JPH11112724A - Facsimile server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile server unnecessitating labors for looking around for reception by immediately obtaining the reception of picture data from a remote place. SOLUTION: The facsimile server houses the FAX number of a transmission source and a prescribed client computer IP address (a receiver IP address), an output printer IP address and the number of outputting prints in the reception informing file of a hard disk by corresponding. When the reception of facsimile occurs, the receiver IP address and the output printer IP address are checked from the FAX number of the transmission source by the reception informing file (S22), a reception informing mail is transmitted to the client computer of the receiver IP address through LAN (S23) and picture data and the number of outputting prints are transmitted to the printer of the output printer IP address to output a picture (S29). Consequently, reception is found and the picture is obtained even at a place remote from the facsimile server.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile server which can immediately recognize the reception of image data even from a remote place and does not require any labor for checking the presence or absence of reception.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile for reading characters and figures described in a manuscript as image information and transmitting it to a specific destination has been widely used in offices, factories, homes, and the like. In a conventional facsimile, the transmission / reception means and the printer are integrated, and the output destination is limited to this printer. In an office or the like, one facsimile is on the floor or one in the department or section, and several to dozens of people use the facsimile in common.

[0003]

For this reason, a facsimile received manuscript can be delivered to the recipient when the person in charge is available or by regularly looking around. Obtained by looking around.
In this manner, in the facsimile reception by the conventional facsimile device, the user goes to a distant place to look for reception.
There is a problem that requires labor and time such as delivery or collection. Further, when several people need to receive a facsimile reception document, the required number of copies are copied by a copying machine after reception, which is troublesome. Furthermore, if a paper jam, paper loss, or toner shortage occurs during facsimile reception, it will take time for the receiver to receive the output after receiving the output with a delay even if the reception is completed unless the paper is cleared. Or the reception becomes impossible, resulting in poor facsimile use efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to immediately recognize the reception of image data even from a remote place, and to perform facsimile which does not require labor for checking the presence or absence of reception. A primary purpose is to provide a server. A second object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile server that does not require the trouble of copying a required number of copies of a received document. Furthermore,
A third object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile server with good use efficiency.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Mail receiving means for receiving mail information relating to the source of image data from a client computer connected to the LAN, a source received by the mail receiving means,
A reception notification destination storage unit that stores the mail information in association with the client computer that has transmitted the mail information, an image data reception unit that receives image data via a public line network, and image data that is received by the image data reception unit And a mail transmitting unit for notifying the corresponding client computer of the reception of the image data by e-mail, when the transmission source is stored in the reception notification destination storage unit, by providing a facsimile server This achieves the first object. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile server according to the first aspect, the mail receiving unit receives printer information on a predetermined client printer connected to the LAN from a client computer that has transmitted the mail information. The reception notification destination storage unit stores the printer information received by the mail reception unit and the client computer in association with each other, and the transmission source of the image data received by the image data reception unit stores the reception notification destination storage When stored in the means, the first object is achieved by transmitting and outputting image data to the corresponding client printer. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile server according to the second aspect of the present invention, the facsimile server further includes an output copy number storage unit that stores an output copy number of the image data to be output to the client printer, and is stored in the output copy number storage unit. The first object and the second object are achieved by transmitting the number of output copies together with the image data to the client printer to output the image data of the number of output copies. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, the client printer detects the output impossible state while the image data cannot be output, and the client printer outputs the image data. The first object, the second object, and the third object are achieved by providing output impossible notification means for transmitting a printer error message notifying that the printer is in an impossible state to the client computer. is there.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the facsimile server of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0007] (1) Overview of the present embodiment The facsimile server 1 of the present embodiment stores in advance a source FAX number and an IP address (recipient IP address) of a predetermined client computer 21 in a reception notification file on the hard disk 13. And the output printer IP address and the number of output copies are stored correspondingly. When a facsimile is received, the receiver IP address and the output printer IP address are checked from the transmission source FAX number using the reception notification file on the hard disk 13. And the recipient IP
A reception notification mail is transmitted to the client computer 21 at the address via the LAN, the image data and the number of output copies are transmitted to the printer at the output printer IP address, and the image is output. Therefore, even if the user is away from the facsimile server 1, it is possible to know the reception of the facsimile and obtain an image.

