JP6700553B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing apparatus control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device, a method for controlling the information processing device, and a program, and in particular, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the facsimile data cannot be transmitted when the user cannot receive the facsimile data. Regarding the mechanism.

  Conventionally, in facsimile (hereinafter, also referred to as “fax”) communication, when transmitting facsimile data (hereinafter, also referred to as “fax data” or “fax document”) from a user on a transmitting side to a user on a receiving side, a facsimile terminal (hereinafter, referred to as “fax data”) requested by a user It could not be received by the fax terminal), and it was sometimes troublesome to receive the fax document.

  In Patent Document 1, a call control functioning as a proxy is performed by determining the fax terminal on the IP network closest to the user based on the user's own position information measured by the GPS of the mobile receiving terminal control device of the user. It is described that the fax communication to the receiving terminal desired by the user is performed by registering the server.

JP, 2013-193970, A

  However, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the user is not near the fax terminal on the IP network for a long time, for example, on a business trip, the fax document is not output and the fax document cannot be confirmed. There was something.

  Since the patent document 1 does not disclose any measures against the above-mentioned problems, even if the technique described in the patent document 1 is used, the user may still not be able to confirm the content of the fax document for a long period of time.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism capable of reducing the possibility that the facsimile data cannot be transmitted when the user cannot receive the facsimile data.

  The present invention provides an acquisition unit that acquires facsimile data and a proxy user that receives the facsimile data by proxy when the user who is the transmission destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition unit cannot receive the facsimile data. Managing means for managing the proxy user information shown by linking it with user information showing a user who is the destination of the facsimile data, position information of the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquiring means, and Receivability information acquisition means for acquiring receivability information indicating whether or not the user can receive the facsimile data, which is determined by using position information of an output device that outputs the facsimile data, and the reception availability If the receivability information acquired by the information acquisition means is information indicating that the information is receivable, the facsimile data is transmitted to the user, and the receivability information acquired by the receivability information acquisition means. Is the information indicating that the facsimile data cannot be received, the management unit transmits the facsimile data to the proxy user indicated by the proxy user information managed in association with the user information indicating the user. And a transmitting means for performing the same.

  The present invention also provides an acquisition unit for acquiring facsimile data and a proxy for receiving the facsimile data by a proxy when the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition unit cannot receive the facsimile data. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising: managing means for managing proxy user information indicating a user in association with user information indicating a user who is a destination of the facsimile data. The information acquisition unit is determined using the position information of the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition unit and the position information of the output device that outputs the facsimile data. Is received, the reception availability information acquiring step of acquiring the reception availability information indicating whether or not it is receivable, and the reception availability information acquired by the transmission means of the information processing device in the reception availability information acquisition step are receivable. If the information indicates that there is information, if the facsimile data is transmitted to the user, and the reception permission information acquired in the reception permission information acquisition step is information indicating that the reception is impossible, And a transmitting step of transmitting the facsimile data to the proxy user indicated by the proxy user information managed in association with the user information indicating the user by the managing means.

  The present invention also provides an acquisition unit for acquiring facsimile data and a proxy for receiving the facsimile data by a proxy when the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition unit cannot receive the facsimile data. A program that can be read and executed by an information processing apparatus, comprising: management means for managing proxy user information indicating a user in association with user information indicating a user who is a destination of the facsimile data. Is determined by using the position information of the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition unit and the position information of the output device that outputs the facsimile data. The user can receive the facsimile data. If the reception permission/inhibition information acquisition unit for acquiring the reception permission/inhibition information indicating whether or not the reception permission/inhibition information is information indicating that the reception permission/inhibition information is receivable, When the receivability information obtained by transmitting the data to the user and obtained by the receivability information obtaining means is information indicating that the data cannot be received, the management means provides the user information indicating the user. It is characterized in that the proxy user indicated by the proxy user information managed in association with is caused to function as a transmission means for transmitting the facsimile data.

  According to the present invention, when the user cannot receive the facsimile data, the possibility that the facsimile data cannot be transmitted can be reduced.

It is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a fax communication system of the present invention. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the fax server 200. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a fax terminal A300, a fax terminal B400, and a fax terminal C500. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a receiving terminal device 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the fax server 200. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the flowchart which shows a user position information update process. It is a figure which shows an example of the flowchart which shows a fax communication process. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a table for managing user information stored in the fax server 200. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a table for managing user groups associated with fax numbers stored in the fax server 200. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a table for managing the reception use frequency of a fax terminal, which is stored in the fax server 200. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a table for managing fax terminal information stored in the fax server 200. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a table that manages proxy reception group information stored in the fax server 200. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed when selecting a fax transmission mode in a transmission fax terminal. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when selecting a receiving fax terminal to be registered in the mobile terminal device 100. It is a figure which shows an example of the flowchart which shows the fax communication process which concerns on 2nd embodiment.

