JPH09172463A - Data communication equipment and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an equipment efficiently informing a transmission side of whether data sent by a transmitter is received by a desired receiving person by providing each means of reception, information, answer and control. SOLUTION: A system control part CPU 101 controls the whole equipment and times time. ROM 102 stores a control program and other fixed data for CPU 101 to operate each part. RAM 103 consists of SRAM, etc., to store a program control variable, etc. In addition RAM 103 stores a set value registered by an operator and control data of a facsimile equipment, etc., and is used as a buffer for various kinds of works. A memory 104 stores inputted picture data. A processing part 105 executes resolution conversion control such as mili-inch conversion of raster data. A processing part 106, when a coding system at the times of reading and recording and that at the time of communication are different from each other, codes data to be for communication.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data communication device and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a data communication device capable of exchanging data via a LAN (local area network) and a communication line other than the LAN and its control. It is about the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, a facsimile machine or a facsimile server for managing the facsimile machine is connected to a LAN, data is received via a telephone line, and the reception is notified to a recipient through a terminal on the LAN. What to do is proposed. By doing so, it is possible to send the data via the telephone line after designating the recipient on the other party's LAN on the transmitting side, and reliably send the data to the desired recipient on the other party's LAN.

[0003]

However, whether or not the facsimile machine or the facsimile server on the receiving side can normally notify the recipient on the LAN of the reception as described above,
That is, the operator on the transmitting side could not know whether the recipient could confirm the content of the received data. For this reason, there is a problem in that it is necessary to perform confirmation by telephone or the like, and when a plurality of recipients are designated, the operator's burden is heavy.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and can easily and efficiently notify the sender of whether the data sent by the sender has been received by the receiver. An object is to provide a data communication device and a control method thereof.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a data communication apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, a data communication device for exchanging data via a LAN and a communication line other than the LAN, the receiving means receiving data from the transmitting side via the communication line, and the receiving means. Notification means for notifying a plurality of recipients on the LAN that data has been received;
Transmitting means for transmitting information indicating the notification result by the notifying means to the transmitting side, timing means for timing, and control for starting transmission by the transmitting means when the timing means determines that a predetermined time has been reached. And means.

Further, receiving means for receiving data from the transmitting side via the communication line, notifying means for notifying a plurality of recipients on the LAN that the data has been received by the receiving means, and the notifying means. Communication means for transmitting information indicating the notification result of the means to the transmitting side, a first mode for transmitting and receiving the information in a plurality of times of communication by repeatedly connecting and disconnecting the communication line by the transmitting means, and communication by the transmitting means And a selecting means for selecting one of the second modes for connecting the line once and transmitting the information in one communication.

[0008] Also, receiving means for receiving data from the transmitting side via the communication line, notifying means for notifying a plurality of recipients on the LAN that the data has been received by the receiving means, and the notifying means. Transmitting means for transmitting information indicating a notification result by means to the transmitting side, and selecting whether to perform transmission by the transmitting means based on a call from the transmitting side or based on a call from the data communication device side Selecting means, the transmitting means transmits information according to a request from the transmitting side when the selecting means selects to transmit based on a call from the transmitting side, and the selecting means When the transmission is selected based on the call from the data communication device side, the information about each of the plurality of recipients is transmitted by a method according to a predetermined setting.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
The CPU 101 is a system control unit and controls the entire facsimile apparatus. The CPU 101 also measures time.

The ROM 102 is a memory that stores a control program for the CPU 101 to control the operation of each unit and other fixed data.

The RAM 103 is composed of an SRAM or the like,
It is a readable / writable memory that stores program control variables and the like. In addition, the RAM 103 stores setting values registered by the operator, management data of the facsimile device, and the like.
It is also used as a buffer for various works.

The image memory 104 is composed of a DRAM or the like and stores input image data.

The resolution conversion processing unit 105 performs resolution conversion control such as millimeter-inch conversion of raster data.

The communication coding / decoding processing unit 106 performs coding for communication when the coding system at the time of reading and recording and the coding system at the time of communication are different.

Reading / recording encoding / decoding processing unit 107
Performs image data encoding and decoding processing at the time of reading and recording.