(2) Details of the Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the facsimile server of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a facsimile server 1 of the present embodiment is connected to a main control unit 11 and a public line network, and transmits and receives image data via the public line network and performs a transmission and reception unit for encoding and decoding. 12,
A hard disk 13, an HD control unit 14 for controlling storage and reading of data from and to the hard disk 13,
A network control unit 15 for transmitting and receiving data to and from a client computer 21 and a client printer 22 connected to the LAN via the network N, and a FAX printer 16 for printing out image data are provided.

The main control unit 11 transmits and receives a transmission / reception unit 12, a hard disk 13, and a hard disk 13 via a bus line 17 such as a data bus.
It is connected to an HD control unit 14 as a data storage control unit, a network control unit 15, and a FAX printer 16. The main control unit 11 controls the transmission / reception unit 12, the HD control unit 14, the network control unit 15, and the FAX printer 16 according to various programs stored in a storage unit (not shown) such as a ROM or the hard disk 13. I have. The main controller 11 transmits image data to the client printer 22 via the network controller 15.
When it is not sent to the client computer 21, it functions as an output disable notification unit that sends a printer error message notifying that the client printer 22 is in an output disabled state to the client computer 21 via the network control unit 15. .

The hard disk 13 includes a printer registration file, a spool file, and a reception notification file.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing the contents of the printer registration file. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer registration file includes the number of printers (the number of registered printers) connected to the facsimile server 1 of this embodiment via the LAN and capable of transmitting the image data received by the transmission / reception unit 12,
The IP address of the printer 16 (FAX printer address), the IP address of the client computer 21 connected to the facsimile server 1 of the present embodiment via the LAN (receiver IP address), the name of each client printer 22 (printer name), and An IP address (printer IP address) is stored. The printer name and the printer IP address are stored in correspondence with each other. The FAX printer IP address, recipient IP address, printer name, and printer IP address are registered, stored, and saved by electronic mail using a utility for an administrator.

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing the contents of a spool file. As shown in FIG. 3, the spool file contains, for each reception operation in the transmission / reception unit 12, a facsimile number (reception facsimile number) of the transmission source, a transmission source name, a reception time, the number of pages of the received image data, and a paper size. Are stored together with the image data. The transmission source FAX number and transmission source name are obtained from a protocol used when connecting to a public network.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing the contents of the reception notification file. As shown in FIG. 4, the reception notification file includes, for each transmission source FAX number, the IP address (recipient IP address) of the client computer, the FAX printer IP address, or the output of the image data by the recipient among the printer IP addresses. The printer address (output printer IP address) of the desired destination and the number of output copies (number of prints) of the received image data are stored, and function as a destination storage unit and an output copy storage unit. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an example of an electronic mail transmitted from the client computer to the facsimile server when registering in the reception notification file. Sender facsimile number, recipient IP address,
The output printer IP address and the number of copies are transmitted from the client computer 21 of the receiver IP address to the facsimile server 1 by electronic mail to the transmission source F.
By transmitting the AX number, the name of the receiving printer, and the number of prints, the data is obtained from the mail and the printer registration data, and is stored and stored.

Next, the operation of the facsimile server of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the receiving process when a facsimile is transmitted to the facsimile server 1 of the present embodiment. In the facsimile server 1 of the present embodiment, the facsimile is
Is connected to the public line network (step 11; Y), the main control unit 11 acquires the transmission source facsimile number from the protocol, and stores and saves it in the spool file via the HD control unit 14 (step 12). . Further, the source name is acquired from the protocol, and stored and stored in the spool file via the HD control unit 14 (step 13). Subsequently, the received image data is sequentially stored in the spool file via the HD control unit 14 (Step 14). The storage of the image data is continued until the line is disconnected (step 1).
5; N). Then, when the line is disconnected (step 1
5; N), the total number of pages and the paper size are stored and saved in a spool file (step 16), the next reception is waited, and the printout processing of the received image data is performed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of a printout process by the facsimile server of the present embodiment. When the receiving process is completed, the main control unit 11 confirms whether the storage of the received image data in the spool file has been completed (step 21), and waits until the image data has been stored (step 21; N). ). Then, when the end of the storage of the image data in the spool file is confirmed (Step 21; Y), it is checked whether or not there is a transmission source FAX number corresponding to the reception notification file (Step 22). If there is a source FAX number (step 22; Y), the receiver IP address, output printer IP address, and number of copies stored corresponding to the source FAX number are obtained (step 2).
3).

If there is no corresponding transmission source FAX number in the reception notification file (step 22; N), the FAX printer IP address is set as the output printer IP address and the number of copies is set to 1 (step 24).

