JPH1070643A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conduct an incoming call notice by an electronic mail to a destination in the case of receiving a facsimile to be delivered to the destination on a local area network(LAN) from a transmitter side facsimile equipment. SOLUTION: A facsimile control section 2 stores received data from a transmitter side facsimile equipment to an image information data storage memory 8 as a confidential file and when an electronic mail address corresponding to a SUB frame of stored received data is registered, an incoming notice mail of the electronic mail to inform the arrival of received data a destination with the electronic mail address is generated and sent to a client terminal equipment of the destination. When the electronic mail address corresponding to the SUB frame is not registered, the electronic mail is handled as a usual confidential file.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus connected to a local area network (LAN) to control facsimile data communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile apparatus connected to a LAN, guidance is provided by voice response or the like in order for a facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side to specify a specific receiving party, and the designated facsimile apparatus is designated accordingly. Information such as a push button (PB), and converts received data (facsimile information) received from the facsimile apparatus on the transmission side into an e-mail format, and converts the data into an e-mail format based on the PB number. The data is transmitted to the terminal device, and at this time, a specific receiver (LAN)
When the above (destination) is not specified, there is a printout (for example, JP-A-3-289756).
Reference).

[0003]

However, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, a voice response is performed, so that it takes a long communication time, and in the facsimile apparatus on the transmission side, complicated processing for setting the timing of transmitting PB must be performed. There is also a problem that erroneous detection is liable to occur depending on the line condition and the tone detector of the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above point, and when facsimile transmission to a destination on a LAN is received from a facsimile apparatus on the transmission side, an incoming call notification can be made to the destination by e-mail. The purpose is to be.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a communication protocol means for connecting to a PSTN and controlling facsimile communication by a G3 protocol.
LAN protocol control means for connecting to a LAN to control network communication, e-mail application control means for executing an e-mail service for transmitting / receiving e-mail on the LAN, and a facsimile apparatus on the transmission side via the PSTN. Means for identifying the contents of the SUB frame of the G3 protocol, means for storing received data from the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side as a confidential file based on the ID number identified from the SUB frame by the means, and via the PSTN. Means for, when a specific SUB frame is designated by the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side, replacing the data received from the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side with a specific confidential ID set in the apparatus itself and storing it as a confidential file; Transmission of SUB frame ID number and e-mail A registration management unit that registers and manages the table that associates the electronic mail address of the facsimile apparatus provided with a means for creating an e-mail based on table managed by the means,
The received data from the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side is stored as a confidential file, and the SU of the stored received data is stored.
When an e-mail address corresponding to the B-frame is registered, an e-mail arrival notification mail for notifying the reception of the received data is generated and transmitted to the destination of the e-mail address, and the e-mail address corresponding to the SUB frame is transmitted. If it is not registered, a means for handling it as the confidential file is provided.

Further, a management means for managing facsimile reception time information such as transmission source information, reception time information, and reception data information when the reception data is received, and a facsimile reception time information managed by the means for receiving the reception notification. It is preferable to provide a means for adding to the mail.

[0007] Further, means for registering and managing the facsimile coded information decoding permission / prohibition information in the table, and transmitting the facsimile coded information to a transmission destination capable of decoding the facsimile coded information based on the decoding feasibility information registered and managed by the means. It is preferable to provide a unit that attaches the encoding information to the notification mail and does not attach the encoding information to the incoming notification mail to a destination that cannot decode the facsimile encoding information.

Further, when the attribute of the received data received from the transmitting facsimile apparatus is in a file transfer format, it is preferable to provide a means for adding the received data to the incoming notification mail.

A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention has a PS
It controls facsimile communication by G3 protocol by connecting to TN, controls network communication by connecting to LAN, executes an e-mail service of sending and receiving e-mail on the LAN, and executes the e-mail service of the transmitting side via the PSTN. The contents of the G3 protocol SUB frame with the facsimile apparatus are identified, and the reception data from the facsimile apparatus on the transmission side is stored as a confidential file based on the ID number identified from the SUB frame, and transmitted via the PSTN. When a specific SUB frame is designated by the facsimile apparatus on the side, the data received from the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side is replaced with a specific confidential ID preset in the apparatus, and stored as a confidential file.
Register and manage a table in which the ID number of the B frame is associated with the e-mail address of the e-mail destination,
Create an e-mail based on the managed table.