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

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a fax communication system of the present invention.

  The fax server 200, which functions as a proxy for the fax terminal, the fax terminal A (multifunction peripheral) 300, the fax terminal B (multifunction peripheral) 400, and the fax terminal C (multifunction peripheral) 500 are connected by an IP network or a telephone network. . Further, a mobile type receiving terminal device 100 that is connected wirelessly is connected to the IP network.

  The receiving terminal device 100 is a general-purpose device equipped with an operating system. In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming a tablet terminal, but it may be a personal computer, a server, or a mobile terminal (mobile phone, smartphone, etc.).

  In the present embodiment, the fax terminal A300, the fax terminal B400, and the fax terminal C500 will be described, but the fax device is not limited to the multifunction peripheral. For example, it may be a dedicated fax machine, or a PC-FAX or FAX server that handles faxes as files. The fax terminal A300, the fax terminal B400, and the fax terminal C500 are examples of output terminals.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the fax server 200.

  The CPU 201 centrally controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204.

  Further, the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 (storage unit) stores a control program of the CPU 201 such as a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), an operating system program (hereinafter, OS), and a fax server 200 (hereinafter, also referred to as an information processing apparatus). Various programs, which will be described later, necessary for realizing the function to be executed are stored. The RAM 203 functions as a main memory, a work area, etc. of the CPU 201.

  The CPU 201 loads various programs necessary for executing the processing into the RAM 203 and executes the programs to realize various operations.

  The input controller 205 also controls input from an input device 209 such as a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown).

  The video controller 206 controls display on a display device such as the display 210. The type of display device is assumed to be CRT or liquid crystal display, but is not limited to this.

  The memory controller 207 is a card-type memory connected to a hard disk or a flexible disk or a PCMCIA card slot for storing a boot program, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, various data, etc. through an adapter. Access to the external memory 211.

  A communication I/F controller (communication I/FC) 208 connects and communicates with an external device via a network, and executes communication control processing on the network. For example, internet communication using TCP/IP is possible.

  The CPU 201 enables the display on the display 210 by executing the outline font rasterization process in the display information area in the RAM 203, for example.

Further, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the display 210.

  Various programs and the like used by each terminal of the present invention to execute various processes described later are recorded in the external memory 211, and are executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 203 as necessary.

  Further, definition files and various information tables used by the program according to the present invention are stored in the external memory 211.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the fax terminal A300, the fax terminal B400, and the fax terminal C500. Since the fax terminal A300, the fax terminal B400, and the fax terminal C500 have the same hardware configuration, the hardware configuration will be described here using the fax terminal A300 (also referred to as a multifunction peripheral) as an example.

  The fax terminal A300 has a controller unit 316.

  The controller unit 316 includes a CPU 301, a RAM 302, a ROM 303, a hard disk drive (HDD) 304, a network I/F 305, a modem 306, an operation unit I/F 307, an external I/F 318, and an image bus I/F 320. These are interconnected by a system bus 309. Further, the controller unit 316 includes a raster image processor (RIP) 310, a printer I/F 311, a scanner I/F 313, and an image processing unit 317. These are connected to each other by the image bus 315. The system bus 309 and the image bus 315 are connected by the image bus I/F 320.

  The CPU 301 is a processor that controls the entire fax terminal A300. The CPU 301 executes the programs stored in the ROM 303 and the HDD 304, so that the functional configuration of the fax terminal A300 and the processing related to the flowchart of the fax terminal A300 described later are realized.

  The RAM 302 is used as a work memory of the CPU 301 and also as a program memory for loading a program and an image memory for temporarily recording image data.

  A boot program and various control programs are stored in the ROM 303, and the CPU 301 reads these programs from the ROM 303 and executes various controls.

  The HDD 304 stores various programs and image data for controlling the fax terminal A300. The print data (image data) of the security settings received by the fax terminal A 300 from the client device is also stored in the HDD 304.

  The operation unit I/F 307 is an interface connected to the operation unit 308, sends key information such as selection of a start button input from the operation unit 308 to the CPU 301, and various kinds of information according to instructions from the CPU 301. Send to.

  The network I/F 305 is connected by a network cable and inputs/outputs data such as FAX transmission/reception using an IPFAX line between the fax terminal A300 and an NGN network (Next Generation Network).

  The modem 306 is connected to the PSTN network (Public Switched Telephone Networks), and inputs/outputs data such as FAX transmission/reception using a G3 line.