Next, the main controller 11 controls the output printer IP
The state of the printer (output printer) having the address is detected (step 25). If the printer is ready (step 25; Y), the image data is transmitted to the output printer via the network control unit 15 (step 2).
6).

If the output printer is not in the output ready state due to a paper jam, missing paper, running out of toner, or the like (step 25; N), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. Detection (Step 26)
If the predetermined time has not elapsed (step 3
1; N), the process waits for a predetermined time by repeating Step 25 until a timeout occurs. When a predetermined time has elapsed and a timeout has occurred (step 31;
Y), if the printer abnormal mail has not been transmitted (step 32; N), the printer abnormal mail is transmitted to the receiver (step 33), and the steps from step 25 are repeated. If a printer error mail has already been sent, and if the sender FAX number has not been registered in the reception notification file and the reception IP address has not been obtained (step 32;
In Y), the process from step 25 is repeated without transmitting the printer error mail. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an example of a printer abnormal mail. As shown in FIG. 7B, a printer error message and a printer name are displayed in the printer error message.

When the image data is transmitted to the output printer (step 26), the image data is output. If the output for all pages and all copies has not been completed (step 27;
N, or Step 28; N) Repeat the process from Step 25. When output of all copies for all pages is completed (Step 27; Y and Step 28; Y),
If the receiver IP address has been obtained, the main controller 11 sends the received mail to the output printer IP address by the network controller 15 (step 29), and discards the information registered in the reception notification file. (Step 30) If the recipient IP address has not been obtained, the printout process is terminated. FIG.
(C) is a diagram showing a received mail. This FIG. 7 (c)
As shown in (1), in the received mail, the transmission source FAX number is displayed together with a message indicating the end of the reception.

As described above, according to the facsimile server 1 of the present embodiment, when the transmission / reception unit 12 receives the facsimile data, the reception notification is transmitted by electronic mail to a predetermined client computer via the LAN and displayed. Therefore, it is possible to know the reception at a place remote from the facsimile server, and it is not necessary for the person in charge or the intended recipient to look around, and the labor for that can be eliminated. According to the facsimile server 1 of the present embodiment, since the image data received by the transmission / reception unit 12 is transmitted to a pre-registered client printer and printed out, it is possible to obtain an image printed out at a place remote from the facsimile server. It is possible to eliminate the labor for the person in charge of distributing the printout image and for the recipient to go to get the printout image.

According to the facsimile server 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically output a plurality of copies of the image from the received image data, so that it is possible to save the trouble of making a copy.

According to the facsimile server 1 of the present embodiment, when an error that cannot be output occurs in the printer that outputs the received image data, this error is automatically notified by electronic mail. Is avoided, and good use efficiency can be obtained.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the main control unit 11 and the HD control unit 14 as a data storage control unit are provided separately.
4 may also function. In the present embodiment, the hard disk 13 is provided with a spool file to serve as a data storage unit.
It may be constituted by other storage means such as AM and EEPROM which can read and write image data. In this embodiment,
One network control unit 15 transmits and receives the reception notification mail to the client computer 21 via the LAN and the image data to the client printer 22 via the LAN. The first network control unit for controlling transmission, the second network control unit for controlling transmission of image data, and the like may be separate control units.

In this embodiment, the hard disk 13 has a spool file and functions as a data storage unit, and has a reception notification file and functions as a destination storage unit. Alternatively, it may be configured by another storage means. In the present embodiment, the hard disk 13 is provided with the reception notification file to serve as the destination storage unit. However, the destination storage unit may be configured by a readable / writable storage unit other than the hard disk 13, such as a PROM. In this case, it is preferable that the transmission destination storage unit be capable of retaining the memory even after the power of the facsimile server is turned off. However, when the power of the facsimile server is normally kept on, a RAM or the like may be used. it can.

In the present embodiment, the hard disk 13 has a reception notification file and functions as a destination storage unit. However, the hard disk 13 does not have a destination storage unit and transmits a reception notification mail to all the client computers 21. Is also good. In this case, when the sender name is displayed in the reception notification, the receiver is given a register, which is efficient. The sender name may be registered in the reception notification file instead of the sender FAX number, and the corresponding client printer and output printer may be detected from the sender name. In the present embodiment, the hard disk 13 includes a reception notification file and functions as a transmission destination storage unit. However, even if the reception notification of all image data is transmitted to a specific person in charge, the labor required by the person in charge can be Can be reduced.

