JPH1169064A - Facsimile information communication equipment and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily send/receive data between a facsimile equipment and a portable small-sized electronic device such as a PC and a PDA at any time. SOLUTION: In the case of sending data from an electronic device being a terminal 7 to a facsimile equipment 8, the terminal 7 reads a FAX transmission letter form of a storage device 1 of the facsimile information communication equipment. Then the terminal 7 receives the entry of transmission contents or the like corresponding to the FAX transmission letter form and sends them to the facsimile information communication equipment. The facsimile information communication equipment generates a FAX transmission letter based on the transmission data and sends the letter to a facsimile equipment as a facsimile signal. On the other hand, in the case of sending data from the facsimile equipment 8 to the terminal 7, the facsimile equipment 8 sends the FAX signal to the facsimile information communication equipment. The facsimile information communication equipment stores the FAX signal to a storage device 1 as image data read by the terminal. Then the terminal 7 accesses the facsimile information communication equipment to read the image data stored in the storage device 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a facsimile information communication apparatus and a storage medium for transmitting and receiving a facsimile via a computer system serving as a server.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving a facsimile (hereinafter abbreviated as "FAX") includes an image reader section for reading contents described on a sheet of paper as facsimile image data for transmission, and a facsimile apparatus for receiving a facsimile. Facsimile apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a facsimile apparatus) having a printing section for outputting image data for use and a line control section for controlling connection to a public line.
Dedicated machine).

As a device for transmitting and receiving a fax, there is a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a PC) in which a fax modem is built or connected. And F
The AX dedicated machine has a relatively complicated structure to include the image reader unit, the printing unit, the line control unit, and the like as described above, and the image reader unit and the printing unit of the FAX dedicated machine use the paper Since the size is almost determined by the size, it has been difficult to reduce the size of the dedicated fax machine.

On the other hand, a PC having a FAX modem can convert document data or the like created on the PC into FAX image data and transmit a FAX, and thus does not necessarily require an image reader. In the PC, the received fax image data can be displayed on the screen, so that a printing device is not necessarily required.

[0005] Therefore, small so-called notebook-type or sub-note-type PCs, hand-held type PCs, PDAs (persons)
al digital assistants) can be used as a small FAX device by incorporating or connecting a FAX modem. In particular, PDA and handheld P
C can be a small facsimile machine compared to a dedicated fax machine.

[0006]

By the way, a portable small-sized PC such as a notebook-type or sub-note-type PC, a hand-held type PC or a PDA (including a PDA in this case).
Is basically assumed to be moved, so it is not always connected to a telephone line (public line).
It is practically impossible to receive a fax that is unknown when it is sent. On the other hand, in a small arithmetic processing device such as a PDA that does not have a keyboard of a normal size, document data for FAX transmission is also created by handwriting input or a small keyboard. It takes time to create. Therefore, FAX
The above-described portable small PC having a modem cannot be used in the same manner as a dedicated fax machine.

[0007] Further, in order to perform FAX transmission from a portable small PC, it is not a modem for ordinary data communication but a modem.
A FAX modem capable of outputting a FAX signal is required, which increases the cost of a portable small PC. Note that when a notebook PC is used stationary, or when a so-called desktop PC is used, the PC can be connected to the telephone line at all times. Because the power is turned off, there is a possibility that FAX reception cannot be performed while the power is turned off. In addition, LAN
(Local Area Network) For desktop PCs, etc., connected to a LAN by connecting a FAX server,
For example, even if the power of the PC is turned off, the FAX server receives the FAX, so that the contents of the received FAX can be confirmed after the PC is turned on.

Accordingly, the notebook type P in the stationary state
C and desktop PCs can be handled almost in the same way as fax-only machines if a fax server is used.
A desktop PC is considerably larger than a relatively small FAX dedicated machine, and a desktop PC
Using C as a fax machine does not mean that the fax machine is downsized. In addition, when a notebook PC is used in a stationary state, the size of the FAX apparatus may be reduced depending on the type of the notebook PC.

To use a fax server, a LAN
Small PC that needs to be connected to
Is not always connected to the LAN, and there is a high possibility that a handheld PC or PDA does not have a function of connecting to the LAN. In other words, the portable small PC cannot use the FAX server when carrying.

As described above, a portable small PC and an FA
Communication with the dedicated X machine is possible only under extremely limited conditions, and communication between the small PC and the dedicated fax machine cannot be easily performed at any time. An object of the present invention is to enable easy communication at any time between a portable small PC and a dedicated fax machine.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving data to and from a terminal via a public line, and a facsimile apparatus via a public line. Facsimile communication means for transmitting and receiving facsimile signals, and message data indicating the contents of facsimile transmission from the terminal and specifying a transmission destination from the terminal via the communication means, connected to the communication means and the facsimile communication means. Facsimile information transmission processing for generating facsimile image data based on these message data and transmitting the facsimile image data to a destination facsimile apparatus designated by the message data via facsimile communication means. And means.

According to the above configuration, when the terminal transmits message data indicating a transmission content by facsimile and indicating a transmission destination to the facsimile information communication device via the public line, the facsimile information communication device performs The message data is input to the facsimile information transmission processing means via the means. In the facsimile information transmission processing means, facsimile image data is created based on the message data, and the created facsimile image data is transmitted to the designated facsimile apparatus indicated in the message data via the facsimile communication means. I do.

