JPH10304127A - Control method for network facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relieve the load of a mail server by sending an incoming notice mail that reports storage of a facsimile document to be distributed to a destination terminal of a network address stored in an address conversion table and distributing stored image information to the destination terminal with an FTP server function. SOLUTION: The network facsimile equipment FX is made up of a system control section 1, a system memory 2, a parameter memory 3, a scanner 5, a coding decoding section 8 and a network controller 11 or the like. The network facsimile equipment FX sends an electronic mail for reception notice to report that image information is received to a user of a distribution destination. The user receiving the incoming notice mail applies FTP connection to the network facsimile equipment FX to make a reception request of an image information file addressed to itself. Thus, the network facsimile equipment FX transmits the image information whose reception is requested to the user. Then the user obtains a facsimile document addressed to itself.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network, and receives data by a facsimile transmission procedure. It has an address conversion table in which sub-address information and a network address corresponding to the sub-address information are stored in association with each other, and the image information received via the public network is corresponded to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal at the time of receiving the image information. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus which distributes, via a local area network, to a destination terminal having a network address stored in the address conversion table.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has a function of exchanging data on a local area network, a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed over a public network, and sub-address information received by a facsimile transmission procedure. It has an address conversion table that stores a network address such as a mail address corresponding to the sub-address information in association with the sub-address information. The image information received via the public network corresponds to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received. There has been proposed a network facsimile apparatus for transmitting a network address (mail address) stored in the address conversion table to a destination terminal via a local area network.

When such a network facsimile apparatus is used, image information from a facsimile apparatus connected to a public network can be delivered to a work station apparatus connected to a local area network. It can be greatly expanded, and is very convenient.

[0004] When the connected local area network is connected to the Internet, it is also possible to perform an image information transmitting operation to a terminal device connected to another local area network via the Internet. You can do it.

[0005]

By the way, conventionally,
Distribution of received image information from a network facsimile apparatus to a distribution destination user is performed using an e-mail function of a local area network.

Therefore, especially when one subaddress corresponds to a plurality of users, a plurality of e-mails carrying image information having a large data amount are transmitted via the local area network. The burden on the mail server sharing the e-mail function for distribution increases, which may affect other e-mail distribution services.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus that can reduce the load on a mail server.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a function of exchanging data on a local area network, a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public network, and a facsimile transmission procedure. It has an address conversion table that stores the received sub-address information and the network address corresponding to the sub-address information in association with each other, and converts the image information received via the public network into the sub-address information notified by the partner terminal when receiving the image information. Correspondingly, in a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus that distributes via a local area network to a destination terminal of a network address stored in the address conversion table, while storing image information received via the public network, When receiving image information In response to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal, an incoming notification mail notifying that the facsimile document to be distributed is stored is transmitted to the destination terminal of the network address stored in the address conversion table, and the FTP server The function is to distribute the stored image information to the destination terminal.
Further, it is preferable that the incoming notification mail includes at least contents for notifying a file name of a facsimile document to be distributed and a user name and a password necessary for receiving image information in accordance with the FTP procedure. Further, when the distribution of the stored image information is completed to all the designated destination terminals, the image information may be deleted.

[0009] The present invention also has a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data according to a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network. An address conversion table storing network addresses corresponding to the information in association with each other, and storing the image information received via the public network in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received; In the method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus which distributes a stored network address to a destination terminal via a local area network, the address conversion table includes a network address corresponding to a sub-address and a user address. In addition to storing the name and the user type, the image information received via the public network is stored, and stored in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received. Sends an incoming notification mail notifying that the facsimile document to be distributed is stored to the destination terminal of the network address, and distributes the stored image information to the above-mentioned destination terminal by the FTP server function. When the destination user type is an individual user, when the distribution is completed to all the destination terminals of the designated distribution destination, the stored image information is deleted and the individual user is changed to the user type of the designated distribution destination. When any other type is included, the stored image information is deleted after a predetermined storage period has elapsed. In addition, the incoming notification mail notifies at least a file name of a facsimile document to be distributed, a user name and a password required for receiving image information according to the FTP procedure, and a predetermined storage expiration date calculated from the reception date and time. It is good to include the contents. In addition, when the user type of the designated distribution destination includes a type other than an individual user and a predetermined storage period has passed, when deleting the stored image information, a warning notifying that fact is given. The mail may be sent to the destination. In addition, when the user type of the designated distribution destination includes a type other than an individual user and a predetermined storage period has elapsed, when deleting the stored image information, It is preferable to record and output the original of the image information.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a local area network LAN includes a plurality of workstations WS1 to WS1.
WSn, the mail server device SM, and the network facsimile device FX are connected.