  The external I/F 318 is an interface that receives external input such as USB, IEEE1394, printer port, or RS-232C. Here, a card reader 319 for reading a non-contact IC card (storage medium), which is necessary for user authentication, is connected to the external I/F 318. The CPU 301 controls the information reading of the IC card by the card reader 319 via the external I/F 318, and acquires the card information read from the IC card.

  The image bus I/F 320 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 309 and the image bus 315 for transferring image data at high speed and converts the data structure.

  The image bus 315 is configured by a PCI bus or a bus defined by IEEE1394.

  The RIP 310 develops vector data such as PDL code into a bitmap image.

  The printer I/F 311 connects the printer 312 and the controller unit 316 to perform synchronous/asynchronous conversion of image data.

  The scanner I/F 313 connects the scanner 314 and the controller unit 316 and performs synchronous/asynchronous conversion of image data.

  The image processing unit 317 performs predetermined correction, processing and editing on the image data, and performs printer correction and resolution conversion on the print output image data. The image processing unit 317 performs rotation processing on image data, compression/expansion processing such as JPEG for multi-valued image data, and JBIG, MMR, MH, etc. for binary image data. Performs compression/expansion processing. Then, the image processing unit 317 performs image processing on the image data obtained as a result of reading by the scanner 314 and converts the image data into a file output format such as a PDF format file.

  The CPU 301 transmits the image file converted into a file output format by the image processing unit 317 to the external device via the network I/F 305.

  The scanner 314 illuminates the original document, scans the original document with a CCD line sensor, for example, and converts an image on the original document into an electrical signal which is raster image data. Here, when the document is read by the scanner 314, the user sets the document on the tray of the document feeder. When the user gives an original reading start instruction via the operation unit 308, the CPU 301 gives a reading instruction to the scanner 314. As a result, the document feeder feeds the documents one by one, and the scanner 314 reads the image of the document.

  The printer 312 converts raster image data into an image on paper and prints it. The printer 312 includes an electrophotographic printer that uses a so-called photosensitive drum or photosensitive belt, an inkjet printer that directly ejects ink from a minute nozzle array to print an image on the paper, and Type printer may be used. The printer 312 starts a printing operation in response to a print instruction from the CPU 301. Further, the printer 312 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and the paper feed stages are provided with paper cassettes corresponding to the paper.

  The operation unit 308 includes, for example, an LCD display unit, and a touch panel sheet is arranged on the LCD display unit. An operation screen of the fax terminal A300 is displayed on the LCD display unit, and when a user operates a key on the operation screen, position information on the touch panel sheet is sent to the CPU 301 via the operation unit I/F 307.

  The operation unit 308 includes various operation keys such as a start key, a stop key, an ID key, and a reset key. The start key provided in the operation unit 308 is operated when starting reading a document.

  LEDs of two colors, green and red, are arranged in the center of the start key, and whether or not the start key is ready for use is indicated according to the light emission of these LEDs.

  A stop key provided in the operation unit 308 is operated when stopping a printing operation or the like.

  The ID key provided in the operation unit 308 is operated when inputting a user ID, and further when manually performing a user logout process.

  A reset key provided in the operation unit 308 is operated when initializing various settings such as print settings.

  Under the control of the CPU 301, the card reader 319 reads the card information stored in the non-contact IC card and notifies the read card information to the CPU 301 via the external I/F 318.

  The fax terminal A300 transmits the image data read from the scanner 314 to a communicable device via the LAN 103. On the other hand, the fax terminal A 300 can print out the image data received from the device communicable via the LAN 103 by the printer 312.

  Further, the fax terminal A300 faxes the image data read from the scanner 314 to the PSTN network by the modem 306. On the other hand, the fax terminal A300 can print out the FAX, that is, the image data received from the PSTN network, by the printer 312.

  The above hardware configuration is the same for the fax terminal B400 and the fax terminal C500. That is, the CPUs 301 of the fax terminal B400 and the fax terminal C500 execute the programs stored in the ROM 303 and the HDD 304 of the fax terminal B400 and the fax terminal C500, whereby the functional configurations of the fax terminal B400 and the fax terminal C500 and a fax described later. The processing according to the flowcharts of the terminal B400 and the fax terminal C500 is realized.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the receiving terminal device 100.

  The CPU 401 centrally controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 404.

  Further, the ROM 402 or the flash memory 414 is necessary for realizing the functions executed by the receiving terminal device 100 such as a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) which is a control program of the CPU 401, an operating system program (hereinafter, OS), and Various programs to be described later are stored. The RAM 403 functions as a main memory, a work area, etc. of the CPU 401.

  The CPU 401 loads various programs necessary for executing the processing into the RAM 403 and executes the programs to realize various operations.

