JPH10304167A - Image communication system and facsimile equipment and computer device used for the system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image communication system which can eliminate the case that a local station facsimile registered on a facsimile equipment side is discrepant with a local station facsimile number inputted on a computer device side. SOLUTION: This facsimile equipment 32 and computer device 34 are connected through a communication line 35; and the facsimile equipment 32 is equipped with a transmitting means (Class-1 control part 3 and local station facsimile number sending-out part 11) and the computer device 34 is equipped with a number comparison part 19 which judges whether or not the local station facsimile number sent from the facsimile equipment 32 includes a country code and a local station facsimile number transmission control means (number hold part 17, data conversion part 13, and class-1 control part 12) which sends the local facsimile number including the country code when the country code is included or the local facsimile number to the facsimile equipment 32 when not.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, a computer apparatus, and an image communication system including the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus is a means for electrically transmitting document information to a remote place using a telephone line or the like. The facsimile apparatus reads out document information using a digital scanner or the like, encodes and compresses the information, and transmits it. Has a basic configuration.
However, in recent years, facsimile boards and the like for directly facsimile transmitting document information created by computer devices such as personal computers and word processors have been developed, and interfaces between these computer devices, facsimile boards, and facsimile devices have been standardized. (EIA Standard Class1, Class2
etc). Accordingly, general-purpose facsimile machine application software according to these standard interfaces has been supplied.

FIG. 5 shows a facsimile apparatus 1 as described above.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the computer device 101 and the computer device 101 are connected. By constructing such a system, for example, the following functions can be obtained.

Scanner function (PC-SCANNE)
R): The facsimile device 100 is connected to the computer device 1
01 is a function to be used as a scanner. When a document is set on the document reading section of the facsimile apparatus 100 and a scanner input key of the operation section is operated, the facsimile apparatus 10
0 reads the original, and class 1 control units 110 and 1
11 based on the class 1 protocol, RS
The original read through the communication path 102 using the interface 232c as an interface is sent to the computer 101.

Computer facsimile function (PC-
FAX): A function of using the facsimile apparatus 100 as a modem of the computer apparatus 101. The original received by the facsimile apparatus 100 via the public line can be taken into the computer 101, and the original created by the computer 101 can be sent to the remote facsimile apparatus via the public line via the facsimile apparatus 100.

Printer function (PC-PRINT):
This is a function of using the facsimile apparatus 100 as a printer of the computer apparatus 101. Computer device 1
In step S01, a document is created, and the computer 101 dials the own station number of the facsimile apparatus 100. The facsimile apparatus 100 prints the original on the printing unit 115 when the number transmitted from the computer apparatus 101 is the local station facsimile number. At this time, Cl
The local station facsimile number is incorporated in the TSI in the ass1 protocol. Therefore, the facsimile machine 10
0 is provided with a local facsimile number storage unit 112, and the computer 101 is also provided with a registration unit 113 capable of storing a local facsimile number.

On the other hand, in recent years, the transmission of information by e-mail using the Internet has been utilized. To send e-mail using the Internet, create data (message) on a personal computer, send it using Internet software (application software that sends and receives files via the Internet), and receive e-mail. When the Internet software is running, the server is accessed at regular intervals, for example, to check for the presence of mail. If there is mail, start the reading software to read the mail. Is available.

It is known that the image communication using the Internet can be performed at a lower cost than facsimile communication, especially when a remote place such as an overseas destination is addressed. On the other hand, there is a drawback in that a complicated operation must be performed when a paper document already printed out is read by the personal computer and transmitted using the Internet.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the facsimile apparatus 100 connected to the public line 103 and the LAN
A computer device 101 connected to the Internet via a (local area network) 104 by a communication path 102 and a computer device 1
01 may have a data conversion unit 105 for converting facsimile document data into electronic mail.