Here, the mail server device SM collects e-mail (described later) for users using the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and for the network network facsimile device FX. And distribution services.

The workstation devices WS1 to WSW
Sn has application software (e-mail transmission / reception, FTP access processing, etc.) for exchanging various data via the local area network LAN.
In addition, various programs such as application software for processing image information included in e-mail received from the network facsimile machine FX are installed, and are used by specific users. Here, the specific user may be one or more users.

Further, a network facsimile machine FX
Is an e-mail transmission / reception function and an FTP server function in a local area network LAN, and a public network (PS).
TN), and has a transmission function of transmitting image information by a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure using this public network as a transmission path.

In this embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is performed by so-called TCP / IP.
This is performed by applying a combination (a so-called protocol suite) of a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called a transport layer and a communication protocol of a higher layer than that. For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, SMTP (Simple) is used as the upper layer communication protocol.
A communication protocol called Mail Transfer Protocol is applied. The transfer of the file data is performed by FTP (File Transfer Pr).
A communication protocol called “autocol” is applied.

Further, in this embodiment, the electronic mail is transmitted in a storage / delivery type transmission form in which the electronic mail is temporarily stored in the mail server device SM and then delivered to the destination.

That is, for example, electronic mail from the network facsimile machine FX to the user of the workstation WS1 is temporarily stored in the mail server SM.

On the other hand, the workstation devices WS1 to WS
The Sn and the network facsimile machine FX make an inquiry to the mail server apparatus SM at an appropriate cycle to receive an e-mail addressed to the user of the own terminal, and when the e-mail addressed to the user is stored in the mail server apparatus SM. Then, the e-mail is received from the mail server device SM, and the terminal user is notified of the fact.

Therefore, in this case, when the workstation device WS1 makes an inquiry to the mail server device SM about the reception of the electronic mail addressed to the user of the own terminal, the workstation device WS1
E-mail addressed to the user of the own terminal is a mail server device SM
The e-mail is received, and the user is notified by an appropriate method.

Then, the user who has received the notification reads the content of the e-mail and confirms the content.

Here, as a protocol applied by each terminal to the mail server device SM for confirming the reception of an e-mail addressed to the user and for requesting transmission, a so-called PO is used.
P (Post Office Protocol) or the like can be applied.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the network facsimile machine FX transmits the information to the workstation devices WS1 to WSW.
FTP is applied to the distribution of the received image information to each user of Sn.

That is, in this case, the network facsimile machine FX transmits an e-mail of a reception notification notifying that the image information has been received to the user of the distribution destination (hereinafter referred to as an incoming notification mail). The user who has received the incoming notification mail makes an FTP connection to the network facsimile machine FX, and requests reception of an image information file addressed to the user. Thereby, the network facsimile machine FX
Transmits the image information requested to be received to the user. As a result, the user obtains a facsimile document addressed to the user.

Here, TCP / IP, SMTP, PO
Communication protocols such as P and FTP, and the data format and data structure of e-mail
ETF (Internet Engineering)
RFC issued by Task Force), an organization that summarizes technical content related to the Internet
(Request For Comments) document. For example, TCP is RFC793,
IP is RFC793, SMTP is RFC821, E-mail format is RFC822, RFC1521, RFC
1522 and POP are specified in RFC 1725, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows a network facsimile machine F
3 shows an example of the configuration of X.

In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each unit of the facsimile apparatus and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. A control processing program to be executed, and various data necessary for executing the processing program are stored.
The work area of the system control section 1 is constituted. The parameter memory 3 is for storing various information unique to the facsimile apparatus. The clock circuit 4 is for outputting current time information. is there.

