JPH1168834A - Control method for network facsimile system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the usability of electronic mail by receiving the electronic mail from a mail server to a user, for which the operating flag of an information managing table is set into transfer operating state, concerning that user and transmitting the contents of that mail to the equipment of the polling transmission request source when polling transmission is requested. SOLUTION: Concerning the user for which the operating flag of the information managing table provided in network facsimile equipment FX is set to ON, facsimile picture information expressing the contents of electronic mail is stored from mail server equipment SM into an image storage device by the equipment FX and when the facsimile picture information of electronic mail is stored concerning an ID designated when the polling transmission is requested at the time of call termination, the picture information of that electronic mail is transmitted so that the user can deal with emergency or the like by confirming the contents of electronic mail at home after leaving his office, for example.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus having a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public network, and a public network. The present invention relates to a method for controlling a network facsimile system including a facsimile apparatus for exchanging facsimile data with the network facsimile apparatus via a facsimile transmission procedure via the facsimile apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a network facsimile apparatus having a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure through a public network has been put into practical use.

When such a network facsimile apparatus is used, for example, a user of a workstation apparatus connected to a local area network and a group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to a public network are used.
This is very convenient because image information can be transmitted for each.

[0004] When the connected local area network is further connected to the Internet, an image information transmitting operation is also performed to a terminal device connected to another local area network via the Internet. You can do it.

[0005] Further, since image information from a facsimile device connected to a public network can be delivered to a user of a workstation device connected to a local area network, the utility of the facsimile network is greatly expanded. Can be very convenient. Further, the network facsimile apparatus can be applied to further communication modes such as relay transmission between network facsimile apparatuses.

[0006]

On the other hand, a user of a workstation device connected to a local area network utilizes electronic mail for various communications and the like. This e-mail is an information transmission means of a storage system, and there is no need to exchange messages in real time, so that the user is excellent in usability. In addition, the same document can be distributed to a plurality of destinations, and broadcast communication can be easily performed. Furthermore, arbitrary binary data other than the character information can be included in the body information as an attached file (MIME format file), and can be used as a so-called multimedia information transmission means. For example, transmission of image information (binary data file) from a network facsimile apparatus to a user of a workstation apparatus connected to a local area network is performed by using the MI
By using the ME format, it can be realized by e-mail.

[0007] The function of delivering the e-mail is realized by the function of a mail server device provided in the local area network. Further, usually, the user makes an inquiry about the received mail to the mail server device and, if there is an e-mail addressed to the user, receives the e-mail. In addition to the form in which the user inquires and receives the mail server device in this manner, the form in which the e-mail is automatically transmitted from the mail server device to the workstation device used by the user is not limited. May be

By the way, in order to receive an e-mail, it must be possible to connect to at least the mail server device registered by the user. If a workstation device connected to the local area network is available, the workstation device can connect to the mail server device, so that e-mail can be received.
If the user is unable to use the workstation device, for example, if the workstation device is at work and the user is home, the user will not be able to receive email.

As described above, since the electronic mail is the information transmission means of the storage system, even if such a situation occurs, the message exchange itself can be performed without any problem. However, when the content of the message to be transmitted by e-mail is urgent, for example, the user goes to work from home and becomes able to use the workstation device, and receives the e-mail. There is a possibility that the content of the message that has been processed is the content to be processed the day before, and it is difficult to use an e-mail to transmit such an urgent message.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a control method for a network facsimile system that can improve the usability of electronic mail.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus having a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network. In a method for controlling a network facsimile system including a facsimile apparatus that exchanges facsimile data with the network facsimile apparatus via a public network by a facsimile transmission procedure, the network facsimile apparatus includes a mail server for each user. An information management table in which an e-mail reception related information required for receiving an e-mail by connecting to the e-mail, and an operation flag for specifying whether or not to perform an e-mail transfer operation are provided; Above operation For a user whose lag is set to perform an e-mail transfer operation, an e-mail to the user is received from the mail server using the e-mail reception related information registered in the information management table for the user. On the other hand, when the e-mail is stored for the user specified when the polling transmission request is made, the facsimile image information representing the contents of the e-mail is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus that requested the polling transmission. It was made.

Also, a network facsimile apparatus having a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public network, and the network facsimile apparatus via a public network In a control method of a network facsimile system including a facsimile apparatus for exchanging facsimile data with a facsimile transmission procedure with a facsimile transmission procedure, for each user, an electronic mail required when the user connects to a mail server and receives an e-mail. Mail reception related information, an operation flag for specifying whether or not to perform an e-mail transfer operation,
An information management table in which a priority value of an e-mail to be received is registered, and for the user whose operation flag of the information management table is set to perform an e-mail transfer operation, the information management table for the user The e-mail to the user is received from the mail server using the e-mail reception related information registered in the e-mail, and the priority value set in the e-mail is registered in the information management table for the user. If the priority value is higher than the priority value of the user, the e-mail is saved, and the priority value set in the received e-mail is higher than the priority value registered in the information management table for the user. If it is smaller, do not save the email and While saving an email for the user specified when it is grayed transmission request, the facsimile image information representing the contents of the e-mail, in which is to be sent to polling transmission requesting facsimile machine.

