JPH11234466A - Network facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a means that sends data while minimizing the use of a network resource by assembling a single data structure of received data relating a selected document, a selected background cover sheet and a selected reception place and sending the data structure. SOLUTION: A document for facsimile transmission is selected (100). A background cover sheet is selected (110). A destination (telephone number) is selected (120) and a specific recipient 13 selected (130). Whether or not another recipient to which the document and the background cover sheet are to be sent by a same number is in existence is discriminated (140). When another recipient is not in existence, whether or not another telephone number to receive a combination of the same document/cover sheet is in existence is discriminated (150). When another telephone number is not in existence, whether or not another background cover sheet used with a basic document is in existence is discriminated (160). When another cover sheet is not in existence, data are compiled and the resulting data are sent by facsimile transmission (170).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to image data transmission, and more particularly, to creation and transmission of a plurality of fax documents in a network environment. [Copyright and Trade Dress] A part of the disclosure of this patent document is protected by copyright. Also, this patent document may refer to the trade dress of the owner or what will be the trade dress. The owner of this copyright and trade dress does not blame the facsimile reproduction of the person disclosing this patent, as is the case with patent or archival documents at the Patent and Commercial Office, but otherwise retains all copyright and trade rights. Dress rights are protected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional work area is composed of at least two employee groups having different functions.
One group developed the content, including letters, submissions, and legal documents. Other groups work at each station, such as desks and simple electronic devices, process their contents, create finished things such as letters, slides and legal documents, send them to their destinations and save them Duplicated it for such purposes. However, in recent work areas, electronic devices have become increasingly ubiquitous. In general,
The computer can be set up on a secretary's workstation, placed on an accounting desk, or carried by administrators. In general, these computers are both connected to a network and share resources such as a printer and a file server. In the new generation of office equipment, devices such as facsimile and copiers that were previously used alone have also been networked, allowing users to access these functions from a distance. Therefore, a user who wishes to send a document by fax and mail prints the document on a predetermined sheet, copies the printed letter with a copier, and, with the added predetermined cover sheet (by manually typing or writing variable information). Can be shipped by facsimile machine. The same user can combine the document and cover sheet electronically and send them electronically from their desk via facsimile.

[0003]

With the transition to computerization everywhere, problems have arisen in current systems with certain limitations. As more and more users send more information over these networks, the networks themselves become bottlenecks, reducing efficiency and increasing user dissatisfaction. Facsimile transmission systems can greatly contribute to this congestion. This occurs when a single document is sent from multiple sources and / or to multiple destinations. It also occurs when a plurality of copies of the same sender document each having unique destination information are sent via a network.

Further, a plurality of documents sent via facsimile can be sent using different cover sheets.
No system is known that allows a remote user to send the same document with various cover sheets over a single local network transmission. Such systems are highly desirable in today's markets and interconnected world. This is because documents addressed to people in multiple English-speaking countries must be sent through non-English-speaking people, and each destination may require a different foreign language cover sheet .

Accordingly, the present invention minimizes the use of network resources in a networked environment to devices that specially customize information, ie, customize and facsimile send documents and cover pages from a workstation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for transmitting data while suppressing the number of transmissions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means for maximizing customization of a facsimile document transmitted from a networked workstation while maintaining maximum efficiency.

[0007]

The above objects are achieved by a method for generating a cover page for a network fax background, wherein a fax is sent from a workstation in a networked computer environment to a network fax machine. The document is combined with the background cover page and the received information is sent to the fax machine as a unit.

That is, the method according to the present invention allows a user in front of a network workstation to select a document; allows the user to select at least one background cover sheet and associate it with the document; Assembling a single data structure indicating at least one receiving location for sheets and documents; indicating a selected document, a selected background cover sheet, and received data for the selected receiving location; Transmitting the structure from the workstation to a facsimile capable device. Further objects and advantages of the device, application and operation will become apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments set forth below.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
It does not limit the apparatus and method of the present invention. FIG.
Denotes an environment connected to a network, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, in which the invention operates. The network-connected environment 10 includes one network (here, LAN2
0), and various workstations 15 and computers 25 connected thereto. or,
A facsimile device 30 is connected to the LAN 20 and has a connection to one or more external communication systems such as a telephone system. Other devices (not shown) such as a file server, a printer, and a scanner may be connected to the LAN 20.

