JPH10107943A - Internet fax service system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the Internet FAX service system in which information of an information page or a hard copy of an information page relating to the information page is easily extracted even when a printer is not connected to a user terminal equipment. SOLUTION: In the system where host service information among a plurality of sets of host service information registered in a storage device 12 of a host system 10 on request by a user terminal equipment 22 of a client system 20 is extracted by a prescribed facsimile equipment 25, when the user enters an access number of the host service information and a FAX number of the FAX device 25 by using the user terminal equipment 22, the entered data are sent to a host server 11 of the host system 10 as an electronic mail, and the host server 11 reads the host service information corresponding to the transmitted access number from the storage device 12 and sends the host service information to the FAX device 25 specified by the received FAX number.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile service system using the Internet, which is a worldwide communication network environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Another WWW connected to the Internet
(World Wide Web) When referring to the information page held by the server, the URL (U
A desired information page can be displayed on the user terminal by designating a search for a specific resource locator (niform Resource Locator). If the user wants information related to the displayed information page or a hard copy of the information page, the user can retrieve the hard copy from the printer connected to the user terminal by clicking the print button on the browser screen with the mouse. Can be.

[0003]

However, when a printer is not connected to the user terminal, information related to the information page or a hard copy of the information page cannot be taken out. Also, even when a printer is connected to the user terminal, for example, if the user terminal is installed in a public facility such as a public hall and the user terminal can be used only for viewing, information and information pages related to the information page You can't get a hard copy of.

The present invention solves such a problem and provides an Internet facsimile service that can easily retrieve information related to an information page and a hard copy of the information page even when a printer is not connected to the user terminal. The aim is to provide a scheme.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Internet facsimile service system in which a plurality of host-provided information registered in a storage device of a host system are transmitted to a user terminal of a client system connected to the host system via the Internet. Is an Internet facsimile service system that can retrieve requested host-provided information from a predetermined facsimile apparatus via a telephone network by requesting the information from a browser screen information page displayed on a user terminal. When the access number of the host-provided information and the FAX number of the FAX device related to this information page are input from the user terminal, these input data are transmitted as e-mail to the host server of the host system. Corresponding to the transmitted access number Reads the host provided information from the storage device, FA specified by the transmitted FAX number
Cause X device to transmit host provided information.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the browser screen is displayed on the user terminal, and the user can refer to the information page of the browser screen. When the user wants the host-provided information related to this information page, the user inputs the access number of the host-provided information and the FAX number of a facsimile machine that can be used by the user from the user terminal. Is transmitted to the host server of the host system. The host server accepts the transmitted access number and FAX number, and reads the host-provided information corresponding to the access number from the storage device. Furthermore, FA
The host-provided information read from the storage device is transmitted to the FAX device specified by the X number. As a result, the transmitted host provided information is printed by the FAX device, and the user can receive the host provided information printed on the paper.

[0007] In claim 2, the information page is provided with an access number input field and a FAX number input field. When such a configuration is adopted, the user can easily input the access number and the FAX number only by writing the access number and the FAX number in the respective input fields according to the instructions on the browser screen displayed on the user terminal. Can be.

[0010] According to the third aspect of the present invention, a user who refers to an information page of a browser screen displayed on a user terminal of a client system sends a request to a host system connected to the client system via the Internet. An Internet facsimile service system in which data of the requested information page can be retrieved from a predetermined facsimile apparatus via a telephone network by requesting a facsimile output of the information page. When a user who has referred to the information page inputs a FAX output request for the information page and a FAX number of the FAX apparatus from the user terminal, these input data are transmitted as e-mail to the host server of the host system. , Transmitted FA Remove the corresponding information page from the WWW server to the information page is registered in accordance with the output request, F identified by the transmitted FAX number
The AX device transmits information page data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the browser screen is displayed on the user terminal, and the user can refer to the information page of the browser screen. If the user wants a hard copy of this information page, the user inputs the FAX output request of this information page and the FAX number of a facsimile apparatus which can be used by the user from the user terminal. It is transmitted to the host server of the system. In the host server, the transmitted FAX output request and FAX
Upon receiving the number, the corresponding information page is retrieved from the WWW server in which the information page is registered in accordance with the FAX output request. Further, the data of the information page extracted from the WWW server is transmitted to the FAX device specified by the FAX number. As a result, the transmitted information page data is printed by the facsimile apparatus, and the user can receive the information page printed on paper.