[0010] With this configuration, it is possible to automatically print an e-mail received by the computer apparatus 101 using the printing unit 115 of the facsimile apparatus 100 using the printer function (PC-PRINT) described above. It becomes possible. Specifically, while specifying an e-mail file to be printed, a facsimile number input field (formed on a screen of a computer device) for specifying a destination is used to input a facsimile number of the own station (usually). When a country code field for inputting a country code (country code) besides the own station facsimile number is also formed on the screen) and a start button (formed on the screen of the computer device) is operated, an e-mail file is generated. The facsimile is converted to a facsimile file and sent to the facsimile apparatus 100 together with the local station facsimile number. The facsimile apparatus 100 compares its own facsimile number registered in advance with the own facsimile number sent from the computer apparatus, and if they match, activates its own printing unit 115 without performing transmission operation. Then, the printing process is performed.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A facsimile machine 10
In the case where only the own station facsimile number is registered in 0 and the computer apparatus 101 does not enter a country code (country code) but only the own station facsimile number, there is no problem. If the country code is added to the local facsimile number, but the country code is not added to the computer device, or vice versa, the country code is not added to the local facsimile number on the facsimile device side. If the country code is added on the computer side, the local station facsimile number will not match.
There was a problem that printout was not possible.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention provides a computer device which can be used in a facsimile apparatus in which only its own facsimile number is registered or in which its own facsimile number is added with a country code. The present invention provides an image communication system capable of providing a facsimile machine with a local station facsimile number corresponding to these numbers from a facsimile machine and reliably performing printing on the facsimile machine, and a facsimile machine and a computer device used for the same. Aim.

[0013]

An image communication system according to the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as a first image communication system in this item) includes a facsimile apparatus and a computer connected via a communication path having a communication interface. An image communication for transmitting a received facsimile data obtained by converting the e-mail received by the computer device or the information generated by the computer device together with the facsimile number of the own station to the facsimile device and performing a printing process for printing at a printing unit of the facsimile device. A facsimile machine, the facsimile machine further comprising a transmission unit for transmitting a registered local facsimile number to a computer device, wherein the computer device includes a local code transmitted from the facsimile device includes a country code Judgment to judge whether or not When it is determined that the country code is included, the local station facsimile number including the country code is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus in the printing process, and when the country code is not included, the country code is included in the printing process. Local facsimile number transmission control means for transmitting a local facsimile number to the facsimile apparatus.

With the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the inconsistency between the own station facsimile number registered on the facsimile apparatus side and the own station facsimile number input on the computer apparatus side due to the presence or absence of the country code. Problems can be prevented from occurring in the process of causing the device to function as a printer.

An image communication system according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a second image communication system in this item) comprises a facsimile apparatus and a computer connected via a communication path having a communication interface. An image communication system which transmits facsimile data obtained by converting electronic mail received by the apparatus or information created by the computer apparatus together with the facsimile number of the own station to the facsimile apparatus, and performs printing processing for printing at a printing unit of the facsimile apparatus. Wherein the facsimile device includes transmission means for transmitting the registered local facsimile number to a computer device, the computer device includes a storage device for storing the local facsimile number transmitted from the facsimile device, and a user Will execute the above printing process And a local facsimile number transmission control for transmitting the local facsimile number stored in the storage means to a facsimile apparatus during the printing process performed when the print specifying button is operated. Means.

According to the above configuration, the facsimile apparatus can perform a process of printing by a simple operation of operating the print designation button, and the country code is included in the local station facsimile number on the facsimile apparatus side. If it is included, a number including a country code is transmitted.If no country code is included, a number not including a country code is transmitted. And that the local station facsimile number sent from the computer to the facsimile apparatus does not match.

A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is a facsimile apparatus used in the first and second image communication systems, wherein a registered own-station facsimile number is automatically registered when a predetermined operation is performed. And transmission means for transmitting the data to a computer device.
Examples of the predetermined operation include an operation of turning on the power of the facsimile apparatus, an operation of registering a change of the facsimile number of the own station, and an operation of transmitting information read or received by the facsimile apparatus to the computer apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer apparatus used in the above-mentioned first image communication system, wherein the local station facsimile number transmitted from the facsimile apparatus includes a country code. When it is determined that a country code is included, the local station facsimile number including the country code is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus at the time of the printing process, and when the country code is not included,
And a local facsimile number transmission control means for transmitting a local facsimile number not including a country code to the facsimile apparatus at the time of the printing process.

Further, a computer device of the present invention is a computer device used in the above-mentioned second image communication system, wherein a storage means for storing the local station facsimile number transmitted from the facsimile device, and a user A print designation button operated when trying to execute the print processing, and the own station facsimile number stored in the storage means at the time of the print processing performed when the print designation button is operated is transmitted to a facsimile apparatus. And a local facsimile number transmission control means for transmitting.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this image communication system, a facsimile (FAX) 32 connected to a telephone line 31 and a computer (PC) 34 connected to the Internet via a LAN 36 are connected to each other.
It is connected via a communication path 35 based on S232C (Class 1).

