JP6183117B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for transferring facsimile data.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique is known in which when a facsimile apparatus receives facsimile data, it communicates with a transfer destination at a transfer destination address stored in a storage means and transfers the received facsimile data to the transfer destination (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-188580 A

However, the conventional technique described above has only one transfer destination, and a case where there are a plurality of transfer destinations has not been studied.
In this specification, when the received facsimile data is transferred to any one of a plurality of transfer destinations, the burden on the user is suppressed, and the transfer to an unintended transfer destination is reduced. Disclose technology.

  The facsimile apparatus disclosed in this specification is a facsimile apparatus including an instruction receiving unit, a data receiving unit, a data transfer unit, and a control unit, and the control unit uses the instruction receiving unit. , Based on an instruction reception process for receiving an instruction to receive facsimile data from at least two of the facsimile apparatus and one or more terminal apparatuses, and the reception instruction received in the instruction reception process. Using a receiving process for receiving facsimile data from an external facsimile apparatus, a specifying process for specifying which of the at least two apparatuses is an instruction source of the reception instruction, and using the data transmission unit, The facsimile data received in the receiving process is transferred to the transfer destination associated with the device specified in the specifying process. And the transfer process, to run.

  According to the facsimile apparatus, the user can reduce the occurrence of facsimile data being transferred to an unintended transfer destination by operating a device associated with the intended transfer destination to give a reception instruction. Therefore, according to the facsimile apparatus, when the received facsimile data is transferred to any one of a plurality of transfer destinations, the user's burden is suppressed and the transfer is made to a transfer destination unintended by the user. Can be reduced.

  In addition, the control unit displays a selection screen on a display unit included in the device specified in the specifying process, and displays a transfer destination associated with the device specified in the specifying process on the selection screen. In the transfer process, the facsimile data may be transferred to the transfer destination selected in the selection reception process.

  According to the facsimile apparatus, the user can select a transfer destination from among transfer destinations associated with the apparatus that has instructed reception. In this case, since a transfer destination that is not associated with the apparatus that has instructed reception is not displayed on the selection screen, that is, a transfer destination that is not intended by the user is not displayed on the selection screen. Transfer of data can be reduced.

  In addition, the control unit executes an extraction process for extracting a transfer destination in which sign-in information is stored among transfer destinations associated with the device specified in the specifying process, and in the selection receiving process, The transfer destination extracted in the extraction process may be displayed on the selection screen.

  Facsimile data cannot be transferred to a transfer destination where no sign-in information is stored. According to the above facsimile apparatus, it is possible to prevent a transfer destination from which facsimile data cannot be transferred from being displayed on the selection screen.

  Further, the facsimile apparatus includes a storage unit, the storage unit stores a transfer destination in association with each of the at least two devices, and the control unit specifies from the storage unit by the specifying process. A read process for reading a transfer destination associated with the apparatus may be executed, and in the transfer process, the facsimile data may be transferred to the transfer destination read in the read process.

  According to the above facsimile apparatus, since the user does not have to perform an operation of selecting a transfer destination, it is possible to reduce the transfer of facsimile data to a transfer destination unintended by the user while suppressing the burden on the user. .

  Further, in the transfer process, the control unit may transfer the facsimile data to a transfer destination in which sign-in information is stored in the device specified in the specifying process.

  Facsimile data cannot be transferred because it is not possible to sign in to a transfer destination that does not store sign-in information. That is, it can be said that a transfer destination in which sign-in information is not stored is a transfer destination unintended by the user. According to the facsimile apparatus, since the facsimile data is transferred to the transfer destination where the sign-in information is stored, it can be reduced that the facsimile data is transferred to the transfer destination unintended by the user.

  The control unit corresponds to the acquisition process for acquiring the sign-in information from the terminal device and the sign-in information acquired in the acquisition process when the device specified in the specifying process is the terminal device. A transmission process for transmitting the sign-in information to the transfer destination, and the transfer process may be executed after successful sign-in to the transfer destination that has transmitted the sign-in information in the transmission process. .

  According to the above facsimile apparatus, since the sign-in information is acquired from the terminal apparatus that has instructed reception of facsimile data, the sign-in information need not be stored in the facsimile apparatus.

  In the reception process, the control unit receives facsimile data using the data reception unit when the data reception unit receives a facsimile, and receives the facsimile data in the reception process by the facsimile reception. In this case, the facsimile data need not be transferred.

  When facsimile data is received by incoming facsimile, there is a risk that the user may transfer even facsimile data not desired by the user when the facsimile data is transferred. According to the above facsimile apparatus, when facsimile data is received by incoming facsimile, the facsimile data is not transferred, so that facsimile data not desired by the user can be prevented from being transferred.

  Further, the data receiving unit receives facsimile data via a telephone line, and the control unit is connected between one of the at least two devices and an external facsimile device via the data receiving unit. Executing a relay process for relaying a call, and executing the reception process when the reception instruction is received from a device relaying the call among the at least two devices during the relay of the call by the relay process. Good.