  The input controller 405 also controls inputs from the touch panel 410, the microphone 411, and the camera 412. The touch panel 410 controls input related to a user's touch operation, the microphone 411 controls voice input, and the camera 412 controls input of a captured still image or moving image. The output controller 406 controls output to the touch panel 410 and the speaker 413.

  The touch panel 410 detects a touch operation by the user and displays the image sent from the output controller 406 described above. The touch panel 410 is a component in which a display and a position input device are integrated. It is also possible to detect a touch operation (hereinafter referred to as multi-touch) on a plurality of locations.

  The memory controller 407 controls access to the flash memory 414 that stores a boot program, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, various data, and the like. Although a flash memory is described in the present embodiment, a storage medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, or a card type memory connected to a PCMCIA card slot via an adapter may be used.

  The communication I/F controller 409 connects and communicates with an external device via a network and executes communication control processing on the network. For example, internet communication using TCP/IP is possible.

  The sensor controller 408 controls an input from the sensor 415 included in the receiving terminal device 100. Various sensors exist in the sensor 415 of the receiving terminal device 100, and are, for example, an azimuth sensor and an acceleration sensor.

  Note that the CPU 401 enables display on the touch panel 410, for example, by executing outline font rasterization processing in a display information area in the RAM 403.

  Various programs and the like used by the receiving terminal device 100 of the present invention to execute various processes described later are recorded in the flash memory 414 and are executed by the CPU 401 by being loaded into the RAM 403 as necessary. is there. Further, definition files and various information tables used by the program according to the present invention are stored in the flash memory 414.

  Next, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the fax server 200.

  The fax server 200 includes an acquisition unit 501, a management unit 502, a receivability information acquisition unit 503, and a transmission unit 504.

  The acquisition unit 501 of the fax server 200 acquires facsimile data. When the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition unit 501 cannot receive the facsimile data, the management unit 502 of the fax server 200 represents proxy user information indicating a proxy user who receives the facsimile data by proxy. Is managed in association with user information indicating a user who is a transmission destination of facsimile data.

  The acceptability information acquisition unit 503 of the fax server 200 is determined using the position information of the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition unit 501 and the position information of the output device that outputs the facsimile data. Acquires acceptance/rejection information indicating whether or not the user can receive the facsimile data.

  When the acceptability information acquired by the acceptability information acquisition unit 503 is information indicating that the fax is receivable, the transmission unit 504 of the fax server 200 transmits the facsimile data to the user to determine the acceptability. When the receivability information acquired by the information acquisition unit 503 is information indicating that the information cannot be received, the management unit 502 indicates it by the proxy user information managed in association with the user information indicating the user. The facsimile data is transmitted to the proxy user.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a description will be given of a user position information update process that needs to be executed in advance to execute the process of FIG. 7.

  The user position information updating process of FIG. 6 is a process of updating the user information table (FIG. 8) held in the fax server 200 from the position information of the receiving terminal device 100 of the user, and the process of each step shown in FIG. The CPU 201 of the fax server 200 executes it at a predetermined time interval.

  Note that the processing content and processing order shown in FIG. 6 are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  In S601, the fax server 200 acquires the mobile terminal numbers (telephone numbers) of the receiving terminal devices 100 of all the users registered in the user information table (FIG. 8) from the user information table (FIG. 8).

  Here, the user information table will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is an example of a table for managing user information stored in the external memory 211 of the fax server 200.

  The user name 801 is a user name that uniquely identifies a user who uses this system.

  The mobile terminal number 802 is the terminal information of the terminal used to acquire the position information of the user, and the terminal information of the receiving terminal device 100 is registered.

  As the user name 801 and the mobile terminal number 802, the user registers the user name 801 and the mobile terminal number 802 of the user who uses the system from the web system or the like in advance (before using the system).

  When it is determined that the fax terminal is near the user indicated by the user name 801 (within a predetermined range from the user's position) in step S609 of the user position information update flow (FIG. 6), the terminal 803 is close to the user. The name of the fax terminal determined to exist is registered.

  The receivable status 804 indicates whether or not the user is receivable. For example, if the user is receivable, “possible” is registered in the receivable status 804, and if the user is not receivable, “impossible” is registered in the receivable status 804. The receivable state here means that the fax terminal is near the user.

  The terminal 803 and the receivable status 804 are “NULL” at the stage when the user name 801 and the mobile terminal number 802 are registered in advance. Will be updated.

  Above, the description of FIG. 8 is completed, and the description returns to FIG.

  In step S602, the fax server 200 repeats the processing in S603 to S615 for the number of users indicated by the user name 801 in the user information table of FIG.

  In step S603, the fax server 200 requests the receiving terminal device 100 to transmit the position information of the receiving terminal device 100. Since the receiving terminal device 100 is a terminal carried by the user, the position information of the receiving terminal device 100 substantially indicates the position information of the user.