The MODEM 108 modulates / demodulates a facsimile transmission / reception signal, and the NCU 109 sends a selection signal (dial pulse or tone dial signal) to the wired communication line 120 via the wired line i / f 117.
Alternatively, the wireless communication line 1 via the wireless line i / f 118
It also has a function of sending out to 21 and performs an automatic incoming call operation by detecting a ringing tone. The wired / wireless line control unit 119 controls the wired line i / f 117 and the wireless line i / f 118.

The scanner 111 is a CS image sensor,
It is composed of a document transport mechanism or the like, which reads a document optically and converts it into electrical image data.

The image processing section 110 performs correction processing on the image data read by the scanner 111 and outputs highly vivid image data.

The operation unit 112 is composed of a keyboard or the like and is used by the operator to perform various input operations.

The external display unit 113 is for displaying and notifying various kinds of information to the user by means of an LCD, an LED or the like.

The printer formatter 114 analyzes code data such as a printer description language when printing file data from a workstation or the like, and converts the code data into image data expanded into a bitmap.

The printer 115 is a device for printing out a received image and file data as a visible image on a recording sheet.

The wired LAN i / f 122 is a wired LAN 12
5, a wireless LAN i / f123 is an interface for connecting a facsimile device to the wireless LAN 126, and includes a wired LAN i / f122 and a wireless LAN i / f12.
3, the wired / wireless LAN control unit 124 controls data input / output.

The LAN control unit 116 has a wired LAN 125.
Alternatively, data processing is performed in order to exchange data with various devices on the wireless LAN 126.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a connection form when the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a local area network.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1, which is a facsimile apparatus which can be directly connected to the wired LAN 125 and the wireless LAN 126. Further, various data can be sent to another device through the wired LAN 125 and the wireless LAN 126.

Reference numeral 202 denotes a LAN (wired LAN 125, wireless LAN 12) to which the facsimile apparatus 201 is connected.
A server machine for managing 6), which manages file data on the LAN user and the LAN user and exchanges information with devices on the LAN.

Reference numerals 203 and 204 denote client machines (information processing terminals) connected to the wired LAN 125 (hereinafter referred to as clients). Client 203,
204 is capable of creating and editing various image data such as document data according to the installed application program.
The printer server 20 is configured to transfer the data to the printer server 01, request the facsimile transmission, and print out with the printer 206.
Request to 5. It is also possible to receive the data received by the facsimile apparatus 201. Although two client machines are shown here, a large number of client machines can be connected without being limited to this.

Reference numeral 205 denotes a printer server which receives a plurality of print requests from client machines, queues the print requests, and outputs image data sent from the client machines to the printer 206. Reference numeral 206 denotes a recording sheet for the received image data. It is a printer that outputs a visible image.

Reference numeral 207 denotes a client machine connected to the wireless LAN 126, which can perform the same processing as the clients 203 and 204 by wireless communication.

Reference numeral 208 denotes a wired communication line 120 (telephone line)
This is a facsimile device for performing facsimile communication with the facsimile device 201 via the.

Reference numeral 209 denotes a wireless base station for controlling a protocol for wireless communication, and the facsimile apparatus 201 wirelessly communicates with other apparatuses via the wireless line 121 to send and receive data.

Reference numeral 210 denotes a line network (PS) for wired communication.
TN), and communicates with the wireless base station 209 via the wired communication line 120 and communicates with other devices.

In FIG. 3, a client on a LAN transfers data to a facsimile machine and another LA is transferred via a line network.
It is a figure which shows the flow of the sequence at the time of sending data to the client on N. The numbers attached in the figure are added for convenience.

Here, the client (A) (C in the figure) is a client that requests the facsimile device to transmit data.
A facsimile device (B) (FAX (B) in the figure) is a facsimile device that receives the transmission request and transmits it via the line network. The LAN to which the client (A) and the facsimile machine (B) are connected is called LAN1. Further, the facsimile device that receives the data sent from the facsimile device (B) is the facsimile device (C) (FAX (C) in the figure), and the client designated by the client (A) is the client (D) (see FIG. Medium Client (D)). The LAN to which the facsimile machine (C) and the client (D) are connected is called LAN2. Further, the facsimile machines (B) and (C) have the same configuration as the facsimile machine 201 shown in FIG.