  According to the above facsimile apparatus, the user can issue an instruction to receive facsimile data from the external facsimile apparatus during a call with the external facsimile apparatus.

  The technique disclosed in this specification can be realized in various modes such as a facsimile system, a facsimile transfer method, a facsimile transfer program, and a recording medium on which the facsimile transfer program is recorded.

  According to the above facsimile apparatus, when the received facsimile data is transferred to any one of a plurality of transfer destinations, the user's burden is suppressed and the transfer is made to a transfer destination that is not intended by the user. Can be reduced.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a FAX reception / transfer system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. The block diagram which simplifies and shows the electric constitution of a FAX apparatus. The schematic diagram which shows a matching table. 10 is a flowchart of FAX data reception processing. 10 is a flowchart of reception / transfer processing during a call. 6 is a flowchart of reception / transfer processing in the case of a FAX apparatus. The flowchart of a reception / transfer process in the case of a subunit | mobile_unit.

<Embodiment 1>
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

(1) Overall Configuration of FAX Reception / Transfer System With reference to FIG. 1, the overall configuration of the FAX reception / transfer system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. The FAX reception / transfer system 1 includes a FAX apparatus 10, one or more external FAX apparatuses 11 (11A to 11N), and one or more cloud servers 12 (12A to 12F). FAX is an abbreviation for facsimile. The FAX machine 10 is an example of a facsimile machine. The cloud server 12 is an example of a transfer destination.

  The FAX apparatus 10 and the external FAX apparatus 11 are connected via a telephone network 13 so that they can communicate with each other. The FAX apparatus 10 and one or more cloud servers 12 are communicably connected via a communication network 14 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  The FAX apparatus 10 is an apparatus that transmits and receives FAX data to and from an external FAX apparatus 11. The FAX apparatus 10 can print the FAX data received from the external FAX apparatus 11 and can transfer the received FAX data to the cloud server 12.

  The FAX apparatus 10 can also be used as a telephone. Specifically, the FAX apparatus 10 is provided with a receiver for a call, and the user can make a call using the receiver. Further, a so-called slave unit 15 (15A to 15C) of a general telephone is wirelessly connected to the FAX apparatus 10, and the user can make a call using the slave unit 15. The subunit | mobile_unit 15 is an example of a terminal device.

  Here, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that a plurality of users share the FAX apparatus 10. Each user has a handset 15 distributed thereto, and the user makes a call using the handset 15 distributed to the user. Further, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that one user does not have the handset 15 distributed and makes a call using the handset of the FAX apparatus 10.

  The cloud server 12 is a server that provides a service for storing data. The cloud server 12 is managed by an external service provider, for example. In order to store data in the cloud server 12 or access data stored in the cloud server 12, sign-in information such as a user ID and password is transmitted to a service executed in advance in the cloud server 12. I need to sign in.

  Here, the service is a resident program executed on the server, and in the case of UNIX (registered trademark), it is called a daemon. Sign-in is synonymous with so-called login, and sign-in information is transmitted to a service running on the cloud server 12 to enter a service use permission state.

(2) Electrical Configuration of FAX Apparatus Next, the electrical configuration of the FAX apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The FAX apparatus 10 includes a control unit 21, a display unit 22, an operation unit 23, a line communication unit 24, an image reading unit 25, a printing unit 26, a network communication unit 27, a call unit 28, and a slave unit communication unit 29. ing.

  The control unit 21 includes a CPU 21A, a ROM 21B, a RAM 21C, an ASIC 21D, an EEPROM 21E, and the like. The CPU 21A controls each unit of the FAX apparatus 10 by executing a control program stored in the ROM 21B. The ROM 21B stores a control program executed by the CPU 21A, various data, and the like. The RAM 21C is used as a main storage device for the CPU 21A to execute various processes. The EEPROM 21E is a nonvolatile memory that stores various data. The EEPROM 21E stores an association table 40 (see FIG. 3) described later. The EEPROM 21E is an example of a storage unit.

The display unit 22 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display, a drive circuit that drives the display device, and the like.
The operation unit 23 includes a touch panel that covers the display device, and various other operation buttons. The user can input various instructions and information by operating the operation unit 23. The operation unit 23 is an example of an instruction receiving unit.

  The line communication unit 24 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit), a modem, a speaker for sounding a ringtone, a control circuit for controlling these, and the like. The NCU is connected to the telephone network 13 by a telephone line (not shown). The line communication unit 24 transmits / receives FAX data to / from the external FAX apparatus 11 via the telephone network 13. The line communication unit 24 is also used for a call by the call unit 28. The line communication unit 24 is an example of a data receiving unit. A telephone line is an example of a telephone line.

  The image reading unit 25 includes a light source that irradiates a document, an image sensor, and an optical system that focuses light reflected by the document on the image sensor, and reads the document to generate image data. The generated image data is transmitted to the external FAX apparatus 11 by the line communication unit 24.