[0010] In claim 4, an FA screen is displayed on the browser screen.
An X output request button and a FAX number input field are provided. When such a configuration is adopted, the user follows the instructions on the browser screen displayed on the user terminal to
After writing the FAX number in the X number input field,
By simply clicking the output request button with a mouse or the like, a fax output request and a fax number can be easily input.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the host server, W
FAX the information page data retrieved from the WW server
The data is converted into image format data and transmitted to the FAX machine. When such a configuration is adopted, the FAX
An information page of image data can be easily output as a facsimile without having a conversion function to the AX image format.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the Internet FAX service system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a FAX service network 1 to which an Internet FAX service system according to a first embodiment is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the fax service network 1
Is a host system 10 for controlling a facsimile service,
A client system 20 that can be used by a user.
Connected through. The host system 10
Host server 11 that performs data processing for X service
And a hard disk (storage device) 12 in which a plurality of host provided information is registered, and a router 13 for connecting to the Internet 30. The host system 10 also includes a modem 14 for connecting to a telephone network 40, and a LAN cable 15 for interconnecting the host server 11, hard disk 12, router 13 and modem 14. Here, the host provision information registered in the hard disk 12 includes, for example, campaign information on department stores, information on product specifications, and information on seminar guidance.

Further, the client system 20 is a WWW (World Wide Wed) that controls the system.
b) A server 21, a user terminal 22 for displaying a WWW browser, and a router 23 for connecting to the Internet 30 are provided. In addition, client system 2
0 is a LAN cable 24 for interconnecting the WWW server 21, the user terminal 22 and the router 23, and the telephone network 4
0 and a FAX device 25 that can be used by the user. Since the FAX service network 1 is connected as described above, the user can access the host server 11 via the Internet 30 by operating the user terminal 22. Although the WWW server 21 and the user terminal 22 are connected by the LAN cable 24, they may be connected by the Internet 30.

Next, an Internet FAX service system according to a first embodiment applied to the above-described FAX service network 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the user operates the user terminal 22 to search (browse) an information page registered in the host server 11 with a WWW browser, thereby obtaining the user terminal 22.
This information page is incorporated into the browser screen displayed in the above. The embedded information page describes an access number for referring to host-provided information related to the information page. For example, when the information page is an advertisement page of an automobile company, new car information, bonus campaign information, and the like are registered in the hard disk 12 as host-provided information, and an access number corresponding to these information (new car information is # 001, Bonus campaign is # 00
2) is described on the screen of the information page.

When the user who has referred to the information page of the browser screen displayed on the user terminal 22 inputs the access number of the host-provided information and the FAX number of the FAX device 25 from the user terminal 22, these input data are
Sent to server 21. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the information page has an access number input field A and a FAX number input field B. Therefore, the user can easily input the access number and the FAX number simply by writing the access number in the input field A and the FAX number in the input field B in accordance with the instructions on the browser screen displayed on the user terminal. It should be noted that a facsimile number designation field is provided in place of the facsimile number input field B so that the user can receive a facsimile number.
A number may be specified.

As shown in FIG. 2, the WWW server 21
A mail address of the host server 11 is added to input data such as an access number and a facsimile number, and E-ma
Create a file (e-mail) in il (Electronic Mail) format. And WWW server 2
1 sends the E-mail file to the Internet 30 via the router 23. The E-mail file sent to the Internet 30 is sent to the Internet 30 according to the mail address written in the file.
And reaches the host server 11 of the host system 10 via the router 13.

The host server 11 sends the received E-mai
Read the l file and accept the access number and FAX number. Then, the host server 11 reads out the host providing information corresponding to the access number from the hard disk 12. Further, the host server 11
The host-provided information read from the hard disk 12 is transmitted to the FAX device 25 specified by the X number. As a result, the transmitted host providing information is output from the FAX device 25, and the user can receive the host providing information printed on the paper. In this manner, the host-provided information can be easily taken out from the FAX device 25 simply by inputting the access number and the FAX number from the user terminal 22, and the user can display a large amount of information that cannot be displayed on the screen. It can be obtained as information.

(Second Embodiment) Next, an Internet FAX service system according to a second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 shows a FAX service network 2 to which the Internet FAX service system according to the second embodiment is applied.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the FAX service network 2 includes a host system 10 that controls a FAX service and a client system 20 that can be used by a user. These systems 10 and 20 are connected via the Internet 30. . The host system 10 includes a host server 11 for performing data processing for a facsimile service, a router 13 for connecting to the Internet 30, a modem 14 for connecting to a telephone network 40, a host server 11, a hard disk 12, and a router. 13 and a LAN cable 15 for interconnecting the modem 14.