The facsimile apparatus 32 reads the original, and compresses the read original data (MH, MR,
G2 data according to a method such as MMR), storage and decompression of the G3 data, a control unit 2 for overall control of the facsimile, a printing unit 5 for printing decompressed original data, transmission and reception data FAX modem 6 for modulation and demodulation
Which executes the control procedure by the above-mentioned Class 1
las1 control unit 3, NCU (network control unit) 7 connected to a public line, display unit 8 for displaying predetermined contents, operation unit 9 operated by a user, own station facsimile number storage for storing own station facsimile number A local facsimile number transmitting unit 11 for instructing transmission of a local facsimile number in conjunction with a predetermined operation. Examples of the predetermined operation include a power-on operation of the facsimile device 32, an operation of registering a change of the local facsimile number, and an operation of transmitting information read or received by the facsimile device 32 to the computer device 34. When such an operation is determined by the control unit 2,
It is sufficient that the control unit 2 instructs the local station facsimile number transmission unit 11 to transmit. Details of the sending process will be described later with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

On the other hand, the computer device 34 includes a Class 1 control unit 12 for executing a control procedure by Class 1 with the facsimile device 32, a data conversion unit 13 for performing mutual conversion between a G3 file and an e-mail file,
The data storage unit 14 stores the created document information and the received e-mail file, etc., the LAN interface 15 connecting the LAN 36 and the computer device 34, the operation unit 16 including a keyboard and a mouse, and the like. The number holding unit 17 for holding the local facsimile number and country code of the facsimile apparatus 32 input thereto, the storage unit 18 for storing the local facsimile number received from the facsimile apparatus 32, and the number holding unit 17 A number comparing unit 19 for comparing the local facsimile number with the local facsimile number in the storage unit 18, a display unit 20 for displaying predetermined contents, a transmission number designating unit 21, and a control unit 22 for performing overall control. I have.

The above-mentioned number holding section 17 and the like will be specifically described. The general-purpose facsimile machine application software incorporated in the computer machine 34 displays a facsimile transmission destination designation screen on the display unit 20 of the computer machine 34. The destination designation screen is usually provided with a country code (country code) input field and a facsimile number input field. The user can input a number into each field using a keyboard or the like as the operation unit 16. Will be entered. The number entered in the country code input box is held as a country code in the number holding unit 17, and the number input in the facsimile number input box is held as a facsimile number in the number holding unit 17.

The number comparing section 19 stores the data in the storage section 1 as described above.
Then, it is determined whether or not the own-station facsimile number 8 (the number received from the facsimile apparatus 32) matches the own-station facsimile number (the number input by the user of the computer) held in the number holding unit 17. Thus, it is determined whether or not the local station facsimile number in the storage unit 18 includes a country code. That is, if the own-station facsimile number in the storage unit 18 matches the own-station facsimile number held in the number holding unit 17, it is determined that the own-station facsimile number registered in the facsimile apparatus does not include a country code. If it can be determined and the number obtained by combining the local station facsimile number and the country code in the storage unit 18 matches the local station facsimile number stored in the number holding unit 17, the local station facsimile number registered on the facsimile apparatus side is used. Can be determined to include the country code. Note that the local station facsimile number is 05XX-XX-
If the station has a city code, such as XX, it starts with 0, and the country code starts with a value other than 0, for example, (81). Based on this, the local station facsimile number transmitted from the facsimile apparatus is used. It is also possible to determine whether or not includes a country code. Also,
Even if the local station facsimile number is entered without the city area code and the number is 81-xxxxxx,
(81) Since it can be determined that the number of digits thereafter cannot be a facsimile number, it can be determined that the country code is not included in such a case.

The e-mail received by the computer device or the information created by the computer device is converted by the data conversion unit 13 and sent to the facsimile device together with the local facsimile number or the country code + local facsimile number of the number holding unit 17. Although transmitted (when the facsimile apparatus is used as a printer), whether to transmit the own station facsimile number or whether to transmit the country code + the own station facsimile number is determined by the transmission number designation unit 2
1 is determined based on the comparison result from the number comparison unit 19.