A network facsimile apparatus having a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data according to a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network, and the network facsimile apparatus via a public network In a control method of a network facsimile system including a facsimile apparatus for exchanging facsimile data with a facsimile transmission procedure with a facsimile transmission procedure, for each user, an electronic mail required when the user connects to a mail server and receives an e-mail. Mail reception related information, an operation flag for specifying whether or not to perform an e-mail transfer operation,
An information management table in which identification information of a transmission source user who forwards the e-mail is registered, and the operation flag of the information management table is set to a state of performing the e-mail transfer operation, An e-mail to the user is received from the mail server using the e-mail reception-related information registered in the information management table, and the source user of the received e-mail is registered in the information management table for the user. If it matches the identity of the sending user
While saving the e-mail, if the source user of the received e-mail does not match the identification information of the source user registered in the information management table for the user, the e-mail is not stored. When an e-mail is stored for a user designated at the time of a polling transmission request, facsimile image information representing the contents of the e-mail is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus that requested the polling transmission. .

[0014] Further, the electronic mail reception related information includes:
It is also possible to include the specified information of the mail server, and to receive the e-mail to the user from the mail server corresponding to the specified information of the mail server.

When a file in a binary format is attached to the received e-mail, the attached file is also converted into facsimile image information and transmitted to a facsimile machine of a polling transmission source. Good.

The facsimile image information may include additional image information based on transmission source display information included in header information of the received electronic mail.

[0017]

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

FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This network system includes devices connected to a local area network LAN and a plurality of groups 3 connected to a public network PSTN.
It is composed of facsimile machines FG1 to FGn.

In FIG. 1, a local area network LAN includes a plurality of workstation devices WS1 to WS1.
WSn, the mail server device SM, and the network facsimile device FX are connected. The local area network LAN is connected to the Internet via a router device RT, and can exchange various data with a host device or the like connected to another local area network or the like.

Here, the mail server device SM collects and sends e-mails (described later) to users using the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and to the network facsimile device FX. It provides distribution services.

Further, the workstation devices WS1 to WSW
Sn includes application software for exchanging various data via the local area network LAN (e-mail transmission / reception processing, etc.), application software for processing image information included in e-mail received from the network facsimile machine FX, and the like. Are introduced, and are used by specific users. Here, the specific user is
There may be one or more users.

Also, a network facsimile machine FX
Has a function of transmitting and receiving e-mail in a local area network LAN, and a function of connecting to a public network PSTN and transmitting image information according to a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure using the public network as a transmission path.

The group 3 facsimile apparatuses FG1 to FGn connected to the public network PSTN include, for example,
A suitable facsimile apparatus used by users of the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn at home or on the road, and has a function of exchanging predetermined facsimile data by applying a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure via the public network PSTN. I have.

In this embodiment, basically,
Data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is a so-called TCP / I
This is performed by applying a combination (a so-called protocol suite) of a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called P and a communication protocol of a higher layer than that. For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, SMTP (Simple) is used as the upper layer communication protocol.
A communication protocol called Mail Transfer Protocol is applied.

The communication protocols such as TCP / IP and SMTP, and the data format and data structure of electronic mail are described in IETF (Intern).
etEngineering Task Force)
RFC (Request) issued by an organization that collects technical contents related to the Internet called
For Comments) document. For example, TCP is RFC793, IP is RFC79
3. SMTP is RFC821, E-mail format is R
FC822, RFC1521, RFC1522 (MIM
E (MultiPurpose Mail Exten
Sion) format).

Then, the network facsimile machine F
X transmits image information of the read original image to another group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network PSTN,
Alternatively, the image information of the document image is set in the body information of the MIME format e-mail, and the e-mail is transmitted to the designated user, so that the image information of the document image is transmitted to the designated user. I have.

The image information received from the other group 3 facsimile apparatuses FG1 to FGn via the public network PSTN is forwarded to the user corresponding to the subaddress specified at that time by using electronic mail. Or a transfer service function for transferring the image information received from the workstation WS of the local area network LAN to the group 3 facsimile apparatuses FG1 to FGn of the public network PSTN corresponding to the designated telephone number.

Further, for the registered user, an e-mail is received from the mail server device SM, the content of the e-mail is converted into facsimile image information and stored, and a polling transmission request is received from the destination user of the e-mail. In this case, an electronic mail distribution function for transmitting the stored facsimile image information is also provided.

FIG. 2 shows a group 3 facsimile apparatus FG.
An example of the configuration of (FG1 to FGn) is shown.

In FIG. 1, a system control section 1 performs control processing of each section of the group 3 facsimile apparatus FG and facsimile transmission control procedure processing, and a system memory 2 is executed by the system control section 1. A control processing program and various data necessary for executing the processing program are stored, and a work area of the control unit 1 is configured. The parameter memory 3 is unique to the group 3 facsimile apparatus FG. The clock circuit 4 is for storing various information, and is for outputting current time information.

The scanner 5 is for reading an original image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 7 is a group 3 facsimile machine. It is used to operate the device FG, and includes various operation keys and various indicators.