[0010] The reception data from the facsimile apparatus on the transmission side is stored as a confidential file, and when an e-mail address corresponding to a SUB frame of the stored reception data is registered, the transmission destination of the e-mail address is registered. When the e-mail address corresponding to the SUB frame is not registered, it is treated as the confidential file.

Therefore, the receiving party is designated by using the SUB frame which is a standard frame of the facsimile machine,
It is interpreted as the confidential ID of the confidential file, and
The e-mail address that is always running on the client terminal device on the side is associated with the ID number of the SUB frame, and the received data is always output from the facsimile device. Disappears.

[0012] When it is not possible to specify the destination to which the e-mail address is registered, a predetermined SU is determined.
By specifying the value of the B frame, a confidential file can be created with a terminal-specific confidential ID registered in advance on the receiving side, and can be handled in the same manner as a normal confidential received file, so that the user can feel comfortable. Can be used.

[0013] Further, facsimile reception information such as source information, reception time information, and reception data information when receiving the reception data is managed, and the managed facsimile reception information is added to the incoming notification mail. If the facsimile reception information such as the telephone number (TSI) of the sender, the time at the time of reception, the image information size at the time of reception, the number of received images, etc., is transmitted to the LAN as additional information at the time of facsimile reception, The above clients can be notified automatically.

[0014] Furthermore, the facsimile coded information is registered and managed in the table, and the destination notification mail is sent to a destination capable of decoding the facsimile coded information based on the registered managed feasibility information. If the encoding information is attached to the destination where the facsimile encoding information cannot be decoded and the encoding information is not attached to the incoming notification mail, the encoding information of the received data is added when the incoming notification mail is created. Whether or not can be specified individually or collectively by the ID number.

As a result, when general-purpose application software capable of decoding facsimile information is provided on the client side on the LAN, the received data can be received and referenced together with the incoming notification mail, and the general-purpose application software capable of decoding the facsimile information can be received. When no application software is provided, it is possible to freely select output by a facsimile machine.

Accordingly, the client terminal device on the LAN must be provided with general-purpose application software for analyzing facsimile information in the e-mail format, and the received data is converted into the e-mail format and transferred to the client. It is possible to cope with various network environments without causing an increase.

Further, when the attribute of the received data received from the transmitting facsimile apparatus is in a file transfer format, the received data is added to the incoming notification mail. T. of the T Recommendation. BF specified in 434
When the file is transferred as a T-format file, the received data is added to the incoming notification mail to be notified, and when the other received data is received, only the incoming notification mail is notified to enable output by the facsimile apparatus. Thus, the trouble of registering the presence or absence of the decryption application software of the client terminal device can be saved, and a simple and inexpensive system can be constructed.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a local area network (LAN) using a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This LAN includes a facsimile machine, a server terminal device 11, and a plurality of client terminal devices 12 and 13.
When a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention receives facsimile data from a transmitting facsimile apparatus connected via the PSTN, the destination And the like to transmit an incoming notification mail to the client terminal device designated as.

The facsimile apparatus includes a communication control unit 1, a facsimile control unit 2, a local area network (LAN) communication control unit 3, an encoding / decoding unit 4, realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. It comprises an operation control unit 5, a recording control unit 6, a read control unit 7, and an image information data storage memory 8.

The communication control unit 1 is connected via a public line (PSTN) to other facsimile machines on the transmitting side so that facsimile communication is possible. Call control, communication control, SUB frame identification, and G3 facsimile communication protocol are used. C
It controls SI and non-standard source information recognition, BFT communication, and the like.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) -T Recommendation T. The use of SUB frames is standardized in the G3 facsimile protocol according to the provisions of No. 30, and it is possible to transmit additional information of data when transmitting data. Depending on the frame, data of up to 20 digits can be added. Binary file transfer (BFT) is based on ITU-T Recommendation T. The structure of the facsimile apparatus is defined in T.434. 30.

The facsimile control unit 2 controls the entire facsimile apparatus, and realizes functions such as a file management unit, an e-mail generation unit, and an e-mail application control unit according to the present invention by a control program.

The file management unit manages the SUB / mail address / decryption permission and reception file. The e-mail generation unit converts the received data of the file management unit into LA
Generate an e-mail to be sent to N side. The e-mail application control unit controls an e-mail application operating on the LAN protocol.

