JPH11112726A - Facsimile equipment corresponding to network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily manage facsimile communication in another department by adopting transmission result information concerning facsimile transmission executed by a user who belongs to another department as another department transmission result information to transmit it to network correspondence facsimile equipment belonging to another department. SOLUTION: A table is referred to based on a department code which is retrieved by a prescribed processing concerning the 'department code' of a transmission result report (another equipment transmission) and a corresponding department name is described as a replacement as a 'used equipment' by permitting the user name of a corresponding electronic mail address as 'management'. The managers of the respective departments obtain the transmission result report (another equipment transmission) in the same way as a communication management report (its own equipment transmission) concerning the applying facsimile transmission even when the users belonging to their own departments execute facsimile transmission through the use of a network facsimile equipment which belongs to another department.

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 public network and performing facsimile communication via the public network.
The present invention relates to a network-compatible facsimile apparatus connected as one of the network terminals to a network capable of transmitting and receiving data between the network terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile apparatus, a facsimile transmission or a facsimile reception is obtained.
Information related to the facsimile communication, such as communication date and time, communication time, communication destination name, transmission mode, time required for communication, number of communication, communication result, communication fee, department code input at the time of transmission, etc. , Automatically as transmission result information for each communication, or as a transmission result report on a recording sheet in response to an instruction input, or sequentially accumulated as communication management information for each communication, for a certain period of time. Whenever a certain number of records are accumulated, or every time a certain number of records are accumulated, or in response to an instruction input, the communication management report is recorded and output on recording paper, so that the user of the own device can refer to information related to communication. To be able to confirm.

On the other hand, in a facsimile apparatus connected to a network such as a LAN, the facsimile communication
When the device is operated directly by the user,
In some cases, this is performed according to an instruction from another terminal on the network.

Therefore, as in a facsimile apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-115553, terminal identification information including the own apparatus is added to the communication management information so that each communication management information can be managed by the user. It is easy to determine whether the communication is related to facsimile communication performed by direct operation or to facsimile communication performed in response to an instruction from another terminal on the network. A technique for outputting information to a designated terminal in response to a communication management record output command from each terminal has been proposed.

According to the above proposed technique, for example, when a personal computer as a terminal on the network cannot transmit data prepared for the purpose of facsimile transmission due to a failure of a facsimile modem provided in its own device, the transmission data is not transmitted. Is transmitted to the facsimile machine together with destination information and the like via a network, transmission is requested, and the result can be received.

On the other hand, in an office where facsimile machines are arranged for each department such as the personnel department and the general affairs department,
A user belonging to a certain department belongs to another department when the facsimile machine belonging to the certain department is in a state where it is unlikely that the facsimile apparatus can be used immediately because the scanner unit is out of order or during communication. In general, a facsimile machine is used temporarily.

[0007] Further, in an office where a dedicated facsimile machine is arranged in each department, such as the human resources department and the general affairs department, or in each of a plurality of departments, as a part of expense management, In some cases, the usage fee of the facsimile machine is managed for each department.

[0008] In that case, the user belonging to a specific department,
If only facsimile machines belonging to the specific department can be used at all times, management of usage charges is easy. However, in that case, when the facsimile device belonging to the specific department is in an unusable state, the user belonging to the specific department cannot perform facsimile transmission, which hinders the work.

Therefore, when a certain user performs facsimile transmission with a facsimile apparatus belonging to a certain department, it is necessary to input a department code assigned to the department to which the certain user belongs so that facsimile transmission cannot be performed. By allowing the user of another department to perform facsimile transmission, the own apparatus outputs the department code input at the time of facsimile transmission as one piece of information related to the facsimile transmission. It is described in the transmission result report and the communication management rate.

[0010] Thus, each department can specify which department the user belongs to to perform facsimile transmission using the facsimile apparatus belonging to the own department, and manage the usage fee for each department. Can be performed.

[0011]

However, in this case, the transmission result report and the communication management report recorded and output by the facsimile apparatuses belonging to the respective departments relate to the facsimile communication in the own apparatus and directly operate the own apparatus. Both the information related to facsimile transmission when the user who performed facsimile transmission was a member of the department to which the user's own device belongs and the information related to facsimile transmission when the user was a member of another department. The data is output as a transmission result report or a communication management report in the device.