The facsimile server 1 may not be provided with a facsimile printer, and the client printer 22 connected to the LAN may always output image data. Even if the image data is not always output to the client printer 22 but is always output by the FAX printer 16, the reception of the image data can be immediately recognized even from a remote place, and the effect of not requiring the labor for checking the presence or absence of the reception is obtained. Can be obtained.

The reception notification file is searched, the corresponding transmission source FAX number is detected, and if there is no transmission source FAX number, mail is transmitted to all client computers to obtain the receiver IP address and the number of output copies. It may be. The number of print copies may not be stored in the reception notification file, but may be always one copy. In particular, when one client computer is assigned to each person, if the number of copies is to be output to each recipient, it is not necessary to register the number of copies in advance.

The reception notification mail may display a transmission source name instead of the transmission source FAX number. Also, because the receiving printer is predetermined and the recipient already knows,
It does not need to be displayed. It is not necessary to display the number of prints.

The printer error mail of the destination printer may be sent to all client computers.

The client computer 21 only needs to be connected to the LAN and capable of transmitting and receiving data via the LAN, and may be a word processor having such a function. Client computer 21 and client printer 22
And may be integrated. Client printer 2
2 may not be directly connected to the LAN, but may be connected to the LAN via the client computer 21.
In the present embodiment, if the transmission / reception unit 12 is provided to enable transmission and reception of facsimile, only the reception unit may be provided instead of the transmission / reception unit 12, and only reception may be performed.

[0032]

As described above, according to the facsimile server according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the receiving unit receives the facsimile data, a reception notification is transmitted to a predetermined client computer via the LAN. Since the information is displayed on the screen, the reception can be known at a place remote from the facsimile server, and the person in charge or the intended recipient does not need to look around, thus eliminating the labor required for that.

According to the facsimile server according to the second aspect of the present invention, the image data received by the receiving unit is transmitted to the client printer registered in advance and printed out, so that the image data is printed out at a place remote from the facsimile server. This makes it possible to obtain a printed image, so that the person in charge of distributing the printout image and the receiver's effort to retrieve the image can be eliminated.

According to the facsimile server according to the third aspect of the present invention, a desired number of copies of the image can be automatically output from the received image data, so that it is possible to save the trouble of making a copy.

According to the facsimile server according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when an error that cannot be output occurs in the printer that outputs the received image data, this error is automatically notified. Time loss is avoided, and good use efficiency can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a facsimile server of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing the contents of a printer registration file in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing the contents of a spool file in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing the contents of a reception notification file in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a reception process when a facsimile is transmitted to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printout process according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating an example of an electronic mail transmitted and received in the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 7A illustrates an example of an electronic mail transmitted from a client computer to a facsimile server when registering a reception notification file; (B) is a diagram showing an example of a printer abnormal mail, and (c) is a diagram showing an example of a received mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile server 11 Main control part 12 Transmission / reception part 13 Hard disk 14 HD control part 15 Network control part 16 FAX printer 17 Bus line 21 Client computer 22 Client printer

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

Claims (4)

[Claims] An e-mail receiving means for receiving e-mail information relating to a source of image data from a client computer connected to a LAN, a source received by the e-mail receiving means, and a client computer transmitting the e-mail information. Receiving notification destination storage means for attaching and storing; image data receiving means for receiving image data via a public line network; and a transmission source of the image data received by the image data receiving means being the reception notification destination storing means. A facsimile server comprising: a mail transmitting unit for notifying the corresponding client computer of the reception of image data by mail when stored in the facsimile machine. 2. The mail receiving means receives printer information on a predetermined client printer connected to the LAN from a client computer that has transmitted the mail information, and the reception notification destination storage means receives the printer information by a mail receiving means. The printer information and the client computer are stored in association with each other, and the transmission source of the image data received by the image data receiving unit is stored in the reception notification destination storage unit. 2. The facsimile server according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile server transmits and outputs image data. 3. An output copy number storage means for storing the number of output copies of the image data to be output to the client printer, wherein the output copy number stored in the output copy number storage means is transmitted to the client printer together with the image data. 3. The facsimile server according to claim 2, wherein the image data of the number of output copies is output. 4. When the client printer is in a state where image data cannot be output, the client printer detects the output impossible state and notifies the client computer of a printer error message notifying that the client printer is in an output impossible state. 4. The facsimile server according to claim 2, further comprising an output disable notification unit for transmitting.