The encoding / decoding section 8 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal.
This is for storing a large number of image information in a coded and compressed state.

The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing a group 3 facsimile modem function. The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is a low speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals, and mainly exchanges image information. High-speed modem function (V.17 modem,
V. 34 modem, V.34. 29 modem, V.29. 27ter modem etc.).

The network control unit 11 is for connecting the group 3 facsimile machine FXg to the public network PSTN and has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, image storage device 9, group 3 facsimile modem The network controller 10 and the network controller 11 are connected to an internal bus 12, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed through the internal bus 12.

Data exchange between the network controller 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is directly performed.

FIG. 3 shows a network facsimile apparatus F
3 shows an example of the configuration of X.

In the figure, a system control unit 21 performs various control processes such as a control process of each unit of the network facsimile machine FX and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The control memory 21 stores a control processing program to be executed by the control program 21 and various data necessary for executing the processing program, and forms a work area of the system control unit 21.
Is for storing various information unique to the network facsimile machine FX.
Outputs current time information.

The scanner 25 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 26 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 7 is a network facsimile apparatus. It is used to operate the FX, and includes various operation keys and various display devices.

The encoding / decoding section 28 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal.
Is for storing a large number of image information in a coded and compressed state.

The group 3 facsimile modem 30 is for realizing a group 3 facsimile modem function. The group 3 facsimile modem 30 has a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals and mainly exchanges image information. High-speed modem function (V.17 modem,
V. 34 modem, V.34. 29 modem, V.29. 27ter modem etc.).

The network control device 31 is for connecting the network facsimile machine FX to the public network PSTN, and has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The local area network interface circuit 32 connects the Internet facsimile machine FX to the local area network LAN. The local area network transmission control section 33 transmits other data via the local area network LAN. This is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with the terminal device.

The system control section 21, system memory 22, parameter memory 23, clock circuit 24, scanner 25, plotter 26, operation display section 27, encoding / decoding section 28, image storage device 29, group 3 facsimile modem The network control device 30, the network control device 31, and the local area network transmission control unit 33 are connected to an internal bus 34, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed through the internal bus 34. I have.

Data exchange between the network controller 31 and the group 3 facsimile modem 30 is directly performed.

The network facsimile machine FX has an information management table as shown in FIG. 4 for the above-described electronic mail distribution function.

One element of this information management table is an ID representing the identification number of a registered user, a user name and a password used when the registered user connects to the mail server device SM to transmit and receive an e-mail, and obtains an e-mail. It consists of a mail acquisition interval specifying a time interval in seconds, and an operation flag for specifying whether to use the e-mail distribution function.

Information registration in the information management table is performed by operating the network facsimile machine FX,
Alternatively, using an appropriate information management table operating application, any workstation device WS1
To WSn.

Regarding the operation flags of the information management table, the workstation devices WS1 to WSn send
It is preferable that the on / off operation can be appropriately performed. In such a case, the workstation device WS1 may be connected by an appropriate point-to-point connection protocol.
WSn and the network facsimile machine FX are connected, and after the user is authenticated or the like on the connection, the operation of setting the operation flag on / off may be performed.

In this embodiment, the user registered in the information management table is the group 3 facsimile machine FG.
Network facsimile apparatus FX using 1 to FGn
, The image information corresponding to the e-mail addressed to the user can be received.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a procedure when the group 3 facsimile apparatuses FG1 to FGn request polling transmission to the network facsimile apparatus FX and receive image information.

The calling side (in this case, the group 3 facsimile apparatus FG1 to FGn) initiates a call to the called side (in this case, the network facsimile apparatus FX). The called station identification signal CED and the digital identification signal DIS for notifying the transmission function of the own terminal are sent to the calling side.

Upon receiving the called station identification signal CED and the digital identification signal DIS of the called terminal, the calling side sends out a signal SEP in which a user ID indicating the registration number of the operating user of the terminal itself is set, and Sends a signal DTC for requesting transmission. Note that this signal DTC
Contains information for notifying the transmission function of the own terminal (calling side).

When receiving the signal DTC, the called side sets the transmission function to be used at that time when the image information of the electronic mail is stored for the user ID notified by the signal SEP, and Set the contents of the transmission function to signal D
The CS notifies the calling side and sends out a signal TCF to execute a predetermined modem training procedure and determine a modem speed to be used at that time.

When the result of receiving the signal TCF is good, the calling side sends out the signal CFR, whereby the called side stores the signal corresponding to the user ID notified at that time. The image information PIX of the electronic mail is transmitted to the calling side, and when the transmission of the image information PIX is completed, a signal EOP is transmitted.

When the reception result of the image information PIX is good, the calling side sends out the signal MCF in response to the signal EOP, whereby the called side sends out the signal DCN to send the line To recover.

Upon receiving the signal DCN, the calling side restores the line. Further, the calling side records and outputs a received image corresponding to the received image information PIX from the plotter.

By transmitting the contents of the user ID by the signal SEP in this manner, the group 3 facsimile apparatuses FG1 to FGn allow the network facsimile apparatus FX to request the network facsimile apparatus FX to receive the image information of the electronic mail. Is specified.

