JPH03291052A - Information processing unit provided with facsimile service function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To receive a desired file by calling a work station by a telephone set and reading and sending a file designated at the work station when an object file and a transmission destination are designated through the use of a pushbutton of the telephone set. CONSTITUTION:When a document is desired to get at a location apart from a work station(WS) 13, a television telephone set 17 makes a phone call to the WS 13 to connect a telephone line, a pushbutton acts like an input device to designate a file and a telephone number of a transmission destination is designated. The WS 13 dials the designated telephone number to read the designated file and the information is sent to a telephone line 4 via a MODEM 15. Thus, a facsimile equipment 16 receives a desired document without need of manual intervention at the WS 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application 1] The present invention relates to information processing apparatuses such as workstations, various servers, and personal computers having a facsimile transmission function.

[Prior Art 1] In a general facsimile device, as shown in FIG. A facsimile machine on the sending side, for example, facsimile machine 1, reads the document using an image sensor or the like, converts it into a black and white bit pattern, encodes it, and then sends it via a telephone line 4 to a facsimile machine on the receiving side, for example, facsimile machine 1. Send to 2. Also,
The facsimile machine 2 on the receiving side decodes the received signal to restore the black and white bit pattern, and forms an image corresponding to the original image on recording paper.

In contrast, in recent years, there are information processing devices equipped with a facsimile service function that directly transmits file data such as documents and graphics created on workstations, personal computers, etc. (for example, [Information Processing J
August 1987.

Vol, 28. No, 8. pp1015-1020
: see Email and Group Communication).

FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of an information processing apparatus equipped with a conventional facsimile service function.

A network system is configured by connecting a plurality of workstations 6, 7, various servers such as a print server 8 and a file server 9, and a facsimile server 10 to a LAN (local area network) cable 5. The facsimile server 10 is connected to a facsimile machine 11, and the facsimile machine 11 further includes:
It is connected to another facsimile machine 12 via a telephone line 4.

In a network system as shown in Figure 7,
File data such as documents and graphics created at the workstations 6.7 is stored in the storage device of each workstation 6.7 or the file server 9.

For example, when transmitting a document to the other party's facsimile device 12, the workstation 6 or 7 selects the document to be transmitted, and the facsimile server 10 selects the document to be transmitted.
send it to. The facsimile server 10 directly generates an encoded signal corresponding to the bit pattern of the document image from the file data, and sends it to the telephone line 4 via the facsimile device 11. Note that the facsimile device 11 is also capable of transmitting original documents as in the past.

In the facsimile device 12 on the receiving side, an image is formed based on the received signal in the same manner as in the prior art.

In an information processing device equipped with such a facsimile service function, the image information of the document is directly transmitted in the form of digital data, so as in the past, the document to be sent is first printed out on the print server 8 and then There is no need to set this printed paper in the facsimile machine 11. Therefore, there are advantages in that the operation is simplified without any manual intervention, and the image quality does not deteriorate.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In an information processing apparatus having a facsimile service function as described above, a user exists at a workstation, and the user himself/herself operates the workstation to transmit file data. However, in some cases, the user may be located far from the workstation and may need the documents on the workstation.

For example, when a document that you want to see suddenly appears during a meeting outside the company, or when you have forgotten a necessary document. Furthermore, when the amount of documents is large and heavy, there are cases where the document is not taken in person, but the document is manually copied by facsimile at the location.

Here, when the receiving side requests the receiving side to transmit a desired file using an information processing apparatus equipped with the facsimile service function as described above, the following procedure is required.

(1) The receiving side calls the operator of the network system using the telephone attached to the facsimile machine or another telephone, and tells the operator the name of the file to be sent and the storage location of the file.

(2) The operator on the network system side selects the notified file and instructs the facsimile server to transmit it.

However, in this case, if there is no operator on the network system side, transmission cannot be requested. Further, even if there is an operator, if there are multiple workstations and the directory structure and file structure are complex, there is a problem that it is difficult or time-consuming for the operator to search for a desired file. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide the password to the operator in order to have access to the desired file, which poses a problem in terms of confidentiality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to specify a file to be transmitted using a telephone on the side of a facsimile device that is to receive data, so that the desired file can be received.

[Means for Solving the Problems J] An information processing device equipped with a facsimile service function according to the present invention includes a storage device in which image information such as documents and graphics is recorded as a plurality of files in the form of digital data, and a telephone line. means connected to the telephone line for sending a file designation signal designating a file in the storage device and a destination designation signal designating a telephone number of a facsimile machine receiving file data to the telephone line; , reads the designated file from the storage device based on the file designation signal sent from the telephone line, and transmits the file data to the facsimile device designated by the destination designation signal via the telephone line. and a means for sending out.