Therefore, it is not necessary for the terminal to output facsimile image data as a facsimile signal, and it is not necessary to provide a facsimile modem capable of transmitting a facsimile signal and a facsimile transmission application to the terminal. Only a communication device (such as a modem) and an application for data communication need be provided, so that the cost of the terminal can be reduced when facsimile transmission from the terminal to the facsimile device is enabled.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the facsimile information communication apparatus, wherein the facsimile information transmission processing means stores the template data as a facsimile transmission template, and the terminal via the communication means. When there is a request to perform facsimile transmission from the terminal, the template data is read from the template storage unit, and the terminal is instructed via the communication unit to input message data based on the read template data. Image data creating means for creating facsimile image data to be actually transmitted based on the template data and the message data when message data is transmitted from the terminal, and outputting the created image data to a facsimile communication means. It is characterized by becoming.

According to the above configuration, when performing facsimile transmission from the terminal, when the terminal instructs the facsimile information communication device to perform facsimile transmission,
In the facsimile information communication device, the image data creation means of the facsimile information transmission processing means receives a request from the terminal, reads template data serving as a template of facsimile image data from the template storage means from the template storage means, and reads out the template data. The terminal is instructed via the communication means to input message data based on the template data.

The facsimile communication device transmits the message data indicating, for example, the employment and name of the partner and the contents to be transmitted to the partner to the facsimile communication device from the terminal. Then, based on the template data and the message data, facsimile image data to be actually transmitted is created and output to the facsimile communication means. Then, the facsimile communication means transmits the facsimile image data as a facsimile signal to the designated facsimile apparatus.

Therefore, the terminal does not need to prepare a document of a document to be transmitted as a facsimile from the beginning, and in a small PC in which character data must be input by a small keyboard or handwriting input, labor-saving input work can be saved. can do. In addition, since the template data is stored in the facsimile information communication device, having the template data does not reduce the available storage capacity of the terminal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile information communication apparatus, the facsimile information transmission processing means includes:
rld Wide Web server, and the template data is created in advance in Hyper Text Markup Language and stored in the template storage means.
The template data can be read by a Wide Web browser, and the image data creation means creates a facsimile image data to be actually transmitted based on the template data and the message data.
It is characterized by having a transmission conversion means for converting data created by xt Markup Language into image data for facsimile.

According to the above configuration, the World Wide Web (WW
W) Hyper Text Markup Language (H) stored in the model storage means of the facsimile information transmission processing means as a server
The template data consisting of TML) is transferred to the terminal's World Wide Web.
(WWW) The terminal is read by a browser, and based on the read template data, the terminal sends, for example, message data indicating the employment and name of the partner and contents to be transmitted to the partner, for example, CGI (Common Gateway Interface). And transmits it to the facsimile information communication device.

In the facsimile information communication apparatus, original data to be transmitted by facsimile is created based on the template data and the message data. Since the template data is created by HTML, a message is added to the template data. When the original data is created by adding the contents of the data, the original data is basically HTML document data. This original data can be used by a facsimile modem or the like serving as a facsimile communication unit by the transmission conversion unit. Convert to fax image data.

Then, the converted facsimile image data is transmitted from the facsimile communication means to the facsimile apparatus as a facsimile signal. Therefore, basically, any terminal can be used as the terminal of the facsimile information communication device of the present invention as long as it is a PC capable of starting a WWW browser. Therefore, an existing PC can be used as a terminal as it is, and equipment costs for constructing a communication system using the facsimile information communication apparatus of the present invention can be reduced.

The facsimile information transmission processing means of the facsimile information communication device may be any computer that can start a program of a basic WWW server.
The facsimile information communication device of the present invention can be constructed at low cost using the W server. Further, if the WWW server (facsimile information transmission processing means) is connected to the Internet via a dedicated line, when a remote terminal accesses the WWW server, the WWW server is directly connected to the WWW server via a public line.
By accessing via the Internet without accessing the W server, communication costs can be reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile communication apparatus for transmitting / receiving data to / from a terminal via a public line, and transmitting / receiving a facsimile signal to / from a facsimile apparatus via a public line. Facsimile communication means, connected to the communication means and the facsimile communication means, and, when a facsimile signal transmitted from the facsimile device is input as facsimile image data via the facsimile communication means, for the facsimile Facsimile information reception processing means for converting the image data into image data usable by the terminal and transmitting the image data to the terminal via the communication means.

According to the above configuration, when communication is performed from the facsimile apparatus to the terminal, a facsimile signal is output from the facsimile apparatus to the facsimile information communication apparatus, and the facsimile communication means receives the signal and receives the facsimile information as facsimile image data. Output to the reception processing means. Then, the facsimile information reception processing means converts the facsimile image data into image data usable by the terminal, and transmits the image data to the terminal via the communication means.

Therefore, the terminal does not need to directly receive a facsimile signal, does not need to have a facsimile modem capable of receiving a facsimile signal and a facsimile reception application, and has a communication device (modem) for ordinary data communication. Etc.) and only data communication applications, so that the cost of the terminal can be reduced when facsimile transmission from the facsimile apparatus to the terminal is enabled.

A facsimile information communication apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the facsimile information communication apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the facsimile information communication apparatus is connected to the communication means and the facsimile communication means. And, when the facsimile signal transmitted from the facsimile apparatus is input as facsimile image data via the facsimile communication means, the facsimile image data is converted to image data usable by the terminal, Facsimile information reception processing means for transmitting the image data to the terminal via the communication means.

