.

  Next, a first embodiment of fax transfer processing by the multifunction machine 1 will be described. FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts illustrating a first embodiment of fax transfer processing by the multifunction machine 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation unit 47 and the display unit 150. 5 and 7 to 16 are diagrams showing examples of display screens of the display unit 150. FIG. 3 and 4, YES is indicated as Y and NO is indicated as N.

  When the multifunction device 1 receives facsimile data from another facsimile machine, the job management unit 102 sets execution of image formation based on the facsimile data as a fax job as a job management target. If there is another job that has already been received, for example, a print job, the job management unit 102 sets the fax job in a waiting state following the other job. The job management unit 102 does not execute the fax job until the order of execution of the fax job arrives, and remains in a standby state. When the order arrives, the job management unit 102 executes the fax job.

  For example, when the multifunction device 1 receives facsimile data, if the facsimile data cannot be printed immediately due to toner or paper out of the image forming unit 130, the job management unit 102 receives the received facsimile data. Is stored in the image memory 120, and the fax job for the facsimile data is put into a waiting state. In this case, when the job management unit 102 obtains information indicating the elimination of the cause, the job management unit 102 incorporates the fax job in the job execution waiting order. For example, when the fax job is in a standby state due to running out of toner, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a display screen d1 (FIG. 5) having a message indicating the cause of the standby state.

  In this state, for example, when the user presses the “status check / job cancel” key B0 of the operation unit 47 illustrated in FIG. 6, the control unit 101 executes or waits based on the pressing operation. A display instruction for displaying a list of jobs in the middle, that is, a list of jobs to be managed by the job management unit 102 is accepted (YES in S1). At this time, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display an operation-specific job item for prompting the user to select which operation job to display as shown in FIG. Is displayed (S2).

  When the display screen d2 is displayed on the display unit 150 and the user presses an image displaying a desired job item among the images im1 to 4 displaying job items for each operation, the display unit A display instruction for displaying each job belonging to the job item associated with the image pressed by the user is input by the touch panel function displayed in 150 (YES in S3). For example, in the case of the display screen d2 shown in FIG. 7, when the “print job status” image im1 is pressed by the user, it is a print job that is an item associated with the image im1, and is in a print waiting state. A display instruction for requesting display of the list of each job is input.

  Then, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a list of jobs that belong to the job item designated by the user and are in a standby state (S4). For example, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a display screen d3 illustrated in FIG. As described above, when a plurality of jobs are concentrated within a certain time, the job management unit 102 manages a plurality of jobs in a standby state while waiting for an order with other jobs. As described above, among the jobs that have not been executed yet and are managed by the job management unit 102, images im5 and im6 indicating jobs extracted as print jobs designated by the user are displayed on the display screen d3. Is displayed.

  When the user presses an image indicating a desired job while the display screen d3 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, the job associated with the image is displayed by the touch panel function provided on the display unit 150. Is received (S5). For example, when an image im6 indicating a fax job is pressed, an instruction to specify a fax job associated with the image im6 is received by the touch panel function provided on the display unit 150.

  Further, when the “proxy printing / transfer” button b1 is pressed by the user, a transfer instruction associated with the “proxy printing / transfer” button b1 is input by the touch panel function and received by the transfer instruction receiving unit 103. (NO in S6, YES in S16). This transfer instruction is an instruction for requesting transfer of facsimile data that is the object of image formation in the designated fax job to another apparatus connected to the network. The transfer instruction receiving unit 103 receives the transfer instruction only when the job specified in S5 is a fax job.

  When the transfer instruction is received by the transfer instruction receiving unit 103, the device detection unit 107 is configured to select a compound (including a multifunction device), a fax, a computer, or an external memory that exists on the network to which the multifunction device 1 is connected. A device capable of forming, displaying or storing data transmitted from the machine 1 is detected (S17). In the case of an external memory, the device detection unit 107 also includes a HDD on the network (such as NAS) and a USB memory connected to the USB interface provided in the multifunction device 1 as a device on the network. To detect. Thereby, a user who transfers facsimile data can easily grasp an apparatus that can be set as a transfer destination.