First, a client (A) on LAN1 sends a line network 210 to a client (D) on LAN2.
A transmission request (1) is sent to the facsimile apparatus (B) in order to perform facsimile transmission via (PSTN).
Here, in the transmission request sent by the client (A), information specifying the client (D) among a plurality of clients, the telephone number of the facsimile device (C) on the LAN 2 to which the client (D) is connected, and the facsimile The information includes a request for returning information (delivery confirmation) indicating that the device (C) has notified the client (D) that the device (C) has received the data for the client (D). Note that these pieces of information do not necessarily have to be sent from the client (A), and may be registered in advance in the facsimile device (B).

Then, the facsimile apparatus (B) receiving the transmission request (1) is a LAN in which the client (D) exists.
A call is made based on the telephone number of the facsimile machine (C) connected to No. 2 and the image data is transmitted to the facsimile machine (C). At this time, a request for delivery confirmation (2) is made to the client (D).

When the facsimile device (C) receives the image data and the signal indicating the delivery confirmation request, the facsimile device (C) can normally receive the image data, and if it is set to permit the return of the delivery confirmation, the facsimile device (B) delivers the image data to the facsimile device (B). Confirmation reception (3)
Returns a signal that represents. The line is opened after the reception of the image data is completed. Further, the telephone number of the facsimile machine (B) on the transmitting side and the information indicating that the transmission is from the client (A) are stored in the RAM of the facsimile machine (C).
It is stored in 103.

Next, the facsimile machine (C) is connected to the LAN 2
A reception notification (4) indicating that the data has been received is sent to the client (D), which is the receiving destination above. Then, a call is made based on the telephone numbers of the facsimile device (C) and the facsimile device (B), and confirmation of delivery to the client (D) (5)
Is transmitted to the facsimile device (B). At this time, the information designating the client (A) is also transmitted at the same time.

Then, the facsimile machine (B) receives the delivery confirmation, and the client (A) which is the transmission instruction source.
A signal indicating the delivery confirmation (6) is sent to.

In the above description, the time when the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side sends a reception notification to the client connected to the LAN as the delivery confirmation, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the time when the image and data received by the client have been transferred. May be In any case, it indicates that the client (recipient) is surely able to confirm the contents of the received data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sequence flow when a plurality of clients on the LAN 2 are designated. Here, a case where the clients (D) and (E) on the LAN 2 are designated will be described.

First, a client (A) on LAN1 is a client (D) and a client (E) on LAN2.
In order to perform facsimile transmission via the line network 210 (PSTN), the transmission request (1) is sent to the facsimile device (B).

The facsimile machine (B) receiving the transmission request (1) makes a call based on the telephone number of the facsimile machine (C) connected to the LAN 2 where the clients (D) and (E) exist. The image data is transmitted to the facsimile device (C). At this time, the client (D) and the client (E) are requested for delivery confirmation (2) at the same time.

When the facsimile device (C) receives the image data and the signal indicating the delivery confirmation request, the facsimile device (C) can receive the image data normally, and if it is set to permit the return of the delivery confirmation, the facsimile device (B) delivers the image data to the facsimile device (B). Confirmation reception (3)
Signal is returned and the line is opened when the reception of the image data is completed. Then, the telephone number of the facsimile machine (B) on the transmitting side and the information indicating that the transmission is from the client (A) are stored in the RAM of the facsimile machine (C).
It is stored in 103.

Next, the facsimile machine (C) is connected to the LAN 2
The reception notification (4) is given to the client (D) which is one of the above reception destination clients. Then, the facsimile machine (C) makes a call based on the telephone number of the facsimile machine (B), and sends a signal indicating the delivery confirmation (5) to the client (D) to the facsimile machine (B). At this time, the information designating the client (A) is also transmitted at the same time.
The line is released when the notification is completed normally.

Next, the facsimile machine (C) is connected to the LAN 2
The reception notification (6) is given to the client (E) which is another one of the above reception destination clients. Then, the facsimile machine (C) makes a call based on the telephone number of the facsimile machine (B), and sends a signal indicating the delivery confirmation (7) to the client (E) together with the information designating the client (A). Send to B). After the transmission is completed, the line is released.