The client system 20 includes a WWW server 21 for controlling the system, a user terminal 22 for displaying a WWW browser, a router 23 for connecting to the Internet 30, a WWW server 21, a user terminal 22 and a router 23. And a FAX device 25 connected to the telephone network 40 and usable by the user. Further, another WWW server 50 is connected to the Internet 30 via a router 51. This WWW server 50 is a server in which an information page for which a user intends to make a hard copy is registered. Since the FAX service network 2 is connected in this way, the user
By operating, the host server 11 or the WWW server 50 can be accessed via the Internet 30. The WWW server 21 and the user terminal 2
2 is connected by the LAN cable 24, but may be connected by the Internet 30.

Next, an Internet FAX service system according to a second embodiment applied to the FAX service network 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the user operates the user terminal 22 to select W
By searching (browsing) the information page registered in the WW server 50 with the WWW browser, the user terminal 22 is searched.
This information page is incorporated into the browser screen displayed in the above. When a user who has referred to the information page of the browser screen displayed on the user terminal 22 inputs a FAX output request for the information page and a FAX number of the FAX device 25 from the user terminal 22, these input data are
It is sent to the WW server 21. Here, the fax output request includes the URL (Uniform Resource) of the information page.
ce Locator). As shown in FIG. 6, a FAX output request button C and a FAX number designation field D are provided on the browser screen. For this reason, the user follows the instruction on the browser screen displayed on the user terminal 22 and sets the F
By simply clicking the FAX output request button C with a mouse or the like after specifying the AX number, the FAX output request and the FAX number can be easily input. In addition, FA
A FAX number input field may be provided instead of the X number specification field D, and the user may input a FAX number.

As shown in FIG. 5, the WWW server 21
A mail address of the host server 11 is added to input data such as a FAX output request and a FAX number so that the E-ma
An il format file is created, and this e-mail file is sent to the Internet 30 via the router 23. The e-mail file sent to the Internet 30 is transferred within the Internet 30 according to the mail address written in the file, and reaches the host server 11 of the host system 10 via the router 13.

The host server 11 sends the received E-mai
l file is read, and a FAX output request and FAX
Accept the number. Then, the host server 11
The user accesses the WWW server 50 via the Internet 30 while referring to the URL included in the AX output request, and retrieves (browses) a desired information page. Thereafter, the contents of the extracted information page are converted to a file in the FAX image format. Here, the information page is HTM
L (HyperText Markup Langua)
g), and the FAX image format file is an ITU standard MMR compression format file.

Further, the host server 11 transmits the converted information page data of the FAX image format to the FAX device 25 specified by the FAX number.
As a result, the transmitted information page data is output from the FAX device 25, and the user can receive the information page printed on paper. Thus, the user terminal 2
By simply inputting a FAX output request and a FAX number from the FAX device 2, a hard copy of the information page can be easily created by the FAX device 25.
And detailed information that is difficult to read on the screen can be obtained as information on paper.

(Third Embodiment) Next, an Internet FAX service system according to a third embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 shows a FAX service network 3 to which the Internet FAX service system according to the third embodiment is applied.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the FAX service network 3 includes a host system 10 that controls a FAX service and a client system 20 that can be used by a user. These systems 10 and 20 are connected via the Internet 30. . The host system 10 is for connecting to a host server 11 that performs data processing for a facsimile service, a hard disk 12 in which a plurality of host provided information is registered, a router 13 for connecting to the Internet 30, and a telephone network 40. And a LAN cable 15 for interconnecting the host server 11, the router 13 and the modem 14.

The client system 20 includes a WWW server 21 for controlling the system, a user terminal 22 for displaying a WWW browser, a router 23 for connecting to the Internet 30, a WWW server 21, the user terminal 22 and the router 23. And a LAN cable 24 for interconnecting the two. Further, a facsimile device 60 is connected to the telephone network. The FAX device 60 is a destination device to which the user intends to perform FAX transmission.
Since the FAX service network 3 is connected in this manner, the user can access the host server 11 via the Internet 30 by operating the user terminal 22. Although the WWW server 21 and the user terminal 22 are connected by the LAN cable 24, they may be connected by the Internet 30.

Next, an Internet FAX service system according to a third embodiment applied to the FAX service network 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the user operates the user terminal 22 to set F
A document to be transmitted by AX is created as a file in the E-mail format. This E-mail file includes the mail address of the host server 11, the fax device 6 that is the transmission destination.
The FAX number of 0, the E-mail address of the return destination of the transmission result, and the document are written. Further, when an attached file is linked to the document, the attached file is also taken into the E-mail file. When the user inputs an E-mail file transmission command to the user terminal 22, the created E-mail file is transmitted to the Internet 30 via the router 23.

