JPH11122450A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile equipment capable of informing a communication terminal equipment to which picture data is transmitted about transmission result. SOLUTION: When calling is performed from a facsimile equipment 1 to the destination of transmission, whether or not a line is closed is judged. When the line is closed, the transmission of picture data transferred from a personal computer 3 is operated from the facsimile equipment 1. Then, whether or not the transmission of picture data is normally ended is judged. When the picture data can not be normally transmitted, information indicating that the picture data can not be normally transmitted is communicated through an electronic mail to the personal computer 3 which transmits the picture data. On the other hand, when the line is not closed, re-calling is executed until it reaches the set number of times. Then, when the recalling reaches the set number of times, information showing that the picture data are not transmitted is given to the communication terminal through the electronic mail.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a LAN (Local Ar
ea Network) or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a configuration has been proposed in which a communication terminal device (such as a personal computer) and a facsimile device are mutually connected using a communication network such as a LAN, and data from the communication terminal device is transmitted and received via the facsimile device. I have. With this configuration, data from the communication terminal device can be reliably transmitted and received according to the facsimile transmission control procedure via the public line network.

[0003]

When image data is transmitted from a communication terminal device via a facsimile device, when a line is not connected due to a facsimile device of a transmission partner being used or when transmission image data is transmitted for some reason. Some may not be sent. In this case, the fact that transmission was not possible and the fact that transmission was not completed are recorded on the recording paper and notified.

However, when image data is transmitted from a communication terminal device via a facsimile device, a transmission result such as whether the image data has been transmitted or not has been transmitted.
It was difficult to judge from the communication terminal device. For this reason, the person who transmitted the image data from the communication terminal device goes to the facsimile device and causes the facsimile device to record the communication management report. Then, based on the report, the transmission result is determined.

On the other hand, when the communication terminal apparatus is far away from the facsimile apparatus, it is confirmed by telephone or the like whether or not the transmission image data has been normally transmitted to a person near the facsimile apparatus. Was. Therefore, in order to know the transmission result of the transmission image data, it has been indirectly confirmed through another person.

If the destination facsimile machine is in use and redialing (re-calling) has been performed the number of times set in the facsimile machine, the fact that transmission has not been performed is recorded on recording paper. For this reason, when the transmission has not been performed, the transmission image data must be transferred from the communication terminal device to the facsimile device again, which is very troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such problems in the conventional technology, and a first object of the present invention is to notify a communication terminal device which has transferred image data of a transmission result. To provide a facsimile machine capable of performing such operations. Another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of reducing the number of times image data is transferred from a communication terminal apparatus.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a facsimile apparatus connected to a communication network having a communication terminal apparatus has been transferred from the communication terminal apparatus. If the image data cannot be transmitted or cannot be transmitted normally in spite of the predetermined number of recalls, a notification unit for notifying the communication terminal device of the fact and controlling the operation of the notification unit Control means for performing the operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus connected to a communication network having a communication terminal apparatus, image data transferred from the communication terminal apparatus can be transmitted irrespective of a predetermined number of recalls. In the case where there is no transmission or when transmission cannot be performed normally, there is provided a notifying means for notifying the fact to a specific communication terminal apparatus other than the communication terminal apparatus, and a control means for controlling the operation of the notifying means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the facsimile apparatus
Storage means for storing a proxy facsimile number corresponding to the number, wherein the control means, if the image data transferred from the communication terminal device could not be transmitted despite the predetermined number of re-calls, the storage means Based on the FAX number.

In the embodiments of the invention described below, "notification means" described in claims or means for solving the problem corresponds to the communication protocol control unit 23, and "communication terminal device" The “storage means” corresponds to the RAM 13, and the “control means” corresponds to the MPU 1.
1, ROM12 and RAM13.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a LAN communication network includes a facsimile apparatus 1, a file server 2, a plurality of personal computers 3, a scanner 4, a plurality of printers 5, and coaxial cables for connecting the apparatuses 1 to 5. It is composed of a cable 6.

Facsimile machine 1, file server 2,
The plurality of personal computers 3, the scanner 4, and the plurality of printers 5
An interface for connecting to the coaxial cable 6 is built in. A transceiver 33 is connected to the coaxial cable 6, and a transceiver cable 35 is connected between the interface and the transceiver 33.

