JPH10293733A - Information communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information communication device which distinguishes and manages various communication information. SOLUTION: An electronic mail transmitting and receiving part 24 generates identification information which distinguishes an electronic mail that makes data created through a computer device 200 an object from an electronic mail that makes image data generated through facsimile equipment 100, and it is added to an electronic mail and sent. In the case of a receiving end, a received electronic mail is stored in a receiving file accumulating and managing part 25, it is detected whether the electronic mail makes image data generated through the facsimile equipment an object or not based on identification information added to the electronic mail. When it is decided that it makes image data an object, data of the electronic mail is selected and outputted from the part 25, and it is automatically printed by a printing part 4 of the equipment 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides, for example, electronic mail communication for data created on a computer, electronic mail communication for image data created on a facsimile machine, or facsimile communication. The present invention relates to an information communication device to be obtained.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus which reads original data by an image scanner and transmits the original data to a remote place using a public line or the like has been widely used. In recent years, facsimile boards and the like for directly facsimile transmission of document information created by computer devices such as personal computers and word processors have been developed. Class 1,2). This type of communication is called PC facsimile. Also, it has become easier to transmit document information and the like created on a computer device to another remote computer device using a computer communication network such as the Internet (so-called e-mail). Further, it has been considered that facsimile image data obtained by reading an original with a facsimile apparatus is given to a computer apparatus using the basic functions of the PC facsimile, and is transmitted as e-mail using the computer communication network (hereinafter, referred to as “e-mail”). This is called Internet facsimile). Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-242326 (I
PC HO4N 1/00) discloses a facsimile type e-mail apparatus showing an e-mail transmission / reception method by facsimile operation.

[0003] Platforms and the like have emerged that can handle the above-described PC facsimile communication and electronic mail communication in an integrated environment, and the relationship between the two types of information is becoming closer.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned integrated flat form or the like, the received PC facsimile file and the received e-mail file are secured in the same memory management area. It has been difficult to perform processing such as selecting only a facsimile file and automatically printing out. Also, even if you receive the same e-mail,
Since it cannot be distinguished from a normal electronic mail or an electronic mail to which image information is added as in the case of the Internet facsimile, the same problem as described above occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an information communication apparatus capable of distinguishing and managing various types of communication information.

[0006]

According to the information communication apparatus of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, at least a first type of transmission and a second type of transmission are performed on the transmitting side. The information communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: means for generating identification information for distinguishing the first type of transmission from the second type of transmission; and means for transmitting the identification information. The receiving side includes a storage unit for storing the received content, and a unit for selecting each type of reception based on the received identification information and outputting the received content from the storage unit.

[0007] With the above configuration, a specific reception is performed based on the identification information from among a plurality of pieces of reception data shared and managed on a platform capable of handling the first type of communication and the second type of communication in an integrated environment. It is possible to control such that only data is selected and automatically printed out.

Here, for example, electronic mail communication can be mentioned as the first type of communication, and PC facsimile communication can be mentioned as the second type of communication. When there are two types of e-mails, a first type of e-mail and a second type of e-mail, it is assumed that there are three types of communication as a whole and the two types are distinguished. It may be.

Further, the information communication apparatus of the present invention, as a transmission side, can perform electronic mail communication for data created on a computer apparatus, and can deal with image data created on a facsimile apparatus. In the information communication device capable of communicating the generated e-mail, identification information for distinguishing between an e-mail for data created on a computer device and an e-mail for image data created on a facsimile device is generated. Means for transmitting the identification information to the electronic mail. The receiving side includes a storage unit for storing the received e-mail, and image data generated by the facsimile machine based on the identification information added to the e-mail. Means for detecting the presence or absence of the image data and, when determining that the image data is intended, selecting and outputting the data of the electronic mail from the storage means.

[0010] According to the above configuration, an electronic mail for data created on a computer device and an electronic mail for image data created on a facsimile device are shared and managed on a platform capable of handling in an integrated environment. It is possible to perform control such as selecting only specific reception data from the plurality of reception data based on the identification information and automatically printing out the reception data.