[0012] For this reason, the administrator of the usage fee of the facsimile machine in each department requires the transmission result report and the communication management report output by the facsimile machine belonging to the own department to the other departments other than the department code corresponding to the own department. For each of the other departments, a copy of what is described including the department code of the other department must be taken and passed to the administrator of the usage fee of the facsimile machine in the other department, and the usage fee must be charged for each other department. Also, a copy of the transmission result report and communication management report received from the administrator of the other department must be stored and managed together with the transmission result report and communication management report output by the facsimile machine belonging to the own department. There was a problem that the procedure was complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a network-compatible facsimile apparatus capable of easily managing facsimile transmission performed by a user belonging to another department in the other department. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network-compatible facsimile apparatus capable of easily managing facsimile transmission performed by a user belonging to the own department in another department.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, a network-compatible facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 is connected to a public network, performs facsimile communication via the public network, and transmits data between network terminals. In a network-compatible facsimile apparatus connected as one of the network terminals to a network capable of transmitting and receiving data, a section storing means for storing a section code assigned to the apparatus, and another network connected to the network. A department code / destination information correspondence table in which department codes respectively assigned to the corresponding facsimile apparatuses and destination information for specifying each of the network-compatible facsimile apparatuses in the network are stored in association with each other; Entered department code Means for storing a department code for storing user data, transmission result storage means for storing information relating to the facsimile transmission obtained at the time of facsimile transmission as transmission result information, and the user affiliation after completion of facsimile transmission. When the department code stored in the department code storage unit does not match the department code stored in the own device belonging department storage unit, the department code stored in the user belonging department code storage unit is converted to the department code / destination information correspondence. The transmission result information stored in the transmission result storage unit is used as the other section transmission result information for the network facsimile apparatus of another section specified by the destination information that matches with the table, and With the use device identification information for identifying the own device used by the user belonging to Characterized by comprising a notification means for transmitting via a Ttowaku.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network-compatible facsimile apparatus which is connected to a public network and performs facsimile communication via the public network, while being capable of transmitting and receiving data between network terminals as one of the network terminals. In the connected network-capable facsimile machine, receiving means for receiving, from another network-capable facsimile machine connected to the network, other department transmission result information accompanied by the used device identification information via the network, And a report output means for outputting the received other department transmission result information in a predetermined format together with the information on the used device specified by the associated received used device identification information. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network-compatible facsimile apparatus which is connected to a public network and performs facsimile communication via the public network, and a network capable of transmitting and receiving data between network terminals as one of the network terminals. In the connected network-capable facsimile machine, the department storage unit storing the department code assigned to the own apparatus, the department code assigned to each of the other network-capable facsimile apparatuses connected to the network, and the like. A department code / address information correspondence table in which destination information for specifying each network-compatible facsimile apparatus in the network is stored in advance, and a user-affiliated department code that stores a department code input at the time of facsimile transmission. Memory Storage means for storing information related to the facsimile transmission obtained at the time of facsimile transmission as communication management information in association with a department code stored in the user belonging department code storage means; Among the respective pieces of communication management information stored by the storage means during a period from when the information is transmitted to when the other department communication management information is transmitted this time, the corresponding department code is a department code stored in the own apparatus belonging department storage means. Each piece of communication management information that does not match with the other section communication management information is compared with the corresponding section code against the section code / destination information correspondence table, and as a result, each other section specified by each piece of destination information that matches. Use for identifying the network facsimile apparatus of the own apparatus used by the user belonging to each of the other departments It is accompanied by 置識 specific information, characterized in that a notifying means for collectively transmitted over the network.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the network compatible facsimile apparatus is connected to a public network and performs facsimile communication via the public network, while a network capable of transmitting and receiving data between the network terminals is provided as one of the network terminals. In a connected network-capable facsimile machine, receiving means for collectively receiving, from another network-capable facsimile machine connected to the network, other department communication management information accompanied by used device identification information via the network, and the receiving means The other department communication management report output means for outputting the received other department communication management information in a predetermined format together with the information on the used device specified by the accompanying received used device identification information, I do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network-compatible facsimile apparatus connected to a public network and performing facsimile communication via the public network, and a network capable of transmitting and receiving data between network terminals as one of the network terminals. In a connected network compatible facsimile apparatus, first storage means for storing and storing information related to the facsimile communication obtained at the time of facsimile communication as own department communication management information, and another network compatible facsimile connected to the network. Receiving means for receiving, from the apparatus via the network, other department transmission result information accompanied by the used apparatus identification information, or collectively receiving other section communication management information accompanied by the used apparatus identification information, and the receiving means Other department transmission result information received or other department A second storage means for storing and storing the communication management information as communication management information for other departments, including information on the used device specified by the accompanying received device identification information; A communication management report output means for outputting the communication management information of each department stored in the first storage means and the communication management information of the other departments stored in the second storage means in a format that distinguishes them. It is characterized by.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the facsimile apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, wherein the communication management report output means outputs the other section communication management information stored in the second storage means.
It is characterized in that the output is performed in a format that is summarized for each of the used devices specified by the information on the corresponding used devices.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network-compatible facsimile apparatus which is connected to a public network and performs facsimile communication via the public network, and a network capable of transmitting and receiving data between network terminals as one of the network terminals. In a connected network compatible facsimile apparatus, first storage means for storing and storing information related to the facsimile communication obtained at the time of facsimile communication as own department communication management information, and another network compatible facsimile connected to the network. Receiving means for receiving, from the apparatus via the network, other department transmission result information accompanied by the used apparatus identification information, or collectively receiving other section communication management information accompanied by the used apparatus identification information, and the receiving means Other department transmission result information received or other department A second storage means for storing and storing the communication management information as communication management information for other departments, including information on the used device specified by the accompanying received device identification information; Communication management report output means for arranging and outputting the respective department communication management information stored in the first storage means and the other department communication management information stored in the second storage means under a predetermined condition; It is characterized by having.

[0021]

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

First, FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a communication system including a network facsimile apparatus 5 as a network-compatible facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a network 1 is configured by interconnecting LANs (local area networks) of a large number of departments such as a department A, a department B, and a department C by a backbone 7 composed of FDDI or the like. . The LAN configuration for each department such as department A, department B, department C, etc. is almost the same as the configuration typically shown for department A, and at least the network facsimile apparatus 5 is connected as one of the network terminals.

Here, the LAN configuration of the department A will be described. The mail server device 3 connected to the LAN 2 as a network terminal, the client terminals 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d such as personal computers, the network facsimile device 5, and the management Terminal 6 for the user.

Each network terminal on the network 1 supports Ethernet as a physical / data link layer and TCP / I as a network transport layer.
Supports the P protocol and uses SMTP (Simple Ma
il Transfer Protocol) to send regular text emails and MIME (Mul
tipurpose Internet Message
e Extensions), transmission of data such as images and sounds other than ordinary text, POP (PostOf)
E-mail reception by file protocol (FTP), FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
col) to transmit and receive data via the LAN 2 and the backbone 7.

The mail server device 3 includes client terminals 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d as POP clients.
As a POP server for other network terminals such as the network facsimile device 5 and the administrator terminal 6,
In response to a request from each of the network terminals, the e-mail destined for the network terminal that has been received and stored is distributed, and the e-mail transmitted from each of the network terminals by SMTP is relayed to the destination.

