JPH03191667A - Image communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To properly control the polling transmission/reception without deteriorating the secrecy of data by providing a control part to grant or inhibit a polling request with use of the data stored in a storage. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 1 is connected to a ROM 1a and a RAM 1b serving as a work area and controls the total operation of an image communication equipment based on a program stored in the ROM 1a. When the pollings are received from plural stations of the remote sides and the different polling images are sent to these stations, plural image data are previously stored in a polling image memory 6. Then these polling images are read out of a reading part 2 and stored in the memory 6. If a station of the remote side designates a polling image with an image ID stored in an image control table, a telephone number including the identification signal of the station of the remote side is compared with a polling granted telephone number as long as the corresponding image data is stored in the memory 6. When the coincidence is secured between both telephone numbers, a polling operation is carried out after confirming a fact that the present time is included in a range of the polling valid time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application 1] The present invention relates to an image communication device, and particularly to an image communication device that performs polling transmission or reception to a plurality of partner stations.

[Prior Art J] Traditionally, facsimile machines have a function called polling, which retrieves and receives a document set on the calling or called party, or image data stored on the called party. It is.

In this case, a method is used in which a password is used to determine whether to permit the polling operation, and a method in which a plurality of polling images can be identified and selected, especially in devices with memory, is also used.

[The problem that 2 Ming is trying to solve] However, the conventional polling function was often carried out between specific parties in one book, and the function was also simple6.
In the future, services such as search services for Meishin information using facsimile machines will be introduced, and new polling functions will be needed to support these services. In other words, a polling function is required to allow multiple users to retrieve multiple pieces of information, to enable this for a certain period of time, or to provide additional functions such as monitoring the operational status of the service for each user. .

On the other hand, in recent years, devices that use large-capacity image memories such as hard disks in addition to semiconductor memories have become popular, and such devices store not just one but many polling images, and can be used to store multiple polling images depending on the time of day. Alternatively, it is conceivable to poll those images depending on the partner station.

Conversely, it is also possible to use the system to collect image data from a plurality of partner stations by polling, and then to send the collected data to another partner station. In this case, if the polling partner station is verifying passwords,
There was a problem in that images could not be collected by polling unless appropriate passwords were sent to each partner station.

It is best practice to collect such images automatically, but in the conventional configuration, when performing multiple polls, the polling password could only be set to TL class, so the other station could collect all the images. Images could not be collected unless they had the same polling password.

However, if the password is the same for multiple stations, that password will be used even when the other station performs separate polling with other devices, so the confidentiality of the password will be lost, and data security will be compromised. A hearing will be issued.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to enable appropriate polling without compromising data confidentiality in a device that accepts polling with a large capacity image memory or polls a large number of partner stations. [Means for Solving the Problems J] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a large-capacity image memory, and is capable of managing polling requests from a plurality of partner stations. In an image communication device that transmits image data stored in the image memory in response to a plurality of polling images stored in the image memory, data regarding a partner station that permits polling of each of the plurality of polling images and communication conditions at that time. and a control means for permitting or prohibiting a polling request using the data stored in the storage means.

Alternatively, in an image communication device that has a large-capacity image memory, makes polling requests to multiple partner stations, and stores image data received through polling in the image memory, it is used by the partner station making the polling request. A configuration is adopted in which a means for storing a polling password is provided, and a control means for making a polling request using the polling password of the partner station stored in the storage means when performing polling processing for a designated partner station. .

[Function 1] According to the above configuration, when polling is permitted for multiple stations regarding image data stored in the 5-image memory, polling permission/prohibition can be controlled for each partner station; can be collected and stored in image memory.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a facsimile device adopting the present invention. The device shown in FIG. This device stores the image data and accepts polling requests from a plurality of partner stations for each of the data, or conversely, receives the obtained image data into the image memory 6 by making polling requests to a plurality of partner stations.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU consisting of a microprocessor or the like, to which is connected a ROM 1a and a RAM 1b as a work area, and controls the operation of the entire apparatus according to a program stored in the ROM 1a. The following members are connected to cput.

The reading section 2 includes a CCD line sensor, a document conveyance system, and the like, and is used to read document images.

The recording section 3 is comprised of a thermal recording head, a recording paper conveyance system, and the like, and is used to record received images or images read by the reading section 2 during original copying.

The recording unit 4 is composed of an LCD display and a keyboard such as a numeric keypad and function keys.

The communication control section 5 provides an interface with the network WAN, and is composed of a modem, an NCU, a call signal detection section, and the like.

The following describes control when accepting and accepting polling from multiple stations and when polling multiple stations. First, a configuration for accepting and accepting polling requests from a plurality of partner stations will be described.

First Embodiment When accepting polling from a plurality of partner stations and transmitting separate polling images, a plurality of image data is stored in advance in the image memory 6. This polling image is read from the reading unit 2. The images are captured and stored in the image memory 6 as an image file in one communication type.

