JPH11261743A - Facsimile distribution adaptor and distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the facsimile distribution adaptor and the distribution method by which facsimile information received through a public line is delivered surely to plural exclusive terminals at a high speed. SOLUTION: The adaptor that delivers facsimile information received via a public line to plural exclusive terminals has a memory 103 that stores the facsimile information and an exclusive line control section 104 that sends the facsimile information to the plural exclusive terminals by a prescribed protocol through exclusive lines and receives information from each terminal. The facsimile information stored in the memory is simultaneously delivered to the plural exclusive terminals through the exclusive line control section 104 and the facsimile information is sent again automatically to the exclusive terminal when there is the exclusive terminal giving no normal reception acknowledgement. Since the facsimile information is simultaneously distributed through the exclusive line by a prescribed protocol, high speed distribution is attained and then the facsimile information is distributed to all the terminals surely and quickly by sending again the facsimile information automatically to the terminal giving no normal reception acknowledgement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a facsimile system, and more particularly, to a facsimile distribution adapter and a distribution method for distributing facsimile information received through a public line to a plurality of dedicated terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to confirm whether or not facsimile transmission has been normally performed, a reception completion notification is returned from a reception side to a transmission side, and the reception completion notification is received to confirm whether the transmission side has been normally transmitted. A system for confirming whether or not the answer is
No. 284,232.

[0003]

However, in the case of broadcast distribution in which the same facsimile information is distributed to a plurality of destinations, it is necessary to draw in a public line or extension for each distribution destination and sequentially perform facsimile transmission. . For this reason, if there is a terminal that cannot output normally due to a failure on the receiving side, it takes a very long time to complete the distribution.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile distribution adapter and a distribution method capable of rapidly and reliably distributing facsimile information received via a public line to a plurality of dedicated terminals.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an adapter for distributing facsimile information received through a public line to a plurality of terminals includes a storage unit for storing the facsimile information, and an adapter dedicated to the plurality of terminals. A dedicated line communication means for transmitting facsimile information according to a predetermined procedure through a line and receiving information from each terminal, and simultaneously transmitting facsimile information stored in a storage means to a plurality of terminals through the dedicated line communication means, and receiving a normal reception response. And control means for automatically retransmitting facsimile information to the terminal when there is no terminal.

[0006] The dedicated line communication means can simultaneously deliver facsimile information according to a predetermined procedure, so that high-speed delivery is possible. Further, facsimile information is automatically retransmitted to terminals that do not receive a normal reception response. Facsimile information can be quickly distributed to all terminals.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as FAX) distribution system according to the present invention. FAX connected to multiple public lines
The storage / delivery adapter 10 is connected to a plurality of dedicated terminals T _{1 to} T _N via a dedicated line, and further connected to an input / output device 11 composed of a monitor and a keyboard.

The FAX storage and delivery adapter 10 includes a FAX line connection control unit 101 connected to a public line, a processor 102 for controlling the operation of the entire adapter, a memory 103 for storing FAX information, and a dedicated line for controlling each dedicated line. Read only memory (ROM) 1 in which a program executed by the control unit 104 and the processor 102 is stored.
05 is provided.

As described later, when a facsimile is received,
The processor 102 transfers FAX data from the FAX line connection control unit 101 to the memory 103, performs multicasting to the dedicated terminal T ₁ through T _N by further controlling the dedicated line control unit 104.
In addition, the dedicated line control unit 104 can perform high-speed facsimile distribution according to a unique procedure instead of a normal facsimile procedure using public wiring.

Each dedicated terminal is, for example, a computer connected to a dedicated line, and is not shown because it is well known.
It also has input / output devices such as a monitor, keyboard and mouse, and is connected to a local or network printer. As described later, received fax
The information is displayed on a monitor or printed out, and it is checked whether the information can be read by the user. The reception result is returned to the adapter 10 through the corresponding dedicated line. Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a broadcast distribution procedure in the facsimile distribution method according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a retransmission procedure in the case of reception failure.

First, in FIG. 2, when a fax signal is received by the fax line connection control unit 101 (YES in step S201), the processor 102 stores the received fax signal in the memory 103 (step S202), and
Steps S201 and S202 are repeated until X reception is completed (NO in step S203).

When the facsimile reception is completed (step S20)
(YES in 3), the received FAX signal is read from the memory 103 (step S204), transferred to the dedicated line control unit 104, and broadcast to each dedicated terminal via the dedicated line (step S205).

The leased line control unit 104 executes the FA
X signals can be broadcasted at high speed. For example, a procedure in which unnecessary parameters and other procedures are omitted from the normal G3 procedure can be used. Specifically, the transmission start is notified to each dedicated terminal, and when a response to the transmission is received, a FAX signal is transmitted to each dedicated terminal. When all the FAX signals are transmitted, the transmission completion is transmitted to each dedicated terminal. It is possible to adopt a procedure of terminating the broadcast distribution by receiving the response.