According to the above-mentioned structure, the first, second or third aspect of the present invention is provided.
As in the facsimile information communication apparatus described above, a terminal capable of inputting / outputting a facsimile signal and capable of only data communication can transmit data to the facsimile apparatus via the facsimile information communication apparatus, and the facsimile information communication according to claim 4. Like a device, data can be transmitted from a facsimile device to the terminal via a facsimile information communication device. That is, data can be transmitted and received between a terminal that cannot input and output a facsimile signal and a facsimile apparatus.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile information communication apparatus, the facsimile information reception processing means receives the facsimile signal transmitted from the facsimile apparatus as facsimile image data via the facsimile communication means. At this time, receiving conversion means for converting the facsimile image data into image data usable by the terminal, image storage means for storing the image data converted by the receiving conversion means, and via the communication means Image transmission means for reading the image data stored in the image storage means and transmitting the read image data to the terminal via the communication means when the terminal receives a request for reading image data from the terminal. Features.

According to the above configuration, when facsimile image data is output as a facsimile signal from the facsimile apparatus to the terminal via the facsimile information communication apparatus, the facsimile signal transmitted from the facsimile apparatus is transmitted to the facsimile communication apparatus. The data is input to the facsimile information reception processing means as facsimile image data via the means.

At this time, the receiving conversion means converts the facsimile image data into image data usable by the terminal, and stores it in the image storage means. Then, when there is a read request for image data from the terminal, the image transmission means reads the image data stored in the image storage means and causes the terminal to transmit the image data via the communication means.

That is, when the facsimile apparatus outputs a facsimile signal to the terminal, even if the terminal is turned off or the terminal is not connected to the public line, the facsimile apparatus transmits the signal. The received facsimile image data is stored in the image storage means, and the stored image data is transmitted to the terminal as image data usable by the terminal after receiving a request from the terminal. Become.

Therefore, the terminal does not need to be constantly turned on to be connected to the public line, and the terminal can be freely moved and used. That is, a small PC that is portable as a terminal, that is, a sub-note type P
Since a C, hand-held PC, PDA, or the like can be used, a kind of facsimile apparatus capable of receiving data output from the facsimile apparatus can be made extremely small and portable. If the terminal is capable of transmitting data to and from the facsimile apparatus in the same manner as the facsimile communication apparatus according to the first, second, or third aspect, a type of facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from the facsimile apparatus is reduced in size. It can be made portable.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile information communication apparatus, the receiving conversion means inputs the facsimile apparatus and the facsimile image data together with the address data designating the receiving party from the facsimile apparatus via the facsimile communication means. The image data is stored in the image storage means in association with the address data, and the image transmission means receives the address data from the terminal when data specifying its own address data is input from the terminal. Is read out from the image storage means and transmitted to the terminal via the communication means.

According to the above configuration, when a plurality of terminals are stored in the facsimile information communication apparatus, and when data is transmitted from the facsimile apparatus to some of the plurality of terminals, the facsimile is used. Output terminal image data and terminal address data. Then, in the facsimile information communication apparatus, the receiving conversion means stores the facsimile image data input from the facsimile apparatus in the image storage means in association with the address data.

When the facsimile information communication apparatus inputs data designating its own address data from the terminal, for example, when an account is input, the facsimile information communication apparatus stores image data corresponding to the address data from the image storage means. Read and transmit to the terminal via the communication means. Therefore, even when a plurality of terminals are connected to the facsimile information communication device and there are a plurality of users, when the facsimile image data input from the facsimile transmission device is stored in the facsimile information communication device, By storing in association with each other, each user can read out the image data addressed to the user from the facsimile information communication device.

[0036] In a facsimile information communication apparatus according to claim 8 of the present invention, the facsimile information reception processing means may include a Wo.
rld Wide Web server, and the receiving conversion means converts the facsimile image data into image data usable by the terminal, and includes a Hyper Text Markup Lap.
The document data is pasted on document data created by nguag, and the document data is stored in the image storage means so that the document data can be read from the terminal by a World Wide Web browser.

According to the above configuration, the terminal can use the WWW browser to read the image data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus stored as HTML document data on the facsimile information communication apparatus side. That is, the terminal used here has a function capable of accessing the facsimile information communication device via the public line, that is,
Modems for data communication and ISDN (integrated service)
It has a TA (Terminal Adaptor) for a digital network (s digital network) and can operate a WWW browser.

Therefore, any type of terminal can be used as the terminal of the facsimile information communication apparatus of the present invention as long as it is a PC capable of starting a WWW browser. Without the existing P
C can be used as a terminal as it is, and equipment costs for constructing a communication system using the facsimile information communication device of the present invention can be reduced.

The facsimile information reception processing means of the facsimile information communication device may be a computer capable of starting a program of a basic WWW server.
The facsimile information communication device of the present invention can be constructed at low cost using the W server. In addition, if the WWW server is connected to the Internet via a dedicated line, it is possible to access the WWW server from a remote terminal without accessing the WWW server directly via the public line, but through the Internet. , Communication costs can be saved.

A facsimile information communication apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is a storage medium storing a computer-executable program, the content being transmitted by facsimile from a terminal connected to the computer via at least a public line. When message data specifying a destination is input, a program code for creating facsimile image data based on the message data, and a program code created in the destination facsimile machine specified by the message data A program including a program code for transmitting the facsimile image data is stored.

According to the above configuration, the same effect as that of the facsimile information communication apparatus according to the first aspect can be obtained by starting the program by a computer using the storage medium storing the program. In addition,
The computer must be capable of running the program, and must be connected to a device capable of transmitting and receiving data communication and facsimile signals via a public line.

A storage medium according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is a storage medium storing a computer-executable program, wherein the facsimile transmitted from the facsimile apparatus connected to the computer via at least a public line. When a signal is input as facsimile image data, a program code for converting the facsimile image data into image data usable by a terminal connected to the computer via at least a public line, and the converted image And a program code for transmitting data to the terminal.