As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile machine 1
Are MPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, reading unit 1
4, a recording unit 15, an operation unit 16, a display unit 17, an image memory 18, a codec 19, a modem 20, an NCU 21, a data conversion unit 22, a communication protocol control unit 23, and a network interface 24. Are connected via a bus 25.

The MPU 11 controls each part of the facsimile machine 1. The ROM 12 stores a program for controlling the facsimile machine 1. RAM 13
Temporarily stores various information related to transmission and reception of the facsimile machine 1.

The reading unit 14 reads image data on a document and outputs black and white binary image data. The recording unit 15 is composed of an electrophotographic printer, and records received image data on recording paper.

The operation unit 16 includes a numeric keypad (including * and # keys) 16a for inputting a telephone number, an abbreviated number registration, and an abbreviated key 16b for transmitting a call from the abbreviated number.
Start key 1 for starting document reading operation
6c and the like. A display unit 17 such as an LCD displays various information such as an operation state of the facsimile machine 1.

The image memory 18 temporarily stores received image data, image data read by the reading unit 14, and image data read by the scanner 4. Codec 19 is
The image data read by the reading unit 14 and the scanner 4 is encoded for transmission by MH, MR, MMR, or the like. The codec 19 decodes the received image data.

The modem 20 has a 30 based on a facsimile transmission control procedure according to V.30. 17, V. 27te
r, V. Modulation and demodulation of transmission / reception data according to 29 or the like are performed. The NCU 21 has functions of closing and opening the telephone line L, detecting transmission and reception of a dial signal corresponding to the fax number of the other party, and the like.

The data converter 22 converts the image data of the MH, MR, MMR system or the like received via the telephone line L into LA data.
In order to make the format easy for a plurality of personal computers 3 on N to handle, TIFF, BMP, GIF, JPEG,
The data is converted into a data format according to PCX, DCX, or the like. The data conversion unit 22 converts the transmission image data such as TIFF sent from the personal computer 3 into image data such as MH, MR, and MMR.

The communication protocol control unit 23 controls communication with devices on the LAN via the network interface 24. For convenience, O
This will be described below using an SI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model. That is, the session layer (the fifth layer) in the OSI reference model
Layer) or above, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
col: mail transmission protocol), POP (Post Office P)
rotocol: mail receiving protocol), FTP (File Tran)
sfer Protocol: file transfer protocol), TELN
Communication is controlled by ET (remote computer operation) or the like.

Similarly, the transport layer (fourth layer) is T
Communication is controlled by a CP (Transmission Control Protocol) and a UDP (User Datagram Protocol). Similarly, network layer (third layer)
And part of the data link layer (the second layer) is IP (Internet
Communication is controlled by a protocol (inter-network protocol). Incidentally, the data link layer (second layer) and the physical layer (first layer) other than those described above include, for example, IEEE 80
2.3 (Ethernet).

As shown in FIG. 3, the network interface 24 includes a network controller 31, a serial interface adapter 32, and a transceiver 33.
(Ethernet standard). As the network interface 20, for example, one in which the network controller 31, the serial interface adapter 32, and the transceiver 33 are configured as one LSI, and one in which the network controller 31 and the serial interface adapter 32 are integrated into one LSI
And the like.

The network controller 31 corresponding to 10Base5 transmits the data from the facsimile apparatus 1 onto the coaxial cable 6 in a CSMA / C format.
D (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision D
etection) method to control access to the communication network. The serial interface 33 converts data transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 onto the coaxial cable 6 from parallel data to serial data. The serial interface 33 converts serial data transmitted on the coaxial cable 6 into parallel data and outputs the parallel data to the facsimile machine 1. The transceiver 33 connects the facsimile device 1 to the coaxial cable 6.
Connect with

The network controller 31 and the serial interface adapter 32 in the network interface 24 are integrated in the facsimile machine 1. On the side of the facsimile machine 1, a D-Sub connector 34 is provided. The transceiver 33 is connected to one end of a transceiver cable 35 (Ethernet standard), and the other end of the transceiver cable 35 is connected to a D-Sub connector 36. Then, the transceiver 33 is connected to the middle of the coaxial cable 6 by a tap 37, for example, and the D-Su
By connecting the b connector 36 to the D-Sub connector 34 of the facsimile machine 1, data can be transmitted between the facsimile machine 1 and the coaxial cable 6 via the network interface 24.