  In step S604, the receiving terminal device 100 receives the position information transmission request from step S603.

  In step S605, the receiving terminal device 100 acquires the position information of the receiving terminal device 100.

  In step S606, the receiving terminal device 100 transmits the position information of the receiving terminal device 100 acquired in step S605 to the fax server 200.

  In step S607, the fax server 200 receives the position information transmitted from the receiving terminal device 100 in step S606.

  In step S608, the fax server 200 acquires the position information of each fax terminal from the fax terminal information table (FIG. 11).

  Here, the table for managing the fax terminal information will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a table for managing fax terminal information stored in the fax server 200.

  The data creation timing of the fax terminal information table (FIG. 11) is beforehand (before using this system), the fax terminal information (terminal 1101, position information 1102, fax number) that the system management or user uses in this system from the web system or the like. 1103) is registered.

  The fax terminal information table (FIG. 11) is updated by the system administrator or the user at timings such as when a fax terminal is added.

  The terminal 1101 is the name of the fax terminal. The terminal 1101 is a key that uniquely identifies a record in the table of FIG.

  The position information 1102 is position information indicating the installation position of the fax terminal.

  The fax number 1103 is the telephone number/IP address of the fax terminal.

  Above, the description of FIG. 11 is completed, and the description returns to FIG.

  In step S609, the fax server 200 compares the position information of the receiving terminal device 100 received in step S607 with the position information 1102 of each fax terminal acquired in step S608, and within a certain range (for example, 50 m) from the receiving terminal device 100. It is determined whether or not a fax terminal exists within the range, etc., and if it exists (step S609: YES), the process proceeds to step S610, and if it does not exist (step S609: NO), the process proceeds to step S613.

  In step S610, as a result of the comparison in step S606, the fax server 200 determines whether there are a plurality of fax terminals within a certain range from the receiving terminal device 100, and when there are a plurality of fax terminals (step S610: YES). Then, the process proceeds to step 611, and when there is not a plurality of numbers (step S610: NO), the process proceeds to step 612.

  In step S611, the fax server 200 uses the plurality of receivable fax terminals acquired before the determination in step S610 and the fax reception use frequency list data (FIG. 10) to identify the plurality of receivable fax terminals. , A fax reception selection list (not shown) is created (generated) by rearranging in order of the number of receptions.

  Here, a table for managing the reception use frequency of the fax terminal will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a table stored in the fax server 200 for managing the reception use frequency of fax terminals.

  The user name 1001 and the terminal 1002 are keys for uniquely identifying the table of FIG.

  The user name 1001 is the user name for receiving the fax.

  A terminal 1002 is a fax terminal that receives facsimile data, and stores the same information as the fax terminal shown as the terminal 1101 in the fax terminal information table of FIG.

  The user name 1001 and the terminal 1002 are registered in advance (before using this system) by the user from the web system or the like.

  The number of receptions 1003 indicates the number of times each fax terminal (terminal 1002) has received the facsimile data transmitted to the user indicated by the user name 1001. An initial value "0" is registered as the reception count 1003, and the reception count is updated at the timing of step S711 of the fax reception (fax communication) operation flow of FIG. With the above, the description of FIG. 10 is completed, and the description returns to FIG.

  In step S612, the fax server 200 sets the receivable status 804 of the user information table (FIG. 8) of the user who owns the receiving terminal device 100, which is determined to have the fax terminal within a certain range, to “possible”, 803 is updated to the name of the fax terminal determined to be within the certain range from the receiving terminal device 100.

  In step S613, the fax server 200 sets the receivable status 804 of the user information table (FIG. 8) of the user who owns the receiving terminal device 100, which is determined to have no fax terminal within a certain range, to “impossible”. Update.

  In step S614, the fax server 200 identifies the fax terminal with the highest frequency of use from the list created in step S611. By doing so, it becomes possible to output the facsimile data at the fax terminal, which the user will be more likely to receive.

  If the frequency of use of any fax terminal is 0, the fax terminal registered in the initial setting may be set.

  In step S615, the fax server 200 sets the receivable status 804 of the user information table (FIG. 8) of the user who owns the receiving terminal device 100, which is determined to have the fax terminal within the certain range, to “terminal”, 803 is updated to the name of the fax terminal specified in step S614. This is the end of the description of FIG. 6.