The LAN communication control unit 3 has an Ethernet (E)
(thernet) driver control and TCP / IP control. Also, it operates as one client on the network by connecting to the LAN. The encoding / decoding unit 4 performs MH / MR / MMR encoding and decoding processes used in facsimile communication.

The operation control unit 5 enables designation of output of a confidential file, creation of a transmission file, registration of a transmission destination, and registration of a SUB and an e-mail address by an input operation from an input device such as a keyboard. Also, various operation information is displayed on a display device such as an LCD.

The recording control unit 6 controls recording and output of received data and accumulated data to a printing device such as a laser printer or an ink jet printer. The reading control unit 7 controls reading of an image from a document by the scanner device. The image information data storage memory 8 is a recording device such as a hard disk device or an optical disk device that stores encoded reception data such as a confidential file or the like and a transmission standby file.

That is, each of the above-mentioned units is connected to the PSTN to control facsimile communication by the G3 protocol, is connected to a LAN, and is a LAN protocol control unit that controls network communication;
An e-mail application control means for executing an e-mail service for transmitting / receiving e-mails above, and a G3 protocol SU with a facsimile apparatus on the transmission side via the PSTN.
Means for identifying the content of the B frame, means for storing received data from the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side as a confidential file based on the ID number identified from the SUB frame by the means, and means for transmitting on the transmitting side via the PSTN. Means for, when a specific SUB frame is designated by the facsimile apparatus, replacing the received data from the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side with a specific confidential ID set in the apparatus itself and storing it as a confidential file;
Function of registration management means for registering and managing a table in which an ID number of a frame is associated with an e-mail address of an e-mail destination, and means for creating an e-mail based on the table managed by the means Fulfill.

Also, the reception data from the facsimile apparatus on the transmission side is stored as a confidential file, and when an e-mail address corresponding to the SUB frame of the stored reception data is registered, the transmission destination of the e-mail address It also generates and sends an e-mail notification message for notifying the reception of the received data, and when the e-mail address corresponding to the SUB frame is not registered, it also functions as a means for handling as a confidential file.

Further, management means for managing facsimile reception time information such as transmission source information, reception time information, and reception data information when the reception data is received, and the facsimile reception time information managed by the means for receiving the reception notification. It also functions as a means for adding to mail.

Furthermore, means for registering and managing the facsimile coded information decoding permission / prohibition information in the table, and a transmission destination capable of decoding the facsimile coded information based on the decoding feasibility information registered and managed by the means are provided as described above. It also functions as a means for attaching encoded information to the incoming notification mail and not attaching the encoded information to the incoming notification mail to a destination that cannot decode the facsimile encoded information.

Also, when the attribute of the received data received from the transmitting facsimile apparatus is in a file transfer format, it also functions as a means for adding the received data to the incoming notification mail.

Next, communication processing in the LAN facsimile apparatus of this embodiment will be further described. FIG.
Is a flowchart showing the processing. This process
In step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 1, it is determined whether or not a SUB frame is received. If the SUB frame is not received, the normal reception is performed. If the SUB frame is received, the process proceeds to step 2.

In step 2, it is determined whether or not the SUB frame is a four-digit number. If the SUB frame is not a four-digit number, the incoming call is rejected. It is determined whether or not it has been performed.

If the e-mail address has not been registered in step 3, the process proceeds to step 7 to determine whether the confidential ID of the SUB frame is “0000”. If the confidential ID is “0000”, the process proceeds to step 8. Advance registration ID
At "1234", a confidential file is created, and a confidential notification report is output. If the confidential ID is not "0000", the process proceeds to step 9 to create a confidential file with the ID number of the SUB frame and output a confidential notification report.

On the other hand, if the e-mail address has been registered in step 3, the process proceeds to step 4 and the BFT
It is determined whether or not the file has been received. If the BFT file has been received, the process proceeds to step 6 to create an e-mail for notification of arrival (incoming notification mail), add the received data, and send the e-mail to the client terminal device of the transmission destination. Send and delete received files.

If it is determined in step 4 that the BFT file has not been received, the flow advances to step 5 to determine whether or not there is a facsimile information decryption application.
Then, an e-mail for incoming call notification (incoming notification mail) is created, received data is added, the e-mail is transmitted to the client terminal device of the transmission destination, and the received file is deleted.