[0011] The identification information may be incorporated in subject information of an electronic mail. Alternatively, whether or not to perform the above-described process of selecting and outputting may be performed based on preset setting information.

An information communication apparatus according to the present invention transfers image data created on a facsimile apparatus to a computer apparatus, and the computer apparatus transmits an electronic mail for the image data. In the device, the facsimile device, when transferring the image data to a computer device, is provided with a unit that outputs instruction information indicating that the image data should be sent by e-mail, The computer device is provided with means for managing the image data when the instruction information is received as being to be transmitted by e-mail.

With such a configuration, it is possible to control such that only specific transmission data is selected from the transmission data and transmitted immediately, for example.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an information communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This information communication apparatus is configured by connecting a facsimile apparatus 100 connected to a telephone line and a computer apparatus 200 connected to the Internet via a communication path 30. Here, the information communication device transmits the document information created by the computer device 200 to the communication path 30 using Class1 or the like.
PC facsimile communication which is received by the facsimile apparatus 100 via facsimile and transmitted by facsimile using a telephone line,
Normal e-mail communication performed by the computer device 200 using the Internet, and Internet facsimile communication performed by the computer device 200 receiving image data of a document read by the facsimile device 100 via the communication path 30 using the Class 1 or the like and using the Internet. Can be done.

The facsimile apparatus 100 includes an image reading section 1 which is a basic component of the facsimile, a compression section 2 for compressing the read image data (generating coded data by a system such as MH, MR, MMR, etc.), and a coding section. A code memory unit 5 for storing data as a file, a decompression unit 3 for decompressing encoded data, a printing unit 4 for printing decompressed original data, a modem unit 6 for modulating and demodulating transmitted / received data, and a public line An NCU (network control unit) 7 and an operation unit 11 operated by a user are provided. As a component according to the present invention, a PC interface unit 8
A PC facsimile controller 9 and a print instruction detector 10 are provided.

The PC interface section 8 is connected to the PC interface driver section 21 of the computer device 200 via the communication path 30, and communicates with the computer device 200 according to a predetermined standard (for example, RS232C). Responsible for data transmission.

The PC facsimile control unit 9 executes, for example, the Class 1 protocol to execute the computer 2
A procedure for exchanging commands and data with the 00 is executed. When the user operates the operation unit 11 to give an instruction for the Internet facsimile or gives an instruction for the scanner function, the user receives the information from the operation unit 11 and uses this information as instruction information. To give to. Further, when a print instruction command is received from the print instruction detecting unit 10, control is performed to print the data transferred from the computer device 200 using the printing unit 4.

The print instruction detecting unit 10 detects the presence or absence of a print instruction command sent from the computer 200, and notifies the PC facsimile control unit 9 of the presence or absence of the print instruction command.

The computer device 200 has an L (not shown).
A network interface unit 23 for connecting the AN to the computer device 200; an e-mail transmission / reception unit 24 for transmitting / receiving e-mail and transmitting identification information indicating a type of communication; and a received file storage for storing and managing received files. A management unit 25, a reception file type detection unit 26 for discriminating the format of the reception file and transmitting the information to the PC facsimile application unit 22 and the e-mail transmission / reception unit 24, a document / image which is software for creating a document or an image The facsimile machine 100 is connected to the facsimile machine 100 via the communication path 30 and the PC application facsimile machine 22 for executing a procedure for exchanging commands and data with the facsimile machine 100 by executing the Class 1 protocol, for example. Connected The PC interface driver 21 responsible for data transmission to and from the facsimile apparatus 100 via the RS232C and the mode (scanner mode or Internet facsimile transmission mode) requested by the facsimile apparatus 100 are determined. A mode detection unit 28 is provided. In addition, detailed operations (contents of processing) in each of these components
Will be clarified in the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 to 4 described later.