Then, the facsimile machine (B) receives the delivery confirmation, and the client (A) which is the transmission instruction destination.
A signal indicating the delivery confirmation (8) is sent to.

According to the method as described above, delivery confirmation for a plurality of receiving destination clients can be surely performed, and it is possible to prevent the communication busy from being prolonged for a long time due to continuous capturing of lines. In addition, it is possible to promptly receive a delivery confirmation to the client that has completed the reception notification.

Next, a case will be described in which delivery confirmations to a plurality of clients are collectively returned to the transmitting side at once. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a sequence flow in this case.

In FIG. 5, a signal indicating the delivery confirmation acceptance (3) is returned from the facsimile machine (C) to the facsimile machine (B), and after the data reception is completed, the line is opened (various information is stored in the RAM 103). (Including things)
Is the same as that in FIG. 4, and the description thereof is omitted here.

After that, the facsimile machine (C) is connected to the LAN.
The reception notification (4) is given to the client (D), which is one of the reception destination clients on the upper side. Then, the facsimile machine (C) gives a reception notice to the client (E) which is another one of the reception destination clients on the LAN 2.

After the reception notification to the client (D) and the client (E) is completed, the facsimile machine (C) makes a call based on the telephone number of the facsimile machine (B), and the client (D) and the client ( The signal indicating the delivery confirmation (6) to E) is transmitted to the facsimile device (B) together with the information designating the client (A).
After the transmission is completed, the line is released.

Next, the facsimile machine (B) receives the delivery confirmation, sends a signal indicating the delivery confirmation (7) to the client (A) which is the transmission instruction source, and the clients (D) and (E). Notify that you have received the notification.

According to the method as described above, the delivery confirmation regarding a plurality of receiving destination clients can be received at a time, so that the process of the side which returns the delivery confirmation can be simplified and the billing can be made for one calling. Can be suppressed to Also,
The side receiving the delivery confirmation can receive the delivery confirmation of all the destination clients at one time, which facilitates management and the like.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a sequence flow when the reception notification cannot be sent to some of the reception destination clients in the case of FIG.

In FIG. 6, a signal indicating the delivery confirmation acceptance (3) is returned from the facsimile machine (C) to the facsimile machine (B), and the line is opened after the data reception is completed (various information is stored in the ROM 103). (Including things)
Is the same as that in FIG. 4, and the description thereof is omitted here.

After this, the facsimile machine (C) is connected to the LAN.
The reception notification (4) is given to the client (D), which is one of the reception destination clients on the upper side.

Next, the facsimile machine (C) is a LAN
The reception notification is attempted to the client (E), which is one of the reception destination clients on the second side. However, it is assumed here that the client (E) has not logged in to the LAN 2 (including the case where the power is turned off), and thus the reception notification cannot be issued. Therefore, the facsimile machine (C) monitors the login state of the client (E) and notifies the reception if the login state becomes normal within a predetermined time, but if the login is not made within the predetermined time, the client (E) Cancel the reception notification (5) to. Here, it is assumed that the user has not logged in within the predetermined time.

Then, the facsimile machine (C) makes a call based on the telephone number of the facsimile machine (B) in a state where only the reception notification to the client (D) is completed, and the delivery confirmation to the client (D) (6). A signal representing only the information is transmitted to the facsimile machine (B) together with the information designating the client (A).

Next, the facsimile apparatus (B) receives the delivery confirmation, sends a signal indicating the delivery confirmation (7) to the client (A) which is the transmission instruction source, and notifies the client (D) of the reception. Let us know. The delivery confirmation regarding the client (E) may be made by calling again from the facsimile device (C) after the reception notification to the client (E) is completed, or by notifying the facsimile device (B) that the reception notification could not be made. To do so.

According to the above method, it is possible to shorten the time until the delivery confirmation is returned to the transmitting side.

In FIG. 7, the facsimile machine on the receiving side is a RAM.
3 shows a part of the information managed in 103.

In FIG. 7, (a) is job acceptance information, which indicates the date and time (year, month, day, hour, minute, second) when the number assigned to this job when the reception is accepted is accepted. Remember.