The printing unit 26 prints an image represented by the FAX data received by the line communication unit 24 on a sheet such as printing paper by an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.
The network communication unit 27 is hardware for connecting the FAX apparatus 10 to the communication network 14. The network communication unit 27 is an example of a data transfer unit.

  The call unit 28 is for making a call with an external telephone via the line communication unit 24. The call unit 28 includes a handset, an off-hook detection unit, and the like. The off-hook detection unit is a switch that is mechanically turned on / off to detect a so-called off-hook that lifts the receiver and closes the line, and a so-called on-hook that disconnects the line by placing the receiver in the original position.

  The FAX apparatus 10 relays a call between an external call partner and the receiver via the line communication unit 24 when the user makes a call using the receiver. The process in which the FAX apparatus 10 relays a call is an example of a relay process.

  The slave unit communication unit 29 is hardware for wirelessly communicating with the slave unit 15. Wireless communication with the handset 15 is performed according to a communication standard called DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Communications), for example. The slave unit communication unit 29 is an example of an instruction receiving unit.

  When the user makes a call using the handset 15, the FAX apparatus 10 relays the call between the external call partner and the handset 15 via the line communication unit 24 and the handset communication unit 29. The process in which the FAX apparatus 10 relays a call is an example of a relay process.

(3) Automatic reception and manual reception of FAX data The FAX apparatus 10 can receive FAX data by two methods. One is automatic reception and the other is manual reception.

  First, automatic reception will be described. When there is an incoming call to the FAX apparatus 10, the FAX apparatus 10 automatically goes off-hook if the handset or handset 15 does not go off-hook even if a ringing tone is made a certain number of times. The FAX apparatus 10 receives FAX data when the incoming call is a FAX incoming call. That is, in automatic reception, FAX data is received without user intervention.

  Next, manual reception will be described. In manual reception, FAX data is received when an instruction to receive FAX data is received from a user. Manual reception includes manual reception that is performed when a FAX call is received and manual reception that is performed during a call with a user of the external FAX apparatus 11.

  First, manual reception performed when there is a FAX incoming call will be described. When the user goes off-hook with the handset or the handset 15 before the ringtone reaches a certain number of times, if the user makes a sound indicating that the incoming call is a fax call, such as “Po-Po,” the user can use the operation unit 23 or handset. The 15 FAX button is pressed to enter the FAX mode, and the FAX reception start button is pressed. As a result, the FAX apparatus 10 receives an instruction to receive FAX data.

  Next, manual reception performed during a call with a user of the external FAX apparatus 11 will be described. The manual reception performed during a call with the user of the external FAX apparatus 11 is an external FAX apparatus 11 having a telephone function, and the user of the FAX apparatus 10 uses the handset or the slave unit 15 to receive an external FAX. Performed when talking to the user of the device 11.

  Specifically, when the user of the FAX apparatus 10 is talking to the user of the external FAX apparatus 11, the user of the external FAX apparatus 11 is notified of switching to the FAX mode, and then the operation unit 23 or the slave unit. The 15 FAX button is pressed to enter the FAX mode, and the FAX reception start button is pressed. As a result, the FAX apparatus 10 receives an instruction to receive FAX data.

  When receiving the reception instruction, the FAX apparatus 10 requests the external FAX apparatus 11 to transmit FAX data, and receives FAX data from the external FAX apparatus 11. The process in which the FAX apparatus 10 receives a reception instruction from the operation unit 23 or the slave unit 15 is an example of an instruction reception process.

(4) Transfer setting The transfer setting is a setting as to whether or not the received FAX data is transferred to the cloud server 12. When the user of the FAX apparatus 10 wants to transfer the received FAX data to the cloud server 12, the user sets the transfer setting to ON by operating the operation unit 23 in advance. On the other hand, when it is desired not to transfer, the user turns off the transfer setting.

  However, in the present embodiment, when FAX data is received by automatic reception or when FAX data is received by manual reception performed when a FAX call is received, the FAX data is transferred even if the transfer setting is ON. do not do. The reason will be described later. When the FAX data is not transferred, the FAX data is stored in the RAM 21C and printed by the printing unit 26 when printing is instructed by the user.

(5) FAX Data Transfer Destination As described above, the FAX apparatus 10 is the case where the FAX data is received by manual reception performed during a call with the user of the external FAX apparatus 11, and the transfer setting is ON. If there is, the received FAX data is transferred to the cloud server 12.

  By the way, when there are a plurality of cloud servers 12, the user may want to transfer the received FAX data to the cloud server 12 intended by the user. In this case, when all the cloud servers 12 are displayed on the selection screen and the user selects the destination cloud server 12, the user must find out the cloud server 12 intended by the user from many cloud servers 12. This is a burden on the user.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the correspondence relationship between the FAX apparatus 10 or the slave unit 15 and the cloud server 12 intended by the user can be registered in advance in an association table 40 (see FIG. 3) described later. This association can be performed by the user operating the operation unit 23 of the FAX apparatus 10. In the following description, the FAX apparatus 10 and the slave unit 15 are simply referred to as devices.