According to the above configuration, the same operation and effect as the facsimile information communication device according to the fourth aspect can be obtained by starting the program by a computer using the storage medium storing the program. In addition,
The computer must be capable of running the program, and must be connected to a device capable of transmitting and receiving data communication and facsimile signals via a public line.

[0044]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile information communication apparatus and a storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a facsimile information communication device. The FAX information communication apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a computer system serving as a server, and includes a storage device 1 serving as storage means and a random access memory (RAM) 2.
And a CPU (central processing uni
t) 3 and a communication interface 4 connected to a line such as a public line, and for converting FAX image data into a standard image file format.
X image data conversion unit 5.

The storage device 1 has a storage medium 6 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium 6 is constituted by a magnetic / optical storage medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 6 is fixedly provided in the storage device 1 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 6 stores a facsimile information communication processing program 6d for performing processing described later. The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 6 may be configured to be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line or the like. Alternatively, a storage device having the storage medium 6 may be provided on another device side, and the programs and data stored in the storage medium 6 may be used via a communication line.

The storage medium 6 stores a template data file 6a in which a plurality of facsimile transmission form formats for transmitting a facsimile as described later are registered. FAX above
The cover sheet format is a state where, for example, a formable portion of a sentence necessary for the cover sheet, for example, a description such as a FAX invoice, a description such as a transmission destination and a transmission source, a greeting, and the like are input. When creating an actual FAX cover page from this FAX cover page format, the name and affiliation of the other party, the user's own name and affiliation, and the text of the contents of the transmission should be entered. Has become.

In the template data file 6a, a plurality of facsimile transmission form formats are registered, and an arbitrary facsimile transmission form is selected according to the destination and the type of the transmission form (for example, for business communication or order form). It is designed to select and use a letter format. Further, the fax transmission form is created in HTML and can be read by a WWW browser operable on the terminal 7.

The storage medium 6 stores a received FAX database 6b for converting FAX image data input from the external FAX device 7 and storing the converted FAX image data for each address, as described later. The reception FAX database 6b stores a file in a state in which the input and converted image data is pasted to the HTML document data, that is, the HTML document data having the image data received from the facsimile apparatus, as described later. They are stored in association with each other.

The HTML document data stored in the reception FAX database 6b is stored in association with the address of each destination, and when reading the HTML document data from the WWW browser of the terminal 7, an account (ID or password) is read. ) Etc. are required, and simply by using a WWW browser, for example, a URL (Uniform Re
The HTML document data of the received FAX database 6b cannot be read just by specifying the “source Locator”. The received FAX database 6b may have a function as, for example, a mailbox of a mail server. Also in this case, the HTML document data can be read only when the account is indicated from the terminal 7 side.

The storage medium 6 stores data of a person (herein referred to as a member) having an address in the received fax database 6b as a member data file 6c. For example, the received fax database 6b
Stores an account, such as a member ID and a password, so that the account transmitted from the terminal 7 can be checked. Further, in the member data file 6c, for example, data required for charging a fee to each member is registered in a case where transmission / reception of data to / from a terminal by a facsimile information communication device described later is charged. .

The RAM 2 forms a memory area for temporarily storing a facsimile information communication processing program 6d processed by the CPU 3 and data relating to the processing. The CPU 3 stores the FAX information communication processing program 6 d stored in the storage medium 6 of the storage device 1 in the RAM 2.
And a transmission process and a reception process in a facsimile information communication process described later.

The CPU 3 also stores the template data file 6a and the received FAX database 6 stored in the storage device 1.
b has a function as a WWW server so that the HTML document data stored in b can be read by a WWW browser. That is, the FAX information communication processing program 6d includes a WWW server program. When the received FAX database 6b is a mailbox, the FAX information communication processing program 6d includes a mail server program. In addition, files other than text as email, that is,
Send HTML document data and image files and send them to W
In order to read directly by a WW browser or the like, the mail server side needs, for example, MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail).
Extensions).

The communication interface 4 is a facsimile
It is for connecting the information communication device to the public line,
The communication interface 4 can perform, for example, a so-called FAX modem that can perform data communication and FAX signal transmission and reception via an analog public line, and perform data communication and FAX signal transmission and reception through a digital public line. TA that can be done.

When the communication interface 4 receives the FAX signal, the FAX signal is output to the CPU 3 as FAX image data.
When AX image data is input, a FAX signal is transmitted to a FAX device via a public line. The communication interface 4 is connected to a computer system having the CPU 3 by a LAN (Loca
l A facsimile server connected by a line for Area Network) may be used.

The FAX server includes, for example, a plurality of FAX modems (or one FAX modem). When a FAX signal is received, the FAX server is stored in a storage device such as a semiconductor memory.
When the FAX image data is temporarily stored as the AX image data, the stored FAX image data is output to the PC connected to the FAX server, and the FAX image data and the fax number of the other party are input from the PC. And F
The fax modem transmits the input fax image data as a fax signal to the destination fax machine by the AX modem.

A terminal 7 and a facsimile device 8 can be connected to the communication interface 4 via a public line. The terminal 7 may be basically any device capable of performing data communication via a public line. For example, the terminal 7 is a PC. In this case, the terminal 7 is a small portable PC.