(B) is transmission confirmation user information, which is the only one assigned to the telephone number of the sending facsimile machine sent from the sending side and the sending job (sending data) sent from the sending side. Store the job number.

(C) is the reception notification target user information,
The user identification ID of the client on the LAN on the receiving side for which the reception notification should be made is stored. This ID is sent from the transmitting side.

(D) is the user information of which reception has been notified,
The user identification ID of the client that has already received the notification is stored.

(E) is user information, in which user identification IDs, user addresses of all clients to which the facsimile apparatus is connected, information on whether or not the user is logged in, and the like are stored in association with each client.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing relating to data reception by the facsimile machine on the receiving side.

First, when a call is received from the transmission side and the line is connected, the facsimile number and the transmission job number of the transmission side are received from the transmission side as transmitter information (step 801). Then, based on this information, it is determined whether or not the transmitter is a receiver that should be permitted to receive (step 80).
2). The determination here is performed by registering the transmitters to be permitted in advance or, conversely, registering the transmitters to reject the reception. When the reception is permitted, the transmitter information (facsimile number, transmission acceptance number) is stored as management data in the delivery confirmation user information area of the RAM 103 (step 803). On the other hand, if the reception is rejected, the processing ends with an error.

Next, the user identification ID of the client for which the reception notification should be made is received together with the reception notification request and the delivery confirmation request from the transmitting side facsimile device (step S80).
4). At this time, if a plurality of clients are designated, a plurality of user identification IDs are received. Then, it is confirmed whether or not the user (client) corresponding to the designated user identification ID exists in the management user data list of the receiving side facsimile device (step S80).
5). If all are present, the user identification ID is stored as management data in the area of the reception notification target user information of the RAM 103 (step S806). If all do not exist, the error ends. If there is not a part, the sender is notified of that fact, or the printer 11
A report may be output in 5 to notify the user on the receiving side.

After registering the user identification ID, the image data is received (step S807), and it is checked whether or not the received image data has an error (step S808). If there is no error, at least the unique reception acceptance number and reception acceptance date and time in this one day are stored as management data in the job acceptance information area of the RAM 103 (step S809), and the reception acceptance number is transmitted to the transmission side (S810). . On the other hand, if there is an error, the process ends with an error.

In the user information in the management data, the user identification ID is registered by an operator such as an administrator. Also, when the user logs in, information (address,
The ID) is registered in association with the corresponding user identification ID in the user information in the management data. User is LA
It is possible to log in multiple times from a plurality of client machines on N. In this case, a plurality of address information and the like are associated and registered with the user identification ID in the user information in the management data.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing relating to reception notification and delivery confirmation in the receiving side facsimile apparatus.

First, of the management data stored in the RAM 103, the area of the reception-notified user information is initialized (step S901). Then, for the image data received as shown in FIG. 8, if the reception notification can be made within the preset time when the reception notification is made, the reception notification is made.
The time added to the reception acceptance date and time stored in the AM 103 is stored (step S902). In step S903, it is determined whether or not this stored time has been reached. If not, the process proceeds to step S904 and RA
It is checked whether or not the user identification ID is set in the area of the reception notification target user information of M103. If there is a user identification ID, RA corresponding to that user identification ID
Check the user information in M103 (step S9)
05). Then, it is checked from this user information whether the target user is in the login state (step S906), and if logged in, the address information of all the target clients who are logged in is taken out (step S907). If not logged in, the process returns to step S903 to repeat the process. Next, in step S908, a reception notice is sent to the client machine having the fetched address. At this time, the sender information (sending facsimile number, sending acceptance number, identification information of the client who requested sending, etc.),
The reception information such as the reception time and the number of pages of the received image is also notified at the same time.

Next, the designated delivery confirmation mode is checked. The designation of this mode may be designated in advance by the receiving side, or may be designated in response to a request from the transmitting side. If it is determined in step S909 that the mode is the sequential delivery confirmation mode (method as shown in FIG. 4), the process proceeds to step S910, and the transmission source is notified of the user ID of the client notified of the reception as the delivery confirmation.
After that, the process returns to step S903, and the processing is repeated until the waiting time ends, or until all the reception notification target users are notified of the reception and there are no target users.

