JPH10145379A - Communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the using convenience of a user by providing a function communicating data for facsimile based on the setting instruction of a function specifying the communication mode of data from the terminal equipment connected to a network, so as to set the various functions of a communication terminal equipments by remove operation. SOLUTION: When the instruction of picture data transmission is given from a user with the setting of designating communication modes, such as the FAX number, the application communication, the option of FAX, FAX starts the application program of ROM 17 to store image, data in a picture memory 24 and data on communication in RAM 18. CPU 16 judges the existence of application transmitting designation, such as time designation and the option designation of resolution, etc., for communication related data and at the time of presence, transfers image data to a designated transmission destination, based on the designation. NCU 18 controls connection with a pubic line L, and a modem 20 modulates/demodulates transmission/reception data as well as generates/detects a facsimile control procedure signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an additional method for specifying data communication modes such as time-specified transmission, confidential transmission, polling, broadcast transmission, relay broadcast transmission, resolution, ECM (automatic error retransmission), and the number of redials. It has a function and LAN
The present invention relates to a communication terminal device such as a facsimile device that can be connected to a communication network such as a (Local Area Network).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In addition to the existing public line network, distributed personal computers (hereinafter referred to as personal computers), printers, etc. are connected to the same transmission line to share files, printers, etc., thereby making effective use of resources. A facsimile machine compatible with a network that can be connected to a communication network such as a LAN has been proposed. When such a facsimile apparatus is connected to a LAN as one of terminals, LA
The other terminals in N use this facsimile machine to transmit image data to another facsimile machine outside the network connected to the public line network, or receive image data from this other facsimile machine. can do.

[0003] In addition, non-standard functions (non-standard functions) within a range not interfering with standard procedures and standard functions defined by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) -T for facsimile communication, ie, time-specified transmission, confidential transmission, There is provided a facsimile apparatus having additional functions related to communication such as polling, broadcast transmission, relay broadcast transmission, resolution, ECM, and redial count.

[0004] Time designation transmission is a function for designating a transmission time. The confidential transmission is a function that allows only a specific user who knows the password to retrieve the received data. Polling is a function that collects data stored in other facsimile machines.It includes normal polling that unconditionally collects stored data, and specifies the number assigned when the data is stored. There is search polling that collects only specific data.

[0005] Broadcast transmission is a function for distributing the same data to a plurality of destinations. Relay broadcast transmission means that data is transmitted from a calling device to a called device that becomes a repeater, and then automatically broadcasted to a plurality of other facsimile devices that are registered in advance with the repeater as the calling device. This is the function to send. In this relay broadcast transmission, a plurality of final transmission destination devices are grouped and registered in the relay device, and a broadcast can be transmitted to the devices of the group by specifying a group number or the like. The non-standard functions as described above are set by operating key switches of various functions provided on the panel of the facsimile apparatus.

[0006]

By the way, in a communication network using the above-mentioned conventional facsimile apparatus, a user of a personal computer in the LAN can set a normal facsimile communication from the personal computer. However, when trying to use the non-standard functions as described above, the terminal device such as a personal computer and a facsimile device is distributed and installed on the premises, so that the user goes to a facsimile device that is installed in a place away from the personal computer. The user interface must be set by operating a key switch of a non-standard function provided on the panel or the like, so that the user interface is inferior.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is intended to transmit a designated time, a confidential transmission, a polling, and the like from a device such as a personal computer connected to a communication network. Broadcast transmission, relay broadcast transmission, resolution, ECM, number of redials, etc., are set at remote locations by accepting setting instructions for functions that define the data communication mode and communicating data based on those functions. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device that can perform various setting operations of a communication terminal device without providing a setting operation to the communication terminal device to provide an excellent user interface.

[0008]

A communication terminal device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a communication terminal device connectable to a network, wherein a function setting instruction from a device connected to the network specifies a mode of data communication. And means for communicating data based on the function designated by the device.