  When the FAX apparatus 10 receives FAX data by manual reception performed during a call with the user of the external FAX apparatus 11 and the transfer setting is ON, the FAX apparatus 10 issues an instruction to receive FAX data. FAX data is transferred to the cloud server 12 associated with the selected device.

(6) Association table The association table 40 described above will be described with reference to FIG. The association table 40 is stored in the EEPROM 21E of the FAX apparatus 10.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, the FAX apparatus 10 is associated with cloud servers 12A and 12C as transfer destinations. For example, the cloud servers 12A and 12B are associated with the child device 15A.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of cloud servers 12 can be associated with one device. When a plurality of cloud servers 12 are associated with one apparatus, the FAX apparatus 10 displays a selection screen (not shown) on a display unit included in the apparatus that has given the reception instruction, and is associated with the apparatus. The selection of the destination cloud server 12 is accepted from the existing cloud servers 12. Then, the FAX apparatus 10 transfers the FAX data to the cloud server 12 selected by the user.

  Here, since the cloud server 12 displayed on the selection screen described above is only the cloud server 12 associated with the device that has given the reception instruction, the user intends to use the cloud server 12 that he / she intends for the device he / she uses. Can be prevented from being transmitted to the unintended cloud server 12.

(7) Exception of FAX Data Transfer As described above, when the FAX apparatus 10 receives FAX data by automatic reception or when it receives FAX data by manual reception performed when there is a FAX incoming call, FAX data is not transferred even if the transfer setting is ON. The reason will be described below.

  In the case of automatic reception, the reason why the FAX data is not transferred is that the FAX data is generally transmitted to the FAX apparatus 10 and up to which user using the FAX apparatus 10 is addressed. This is because it does not know which user should transfer to the intended cloud server 12.

  In the case of manual reception performed when there is a FAX incoming call, the reason for not transferring the FAX data is that any user can go off-hook and issue a reception instruction when the FAX apparatus 10 receives a FAX incoming call. This is because the user of the FAX data destination does not always go off-hook and give a reception instruction. For example, when the destination of the FAX data is the user A, when the FAX apparatus 10 receives an incoming call, another user B may perform an off-hook operation with his own handset 15 and give a reception instruction. In that case, if FAX data is transferred to the cloud server 12 associated with the apparatus that has given the reception instruction, the FAX data may be transferred to a cloud server 12 different from the cloud server 12 intended by the user A who is the original destination. Because there is.

  On the other hand, in the case of manual reception performed during a call with a user of the external FAX apparatus 11, the destination of FAX data is the user who is currently in a call. For this reason, for example, the user to whom the handset 15 is distributed associates the cloud server 12 intended by the handset 15 in advance, and uses the handset 15 to make a call with the external FAX apparatus 11 and during the call. By instructing reception, the FAX data addressed to itself can be transferred to the cloud server 12 intended by the user.

(8) Sign-in information As described above, in order to store data in the cloud server 12 or access data stored in the cloud server 12, it is necessary to sign in to the cloud server 12 in advance.

  For this reason, each device stores sign-in information for signing in to the cloud server 12 associated with the device. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the cloud server 12A and the cloud server 12B are associated with the slave unit 15A. In this case, it is assumed that the handset 15A stores sign-in information for signing in to the cloud server 12A and sign-in information for signing in to the cloud server 12B.

(9) Fax Data Reception Processing Next, fax data reception processing executed by the CPU 21A will be described with reference to FIG. This process is started when the FAX apparatus 10 receives an incoming call and performs off-hook. Incoming calls here include FAX incoming calls and incoming calls. The off-hook here includes an off-hook that is performed by the handset or the handset 15 before the number of ringing sounds reaches a certain number, and an off-hook that is automatically performed when the number reaches a certain number. Here, the description will be made on the assumption that the transfer setting is on.

  Here, the manual reception performed during a call with the user of the external FAX apparatus 11 described above is performed when a call is made from the external FAX apparatus 11 to the FAX apparatus 10 and when the call is performed from the FAX apparatus 10 to the outside. There are cases where a call is made by calling the FAX apparatus 11. The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is processing when the FAX apparatus 10 receives an incoming call, and is excluded when a call is made from the FAX apparatus 10 to the external FAX apparatus 11. This case will be described later.

  In S101, the CPU 21A determines whether the incoming call is a FAX incoming call or a call incoming call. If the incoming call is a FAX incoming call (S101: Yes), the process proceeds to S102, and if the incoming call is a call incoming call (S101: No), the process proceeds to S104. .

In S <b> 102, the CPU 21 </ b> A receives FAX data from the external FAX apparatus 11 using the line communication unit 24.
In S103, the CPU 21A stores the FAX data received in S102 in the RAM 21C.

  Here, in the case of automatic reception, since it is determined in S101 that the incoming call is a FAX, the process proceeds to S102, where FAX data is received, and in S103, the FAX data is stored in the RAM. For this reason, FAX data is not transferred.