The file server 2 stores various data transferred from the personal computer 3, and stores
It has a function as a mail server (POP3 server) in addition to a function of transferring various data designated according to an instruction from the MFP to another device (for example, the facsimile device 1 and the printer 5).

As shown in FIG. 4, the personal computer 3 has a built-in communication protocol control unit 26 and network interface 27 similar to the communication protocol control unit 23 and network interface 24. Also, S
An agent (for example, facsimile machine 1) connected to the network by NMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
Etc.) management information database (MIB: Manageme
nt Information Base) to collect information.

The scanner 4 reads a document placed on a document placing plate of the scanner 4 according to a command from the personal computer 3. The printer 5 records various data transferred from the personal computer 3 and the file server 2 on recording paper in accordance with an instruction from the personal computer 3.

Next, the client (the facsimile machine 1)
An electronic mail performed between the personal computer 3) and the file server 2 will be described. Here, SMTP will be described. SMTP is one of the TCP / IP application protocols, and is a protocol for transmitting an electronic mail in a text format. According to the SMTP, an e-mail can be reliably and efficiently transmitted.

After the log-in to the file server 2 is completed, the client sends an e-mail by SMTP as shown in FIG. That is, first, the client makes an SMTP connection request to the file server 2. If the file server 2 can connect, the response code "22
"0" (file server 2 ready) is returned to the client. Further, if the client transmits its own IP address by the "HELO" command and the file server 2 can recognize the client's IP address, the response code "250" (the requested command has been completed normally) and the file server 2 Returns the IP address. Thereafter, the client transmits the mail, and upon completion of the transmission, transmits a “QUIT” command. In response, when the file server 2 returns a response code “221” (connection closed (response to QUIT)), the SMTP ends. After the transmission of the e-mail is completed, the client logs off from the file server 2.

Next, POP will be described. Said S
MTP is a protocol for transmitting electronic mail, while POP is a protocol for reading electronic mail from the file server 2. The basic communication procedure of POP can be roughly divided into three phases. First, a phase for connecting to the file server 2 to confirm the user, then a phase for reading the mailbox,
Finally, this is the phase of updating the status of the mailbox. Here, the state of the mailbox is information such as the number of received mails and the read state (read / unread) of each mail.

The operation of the facsimile machine 1 in the communication network system configured as described above will be described.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that S
The processes of 1 and S2 are executed under the control of an MPU (not shown) based on a program stored in a ROM (not shown) of the personal computer 3. Also, the processing of S3 to S10 is
It is executed under the control of the MPU 11 based on a program stored in the ROM 12 of the facsimile machine 1.

First, in S1, data is input from a keyboard to items (for example, a fax number of a transmission destination, a transmission file name, etc.) displayed on the screen of the personal computer 3, and "Transmission" on the screen is performed. A button (not shown) is clicked with a mouse or the like.

In S 2, a signal indicating a transmission request, a FAX number, a transmission file name, and the like are transmitted from the personal computer 3 to the facsimile machine 1. Further, the transmission image data is transferred from the personal computer 3 to the file server 2. In S3, the FA input in S1 is entered.
A call is made to the X number.

In S4, the communication with the transmission destination
The NCU 21 determines whether the line has been closed. If the line has not been closed, the process proceeds to S5. On the other hand, when the line is closed, the process proceeds to S8. In S5, it is waited for a predetermined time to elapse in order to cause a recall.

At S6, it is determined whether the number of recalls has reached a preset number. If the number of recalls has not reached the preset number,
Returning to 3, a recall is performed. On the other hand, if the number of recalls has reached the preset number, the process proceeds to S7.

In S7, an e-mail indicating that the data has not been transmitted is transmitted to the personal computer 3 which has transmitted the signal indicating the transmission request in S1. Specifically, an e-mail indicating that the data has not been transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 to the mailbox of the personal computer 3 of the file server 2 (for example, “10:03 AM on August 28”).
The requested fax has not been sent in 2 minutes. ") Is sent.
In order to frequently detect the arrival of an e-mail, it is necessary to set the e-mail arrival setting in the facsimile machine 1 to, for example, about several minutes.