The communication terminal device of the first invention is a device connected to a network, for example, from a personal computer, which specifies time transmission, confidential transmission, polling, broadcast transmission, relay broadcast transmission, resolution, ECM, and redial count. When a setting of a function that defines a data communication mode is instructed, data is communicated based on the instructed communication function. Therefore, the user can set various functions of the communication terminal device from a device such as a personal computer close to the user without going to the communication terminal device installed at a remote place.

[0010] In addition to the first aspect, the communication terminal device according to the second aspect of the present invention can specify a network address of a communication partner and specify the received network address based on the network address. Means for transmitting to an appropriate transmission destination.

A communication terminal device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a device such as a personal computer on a network having a communication terminal device compatible with a network, and a network address such as an e-mail address is designated as a communication destination. Sends the network address to the communication terminal device of the communication destination network in addition to the data to the communication terminal device of the communication destination network, and the communication terminal device of the communication destination network identifies the transmission destination device based on the network address. And transfer the data. Therefore, a personal computer on another network can be a communication partner by the network address.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal device comprising:
In addition to the invention, when the function is a function related to reception,
There is provided a means for outputting the received data from the device which instructed the setting of the function.

A communication terminal device according to a third aspect of the present invention displays data received from a communication destination on the device when the function specified by the device connected to the network is a function related to reception such as polling, Print etc.
Therefore, the user can instruct the data polled from the communication destination to be displayed or printed on a nearby device such as a personal computer.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a concept of a communication system using a network-compatible facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a communication network A such as a LAN is installed in the same building.
For example, a bus-type LAN such as Ethernet is used as the network A in the present embodiment, and is configured by connecting a plurality of terminals 1 to 6 to one coaxial cable 7 such as 10Base5. The network A including the network-compatible facsimile machine 6 according to the present invention as one of the terminals includes a plurality of terminals 1 to 5 other than the facsimile machine 6 each of which is a 10Base5 or the like.
It is configured by connecting to a coaxial cable 7. A file server 5 for performing file management and the like on the network A is connected to the network A. For example, first to third personal computers 1 to 3 are connected as clients, and a color printer 4 and a network compatible device according to the present invention are connected. Facsimile machine 6 is connected. These terminals 1 to 6 have a function for connecting to the network A. It is needless to say that the number and types of terminals on the network A can be changed.

The communication network B has, for example, a structure similar to that of the network A. The first to third personal computers 8 to 10, the printer 11, the file server 12, and the facsimile apparatus 13 are connected to one coaxial cable 14. It is configured by connecting. The two facsimile machines C and D provided independently are not connected to a network such as a LAN, but have a function of communicating with the facsimile machines 6 and 13 on the networks A and B.
The facsimile machine E provided independently is a normal facsimile machine such as a G3 machine which does not have a function for connecting to a network. And in this embodiment,
Two facsimile machines on each of networks A and B 6,
13 and three independently provided facsimile machines C,
Assuming that D and E are connected to the public line network L,
The following description will be given.

The above communication networks A and B are OSI
(Open Systems Interconnection) In the transport layer (4th layer) and below of the reference model, TCP / IP (Transm
ission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), IP
X / SPX (Internetwork Packet eXchange / Sequenced
Packet eXchange), OSI, etc. are used. Then, communication between terminals on each network is performed at the session layer (fifth layer) or higher. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), M
By using IME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) or the like, communication as a text-based electronic mail, ASN. 1 (Abstract Syntax Nota
and communication with a specific application protocol.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the facsimile machines 6 and 13 on the networks A and B. As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 16 controls the operation of the entire facsimile machine. The ROM 17 is a CPU 16
Stores various programs and the like necessary for performing the control. The RAM 18 temporarily stores various information such as data necessary for the arithmetic processing of the CPU 16.

An NCU (network control unit) 19 controls connection with the public line network L. The modem 20 modulates and demodulates data transmitted and received via the public line network L. The modem 20 also has a function of generating and detecting various facsimile control procedure signals transmitted / received to / from a communication partner during facsimile communication. The reading unit 21 is for reading an image on a document, and the recording unit 22 is for printing on recording paper based on received image data and the like.