Image data stored in the image memory 6 is managed by the second
This is done using the data tables shown in Figures (A) to (C).

2 (A) to (C) show the data for polling control stored in the RAM 1b in FIG.
Figure (A) shows data for managing polling images. Each polling image has one ID number, such as r#0001J, for example.

In addition, the period during which polling images need to be stored or the time targeted for polling requests is registered as the polling effective time.
0/l 2100J, which is 1989 September
This indicates that the image is valid as a polling image until 12:00 on the 30th of the month.

Next, the polling image has one or more destination telephone numbers that permit the polling request.

Here, it is represented by the numerical value r*oOJ r*01Jr* 03J, which is 14. It corresponds to the number.

In other words, r*oOJ corresponds to a general telephone number "r03-123-4567". In addition, "***" in the polling permission phone number column in Figure 2 (A) indicates the end of the permission phone number data, but if the permission phone number data is
If there is only "***", it means that polling is permitted for all users registered in the polling permission telephone number list in FIG. 2(B).

The data shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B are registered by the operator's keystrokes, and the polling image is registered in the image memory by the document reading operation.

Further, the data shown in FIG. 2(C) is a list of how much each authorized telephone number registered by the above operation is used. In the illustrated example, the user number r*oO
Polling was carried out twice on the right side of J, and the contents are as follows:
r#oo03J September 1, 1989 at 9:00 on O day
This shows that the withdrawal was made at 3:30 pm on the 2nd.

Figure 3 shows the procedure for polling control for multiple partner stations in the configurations of Figures 1 and 2.
The procedure shown in the figure is stored in the ROM 1a of FIG. 1 as a control program for the CPU 1.

In step S'' of FIG. 3, a known facsimile J'f-
Based on the order, it is determined whether a polling request has been made from the other station. If there is a polling request, the process advances to step S2.

In step S2, the partner station specifies the image to be polled by specifying the image ID in the image management table. This specification is made using a non-standard device signal.

In step S2, the image [
It is determined whether image data corresponding to 0 is stored in the image memory 6. If image data with the corresponding image 10 is stored, it is determined in steps S3 to S5 whether to permit polling based on the data in the polling image management table of FIG. 2(A) that has the image IO. do.

First, in step S3, the telephone number included in the identification signal of the partner station, and the polling permission in FIG. 2(B) referenced via the polling permission number field of the polling image management table in FIG. 2(A). Compare with phone number. If these match, the process advances to step S4.

In step S4, the current time is read from a clock IC (not shown) or the like, and it is determined whether the current time is included in the range of valid polling times in the polling image management table of FIG. 2(A).

If step S4 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined whether or not the field for the number of times of polling for the corresponding station is 0 among the fields for the number of times of polling in the polling image management table.

If the number of times is not 0 in step S5, the process proceeds to step S6. If any of steps 82 to S5 is negative, the process proceeds to step S8 and polling is rejected.

In step S6, polling is permitted and the corresponding polled image in the image memory 6 is transmitted to the partner station. Thereafter, in step S7, data such as the polling image ID and usage time are recorded in the management table of FIG. 2(C), and in step S7, the field for the number of pollings is recorded in the polling image management table of FIG. Of these, the polling count field corresponding to the partner station that polled is decremented, and the process ends.

In the above description, the polling image, valid time, authorized telephone number, etc. are registered manually using keys on the console, but this can also be done by remote control.

For example, an image for memory polling is transmitted from a predetermined wood chip facsimile to a branch office facsimile, and valid time and authorized telephone number data are also transmitted at the same time. This may be in the form of an OCR sheet, or may be based on characters, D, TMF signals, or the like.

Further, applications such as transmitting only one image and manually registering the data using a key, or conversely, transmitting data and manually registering the image can be considered.

Further, the polling usage status list as shown in FIG. 2(C) may be printed out, or it may be sent back to Mokuzai as data.

Furthermore, not only the telephone number but also the name of the partner station, a predetermined password, etc. may be stored, and whether or not to permit polling may be determined by checking these.

Second Embodiment Next, a configuration for polling a plurality of partner stations and storing polled image data in the image memory 6 will be described.

Figures 4 (A) to (E) are shown in the same format as Figure 2.
A data table set in RAM 1b is shown.

FIG. 4(A) shows the correspondence between the polling passwords that a plurality of partner stations check when accepting polling, and the corresponding partner stations. Here, as in the case of Fig. 2 (A),
The partner station is represented by the codes *00, *01, etc., and the actual phone number of the partner station with these codes is:
The fourth table is configured similarly to the table shown in FIG. 2(B).
This can be known by referring to the table in Figure (D).

Further, in the polling password area in FIG. 4(A), numerical passwords and character passwords are stored separately. Here, the code is "N" at the beginning.
Password numbers marked with a symbol "c" indicate a numerical password, and password numbers preceded by a code "c" indicate a character password.