The connection form of the network 1 is shown in FIG.
Not limited to those shown in the above, a network such as the Internet may be used in which the LAN 2 is interconnected with another LAN via a wide area network via a router.
At least the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to each department may be connected to each other by the network 1 so that data can be exchanged.

Next, the configuration of the network facsimile machine 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, the network facsimile apparatus 5 includes a CPU 20, a ROM 21, a RAM 22, a timer control unit 23, an operation display unit 24, and a hard disk drive 2.
5, an SRAM 26, a LAN communication control unit 27, a plotter unit 28, a scanner unit 29, an encoding / decoding unit 30, a network control unit 31, a communication control unit 32, and a system bus 33.

Here, the CPU 20 is a microcomputer that controls each unit of the apparatus according to the control program written in the ROM 21 while using the RAM 22 as a work area.

The ROM 21 stores the CPU 2 as described above.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a read-only memory in which a control program for controlling each unit of the apparatus is stored. ROM 21
Stores a font table 21a which is a correspondence table between a character code and font data corresponding to the character code. The CPU 20 refers to the font table 21a when converting a character string into an image. .

The RAM 22 stores the CPU 20 as described above.
Is a random access memory used as a work area. The timer control unit 23 counts the passage of time,
The CPU 2 detects the elapse of the time set by U20 and
It controls time such as notifying 0 by interruption.

Although not shown, the operation display unit 24 has ten keys for allowing the user to input a fax number and a department code of a transmission destination, a start key for receiving an instruction to start transmission, and an instruction to stop the operation. Various keys such as a stop key, a one-touch dial key, and a speed dial key for receiving an input are provided to receive various operations by a user, and a display such as a liquid crystal display device is provided to inform the user of the display. It displays the operating state of the device to be operated and various messages.

The hard disk device 25 includes the scanner unit 2
9 is temporarily stored as a file for transmission to the memory, the received image data is temporarily stored as a file until it is recorded by the plotter unit 28, or transmitted and received via the network 1. This is for temporarily storing the data to be stored as a file or storing various other data as a file. The SRAM 26 is a RAM that is backed up by a backup circuit (not shown), and stores setting information and user parameters related to the operation of the apparatus that should be retained even when the apparatus is powered off.

The LAN communication control unit 27 is connected to the LAN 2, supports Ethernet as a physical / data link layer, and uses TCP / I as a network transport layer.
It is compatible with the P protocol, and controls transmission of e-mail of ordinary text by SMTP, transmission of data such as image information other than ordinary text by MIME, and reception of e-mail by POP.

The plotter unit 28 records and outputs the received image information according to the line density, and records and outputs (copy operation) the image information read by the scanner unit 29 according to the line density. Things. The scanner unit 29
3.85 lines / mm, 7.7 lines / mm, 15.4 lines / mm
And the like to obtain image information by reading a document image at a predetermined reading line density.

The encoding / decoding section 30 converts the transmission image information into G
A predetermined coding method such as an MH coding method or an MR coding method, which is compatible with 3 facsimile, and a predetermined decoding method corresponding to the MH coding method or the MR coding method for received image information. Is used for decoding and decompression.

The network control unit 31 is connected to the public network 8 and
Closed / released line DC loop, line polarity reversal detection, line release detection, dial tone detection, tone signal such as busy tone (busy tone) detection, ringing signal detection, etc. It controls connection and generates dial pulses.

The communication control unit 32 controls facsimile communication based on the G3 facsimile protocol,
It has a G3 facsimile modem function and modulates transmission data to the public network 8 via the network control unit 31 while demodulating a signal received from the public network 8 via the network control unit 31. Further, the communication control unit 32 also transmits a DTMF signal corresponding to the input dial number. The system bus 33 is a signal line for exchanging data between the above-described units.

Each of the network facsimile apparatuses 5 belonging to each section configured as described above and the public network 8
The other normal G3 facsimile apparatuses 9 or 10 connected to the same G3 perform the same communication as normal G3 facsimile apparatuses transmitting and receiving facsimile messages via the public network 8.

That is, each network facsimile device 5 belonging to each department is connected to the facsimile device 9 or 1
The image information is received as a facsimile message based on the G3 facsimile protocol via the public network 8 and temporarily stored as a file in the hard disk drive 25, and after the communication is completed, the plotter unit 28 records and outputs it on recording paper, When a document is set on the unit 29 and the fax number of the facsimile machine 9 or 10 which is a transmission destination on the public network 8 is input from the operation display unit 24 and the start key is pressed to start the transmission operation. After the image information obtained by reading the original by the scanner unit 29 is temporarily stored in the hard disk device 25 as a file, a call is made to the input fax number of the transmission destination, and the image information stored in the hard disk device 25 is transmitted. Facsimile message based on G3 facsimile protocol while reading Transmitted via the public network 8 and, it can communicate as usual G3 facsimile apparatus.

Each of the network facsimile machines 5 belonging to each department stores the table shown in FIG.
It is registered and stored in the AM 26 in advance. The table shown in FIG. 3 is configured by associating items of a department name, a department code, an e-mail address, and a flag of a department belonging to the own machine for each of the network facsimile apparatuses 5 on the network 1. .

For example, when the design department is the department A shown in FIG. 1, the department code assigned to the department A is “56”.
78 ", the electronic mail address of the network facsimile machine 5 belonging to the department A in the network 1 is" ghij@def.co.jp ", and the network facsimile machine 5 belonging to the department A has the department code" 5678 ". The flag of the corresponding department belonging to the own device is set to “1”.

