JPH05292293A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To adjust respective communication costs at respective posts by clarifying the costs required for the entire communication as the costs of the posts which originally performed the communication. CONSTITUTION:At the time of transmitting a relay request, a document is set at a scanner part 12 of a request source terminal, transmission source information registered beforehand by a operation display part 9 is specified, relay request information is inputted, and picture data is transmitted to a repeater station. The repeater station which received the relay request transmits the picture data to a repeater slave station, calculates the communication costs based on the communication cost calculating table of an auxiliary storage part 17, and stores relay communication cost data summed up for the respective transmission sources in a file. This relay communication cost data is transmitted to the request source terminal as a relay result report, is outputted at the request source terminal, the communication cost data is stored at the repeater station, and the communication cost is adjusted based on this data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly, to settle the communication cost that the relay requester or each department should originally bear when transmitting a relay request or when one facsimile terminal is shared by a plurality of departments. And a facsimile device capable of

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional facsimile machine manages a facsimile terminal without a means for clearly calculating and adjusting the communication cost actually used by each department when the facsimile terminal is used in a plurality of departments. It was often treated as an expense for the department in which it is located. Also, when sending a relay request between multiple facsimile terminals, there is no problem because the relay requester bears the communication cost from the relay requester to the relay station, but when transferring image data from the relay station to the relay slave station. The communication cost of the above will be burdened to the relay station which should not be borne originally, and there is no conventional method to calculate and settle the communication cost when transmitting the relay request, and it is directly processed as the communication cost of the relay station. There were many

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, it is unclear how to settle the communication cost when the facsimile terminals are used in a plurality of departments.
There was a problem that it was not possible to charge for the communication cost of the department that actually communicated. Also, when performing a relay request transmission using a facsimile communication network, the facsimile device that has become a relay station bears the communication cost to the relay slave station, which increases the communication cost and the communication cost of other than the own station. There was a problem that I had to bear it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and clarifies the cost required for all communications as the expense of the department that originally communicated, and settles each communication cost in each department. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile device capable of performing the above.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A plurality of facsimile terminals are connected to the line to form a facsimile communication network, and a relay request is made to transfer the image data transmitted from the relay request source terminal to the relay station to the relay slave station,
In the facsimile device that receives the relay request, the relay station makes a call to the relay slave station that is requested to transfer the received image data, and communication cost management means for calculating a communication cost required when the image data is transmitted. When the relay request source terminal receives a relay request for the image data, a request source information transmitting unit that transmits request source information including a request source name and an affiliation code to the relay station that requests the relay. And relay communication cost data creating means for accumulating the communication cost of the image data to the relay slave station to be borne by each requester based on the received requester information, and relaying based on the relay communication cost data. The feature is that the communication cost of the requested relay station is settled.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, when transmitting image data using the facsimile terminal, transmission source information including a transmission source name and belonging code is registered in advance. And a transmission source information registration designating unit that performs a transmission operation by designating a transmission source at the time of transmission, and a communication cost data creating unit that totals communication costs of image data to be borne by each transmission source based on the transmission source information. , And the communication cost is settled for each department using the facsimile terminal based on the communication cost data.

The invention according to claim 3 is the same as claim 1 or 2.
The described facsimile machine is characterized by further comprising communication cost data storage means for storing the relay communication cost data or the communication cost data for each relay request source or transmission source. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the third aspect, the communication cost list output for automatically outputting the relay communication cost data stored in the communication cost data storage means or the communication cost data at a predetermined date and time. It is characterized by comprising means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the third aspect, each facsimile terminal is connected to a host computer through an external interface, and the relay communication cost data or the communication from the host computer is transmitted. Based on cost data request order,
The relay communication fee data or the communication fee data is transferred from the communication fee data accumulating means to the host computer.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the third aspect, relay communication cost data in which a bill of communication cost to a relay request source of a relay station generated by a relay request during a predetermined period is accumulated. It is characterized in that it is created based on the above, and is transmitted by facsimile to the relay request source at a predetermined date and time.