The facsimile apparatus 30 is connected to a LAN, receives digital data from a workstation on the LAN, and transmits the data to Group I, Group II, Group
It is a class device that can be encoded into a facsimile format like III and output to the telephone system. The facsimile machine 30 can be connected to a workstation or server on the LAN directly or as a shared device. An apparatus used as a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes a composite peripheral apparatus having a facsimile function as well as various functions.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment for performing user interaction. As shown in FIG. 1, the user can interface with the system and create and send a customized multi-part facsimile document via a facsimile interface in a simple series of steps. A user working on the workstation 15 or the personal computer 25 connected to the network selects a document to be facsimile-transmitted in step 100. This document may be prepared by any means such as a word processor, a scanner, and the like. Next, the selection of the background cover sheet in step 110 is performed.

Next, the destination (indicated by the telephone number)
Is selected (step 120), and the specific recipient of the telephone number is selected (step 130). The choice of destination and recipient can also be made in connection with an address book. In a suitably networked environment, both public and private address books are provided. That is, the user can select a recipient from the available address book, where identification of the recipient address is automatically performed from this address book. Preferably, a preset recipient group can be defined and the group can be used in the recipient selection process.

Thereafter, in step 140, it is determined whether there is another recipient to whom the document and the background cover sheet should be sent with the same number. If there is another recipient of that number, control returns to step 130 to enter the next recipient.

If there is no other recipient of the number, step 150 determines if there is another telephone number to which the same document / cover sheet combination should be sent. If there is another telephone number, control returns to step 120 to enter the next telephone number. If there is no other phone number, step 160 determines if there is another background cover sheet to be used with the base document. If there is another background cover sheet, control returns to step 110 to further select a different background cover sheet. If there is no other cover sheet, the interaction with the user ends at step 170 and the data is compiled and sent to the facsimile machine in the form of a single data stream for facsimile transmission.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the user interface with the system of the present invention. A user working on the workstation 15 or the personal computer 25 connected to the network selects a document to be transmitted by facsimile in step 200. Then step 2
At 10, a destination (telephone number) is selected, and step 2 is performed.
In step 20, a background cover sheet is selected, and step 23 is executed.
At 0, the specific recipient of the telephone number is selected. Thereafter, in step 240, it is determined whether there is another recipient to whom the document and the background cover sheet of the same number should be sent. If there is another recipient, control returns to step 230 to enter the next recipient. If there are no other recipients at that number, step 250 determines if there is another background cover sheet to be used with the base document. If there is another background cover sheet, control returns to step 220,
Select the next background cover document. If there is no other cover sheet, step 260 determines if there is another telephone number to send the document / cover sheet combination to. If there is another telephone number, control returns to step 210 and additional telephone numbers are further selected. If not, the interaction with the user ends at step 270, and the data structure is processed, if necessary, and sent to facsimile machine 30 in the form of a single data stream for facsimile transmission.

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the same background cover sheet is used when creating cover sheets for all recipients. As shown in this figure, in such a case, a user working at the workstation 15 or personal computer 25 connected to the network selects a document to be transmitted by facsimile at step 700. In the next step 710, a single background cover sheet for the total number to be transmitted is selected.

Next, a destination (indicated by a telephone number) is selected (step 720), and a specific recipient at that telephone number is selected (step 730). Thereafter, in step 740, it is determined whether there is another recipient to whom the document and background cover sheet should be sent with the same number. If there is another recipient, control returns to step 730 to enter the next recipient.

If there is no other recipient of the number, step 750 determines if there is another telephone number to which the document / cover sheet combination should be sent. If there is another phone number, control returns to step 720 to enter the next phone number. If not, the user interaction is step 77
Terminating at zero, the data is compiled and sent to facsimile transmission in the form of a single data stream for facsimile transmission.

Of course, these flows are merely examples.
Further, the information required for multiple transmissions of the base document can be obtained in other different ways, in different orders, or in different formats, such as table entries. Further, different information can be associated in a semi-permanent manner, such as a telephone number and a recipient, or a given recipient and a desired background cover sheet, to further facilitate the process of entering the desired information. Further details of the user input accompanying the response of the program according to the first embodiment are shown in FIGS. Networked workstation 15 or personal computer 25
In step 300, the user who is working in step 1 selects a document to be transmitted by facsimile. Then, a PDL (page description language) expression (repre
sentation) is placed in the data structure 400 (see FIG. 5).