  Thereafter, the control unit 101 displays an image indicating each detected device on the display unit 150 (S18). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the control unit 101 detects that a device (including a multifunction peripheral), a fax machine, a computer, and an external memory are present as devices on the network by the device detection unit 107. A display screen d4 having a “printer” image im11, a “fax” image im12, an “address book” image im13, a “one touch key” image im14, and an “external memory” image im15 is displayed on the display unit 150. The “address book” image im13 and the “one-touch key” image im14 indicate that the computer is detected. Further, the display screen d4 displays the presence of a plurality of printers by displaying one “printer” image im11 even when a plurality of printers are detected. The same applies to facsimile machines, computers, and external memories.

  When the user presses the “printer” image im11 while the display screen d4 is displayed on the display unit 150, an instruction associated with the “printer” image im11 by the touch panel function, that is, the detection is performed. The control unit 101 receives an instruction for requesting display of the selected printer. Upon receiving the instruction, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display each detected printer. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a display screen d5 including images im21 to im24 that display the detected printers.

  Note that when the user presses the “address book” image im13 while the display screen d4 is displayed on the display unit 150, an instruction associated with the “address book” image im13 by the touch panel function, that is, The control unit 101 receives an instruction for requesting display of the detected computer. Upon receiving the instruction, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display each detected computer. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a display screen d6 including images im31 to im34 that display the detected computers.

  Here, when an instruction for designating any of the devices displayed as the detection result is input by the touch panel function, for example, when the user presses an image indicating a desired printer as a transfer destination (S19). YES), the transfer instruction accepting unit 103 accepts the designated apparatus as an apparatus that is a transfer destination of the facsimile data to be transferred by the transfer instruction (S20).

  When the transfer instruction receiving unit 103 receives the transfer destination, the password creating unit 104 subsequently creates a password for the facsimile data to be transferred (S21).

  After creating the password, the data transfer control unit 105 adds another page after the last page indicated by the facsimile data to be transferred, attaches an image indicating the created password, and stores the data. It generates as data for transfer (S22).

  After the data is generated, the data transfer control unit 105 transfers the transfer data including the generated data from the facsimile communication unit 140 or the communication interface 160 to the device designated as the transfer destination (S23).

  When the transfer processing of the transfer data by the data transfer control unit 105 is completed (YES in S24), the control unit 101 displays the password on the display unit 150 (S25). For example, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display the display screen d7 shown in FIG. 12 as an example, so that the password created in S21 and transferred to the transfer destination and the fax job for the transferred facsimile data are displayed. Informs that it is necessary to input the password in order to delete it. Furthermore, by displaying the password on the condition that the reception completion notification from the transfer destination or the successful printing notification is received, further facsimile data can be guaranteed.

  After the transfer, the job management unit 102 removes the transferred data from the job management target (S26). Then, the data management unit 108 moves the facsimile data of the fax job that is out of the job management by the job management unit 102 to the document box area of the HDD 191 (S27).

  On the other hand, in S4 described above, when the control unit 101 displays a list of jobs in the standby state on the display unit 150 by using, for example, the display screen d3 shown in FIG. 8, an instruction to specify a job is accepted (S5 Further, when the “stop” button b2 is pressed by the user, a delete instruction for deleting (stopping) the specified job is received by the delete instruction receiving unit 106 by the touch panel function (YES in S6).

  At this time, the job management unit 102 determines whether or not the job that is the target of the deletion instruction is a fax job for which facsimile data has been transferred in S23 (S7). At this time, when the job management unit 102 determines that the fax job is the transferred fax job (YES in S7), the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display, for example, a display screen illustrated in FIG. By displaying d9, a message prompting the user to input a password is displayed (S8).

  Here, when a password is input by a user's operation of the operation unit 47 or the like, the deletion instruction receiving unit 106 receives this (S9). The job management unit 102 determines whether or not the input password matches the password created by the password creation unit 104 in S21 for the fax job to be deleted (S10).