``Function'' If you want to receive documents by facsimile at a location far from the storage device where the necessary files are recorded, for example, call up a workstation equipped with the storage device from a button-type phone and press the button on the phone. The target file and destination are specified using the buttons. In this case, the oscillation sound corresponding to the push button becomes the file specification signal and the destination specification signal.

The workstation reads the specified file from the storage device based on these signals and transmits it to the specified facsimile device. Therefore, the desired document or the like can be obtained at a location far from the storage device.

[Examples] Hereinafter, the features of the present invention will be specifically explained based on examples with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing apparatus equipped with a facsimile service function of the present invention.

Personal computer or workstation 13
A printer 14, a modem 15 capable of automatically making and receiving calls, and the like are connected to the machine, and the modem 5 is further connected to a facsimile machine 16 and a telephone-type video telephone machine 17 via a public telephone line or a dedicated telephone line 4. There is.

The facsimile device 16 has a configuration similar to that of a general facsimile device. As shown in FIG. 2, the videophone device 17 has transmitter/receiver devices 17a, [0] to “9”,
12 push buttons 17b of "*J" and "#", C0D
(charge-coupled device) imaging device 17c using a camera or the like;
Image display device 17d using CRT (cathode ray tube) etc.
, an image compression/expansion device 17e, and a control device 17f. The control device 17f separates the audio signal of the transmitting/receiving device 17a from the video signal of the imaging device 17c and the image display device 17d, oscillates the frequency according to the push button 17b,
Controls connection to the telephone line 4, etc.

The workstation 13 side also has a DTMF (duplex) of the button in order to receive input from the push button 17b of the button 17.
A DTMF decoder or the like (not shown) for converting al tone multi-frequency (altone multi-frequency) sounds into character data is provided.

In the information processing device equipped with a facsimile function as shown in FIG. connection,
The push button 17b functions as an input device for the workstation 13, and a file is specified using the push button 17b, as well as a destination telephone number.

The workstation 13 makes a call to the designated telephone number, and after the telephone line is connected, reads the designated file and sends it to the telephone line 4 via the modem 15. Therefore, the desired document can be obtained at the facsimile machine 16.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment in which an information processing apparatus with a facsimile function according to the present invention is applied to a network system including a plurality of workstations. Incidentally, the same reference numerals are given to the members corresponding to the conventional example shown in FIG. 7 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Multiple workstations 6 for LAN cable 5
．． 7, a print server 8, a file server 9, and other various servers are connected to form a network system. Furthermore, an answering facsimile server 18 is connected to the LAN cable 5. This answering facsimile server 18 is connected to a telephone terminal via a modem 19 which has an automatic call/receive function as in the embodiment shown in FIG. Q4, and a facsimile device 16 and a videophone device 17 are connected to the telephone line 4.

Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus equipped with the facsimile function shown in FIG.
This will be explained with reference to a display example of the video telephone device shown in the figure.

When the user wants to send a document by facsimile, he calls the telephone number of the telephone line to which the facsimile server 18 is connected from the video telephone device 17.

The network system constantly detects incoming calls (step 101), and when there is an incoming call, the network system asks for the employee number and password as a login name for user authentication (Figure 5 (a)). reference)
Therefore, enter your employee number and password (Step 10)
2). The process proceeds to the next step only when the password is correct and the owner of this password is away (step 103). Note that whether or not the user is out of the house can be known by, for example, registering the time when the user is out in the calendar of the workstation. In this embodiment, confidentiality is protected by setting the employee number and password in this way.

The details of the employee number request display process and the login expert process will be explained below.

The network system first starts with F via the modem 19.
Character code data corresponding to the character string "Employee number:" is developed into an image compatible with the video phone device 17, compressed, and then sent to the video phone device 17. The video telephone device 17 decompresses the compressed image data and displays it on the screen of the image display device 17d. Therefore, the character string "Employee number: J" is displayed on the screen, as shown in FIG. 5(a).

Next, the user presses the push button 17b of the videophone device 17.
When the employee number is input using the , a DTMF signal corresponding to the employee number is transmitted to the network system side, and is converted into numerical data by a DTMF decoder (not shown) provided in the facsimile server 18, for example. It is then determined whether this numerical data matches a pre-registered employee number.