The scanner 5 is for reading an original image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display section 7 is a facsimile apparatus. To operate,
It consists of various operation keys and various indicators.

The encoding / decoding section 8 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal.
This is for storing a large number of image information in a coded and compressed state.

The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing a group 3 facsimile modem function. The group 3 facsimile modem 10 has a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals and mainly exchanges image information. High-speed modem function (V.17 modem,
V. 34 modem, V.34. 29 modem, V.29. 27ter modem etc.).

The network control device 11 is for connecting the facsimile apparatus to the international telephone network PSTN, and has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the Internet facsimile apparatus to the local area network LAN.
3 executes communication control processing (e-mail transmission / reception processing, FTP server processing, etc.) of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with other data terminal devices via the local area network LAN. It is for doing.

The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, image storage device 9, group 3 facsimile modem The network controller 10, the network controller 11, and the local area network transmission controller 13 are connected to an internal bus 14. Data exchange between these elements is mainly performed via the internal bus 14. I have.

Data exchange between the network controller 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is directly performed.

Now, the network facsimile machine FX
Has an address conversion table that stores sub-address information received by a facsimile transmission procedure and a mail address corresponding to the sub-address information,
The image information received via the public network is transmitted via the local area network LAN to the destination terminal of the mail address stored in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the terminal at the time of receiving the image information. To deliver.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an address conversion table for distributing such facsimile image information.

The address conversion table includes, for each sub-address, an ID for identifying each distribution destination, a sub-address, a mail address of a distribution destination user, and a user type (individual /
Group) is stored as a set.

Here, one sub-address can include a plurality of mail addresses. The “e-mail address of a group of user type” is, for example, an e-mail address in the e-mail server device SM in which e-mail addresses of a plurality of users are registered in one e-mail address.

Therefore, when the user type designates a group mail address as a destination, an e-mail with the same text is delivered to all users registered at the mail address.

Similarly, in the present embodiment, if the sub-address specified at the time of reception is such that the user type corresponds to the mail address of the group, the sub-address is sent to all the users registered at that mail address. As a result, the same image information is distributed.

As described above, the mail server device SM
In another case where another mail address is registered for one mail address, a so-called
There is an alias (alias) address.

Now, the network facsimile machine FX
Receives the image information, the format (FA) shown in FIG.
X document management table), and stores the received image information in the image storage device 9. That is, each image information is in the form of a FAX document ID for identification, a designated sub-address, transmission terminal identification information TSI notified from the transmission terminal, and a FAX document body which is the received image information itself. It is stored in the storage device 9.

The network facsimile machine FX
Is to manage the distribution status of the stored received image information,
A distribution management table as shown in FIG. 5 is created.

One element of this distribution management table includes an ID for distinguishing each element, a mail address of a distribution destination, a FAX document ID corresponding to image information to be distributed, and F
It consists of a user name required for the TP procedure, a distribution state, and a storage term for storing image information determined from the reception date and time.

Here, the contents of the "user name" are the contents of the user name of the mail address (the part before "@"). “N / A” in the status column indicates that the distribution destination of the element is the mail address of the group, and that the transmission / non-transmission check is not performed, that is, the element is invalid. The storage expiration date is, for example, 7
Set to date and time after date.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the body of the incoming notification mail.

Basically, the body of the incoming notification mail is
The content is intended to provide a reception notification guide, information for receiving image information, and a notice of erasure of image information after the expiration of the time limit.

In this case, the contents of the “delivery destination” of the distribution management table are arranged in “[distribution destination]” in the text, and the value of the reception date and time of the image information is stored in “[reception date and time]”. The transmission terminal identification information TS stored in the FAX document management table for the image information is stored in “[TSI]”.
I is arranged, "[retention period]" contains the content of "retention period" in the distribution management table, and "[user name]" (two places) contains "user name" of the distribution management table. Is placed, and "[own terminal address]"
The email address set on your terminal is placed,
In [[FAX document ID]], the value of the FAX document ID of the FAX document management table assigned to the image information is arranged.