  Also, in the case of manual reception performed when there is a FAX incoming call, since it is a FAX incoming call, the CPU 21A proceeds to S102. However, in this case, even if the process proceeds to S102, FAX data is not received unless the user gives a reception instruction with the operation unit 23 or the slave unit 15 within a certain time. If the user gives a reception instruction using the operation unit 23 or the slave unit 15 within a predetermined time, FAX data is received in S102, and the FAX data is stored in the RAM 21C in S103. For this reason, FAX data is not transferred.

  In S104, the CPU 21A determines whether the off-hook has been performed before the predetermined number of times is reached before the predetermined number of times, or when the predetermined number has been reached. (S104: Yes) proceeds to S105, and if it is the time when a certain number of times has been reached (S104: No), the process proceeds to S106.

In S105, the CPU 21A executes reception / transfer processing during a call.
In S106, the CPU 21A records a voice message from the other party. This is because it is determined that the incoming call has been received in S101, and it has been determined that the number of ringing tones has reached a certain number of times in S104 and has been automatically off-hooked, so the user has not answered the call.

(9-1) Reception / Transfer Processing During a Call Next, the reception / transfer processing during a call executed in S105 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In S201, the CPU 21A determines whether the user has performed off-hook with the handset of the FAX apparatus 10 or off-hook with the handset 15, and if the user has performed off-hook with the handset (S201: Yes), the process proceeds to S202. When the off-hook is performed at 15 (S201: No), the process proceeds to S205. S201 is an example of a specific process.

  In S202, the CPU 21A determines whether or not the call has ended. In other words, the CPU 21A determines whether or not the FAX apparatus 10 has been on-hooked. If the call has not ended (S202: No), the CPU 21A proceeds to S203. If the call has ended (S202: Yes), the CPU 21A ends this process and returns to the FAX data reception process.

  In S203, the CPU 21A determines whether or not a reception instruction has been accepted from the operation unit 23 of the FAX apparatus 10. If accepted (S203: Yes), the process proceeds to S204. If not accepted (S203: No), the process returns to S202. Repeat the process. The process of receiving a reception instruction from the operation unit 23 of the FAX apparatus 10 is an example of an instruction reception process.

In S <b> 204, the CPU 21 </ b> A executes reception / transfer processing in the case of the FAX apparatus 10. The reception / transfer process in the case of a FAX apparatus will be described later.
In S205, the CPU 21A determines whether or not the call has ended. If the call has not ended (S205: No), the process proceeds to S206. If the call has ended (S205: Yes), this process ends and the FAX data Return to the receiving process.

In S206, the CPU 21A determines whether or not a reception instruction is accepted from the slave unit 15, and if accepted (S206: Yes), the process proceeds to S207. If not accepted (S206: No), the process returns to S205 and repeats the process. . The process of receiving a reception instruction from the slave unit 15 is an example of an instruction reception process.
In S207, the CPU 21A executes reception / transfer processing for the slave unit. The reception / transfer processing in the case of the slave unit will be described later.

(9-2) Reception / Transfer Processing for FAX Device Next, the reception / transfer processing for the FAX device executed in S204 will be described with reference to FIG.

In S <b> 301, the CPU 21 </ b> A receives FAX data from the external FAX apparatus 11 using the line communication unit 24. S301 is an example of reception processing.
In S <b> 302, the CPU 21 </ b> A reads the cloud server 12 associated with the FAX apparatus 10 from the association table 40. S302 is an example of a reading process.

In S303, the CPU 21A extracts the cloud server 12 in which the sign-in information is stored in the EEPROM 21E from the cloud servers 12 read out in S302. S303 is an example of an extraction process.
In S304, the CPU 21A determines whether or not a plurality of cloud servers 12 has been extracted in S303. If a plurality of cloud servers 12 have been extracted (S304: Yes), the process proceeds to S305. If there is only one (S304: No), S305 is skipped and the process proceeds to S306.

  In S305, the CPU 21A displays a selection screen on the display unit 22. And CPU21A displays the cloud server 12 extracted by S303 on the selection screen, and receives selection of the cloud server 12 of a transfer destination from a user. S305 is an example of a selection reception process.

  In S306, the CPU 21A reads the sign-in information of the destination cloud server 12 from the EEPROM 21E. The transfer destination cloud server 12 is the cloud server 12 selected in S305 when a plurality of cloud servers 12 are extracted in S303, and there is only one cloud server 12 extracted in S303. Is the cloud server 12.

In S307, the CPU 21A transmits the sign-in information read in S306 to the destination cloud server 12 to sign in.
In S <b> 308, the CPU 21 </ b> A transfers the FAX data received in S <b> 301 to the destination cloud server 12 using the network communication unit 27. S308 is an example of a transfer process.