  If the job management unit 102 determines that the input password and the password created by the password creation unit 104 in S21 do not match (NO in S10), the job management unit 102 deletes the password according to the deletion instruction. The process returns to S4 without deleting the designated fax job, and the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display the display screen d3 (FIG. 8) again.

  On the other hand, when the job management unit 102 determines that the input password matches the password created by the password creation unit 104 in S21 (YES in S10), the job management unit 102 deletes the password according to the deletion instruction. The target fax job is deleted (cancelled) (S11). In other words, the job management unit 102 cancels job management of the fax job and removes it from the waiting order on condition that the passwords match. After S11, the process ends.

  If the job management unit 102 determines in S7 that the job targeted for the deletion instruction is not a facsimile job of facsimile data that has been transferred in S23 (NO in S7), the job management unit 102 determines whether or not the deletion instruction target. If the job is a fax job (YES in S12), the fax job is not deleted. The control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a message indicating that an unoutput fax job for which image formation or display has not been completed cannot be canceled, for example, on the display screen d10 illustrated in FIG. 14 (S13).

  In S12, when the job management unit 102 determines that the job that is the target of the deletion instruction is not a fax job (NO in S12), the job management unit 102 deletes the job (S14).

  Thus, in this embodiment, when the data transfer control unit 105 transfers facsimile data to another apparatus, the password created by the password creation unit 104 is transmitted together as transfer data, thereby transferring the transfer data. In addition to the facsimile data, it is possible to print, display, and store a password. As a result, the user can obtain the contents and password indicated by the facsimile data in the transfer destination apparatus. Then, the job management unit 102 deletes the fax job for the facsimile data on condition that the password is input by the user and the input password matches the created password. Here, when the user can recognize the password together with the contents indicated by the facsimile data in the transfer destination apparatus, the user can grasp the password for deleting the facsimile data. When a fax job for data is deleted, the facsimile data is printed or displayed on any device based on printing, display, or storage. When the password is input, the job management unit 102 can delete the fax job, reducing the amount of data stored in the memory or the like, and preventing memory full.

  As a result, when the facsimile data can be printed or displayed on another device different from the multifunction peripheral 1 that is the receiving device by transferring the facsimile data, the password associated with the transferred facsimile data is input. By deleting the facsimile data from the image memory 120 on the condition, it becomes possible to reliably guarantee the normally received facsimile data while preventing the memory full due to the facsimile data storage in the receiving apparatus.

  In S1, when the user presses the “document box” button B5 of the operation unit 47 shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 101 is stored in the document box area of the HDD 191 based on the pressing operation. A display instruction for displaying a data list is received (NO in S1). At this time, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display a display screen d11 indicating data stored in the document box area as shown in FIG. 15 (S31).

  When the user presses an image indicating desired data when the display screen d11 is displayed, the touch panel function of the display unit 150 receives an instruction for designating data associated with the image (S32). For example, when an image im21 indicating fax millimeter data is pressed, an instruction to specify facsimile data associated with the image im21 is received by the touch panel function of the display unit 150.

  Further, when the “delete” button b5 is pressed by the user, a delete instruction associated with the “delete” button b5 is input by the touch panel function and received by the delete instruction receiving unit 106 (YES in S33). This deletion instruction is an instruction to delete the designated facsimile data from the document box area.

  At this time, the data management unit 108 determines whether or not the job that is the object of the deletion instruction is facsimile data that has been transferred in S23 (S34). At this time, the data management unit 108 determines whether the facsimile data is facsimile data for the fax job that has already been transferred. If the data management unit 108 determines that the facsimile data has been transferred (YES in S34), the control unit 101 displays, for example, a display screen d12 shown in FIG. A message prompting the user to input a password is displayed (S35).

  Here, if a password is input by the user operating the operation unit 47 or the like, the deletion instruction receiving unit 106 receives the password (S36). At this time, the data management unit 108 determines whether or not the input password matches the password created by the password creation unit 104 in S21 for the facsimile data fax job to be deleted (S21). S37).