[0010]

In the invention described in claim 1, the requester terminal transmits the requester information to the relay station, and based on this, the relay station collects the communication cost for the relay slave station to be borne by each requester. Since the relay communication cost data is created by the relay station, the relay station can settle the communication cost to the relay requester who has made the relay request based on this data.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the image data is transmitted using the facsimile terminal, the transmission operation is performed by designating the transmission source information registered in advance.
Since communication cost data is created by aggregating the communication cost of image data to be borne by each sender, the communication cost can be settled for each department using the facsimile terminal based on this data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the relay communication charge data and the communication charge data are stored, these data can be freely extracted and used at any time.
According to the invention described in claim 4, since the accumulated relay communication fee data and communication fee data are automatically output at a predetermined date and time, the communication fee can be settled regularly without forgetting.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, when there is a request command for relay communication cost data or communication cost data from a host computer connected through an external interface, the command is transferred to the host computer. By doing so, it becomes possible to collectively manage communication costs and settlement. In the invention according to claim 6, a bill for the communication cost to the relay request source of the relay station generated by the relay request during the predetermined period is created based on the accumulated relay communication cost data, and the relay request is made at the predetermined date and time. Since the facsimile is transmitted to the source, the settlement of the request source terminal of the relay station can be easily performed.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a CPU (Central Process)
sing unit) controls the entire system. Two
Is a main memory (D-RAM) in which a work area and a temporary storage area required for the CPU 1 to perform control are formed. 3 is a parameter memory (CMOS-RA
In M), the parameters required for the system can be stored, and the stored contents can be retained by the battery 4 even when the power is turned off. Reference numeral 5 is a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is the CPU 1
The firmware that determines the control operation of is stored. A character generator 6 creates characters such as a transmission result report and a communication cost list in this embodiment. Reference numeral 7 is a clock circuit for performing time management during transmission / reception and time management for creating a communication cost list, a bill, etc. at a predetermined date and time. A DMA controller 8 controls read and write access operations to the memory. Reference numeral 9 denotes an operation display unit, which uses an operation button to input a calling number related to transmission / reception of a facsimile device, select various modes, output a transmission result report or a communication cost list, and input to a display unit such as an LCD. The contents and operation status are displayed to the operator. 10 is an external interface, RS232
It is connected to a LAN or the like via C or SCSI, and is connected to a host computer via this interface in this embodiment, and data such as a communication cost list is exchanged. A plotter unit 11 receives binarized image data and prints it on recording paper. A scanner unit 12 reads image information while conveying a document to be transmitted line by line. Reference numerals 13, 14 and 15 denote an encoding compression unit, a decoding expansion unit, and a code reproduction unit, which compress image data or decompress and restore compressed image data for reproduction. Reference numeral 16 denotes an image processing unit, which processes image information other than the above-described image data encoding / decoding. Reference numeral 17 denotes an auxiliary storage unit, which stores a table for calculating the communication cost based on the calling number and the communication time in the case of the group 3 device (G3), and the communication cost can be calculated based on the table. In addition, calling source information including names of relay requesters and senders, affiliation codes, and the like is registered here, and it is possible to call with one touch by a button operation of the operation display unit 9 and send to the partner station. Reference numeral 18 denotes a communication control unit, which includes a network control unit and a modem here, and performs transmission / reception of image data including communication information by performing modulation / demodulation of an image signal and connection with a public line L. Reference numeral 19 denotes a system bus, which is a data path for exchanging data between respective units of the facsimile apparatus.

As described above, the communication cost calculation table for the G3 device is stored in the auxiliary storage unit 17 and calculated by the calling number and the communication time. Also, G
In the case of 4 devices, communication cost data can be obtained from the network. Then, the sender information (name, affiliation code) when the image data is transmitted using the facsimile device is stored in advance in the auxiliary storage unit 17 using the operation display unit 9 or the external interface 10 before using the facsimile device. You need to register.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a communication cost list when one facsimile terminal is shared by a plurality of departments. When the facsimile terminal is used in a plurality of departments in FIG. 2, the original is set in the scanner unit 12 when the original is transmitted (step 10
1) Select the one-touch key or bar code of the operation display unit 9 in which the name and department code of the sender's department have been entered in advance to specify the sender (step 10).
2).

Next, when the calling number of the transmission partner station is entered from the operation display unit 9, the image data is transmitted to the partner station through a normal communication procedure (call origination → incoming call → line connection) (step 104). ). The result of this transmission operation is stored in the transmission result report. If the communication is actually performed, the transmission source information (name,
Communication costs are calculated and filed for each affiliation code). That is, the communication date and time, the communication partner station, and the communication cost when transmitting using the facsimile apparatus for each transmission source are stored, and these data are stored in the auxiliary storage unit 17 (step 105).