On the other hand, if the line is closed in S4, image data is transmitted in S8.
Specifically, the transmission image data transferred to the file server 2 in S2 is read based on the transmission file name input in S1. And the S1
Is transmitted to the FAX number input in.

In S9, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the image data in S8 has been completed normally. That is, after transmitting one page of image data from the transmission side, if transmission image data of the next page exists, MPS is transmitted to the reception side.
(Multipage Signal) signal is transmitted. Based on the MPS signal, the receiving side knows that the next page will be transmitted. Then, the MCF is sent from the receiving side to this MPS signal.
A (Message Confirmation) signal is sent to the transmitting side.

However, if the transmitting side does not receive the MCF signal even if the transmitting side sends the MPS signal to the receiving side three times due to deterioration of the line condition or the like, the transmitting side sends the DCN (Disconnect) signal to the receiving side. Send and release the line. Also, on the receiving side, after receiving the training signal and the FAX message, M
If no PS signal or the like is received, the line is opened.

Therefore, when the transmission of the image data has been completed normally, this processing is terminated. On the other hand, if the transmission of the image data does not end normally, the process proceeds to S10. In S10, an e-mail indicating that the transmission was not performed normally is transmitted to the personal computer 3 which has transmitted the signal indicating the transmission request in S1. Specifically, an e-mail indicating that transmission was not normally performed from the facsimile apparatus 1 to the mailbox of the personal computer 3 of the file server 2 (for example, the request is sent at 10:32 am on August 28) Of the FAX, 3/5 and subsequent pages have not been sent. ").

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained. A transmission request is indicated when the line is not closed with the destination facsimile machine and all transmission image data cannot be transmitted, or when transmission is completed during transmission of image data due to deterioration of the line or the like. An e-mail is transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 to the personal computer 3 (client) that has sent the signal to the effect. Therefore, the user of the personal computer 3 (client) that has transmitted the image data can know from the personal computer 3 whether the transmitted image data has been normally transmitted. Therefore, there is no need to go to the facsimile machine 1.

Since the user who has transferred the image data from the personal computer 3 does not need to go to the facsimile machine 1 and record the communication management report in the recording unit 15, recording paper is not consumed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the consumption of the recording paper due to the recording of the communication management report.

The case where the line is not closed to the destination facsimile machine and all the transmission image data cannot be transmitted, and the case where the transmission is completed in the middle of the transmission of the image data due to deterioration of the line or the like, An e-mail having a different content is transmitted to the personal computer 3 (client) that has requested transmission. Therefore, the user of the personal computer 3 can quickly perform the next action based on the content of the e-mail.

When the transmission is completed in the middle of the transmission of the image data due to deterioration of the line or the like, the untransmitted pages and subsequent pages are transmitted by e-mail. For this reason, the user who has requested transmission can retransmit the untransmitted image data from the facsimile machine 1 based on the content of the e-mail.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment. Note that the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the facsimile machine 1
A correspondence table indicating the correspondence between the numbers and the proxy FAX numbers is stored. Here, the proxy FAX number is, for example, when the facsimile apparatus of the transmission destination is a facsimile apparatus of a two-line specification, the FAX number of the other line. If there are two facsimile machines at the transmission destination, it means the fax number of the other line. In other words, the proxy FAX number indicates the priority in the transmission destination line. That is, in FIG. 8, priority is given to the FAX number, the first proxy FAX number, and the second proxy FAX number in this order. In FIG. 7, "-" means that the corresponding FAX does not exist.

The operation of the facsimile machine 1 in the communication network system configured as described above will be described.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that S
The processes of S21 and S22 are executed under the control of an MPU (not shown) based on a program stored in a ROM (not shown) of the personal computer 3. Also, S23 to S32
Is executed under the control of the MPU 11 based on a program stored in the ROM 12 of the facsimile machine 1.

In S21 to S24, the same processing as in the first embodiment is performed. If the line is not closed in S24, the process proceeds to S25.
On the other hand, when the line is closed, the process proceeds to S30. S2
At 5, the user waits for a predetermined time to elapse in order to cause a recall.