(9-3) Reception / Transfer Processing in Case of Slave Unit Next, the reception / transfer processing in the case of the slave unit executed in S207 will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S <b> 401, the CPU 21 </ b> A receives FAX data from the external FAX apparatus 11 using the line communication unit 24. S401 is an example of a reception process.
In S <b> 402, the CPU 21 </ b> A specifies which slave unit 15 is the instruction source of the reception instruction. S402 is an example of a specific process.

In S403, the CPU 21A reads the cloud server 12 associated with the child device 15 identified in S402 from the association table 40. S403 is an example of a reading process.
In S <b> 404, the CPU 21 </ b> A extracts the cloud server 12 in which the sign-in information is stored in the slave device 15 specified in S <b> 402 out of the cloud servers 12 read out in S <b> 402. S404 is an example of an extraction process.

  In S405, the CPU 21A determines whether or not a plurality of cloud servers 12 has been extracted in S404. If a plurality of cloud servers 12 have been extracted (S405: Yes), the process proceeds to S406, and the extracted cloud servers 12 are one. If there is only one (S405: No), S406 is skipped and the process proceeds to S407.

  In S406, CPU21A displays a selection screen on the display part with which the subunit | mobile_unit 15 specified by S402 is provided. Then, the CPU 21A displays the cloud server 12 extracted in S404 on the selection screen. The subunit | mobile_unit 15 receives selection of the cloud server 12 of a transfer destination from a user, and notifies the received cloud server 12 to the FAX apparatus 10. FIG. S406 is an example of a selection reception process.

  In S407, the CPU 21A acquires the sign-in information of the destination cloud server 12 from the slave unit 15 specified in S402. The transfer destination cloud server 12 is the cloud server 12 selected in S406 when a plurality of cloud servers 12 are extracted in S404, and there is only one cloud server 12 extracted in S404. Is the cloud server 12. S407 is an example of an acquisition process.

In S408, the CPU 21A transmits the sign-in information acquired in S407 to the destination cloud server 12 to sign in. S408 is an example of a transmission process.
In S409, the CPU 21A transfers the FAX data received in S401 to the destination cloud server 12 using the network communication unit 27. S409 is an example of transfer processing.

(10) Manual reception when a call is made from a fax machine Next, with a user of the external fax machine 11 when a call is made from the fax machine 10 to an external fax machine 11 Manual reception performed during the call will be described.

  First, a case where a call is made using the handset of the FAX apparatus 10 will be described. In this case, when the line with the external FAX apparatus 11 is established, the CPU 21A executes S202 to S204 shown in FIG.

  Next, a case where a call is made using the handset 15 will be described. In this case, when a line with the external FAX apparatus 11 is established, the CPU 21A executes S205 to S207 shown in FIG.

(11) Effects of Embodiment According to the FAX apparatus 10 described above, the user uses the apparatus associated with the intended cloud server 12 to make a call with the external FAX apparatus 11 and gives a reception instruction during the call. By this, it can reduce that FAX data will be transferred to the cloud server 12 which is not intended.

  By the way, it is also possible to display all the cloud servers 12 regardless of the device that has given the reception instruction and to allow the user to select the destination cloud server 12. However, if doing so, the user must find out the cloud server 12 that he / she intends from among many cloud servers 12, which is a burden on the user. According to the FAX apparatus 10, when only one cloud server 12 is associated with the apparatus that has given the reception instruction, it is not necessary to perform selection itself, so that the burden on the user can be suppressed. Even when a plurality of cloud servers 12 are associated with the device that has received the reception instruction, only the cloud server 12 associated with the device that has performed the reception instruction is displayed on the selection screen. Therefore, a user's burden can be suppressed compared with the case where all the cloud servers 12 are displayed.

  Therefore, according to the FAX apparatus 10, when the received FAX data is transferred to any one of the cloud servers 12, the FAX data is transferred to the cloud server 12 that is not intended by the user while suppressing the burden on the user. Can be reduced.

  Furthermore, according to the FAX apparatus 10, the cloud server 12 in which the sign-in information is not stored in the apparatus that has instructed reception is not displayed on the selection screen (S303 to S305, S404 to S406). Since the FAX data cannot be transferred to the cloud server 12 that does not store the sign-in information, the cloud server 12 that cannot transfer the FAX data is selected by not displaying the cloud server 12 that does not store the sign-in information on the selection screen. It can be prevented from being displayed on the screen.

  Further, according to the FAX apparatus 10, the FAX data is transferred to the cloud server 12 in which the sign-in information is stored. Since it is not possible to sign in to the cloud server 12 in which the sign-in information is not stored, FAX data cannot be transferred. That is, it can be said that the cloud server 12 in which the sign-in information is not stored is a cloud server 12 that is not intended by the user. According to the FAX apparatus 10, since the FAX data is transferred to the cloud server 12 in which the sign-in information is stored, it is possible to reduce the transfer of the FAX data to the cloud server 12 that is not intended by the user.

  Furthermore, according to the FAX apparatus 10, when the apparatus that has instructed reception is the slave unit 15, the sign-in information is acquired from the slave unit 15, so the sign-in of the cloud server 12 associated with the slave unit 15 is performed. Information need not be stored in the FAX machine 10.