When all the facsimile signals are transmitted (YES in step S206), as shown in FIG.
02 is in a reception result waiting state (N in step S207).
O, NO in step S209). When a reception result is received from a certain dedicated terminal (YES in step S207), it is stored in a memory (not shown) (step S208),
It is checked whether reception results have been received from all dedicated terminals (step S209).

When all the reception results are received from the dedicated terminal within a predetermined time (YES in step S209), it is checked whether or not all the reception results of the dedicated terminal are normal reception (step S210). If so, the FAX broadcast distribution routine ends. If there is a dedicated terminal that does not receive data normally (NO in step S210), it is checked whether the number of fax transmissions to the dedicated terminal exceeds a predetermined number (step S211). If the number has not reached the predetermined number (NO in step S211), the same FAX signal is retransmitted to the dedicated terminal with poor reception (step S212). Then, control returns to step S207.

Thus, the FA for the dedicated terminal with poor reception is
If the reception failure has not been resolved even after performing the X transmission a predetermined number of times (YES in step S211), the processor 1
02 displays the dedicated terminal as an abnormal terminal on the monitor of the input / output device 11 (step S213). By the display of the abnormal terminal, the operator prompts an investigation of the dedicated terminal or a request for the investigation (step s214).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of each dedicated terminal in the embodiment shown in FIGS.
When a fax signal is received through a dedicated line (step S
301) and store it in a predetermined memory (step S30).
2) Steps S301 and S30 until reception ends
2 is repeated (NO in step S303).

When the fax reception via the dedicated line is completed (step S303), a fax reception image is displayed on, for example, a monitor (step S304), and it is determined whether or not the user can read the image (step S305). If the reception is normal ("good" in step S305), a response indicating normal reception is returned to the adapter 10 (step S306).
Abnormal reception ("bad" in step S305) and a response indicating bad reception are returned (step S307).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a reception result input screen in the dedicated terminal. As shown in the figure, on the monitor screen of the dedicated terminal, buttons 401 and 4 for inputting the quality of the received fax image in addition to necessary information such as an indicator indicating that the fax is being received and the address of the fax sending side.
02 is displayed. The user clicks the “good” button 402 with the mouse if the received FAX image is normal, and clicks the “bad” button 402 if the received FAX image is bad.

[0021]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, FAX information received through a public line can be simultaneously distributed to a plurality of dedicated terminals through a dedicated line by a unique procedure, and high-speed and reliable. Broadcast distribution can be performed. Furthermore, if there is a dedicated terminal that could not be received normally due to some kind of failure, retransmission is automatically performed to the terminal with poor reception, so that the time required for completing the distribution can be greatly reduced as compared with the related art. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a broadcast distribution procedure in a facsimile distribution method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a retransmission procedure in the case of reception failure in the facsimile distribution method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation in each dedicated terminal in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reception result input screen in a dedicated terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 facsimile storage / delivery adapter 11 input / output device 101 FAX line connection control unit 102 processor 103 memory 104 dedicated line control unit 105 ROM T _{1 to TN} dedicated terminal 401 normal reception button 402 defective reception button

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An adapter for distributing facsimile information received through a public line to a plurality of terminals, comprising: a storage unit for storing the facsimile information; A dedicated line communication means for transmitting and receiving information from each terminal; and a terminal for simultaneously distributing the facsimile information stored in the storage means to the plurality of terminals through the dedicated line communication means, and having no normal reception response. And f. Control means for automatically retransmitting the facsimile information to the terminal when the facsimile information exists. 2. A method for distributing facsimile information received through a public line to a plurality of terminals, comprising: storing the facsimile information; and simultaneously distributing the facsimile information to the plurality of terminals through a dedicated line by a predetermined procedure; A facsimile distribution method, wherein when there is no normal reception response from a terminal, the facsimile information is automatically retransmitted to the terminal. 3. The facsimile distribution method according to claim 2, wherein the terminal is displayed as an abnormal terminal if there is no normal reception response even after retransmitting the facsimile information a predetermined number of times. 4. The terminal receives a normal reception response when the received facsimile information is normally displayed.
4. The facsimile distribution method according to claim 2, wherein, when the message is not displayed normally, a bad reception response is transmitted through the dedicated line. 5. A recording medium storing a control program for causing a computer to deliver facsimile information received via a public line to a plurality of terminals, the control program causing the computer to store the facsimile information in a memory, Transmitting the facsimile information to a given terminal through a dedicated line by a predetermined procedure, and automatically retransmitting the facsimile information to the terminal when there is no normal reception response from a certain terminal. Recording medium storing a facsimile distribution control program.