FIG. 7 shows that “[delivery destination]” is “user1 @
***. co. jp "and" [Reception date and time] "are" Tue,
15 Apr 1997 15:00: 00 "," [T
SI] is “841234567” and “[retention period]”
Is "Tue, 22 Apr 1997 15: 00: 0
0, “[user name]” is “user1”, and “[own terminal address]” is “NETFAX@***.co.j
p ”and“ [FAX document ID] ”are“ 96621150 ”.
0. In the case of "AA00563", an example of an incoming notification mail transmitted to the user is shown.

In this case, the header information "Message"
In the “age-ID” field, a value for confirming the FAX document ID is set, and in the “From” field,
The content that can confirm the transmission terminal identification information TSI of the transmission source is arranged as a comment, and the content that can confirm the FAX document ID is arranged in the “Subject” field.

Note that this incoming notification mail is a so-called M
IME (MultipurposeInternet)
Mail Extensions (multipurpose mail); R
FC1521, RFC1522).

FIG. 8 shows an example of a file transfer procedure using FTP. In this embodiment, “client” and “FTP server” are workstation devices WS1 to WSn used by the user in this embodiment.
And a network facsimile machine FX.

First, the client sends a connection request signal for a connection request to the FTP server, whereby the FTP server responds to the client with a connection request response signal for permitting the connection.

Next, the FTP server sends a user authentication request signal to the client to authenticate that the user is a registered user, whereby the user inputs a user name at the client, and the client Sends a user authentication request response signal for transmitting the input user name.

Next, the FTP server sends a password authentication request signal for password authentication, whereby the client inputs a password by the user, and the client transmits a password for transmitting the input password. Send an authentication request response.

The FTP server performs an authentication operation on the received password, and when the validity of the user is confirmed, sends a user authentication OK notification signal to the client. As a result, the client sends a file transfer request signal for notifying the name of the file to be transferred,
The FTP server reads the file having the file name notified at that time, and transmits the file data to the client according to a predetermined transfer procedure.

When the client finishes receiving the requested file, the client sends a connection end request signal to request the FTP server to end the connection, whereby the FTP server sends a connection end request response signal. The connection between the client and the FTP server is terminated.

With the above configuration, when a call is received from the public network PSTN, the network facsimile machine FX executes the processing as shown in FIG.

First, in response to an incoming call (process 101), a pre-transmission procedure of a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is executed (process 102), and a transmission function used at that time is set.

In the pre-transmission procedure, it is checked whether sub address signal SUB has been received (decision 10).
3) If the sub address signal SUB is not received and the result of the determination 103 is NO, a normal incoming call process is executed (process 104), and the operation at the time of the incoming call ends.

When the sub address signal SUB is received and the result of the judgment 103 is YES, a modem training procedure is executed (processing 105), a modem speed to be used at that time is determined, and image information reception is performed. By executing the procedure, the image information is received, and the received image information is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 106).

When the image information receiving operation is completed, a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (step 107), and the line is restored (step 108).

Next, based on the contents of the sub-address signal SUB received at that time, an address notification table is referred to to determine an incoming call notification destination (distribution destination) (Process 10).
9) The body information and the header information of the incoming notification mail as described above are created (step 110), and the created incoming notification mail is transmitted (step 111).

Then, the FAX document management table described above is created for the image information stored at that time (process 112), stored in the image storage device 9, and the process at the time of incoming call is terminated.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an example of the FTP server process executed by the network facsimile machine FX.

First, when a connection request signal is received from any client, a connection request response is sent (process 201), and a user authentication request signal is sent (process 202).

When the user name is received from the client (process 203), the FAX document management table is searched to check whether one or more FAX documents are stored (determination 205). If no fax document is stored and the result of determination 205 is NO, the connection at that time is disconnected (process 206), and the operation at this time is forcibly terminated.

If one or more FAX documents are stored and the result of determination 205 is YES, a password authentication request signal is sent out (process 207).
When the password is received from the client (Process 20)
8), the user name received in process 203 is registered in the distribution management table, and the password is checked by checking whether the value of the password received at that time matches the user name (process 209). Then, it is checked whether the inspection result is valid (decision 210).