If the waiting time has ended in step S903, or if it is determined in step S904 that there are no users for whom notification has not been received, the process advances to step S911 to check the delivery confirmation mode. If it is determined that the batch delivery confirmation mode (the method shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) is set, the process proceeds to step S912, and all the reception destinations have the user identification ID of the reception-notified user information and the user identification ID of the non-delivery user. Send the client's acknowledgment back to the sender. On the other hand, in the case of the sequential delivery confirmation mode, the process ends.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the transmitting side designates the receiving user and transmits data, the transmitting side can be surely notified of the reception to the corresponding user. Also,
When the specified user does not exist on the LAN, the sender can be notified that the reception notification could not be made.

Further, in the above description, when there is a delivery confirmation request from the transmitting side, the receiving side reissues a call to notify the transmitting side of the delivery confirmation. Hereinafter, a method of deciding from which call to make the delivery confirmation by negotiation between the sending side and the receiving side, and a method of notifying the delivery confirmation in response to a re-call from the sending side will be described.

10 and 11 are flow charts showing the flow of processing in this case.

First, when a call is received from the transmitting side and the line is connected, the T. N based on 30
It is determined by the SS signal whether or not data transmission to the LAN client is requested (step S100).
1). If it is determined here that there is no request, step S101
0, T. According to the procedure of 30, the facsimile reception in the normal G3 mode is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a request, the process proceeds to step S1002, and it is determined whether there is a delivery confirmation request, that is, a delivery confirmation notification request by a re-call from the receiving side. Then, if it is set in step S1003 that the notification of the delivery confirmation due to the re-call from the receiving side is set to be rejected, the fact is notified to the transmitting side, and step S100 is performed.
At 4, the data is received. This data includes information necessary for confirmation of delivery, document data (image data), and the like. On the other hand, if it is set not to reject, the process proceeds to step S1011 and the process shown in FIGS.

In step S1005, transmitter information such as the telephone number of the transmitter and the transmission acceptance number included in the data sent from the receiving side is stored in the delivery confirmation user information area of the RAM 103. Then, step S1006
Then, the user identification ID of the reception notification user designated by the transmission side is stored in the reception notification target user information area of the RAM 103. In step S1007, at least the reception acceptance information such as the reception acceptance number and the reception acceptance date and time that are unique in the day are stored in the job acceptance information area of the RAM 103.

Then, in step S1008, the reception acceptance number is transmitted to the transmission side.

When the above processing is completed, step S100
The line is released at 9.

Next, the processing relating to the reception notification and delivery confirmation by the receiving side facsimile device will be explained.

First, of the management data stored in the RAM 103, the area of the reception-notified user information is initialized (step S1101).

Then, in step S1102, RAM1
User identification I in the area of the reception notification target user information 03.
Check if D is set. User identification I
If there is D, the user information in the RAM 103 corresponding to the user identification ID is checked in step S1103. Then, in step S1104, it is checked from this user information whether or not the target user is logged in. If the user is logged in, the address information of all the target clients who are logged in is taken out in step S1105. Next, in step S1106, the client machine having the fetched address is notified of reception. At this time, the sender information (sending facsimile number, sending acceptance number, identification information of the client who sent the sending request, etc.), receiving time, and the receiving information such as the number of pages of the received image are also notified. Also, depending on the setting, the received image is downloaded.

If not logged in, step S
Wait until a predetermined time elapses at 1111 and then step S11.
Proceed to 07.

In step S1107, it is determined whether or not there is an incoming call. If there is an incoming call, the flow advances to step S1108 to determine whether this incoming call is a delivery confirmation from the transmitting side. If the delivery is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S1109 and the RAM 10
Check the reception notification result by referring to the management data in 3. That is, information such as whether or not the reception notification has been made and whether or not the designated client exists are checked.
Then, in step S1110, this reception notification result is transmitted to the transmitting side according to the request from the transmitting side. here,
The request from the sending side is a request for delivery confirmation based on the sending acceptance number and the user identification ID of the client. And when all is done, the line is disconnected.

As described above, the delivery can be confirmed by re-calling from the transmitting side, if necessary.

Further, the delivery confirmation time may be decided by negotiation or the like.