In the next step 310, a background cover sheet is selected. The background cover sheet can be created and edited using any application software. The PDL representation of the background cover sheet is added to data structure 400 at step 315. Next, the destination (indicated by the telephone number) is entered by the user at step 320, and the PDL representation of that telephone number is stored in data structure 400 at step 325.

Finally, in step 330, the particular recipient of the telephone number is selected by the user, and the PDL representation of that recipient is stored in data structure 400 in step 335. Thereafter, step 340 determines if there is another recipient to whom the document and background cover sheet should be sent with the same number. If there is another recipient, control proceeds to step 3.
Return to step 30 and enter the next recipient.

If there is no other recipient of the number, step 350 determines if there is another telephone number to which the document / cover sheet combination should be sent. If there is another telephone number, control returns to step 320 to enter the next telephone number. Step 360 if there is no other telephone number
It is determined whether there is another background cover sheet used with the basic document. If you have other background cover sheets,
Control returns to step 310 to obtain a different background cover sheet. If there is no other background cover sheet, the user interaction ends at step 370 and the data structure 40 for transmission
0 is prepared and a single PDL and PJL (printer job
language) sent to the facsimile machine as a mixed data stream, decoded and transmitted.

Accordingly, use of the network is limited to a single transmission from the workstation 15 or personal computer 25 to the facsimile machine 30, thereby minimizing the possibility of congestion and communication failures. Further, by storing the background cover sheet and recipient data at each workstation 15 or personal computer 12 and assembling the data stream information at those devices, the load on the shared resources (ie, the facsimile machine) is reduced, and Processing capacity (throughp
ut parameters).

An example of a data structure for a single document to be sent to multiple recipients is shown in FIG. Data structure 400 has three parts. The first is a PJL header 410 with a list of recipients, each recipient being a person (or organization) and a telephone number. Second is a PDL 420 that indicates the document to be transmitted. Third is a PDL 430 that shows one or more background cover sheets. Before transmission to the facsimile machine 30, other specific data for transmission may be associated with the data structure 400.

After assembly at the production computer 25 or workstation 15 and transmission to the facsimile machine 30 via the LAN 20, the data stream is received at step 510 (see FIG. 6). At step 520, it is determined whether the data stream indicates a facsimile transmission. If not, the data stream is processed at step 520 as appropriate.

In the case of facsimile transmission, the data stream is processed by the facsimile machine 30 according to the data stream. Preferably, the facsimile machine 30
Includes a control program for assembling an appropriate background cover page and transmitting the background cover page and the document. Preferably, the control program assembles the final combination of the document and the personalized background cover sheet (step 540) and sends them according to the capabilities and load of the facsimile machine 30 (step 55).
0). That is, the control program may assemble a plurality of final combinations of the document and the personalized background cover sheet before transmission, or assemble the final combination of the document and the personalized background cover sheet, respectively. Before the next assembly and transmission, or pipeline the assembly and transmission,
Buffer combinations of assembled documents and personalized background cover sheets when transmission cannot keep pace.

In order to improve efficiency, at least all combinations directed to the same telephone number should be sent during a single connection session. The assembling and transmission processing is improved by allowing the user to specify that transmission be performed, for example, at night. That is, a low-cost communication service can be used, and a large-scale job does not prevent transmission of a small-size and high-priority job.

As an assembly processor, the control program scans the background cover page to find keywords and replaces those keywords with the corresponding recipient information. The background cover page is rasterized, and the cover page information of each recipient is also rasterized and overlaid on the background. An opaque or translucent raster operation is used between the recipient information and the background. The user can select the location and size of the recipient information window applied to the background cover page.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes to the invention described herein without exceeding the scope of the invention. Therefore, all such modifications and changes are included in the present invention.