As a result, the network facsimile machine 5 belonging to the design department can determine the department name, the department code, and the department name of each network facsimile machine 5 belonging to another department on the network 1 (the flag value of the department belonging to the own machine is 0).
In addition, each item of the e-mail address is stored in advance. Further, the network facsimile device 5 belonging to the design department is provided by its own department (design department) on the network 1.
Of the own device (the value of the flag of the department belonging to the own device is 1) belonging to the device name, the department code, and the e-mail address are stored in advance. The same applies to the network facsimile apparatuses 5 belonging to the respective departments such as the human resources department, the planning department, the sales department, and the general affairs department, as well as the design department. The same e-mail address corresponds to the planning department and the sales department. This means that the network facsimile machine 5 corresponding to the e-mail address is shared by the planning department and the sales department. In this case, the network facsimile device 5
In, the value of the flag of the department belonging to the own machine is set to 1 for both the planning department and the sales department. In other words,
One network facsimile machine 5 belongs to a department composed of a planning department and a sales department.

Next, each processing procedure in the network facsimile apparatus 5 configured as described above will be described separately for the first to fifth embodiments.

First, a facsimile transmission procedure according to the first embodiment, which is performed by the network facsimile apparatuses 5 belonging to each section, will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the CPU 20 of the network facsimile apparatus 5 waits for a document to be set in the scanner unit 29 (No loop in decision 101). When a document is set (Yes in decision 101), an operation display is performed. Part 24
Waits for the input of the department code from
When the department code is input (Yes in decision 102), the input department code is stored in the RAM 22 (process 103). Note that the department code input in the determination 102 is that the user belonging to each department knows in advance the department code of the department to which the user belongs, and inputs the department code to the network facsimile apparatus 5 that he / she intends to use. In this case, in principle, a user belonging to each department uses the network facsimile device 5 belonging to the department to which the user belongs. However, the scanner unit 29 of the network facsimile device 5 cannot be used due to a jam of originals, If you cannot use it for a while, you may not be able to use it for a while.
May be used.

Subsequently, the facsimile number of the facsimile machine as the transmission destination on the public network 8 is displayed on the operation display unit 24.
Waits for an input by operating a ten-key, abbreviated key, one-touch key, etc. (No loop in decision 104), and when a destination fax number is entered (Yes in decision 104)
s) A facsimile transmission process of calling the input destination number and transmitting image information obtained by reading the set original by the scanner unit 29 as a facsimile message based on the G3 facsimile protocol is performed (Process 1).
07).

The information obtained in connection with the transmission process in process 107 is used as communication management information as SRAM 2
6 (process 108). FIG. 6 shows a communication management table secured in the SRAM 26 for storing the communication management information in the process 108. In the figure, the communication management table includes communication management information corresponding to a management number corresponding to each communication (transmission or reception) performed by the network facsimile machine 5. The communication management information includes “date” at which communication was performed, “time” at which communication was performed, “destination name” of communication, “transmission mode”, “time” required for communication, and “ It is composed of “number of copies”, “result” of communication, “charge” of communication, and “department code” input in the judgment 102 of FIG.

Now, after storing the communication management information in the process 108, the department code input in the judgment 102 is the department to which the own apparatus belongs (own department) by referring to the table shown in FIG. (Step 201), and if it is the own department (Yes in the determination 201), it can be determined that the facsimile transmission is performed by a user belonging to the department to which the own apparatus belongs, and the process ends without doing anything. .

If it is not the own department but another department (No in decision 201), the corresponding e-mail address is entered in FIG.
(Process 202) from the table shown in FIG.
The transmission result information on the current facsimile transmission performed in step 7 is converted into a predetermined mail format based on SMTP (step 203), and transmitted to the e-mail address searched in step 202 (step 204). Note that the e-mail converted in the process 203 is included in the “Subje
By describing a predetermined character string indicating that the mail content is the transmission result information in the “ct:” field or the like, it is possible to easily specify that the mail content is the transmission result information. The transmission result information in the e-mail format transmitted in the process 204 is received and processed by the destination network facsimile machine 5 in accordance with an e-mail reception processing procedure shown in FIG.

Each time the network facsimile machine 5 belonging to each section performs the facsimile transmission processing shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the communication management information sequentially stored in the communication management table shown in FIG. Is output on a recording sheet by the plotter unit 28 as a communication management report (own device transmission) in the format shown in FIG. In that case, the output of the communication management report (own device transmission) is performed when the operation of the forced output of the communication management report from the operation display unit 24 is performed, every time a fixed time elapses, or the number of pieces of communication management information. Is performed each time a certain number of cases are reached.

Communication management report shown in FIG.
Is output from the network facsimile machine 5 belonging to the design unit (user name in the e-mail address is "ghij"), and each item of the communication management table shown in FIG. 6 is described in a format that can be easily recognized. The "department code" in the communication management table shown in FIG. 6 is described by replacing the "department name" with the "department name" with reference to the table of FIG. Thereby, the network facsimile device 5 of the own department (in this case, the design department)
The administrator (e.g., the user of the management terminal 6) can grasp which department the user belongs to, and the user belongs to which department the facsimile transmission performed in the network facsimile machine 5 of his own department, as in the past. If the network facsimile machine 5 of the own department is used by a person belonging to another department (for example, the human resources department), not a person belonging to the own department (design department), the administrator of the other department is notified to the administrator of FIG.
A copy of the communication management report output in the format shown in FIG.

However, in this case, both the administrator of the network facsimile machine 5 used by the user of the other department and the administrator of the other department must send and receive a copy of the communication management report. Is troublesome.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, the network facsimile machine 5 used by the user of another department performs the processing procedure shown in FIG. 5, and sends the transmission result information as an e-mail to the other department. While transmitting to the network facsimile device 5 to which the network facsimile belongs, the network facsimile device 5 belonging to each section performs the e-mail reception processing procedure according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In the figure, the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to each section waits until an e-mail is received via the LAN 2 (No loop in decision 301), and receives the e-mail (Yes in decision 301). By checking the "Subject:" field and the like in the header part of the e-mail, it is determined whether the content is transmission result information (decision 302), and not the transmission result information but other contents such as image information of the transmission request. If (determination 30
No. 2), another process corresponding to the content is performed (process 303).