In this way, when data is input from the video phone device 17, image data is sent to the video phone device 17 again. The same applies to the processing described below.

Referring back to FIG. 4, if the conditions are not satisfied in step 103, error processing is performed such as displaying a message requesting re-input on the video telephone device 17 (step 104), and then the process returns to step 102.

When the conditions of step 102 are satisfied, the types of available services are displayed on the videophone device 17 (
Refer to FIG. 5(b), and select the desired service (step 105). Here, we will select the answering facsimile service, so press button 1 on the videophone device 17.
Enter rl#J from 7b.

When the answering facsimile service is selected (step 106), selectable workstation names, for example, are displayed (see FIG. 5(c)), and the desired workstation name is selected (step 107). Here, assuming that the target file is stored in a workstation named ``r bbb'', input ``2#J'' from the push button 17b of the video telephone device 17.

Next, selectable directory names or file names are displayed (see FIGS. 5(d) and (e)), so the desired directory name or file name is selected (step 108). Here, the target file is r 5ai
to], and this directory r5aito] is the parent directory r
If it is located under "home", press the push button 17b of the video telephone device 17 to input "1#J" to select the parent directory "home".
), then enter "4#" to select the lower directory r
Select 5aito J (see (d) in the same figure). In addition,
If a valid file name is not entered, proceed to step 10.
8 (step 109).

When the selection of the file name is completed, the selected file name is sent to the videophone device 17 for confirmation along with the workstation name and directory name.
e/5aito J will be displayed, and you will be asked to enter the telephone number of the destination (see Figure 5 (D)).
3123456J is input from the push button 17b (step 110). Confirmation is requested at the end (Figure 5 (g)
), so if the file name and telephone number displayed on the videophone device 17 are correct, the videophone device 17
By inputting "0#" from the push button to give a transmission instruction, the process advances from step 111 to step 112, and the file data is transmitted to the facsimile machine 16 (step 112). When the data transmission is completed, the screen returns to the menu screen shown in Figure 5 (h).
The operation is ended by manually performing (step 113
).

In addition, when displaying on the above-mentioned video telephone device 17, the portion that cannot be displayed on one screen is displayed by scrolling or rewriting.

Further, the facsimile device 16 and the videophone device 17 may use independent telephone lines, or may switch and use a common telephone line.

In the above-described embodiment, the video telephone device 17 is used as the data input/output means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to use a normal voice-only telephone in the Bush Pong format. In this case, by providing a speech synthesis device on the network side that converts character string data into speech, the user can receive instructions from the network side,
It is possible to recognize the presentation of a directory name or file name, etc.

Furthermore, by providing a voice recognition device that recognizes the user's voice on the network side, it is possible to directly specify a number or file name by voice rather than by pressing a button on a button.

In this case, the types of data that can be input are not limited by the number of push buttons, resulting in increased flexibility in data input.

[Effects of the Invention 1] As described above, in the present invention, by using a telephone at the place of departure as an input/output device for an information processing device, it is possible to use a telephone at a place where the information processing device is not available. The resulting document can be printed out using a facsimile machine. Therefore, there is no need for manual intervention on the information processing device side, and problems such as usage time restrictions and password leakage are solved. Furthermore, since the user who knows the file status best performs the operation, the desired file can be selected accurately in a short time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing device equipped with a facsimile service function of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a video telephone device used in the information processing device, and FIG. The figure is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment in which an information processing apparatus with a facsimile function of the present invention is applied to a network system equipped with a plurality of workstations, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the network system, and FIG. Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a video telephone device, Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing how a general facsimile machine is used, and Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of an information processing device equipped with a conventional facsimile service function. be. 1.2, 3, 11, 12, 16: Facsimile device 4:
Public telephone line or dedicated telephone line 5: LAN cable 6, 7, 13: Workstation 8 Niblint server 9: File server 10: Facsimile server 14: Printer 15: 19: Modem 17: Video telephone device 18: Answering facsimile server

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A storage device in which image information such as documents and figures is recorded as a plurality of files in the form of digital data, and a file designation device connected to a telephone line and specifying a file in the storage device. means for transmitting a signal and a destination designation signal specifying a telephone number of a facsimile device that receives file data to the telephone line; and a means connected to the telephone line based on the file designation signal sent from the telephone line. a facsimile service function characterized by comprising means for reading a designated file from the storage device using the transmission destination designation signal, and transmitting the file data via the telephone line to the facsimile device designated by the destination designation signal. Information processing equipment equipped with.