If it is determined in step 5 that there is no facsimile information decryption application, the flow advances to step 10 to create a confidential reception file, create an e-mail for incoming notification (incoming notification mail), and send the e-mail to the destination Send to client terminal device.

Next, communication processing in the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment will be further described. First, the confidential ID used in this facsimile machine is fixed at four digits.
Also, in Table 1, the ID number of each SUB frame, the e-mail address of each of the client terminal devices 12, 13 and the facsimile information decryption availability data (presence or absence of decryption application) are registered in the file management unit of the facsimile control unit 2. Here is an example of the format.

[0040]

[Table 1]

In the facsimile machine on the receiving side, "SUB
= 0000 ”as a confidential ID registered in advance on the receiving side, for example, a confidential ID“ 123 ”.
4 "to create a confidential file.

A process when a facsimile is received from the facsimile machine of the facsimile number "03-1234-5678" via the PSTN in the registration status shown in Table 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the reception protocol.

In the facsimile machine on the receiving side, the DIS frame, which is a standard frame of the G3 facsimile, is used for SUB.
Declares the presence of the frame reception function and the presence of the BFT (file) reception function. In the transmitting facsimile machine, S
Transmission is performed by designating a UB frame. Here, as a general-purpose confidential file, for example, "SUB =
0000 "to transmit normal facsimile image information.

On the receiving side, when “SUB = 0000” is specified, the “confidential ID” of the receiving side registered in advance is set.
= 1234 ", a received file is created as a normal confidential file. When the confidential file is received, a confidential notification report is output to notify the user of the existence of the file. The general-purpose confidential file is output by a specific person in charge on the receiving side.

Next, when a facsimile is received from the facsimile machine of the facsimile number "03-0000-1111" via the PSTN, the transmission side designates "SUB = 2222" to designate a specific recipient. Submit information.

On the receiving side, the registration information for "SUB = 2222" is confirmed, and a confidential file of "confidential ID = 2222" is created because there is no decryption application software (decryption application).

Also, the source information "03000001111" is obtained from the TSI of the transmission-side protocol, and the reception time is obtained from the clock information in the facsimile apparatus. It is registered in the file management unit of the control unit 2.

Table 2 is a table showing an example of a data format in the confidential reception file management table. "SUB
Since the e-mail address is registered for "= 2222", the e-mail generation unit of the facsimile control unit 2 generates an incoming notification mail.

[0049]

[Table 2]

The e-mail application control unit and the LAN communication control unit 3 transmit the incoming notification mail as a file reception notification mail to the client terminal device which is the receiving user on the LAN network.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the format of a facsimile incoming notification mail. When confirming the facsimile incoming notification mail, the user of the client terminal device that has received the facsimile incoming notification mail receives the ID “2222” from the client terminal device.
To obtain facsimile reception information from the facsimile machine.

Next, when a facsimile is received from the facsimile machine of the facsimile number "0123-00-1111" via the PSTN, the transmission side designates "SUB = 3333" to designate a specific recipient. Submit information.

On the receiving side, the registration information for "SUB = 3333" is confirmed, and since there is decryption application software (decryption application), processing for adding the received data to the mail without creating a confidential file is performed. First, an incoming notification mail is generated as described above, and a coding method is added to the contents of the mail. For example, a coding method: MH is added. Then, the received data is further added to the contents of the mail.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the format of a facsimile incoming notification mail to which received data has been added. The received data in the image information data storage memory 8 may be automatically deleted from the memory after being added to the incoming notification mail and transmitted.

The confidential reception file management table shown in Table 2 is an example when the file is not deleted. In this case, an operation for deleting the file is separately performed. The receiving user confirms the contents by displaying the received data attached to the incoming notification mail with the FAX image information display application software.

Next, when a facsimile is received from the facsimile machine having the facsimile number "03-0000-1111" via the PSTN, the transmission side designates "SUB = 4444" to designate a specific recipient. Submit information.

On the receiving side, the registration information for "SUB = 4444" is confirmed, and since the e-mail address has been registered, the incoming notification mail transmission processing by e-mail is performed. Also, the received data received from the transmitting side is shown in FIG.
When it is confirmed that the file is in the BFT format based on the communication protocol shown in (1), the reception data is added to the incoming notification mail because the BFT file is received by the client terminal device of the user of “SUB = 4444”.