Next, the facsimile apparatus 32 transmits the own station facsimile number to the computer apparatus 34, and the computer apparatus 34 determines whether or not the own station facsimile number includes a country code. This will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile device 32
Determines whether the power has been turned on (step 1). When the power is turned on, a data transmission process is executed according to the Class 1 protocol (step 2). At this time, the local station facsimile number is entered in the TSI and an arbitrary message is sent. As an example of an arbitrary message, for example,
"Transmit own station facsimile number".

The computer 34 uses the number comparing section 19 to determine whether or not the local station facsimile number transmitted from the facsimile includes a country code (step 3). If the local station facsimile number includes a country code, the fact is indicated by the transmission number specifying unit 21.
(Step 4), and if the local station facsimile number does not include a country code, that fact is stored in the transmission number designation section 21 (step 5).

FIG. 3 shows another example. Facsimile machine 3
2 judges whether or not the change of the own station facsimile number has been registered (step 11). If the registration has been changed, a data transmission process is executed using the Class 1 protocol (step 12). At this time, the local station facsimile number is entered in the TSI and an arbitrary message is sent. An example of the arbitrary message is, for example, "transmit own station facsimile number".

The computer 34 uses the number comparing section 19 to determine whether or not the local station facsimile number transmitted from the facsimile includes a country code (step 13). If the local station facsimile number includes a country code, the fact is indicated by the transmission number specifying unit 2.
1 (step 14), and if the local station facsimile number does not include a country code, that fact is stored in the transmission number designation section 21 (step 1).
5).

In the above example, the facsimile machine 3
When the power-on operation of step 2 is performed, or when the operation of changing and registering the own-station facsimile number is performed, the own-station facsimile number is automatically sent to the computer device. The facsimile number of the own station may be transmitted when a signal from the apparatus (a signal requesting the facsimile number of the own station or a signal indicating power-on of the computer) is received. Also, the local station facsimile number may be transmitted when the information read by the facsimile apparatus or the information received by facsimile is transmitted to the computer apparatus.

Next, a process of automatically printing out a received electronic mail using the printing unit 5 of the facsimile machine 32 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the computer device 34 determines whether an e-mail has been received (step 21). Then, it is determined whether or not the setting for automatic printing of the e-mail is made (step 22).
If so, the data conversion unit 13 converts the electronic mail file into a facsimile file (step 23).
Next, it is determined whether or not the local facsimile number includes a country code based on the contents of the transmission number designating section 21 (step 24).
While transmitting the country code and the local station facsimile number held in step (step 25), in the case of NO, only the local station facsimile number is transmitted (step 2).
6). Then, the file is transmitted to the facsimile machine 32 according to the Class 1 protocol (step 2).
7).

The facsimile machine 32 determines whether or not the facsimile number sent from the computer 34 matches the own station facsimile number registered in the own station facsimile number storage section 10 (step 28).
If they match, the printer function (PC-PRINT)
As the process, the file transmitted by using the printing unit 5 is printed. If they do not match, it is determined that the facsimile number sent from the computer device 34 is the facsimile number indicating the destination, and the processing by the computer facsimile function (PC-FAX) is executed (step 30).

When the information (file) created by the computer device 34 is printed out by the facsimile device 32, the information is converted into a facsimile file instead of the process in step 23, and the same process is performed thereafter. Should be performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the discrepancy between the own station facsimile number registered on the facsimile apparatus side and the own station facsimile number input on the computer apparatus side occurs depending on the presence or absence of the country code. Thus, it is possible to prevent a problem from occurring in the process of causing the facsimile apparatus to function as a printer.