With the above configuration, the network facsimile machine FX activates the e-mail distribution function processing for the user designated to use the e-mail distribution function, that is, for each user whose operation flag is set to ON. I do. FIG. 6 shows an example of the processing in this case.

The network facsimile machine FX selects one user from the stored information management table (process 101) and checks whether or not the operation flag registered for that user is set to on (decision 102). .

When the result of the judgment 102 is YES, it is checked whether or not the electronic mail distribution function processing has already been started for the user (decision 103). If the e-mail delivery function process has not been started for the selected user at that time and the result of determination 103 is NO, the e-mail delivery function process is started for the user selected at that time (processing 104), and returns to the process 101 to execute the process for the next user.

If the e-mail distribution function processing has already been started for the selected user,
When the result of the above is YES, the process immediately returns to the process 101,
The process proceeds to the next user.

When the result of the judgment 102 is NO, it is checked whether or not the e-mail distribution function processing has been activated for the selected user (decision 105). If the e-mail distribution function process is activated for the selected user at that time, and if the result of determination 105 is YES, the e-mail distribution function process being activated for the user selected at that time is stopped. (Process 10
6) Return to the process 101 and execute the process for the next user.

If the e-mail delivery function process has not been started for the selected user and the result of determination 105 is NO, the process immediately returns to process 101 and shifts to the process for the next user.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the electronic mail distribution function processing.

In the e-mail distribution function processing, the contents of the information management table of the target user are passed at the time of startup. Then, first, using a user name and a password in the information management table, a connection is made to the mail server according to a predetermined procedure (for example, a POP procedure) (process 201), and an inquiry is made as to whether a received e-mail for the user is stored. (Process 202).

In the case where the received e-mail is stored,
When the result of determination 203 is YES, all received e-mails at that time are received (process 204). However, in this case, the received e-mail is not deleted from the mail server.

Next, to determine the next e-mail acquisition time, the current time is set as the e-mail reception date and time (step 205).

Then, the contents of the e-mail are converted into the corresponding facsimile image information (step 206). At this time,
"Fro" included in the header information of the received e-mail
Based on the value of the “m” field, the display information of the transmitting terminal can be configured from the TTI (transmitting terminal identification information) added to the head of the image information. Also, based on the value of the “To” field included in the email header information,
In the TTI, display information of a destination can be configured.

Next, the user I of the selected user at that time
The facsimile image information formed at that time is stored in the image storage device 29 in association with D (process 207).

When one operation is completed in this way, the process waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table has elapsed from the reception date and time set at that time (process 208), and thereafter, the process 201 Then, the operation of the next cycle is performed.

If the received e-mail is not stored in the mail server and the result of determination 203 is NO, the current time is set as the reception date and time of the e-mail to determine the next e-mail acquisition time. Set (Process 2
09), the process shifts to a process 208, and waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table elapses from the reception date and time set at that time, and then returns to the process 201 to execute the operation of the next cycle. Do.

FIG. 8 shows a network facsimile apparatus F including a case where facsimile image information of an electronic mail stored in the image storage apparatus 29 is transmitted in association with the user ID.
An example of a process at the time of incoming of X is shown.

First, an incoming call is answered (process 301), and the signal C
The ED and the signal DIS are transmitted (process 302), and a command signal is received from the calling terminal (process 303).

The command signal received at this time includes the signal DTC
Is checked (decision 304). If the received command signal includes the signal DTC, the decision 3 is made.
If the result of step 04 is YES, the value of the user ID is extracted from the content of the signal SEP (process 305), and whether the facsimile image information of the electronic mail associated with the extracted user ID is stored in the image storage device 29 or not. It is checked whether it is (judgment 306).

When the facsimile image information of the electronic mail associated with the user ID specified at that time is stored in the image storage device 29, the result of the determination 306 is YE
At S, a transmission function to be used in the polling transmission at that time is set (process 307), a signal DCS for notifying the set transmission function is transmitted (process 308), and a predetermined modem training procedure is executed. Then, the modem speed to be used at that time is determined (process 309).

Next, the user ID specified at that time
The facsimile image information of the e-mail associated with the e-mail is extracted from the image storage device 29 (process 310), and the extracted facsimile image information is transmitted to the partner device according to a predetermined transmission procedure (process 311).

When the transmission of the facsimile image information is completed,
A predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (process 312), the line is restored (process 313), and the transmission operation of the facsimile image information of the e-mail of the designated user ID is completed.

If the facsimile image information of the e-mail associated with the user ID specified at that time is not stored in the image storage device 29 and the result of determination 306 is NO, the facsimile to be transmitted Since the image information is not stored, the line is restored (process 314), and the operation at this time ends.

If the command signal received from the calling terminal in the pre-transmission procedure does not include the signal DTC, and if the result of the determination 304 is NO, a normal reception process is executed (process 315).

As described above, in this embodiment, for the user whose operation flag in the information management table is set to ON, the network facsimile machine FX receives the e-mail from the mail server SM, and receives the e-mail. When the facsimile image information representing the contents is stored in the image storage device 29 and the facsimile image information of the e-mail is stored for the user ID specified when the polling transmission is requested at the time of receiving the call,
Since the facsimile image information of the e-mail is transmitted, the user can check the contents of the e-mail at home after leaving the office, for example, and can deal with an emergency or the like. Greatly expands the usability, and improves usability.