Then, an incoming notification mail is generated in the same manner as in the above processing, but at this time, a document name is added to the contents of the incoming notification mail. The document name used is the one added to the header part of the BFT data structure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the format of a facsimile incoming notification mail to which the received data in the BFT format added by the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is added. The received data may be automatically deleted after being added to the incoming notification mail and transmitted to the client terminal device on the LAN.

The confidential reception file management table shown in Table 2 is an example when the file is not deleted. In that case, an operation for separately deleting the file is performed. The receiving user decrypts the BFT data and displays the BFT data using the specific decryption application software provided and recognized in advance for the BFT data attached to the incoming call notification mail to confirm the content.

As described above, the confidential file function of the normal facsimile apparatus is enabled by using the SUB frame, and the notification of the facsimile reception to a specific receiving party (client terminal apparatus) on the LAN is transmitted by e-mail. As a result, the sender information and the like are added and sent, so that the convenience can be greatly improved.

Further, since the presence or absence of facsimile information decoding application software can be registered for each receiving user (client terminal device) on the LAN, received data can be transmitted to a user who can decode facsimile information. Since the data can be decrypted and referred to by the own device without being printed out by the device, the convenience can be greatly improved.

Further, only when the received data is a BFT file, the received data is added to the incoming notification mail and transmitted to the transmission destination. When the received data is facsimile image information, the facsimile apparatus prints out the data. It is possible to save the trouble of registering the presence / absence of decryption application software for each client terminal device.
An AN-FAX system can be constructed.

[0064]

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, when a facsimile apparatus on the transmission side receives a facsimile to a destination on the LAN, an incoming call notification can be made to the destination by e-mail. You.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a local area network (LAN) using a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of receiving a call and outputting a confidential file of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a reception protocol of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

4 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a facsimile incoming notification mail output by the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a facsimile incoming notification mail to which received data output by the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is added.

FIG. 6 is a BF output by the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
It is a figure showing an example of the format of the facsimile incoming notice mail which added receiving data of T form.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Communication control unit 2: Facsimile control unit 3: LAN communication control unit 4: Encoding / decoding unit 5: Operation control unit 6: Recording control unit 7: Read control unit 8: Image information data storage memory 10: LAN 11: Server terminal device 12, 13: Client terminal device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location H04M 11/00 303 H04L 11/00 310C H04N 1/00 9744-5K 11/20 101C 104 1/44

Claims (4)

[Claims] Communication means for connecting to a PSTN to control facsimile communication by a G3 protocol;
LAN protocol control means for connecting to a LAN to control network communication, e-mail application control means for executing an e-mail service for transmitting / receiving e-mail on the LAN, and a facsimile apparatus on the transmission side via the PSTN. Means for identifying the contents of the SUB frame of the G3 protocol, means for storing received data from the facsimile machine on the transmitting side as a confidential file based on the ID number identified from the SUB frame by the means, and via the PSTN. Means for, when a specific SUB frame is designated by the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side, replacing the data received from the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side with a specific confidential ID set in the apparatus itself and storing it as a confidential file; SUB frame ID number and e-mail destination A facsimile apparatus comprising: a registration management unit for registering and managing a table in correspondence with an e-mail address; and a unit for creating an e-mail based on the table managed by the unit. Data received from the device is stored as a confidential file, and the SU of the stored
When an e-mail address corresponding to the B-frame is registered, an e-mail arrival notification mail for notifying the reception of the received data is generated and transmitted to the destination of the e-mail address, and the e-mail address corresponding to the SUB frame is transmitted. A facsimile apparatus provided with means for handling the confidential file when not registered. 2. A facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for managing facsimile reception time information such as transmission source information, reception time information, and reception data information when said reception data is received, and management by said means. Means for adding the received facsimile reception information to the incoming notification mail. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for registering and managing information on whether or not the facsimile encoded information can be decoded in said table, and facsimile encoding based on the decodable / unable information registered and managed by said means. Attach encoded information to the incoming notification mail to a destination that can decode the information,
A facsimile apparatus comprising: means for not attaching encoding information to the incoming notification mail to a destination to which facsimile encoding information cannot be decoded. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for adding the received data to the incoming notification mail when the attribute of the received data received from the transmitting facsimile apparatus is in a file transfer format. A facsimile machine characterized by the above.