  If the data management unit 108 determines that the input password and the password created by the password creation unit 104 in S21 do not match (NO in S37), the data management unit 108 determines that the deletion target is to be deleted. In step S31, the control unit 101 causes the display unit 150 to display the display screen d11 (FIG. 15) again.

  On the other hand, if the data management unit 108 determines that the input password matches the password created by the password creation unit 104 in S21 (YES in S37), the data management unit 108 deletes the password according to the deletion instruction. The target facsimile data is deleted from the document box area (S38). After S38, the process ends.

  In S33, when the user does not press the “delete” button b5, for example, when the “print” button b6 is pressed, the print instruction associated with the “print” button b6 is input by the touch panel function. (NO in S33). The control unit 101 causes the image forming unit 130 to form an image with the designated facsimile data (S39). Thereafter, the process ends.

  If the data management unit 108 determines in S34 that the facsimile data targeted for deletion instruction is not the facsimile data that has been transferred in S23 (NO in S34), the data management unit 108 becomes the target of the deletion instruction. The deleted data is deleted (S40).

  According to this, since the fax job of the facsimile data after the transfer in S23 is not managed by the job management unit 102, and the facsimile data after the transfer is stored in the document box area of the HDD 191, the job management unit 102 The processing burden for job management is reduced. When the deletion instruction receiving unit 106 receives an instruction to delete the facsimile data moved to the document box area from the user, the data management unit 108 determines whether or not the facsimile data to be deleted is stored by the above movement. And distinguishing it from other data stored in the document box area, that is, data other than the facsimile data stored by the movement, the facsimile data stored by the movement is subject to the condition of the password match. Therefore, even if the user does not recognize which data stored in the document box area is the transferred facsimile data, the user is prevented from accidentally deleting the facsimile data. Therefore, the facsimile data can be protected and reliably guaranteed. By protecting the facsimile data from inadvertent deletion as described above, the facsimile data is guaranteed even if job management of the facsimile data is removed as described above.

  Therefore, according to the multi-function device 1 at this time, the facsimile data received from the multi-function device 1 that is the facsimile data receiving source can be surely received normally received facsimile data while preventing a shortage of storage area due to facsimile data storage and reducing processing load. Can be guaranteed.

  Next, a second embodiment of fax transfer processing by the multifunction machine 1 will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of the fax transfer process performed by the multifunction machine 1. Note that illustration and description of the same processing as in the first embodiment is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, when the data management unit 108 determines in step S34 described above that the facsimile data targeted for deletion is facsimile data for the fax job that has already been transferred (YES in step S34). ), The data management unit 108 determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 30 days) has elapsed since the facsimile data to be deleted is moved to the document box area (S51). . If the data management unit 108 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (YES in S51), the data management unit 108 sets the above-described password matching as a condition based on the deletion instruction received in S32. Instead, the facsimile data to be deleted by the deletion instruction is deleted from the document box area (S40).

  On the other hand, if the data management unit 108 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in S51), the process of S35 to S38 for deleting the facsimile data on condition that the password matches as described above. Do.

  As a result, for a certain period after the facsimile data is received, the received facsimile data is protected from inadvertent deletion on the condition that the password matches as described above, and output even though the certain period has elapsed. Facsimile data that is not important and is not important is deleted without the condition that the password matches as described above, thereby preventing the storage area from becoming full.

  Next, a third embodiment of fax transfer processing by the multifunction machine 1 will be described. FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment of fax transfer processing performed by the multifunction machine 1. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the display unit 150. Note that illustration and description of the same processing as in the first or second embodiment is omitted.

  In the third embodiment, a display instruction for displaying each job of the job being executed or waiting is input from the user (YES in S3), and the control unit 101 displays a list of jobs in the waiting state, for example, as shown in FIG. When the data is displayed on the display unit 150 by d3 (S4), the control unit 101 determines whether there is facsimile data moved to the document box area by the data management unit 108 after the transfer (S61). If it is determined that there is facsimile data stored in the document box area (YES in S61), a message indicating that there is facsimile data stored in the document box area after the transfer is transferred to the document box area. It is displayed on the display unit 150 (S62). For example, the control unit 101 displays a window screen d14 on a display screen showing a job list, like a display screen d13 shown in FIG.