  Further, according to the FAX apparatus 10, when FAX data is received by FAX reception, the FAX data is not transferred. Here, the case where FAX data is received by FAX reception means that the FAX data is received by automatic reception and the case where FAX data is received by manual reception performed when there is a FAX reception. When FAX data is received by FAX reception, there is a possibility that the user may transfer even FAX data not desired by the user when the FAX data is transferred. According to the FAX apparatus 10, since FAX data is not transferred when FAX data is received by FAX reception, it is possible to prevent FAX data not desired by the user from being transferred.

  Further, according to the FAX apparatus 10, the user can issue an instruction to receive FAX data by manual reception performed during a call with the user of the external FAX apparatus 11. In manual reception performed during a call with a user of the external FAX apparatus 11, the user of the FAX data destination is uniquely determined, and therefore the received FAX data is transferred to the cloud server 12 intended by the user of the FAX data destination. be able to.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, Embodiment 2 will be described.
In the above-described first embodiment, the case where the FAX apparatus 10 or the slave unit 15 is associated with the destination cloud server 12 using the association table 40 has been described as an example. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the association table 40 is not used.

  In the second embodiment, the sign-in information of the cloud server 12 intended by the user who uses the apparatus is stored in the FAX apparatus 10 or the slave unit 15. Then, the FAX apparatus 10 sets the cloud server 12 in which the sign-in information is stored in the apparatus that has given the reception instruction as the cloud server 12 associated with the apparatus.

  For example, it is assumed that the sign-in information of the cloud server 12A and the sign-in information of the cloud server 12C are stored in the slave unit 15A. In this case, the FAX apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment uses the cloud server 12A and the cloud server 12C as the cloud server 12 associated with the child device 15A.

  The CPU 21A according to the second embodiment executes a process of extracting the cloud server 12 in which the sign-in information is stored in the FAX apparatus 10 instead of S302 and S303 of the reception / transfer process in the case of the FAX apparatus illustrated in FIG. To do. Similarly, the CPU 21A replaces S403 and S404 of the reception / transfer processing in the case of the slave shown in FIG. 7 and extracts the cloud server 12 in which the sign-in information is stored in the slave 15 that has given the reception instruction. Execute. Specifically, for example, if the device that has issued the reception instruction is the child device 15, the FAX device 10 notifies the cloud server 12 corresponding to the sign-in information stored in the child device 15. 15 and receives the name and the like of the corresponding cloud server 12. The second embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment in other points.

  According to the FAX apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment described above, the correspondence table 40 may not be stored in the FAX apparatus 10.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope.

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the FAX data is not transferred when the FAX data is received by manual reception performed when a FAX call is received has been described as an example. On the other hand, the FAX data may be transferred also when the FAX data is received by manual reception performed when a FAX call is received.

  For example, when one user uses the FAX apparatus 10 and the slave unit 15, different cloud servers 12 may be associated with the FAX apparatus 10 and the slave unit 15. Then, when the user receives an incoming call to the FAX apparatus 10, regardless of whether the incoming call is a FAX incoming call or a call incoming call, the apparatus associated with the cloud server 12 to which the FAX data is to be transferred at that time The reception instruction may be performed off-hook. In this way, when the incoming call is a FAX incoming call, the FAX data can be transferred to the cloud server 12 to which the FAX data is to be transferred at that time.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the case where the FAX apparatus 10 receives a reception instruction from both the operation unit 23 and the slave unit 15 of the FAX apparatus 10 has been described as an example. On the other hand, when there are two or more slave units 15, a reception instruction may be received only from the slave unit 15. That is, when there are two or more slave units 15, a reception instruction may not be received from the operation unit 23 of the FAX apparatus 10.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the case where FAX data is received using the line communication unit 24 has been described as an example. On the other hand, FAX data may be received via the network communication unit 27 from an external FAX apparatus connected to the communication network 14. In this case, the network communication unit 27 serves as both a data reception unit and a data transfer unit.

  (4) In the first embodiment, when the FAX data is received by automatic reception even when the forwarding setting is ON, or when the FAX data is received by manual reception performed when there is an incoming fax, the FAX data is The case of not transferring was described as an example. On the other hand, in these cases, FAX data may be transferred to the cloud server 12 set in advance.

  (5) In the first and second embodiments, only one cloud server 12 is extracted in the reception / transfer processing in the case of the FAX apparatus shown in FIG. 6 and the reception / transfer processing in the case of the slave unit shown in FIG. The case where the selection screen is not displayed has been described as an example. On the other hand, the selection screen may be displayed even if only one cloud server 12 is extracted.

  (6) In the above embodiment, the cloud server 12 is described as an example of the transfer destination. However, the transfer destination is not limited to the cloud server 12. For example, the transfer destination may be a FAX device different from the FAX device that is the transmission source of FAX data. In that case, the line communication unit 24 is an example of a data transfer unit. The transfer destination may be a file server connected to the communication network 14 in the organization that owns the FAX apparatus 10.