In the case of G3 equipment, the above-mentioned calculation of the communication charge is based on the communication charge calculation table stored in advance in the auxiliary storage unit 17, and the communication charge is calculated according to the callee and the communication time. In the case of G4, communication cost data is obtained from the network, and a communication cost list is created based on this. As described above, when one facsimile apparatus is shared by a plurality of departments, the transmission operation is performed by designating the transmission source every time an original is transmitted, and therefore the communication cost can be calculated for each transmission source. , And can be stored in the auxiliary storage unit as a communication cost list together with the transmission result report. Therefore, it becomes possible to clearly display the communication cost of each department using the facsimile terminal, and the communication cost, which is the most expensive running cost of the facsimile machine, can be settled according to the actual usage situation. It is possible.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a procedure for creating communication cost data when transmitting a relay request. The manuscript setting and transmission source designation processing in steps 201 and 202 in FIG. 3 is the same as in the above-described steps 101 and 102, and a description thereof will be omitted. Next, in step 203, the relay request information necessary for making the relay request, that is, the calling numbers of the relay station and the relay slave station are input using the operation display unit 9, and in step 204 Original image data is transmitted to the relay station.

Therefore, FIG. 5 is a signal sequence chart when the facsimile terminal for transmitting and receiving image data is a G3 device. When the facsimile terminal that transmits and receives the image data is a G3 device, it is transmitted in the normal procedure as shown in FIG. 5, but the first N times shown in step 401 in the figure.
The SS signal is used to transmit the telephone number of the request source terminal and the belonging code information of the transmission source (relay request source) designated in step 202 of FIG. Further, regarding the information of the relay slave station transmitted by the relay, the NSS signal from the second time onward (step 40
2, 403 ...) to send in units of 6 stations.

FIG. 6 is a signal sequence chart when the facsimile terminal for transmitting and receiving image data is G4 equipment. When the facsimile terminal that transmits and receives the image data is a G4 device, it is transmitted in the normal procedure as shown in FIG. 6, but the requester terminal calls the CDUI signal (CDUI ...) Shown in step 501 in the figure. The transmission is performed in the order of the number, the belonging code, and the information of the relay slave station. Then, the result of communication from the request source terminal to the relay station is subjected to the same processing as step 105 described in FIG. 2 and accumulated in the communication result report, and also for each affiliation code of the department that made the relay request. It receives the communication cost data from the network and stores this data in the communication cost file (step 205).

Next, regarding the processing in the relay station, returning to FIG. 3 again, when the relay request is received from the request source terminal in step 211, in step 212 the image data is sent to the relay slave station requested to relay. To send. At this time, in the case of the G3 device, the communication cost data required for transmitting to the relay slave station is obtained from the communication cost calculation table in the case of G4 and from the network in the case of G4, and is stored in the transmission result report and also the relay The relay request source number, affiliation code, date and time, and charge are stored in the communication cost file for the relay slave station generated by the request (step 213).

In the present embodiment, the storage in the communication cost file generated by the above-mentioned relay request is one piece of information for one relay request, and not for each piece of communication data for the relay slave station. Then, the relay station transmits the slave station A to the relay slave station.
(Step 221), slave station B (step 222), slave station C (step 223), and so on, image data is sequentially transmitted, and when all the relay-requested communications are completed, the relay station is the request source terminal. To the relay result report (step 214).

As the information of this relay result report, G
In the case of three devices, the NSS signal of step 401 shown in FIG. 5 is used to send the relay station number, the relay station administrator affiliation code, the relay requester affiliation code, and the total communication cost.
Each communication result for the slave station is transmitted as image information. G4
Also in the case of C, the same data as in step 501 of FIG. 6 is used.
Send with DUI.

As a result, when the requesting terminal receives the information of the relay result report (step 206), the relay result report is output by the plotter unit 11 (step 207), and the cost required for the relay request is transmitted from the relay station. Based on the affiliation code of the relay request source sent,
Accumulate in the communication cost file for each affiliation (step 20
8), a series of operations at the time of transmitting the relay request ends.