  When the “document box list display” button b7 is pressed by the user, the control unit 101 displays a data list stored in the document box associated with the “document box list display” button b7. An instruction to be received is accepted from the user (YES in S63), and a list of data stored in the document box area is displayed on the display unit 150 by, for example, the display screen d11 shown in FIG. 15 (S31). That is, the process proceeds to S31, and thereafter, the processes after S32 are performed.

  On the other hand, when the “cancel” button b8 is pressed by the user, the control unit 101 receives an instruction from the user to hide the message associated with the “cancel” button b8 (NO in S63), A display screen such as the display screen d3 of FIG. 8 showing the list of waiting jobs is displayed on the display unit 150 (S5). That is, the process proceeds to S5, and thereafter, the processes after S5 are performed.

  According to the third embodiment, the user can know the existence of the facsimile data stored in the document box area by the above movement when confirming the waiting job. The control unit 101 displays a list of data stored in the document box area according to an instruction from the user when displaying a message indicating the existence of facsimile data stored in the document box area by the movement. Since the data is displayed on the display unit 150, the user can immediately view a list of each data stored in the document box without performing a troublesome operation, and can delete or print the facsimile data.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, the second storage unit is the HDD 191, but the second storage unit may be another storage device such as a memory. Further, the configuration and processing shown in each of the above embodiments using FIGS. 1 to 19 are only one embodiment of the present invention, and the configuration and processing of the present invention are not limited to this.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 MFP 2 Image reading part 100 Control unit 101 Control part 102 Job management part 103 Transfer instruction reception part 104 Password creation part 105 Data transfer control part 106 Deletion instruction reception part 107 Device detection part 108 Data management part 120 Image memory 130 Image formation Unit 140 facsimile communication unit 150 display unit 160 communication interface 191 HDD
47 Operation unit d1-d12 Display screen

Claims (4)

A facsimile data receiver for receiving facsimile data from other facsimile machines;
A first storage unit for storing facsimile data received by the facsimile data receiving unit;
A job management unit for managing a fax job for facsimile data stored in the first storage unit;
A transfer instruction receiving unit that receives a transfer instruction to transfer facsimile data of a fax job managed by the job management unit to another device from a user;
A password creating unit that creates a password in association with facsimile data to be transferred when the transfer instruction is received by the transfer instruction accepting unit;
A data transfer unit for transferring transfer data including the password created by the password creation unit and the facsimile data to be transferred to the other device;
A data acquisition unit;
A second storage unit for storing data acquired from the data acquisition unit;
A data management unit that moves facsimile data transferred from the data transfer unit to the other device and out of job management by the job management unit, to the second storage unit;
Among the facsimile data stored in the second storage unit, a deletion instruction receiving unit that receives from the user a deletion instruction by specifying the facsimile data to be deleted and inputting a password,
When the deletion instruction is received by the deletion instruction receiving unit, the data management unit determines whether the facsimile data to be deleted is moved to the second storage unit by the movement. If it is due to the movement, the password indicated by the deletion instruction is compared with the password created in association with the facsimile data to be deleted, and if the passwords match, the deletion target The facsimile apparatus which deletes the facsimile data from the second storage unit.   The data management unit, when the deletion instruction is received by the deletion instruction receiving unit, if the data to be deleted is not facsimile data moved to the second storage unit by the movement, 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deletion target data is deleted from the second storage unit without using the password match as a condition.   When a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the facsimile data is moved to the second storage unit, the data management unit sets a deletion target in response to the deletion instruction without using the password match condition. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the facsimile data to be deleted is deleted from the second storage unit. A display unit;
A control unit that causes the display unit to display a list of jobs to be managed by the job management unit,
When there is the facsimile data moved to the second storage unit by the data management unit, the control unit stores the moved facsimile data in the second storage unit when the list is displayed on the display unit. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a message to that effect is displayed.

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