Next, a printer function (PC-PRIN) utilizing the fact that the own station facsimile number transmitted from the facsimile apparatus 32 is stored in the own station facsimile number storage section 18 provided in the computer 34.
An embodiment in which the designation of T) can be simply performed will be described. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the user inputs numbers into the respective fields using the keyboard or the like as the operation unit 16 with respect to the country code input field and the facsimile number input field which form the destination designation screen. Function (PC-
It is troublesome to do such a thing at the time of executing PRINT). Therefore, the user displays the printer function (PC-P) on the display unit 20 of the computer device 32.
RINT) is displayed when a print designation button is operated. The user can use the printer function (PC
-PRINT), the operation unit 1
For example, the user may operate the mouse 6 to position the arrow mark on the screen on the print designation button and click it. When this click is made, the computer device 3
4 transfers to the processing of the printer function (PC-PRINT), and at this time, transmits the local station facsimile number stored in the local station facsimile number storage section 18 in the TSI to the facsimile apparatus. According to this, the processing of the printer function (PC-PRINT) can be performed by a simple operation of operating the print designation button, and the country code is included in the own station facsimile number on the facsimile apparatus side. If a country code is included, a number including a country code is transmitted from the local station facsimile number storage unit 18, and if no country code is included, a number not including a country code is transmitted from the local station facsimile number storage unit 18. Therefore, the inconvenience that the registered local facsimile number on the facsimile apparatus side does not match the local facsimile number transmitted from the computer apparatus to the facsimile apparatus is solved.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the discrepancy between the local station facsimile number registered on the facsimile apparatus side and the local station facsimile number inputted on the computer apparatus side occurs depending on the presence or absence of the country code. Thus, it is possible to prevent a problem from occurring in the process of causing the facsimile apparatus to function as a printer. Further, there is an effect that the processing of the printer function can be performed by a simple operation of operating the print designation button.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus and a computer apparatus constituting an image communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a local station facsimile number transmitting process and a country code presence / absence determining process in the image communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another example of a local station facsimile number transmitting process and a country code presence / absence determining process in the image communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an electronic mail automatic printout process in the image communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a facsimile device and a computer device that constitute a conventional image communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Class 1 control unit 10 Own station facsimile number storage unit 11 Own station facsimile number transmission unit 12 Class 1 control unit 13 Data conversion unit 17 Number holding unit 18 Own station facsimile number storage unit 19 Number comparison unit 21 Transmission number designation unit 32 Facsimile device 34 Computer equipment

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus and a computer apparatus are connected via a communication path having a communication interface, and receive e-mail received by the computer apparatus or facsimile data obtained by converting information created by the computer apparatus. An image communication system which transmits a facsimile number together with a facsimile number to a facsimile apparatus and performs a printing process for printing in a printing unit of the facsimile apparatus, wherein the facsimile apparatus includes a transmission unit for transmitting a registered local station facsimile number to a computer device. The computer device includes: a determination unit configured to determine whether the own station facsimile number transmitted from the facsimile device includes a country code; and when the computer device includes the country code, the computer device transmits the country code in the printing process. included Transmitting a station facsimile number to the facsimile apparatus, and, if the country code is not included, the own station facsimile number transmission control means for transmitting the own station facsimile number not including the country code to the facsimile apparatus in the printing process. An image communication system, characterized in that: 2. A facsimile device and a computer device are connected via a communication path having a communication interface, and the e-mail received by the computer device or facsimile data obtained by converting information created by the computer device is transmitted to its own station. An image communication system which transmits a facsimile number together with a facsimile number to a facsimile apparatus and performs a printing process for printing in a printing unit of the facsimile apparatus, wherein the facsimile apparatus includes a transmission unit for transmitting a registered local station facsimile number to a computer device. The computer device comprises: storage means for storing the local station facsimile number transmitted from the facsimile device; a print designation button operated when a user attempts to execute the printing process; and the print designation button. Is operated when Image communication system comprising: the own facsimile number transmission control means for transmitting said own facsimile number when cormorants the printing process are stored in the storage means to the facsimile apparatus. 3. A facsimile apparatus used in the image communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a registered local facsimile number is automatically transmitted to a computer apparatus when a predetermined operation is performed. A facsimile apparatus, comprising: 4. A computer device used in the image communication system according to claim 1, wherein a judgment unit judges whether or not the own station facsimile number transmitted from a facsimile device includes a country code. When it is determined that the country code is included, the local station facsimile number including the country code is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus at the time of the printing process. Own-station facsimile number transmission control means for transmitting a facsimile number to a facsimile machine;
A computer device comprising: 5. A computer device used in the image communication system according to claim 2, wherein said storage device stores said local station facsimile number transmitted from a facsimile device, and said user executes said printing process. A print designation button to be operated when trying to do so, and a local facsimile number for transmitting the local facsimile number stored in the storage means to a facsimile apparatus during the printing process performed when the print specification button is operated. A computer device comprising: a transmission control unit.