From the table in FIG. 4(A), if you want to enter the password of the other station, use these codes rN", "C
”, one of the tables in FIG. 4 (B) to C) is referred to.

The table in FIG. 4B stores the actual binary pattern of the numerical password corresponding to the password number with the code "N". Further, the table in FIG. 4(C) stores the actual pattern of the character password, that is, the character string corresponding to the password number with the code "c". Character passwords are actually stored in the form of character codes and other numbers.

In addition, FIG. 4(E) shows a table of partner stations or networks to which image information obtained by polling should be sent in bulk. In FIG. 4(E), **oo,
**ot indicates the collection and delivery destination of the polling image information to be transmitted all at once to this partner station or network. For example, for the other station or network **QQ, the other station $01. Indicates that polling is performed for $02 and *03, and then the collected image information is to be sent all at once to the partner station or network **00.

The selection numbers of these partner stations or networks are determined by another number table (not shown) or the like.

FIG. 5 shows the procedure for collecting images from a plurality of partner stations by polling using the above table and transmitting them all at once to another partner station.

In step Sll, the operator specifies the partner station from which images are to be collected from the operation panel 4, and performs operations to instruct image collection and batch transmission.

Here, as shown in Figure 4 (E), the bulk destination book*0
The data of the partner station whose image for 0 is to be collected is entered manually.

Next, in a loop of steps 512 to 515, images are collected by polling the partner stations in the table of FIG. 2(E). In step 512, the telephone number of the other party is generated. Here, the telephone number to be used for the actual call is extracted from the data in the table of FIG. Generate the polling password used by the other station. In this case, first refer to the pointer to the polling password in FIG. 4(A) from the data in FIG. 4(E), and use this pointer to
The numerical password table in Figure (B) or Figure 4 (C)
) generates the polling password used by the partner station, which is stored in the character password table.

In step S14, a call is made to the partner station using the telephone number and polling password generated in steps 512 and S13, and image data is received by polling.

In step S15, it is determined whether the processes of steps 812 to 514 have been performed for all partner stations in the table of FIG. 4(E). If step S15 is negative, the process from step S12 is repeated, and if affirmative, the process advances to step S16.

In step 516, the received image data is transmitted all at once to the partner station indicated by the entry in the table of FIG. 4(E). At this time, the image transmission may be performed by polling, and in that case, the polling process during this batch image transmission may be managed by the method shown in the first embodiment.

In this way, even if the polling passwords of all partner stations are different, the appropriate password is automatically used for each poll, and the image data generated by polling can be updated without compromising the security of each partner station's polling password or image information. Collection and bulk transmission are possible.

In the above, for ease of explanation, control data may be received using polling control data (FIG. 4) and registered in the RAM 1b.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, what is done with the image memory of 1 person-1, and the image data stored in the image memory is transmitted in response to polling requests from a plurality of partner stations. an image communication device for storing data regarding a partner station that is permitted to poll the plurality of polling images δ stored in the image memory and communication conditions at that time, and storing data in the storage means. The configuration is equipped with a control means that allows or prohibits polling requests using the received data, or has a large-capacity image memory, makes polling requests to multiple partner stations, and transmits the polled and received image data to the In an image communication device that stores a polling password in an image memory, means for storing a polling password used by a partner station making a polling request, and when polling a designated partner station, the polling password stored in the storage means. Since the configuration is equipped with a control means that uses the station's polling password to issue a polling request, when polling is permitted for multiple stations regarding image data stored in one image memory, polling permission/control is required for each partner station. On the other hand, it is possible to provide an excellent image communication device that can collect image data from multiple stations by polling and store it in an image memory, and can appropriately manage polling transmission and reception without compromising data confidentiality. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile machine adopting the present invention, and FIGS. 2(A) to (C) are explanatory diagrams showing the configuration of data used in the first embodiment of polling control. , FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a polling image using the tables of FIGS. 2(A) to (C), and FIGS. 4(A) to (E) are used for the second embodiment of polling control. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing polling control using the data shown in FIGS. 4(A) to 4(E). l ...CPU 1 a-f (OM l b -RAM2...
・Reading section

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An image communication device having a large capacity image memory and transmitting image data stored in the image memory in response to polling requests from a plurality of partner stations, comprising: means for storing data regarding a partner station that permits polling of each of the plurality of polling images and communication conditions at that time; and control for permitting or prohibiting polling requests using the data stored in the storage means. An image communication device characterized by being provided with means. 2) In an image communication device that has a large-capacity image memory, makes polling requests to multiple partner stations, and stores image data received through polling in the image memory, a device that is used by the partner station making the polling request. and a control means for making a polling request using the polling password of the partner station stored in the storage means when performing polling processing for a designated partner station. Image communication device.