  Next, the fax communication processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is an example of a flowchart for explaining a flow in which the fax server 200 receives the facsimile data and sends the facsimile data to the destination. The processing of each step shown in FIG. 7 is executed by the CPU 201 of the fax server 200. To do. The processing contents and processing order shown in FIG. 7 are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  In this embodiment, before executing the process of FIG. 7, the administrator presets whether or not to use the fax transmission mode, and stores the information in the memory of the fax server 200. When using the fax transmission mode, the administrator further sets in advance which of the standard mode and the group mode to use, and stores the information in the memory of the fax server 200. The fax transmission mode is different from the conventional one in which fax data is output from the fax terminal specified by the user who is the sender of the fax, and the fax transmission mode is based on the location information of the user and the location information of the fax terminal, and In this mode, facsimile data is output from a fax terminal. In the normal mode, it can be sent to the designated partner, and in the group mode, if the user cannot receive it, it is sent to the user of the registered proxy reception group.

  As another embodiment, the user who is the sender of the fax may select the fax transmission mode. In that case, the fax transmission mode selection screen 1300 (FIG. 13) may be displayed on the LCD display unit of the fax terminal used by the fax sender to select the transmission mode when sending the fax. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when a fax mode is selected on the transmission fax terminal.

  In step S701, the fax server 200 receives the fax data from the fax terminal A300. (Example of acquisition means for acquiring facsimile data in the present invention)

  In step S702, the fax server 200 stores the facsimile data received in step S701 in the external memory 211.

  In step S703, the fax server 200 determines whether to use the transmission mode. If the transmission mode is used (step S703: YES), the process proceeds to step S704, and if the transmission mode is not used ( Step S703: NO), and proceeds to step S712.

  In step S712, the fax server 200 performs fax transmission to the destination specified by the sender of the facsimile data.

  In step S704, the fax server 200 associates the fax number specified as the destination of the facsimile data received in step S701 with the fax number matching the fax number in FIG. 9 in the user/group table. The user name 902 and the proxy reception group 903 associated with the matched fax number 901 are acquired by searching from 901.

  Next, the user/group table associated with the fax number will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a table for managing user groups associated with fax numbers stored in the fax server 200.

  The fax number 901 is a key that uniquely identifies the user/group table associated with the fax number.

  The fax number 901 is the fax number of the user indicated by the user name 902.

  The user name 902 is a user name corresponding to the fax number 901.

  The proxy reception group 903 is a proxy reception group corresponding to the fax number 901. The proxy reception group 903 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The user name 902 and the proxy reception group 903 for the fax number 901 are registered in advance by the administrator from the web system or the like (before using this system), and the administrator can add or update the proxy reception group as necessary. Update.

  The description of FIG. 9 is completed, and the proxy reception group of FIG. 12 will be described next.

  Next, a table for managing proxy reception group information will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a table for managing the proxy reception group information stored in the fax server 200. (An example of a managing unit that manages proxy user information indicating a proxy user who receives the facsimile data by proxy according to the present invention by associating the proxy user information with user information indicating a user who is the transmission destination of the facsimile data)

  Regarding the data creation timing, the system administrator or the user registers the proxy reception group information (group list 1201, priority 1202, user name 1203) from the web system or the like in advance (before using this system).

  The group list 1201 is a proxy reception group list.

  The priority 1202 is a priority within the proxy reception group. The order of priority 1202 indicates that the user's receivable status is confirmed.

  The group list 1201 and the priority 1202 are keys that uniquely identify the records in the table of FIG.

  The user name 1203 is the user name of a user who belongs to the proxy reception group.

  With the above, the description of FIG. 12 is completed, and the description returns to FIG. 7.

  In step S705, the fax server 200 searches the user name 801 in the user information table (FIG. 8) that matches the user name 902 acquired in step S704, and acquires the receivable status 804 associated with the matched user name 801. To do. (Example of Receivability Information Acquiring Means for Acquiring Receivability Information Representing Whether the User Can Receive the Facsimile Data in the Present Invention)

  In step S706, if the receivable status 804 acquired in step S705 indicates that the fax is receivable (step S706: YES), the fax server 200 moves to step S710. When it is indicated that it cannot be received (step S706: NO), the process proceeds to step S707.

  In step S707, the fax server 200 determines the transmission mode, and in the case of the group mode (step S707: group mode), shifts to step S708, and in the normal mode (step S707: normal mode), shifts to step S705. ..

  In step S708, the fax server 200 acquires the proxy reception group table (FIG. 12) corresponding to the proxy reception group acquired in step S704 and displays the receivable status of the registered user in the user information table (FIG. 8). It is acquired from the receivable status 804.

  In step S709, the fax server 200 determines the reception status acquired in step S708, and when the reception is possible (step S709: YES), the fax server 200 proceeds to step S710. When it cannot be received (step S709: NO), the process proceeds to step S705.

  Further, when there are a plurality of proxy receiving users, the receivable status is checked in order of priority 1202, and if not, the receivable status of the user with the next priority is checked.