E-ma sent to the Internet 30
The il file is transferred through the Internet 30 in accordance with the mail address written in this file, and is transferred via the router 13 to the host server 11 of the host system 10.
To reach. The host server 11 sends the received E-mai
l File is read, FAX number, reply destination E-m
Accepts email addresses and documents. E-mail
If the file contains an attachment,
This attachment is also accepted.

Next, the host server 11 sends to the FAX device 60 specified by the FAX number a file in which the mail text is converted into a FAX image (if the attached file is linked, the attached file and the mail text). Is converted to a FAX image).
Further, the host server 11 transmits the FAX transmission result in the E-mail format to the user terminal 22 indicated by the reply destination E-mail address. As a result, the transmitted document is output to the FAX device 60, and the user of the FAX destination can receive the document printed on the paper.
Further, the user of the FAX transmission source can view the transmission result of the FAX transmitted via the Internet 30 on the user terminal 22. In this manner, the user can easily fax the document by simply inputting the document to be faxed from the user terminal 22.

[0030]

The Internet FAX service system according to the present invention is configured as described above, so that the following effects can be obtained.

That is, when the user who has referred to the information page of the browser screen wants the host-provided information related to this information page, the access number corresponding to the host-provided information and the facsimile number of the facsimile apparatus which can be used by the user are set in the user terminal. Just enter the information from FAX
Output from the device. As described above, the user can easily take out the host-provided information from the FAX device, and can obtain a large amount of information that cannot be displayed on the screen. In addition, since this information is information printed on paper, it is excellent in portability and storability.

Further, when the user who has referred to the information page of the browser screen wants a hard copy of this information page, he simply inputs a FAX output request for this information page and a FAX number of a facsimile apparatus which can be used by the user from the user terminal. Then, a hard copy of the information page is output from the fax machine. In this manner, a hard copy of the information page can be easily taken out from the facsimile apparatus, and detailed information that is difficult to read on the screen can be obtained. Also, since this information is information printed on paper, it is excellent in portability and storability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a FAX service network to which an Internet FAX service system according to a first embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an Internet FAX service system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of an information page.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a FAX service network to which an Internet FAX service system according to a second embodiment is applied;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an Internet FAX service system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a browser screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a FAX service network to which an Internet FAX service method according to a third embodiment is applied.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an Internet FAX service system according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2, 3 FAX service network, 10 host system, 11 host server, 12 hard disk (storage device), 20 client system, 22
User terminal, 25: FAX device, 30: Internet, 40: Telephone network, 50: WWW server, A: Access number input field, B: FAX number input field, C: FAX output request button, D: FAX number Field.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuya Ebata 1-13-1 Kachidoki, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Inuibiru Kachidoki Inside Recruit Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Keiichiro Kameda 1-13-1 Kachidoki, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Inuibi Le Kachidoki Inside Recruit Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A request for a plurality of host provided information registered in a storage device of a host system from a user terminal of a client system connected to the host system via the Internet, whereby the requested host provided information is requested. Is an Internet FAX service system capable of taking out from a predetermined FAX device via a telephone network, wherein a user who refers to an information page of a browser screen displayed on the user terminal provides the host with the information page. When the access number of information and the FAX number of the FAX device are input from the user terminal, these input data are transmitted as e-mail to the host server of the host system.
The host-provided information corresponding to the transmitted access number is read from the storage device, and the transmitted F
An Internet FAX service method, wherein the FAX apparatus specified by an AX number transmits the host-provided information. 2. The Internet FA according to claim 1, wherein the information page is provided with an input column for the access number and an input column for the FAX number.
X service method. 3. A user who refers to an information page on a browser screen displayed on a user terminal of a client system requests a facsimile output of the information page from a host system connected to the client system via the Internet. The Internet FAX service system capable of taking out the requested data of the information page from a predetermined FAX device via a telephone network by referring to the information page of the browser screen displayed on the user terminal. When the user inputs a FAX output request for this information page and a FAX number of the FAX device from the user terminal, these input data are transmitted as e-mail to the host server of the host system, and the host server In response to the transmitted FAX output request Internet FAX service, which retrieves a corresponding information page from a WWW server in which the information page is registered, and transmits the information page data to the FAX device specified by the transmitted FAX number. method. 4. The Internet FAX service system according to claim 3, wherein the browser screen is provided with a FAX output request button and an input field for the FAX number. 5. The FAX apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the host server converts the information page data retrieved from the WWW server into FAX image format data and transmits the FAX image data to the FAX device. Internet FAX service system.