[0030]

According to the present invention, in a networked environment, documents and cover pages are combined for each destination and transmitted from a workstation to a device capable of facsimile transmission with a minimum use of network resources. That is, since the combination of a plurality of documents and cover pages is transmitted from the workstation as one data unit to the network-connected facsimile machine, customization of the facsimile document can be easily performed while maintaining the maximum efficiency of the network. It can be carried out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of user steps for creating a combined facsimile document according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of user steps for creating a combined facsimile document according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of steps used by both a user and a program to implement the present invention in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of steps used by both a user and a program to implement the present invention in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the data structure for a single document sent to multiple users.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a facsimile apparatus when a document is sent via facsimile transmission.

FIG. 7 shows a network system having a shared facsimile machine function.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of user steps when creating a combined facsimile document according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 15 workstation 20 LAN 25 personal computer 30 facsimile machine 400 data structure

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A method for creating and transmitting multiple copies of a document, each having a customized background cover sheet, in a network system including at least one workstation and a device having a facsimile function, the method comprising: Causing the user to select a document, causing the user to select at least one background cover sheet, associating with the document, and causing the user to select at least one recipient for each background cover sheet and document; Assembling a single data structure comprising: (ii) each display of the selected background cover sheet; and (iii) display of recipient data for the selected recipient. The data structure is transmitted from the workstation to the device having the facsimile function. Transmitting the structure. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indications of the selected document and the selected background cover sheet are each in PDL representation. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the display of the recipient data is included in a PJL comment. 4. The apparatus having the facsimile function further determines whether the job of the transmitted data is a facsimile job, and if the job is a facsimile job,
(I) assembling each of the recipient's personalized background cover sheets, and (ii) providing one copy of the document to each recipient.
The method of claim 1 including transmitting via a facsimile with a recipient's personalized background cover sheet. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said facsimile machine is a multipurpose peripheral. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of a data structure from the workstation to the device having the facsimile is a single transmission of the data structure within the network. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said customized background cover sheet can be created by any application software. 8. A method for creating and transmitting a plurality of copies of a document, each having a customized background cover sheet, in a networked system including at least one workstation and a device having a facsimile function. To select a document, allow the user to select at least one background cover sheet created by any application software,
Relating to the document, causing the user to select at least one recipient for each background cover sheet and document, (i) a PDL representation of the selected document, and (ii) each PDL of the selected background cover sheet. Assembling a single data structure including a representation and (Piii) a PJL representation of recipient data for the selected recipient, wherein the job transmitted to the device having facsimile capability is a facsimile job If the job is a facsimile job, the device having the facsimile function assembles the personalized background cover sheet of each recipient, and sends one copy of the document to each recipient via facsimile. Facsimile transmitting with the recipient's personalized background cover sheet; Transmitting the data structure from the application to the facsimile capable device is a single transmission of the in-network data structure. 9. A method for creating and transmitting a plurality of copies of a document each having a customized background cover sheet in a network system including at least one personal computer and a device having a facsimile function, the method comprising: Prompting the user to select a document, having the user select at least one background cover sheet, associating with the document, and causing the user to select at least one recipient for the background cover sheet and the document; Assembling a single data structure comprising: (ii) each display of the selected background cover sheet; and (iii) display of recipient data for the selected recipient; and From personal computer to device with facsimile function Transmitting the data structure. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the indications of the selected document and the selected background cover sheet are each in PDL representation. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the representation of the recipient data is in PJL representation. 12. The apparatus having the facsimile function further determines whether the transmitted data job is a facsimile job, and if the job is a facsimile job, assembles a personalized background cover sheet for each individual. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of transmitting the set of documents to each recipient via facsimile, along with the recipient's personalized background cover sheet. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein said facsimile machine is a multipurpose peripheral. 14. A method for creating and transmitting a plurality of copies of a document each having the same background cover sheet in a network system including at least one workstation and a device having a facsimile function, comprising: , Select a document, allow the user to select a background cover sheet, associate the document with the document, and, for each background cover sheet and document, allow the user to select at least one recipient. Assembling into a single data structure including a representation of the selected document, (ii) a representation of each of the selected background cover sheets, and (iii) a representation of recipient data for the selected recipient. And transmitting the data from the workstation to the device having the facsimile function. A method comprising the steps of: 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the indications of the selected document and the selected background cover sheet are each in PDL representation. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the representation of the recipient data is in PJL representation.