The encoding / decoding unit 23 encodes image data transmitted via the public network L and decodes image data received via the public network L. The image memory 24 temporarily stores the image data read by the reading unit 21, the received image data, and the like. The key operation unit 25
Various operation keys such as numeric keys for inputting an AX number or the like are provided. The display unit 26 displays various information such as the input FAX number. The clock unit 27 is provided to indicate a date and time. The network interface 28 is provided so that the facsimile machines 6 and 13 can be used as one terminal on the networks A and B.

In this embodiment, the CPU 16 and the ROM 1
7, RAM 18 and network interface 28
By means, from a device connected to the network, a means for receiving a setting instruction of a function that defines the data communication mode, a means for communicating data based on the function specified by the device, and a communication partner A means for receiving the specification of an e-mail address, a means for transmitting the received e-mail address to a destination capable of specifying a communication partner based on the e-mail address, and a function designated by a device on the network. In the case of a function related to reception, means for outputting the received data to the device instructed to set this function is configured.

As shown in FIG. 3, the network interface 28 includes a network controller 29,
It has a serial interface adapter 30 and a transceiver 31. The network interface 28 includes, for example, the network controller 2.
9, one in which the serial interface adapter 30 and the transceiver 31 are configured as one LSI, and one in which the network controller 29 and the serial interface adapter 30 are configured as one LSI.

The network controller 29 transmits data from the facsimile devices 6 and 13 to the coaxial cables 7 and 14.
In order to be able to send up properly, for example, CSM
A / CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Colli
and a function of controlling access to the networks A and B in accordance with the sion detection method. The serial interface adapter 30 is connected to the facsimile machine 6, 1
3 converts the data transmitted onto the coaxial cables 7, 14 from parallel data to serial data,
The serial data transmitted on the coaxial cables 7 and 14 are converted into parallel data and output to the facsimile devices 6 and 13. The transceiver 31 is a facsimile device 6,
13 is provided to connect the coaxial cables 7 and 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a network controller 29 and a serial interface adapter 30 in the network interface 28 are provided.
Are integrated into the facsimile machines 6, 13, for example. Connectors 32 are provided on the sides of the facsimile machines 6 and 13. The transceiver 31 is connected to one end of a cable 33, and a connector 34 is connected to the other end of the cable 33. Then, the transceiver 31 is connected to the coaxial cables 7 and 14 by the tap 35, for example.
By connecting the connector 34 to the connector 32 of the facsimile machines 6 and 13,
Data can be transmitted between the facsimile machines 6, 13 and the coaxial cables 7, 14 via the network interface 28.

Next, the processing procedure of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. From a user, a facsimile machine (network facsimile) compatible with a network on a personal computer as a client
In addition, the destination FAX number / application transmission (eg, time specified transmission,
Specification of confidential transmission, polling, and broadcast transmission) Specification of options (eg, resolution, ECM, number of redials)
When the broadcast transmission instruction / image data is transmitted, that is, when the image data transmission is instructed, the network FAX
The application program for communication stored in the memory 17 is started, the image data is stored in the image memory 24, and the data related to other communication is stored in the RAM 18, and the following processing is performed.

The CPU 16 determines whether or not the communication-related data transmitted from the client has a designated time (S1). If the designated time has been specified, the CPU 16 waits until the specified time has elapsed. (S2). If no time is specified, the process moves to the next step S3. Next, the CPU 16
If the option setting is included in the communication-related data, the option setting value is set in the RAM 18 (S3).

Subsequently, the CPU 16 determines whether or not confidential transmission has been designated (S4). If confidential transmission has been designated, the CPU 16 confidentially transmits the image data to, for example, a G3 facsimile apparatus outside the network. In the external facsimile apparatus, only a specific user who knows the password for confidential transmission can output image data.

If the confidential transmission designation is not included, C
The PU 16 determines whether polling is specified (S5). If polling is specified, a call is made to, for example, a G3 facsimile machine outside the network that is the polling partner, and all of the data stored in the facsimile machine or data that matches the search conditions is retrieved and polled and received. Read into RAM 18 (S
6) Output a polling completion report to the client that instructed the polling. The client receiving the polling completion report gives an output instruction to the network FAX,
The network FAX transfers the image data read into the RAM 18 to the client and causes the client to display or print the image data.