By the way, in some cases, a file in a binary format is attached to the e-mail as body information.
Such a file-attached e-mail is MIME
It is called an electronic mail of a format (it may be a multi-part MIME format).

For example, an electronic mail addressed to a user is sent from another network facsimile apparatus, and a MIME to which a facsimile image information file is attached.
Format, or an RTF (Rich Text) obtained by converting a word processing document.
t Format (formatted text) format, or a MIME format email with attached image data in a processable format, converts the attached binary format file to facsimile image information. Therefore, when such an e-mail is received, it is preferable that the contents of the attached file be converted into facsimile image information and transmitted to the user.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the electronic mail distribution function processing in this case.

In this e-mail distribution function processing, the contents of the information management table of the target user are passed at the time of startup. First, using a user name and a password in the information management table, a connection is made to a mail server according to a predetermined procedure (for example, a POP procedure) (process 401), and an inquiry is made as to whether a received e-mail for the user is stored. (Process 402).

In the case where the received e-mail is stored,
When the result of determination 403 is YES, all received e-mails at that time are received (process 404). However, in this case, the received e-mail is not deleted from the mail server.

Next, the current time is set as the date and time of reception of the e-mail to determine the next e-mail acquisition time (step 405).

Next, the contents of the received e-mail are analyzed. For example, when the received e-mail is in MIME format, the extension of the displayed file name indicates
It is checked whether the contents of the attached file included in the body information can be converted into facsimile image information (step 406).

If the content of the received e-mail is a processable one and the result of determination 407 is YES, the attached file portion is converted into the original data file (process 408) Is converted to the corresponding facsimile image information (step 409).

At this time, based on the value of the “From” field included in the header information of the received e-mail,
Of the TTI (transmission terminal identification information) added to the head of the image information, the display information of the transmission terminal can be configured. The display information of the destination in the TTI can be configured based on the value of the “To” field included in the header information of the electronic mail.

Next, the user I of the selected user at that time
The facsimile image information formed at that time is stored in the image storage device 29 in association with D (process 410).

When one operation is completed in this way, the process waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table has elapsed from the reception date and time set at that time (process 411). Then, the operation of the next cycle is performed.

If the contents of the attached file included in the body information of the received e-mail are not convertible to facsimile image information and the result of determination 407 is NO, The e-mail is discarded (process 412), and the process proceeds to process 411, and waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table has elapsed from the reception date and time set at that time.
Returning to the process 401, the operation of the next cycle is performed.

If the received e-mail is not stored in the mail server and the result of determination 403 is NO, the current time is set as the reception date and time of the e-mail in order to determine the next e-mail acquisition time. Set (Process 4
13), the process proceeds to step 411, waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table has elapsed from the reception date and time set at that time, and then returns to step 401 to perform the operation in the next cycle. Do.

In this case, too, the image storing apparatus 2 is executed by the polling transmission operation by the same incoming call processing as in FIG.
The facsimile image information of the e-mail stored in 9 is transmitted.

As described above, in the present embodiment, if the file of the binary format is included (attached) to the body information of the electronic mail, the facsimile image information for displaying the contents of the file is created. Image storage device 29
In addition, when facsimile image information of an e-mail is stored for a user ID specified when a polling transmission is requested at the time of an incoming call, the facsimile image information of the e-mail is transmitted. Therefore, the user can receive the facsimile image information file sent from another network facsimile apparatus, which is very convenient.

FIG. 10 shows another example of the information management table.

One element of this information management table is an ID representing the identification number of the registered user, a user name and password used when the registered user transmits / receives an e-mail to / from the mail server device, and a time interval for acquiring the e-mail. E-mail fetch interval specified in units, operation flag for specifying whether to use the e-mail distribution function, mail server name indicating the name of the mail server where the user name is registered, and restricting e-mail to be distributed Priority level for storing priority values for
And a source mail address for limiting the source of the e-mail to be distributed.

Here, a plurality of source mail addresses can be registered, and a domain name excluding the user name can be registered. The part where the column of the source mail address is "N / A" indicates that the registration information is not stored.

The information registration in the information management table is performed by operating the network facsimile machine FX,
Alternatively, using an appropriate information management table operating application, any workstation device WS1
To WSn.

Further, regarding the operation flags of the information management table, the workstations WS1 to WSn send
It is preferable that the on / off operation can be appropriately performed. In such a case, the workstation device WS1 may be connected by an appropriate point-to-point connection protocol.
WSn and the network facsimile machine FX are connected, and after the user is authenticated or the like on the connection, the operation of setting the operation flag on / off may be performed.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the electronic mail distribution function processing in this case.

In the e-mail distribution function processing, the contents of the information management table of the target user are passed at the time of startup. First, the mail server name of the information management table is obtained (step 501), and a predetermined procedure (for example, POP) is performed using the user name and the password of the information management table.
Connect to the mail server according to (procedure) (process 50).
2) Inquiring whether the received e-mail for the user is stored (process 503).