  In this embodiment, the user's receivable status is checked in order of priority 1202. However, the receivable status of users who belong to the proxy receiving group is collectively acquired, and there are a plurality of receivable users. In this case, the receivable status may be checked in order of priority.

  As another embodiment, one proxy reception user may be set for one user without creating a proxy reception group.

  In step S710, the fax server 200 performs fax transmission. (When the receivability information acquired by the receivability information acquisition means according to the present invention is information indicating that the receivability is receivable, the facsimile data is transmitted to the user, and the receivability information acquisition means If the receivability information obtained by the above is information indicating that the user cannot receive, the proxy user indicated by the proxy user information that is managed in association with the user information indicating the user by the management unit. , An example of transmission means for transmitting the facsimile data)

  More specifically, the process of step S710 will be described. For example, the fax server 200 acquires receivable user “terminals” from the user information table (FIG. 8) and searches the fax terminal information table (FIG. 11). Acquire the fax number (or IP address), In the case of 38 communication, fax transmission/reception is performed between the fax terminal A300 (transmission side) and the fax terminal B400 (reception side) as a proxy, and in the case of the G3 protocol, fax reception is performed from the fax terminal A300 (transmission side) and immediately The data is transferred to the fax terminal B400 (reception side).

  In step S711, the fax server 200 updates the number of receptions in the fax reception use frequency list (FIG. 10) from the user/fax terminal that has transmitted the fax in step S710.

  The above is the description of the first embodiment. Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 15 is an explanation of the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, for example, in a company having fax terminals on multiple floors in the same building, if there is a fax terminal at the same position on multiple floors in the location information, it is recognized as a fax terminal close to the same user, and the location information A method for solving the problem that the user may not be the receiving terminal desired by itself will be described.

  Since steps S1501 to S1511 and steps S1519 to S1520 in FIG. 15 are the same as steps S601 to S611 and steps S612 to S615 in FIG. 6, description thereof will be omitted. The difference from the first embodiment is the content of the processing in steps S1512 to S1516.

  In step S1512, the fax server 200 transmits the list created in step S1511 to the receiving terminal device 100.

  In step S1513, the receiving terminal device 100 receives the list transmitted from step S1512.

  In step S1514, the receiving terminal device 100 displays the reception fax selection screen from the fax reception list received in step S1514 (FIG. 14), and accepts the selection of the fax terminal that the user wants to receive.

  Next, FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the touch panel 410 when receiving the selection of the fax terminal in the receiving terminal device 100 in step S1514.

  Receiving fax terminal selection screen 1400 displays receivable fax terminal candidates.

  This is the end of the description of FIG.

  In step S1515, the receiving terminal device 100 accepts the selection of the fax terminal that the receiving terminal device 100 wants to receive from the user.

  In step S1516, receiving terminal apparatus 100 transmits the received fax information (user name and terminal) accepted in step S1515 to fax server 200.

  In step S1517, the fax server 200 receives the received fax information transmitted in step S1516.

  In step S1518, the fax server 200 updates the terminal 803 of the user information table (FIG. 8) from the information received in step S1517 and updates the receivable status 804 to “enabled”.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the user can select the fax terminal intended by the user, for example, in a company having fax terminals on multiple floors in the same building, the fax terminal that the user wants based on the position information ( The problem of being received by the receiving terminal) can be solved.

  Also, steps S1513 to S1516 do not have to be performed every time. For example, the fax selected by the user may be first stored in the memory of the fax server 200, and the stored fax may be used subsequently.

  This is the end of the description of the second embodiment.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the facsimile data cannot be transmitted when the user cannot receive the facsimile data.

  The present invention can be embodied as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program executable by the apparatus, a storage medium, or the like. Specifically, the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices. Alternatively, it may be applied to an apparatus composed of one device.

  It should be noted that the present invention includes a software program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, which directly or remotely supplies the system or device with the software program. The present invention also includes a case where the information processing apparatus of the system or the apparatus is achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Therefore, the program code itself installed in the information processing apparatus to implement the functional processing of the present invention in the information processing apparatus also implements the present invention. That is, the present invention includes the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, the program may take any form such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to an OS as long as it has the function of the program.

  Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program include a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, MO, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, and the like. There are also magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, DVDs (DVD-ROMs, DVD-Rs), and the like.

  In addition, as a method of supplying the program, a browser of a client computer is used to connect to a home page on the Internet. The computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file containing an automatic installation function can be supplied from the home page by downloading it to a recording medium such as a hard disk.

  It can also be realized by dividing the program code forming the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from different homepages. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for implementing the functional processing of the present invention on an information processing apparatus is also included in the present invention.