As described above, the communication cost data for each communication is stored in a file. Below, based on the communication cost data at the time of transmission, use of the department that actually used the facsimile terminal An explanation will be given of the procedure for adjusting the communication cost according to the situation. FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the procedure for settlement of communication costs in this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the settlement of the communication cost is performed, for example, about once a month on a predetermined day. Therefore, in step 301 shown in FIG. 4, a list of communication costs for each affiliation is output by using the operation display unit 9 of FIG. 1 or by a host computer or the like connected via the external interface 10. Request to. When this list output request is received, a total list of communication costs for each department and a communication cost list for each department of the requesting terminal are created based on the communication cost file for each department and the relay communication cost file generated by the relay request. Then, the list is printed out from the plotter unit 11 (step 302) (step 303).

In this case, when there is a list output request from the host computer or the like via the external interface 10 described above, the output destination of the list is the plotter unit 11.
Instead, the list data is sent directly to the host computer for processing. Next, if there is a relay request in step 304 shown in FIG. 4, the requester's telephone number recorded in the relay communication cost file generated by the relay request is used to make a communication charge bill for the month. Is automatically created and transmitted (step 305). In this way, the facsimile terminal administrator of the relay station should settle the communication cost for each affiliation based on the list created in step 303, so that other departments or relay requesters should bear the cost. There is no need to bear communication costs, and it is possible to distribute costs fairly.

[0030]

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, 1
Even if one fax machine is shared by multiple departments or image data is relayed via a facsimile communication network, it is based on the communication cost data used by each department that actually tried to send the document. Since the communication cost list can be created, the department to be borne can be clarified by this communication cost list, and accurate settlement can be made. Therefore, it becomes possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the administrator who installs the facsimile terminal bears all the communication charges.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating communication cost data when one facsimile machine is shared by a plurality of departments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating communication cost data when transmitting a relay request.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for settlement of communication costs in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5: A facsimile terminal that transmits and receives image data is G
It is a signal sequence chart in case of three devices.

FIG. 6 shows a facsimile terminal G for transmitting and receiving image data.
It is a signal sequence chart in case of four devices.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 Main Memory 3 Parameter Memory 5 ROM 6 Character Generator 7 Clock Circuit 8 DMA Controller 9 Operation Display Section 10 External Interface 11 Plotter Section 12 Scanner Section 16 Image Processing Section 17 Auxiliary Storage Section 18 Communication Control Section

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile communication network is formed by connecting a plurality of facsimile terminals to a line, and a relay request is made so that the image data transmitted from a relay request source terminal to a relay station is transferred to a relay slave station. The relay station that has received the request is a facsimile device that calls the relay slave station that has been requested to transfer and transfers the received image data, and communication cost management means for calculating the communication cost required when transmitting the image data, When the relay request source terminal receives a relay request for the image data, a request source information transmitting unit that transmits request source information including a request source name and an affiliation code to a relay station requesting relay, Relay communication cost data creating means for accumulating the communication cost of the image data to the relay slave station, which should be borne by each requester based on the received requester information, Facsimile apparatus is characterized in that so as to settle the communication cost of the relay request has been relayed station based on signal cost data. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when transmitting image data using the facsimile terminal, transmission source information including a transmission source name and an affiliation code is registered in advance, and the transmission source is transmitted at the time of transmission. And a communication cost data creating unit that totals the communication cost of the image data to be borne by each transmission source based on the transmission source information. A facsimile machine characterized in that the communication cost is settled for each department using a facsimile terminal based on cost data. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising communication cost data storage means for storing the relay communication cost data or the communication cost data for each relay request source or transmission source. Facsimile machine. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising communication cost list output means for automatically outputting the relay communication cost data stored in the communication cost data storage means or the communication cost data at a predetermined date and time. A facsimile machine characterized by the above. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each facsimile terminal is connected to a host computer via an external interface, and the relay communication cost data or the communication cost data request command from the host computer is issued. Based on the above, the facsimile apparatus is characterized in that relay communication fee data or communication fee data is transferred from the communication fee data accumulating means to the host computer. 6. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a bill of communication cost to a relay request source of a relay station generated by a relay request during a predetermined period is created based on accumulated relay communication cost data, A facsimile machine characterized in that a facsimile transmission is made to a relay request source at a predetermined date and time.