If the content is transmission result information (judgment 3
02, Yes), "F" in the header of the received e-mail.
The section code corresponding to the source e-mail address specified by the description of the "rom:" field is searched from the table shown in FIG. 3 (process 304), and the transmission result information of the body part of the received e-mail is transmitted. The data is developed into a report format (process 305), and is recorded on a recording paper by the plotter unit 28 (process 306).

FIG. 9 shows an example of a transmission result report (transmitted by another device) recorded and output in step 306. In the figure,
The transmission result report (transmitted by another device) is output from the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to the design unit (the user name in the e-mail address is “ghij”), and each item of the communication management table shown in FIG. One facsimile transmission (in this case, file transmission performed in the network facsimile device 5 belonging to the human resources department) is described in a format that is easy to recognize. However, regarding the “department code” in the communication management table shown in FIG. 6, referring to the table of FIG.
Instead, the user name of the corresponding e-mail address is described as “use machine”, and the corresponding department name is described as “management” instead.

As a result, even when a user belonging to his or her department performs facsimile transmission using the network facsimile device 5 belonging to another department, the administrator of each department can transmit the transmission result of the facsimile transmission to his / her own department. In the same manner as the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to the department records and outputs the communication management report (own apparatus transmission) as shown in FIG.
Transmission result report output as shown in (Other device transmission)
Thereby, it can be easily obtained.

Next, a second embodiment will be described.

In the second embodiment, the communication management information for each facsimile transmission is sequentially stored and stored in the communication management table of the SRAM 26 shown in FIG. 6 by performing the processes 101 to 108 shown in FIG. Suppose you are.

On the premise of this, in the second embodiment, the network facsimile apparatuses 5 belonging to each section perform the transmission result information transmission processing procedure shown in FIG.

In the figure, the CPU 20 of the network facsimile machine 5 belonging to each section waits for a certain time (for example, three hours) to elapse (No loop of the judgment 401), and after a certain time elapses (Yes of the judgment 401). ),
In the communication management table shown in FIG. 6, the department code corresponding to the other department, that is, the department code corresponding to the other department is “department code”.
It is determined whether there is unreported communication management information stored in the item (No. 402). If there is no communication management information (No in Step 402), the process returns to Step 401.

In some cases (Yes in decision 402), an e-mail address corresponding to a department code corresponding to one of the other departments (there may be a plurality of departments) is shown in FIG. Search from the table (process 403),
Also, the transmission result information for one case stored in the communication management table shown in FIG.
Processing to convert to a predetermined mail format based on TP (processing 4
04) is performed for all the unreported transmission result information with the same department code as the department code (N in decision 405).
o loop).

Then, the e-mail of the transmission result information converted in step 404 is transmitted to the e-mail address searched in step 403 (step 406), and the transmission result information transmitted in step 406 is stored in the communication management table of FIG. Then, a notification completion flag corresponding to each transmission result information (communication management information) is added, and the flag is set so that the notification is completed (process 407).

Then, the processing procedure from the processing 403 to the processing 407 is performed until there is no communication management information for other departments that has not been notified (No in the determination 402) (determination 402Y).
es).

Thus, the transmission result information for the other section is transmitted to each of the other sections after a certain period of time has elapsed since the previous transmission result information for the other section was transmitted to each of the other sections. The transmission result of the facsimile transmission performed by the user of each of the other departments before the transmission can be transmitted to the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to each of the other departments at a time, and the use efficiency of the network 1 is improved.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.

The third embodiment comprises an e-mail reception processing procedure according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 11 and a communication result report output processing procedure according to the third embodiment shown in FIG.

First, in FIG. 11, the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to each department waits until an e-mail is received via the LAN 2 (No loop in decision 501), and receives an e-mail (Yes in decision 501).
s), “Subject” in the header of the received e-mail
By checking the "t:" field and the like, it is determined whether the content is transmission result information (determination 502). If the content is not transmission result information but other content such as image information of a transmission request (determination 502) (No in 502), other processing corresponding to the content is performed (processing 503).

The received e-mail relates to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 5 or the processing procedure shown in FIG. 10 performed in the network facsimile machine 5 belonging to each department, and the content is the transmission result information. If there is (determination 502
Yes), “Fro” in the header of the received e-mail
The section code corresponding to the source e-mail address specified by the description of the "m:" field is searched from the table shown in FIG. 3 (process 504), and the transmission result information in the body part of the received e-mail is communication-managed. The data is developed into a report (output from another device) and stored in the SRAM 26 (process 505). The communication result information stored in the process 505 is stored in the same format as the communication management table shown in FIG.

Then, in the communication result report output processing procedure according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 12, first, a certain time (for example, 3 hours) elapses or the operation display unit 2
It is monitored whether or not there is a forced output operation from Step 4 (decision 601).
No, judgment No. 602 No loop).

Then, whether a predetermined time has elapsed (decision 60)
1 (Yes at 1) or when there is a forced output operation (Yes at decision 602), the plotter unit 28 outputs a communication management report (own device transmission) as shown in FIG. ) Further, according to the e-mail reception processing procedure of FIG.
It is confirmed whether or not it is stored in M26 (process 604). If it is not stored (No in decision 605), the process is terminated as it is.
05 (Yes), the stored communication management report (transmitted by another device) is output to recording paper by the plotter unit 28 (process 603).