The portable small PC that can be used as the terminal 7 is a notebook-type or sub-note-type PC, a hand-held type PC, a PDA, etc., and has a data communication modem. Things. Also,
The PDA includes various electronic organizers and portable electronic devices such as a portable telephone and a simple portable telephone (PHS) to which a PDA function is added. In addition, terminal 7
Must be able to operate as a WWW client with a WWW browser. Further, the terminal 7 may have a function as a mail client.

The terminal 7 is basically a portable small PC as described above. However, as described above, the terminal 7 can perform data communication via a public line, and has a WWW browser and a WWW browser. Any PC that can operate as a client can be used as the terminal 7. The facsimile apparatus may be basically any facsimile apparatus that transmits and receives a facsimile signal via a public line.

Therefore, as a facsimile apparatus, for example, F
FAX dedicated machine used exclusively for AX transmission and reception,
A telephone that is used for both a normal voice telephone and a facsimile, a telephone that has a function of copying and printing in addition to transmitting and receiving a facsimile signal, and the like can be used. Note that F
A PC with a built-in AX modem or a PC connected to a FAX server can be used as a FAX device by a FAX information communication device.
An X signal can be transmitted.

However, a PC with a built-in FAX modem is
In order to use it as an AX device, it is basically necessary that the PC is always operating and connected to a public line by a FAX modem. Further, data communication is possible between the terminal 7 and the PC serving as the facsimile device 8, and it is not always necessary to use the PC as the facsimile device 8. F above
The AX image data conversion unit 5 is, for example,
When a facsimile transmission form to be actually transmitted is created by adding necessary data to a facsimile transmission form, which is L document data, the facsimile transmission form is converted into facsimile image data and the facsimile input via the communication interface 4 is transmitted. When the image data for use is stored in the reception FAX database 6b, an image file format (for example, GIF (Graphics Interchange F
ormat) or JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Grou
p)) and paste this into HTML document data.

That is, the FAX image data converter 5 converts the HTML document data into FAX image data when transmitting the HTML document data to the FAX device, and receives the FAX signal at the communication interface 4. When the FAX image data is output from the FAX 4, the FAX image data is converted into an image file format such as GIF and pasted into a new HTML document.

In the block diagram of FIG.
Although the image data conversion unit for facsimile 5 is shown as an independent device, the facsimile image data conversion unit 5 need not be an independent device, and may be processed by the CPU 3. That is, the FAX information communication processing program 6d may include a well-known conversion program for converting an image file format, and the CPU 3 may perform the above-described conversion processing.

Here, the block diagrams of FIGS. 2 and 3 show a more practical configuration of the FAX information communication apparatus of this example. The FAX information communication apparatus shown in FIGS. A WW having a storage device 1 having a storage medium 6 in the block diagram of FIG. 1, a RAM 2, a CPU 3, and a function of performing data communication among the communication interface 4
It has a computer system to be the W server 11.

Further, the facsimile information communication device comprises a facsimile image data converter 5 and a communication interface 4.
And a computer system serving as a FAX server 12 having a function of transmitting and receiving a FAX signal and a function of converting FAX image data into a FAX signal and converting a FAX signal into FAX image data. That is, the FAX server 12 is provided with a CPU, a RAM, a storage device, and the like as an intelligent device, and performs FAX conversion of the format of an image file.
It has a function as the image data conversion unit 5.

The function as the facsimile image data conversion unit 5 does not necessarily have to be provided in the facsimile server 12, but may be provided in the WWW server 11.
Then, in the fax information communication device, the WWW server 1
1 and the FAX server 12 are connected online, output HTML document data from the WWW server 11, and the FAX server 12 can finally convert this into a FAX signal and output it to the destination FAX device 8. , FA
When the X server 12 receives the FAX signal, the FAX server 12 finally converts the FAX signal into an HTML document and outputs the HTML document to the WWW server 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the WWW server 11
The storage device 1 (for example, HDD (Hard Disk Drive))
The fax transmission form is stored as HTML document data a as described above, and the terminal 7 can read the fax transmission form using a WWW browser. Also, the WWW server 11 is, for example, C
With the GI function, a text to be input can be written from the terminal 7 into a blank space of the fax cover sheet format (HTML document data a).

Then, the WWW server 11 writes a necessary text in the facsimile transmission form to send a facsimile transmission form (invoice) which is the completed HTML document data a.
Is transmitted to the FAX server 12. Also, F
The AX server 12 receives the HT received from the WWW server 11.
It has a function of converting a FAX transmission statement that is ML document data a into FAX image data b, and further converting the FAX signal into a FAX signal and transmitting it to the destination FAX device 8.

The FAX server 12 receives the received FA
FAX image data c generated from the X signal
A function of converting the image data into a GIF file, for example, as a standard image file format that can be pasted on the ML document data, pasting the converted image data on the HTML document data d, and transmitting the HTML document data d to the WWW server 11 Have. And the WWW server 11
It has a function of storing the HTML document data d received from the FAX server 12 in the received FAX database 6b of the storage device 1. The WWW server 11 requests an account when the terminal 7 tries to read the HTML document data stored in the received FAX database 6b.

Next, a facsimile information communication process by the above-described facsimile information communication device will be described. In addition, FA
The X information communication processing is performed based on the above-described FAX information communication processing program 6d, and the FAX information communication processing program 6d will be described by describing the FAX information communication processing.

First, a method of transmitting data from the terminal 7 to the FAX apparatus 8 in the FAX information communication processing will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG. When transmitting data from the terminal 7 to the facsimile apparatus 8, the terminal 7 first activates a WWW browser to access the WWW server 11, and specifies, for example, the URL of the template data file 6a (step A1).