When the result of decision 210 is NO,
Since the user authentication and the password authentication have failed, the connection at that time is disconnected (process 211), and the operation at this time is forcibly terminated.

When the result of decision 210 is YES,
Notify the client of the user authentication OK (processing 21
2) A file transfer request is received from the client (process 213).

Then, it is checked whether or not the FAX document management table of the FAX document ID of the file name notified at this time is stored in the image storage device 9 (processing 21).
4. Judgment 215). If the image information of the FAX document ID of the notified file name is not stored and the result of determination 215 is NO, the connection at that time is disconnected (process 216), and the operation at this time is forcibly performed. To end.

If the image information of the FAX document ID of the notified file name is stored and the result of determination 215 is YES, a predetermined transfer procedure is performed.
The requested FAX document file is transmitted to the client (processing 217, NO loop of judgment 218).

When the file transfer is completed (decision 21)
8, the connection end request is received (step 219), a connection end request response is sent (step 220), and the connection at this time is ended.
Then, the network facsimile machine FX checks the FAX document ID of the image information transmitted at that time and the content of the status column of the element of the distribution management table in which the user name is registered, and the content becomes “not transmitted”. , The content of the status column is changed to “transmitted”. When the content of the status column is "N / A", the content of the status column is not updated.

In general, a facsimile document has a large data capacity and puts a burden on the capacity of the image storage device 9. Therefore, it is not preferable to store a large number of facsimile documents without limitation.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, for a facsimile document in which the group address is not registered for the distribution destination user, when distribution to all users is completed,
Further, the facsimile document in which the group address is registered for the user of the distribution destination is deleted from the image storage device 9 when the storage period has expired, so that the image storage device 9 can be used effectively. .

Also, in this case, when the group address is registered for the distribution destination user and a facsimile document whose storage period has expired is to be deleted, a warning mail as shown in FIG. Is notified to the user that has been deleted.

FIG. 13 shows an example of processing when the network facsimile machine FX deletes a facsimile document stored in the image storage device 9. This process
It is executed at predetermined time intervals (for example, every hour).

First, one or more faxes are stored in the image storage device 9.
Check whether the document is stored (decision 30)
1). If no FAX document is stored in the image storage device 9 and the result of the determination 301 is NO, this processing ends.

When one or more FAX documents are stored in the image storage device 9 and the result of the determination 301 is YES, one FAX document is selected (Step 30).
2) It is checked whether or not the element of the distribution management table in which the FAX document ID is registered includes one whose user type is a group (determination 303).

In the case where the element of the distribution management table in which the FAX document ID is registered includes a group whose user type is group, the result of determination 303 is Y
When it becomes ES, it is checked whether or not the contents of the storage period column of the distribution management table are older than the current date and time (process 304, judgment 305).

If the contents of the storage period column of the distribution management table are older than the current date and time,
If the result of step 05 is YES, the above-described warning mail is created and transmitted (step 306), and the FAX document is deleted from the image storage device 9 (step 307). If the result of the determination 305 is NO when the contents of the storage period column of the distribution management table are not older than the current date and time, the process 307 is not executed.

Then, it is checked whether or not the processing for all the FAX documents has been completed (decision 308).
If the result is NO, the process returns to the process 302, and the same process is executed for the next FAX document.

If the element of the distribution management table in which the FAX document ID is registered does not include a user whose group is the user type, and the result of determination 303 is NO, It is checked whether or not the contents of the status column have been transmitted for all elements of the distribution management table in which the document ID is registered (process 309, judgment 310).

If the contents of the status column have been transmitted for all the elements of the distribution management table in which the FAX document ID is registered, and the result of determination 310 is YES, the flow shifts to step 307. Delete the FAX document. If the result of the determination 310 is NO when one or more elements of the distribution management table in which the FAX document ID is registered are not transmitted and the result of the determination 310 is NO, the process 307 is executed. Judgment without doing 30
Proceed to 8.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the image information is distributed from the network facsimile machine FX to the user by applying the FTP, the electronic mail is not used at the time of the image information distribution. Mail server device SM
Can be greatly reduced, and the operation of e-mail can be performed smoothly.