FIG. 13 shows an example of a communication management report (transmitted by another device) recorded and output by the process 606. 6, a communication management report (transmitted by another device) is output from the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to the design unit (the user name in the e-mail address is "ghij"), and is the same as that shown in FIG. Each item of the communication management table describes each facsimile transmission (in this case, file transmission performed in the network facsimile device 5 belonging to the human resources department or the general affairs department) in a format that is easily recognizable. However, regarding the “department code” in the communication management table similar to that shown in FIG. 6, referring to the table in FIG.
The user name of the corresponding e-mail address is described as "management" and the corresponding department name is described instead.

As a result, even when a user belonging to his or her department performs facsimile transmission using the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to another department, the administrator of each department can transmit the transmission result of the facsimile transmission to his / her own department. In the same manner as the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to the department records and outputs the communication management report (own transmission) by the plotter unit 28 as shown in FIG.
By using the communication management report (transmitted by another device) output as shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to easily and collectively obtain a report separately from the communication management report (transmitted by the own device).

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

In the fourth embodiment, the communication result report output processing procedure shown in FIG. 14 is performed.
It is assumed that a communication management report (output from another device) is stored in the AM 26.

On the premise of this, in FIG. 14, first, it is monitored whether a fixed time (for example, 3 hours) has elapsed or whether there is a forced output operation from the operation display unit 24 (decision 7).
No of 01, No loop of judgment 702).

Then, whether a predetermined time has elapsed (judgment 70)
1 (Yes at 1), or when there is a forced output operation (Yes at 702), the plotter unit 28 outputs a communication management report (own device transmission) as shown in FIG. ) Further, according to the e-mail reception processing procedure of FIG.
It is confirmed whether or not it is stored in M26 (process 704). If it is not stored (No in determination 705), the process is terminated.

If it is stored (Y in decision 705)
es) The plotter unit 28 outputs a communication management report for the specific other device, specified by the department code, of the stored communication management report (transmitted to another device) to the recording paper (processing 706) is repeated while the communication management report for the other device is stored (determination 70).
7 Yes).

FIG. 15 shows the process 706 and judgment 7 in FIG.
7 shows an example of a communication management report (transmitted by another device) recorded and output by the control unit 07. 6, a communication management report (transmitted by another device) is output from the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to the design unit (the user name in the e-mail address is "ghij"), and is the same as that shown in FIG. Each item of the communication management table describes each facsimile transmission (in this case, file transmission performed in the network facsimile device 5 belonging to the human resources department or the general affairs department) in a format that is easy to recognize for each department. However, regarding the “department code” in the communication management table similar to that shown in FIG. 6, referring to the table in FIG. 3, the user name of the corresponding e-mail address is set as “use machine” and “management”. , The corresponding department name is described instead.

Thus, even when a user belonging to his or her department performs facsimile transmission using the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to another department, the administrator of each department can transmit the transmission result of the facsimile transmission to his / her own department. In the same manner as the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to the department records and outputs the communication management report (own transmission) by the plotter unit 28 as shown in FIG.
The communication management report (transmitted by another device) output as shown in FIG. 5 makes it possible to easily and collectively obtain the report. Further, since the communication management report (transmitted by another device) is output for each department, it is easy to see. In the communication management report (transmitted by another device) recorded and output by the processing 706 and the judgment 707 in FIG. 14 illustrated in FIG. 15, the communication management information for each department is described together on one page. Only the communication management information for one section may be described. In this case, a communication management report (transmitted by another device) can be managed on a separate page for each section.

Next, a fifth embodiment will be described.

In the fifth embodiment, an electronic mail receiving procedure according to the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 16 is performed.

In FIG. 16, the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to each section waits until an e-mail is received via the LAN 2 (No loop in decision 801), and receives an e-mail (Yes in decision 801). By checking the header part "Subject:" field of the e-mail or the like, it is determined whether the content is transmission result information (decision 802). If there is (judgment 80
No. 2), another process corresponding to the content is performed (process 803).

The received e-mail relates to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 5 or the processing procedure shown in FIG. 10 performed in the network facsimile machine 5 belonging to each department, and the content is transmission result information. If there is (judgment 802)
Yes), “Fro” in the header of the received e-mail
The section code corresponding to the source e-mail address specified by the description in the "m:" field is searched from the table shown in FIG. 3 (step 804), and the transmission result information in the body part of the received e-mail is communication-managed. It is developed into a report format (process 805). The communication result information developed in the process 805 has the same format as the communication management table shown in FIG.

Then, in the SRAM 26, by the processing 108 in the processing procedure shown in FIG. 4 or the processing 806 in the processing procedure of FIG. 16, the items of “date” and “time” of the communication management information already stored are stored. The received transmission result information is inserted and stored at a position where the communication date and time of the communication management information and the communication date and time of the transmission result information received as an e-mail and expanded in step 805 are specified in the order of time. (Process 806).

More specifically, the insertion / storage process of the process 806 is performed in accordance with the received transmission result of the communication management information (for the own device transmission and the other device transmission) already stored in the SRAM 26. This can be performed by sequentially shifting information having a newer communication date and time than information, opening a storage area for one transmission result information, and storing the received transmission result information in the empty storage area.

The communication management report in which the transmission result information is sequentially stored by the processing 806 is the same as the communication management report (own device transmission) shown in FIG. It is recorded and output by the plotter unit 28 when there is an operation, every time a certain time elapses, or every time the number of pieces of communication management information reaches a certain number.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a communication management report recorded and output as described above. In the figure, the communication management report describes the communication management information for the transmission of the other device and the communication management information for the transmission of the own device, rearranged in the order of the date and time when the facsimile transmission was performed.

As for the transmission for the own device, the section to which the user who has performed facsimile transmission using the own device is described in the item of “department name”. Referring to the table of FIG. 3, the user name of the e-mail address corresponding to the department code searched in the process 804 is used as the “use machine” and “management”. Each department name is described.