The WWW server 11 transmits a FAX transmission form, which is the HTML document data a of the template data file 6a, to the terminal 7 in response to a request from the terminal 7 that has become a WWW client (step A2). The WWW browser reads a template data file, which is HTML document data a registered in the WWW server 11. The method for accessing the template data file 6a of the WWW server 11 from the terminal 7 is as follows.
It may be accessed from a home page linked to the template data file 6a.

Next, the terminal 7 selects a facsimile transmission form suitable for the contents of transmission and the destination from the template data file 6a, and fills the blank portion of the facsimile transmission form (HTML document data a) with the necessary information. The user inputs text data (step A3). That is, on the terminal side,
The name and affiliation of the transmission destination, the name and affiliation of the transmission source, and the contents of transmission are input as text data.

To transmit a FAX signal from the FAX server 12 to the FAX device of the other party as described later,
Since the AX number is required, the fax number of the other party is required as data to be transmitted from the terminal. At this point, the terminal needs to input the FAX number. For example, when the WWW server 11 stores a database in which a FAX number is registered in correspondence with the name and affiliation of the transmission destination, the WWW server 11 converts the FAX number from the name and affiliation of the transmission destination. Since it is possible to search, it is not necessary to input the fax number of the other party in the terminal 7 in particular.

Next, by instructing the terminal 7 to transmit the input data, for example, by pressing a transmission button displayed on the display screen of the terminal 7, the terminal 7 transmits the data to the WWW server on the terminal 7 side. The input data is transmitted (step A4). Then, on the WWW server 11 side, the data corresponding to the blanks of the fax cover sheet format is input, so that the HTML document data in a state where the necessary data is input on the fax cover sheet format is created, and the HTML document data is created.
The document data is transmitted to the fax server 12 together with the fax number of the destination (step A5).

FAX receiving the above HTML document data
The server 12 converts the HTML document data into FAX image data (step A6). Next, the FAX server 12 transmits the FAX number of the other party by the FAX modem, connects to the FAX apparatus 8 of the other party, and
A facsimile signal is generated from the image data for use and transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 8 of the other party (step A7). A terminal having no function of transmitting a facsimile signal by the transmission processing of the facsimile information communication processing. 7, that is, a fax from a terminal 7 without a fax modem.
Data can be transmitted to the device 8.

Therefore, basically, in order to transmit data from a small PC having a data communication function and including a PDA capable of starting a WWW browser to a FAX apparatus, it is not necessary to provide a FAX modem in the small PC. Therefore, cost can be reduced. Further, since a small PC including a PDA can be used as a device for transmitting data to the FAX device 8, data can be transmitted to the FAX device 8 with a device smaller than a conventional FAX dedicated device.

Further, as described above, a fax transmission form can be created by inputting only the minimum necessary data into a fax transmission form registered in advance in the facsimile communication apparatus side, so that a handwritten input or a small keyboard can be used. A FAX can be easily transmitted to the FAX device 8 from the above-mentioned small-sized PC, which can only be used for inputting text. Needless to say, it is not necessary for the terminal 7 to read and print the paper on which the facsimile transmission form is printed by the facsimile device, so that paperless transmission to the facsimile device can be achieved.

Further, the FAX information communication device transmits the F
If there is a function to retransmit when the AX device 8 is busy, the terminal 7 is kept in public for a long time because the fax device 8 of the other party is busy. There is no need to operate the system while connected to the line, and it is possible to save labor in fax transmission.
The battery capacity at the time of fax transmission of the terminal 7 can be saved.

Next, the FAX in the FAX information communication process
A method of transmitting data from the device 8 to the terminal 7 will be described based on the block diagram of FIG. 3 and the flowchart of FIG. First, a fax signal is transmitted from the fax device 8 to the fax server 12. In this case, the FAX device 8
The fax is transmitted by dialing the fax number of the X server 12. At this time, it is necessary to specify the address of the terminal 7 as the destination. For example, the fax device 8 and the fax server 12 are connected to a public line. When connected via
The destination address is input by a push button or the like based on an instruction from the FAX server 12.

Then, on the FAX server 12 side,
FAX signal is received by the FAX modem (step B
1) The facsimile image data c is generated from this, and the facsimile image data c is further converted into, for example, a GIF format image file. Furthermore, GI
The image file in the F format is pasted on the HTML document data d, and the HTML document data d is transmitted to the WWW server 11 (step B2).

The WWW server 11 converts the received HTML document data d containing the facsimile data into, for example, the terminal 7
When the user wants to view the FAX received from the user, the user links to a homepage to be accessed and stores it in the storage device (HDD) 1 (step B3). Note that an account is required to access the HTML document data d having FAX data received from the terminal 7 via the homepage.

When browsing the facsimile data received from the terminal 7, first, the terminal 7 is connected to the WWW server 11 via a public line, a WWW browser is started, and the homepage is accessed (step S1). B
4). Then, for example, the user specifies his / her own address described on the homepage. Then, by inputting the account, the user accesses the HTML document data d stored in the WWW server 11 as described above.

When the account is input, the WWW server 11 sends the terminal 7 the HTML document data d on which the contents of the facsimile are pasted as image data (step B5). Since an account is generally input when connecting the terminal 7 to the WWW server 11, it is not always necessary to input the account when viewing the received HTML document data d having the FAX content.

When the terminal 7 is connected to the WWW server 11 by inputting an account at the terminal 7, data indicating that a fax is received from the WWW server 11 is transmitted from the WWW server 11 to the terminal 7. Is also good. By the above operation, the terminal 7 can read the HTML document data d on which the content of the facsimile is pasted as the image data by the WWW browser.
Can browse the contents of the facsimile (step B6).