If no polling designation is included,
The CPU 16 determines whether or not the broadcast transmission is specified (S7). If relay broadcast is specified,
FAX numbers of a plurality of grandchild devices which are final broadcast destinations are called by calling the relay slave device of the designated FAX number (the grandchild devices which are the broadcast transmission destinations are grouped and registered in the relay slave device). If so, the image data is transmitted to the relay slave unit together with the group number). The relay slave device storing the image data from the network FAX broadcasts the image data to a plurality of designated grandchild devices.

When the designation of the relay broadcast transmission is not included, the CPU 16 determines whether or not the transmission destination is designated by a network address such as an e-mail address (S8). If the address is specified, this address is transmitted together with the image data to a device that can specify the destination of the image data by the address, such as another network-compatible facsimile device. The network-compatible facsimile device that has received the address together with the image data is the final destination based on the address,
For example, image data is transferred to a personal computer.

If none of the application communication is specified, the CPU 16 sends the data to the outside of the network, for example, a G3 facsimile machine by using the option value set in step S3, or by using the default value if the option value is not set. The image data is transmitted by a normal facsimile transmission procedure (S9).

Next, the CPU 16 determines whether or not the broadcast transmission is designated, that is, whether or not the broadcast transmission processing has not been performed (S10). If the broadcast transmission has not been processed, the process returns to step S4. If the broadcast transmission in the confidential transmission has not been processed, an unprocessed external facsimile apparatus is called out of a plurality of external facsimile apparatuses outside the designated network, and the image data is confidentially transmitted to this apparatus. .

If the broadcast transmission in the polling transmission has not been processed, an unprocessed external facsimile apparatus is called out of a plurality of external facsimile apparatuses outside the designated network, and as described above, this facsimile is transmitted. All of the data stored in the apparatus or data that matches the search condition is retrieved, polled and received, read into the RAM 18 (S6), and a polling completion report is output to the client that instructed the polling. The client receiving the polling completion report gives an output instruction to the network FAX, and the network FAX transfers the image data read into the RAM 18 to the client and causes the client to display or print the image data.

In the case where the broadcast transmission in the transmission of the network address is not processed, the image data is transmitted to the unprocessed device among the plurality of devices capable of specifying the destination of the image data by the address as described above. Send the address.

Further, if the broadcast transmission in the normal transmission has not been processed, the data is transmitted to a G3 facsimile machine outside the network by using the option value set in step S3, or by the default value when the option value is not set. The image data is transmitted by a normal facsimile transmission procedure (S9). Steps S4 to S9 are repeated until there is no unprocessed portion of the broadcast transmission. When the transmission is completed, the completion report is output to the personal computer which is the client instructed to transmit.

[0035]

As described above, the communication terminal device according to the present invention is capable of transmitting a specified time, a confidential transmission, a polling, a broadcast transmission, and a relay transmission from a device such as a personal computer connected to a communication network. It receives a setting instruction of a function that defines the data communication mode, such as information transmission, resolution, ECM, number of redials, etc., and communicates data based on that function, so it can go to a communication terminal device installed in a remote place There is an excellent effect that the setting operation of various functions of the communication terminal device can be performed without performing the setting operation and an excellent user interface is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the concept of a communication system using a network-compatible facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed circuit configuration of a connection portion between a network interface and a network.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-3 personal computer (client) 5 file server 6 facsimile machine (network compatible) 7 coaxial cable 16 CPU 17 ROM 18 RAM 28 network interface A network L public line network

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/32 H04N 1/32 Z

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication terminal device connectable to a network, comprising: means for receiving a setting instruction of a function for defining a data communication mode from a device connected to the network; Means for communicating data based on functions. 2. A communication system comprising: means for receiving designation of a network address of a communication partner; and means for transmitting the received network address to a destination capable of specifying the communication partner based on the network address. The communication terminal device according to claim 1. 3. When the function is a function related to reception,
The communication terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a unit configured to output the received data from the device instructed to set the function.