Thus, even when a user belonging to his or her department performs facsimile transmission using the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to another department, the administrator of each department can transmit the transmission result of the facsimile transmission to his / her own department. In the same manner as the network facsimile apparatus 5 belonging to the department records and outputs the communication management report (own transmission) by the plotter unit 28 as shown in FIG.
The communication management report output as shown in FIG. 7 easily and collectively arranges the communication management reports for the own device in the order of use date and time, and It is possible to obtain the transmission of the other device in a clearly distinguishable state.

In the above-described embodiment, transmission / reception of transmission result information via the network 1 between the network facsimile apparatuses 5 belonging to the respective departments is performed by electronic mail. The same applies to the case where transmission result information is transmitted and received in a data format.

In the present embodiment described above, the present invention is applied to a network facsimile apparatus which is a network-compatible facsimile apparatus which mainly transmits and receives image information via the public network 8, but the present invention Not limited to this, other communication data such as text data and binary data can be transferred to a BFT (Binary File Transfer) which is an extended function of the G3 facsimile protocol.
The present invention can be similarly applied to a network-compatible facsimile apparatus that transmits and receives data according to r) and the like.

The connection form of the network 1 is not limited to the connection form shown in the present embodiment, and the present invention can be similarly applied as long as data can be transmitted and received between network terminals.

The public network 8 to which the network facsimile apparatus 5 according to the present invention is connected is not limited to a telephone network, but may be another network such as an ISDN. The present invention is applicable not only to the G3 facsimile protocol but also to other transmission control procedures as a transmission control procedure for transmitting and receiving a facsimile message via the Internet.

[0097]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, transmission result information on facsimile transmission performed by a user belonging to another department is used as the other department transmission result information, and the network-compatible facsimile apparatus belonging to the other department is used. If the network-capable facsimile device belonging to the other department receives the other department transmission result information and outputs it as a transmission result report, the administrator of the department to which the network-capable facsimile device according to the present invention belongs can be transmitted to the other department. This eliminates the need to pass a transmission result report on facsimile transmission by a user belonging to another department, which is output by the network-compatible facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, to an administrator in the other department. The transmission result output by the network compatible facsimile machine belonging to the department It can be centrally managed as a report. Therefore, facsimile transmission performed by a user belonging to the other department can be easily managed by the other department.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the transmission result information relating to the facsimile transmission performed by the user belonging to the own department in the network compatible facsimile apparatus belonging to the other department is used as the other department transmission result information. In order to receive from the network-capable facsimile apparatus as a network-capable facsimile apparatus belonging to the department and output as a transmission result report, the manager of the section to which the network-capable facsimile apparatus according to the present invention belongs, A network-enabled facsimile device belonging to the other department used by a user belonging to the other department outputs a transmission result report related to facsimile transmission by a user belonging to the own department, eliminating the trouble of being passed from an administrator in the other department, and , Network compatible fax belonging to own department Centralized management as a transmission result report millimeter device has output. Therefore, it is possible to easily manage facsimile transmissions performed by users belonging to the own department in other departments.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the communication management information relating to facsimile transmission performed by the user belonging to each other department is used as the other department communication management information, and the network-compatible facsimile apparatus belonging to each other department is used. If the network-compatible facsimile devices belonging to the respective other departments receive the respective other department's communication management information and output them as a communication management report, the transmission is performed by the user belonging to the respective other department. There is an advantage that the facsimile transmission can be easily managed in each of the other departments, and the use efficiency of the network is improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, communication management information relating to facsimile transmission performed by a user belonging to the own department in a network-compatible facsimile apparatus belonging to another department is used as the other department communication management information as the other department communication management information. A facsimile transmission performed by a user belonging to the own department in another department to receive from the network compatible facsimile machine according to claim 3 as a network compatible facsimile machine belonging to the department and output as a communication management report. In addition to this, there is an advantage that the use efficiency of the network is improved.

According to the invention of claim 5, transmission result information or communication management information relating to facsimile transmission performed by a user belonging to the own department in the network compatible facsimile apparatus belonging to another department is transmitted to the other department transmission result information. Or a network-compatible facsimile apparatus belonging to the other section as the other section communication management information.
Or receiving from a network-compatible facsimile apparatus or the like according to 3 and outputting as a communication management report separately from the communication management information related to facsimile transmission in the own section performed by directly operating the own apparatus. There is an advantage that not only the facsimile transmission performed by the belonging user in another department can be easily managed, but also the other department communication management information can be clearly distinguished from the own department communication management information and managed.

According to the invention of claim 6, the communication management report output means is configured to combine the communication management information of other departments in a format in which the communication management information is summarized for each use device specified by the information of the use device corresponding to each other. To output
There is an effect that the other section communication management information can be output as a report in a more easily viewable state.

According to the invention of claim 7, the communication management report output means arranges and outputs the other department communication management information and the other department communication management information in a predetermined condition such as a use order. Therefore, an effect that communication management becomes easier can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system including a network facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a network facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table in which department codes, e-mail addresses, and the like are associated with each other.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a transmission processing procedure according to the first embodiment in the network facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart, together with FIG. 4, showing a transmission processing procedure according to the first embodiment in the network facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a communication management table.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a format example of a communication management report (own device transmission).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an e-mail reception processing procedure according to the first embodiment in the network facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a format example of a transmission result report (transmitted by another device).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a transmission result information transmission procedure according to the second embodiment in the network facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an electronic mail receiving processing procedure according to the third embodiment in the network facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a communication result report output processing procedure according to the third embodiment in the network facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a format example of a communication management report (transmitted by another device).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a communication result report output processing procedure according to the fourth embodiment in the network facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram different from FIG. 13 showing a format example of a communication management report (transmitted by another device).