In the above-described embodiment, a warning e-mail is transmitted when a facsimile document whose storage period has expired is deleted when a group address has been registered for a distribution destination user. When a warning mail is unconditionally transmitted to a group address, a warning mail is also transmitted to a user who has already received a facsimile document. For this reason, the user who has received the warning e-mail may have a problem such as being uneasy as to whether the user has not received the already received facsimile document.

In this case, the user address registered in the group address is obtained from the mail server device SM, and
It is also conceivable to perform processing such as checking whether or not the delivery of the facsimile document has been completed to all users while leaving the transmitted information for each user who has received the facsimile document. In this case, however, the network facsimile apparatus FX
It is necessary to perform a synchronization process of the address table between the address table and the mail server device SM. When the size of the address table is large, such a process is not practical.

Therefore, for example, when a group address is registered for a distribution destination user and a facsimile document whose storage period has expired is to be deleted, the contents of the facsimile document are recorded and output prior to the deletion. The deleted facsimile document can be left as a hard copy, and the facsimile document can be presented to a user who has not received the facsimile document.

In this case, it is unclear which user registered at the group address requires a facsimile document. For example, one of the users registered at the group address is set as an administrative user, and If the administrative user has a hard copy of the facsimile document,
Operations such as distribution to other users as necessary are conceivable.

FIG. 14 shows an example of processing when the network facsimile machine FX deletes a facsimile document stored in the image storage device 9 in this case.

First, one or more faxes are stored in the image storage device 9.
Check whether the document is stored (decision 40)
1). If no FAX document is stored in the image storage device 9 and the result of the determination 401 is NO, this processing ends.

If one or more FAX documents are stored in the image storage device 9 and the result of the determination 401 is YES, one FAX document is selected (Step 40).
2) It is checked whether or not the element of the distribution management table in which the FAX document ID is registered includes one whose user type is a group (decision 403).

When the element of the distribution management table in which the FAX document ID is registered includes a group whose user type is group, the result of determination 403 is Y
When it becomes ES, it is checked whether or not the contents of the storage period column of the distribution management table are older than the current date and time (process 404, judgment 405).

If the contents of the storage period column of the distribution management table are older than the current date and time,
If the result of step 05 is YES, the facsimile document is read and decrypted to form the original image data,
The image data is transferred to the plotter 6, the received document is recorded and output (process 406), and the FAX document is deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 407). Further, if the content of the storage period column of the distribution management table is not a value older than the current date and time, and if the result of the determination 405 is NO, the process 407 is not executed.

Then, it is checked whether or not the processing for all the FAX documents has been completed (decision 408).
If the result is NO, the process returns to the process 402 and the same process is executed for the next FAX document.

If the element of the distribution management table in which the FAX document ID is registered does not include the one in which the user type is group, and if the result of determination 403 is NO, the FAX It is checked whether or not the contents of the status column have been transmitted for all the elements of the distribution management table in which the document ID is registered (process 409, judgment 410).

If the contents of the status column have been transmitted for all the elements of the distribution management table in which the FAX document ID is registered, and the result of determination 410 is YES, the flow shifts to step 407. Delete the FAX document. If the result of determination 410 is NO when one or more elements of the distribution management table in which the FAX document ID is registered are not transmitted, and the result of determination 410 is NO, processing 407 is executed. Judgment without doing 40
Proceed to 8.

In the above-described embodiment, the facsimile document whose storage period has expired is deleted when the group address is registered for the user of the distribution destination. This also needs to be done if the address is registered. In this case, the network facsimile machine does not know which user is the original user. However, when the user name registered in the distribution management table is used as the user name and password used in the FTP for notifying the user by the incoming notification mail as in the above-described embodiment, the alias address is set in the mail server device. In some cases, a check can be performed on a legitimate user even if is converted, and in such a case, it is not necessary to take such a measure.