  (7) In the above embodiment, the CPU 21A displays a selection screen on the display unit 22 in S305 and accepts the selection of the destination cloud server 12 from the user. In S406, the CPU 21A includes the slave unit 15 specified in S402. Although the selection screen is displayed on the display unit and the selection of the destination cloud server 12 is received from the user, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, without displaying the selection screen, the screen is automatically transferred to the cloud server 12 associated with the FAX apparatus 10 or automatically transmitted to the cloud server 12 associated with the specified slave unit 15. It may be transferred.

  Further, it may be automatically transferred to all of the associated cloud servers 12 or may be automatically transferred to a part of the associated cloud servers 12.

  (8) Since the association table 40 is not used in the second embodiment, the slave unit 15 is requested to notify the cloud server 12 corresponding to the sign-in information stored in the own device from the FAX device 10. In this case, the name or the like of the cloud server 12 may be returned for all or a part of the cloud server 12 corresponding to the sign-in information stored in the own device.

  (9) In the above embodiment, in S407, the CPU 21A acquires the sign-in information of the destination cloud server 12 from the slave unit 15 specified in S402. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the EEPROM 21E stores the sign-in information of the cloud server 12 associated with the child device 15, and the CPU 21A reads the sign-in information of the cloud server 12 associated with the child device 15 from the EEPROM 21E. It may be.

  (10) In the above embodiment, the FAX apparatus 10 has been described as an example of a facsimile apparatus. On the other hand, the facsimile apparatus may be a so-called multifunction machine having a printing function, an image reading function, a copy function, a FAX function, and the like.

  (11) In the above embodiment, the case where each process is executed by the CPU 21A has been described as an example. On the other hand, some of these processes may be executed by the ASIC 21D. The control unit 21 may not include the ASIC 21D. Further, the control unit 21 may include a plurality of CPUs, and the processes described above may be shared by the plurality of CPUs.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... FAX machine, 11 ... External facsimile machine, 12 ... Cloud server, 15 ... Slave unit, 21 ... Control part, 21A ... CPU, 21B ... ROM, 21C ... RAM, 21E ... EEPROM, 22 ... Display unit, 23 ... Operating unit, 24 ... Line communication unit, 27 ... Network communication unit, 28 ... Call unit, 29. ..Slave unit communication unit, 40 ... correspondence table

Claims (8)

An instruction receiving unit;
A data receiver;
A data transfer unit;
A control unit;
A facsimile machine comprising:
The controller is
Using the instruction receiving unit, an instruction receiving process for receiving an instruction to receive facsimile data from at least two of the facsimile apparatus and the one or more terminal apparatuses;
Based on the reception instruction received in the instruction reception process, using the data reception unit, a reception process for receiving facsimile data from an external facsimile machine;
A specifying process for specifying which of the at least two devices is an instruction source of the reception instruction;
Transfer processing that uses the data transfer unit to transfer the facsimile data received in the reception processing to a transfer destination associated with the device specified in the specification processing;
A facsimile machine that executes. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1,
The controller is
A selection acceptance process for displaying a selection screen on a display unit included in the device identified in the identification process, displaying a transfer destination associated with the device identified in the identification process on the selection screen, and receiving a selection of the transfer destination Run
A facsimile apparatus that transfers the facsimile data to a transfer destination selected in the selection reception process in the transfer process. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2,
The controller is
Out of the transfer destinations associated with the device specified in the specifying process, an extraction process for extracting a transfer destination in which sign-in information is stored is executed,
In the selection reception process, a facsimile apparatus that displays a transfer destination extracted in the extraction process on the selection screen. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1,
A storage unit,
The storage unit stores a transfer destination in association with each of the at least two devices,
The controller is
A read process for reading a transfer destination associated with the device identified in the specific process from the storage unit;
In the transfer process, the facsimile apparatus transfers the facsimile data to the transfer destination read in the read process. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1,
In the transfer process, the control unit transfers the facsimile data to a transfer destination in which sign-in information is stored in the apparatus specified in the specifying process. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 5,
The controller is
When the device specified in the specifying process is the terminal device, an acquisition process for acquiring the sign-in information from the terminal device;
A transmission process for transmitting the sign-in information to a transfer destination corresponding to the sign-in information acquired in the acquisition process;
The facsimile apparatus executes the transfer process after the sign-in to the transfer destination that transmitted the sign-in information in the transmission process is successful. A facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The controller is
In the reception process, when there is a facsimile incoming call to the data receiving unit, the facsimile data is received using the data receiving unit,
A facsimile apparatus that does not transfer the facsimile data when the facsimile data is received in the reception process by the incoming facsimile. A facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The data receiving unit receives facsimile data via a telephone line,
The controller is
A relay process for relaying a call between any one of the at least two devices and an external facsimile device via the data receiving unit;
A facsimile apparatus that executes the reception process when the reception instruction is received from a device that relays a call among the at least two devices during a call relay by the relay process.

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