The operation of the information communication apparatus when the facsimile apparatus 100 is used as a scanner will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, an original to be read in the scanner mode is set in the image reading section 1 of the facsimile apparatus 100 (step 1). Next, a predetermined key of the operation unit 11 is operated to instruct the scanner (step 2). When the scanner instruction is given, the PC facsimile control unit 9
Computer device 20 via C interface unit 8
A pseudo incoming signal is transmitted for 0 (step 3). The computer device 200 receives the pseudo incoming signal by the PC facsimile application unit 22 via the PC interface driver unit 21 and detects the incoming call (step 4). Also, the PC of the facsimile machine 100
Instruction information indicating the scanner mode is sent from the facsimile control section 9, and the mode detection section 28 receives this instruction information via the PC interface section 8 and the PC interface driver section 21 to determine that the mode is the scanner mode. Detect (Step 5).

When the received file storage manager 25 receives a signal indicating the scanner mode from the mode detector 28, it opens a file for storing scanner data (step 6). Then, the PC facsimile application unit 22 starts a facsimile reception procedure (step 7). At the same time, the image reading section 1 of the facsimile apparatus 100 operates to read the contents of the document (step 8). The data sequentially imaged by the image reading unit 1 is compressed by the compression unit 2, stored in the code memory 5, read by the PC facsimile control unit 9, and connected to the PC interface unit 8, the PC interface driver unit 21, Then, it is written into the received file storage management unit 25 via the PC facsimile application unit 22 (step 9). The process of step 9 is continued until all the image data has been read, and after all the image data has been read (step 10), the file for receiving and storing the scanner data is closed in the reception file storage management unit 25 of the computer device 200. (Step 11).

By the above operation, the facsimile machine 10
The document data read on the 0 side is transferred to the computer 200 by the PC facsimile communication function, and the scanner function is realized. In this mode, since the identification information (described later in detail) indicating that the image data has been received via the Internet is not added, the scanner data is automatically printed in the automatic printing process described later. It will not be done.

Next, the operation of Internet facsimile transmission in the information communication apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, a document to be transmitted is set on the image reading section 1 (step 21). Next, the user operates the operation unit 11 to instruct Internet facsimile transmission (step 22). When the Internet facsimile transmission instruction is issued, the PC facsimile control section 9 sends out a pseudo incoming call signal to the computer 200 via the PC interface section 8 (step 23). The computer apparatus 200 receives the pseudo incoming call signal by the PC facsimile application section 22 via the PC interface driver section 21 and detects the incoming call (step 24). Further, the PC facsimile control unit 9 of the facsimile apparatus 100 sends to the computer 200 instruction information indicating that the image data to be transferred is to be transmitted by e-mail. Computer device 2
The mode detection unit 28 of 00 receives the instruction information via the PC interface unit 8 and the PC interface driver unit 21 and detects that the mode is the Internet facsimile transmission mode (step 2).
5).

The mode detector 28 informs the received file storage manager 25 that the mode is the Internet facsimile transmission mode. Then, the received file storage management unit 25 opens a file for storing the Internet facsimile transmission data (step 26). Next, the PC facsimile application unit 2
2 starts the facsimile reception procedure (step 2
7). At the same time, the image reading section 1 of the facsimile apparatus 100 operates to read the contents of the document (step 2).
8). The data sequentially imaged by the image reading unit 1 is compressed by the compression unit 2, stored in the code memory 5, read out by the PC facsimile control unit 9,
C interface unit 8, PC interface driver unit 21, and PC facsimile application unit 2
2 is written to the received file storage management unit 25 (step 29). The process of step 29 is continued until all the image data is read (step 3
0) After all are read, the file for receiving and storing the Internet facsimile transmission data is closed in the received file storage management unit 25 (step 3).
1).

As described above, the facsimile apparatus 100
Outputs, when transferring the image data to the computer device 200, instruction information indicating that the image data should be transmitted by e-mail, and the computer device 100 outputs the image when the instruction information is received. Since the data is to be transmitted by e-mail and is managed in a file for it (steps 25 to 29), as described below, only specific transmission data is selected from the transmission data and, for example, immediately Control such as transmission becomes possible.