Further, in the above description, the facsimile machine is directly connected to the LAN, but the invention is not limited to this, and a facsimile server or the like for controlling the facsimile machine and managing the LAN may be provided between the facsimile machine and the LAN. It may be through. Needless to say, the same can be applied to both wired communication and wireless communication.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to efficiently notify the transmitting side of whether or not the terminal on the LAN has been notified that the data has been received.

The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 are based on the program stored in the ROM 102
The control procedure performed by the server machine 202 is shown in FIG.
It may be installed in a hard disk or the like to allow the microprocessor of the server machine 202 to perform processing other than communication control.

The present invention includes a plurality of devices (eg, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.).
Or a device composed of one device (for example, a copying machine or a facsimile machine).

Further, a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is provided to a computer in an apparatus or system connected to the various devices so as to operate the various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments. The present invention also includes what is implemented by supplying the code and causing the computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to operate the various devices according to the stored program.

Further, in this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, such program code. The storage medium storing the above constitutes the present invention.

A floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM or the like can be used as a storage medium for storing the program code.

Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the supplied program code by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) in which the program code is operating in the computer, or another Needless to say, the program code is also included in the embodiments of the present invention when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with application software or the like.

Further, the supplied program code is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, and then stored in the function expansion board or the function storage unit based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the present invention also includes a case where the provided CPU or the like performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0102]

As described above, according to the present invention, when data is received, it is possible to efficiently notify the sender of whether or not the receiver of this data has been notified of the reception according to the timing result. it can.

Further, it is possible to notify by an appropriate method as needed.

[Brief description of the 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 diagram showing a connection form when the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a network.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sequence flow when a client on a LAN sends data to a client on another LAN via a facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sequence flow when a plurality of clients are designated in the case of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of a sequence in the case of collectively confirming delivery confirmations to a plurality of clients and sending them to the transmission side.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of a sequence when reception notification cannot be sent to some clients in the case of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a part of management data managed in a RAM 103 by a facsimile machine on the receiving side.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing relating to data reception by the facsimile machine on the receiving side.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing relating to reception notification and delivery confirmation in the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing relating to data reception by the facsimile machine on the receiving side.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing relating to reception notification and delivery confirmation in the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 CPU 102 ROM 103 RAM 104 Storage Memory 105 Resolution Conversion Processing Unit 106 Communication Encoding / Decoding Processing Unit 107 Reading / Recording Encoding / Decoding Processing Unit 108 MODEM 109 NCU 110 Image Processing Unit 111 Scanner 112 Operation Unit 113 External Display Part 114 Printer Formatter 115 Printer 116 LAN Control Unit 117 Wired Line i / f 118 Wireless Line i / f 119 Wired / Wireless Line Control Unit 120 Wired Communication Line 121 Wireless Communication Line 122 Wired LAN i / f 123 Wireless LAN i / f 124 Wired / Wireless LAN control unit 125 Wired LAN 126 Wireless LAN