  Further, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and the key information for decrypting the encryption is downloaded from the home page via the Internet to users who have satisfied predetermined conditions. Let Then, it is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the downloaded key information and install the program in the information processing apparatus for implementation.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the information processing device executing the read program. In addition, the OS or the like running on the information processing device performs a part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can also be realized by the processing.

  Further, the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the information processing device or a function expansion unit connected to the information processing device. After that, based on the instructions of the program, a CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

  It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be limitedly interpreted by these. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

100 receiving terminal device 200 fax server 300 fax terminal A (multifunction device)
400 Fax terminal B (multifunction machine)
500 Fax terminal C (multifunction machine)

Claims (7)

Acquisition means for acquiring facsimile data,
When the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition means cannot receive the facsimile data, proxy user information indicating a proxy user who receives the facsimile data by proxy is set as the destination of the facsimile data. Management means for managing in association with user information indicating a user
The user can receive the facsimile data determined by using the position information of the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition unit and the position information of the output device that outputs the facsimile data. Receivability information acquiring means for acquiring receivability information indicating whether or not,
When the receivability information acquired by the receivability information acquiring means is information indicating that the receivability is receivable, the facsimile data is transmitted to the user, and the receivability information is acquired by the receivability information acquiring means. When the acceptability information is information indicating that the facsimile cannot be received, the managing unit manages the facsimile to the proxy user indicated by the proxy user information managed in association with the user information indicating the user. Transmission means for transmitting data,
An information processing apparatus comprising: The management unit manages a plurality of proxy users as a proxy reception group, and further manages the proxy reception group in association with user information indicating a user who is a destination of the facsimile data.
The receivability information acquisition means acquires the receivability information of each of the proxy users included in the proxy reception group,
The transmission means is a reception permission/inhibition information indicating that the reception permission/inhibition information acquired by the reception permission/inhibition information acquisition means is receivable among the proxy users included in the proxy reception group managed by the management means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile data is transmitted to a user. The management means manages each of the proxy users included in the proxy reception group with a priority.
In the case where there are a plurality of proxy users, which are acceptance/rejection information indicating that the acceptance/rejection information acquired by the acceptance/rejection information acquisition means is receivable, the transmission means has a higher priority to be managed by the management means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the facsimile data is transmitted to a high proxy user.   The receivability information indicates that the user can receive the facsimile data when the output device exists at a position within a predetermined range from the position of the user specified by the position information of the user. If the output device does not exist at a position within a predetermined range from the position of the user, which is determined as the permission/prohibition information and is specified by the position information of the user, it indicates that the user cannot receive the facsimile data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is determined as acceptance/rejection information. The management unit manages the frequency of use of the output device by a user who is a destination of the facsimile data,
Which output is generated by using the frequency of use managed by the management unit when a plurality of the output devices exist at a position within a predetermined range from the position of the user specified by the position information of the user 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a fax reception selection list for receiving a selection of whether to output the facsimile data by the apparatus. Acquisition means for acquiring facsimile data,
When the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition means cannot receive the facsimile data, proxy user information indicating a proxy user who receives the facsimile data by proxy is set as the destination of the facsimile data. And a management unit that manages the user information indicating another user in association with the user information.
Receivability information acquisition means of the information processing device is determined using position information of the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition device and position information of an output device that outputs the facsimile data. A reception availability information acquisition step of acquiring reception availability information indicating whether or not the user can receive the facsimile data.
And transmitting the facsimile data to the user when the reception availability information acquired in the reception availability information acquisition step is information indicating that the reception is possible, When the receivability information acquired in the receivability information acquisition step is information indicating that the user is unreceivable, the proxy user information managed by the management means in association with the user information indicating the user. A sending step of sending the facsimile data to the proxy user indicated by
A control method comprising: Acquisition means for acquiring facsimile data and proxy user information indicating a proxy user who receives the facsimile data by proxy when the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition means cannot receive the facsimile data. Is a program that can be read and executed by an information processing apparatus including: a management unit that manages and is associated with user information indicating a user who is the transmission destination of the facsimile data,
The information processing device,
The user can receive the facsimile data, which is determined by using the position information of the user who is the destination of the facsimile data acquired by the acquisition unit and the position information of the output device that outputs the facsimile data. Receivability information acquiring means for acquiring receivability information indicating whether or not,
When the receivability information acquired by the receivability information acquiring means is information indicating that the user is receivable, the facsimile data is transmitted to the user, and the receivability information is acquired by the receivability information acquiring means. When the acceptance/rejection information is information indicating that the facsimile cannot be received, the management unit links the facsimile information to the proxy user indicated by the proxy user information managed in association with the user information indicating the user. A program characterized by causing it to function as a transmission means for transmitting data.

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