In S26, it is determined whether or not the number of recalls has reached a preset number. If the number of recalls has not reached the preset number, the process returns to S23 to perform a recall. On the other hand, if the number of recalls has reached the preset number, the process proceeds to S27.

In S27, it is determined whether or not there is a proxy FAX number. Specifically, the proxy FAX number corresponding to the FAX number input in S21 is R
It is determined whether or not it is stored in AM13. Deputy F
If there is an AX number, the process proceeds to S28. On the other hand, agent F
If there is no AX number, the process proceeds to S29. Note that S27
As a result, the first substitute FAX number was also re-called (S2
5, S26), if the line is not closed, it is determined whether or not there is a second proxy FAX number.

In S28, a call is made to a proxy FAX corresponding to the FAX input in S21, and the process proceeds to S24. In S29 to S32, the same processing as in S7 to S10 in the first embodiment is performed.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained. In the RAM 13, proxy FAX numbers corresponding to the FAX numbers of the transmission destination are stored in priority order. For this reason, even if the highest priority FAX number is recalled, the first proxy F
Recall is automatically performed with priority given to the AX number and the second proxy FAX number. Therefore, even if the line is not closed with the highest priority FAX number, a call is made to the first proxy FAX number and the second proxy FAX number. For this reason, the personal computer 3 sends the facsimile
The possibility of reliably transmitting the image data can be improved by performing the transfer twice. Therefore, the number of times image data is transferred from the personal computer 3 to the facsimile machine 1 can be reduced.

The above embodiments can be embodied with the following modifications. In the above embodiments, the facsimile transmission control procedure is based on ITU-T Recommendation T. 30 was mentioned, but the recommendation T.30. It may be applied to facsimile communication by 30 Annex F, so-called super G3. Further, the present invention may be applied to G4 for performing facsimile communication via a digital line.

In steps S7 and S10 in FIG. 6, or in steps S29 and S32 in FIG. 8, an e-mail indicating that transmission was not possible and that transmission was not normal was sent to the personal computer 3 to which the transmitted image data was transferred. Instead of notifying with a specific PC 3 (for example,
It may be configured to notify the personal computer 3) of the administrator. With this configuration, the user of the specific personal computer 3 (for example, the administrator of the communication network) can always grasp the state of the facsimile machine 1. Therefore, when the image data from the facsimile apparatus 1 has not been transmitted, it is possible to quickly respond.

After the processing in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is executed, the processing may be executed in the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, after the processing in S7 shown in FIG. 6, the processing in S27 to S29 shown in FIG. 8 may be executed. With this configuration, it is possible to notify that the data has not been transmitted by e-mail and to perform facsimile to the proxy FAX number.

[0058]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the communication terminal device can know the transmission result of the image data transferred to the facsimile device. For this reason, the user of the communication terminal device can quickly perform the next action to be taken according to the transmission result.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a specific communication terminal device can know the transmission result of the image data transferred to the facsimile device. Therefore, according to the communication result, for example, the administrator of the communication network can quickly respond to the user of the communication terminal device that has transferred the image data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first aspect
Alternatively, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 2, the number of times image data is transferred from the communication terminal device can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a LAN according to each embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a personal computer.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network interface.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for transmitting an e-mail to a file server.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a correspondence table showing the correspondence between FAX numbers and proxy FAX numbers.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 facsimile apparatus, 3 personal computer as communication terminal apparatus, 11 MPU as control means, 12 ROM as control means, 13 RAM as storage means and control means, 23 communication protocol control as notification means Department.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile device connected to a communication network having a communication terminal device, when image data transferred from the communication terminal device cannot be transmitted or transmitted normally despite a predetermined number of re-calls. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a notifying unit for notifying the communication terminal device of the failure, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the notifying unit. 2. A facsimile device connected to a communication network having a communication terminal device, wherein image data transferred from the communication terminal device cannot be transmitted or transmitted normally despite a predetermined number of recalls. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a notifying unit that notifies a specific communication terminal device other than the above-mentioned communication terminal device that the communication device has not been notified; and a control unit that controls the operation of the notifying device. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a facsimile machine corresponding to the facsimile number is provided.
Storage means for storing a number, wherein, if the image data transferred from the communication terminal device could not be transmitted in spite of the predetermined number of recalls, based on the storage means, A facsimile machine that calls a number.