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A data communication device for exchanging data via a LAN and a communication line other than the LAN, comprising: receiving means for receiving data from a transmitting side via the communication line; Notifying means for notifying a plurality of recipients on the LAN that the reception has been made, transmitting means for transmitting information indicating a notification result by the notifying means to the transmitting side, time measuring means for measuring time, and the time measuring means A data communication device comprising: a control unit that starts transmission by the transmission unit when it is determined that a predetermined time has been reached. 2. The data communication device according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies the designated receiver from the transmitting side. 3. The data according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting means transmits the information about the recipient notified by the notifying means before the time measuring means determines that the predetermined time has been reached. Communication device. 4. The transmitting means, if there is a recipient who could not be notified by the notifying means before the time measuring means determines that the predetermined time has been reached, transmits the information indicating that fact. The data communication device according to claim 1, wherein 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when the notification is made by the notification means, the recipient who has received the notification is in a state where the content of the data received by the reception means can be confirmed. 4. The data communication device according to any one of 4 above. 6. A data communication device for exchanging data via a LAN and a communication line other than the LAN, comprising: a receiving unit that receives data from a transmitting side via the communication line; Notifying means for notifying a plurality of recipients on the LAN that the reception has been made, transmitting means for transmitting information indicating the notification result by the notifying means to the transmitting side, and connection and disconnection of the communication line by the transmitting means. Selection means for selecting one of a first mode in which the information is repeatedly transmitted a plurality of times and a second mode in which the communication circuit is connected once by the transmitting means and the information is transmitted in one communication The data communication device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission means performs transmission according to the mode selected by the selection means. 7. The data according to claim 6, wherein the transmitting means transmits information indicating a notification result to one recipient per communication when the first mode is selected by the selecting means. Communication device. 8. The data communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said transmitting means starts a transmitting process in response to the notification by said notifying means. 9. The data communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the notifying unit notifies the designated recipient from the transmitting side. 10. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the notification is made by the notifying means, the recipient who has received the notification is in a state in which the content of the data received by the receiving means can be confirmed. 9. The data communication device according to any one of 9. 11. A data communication device for exchanging data via a LAN and a communication line other than the LAN, comprising: receiving means for receiving data from a transmitting side via the communication line; and data received by the receiving means. Notifying means for notifying a plurality of recipients on the LAN that the information has been received, transmitting means for transmitting information indicating a notification result by the notifying means to the transmitting side, and transmitting by the transmitting means from the transmitting side. Selecting means for selecting whether to perform based on a call or a call from the data communication device side, the transmitting means being selected by the selecting means to transmit based on a call from the transmitting side. Information is transmitted according to the request from the transmitting side, and if the selecting means is selected to transmit based on the call from the data communication device side, the predetermined information is transmitted. Data communication apparatus and transmits information about each of the plurality of receivers by the method according to the constant. 12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: a first mode for transmitting information indicating a notification result by a plurality of communications by the transmitting means or a second mode for transmitting information indicating a notification result by one communication. When the transmitting means has a setting means for setting, and the transmitting means has selected to transmit based on a call from the data communication device side, the transmitting means transmits by a method according to the mode set by the setting means. The data communication device according to claim 11, wherein the data communication device comprises: 13. The transmitting means, when the selecting means has selected to transmit based on a call from the data communication device side, transmits based on the destination information included in the data received by the receiving means. The data communication device according to claim 11, wherein the data communication device transmits by a call. 14. The notification means according to claim 11, wherein the notification means notifies the recipient designated by the sender.
The data communication device according to any one of the above. 15. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the notification is made by the notifying means, the recipient who has received the notification is in a state where the content of the data received by the receiving means can be confirmed. 15. The data communication device according to any one of 14. 16. A method of controlling a data communication device for exchanging data via a LAN and a communication line other than the LAN, comprising a receiving step of receiving data from a transmission side via the communication line, A notification step of notifying the plurality of receivers on the LAN that the data has been received in the reception step, a transmission step of transmitting information indicating the notification result in the notification step to the transmission side, and a timing step of timing. And a step of starting transmission by the transmitting step when it is determined that a predetermined time has been reached in the time counting step. 17. A control method of a data communication device for exchanging data via a LAN and a communication line other than the LAN, comprising a receiving step of receiving data from a transmitting side via the communication line, A notification step of notifying a plurality of receivers on the LAN that data has been received in the reception step, a transmission step of transmitting information indicating a notification result in the notification step to the transmission side, and a communication line in the transmission step. Either a first mode in which the connection and disconnection are repeatedly transmitted by a plurality of times to transmit the information and a second mode in which the communication line is connected once in the transmitting step and the information is transmitted in a single communication. And a selecting step of selecting, wherein the transmitting step performs transmission according to the mode selected in the selecting step. 18. A method of controlling a data communication device for exchanging data via a LAN and a communication line other than the LAN, comprising a receiving step of receiving data from a transmitting side via the communication line, A notification step of notifying a plurality of receivers on the LAN that the data has been received in the reception step, a transmission step of transmitting information indicating a notification result in the notification step to the transmission side, and a transmission in the transmission step And a selection step of selecting whether to perform based on a call from the transmission side or based on a call from the data communication device side, the transmission step including a call from the transmission side in the selection step. If it is selected based on a call from the data communication device side in the selection step, the information according to the request from the transmission side is transmitted, Control method characterized by transmitting the information for each of the plurality of receivers by a process according to a predetermined configuration when that.