When the received e-mail is stored,
When the result of determination 504 is YES, all received e-mails at that time are received (process 505). However, in this case, the received e-mail is not deleted from the mail server.

Next, the current time is set as the date and time of reception of the e-mail to determine the next e-mail acquisition time (step 506).

Next, the contents of the received e-mail are analyzed. For example, when the received e-mail is in MIME format, the extension of the displayed file name indicates
It is checked whether the contents of the attached file included in the body information can be converted into facsimile image information (step 507).

If the content of the received e-mail is a processable one and the result of determination 508 is YES, the attached file portion is converted into the original data file (process 509), and the attached file Is converted into the corresponding facsimile image information (step 510).

At this time, based on the value of the “From” field included in the header information of the received e-mail,
Of the TTI (transmission terminal identification information) added to the head of the image information, the display information of the transmission terminal can be configured. The display information of the destination in the TTI can be configured based on the value of the “To” field included in the header information of the electronic mail.

Next, the user I of the selected user at that time
The facsimile image information formed at that time is stored in the image storage device 29 in association with D (process 511).

When one operation is completed in this way, the process waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table has elapsed from the reception date and time set at that time (process 512). Then, the operation of the next cycle is performed.

If the content of the attached file included in the body information of the received e-mail is not convertible to facsimile image information, and the result of decision 508 is NO, The e-mail is discarded (processing 513), and the processing shifts to processing 512, and waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table elapses from the reception date and time set at that time.
Returning to the processing 501, the operation of the next cycle is performed.

If the received e-mail is not stored in the mail server and the result of determination 504 is NO, the current time is set as the e-mail reception date and time to determine the next e-mail acquisition time. Set (Process 5
14) The process shifts to process 512, and waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table has elapsed from the reception date and time set at that time, and then returns to process 501 to execute the operation of the next cycle. Do.

In this case, too, the image storing apparatus 2 performs the polling transmission operation by the same incoming call processing as in FIG.
The facsimile image information of the e-mail stored in 9 is transmitted.

As described above, in this case, the e-mail is received from the mail server designated by the user, so that the e-mail is received from an arbitrary mail server desired by the user, and the contents are received. Can be stored in the image storage device 29, and the user can select appropriate group 3 facsimile devices FG1 to FG
The facsimile image information of the e-mail can be extracted using Gn. Such a function is effective, for example, when the user has mail accounts in a plurality of mail servers and the mail account mainly used is other than the local mail server.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show another example of the electronic mail distribution function processing in this case. In this example, the electronic mail to be distributed is restricted by the priority value arranged in the header information of the electronic mail.

In the e-mail distribution function processing, the contents of the information management table of the target user are passed at the time of startup. Then, first, the mail server name of the information management table is obtained (step 601), and a predetermined procedure (for example, POP) is performed using the user name and the password of the information management table.
Connect to the mail server according to (procedure) (process 60).
2) Inquire whether the received e-mail for the user is stored (process 603).

When the received e-mail is stored,
When the result of determination 604 is YES, all received e-mails at that time are received (process 605). However, in this case, the received e-mail is not deleted from the mail server.

Next, the current time is set as the date and time of reception of the e-mail to determine the next e-mail acquisition time (step 606).

The “Priority” field included in the header information of the received e-mail, or
Extract the value of the “X-Priority” field,
It is checked whether the value is higher than the priority level of the information management table (step 60).
7).

When the value of the priority included in the header information of the electronic mail is larger than the priority level and the result of the judgment 608 is YES, the contents of the received electronic mail are analyzed. For example, if the received e-mail is in MIME format, is the content of the attached file included in the body information from the extension of the displayed file name convertible to facsimile image information? It is checked whether it is (process 609).

If the content of the received e-mail is a processable one and the result of determination 610 is YES, the attached file portion is converted into the original data file (process 611) and the attached file Is converted into the corresponding facsimile image information (step 612).

At this time, based on the value of the “From” field included in the header information of the received e-mail,
Of the TTI (transmission terminal identification information) added to the head of the image information, the display information of the transmission terminal can be configured. The display information of the destination in the TTI can be configured based on the value of the “To” field included in the header information of the electronic mail.

Next, the user I of the selected user at that time
The facsimile image information formed at that time is stored in the image storage device 29 in association with D (process 613).

When one operation is completed in this way, the process waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table elapses from the reception date and time set at that time (process 614). Then, the operation of the next cycle is performed.

When the value of the priority included in the header information of the electronic mail is smaller than the designated priority level and the result of determination 608 is NO, or when the value of the priority included in the body information of the received electronic mail is NO. If the content of the attached file to be converted is not one that can be converted into facsimile image information, the result of decision 610 is NO
, The e-mail received at that time is discarded (processing 615), and the processing shifts to processing 614 until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table elapses from the reception date and time set at that time. After waiting, the process returns to the process 601 to perform the operation of the next cycle.

When the received e-mail is not stored in the mail server and the result of determination 604 is NO, the current time is set as the reception date and time of the e-mail for the determination of the next e-mail acquisition time. Set (Process 6
16), the process proceeds to step 614, and waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table has elapsed from the reception date and time set at that time, and then returns to step 601 to perform the operation of the next cycle. Do.