According to the reception processing of the FAX information communication processing as described above, even if the terminal 7 does not have a function of receiving a FAX signal like a FAX modem, a function of performing data communication via a public line and a WWW browser can be used. If there is an application, the contents of the received fax can be browsed. Further, even if the terminal 7 is always turned on and is not connected to the public line, the FAX server 11 and the WWW server 12 receive the FAX, so that the received FAX data can be viewed. Portable equipment can be easily carried around.

Further, the terminal 7 can transmit and receive a fax without a fax modem by the above-mentioned transmission processing and reception processing, and can carry a small apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from the facsimile apparatus 8. It can be.
In other words, data transmission / reception between the FAX device 8 and a portable device without a FAX modem, which has been almost impossible in the past, can be performed. Since the data can be easily communicated between the portable small PC and the FAX device 8, the data can be easily transmitted from the destination to the FAX device 8, and the FAX device 8 can be easily transmitted from the destination. Data can be received, and the range of use of a portable small PC can be expanded.

Further, even when only a facsimile device is at hand, data can be transmitted / received to / from a portable small PC, and it is not necessary to introduce a PC just for data communication with the portable small PC. . On the terminal 7 side, F
When sending and receiving data from the AX device, paperless printing can be achieved without using paper. Also, if the WWW server 11 is connected to the Internet, the terminal 7 can be connected to the Internet from anywhere in the world via the WWW, as long as there is an access point for accessing the Internet.
It is possible to access the server 11, and it is possible to reduce communication costs for using the public line.

[0088]

According to the facsimile communication apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the terminal transmits the facsimile image data to the facsimile.
There is no need to output a X signal, and there is no need to provide a terminal with a FAX modem and a FAX transmission application capable of transmitting a FAX signal, and only a communication device (modem, etc.) for normal data communication and an application for data communication. If you want to provide a fax
It is possible to reduce the cost of the terminal when enabling transmission of X.

According to the facsimile information communication apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary for the terminal to create a document of a document to be transmitted as a facsimile from the beginning, and to input character data by a small keyboard or handwriting input. In a small PC that must be used, laborious input work can be saved. In addition, since the template data is stored in the FAX information communication device, having the template data does not reduce the available storage capacity of the terminal.

According to the FAX information communication apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, basically, the terminal can be any type of PC as long as it is a PC capable of starting a WWW browser.
Since it can be used as a terminal of the X information communication apparatus, a dedicated terminal is not required, an existing PC can be used as it is, and a communication system using the FAX information communication apparatus of the present invention is constructed. In this case, equipment costs can be reduced.

The fax information transmission processing means of the fax information communication apparatus may be any computer capable of starting the program of the basic WWW server. The FAX information communication apparatus of the present invention can be constructed at a low cost using an existing WWW server. can do. Also, if the WWW server (FAX information transmission processing means) is connected to the Internet via a dedicated line, when accessing the WWW server from a remote terminal, the Internet can be accessed without directly accessing the WWW server via the public line. By accessing via, communication costs can be saved.

According to the FAX information communication apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the terminal does not need to directly receive the FAX signal, and the terminal has the FAX modem and the FAX receiving application capable of receiving the FAX signal. No need,
Since it is sufficient to provide only a communication device (such as a modem) for normal data communication and an application for data communication, F
It is possible to reduce the cost of the terminal when enabling transmission of a fax from the AX device to the terminal.

According to the FAX information communication apparatus of the fifth aspect of the present invention, unlike the FAX information communication apparatus of the first, second or third aspect, the FAX signal cannot be input / output and only the data communication is possible. F from the terminal via the fax information communication device
A facsimile can be transmitted to the AX device, and the FAX device transmits the FAX to the FAX information communication device.
Data can be transmitted to the terminal via the information communication device.
That is, a terminal that cannot input and output a fax signal and a fax
Data can be transmitted to and received from the device.

According to the FAX information communication apparatus of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the terminal is always turned on and the F
Even if the FAX device is not connected to the AX information communication device, the FAX device can send the FAX information communication device to the FAX information communication device at any time.
Since the AX image data can be output, and the terminal can read the image data stored in the FAX information communication device at any time, the terminal can be freely moved and used. That is,
Since a portable small PC, that is, a sub-note PC, a handheld PC, a PDA, or the like can be used as a terminal, a type of FAX device capable of receiving data output from the FAX device can be extremely miniaturized and a portable device can be used. It can be possible. And claim 1,
Connect the terminal to F as in the case of the fax information communication device described in 2 or 3.
If data can be transmitted to the AX device,
A small-sized and portable FAX device capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from the FAX device can be provided.

According to the FAX information communication apparatus of the present invention, even when a plurality of terminals are connected to the FAX information communication apparatus and a plurality of users are present, the FAX information communication apparatus side has a FAX transmission apparatus. When storing the FAX image data input from the FAX storage device, each user can read out the image data addressed to the user from the FAX information communication device by storing the FAX image data in association with the address data.

According to the FAX information communication apparatus of the eighth aspect of the present invention, the terminal is a PC capable of starting a WWW browser.
Therefore, any model can be used as a terminal of the FAX information communication device of the present invention, so that a dedicated terminal is not required, and an existing PC can be used as a terminal as it is. The facility cost when constructing a communication system using the FAX information communication device can be reduced.