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an e-mail reception processing procedure according to the fifth embodiment in the network facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a format example of a communication management report.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 network 2 LAN 3 mail server device 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d client terminal 5 network facsimile device 6 administrator terminal 7 backbone 8 public network 9, 10 facsimile device 20 CPU 21 ROM 21a font table 22 RAM 23 timer control unit 24 Operation display unit 25 Hard disk drive 26 SRAM 27 LAN communication control unit 28 Plotter unit 29 Scanner unit 30 Encoding / decoding unit 31 Network control unit 32 Communication control unit 33 System bus

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

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A network compatible facsimile apparatus connected to a public network and performing facsimile communication via the public network and connected as one of the network terminals to a network capable of transmitting and receiving data between the network terminals. Own department belonging department storing means for storing the department code assigned to the own apparatus, department codes respectively assigned to the other network compatible facsimile apparatuses connected to the network, and the respective network compatible facsimile apparatuses in the network. A department code / address information correspondence table in which destination information for identification is stored in advance, a department code storage unit belonging to a user for storing a department code input at the time of facsimile transmission, The facsimile obtained A transmission result storage means for storing information relating to the re-transmission as a transmission result information, after completion of the facsimile transmission, department code the user's department code storage means for storing is,
If the department code stored in the own device belonging department storage unit does not match the department code stored in the user belonging department code storage unit, the department code stored in the user belonging department code storage unit is compared with the department code / address information correspondence table. The transmission result information stored in the transmission result storage means for the network facsimile apparatus of the other department specified by, the own apparatus used by a user belonging to the other department as the other department transmission result information. A facsimile apparatus compatible with a network, comprising: a notifying unit that transmits, via the network, the used apparatus identification information for identification. 2. A network-compatible facsimile apparatus connected to a public network and performing facsimile communication via the public network and connected as one of the network terminals to a network capable of transmitting and receiving data between the network terminals. Receiving means for receiving other department transmission result information accompanied by the used device identification information from the other network compatible facsimile machine connected to the network via the network, and other department transmission result information received by the receiving means, A network-compatible facsimile apparatus, comprising: a report output unit for transmitting a report in a predetermined format together with information on a device to be used specified by the device identification information received therewith. 3. A network-compatible facsimile apparatus connected to a public network and performing facsimile communication via the public network, and connected as one of the network terminals to a network capable of transmitting and receiving data between the network terminals. Own department belonging department storing means for storing the department code assigned to the own apparatus, department codes respectively assigned to the other network compatible facsimile apparatuses connected to the network, and the respective network compatible facsimile apparatuses in the network. A department code / address information correspondence table in which destination information for identification is stored in advance, a department code storage unit belonging to a user for storing a department code input at the time of facsimile transmission, The facsimile obtained Storage means for storing information relating to retransmission as communication management information in association with a department code stored in the user-affiliated department code storage means; Among the pieces of communication management information stored by the storage means during a period until the management information is transmitted, the respective pieces of communication management information whose corresponding department code does not match the department code stored in the own device belonging department storage means are included. As the department communication management information, the department codes corresponding to the department codes are compared with the department code / destination information correspondence table, and as a result, the network facsimile apparatuses of the other departments identified by the matched destination information are sent to the respective network facsimile apparatuses. Attached to the network is the attached device identification information for identifying the device used by a user belonging to another department. A network-compatible facsimile apparatus, comprising: a notification unit for batch transmission. 4. A network-compatible facsimile apparatus connected to a public network and performing facsimile communication via the public network, and connected as one of the network terminals to a network capable of transmitting and receiving data between the network terminals. Receiving means for collectively receiving other department communication management information accompanied by used device identification information from the other network compatible facsimile machine connected to the network via the network, and other department communication management information received by the receiving means; A network-compatible facsimile apparatus, comprising: a communication management report output unit for outputting in a predetermined format together with information on the used device specified by the used device identification information received therewith. 5. A network-compatible facsimile apparatus connected to a public network and performing facsimile communication via the public network, and connected to a network capable of transmitting and receiving data between the network terminals as one of the network terminals. First storage means for storing and storing information related to the facsimile communication obtained at the time of facsimile communication as own department communication management information, and using from another network compatible facsimile apparatus connected to the network via the network. Receiving the other department transmission result information accompanied by the device identification information, or receiving means for collectively receiving the other department communication management information accompanied by the used device identification information, and the other department transmission result information received by the receiving means or The other department communication management information is transmitted to the The second storage unit stores and stores the information of the used device specified by the above as communication management information of other departments, and when the communication management report is output, the respective communication management units stored in the first storage unit A network-compatible facsimile apparatus comprising: a communication management report output unit that outputs information and communication management information stored in the second storage unit in a format that distinguishes each other's communication management information. 6. The communication management report output means collects the other department communication management information stored in the second storage means for each used device specified by the information on the corresponding used device. 6. The network-capable facsimile apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the facsimile is output. 7. A network-compatible facsimile apparatus connected to a public network and performing facsimile communication via the public network and connected as one of the network terminals to a network capable of transmitting and receiving data between the network terminals. First storage means for storing and storing information related to the facsimile communication obtained at the time of facsimile communication as own department communication management information, and using from another network compatible facsimile apparatus connected to the network via the network. Receiving the other department transmission result information accompanied by the device identification information, or receiving means for collectively receiving the other department communication management information accompanied by the used device identification information, and the other department transmission result information received by the receiving means or The other department communication management information is transmitted to the The second storage unit stores and stores the information of the used device specified by the above as communication management information of other departments, and when the communication management report is output, the respective communication management units stored in the first storage unit A network-compatible facsimile apparatus comprising: a communication management report output unit that arranges and outputs information and communication management information of each other section stored in the second storage unit under predetermined conditions.