In this case as well, the same processing as that shown in FIG.
The facsimile image information of the e-mail stored in 9 is transmitted.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the e-mail whose priority is set lower than the priority level specified by the user is discarded, only the important e-mail desired by the user is transferred to the group 3 facsimile apparatus. It can be received by FG1 to FGn, which is convenient.

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show still another example of the electronic mail distribution function processing in this case. In this example, the electronic mail to be delivered to the facsimile apparatus is restricted by the transmission source information arranged in the header information of the electronic mail.

In the e-mail distribution function processing, the contents of the information management table of the target user are passed at the time of startup. First, the mail server name of the information management table is obtained (Step 701), and a predetermined procedure (for example, POP)
Connect to the mail server according to (procedure) (process 90).
2) Inquiry 7 as to whether the received e-mail for the user is stored (process 703).

In the case where the received e-mail is stored,
When the result of determination 704 is YES, all received e-mails at that time are received (process 705). However, in this case, the received e-mail is not deleted from the mail server.

Next, in order to determine the next electronic mail acquisition time, the current time is set as the electronic mail reception date and time (step 706).

Then, it is checked whether or not valid information is included in the source mail address in the information management table (step 707). If the result of the step 707 is YES, the source mail address and the received electronic mail address are checked. The value of the “From” field included in the header information of the mail is compared to check whether the value is included in the specified source mail address (process 708). If valid information is not included in the source mail address of the information management table and the result of the determination 707 is NO, the source check process 708 is not performed.

When the value of the “From” field included in the header information of the received e-mail is included in the specified source e-mail address, the result of decision 709 is YE
When it becomes S, the content of the received e-mail is analyzed. For example, when the received e-mail is in MIME format, the extension of the displayed file name indicates
It is checked whether the contents of the attached file included in the body information can be converted into facsimile image information (process 710).

If the content of the received e-mail is a processable one and the result of determination 711 is YES, the attached file portion is converted into the original data file (process 712) and the attached file Is converted into the corresponding facsimile image information (step 713).

At this time, based on the value of the “From” field included in the header information of the received e-mail,
Of the TTI (transmission terminal identification information) added to the head of the image information, the display information of the transmission terminal can be configured. The display information of the destination in the TTI can be configured based on the value of the “To” field included in the header information of the electronic mail.

Next, the user I of the selected user at that time
The facsimile image information formed at that time is stored in the image storage device 29 in association with D (process 714).

When one operation is completed in this way, the process waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table has elapsed from the reception date and time set at that time (process 715). Then, the operation of the next cycle is performed.

When the value of the “From” field included in the header information of the received e-mail is not included in the specified source mail address and the result of determination 709 is NO, or If the content of the attached file included in the body information of the e-mail is not convertible to facsimile image information,
If the result of step 1 is NO, the e-mail received at that time is discarded (step 716), and the processing shifts to step 715, where the mail acquisition registered in the information management table is obtained from the reception date and time set at that time Wait until the interval elapses, and then return to step 701 to perform the operation in the next cycle.

When the received e-mail is not stored in the mail server and the result of determination 704 is NO, the current time is set as the reception date and time of the e-mail to determine the next e-mail acquisition time. Set (Process 7
17), the process proceeds to step 715 and waits until the e-mail acquisition interval registered in the information management table has elapsed from the reception date and time set at that time, and thereafter returns to step 701 to perform the operation of the next cycle. Do.

Also in this case, the image storage device 2 is executed by the polling transmission operation by the same incoming call processing as that shown in FIG.
The facsimile image information of the e-mail stored in 9 is transmitted.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the e-mail received from the source other than the source e-mail address specified by the user is discarded, only the important e-mail desired by the user is transmitted by the facsimile machine. Can be received and convenient.

In each of the above embodiments, the e-mail determined to be unnecessary is discarded. However, in each of the above embodiments, the e-mail is not deleted from the mail server when the e-mail is received. In this case, the e-mail that has not been forwarded can be properly received.

Although not described in detail, an embodiment in which the functions of the above-described embodiments are appropriately combined can be similarly configured.

[0145]

As described above, according to the present invention,
For the user whose operation flag in the information management table is set to ON, the network facsimile apparatus receives an e-mail from the mail server apparatus, and stores facsimile image information representing the contents of the e-mail in the image storage apparatus. At the time of an incoming call, when facsimile image information of an e-mail is stored for a user ID specified at the time of a polling transmission request, the facsimile image information of the e-mail is transmitted. For example, the contents of the e-mail can be checked at home after leaving the office, and an emergency situation can be dealt with, so that the use of the e-mail is greatly expanded, and the effect of improving usability is obtained.

When the body information of the electronic mail includes a file in a binary format (attached), facsimile image information for displaying the contents of the file is created and stored in the image storage device. At the same time,
User ID specified when polling transmission was requested
When the facsimile image information of the e-mail is stored, the facsimile image information of the e-mail is transmitted, so that the user can, for example, copy the facsimile image information file sent from another network facsimile apparatus. It is possible to receive the message, which is very convenient.