[0099]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the distribution of image information from the network facsimile apparatus to the user is performed by applying FTP, e-mail is not used at the time of image information distribution, so that the burden on the mail server apparatus can be greatly reduced, There is an effect that the operation of the e-mail can be performed smoothly.

[0100] For a facsimile document in which only a personal user address has been registered for the distribution destination user,
Since the facsimile document in which the user other than the personal user address has been registered to the distribution destination user has been deleted when the distribution expiration to all the users has been completed, and the storage expiration date has elapsed, the image is stored. There is also an effect that the means can be effectively used.

When deleting a facsimile document whose storage period has expired, a warning mail is sent to notify the user that the facsimile document has been deleted. Therefore, the user can delete the facsimile document. This also has the effect that the user can clearly know the fact.

When a facsimile document whose storage period has expired is deleted, the contents of the facsimile document are recorded and output prior to the deletion, so that the deleted facsimile document can be left as a hard copy.
An effect is also obtained that a facsimile document can be presented to a user who has not received the facsimile document.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network facsimile machine FX.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an address conversion table.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a FAX document management table.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a distribution management table.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the body of an incoming notification mail.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an incoming notification mail.

FIG. 8 is a time chart showing an example of a file transfer procedure using FTP.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process when a network facsimile apparatus receives a call;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an F executed by the network facsimile machine.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a part of an example of a TP server process.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an F executed by a network facsimile apparatus.
9 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of the example of the TP server process.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a warning mail.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a document erasing process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing another example of the document erasing process.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04M 11/00 303 H04L 11/00 310C H04N 1/21 11/20 101C 1/32

Claims (7)

[Claims] The present invention has a function of exchanging data on a local area network, a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public network, and sub-address information received by a facsimile transmission procedure and its sub-address. An address conversion table storing network addresses corresponding to the information in association with each other, and storing the image information received via the public network in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received; In a method for controlling a network facsimile machine that distributes via a local area network to a destination terminal having a stored network address, the image information received via the public network is stored, and a notification is received from a partner terminal when image information is received. Was done Incoming notification mail notifying that the facsimile document to be distributed is stored is transmitted to the destination terminal of the network address stored in the address conversion table in accordance with the address information, and is stored by the FTP server function. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus, wherein image information is distributed to the destination terminal. 2. The incoming notification mail includes at least:
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: a file name of a facsimile document to be distributed, and a content for notifying a user name and a password required for receiving image information in accordance with an FTP procedure.
A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus according to the above. 3. When the distribution of the stored image information is completed to all designated destination terminals, the image information is erased.
A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus according to the above. 4. A function of exchanging data on a local area network, a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure through a public network, and sub-address information received by a facsimile transmission procedure and its sub-address. An address conversion table storing network addresses corresponding to the information in association with each other, and storing the image information received via the public network in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received; In a method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus which distributes a stored network address to a destination terminal via a local area network, the address conversion table includes a network address corresponding to a subaddress, and a user name. While storing the user type and storing the image information received via the public network, the network address stored in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified by the partner terminal when receiving the image information Sends an incoming notification mail notifying that the facsimile document to be distributed is stored to the destination terminal, and distributes the stored image information to the destination terminal by the FTP server function. When the user type is an individual user, when the distribution is completed to all the designated destination terminals, the stored image information is deleted, and the user type of the designated distribution destination is set to a user type other than the individual user. When the type is included, the stored image information is deleted after a predetermined storage period has passed, and Control method of re-equipment. 5. The incoming notification mail includes at least:
5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising: a file name of a facsimile document to be distributed, a user name and a password required for receiving image information in accordance with an FTP procedure, and a content for notifying a predetermined storage time limit calculated from the reception date and time. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus according to the above. 6. When erasing the stored image information because a user other than an individual user is included in the user type of the designated distribution destination and a predetermined storage period has elapsed, the user is notified of the fact. 6. The control method for a network facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a warning mail to be notified is transmitted to a distribution destination. 7. When erasing the stored image information because a type other than an individual user is included in the user type of the designated distribution destination and a predetermined storage period has passed, immediately before the deletion, 6. A control method for a network facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the document of the stored image information is recorded and output.