Next, the reception file type detection unit 26
The data stored in the received file storage management unit 25 is searched for a file to be transmitted by Internet facsimile (step 32). E-mail transmission / reception unit 2
4, the transmission processing unit includes the reception file type detection unit 26
(Step 33), reads the contents to be transmitted from the searched file, converts the read data into an e-mail format, and sends it as e-mail to the Internet via the network interface unit 23. Send it (step 34). Here, when the electronic mail transmitting / receiving unit 24 converts the electronic mail into the electronic mail format and transmits the electronic mail, the electronic mail is transmitted by Internet facsimile in the subject information (used to indicate the subject). (For example, composed of a specific character string) is automatically inserted.

Next, a description will be given of a processing operation for automatically printing the received information when performing the Internet facsimile reception processing in the information communication apparatus, with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the standby state, the electronic mail transmitting / receiving unit 24 checks the presence / absence of an incoming mail to the electronic mail server on the network via the network interface unit 23 (step 41). If there is an incoming mail, the e-mail transmitting / receiving unit 24 receives the incoming mail information from the e-mail server and stores it in the received file storage management unit 205 (Step 4).
2). Here, it is assumed that the transmitting side has a function of the information communication apparatus of the present invention, that is, a function of incorporating identification information into subject information of an electronic mail. The received file type detection unit 26 checks the received file type of the received e-mail based on the identification information (step 43), determines whether or not the transmission is the Internet facsimile (step 44), and transmits the Internet facsimile. If it is determined that the condition is, the process proceeds to step 41. On the other hand, if it is determined that the transmission is not Internet facsimile transmission, it is determined whether the automatic print mode is set (step 45). If the automatic print mode is not set, the process proceeds to step 41, where the automatic print mode is set. If yes, go to step 46.

In step 46, the PC facsimile application unit 2 executes automatic print processing.
Start 2 PC facsimile application part 2
2 starts a PC facsimile communication operation using a protocol such as Class 1 and transmits a print instruction command to the PC interface unit 8 of the facsimile apparatus 100 via the PC Internet driver unit 21 (step 4).
7). When the transmitted print instruction command is detected by the print instruction detection unit 10 via the PC interface unit 8, the print instruction detection unit 10 provides a print mode operation signal to the PC facsimile control unit 9.

The PC facsimile application unit 22 sequentially reads and encodes the Internet facsimile reception contents stored in the reception file storage management unit 25 according to the type detection instruction of the reception file type detection unit 26, and encodes the contents. The data is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 100 via the PC interface driver 21.
(Step 48). At this time, the facsimile apparatus 100 stores the transferred encoded data in the code memory 5 via the PC interface unit 8 and the PC facsimile control unit 9. This process is continued until all print target data is read (step 4).
9) After all are read, the facsimile machine 10
The decompression unit 3 of 0 returns the code data to image data (step 50), and the printing unit 4 receives the image data and prints it on a recording paper (step 51).

As described above, even when files received from respective communications are integratedly managed on a platform that can handle an electronic mail file and an Internet facsimile file in an integrated environment, a specific received data is selected from a plurality of received data. It is possible to perform a control for performing automatic printing or the like by selecting only one. In particular, in the processing shown in FIG. 4, when a normal e-mail is received via the Internet, automatic printing is not performed. When an Internet facsimile is received, a normal facsimile apparatus is used. Printing is automatically performed in the same way as printing out received information in principle.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the information communication apparatus 300. The information communication device of FIG.
This is a configuration in which the facsimile apparatus 100 and the computer apparatus 200 in FIG. 1 are integrated, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Each component and operation in the information communication apparatus of FIG.
4 to FIG. 4.

In the above embodiment, communication of electronic mail for data created on a computer device and communication of electronic mail for image data created on a facsimile device (so-called Internet facsimile communication) However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where there are electronic mail and PC facsimile communication as communication types. In FIGS. 1 and 5, the connection is made to both the telephone line and the Internet. However, the connection may be made to only the telephone line, and the Internet may be connected through a predetermined Internet provider. .

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, various communications can be managed separately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a scanner function operation by the information communication apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an Internet facsimile transmission operation by the information communication apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a receiving operation and an automatic printing process by the information communication device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another example of the information communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reading part 4 Printing part 5 Code memory 6 Modem part 8 PC interface part 9 PC facsimile control part 10 Printing instruction detection part 11 Operation part 21 PC interface driver part 22 PC facsimile application part 23 Network interface part 24 E-mail transmission / reception part 25 Received file storage management unit 26 Received file type detection unit 27 Document / image creation application unit 28 Mode detection unit 100 Facsimile device 200 Computer device

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 7, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0010] According to the above configuration, an electronic mail for data created on a computer device and an electronic mail for image data created on a facsimile device are shared and managed on a platform capable of handling in an integrated environment. From among the plurality of received data, it is possible to perform control such as selecting only an electronic mail for image data based on the identification information and automatically printing out the electronic mail.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0027

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As described above, the facsimile apparatus 100
Outputs, when transferring the image data to the computer device 200, instruction information indicating that the image data is to be transmitted by e-mail, and the computer device 200 outputs the image data when the instruction information is received. Is to be transmitted by e-mail and is managed in a file for it (steps 25 to 29), so that only specific transmission data is selected from the transmission data and transmitted immediately, for example, as described below. It is possible to perform control such as performing.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0030

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In the standby state, the electronic mail transmitting / receiving unit 24 checks the presence / absence of an incoming mail to the electronic mail server on the network via the network interface unit 23 (step 41). If there is an incoming mail, the e-mail transmitting / receiving unit 24 receives the incoming mail information from the e-mail server and stores it in the received file storage management unit 25 (step 4).
2). Here, it is assumed that the transmitting side has a function of the information communication apparatus of the present invention, that is, a function of incorporating identification information into subject information of an electronic mail. The received file type detection unit 26 checks the received file type of the received e-mail based on the identification information (step 43), determines whether or not the transmission is the Internet facsimile (step 44), and transmits the Internet facsimile. If it is determined that it is not, the process proceeds to step 41. On the other hand, if it is determined that the transmission is Internet facsimile transmission, it is determined whether the automatic print mode is set (step 45). If the automatic print mode is not set, the process proceeds to step 41, where the automatic print mode is set. If so, the process proceeds to step 46.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0031

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In step 46, the PC facsimile application unit 2 executes automatic print processing.
Start 2 PC facsimile application part 2
2 starts a PC facsimile communication operation according to a protocol such as Class 1 and sends a print instruction command to the facsimile apparatus 100 via the PC interface driver unit 21.
(Step 4)
7). When the transmitted print instruction command is detected by the print instruction detection unit 10 via the PC interface unit 8, the print instruction detection unit 10 provides a print mode operation signal to the PC facsimile control unit 9.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An information communication device capable of performing at least a first type of transmission and a second type of transmission, wherein identification information for distinguishing the first type of transmission and the second type of transmission from each other is provided. An information communication device, comprising: means for generating; and means for transmitting the identification information. 2. An information system comprising: a storage unit for storing received contents; and a unit for selecting each type of reception based on the received identification information and outputting the received contents from the storage unit. Communication device. 3. An information communication apparatus capable of performing electronic mail communication for data created on a computer device and communicating electronic mail for image data created on a facsimile apparatus. An email targeting the data created in
Means for generating identification information for distinguishing the electronic mail from the image data created on the facsimile apparatus, and means for adding the identification information to the electronic mail and transmitting the identification information. Information communication device. 4. The information communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said identification information is incorporated in subject information of an electronic mail. 5. A storage means for storing a received electronic mail, and whether or not the electronic mail is intended for image data created on a facsimile machine based on identification information added to the electronic mail. And a means for selecting and outputting the data of the electronic mail from the storage means when it is determined that the image data is targeted. 6. The information communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein whether or not to perform the selected output processing is performed based on preset setting information. 7. An information communication apparatus wherein image data created on a facsimile apparatus is transferred to a computer apparatus, and the computer apparatus transmits an e-mail for the image data. Means for outputting, when transferring the image data to a computer device, instruction information indicating that the image data should be transmitted by e-mail, the computer device includes: An information communication device, comprising: means for managing image data upon receipt of the image data as data to be transmitted by e-mail.