Further, since the e-mail receiving operation is performed with respect to the mail server designated by the user, the e-mail is received from an arbitrary mail server desired by the user, and the facsimile image information corresponding to the contents is displayed on the image. Since the data can be stored in the storage device and the user can retrieve the facsimile image information of the e-mail using an appropriate group 3 facsimile device, for example, the user has a mail account in a plurality of mail servers and mainly has This is also useful when the mail account being used is other than a local mail server.

Also, since the electronic mail whose priority is set lower than the priority level specified by the user is discarded, only the important electronic mail desired by the user can be received by the group 3 facsimile apparatus, which is convenient. There is also the effect that there is.

Since the e-mail received from a source other than the source e-mail address specified by the user is discarded, only the important e-mail desired by the user can be received by the facsimile machine, which is convenient. The effect is also obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a group 3 facsimile apparatus FG (FG1 to FG).
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of Gn).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network facsimile machine FX.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an information management table.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of a procedure when the group 3 facsimile apparatuses FG1 to FGn make a polling transmission request to the network facsimile apparatus FX and receive image information.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for activating an electronic mail distribution function process for each user whose operation flag is set to ON.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an electronic mail distribution function process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process at the time of an incoming call of the network facsimile machine FX, including a case where facsimile image information of an electronic mail stored in the image storage device 29 is transmitted in association with the user ID.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another example of the electronic mail distribution function processing.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the information management table.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing still another example of the electronic mail distribution function processing.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a part of another example of the electronic mail distribution function processing.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of another example of the electronic mail distribution function processing.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a part of still another example of the electronic mail distribution function processing.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of still another example of the electronic mail distribution function processing.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A network facsimile apparatus having a function of exchanging data on a local area network, a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public network, and the network facsimile via a public network. A method of controlling a network facsimile system including a facsimile apparatus that exchanges facsimile data with a device by facsimile transmission procedure, wherein the network facsimile apparatus includes:
It has an information management table in which information relating to e-mail reception required when the user connects to the mail server and receives e-mail, and an operation flag for designating whether or not to perform e-mail transfer operation are registered. For a user whose operation flag in the information management table is set to perform an e-mail transfer operation, the mail server uses the e-mail reception related information registered in the information management table for the user. While receiving and saving the e-mail to that user, if the e-mail is stored for the specified user when the polling transmission request is made, facsimile image information representing the contents of the e-mail is sent to the polling transmission request. Network facsimile system for transmitting to original facsimile machine Control method of. 2. A network facsimile apparatus having a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public network, and the network facsimile via a public network. In a control method of a network facsimile system including a facsimile apparatus for exchanging facsimile data with a facsimile transmission procedure by a facsimile transmission procedure, for each user, an electronic mail required when the user connects to a mail server and receives an e-mail. Mail receiving related information, an operation flag for designating whether or not to perform an e-mail transfer operation, and an information management table in which a priority value of the received e-mail is registered. Email For a user set to perform the transfer operation, an e-mail to the user is received from the mail server using the e-mail reception related information registered in the information management table for the user, and the e-mail If the priority value set for the user is larger than the priority value registered in the information management table for the user, the e-mail is stored, and the priority set for the received e-mail is stored. If the value of is lower than the priority value registered in the information management table for the user, the e-mail is not saved, and the e-mail is saved for the user specified when polling transmission is requested. A facsimile showing the contents of the e-mail Control method for a network facsimile system, characterized in that the image information, and transmits to the polling transmission requesting facsimile machine. 3. A network facsimile apparatus having a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public network, and the network facsimile via a public network. In a control method of a network facsimile system including a facsimile apparatus for exchanging facsimile data with a facsimile transmission procedure by a facsimile transmission procedure, for each user, an electronic mail required when the user connects to a mail server and receives an e-mail. The information management table includes mail reception related information, an operation flag for designating whether or not to perform an e-mail transfer operation, and an identification information of a transmission source user to which the e-mail is to be transmitted. If the above operation flag is For a user set to perform a file transfer operation, an e-mail to the user is received from the mail server using the e-mail reception related information registered in the information management table for the user, and If the sender user of the received e-mail matches the identification information of the sender user registered in the information management table for the user, the e-mail is stored while the sender of the received e-mail is If the user does not match the identification information of the sender user registered in the above information management table for the user, the e-mail is not stored, and the e-mail is not stored for the user specified at the time of the polling transmission request. Is stored, the facsimile image information representing the contents of the e-mail is polled. Control method for a network facsimile system and transmits to the signal request destination facsimile machine. 4. The electronic mail reception-related information includes mail server designation information, and receives an e-mail to the user from a mail server corresponding to the mail server designation information. 4. The control method for a network facsimile system according to claim 1, 2 or 3. 5. When a binary file is attached to the received e-mail, the attached file is also converted to facsimile image information and transmitted to the facsimile machine which requested polling transmission. Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3, or Claim 4
The control method of the network facsimile system described in the above. 6. The facsimile image information to which additional image information based on transmission source display information or the like included in header information of a received electronic mail is added. Claim 3, Claim 4, or Claim 5
The control method of the network facsimile system described in the above.