The FAX information reception processing means of the FAX information communication apparatus may be any computer capable of starting the program of the basic WWW server, and the FAX information communication apparatus of the present invention is constructed at a low cost using an existing WWW server. can do. Also, if the WWW server is connected to the Internet via a dedicated line, when a terminal at a remote location accesses the WWW server, the WWW server is directly connected to the Internet via a public line.
By accessing via the Internet without accessing the W server, communication costs can be reduced.

According to the facsimile communication apparatus of the ninth aspect of the present invention, the program is started by a computer using a storage medium storing the program, thereby providing the same function as the facsimile communication apparatus of the first aspect. The effect can be achieved. According to the storage medium of the tenth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the FAX information communication apparatus according to the fourth aspect is obtained by starting the program on a computer using the storage medium storing the program. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a facsimile information communication apparatus according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a more practical outline of the facsimile information communication device of the above example.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a more practical outline of the facsimile information communication device of the above example.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a transmission process in the facsimile information communication process by the facsimile information communication device of the above example.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a reception process of the FAX information communication process by the FAX information communication device of the above example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage device (model storage means, image storage means) 3 CPU (FAX information transmission processing means, image data creation means, FAX information reception processing means, image transmission means) 4 Communication interface (communication means, FAX communication means) 5 FAX Image data conversion unit (transmission conversion unit, reception conversion unit) 6 storage medium 6a template data file 6b received FAX database 6d FAX information communication processing program 7 terminal 8 FAX device 11 WWW server (communication unit, FAX information transmission processing unit) , Model storage means, image data creation means, FAX information reception processing means, image storage means, image transmission means) 12 FAX server (FAX communication means, transmission conversion means, FAX information reception processing means, reception conversion means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H04N 1/21 H04N 1/32 Z 1/32 1/387 1/387 G06F 15/20 538M

Claims (10)

[Claims] Communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from a terminal via a public line, facsimile communication means for transmitting / receiving a facsimile signal to / from a facsimile apparatus via a public line, the communication means and the facsimile communication When message data indicating the content of facsimile transmission and specifying a transmission destination is input via the communication means from the terminal, the facsimile image data is created based on the message data. A facsimile information transmission processing means for transmitting the facsimile image data to a destination facsimile apparatus designated by the message data via a facsimile communication means. 2. The facsimile information transmission processing means,
A model storing means for storing model data serving as a model of a facsimile transmission form; and when the terminal performs a facsimile transmission request via the communication means, reads the model data from the model storing means. Instructing the terminal via the communication means to input message data based on the provided template data, and when the message data is transmitted from the terminal, the message data is transmitted based on the template data and the message data. 2. A facsimile information communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: image data creation means for creating facsimile image data to be transmitted to the facsimile apparatus and outputting the created image data to the facsimile communication means. 3. The facsimile information transmission processing means,
It is a World Wide Web server, and the template data is stored in advance as Hyper Text Markup Langua
ge is created and stored in the template storage means, and the template data can be read from the terminal by a World Wide Web browser, and the image data creation means actually executes the template data based on the template data and the message data. When creating facsimile image data to be sent to
3. The facsimile information communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a transmission conversion unit for converting data created by the arkup language into facsimile image data. 4. A communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from a terminal via a public line, a facsimile communication means for transmitting / receiving a facsimile signal to / from a facsimile apparatus via a public line, the communication means and the facsimile communication Connected to the means, and when the facsimile signal transmitted from the facsimile apparatus is input as facsimile image data via the facsimile communication means, the facsimile image data is converted into image data usable by the terminal. Facsimile information receiving processing means for converting the image data and transmitting the image data to the terminal via the communication means. 5. A facsimile information communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said facsimile signal is connected to said communication means and said facsimile communication means and transmitted from said facsimile apparatus. Is input as facsimile image data via the facsimile communication means, converts the facsimile image data into image data that can be used by the terminal, the image data to the terminal via the communication means A facsimile information communication device comprising a facsimile information reception processing means for transmitting. 6. The facsimile information reception processing means,
When the facsimile signal transmitted from the facsimile apparatus is input as facsimile image data via the facsimile communication means, reception conversion means for converting the facsimile image data into image data usable by a terminal, Image storage means for storing the image data converted by the reception conversion means, and when the image data is read from the terminal via the communication means, the image data stored in the image storage means The facsimile information communication apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising: an image transmission unit that reads out an image and transmits the image to the terminal via the communication unit. 7. The receiving conversion means, wherein when the facsimile apparatus receives address data for designating a receiving party together with facsimile image data via the facsimile communication means, the image data is stored in the image storage means. The image transmitting means reads the image data corresponding to the address data from the image storing means when the data designating its own address data is input from the terminal. 7. The facsimile information communication device according to claim 6, wherein the information is transmitted to the terminal via the communication unit. 8. The facsimile information reception processing means,
The receiving means is a World Wide Web server, and the receiving converting means converts the facsimile image data into image data usable by the terminal and pastes the data into document data created by Hyper Text Markup Languag. World Wide from terminal
8. The facsimile information communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the facsimile information communication apparatus is stored in the image storage means so as to be readable by a Web browser. 9. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program, wherein at least a terminal connected to the computer via a public line receives facsimile transmission contents and receives message data for designating a transmission destination. A program code for creating image data for facsimile based on the message data, and a program code for transmitting the image data for facsimile created to the destination facsimile apparatus specified in the message data. A storage medium storing a program including: 10. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program, wherein a facsimile signal transmitted from at least the facsimile apparatus connected to the computer via a public line is input as facsimile image data. A program code for converting the facsimile image data into image data usable by a terminal connected to the computer via at least a public line; anda program code for transmitting the converted image data to the terminal. A storage medium storing a program including: