JP2000339240A - Communication terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce unnecessary communication cost by informing a reception side of the transmission of communication data with an electronic mail from a transmission side through a network. SOLUTION: Facsimile equipments 1a and 1b are connected to a public network and are connected to ISP(internet service provider) server devices 20a and 20b through the public network. Data are communicated through internet by TCP/IP protocol on a PPP protocol. The ISP server devices 20a and 20b transmit and receive electronic mails through internet as an SMTP server and a POP server. A transmission side informs a reception side of the transmission of data through the public network after it is transmitted with such constitution. When the reception side detects it, it is connected to a network and receives communication data from the transmission side as the electronic mail.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device such as a facsimile machine, and more particularly, to a communication terminal device connected to a public network for transmitting and receiving communication data via the public network and connecting to a network as required. The present invention relates to a communication terminal device that transmits and receives communication data by e-mail via the network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, various data communications such as voice communication and facsimile communication using the Internet have been put to practical use. For example, a facsimile apparatus is disclosed in
By converting image data of facsimile communication into an electronic mail format and transmitting and receiving the same as in the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 64122, it becomes possible to transmit and receive image data using an Internet communication network. .

[0003] In a facsimile communication via a normal public network, a communication fee increases substantially in proportion to the distance to a destination. Communication can be performed at a fixed fee regardless of the distance to the destination, so that communication costs can be significantly reduced. Even in the case where the connection form to the Internet is a form of dial-up connection to a server of an Internet connection provider (hereinafter referred to as a provider) via a public network only when transmission / reception is necessary, the connection fee to the provider and the usage fee of the provider are borne. Just need.

As described above, the method of transmitting and receiving data such as image information in the form of e-mail using the Internet has a great merit in terms of communication cost, but the method of transmitting and receiving data like facsimile communication via a normal public network. Since the communication is not performed by directly connecting the receiving side and the receiving side, the following problems may occur.

[0005]

That is, in a conventional communication terminal device for transmitting and receiving communication data via a public network such as a telephone line or an ISDN line, if a facsimile apparatus is taken as an example, the transmitting side is a public network. Since the image information is transmitted after being directly connected to the receiving side via the network, no time delay occurs between the transmission of the image information on the transmitting side and the reception of the image information on the receiving side.

On the other hand, when data communication is performed in an e-mail format such as MIME via a network such as the Internet, reception of the e-mail is performed by periodically accessing a mail server using a POP protocol or the like to receive the e-mail for the own device. Since this is performed by extracting the electronic mail addressed to the own device received in the box, a time delay occurs between the transmission of the electronic mail on the transmitting side and the reception of the electronic mail on the receiving side.

In particular, the receiving side calls the server device of the Internet service provider via the public network and
In the case of a communication mode in which a dial-up connection is made by a P protocol or the like to connect to the Internet, a mail server on the provider side is accessed, and an electronic mail addressed to the own device is received in a mailbox of the own device, and is transmitted through a public network. The communication between the provider and the provider requires communication costs, so if the time delay between sending the e-mail on the sending side and receiving the e-mail on the receiving side is to be reduced, the public network The communication cost required for communication via the public network increases, and conversely, if an attempt is made to reduce the communication cost required for communication via the public network, the transmission time between the transmission of the e-mail and the reception of the e-mail However, there is a problem that a time delay generated in the communication becomes large.

In a conventional communication terminal device for transmitting and receiving communication data via a public network such as a telephone line or an ISDN line, taking a facsimile apparatus as an example, a transmitting side communicates with a receiving side via a public network. After the direct connection, the image information is transmitted, and the transmission of the image information is performed in synchronization with the reception of the image information on the receiving side. Therefore, if the image information can be transmitted normally on the transmitting side, the image information is transmitted on the receiving side. It has been received normally.

On the other hand, when data communication is performed in an e-mail format via a network such as the Internet, transmission of the e-mail on the transmission side is performed by the SMT and the SMT.
P-servers and other e-mail transmission servers are used, and the transfer of e-mails in the network from the server on the transmission side to the server on the reception side is performed mechanically by MTA or the like. The reception is performed by exchanging the receiving side device with a mail receiving server such as a POP server.

[0010] Therefore, even if the transmission of the e-mail is normally performed on the transmission side or the reception of the e-mail is not normally performed on the reception side, the transmission side may transmit the e-mail on the reception side. You cannot know that the reception was not normal. Therefore, communication by e-mail via networks such as the Internet
Although there are advantages of no communication costs, the reliability of communication,
Reliability is lower than that of data communication such as facsimile communication via a public network.

In a conventional communication terminal apparatus for transmitting and receiving communication data via a public network, taking a facsimile apparatus as an example, a transmitting side directly connects to a receiving side via a public network and then transmits image data. Since the image information is transmitted and the image information is transmitted in synchronization with the reception of the image information on the receiving side, if the image information cannot be transmitted normally on the transmitting side, the image information is also normally received on the receiving side. If the image information cannot be transmitted normally, the transmitting side must wait a certain period of time and automatically re-call the receiving side and re-transmit it to ensure reliable transmission. Can be.

On the other hand, when performing data communication in an e-mail format via a network such as the Internet, as described above, the transmission of the e-mail was normal on the transmission side, but the reception of the e-mail was not performed on the reception side. Even if the transmission is not performed normally, the sender cannot know that the e-mail was not received properly at the receiver, so there is no way to perform automatic retransmission, and the sender has sent the e-mail. The e-mail may eventually not reach the recipient.

In a conventional communication terminal apparatus for transmitting and receiving communication data via a public network, taking a facsimile apparatus as an example, a transmitting side directly connects to a receiving side via a public network and then performs a predetermined transmission. According to the control procedure, the receiving side is notified of the capability of the receiving side, specifically, the corresponding recording resolution, decoding method, and the like, and reads the image information at the optimal reading resolution corresponding to the capability that the receiving side actually has, thereby obtaining the optimal By transmitting the image data to the receiving side after encoding by the encoding method, the image information can be transmitted with a minimum necessary data amount without waste.

On the other hand, when data communication is performed in an e-mail format via a network such as the Internet, as described above, transmission of an e-mail on the transmission side and reception of the e-mail on the reception side are performed independently. Therefore, since the transmitting side does not know the capability of the receiving side at the time of transmission, the optimal reading resolution corresponding to the maximum function of the receiving side,
The compression method cannot be selected, and unnecessary high-resolution reading or an unnecessarily low encoding efficiency encoding method must be selected, resulting in an increase in the amount of data to be transmitted. In addition, in the dial-up connection, there is a problem that an unnecessary communication cost is generated due to an increase in the data amount.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been developed for the purpose of establishing a network due to the non-simultaneity between transmission of an e-mail from a transmission side via a network and reception of an e-mail at a reception side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device capable of solving a problem that occurs in data communication by electronic mail via a communication terminal.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a communication terminal device is connected to a public network and transmits and receives communication data via the public network. In the communication terminal device that transmits and receives communication data by e-mail via the e-mail, the transmitting side transmits the communication data by e-mail to the specified e-mail address of the receiving side via the network, and then transmits the communication data. A mail transmission notifying unit for notifying the receiving side via the public network of the fact that the data has been transmitted by e-mail is provided, and the receiving side detects the notification via the public network that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail. And a notification that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail is detected by the e-mail transmission notification detecting means. When, characterized in that a mail receiving means for receiving the e-mail communication data from the transmitting side connected to the network.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a communication terminal device is connected to a public network and transmits and receives communication data via the public network, and is connected to a network as necessary to transmit an electronic mail via the network. In the communication terminal device for transmitting and receiving communication data, the transmitting side transmits the communication data by e-mail before transmitting the communication data by e-mail to the designated e-mail address of the receiving side via the network. Means for notifying the receiving side via the public network to the receiving side, and receiving when detecting the capability of the receiving side notified from the receiving side when the mail sending notifying means notifies the receiving side via the public network. And the communication data to be transmitted by e-mail to the receiving side is adapted to the receiving side capability detected by the receiving side capability detecting unit. A mail transmission means for converting the data into a format of data and transmitting the data by e-mail, while the receiving side detects a notification via the public network that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail. When the notification that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail is detected by the mail transmission notification detecting means,
Mail receiving means for connecting to the network and receiving communication data from the transmitting side as an electronic mail.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the communication terminal device according to the first or second aspect,
The receiving side receives the notification from the transmitting side that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail, connects to the network, and normally receives the communication data from the transmitting side as an e-mail. And a normal reception notifying unit for notifying the transmitting side via the network or the public network that the E-mail has been normally received by e-mail.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the communication terminal device according to any one of the first, second, and third aspects, the receiving side transmits the communication data by e-mail. Requesting retransmission of communication data when the communication data from the transmitting side is received as an e-mail and the reception of the e-mail is not normal, The retransmission request means for notifying the transmitting side to the transmitting side via the public network, while the transmitting side receives a notification requesting retransmission from the receiving side via the public network, The communication apparatus further includes retransmission means for retransmitting the communication data which has not been transmitted to the receiving side by e-mail to the receiving side via the public network.

[0020]

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

First, FIG. 1 shows a network configuration in which a facsimile apparatus 1a and a facsimile apparatus 1b as communication terminal apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention perform data communication with each other.

Each of the facsimile apparatuses 1a and 1b is connected to a public network such as a telephone network or ISDN, and has a contract with an Internet service provider (ISP), respectively.
By connecting to the SP server devices 20a and 20b, data communication via the Internet is performed by the TCP / IP protocol over the PPP protocol. The ISP server devices 20a and 20b serve as an SMTP server and a POP server, respectively, to transmit and receive electronic mail via the Internet.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the facsimile machine 1 to be the facsimile machine 1a or 1b.

In FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 2, a ROM 3, a RAM 4, a scanner 5, a plotter 6, an image memory 7, an encoding / decoding unit 8, an operation display unit 9, a modem 10, and a network control unit 11. , And a system bus 12.

The system control unit 2 controls each unit of the apparatus according to the control program written in the ROM 3 while using the RAM 4 as a work area.

As described above, the ROM 3 is a read-only memory in which a control program for the system control unit 2 to control each unit of the apparatus is stored. Also, R
The OM 3 stores a font table 3a in which font data is associated with each character code. The system control unit 2 refers to the font table 3a when converting a character string into image information.

The RAM 4 is a random access memory used as a work area of the system control unit 2 as described above. The RAM 4 is backed up by a backup circuit (not shown), and the stored contents are retained even when the power of the apparatus is turned off.

The scanner 5 has 3.85 lines / mm, 7.7
This is for obtaining image information by reading a document image at a predetermined reading line density such as book / mm and 15.4 book / mm. The plotter 6 is for recording and outputting the received image information according to its line density, and for recording and outputting (copying operation) the image information read by the scanner 5 according to its line density.

The image memory 7 is used to temporarily store image information read by the scanner 5 as a file or temporarily store received image information as a file until it is recorded by the plotter 6. It is.

The encoding / decoding unit 8 converts the transmission image data into
While encoding and compressing with a predetermined coding method such as an MH coding method, an MR coding method, and an MMR coding method conforming to G3 facsimile, the received image data is subjected to an MH coding method.
The decoding is performed by a predetermined decoding method corresponding to the MR coding method, the MMR coding method, or the like.

The operation display unit 9 includes a numeric keypad for designating a destination telephone number, a key for designating a mail address, a transmission start key, a one-touch dial key, and various other keys. A display device such as a display device is provided, and displays an operation state of the device to be notified to a user and various messages.

The modem 10 functions as a G3 facsimile modem when performing normal facsimile communication via the public network, and the ISP server device 20a via the public network.
Or a fax / data modem that functions as a data modem when dialing up to 20b.
It modulates transmission data and demodulates received data. Further, the modem 10 also transmits a DTMF signal in accordance with the input dial number. Network control unit 11
Is connected to the public network, closes and releases the DC loop of the line, detects the reversal of the line polarity, detects the release of the line, detects the dial tone, detects the tone signal such as a busy tone, detects the ringing signal, etc. It controls connection with the line and generates dial pulses. The system bus 12 is a signal line through which the above components exchange data.

FIG. 3 shows the contents of the RAM 4 of the facsimile machine 1 according to the present invention.

In the figure, the storage area 4a of the RAM 4 stores the provider names of the ISP server devices 20a and 20b,
A dial-up connection telephone number, a user ID, a password, address information of an SMTP server and a POP server, and a dial-up connection information such as a mail address are stored. When performing data communication by mail, information stored in the storage area 4a is referred to. The storage areas 4b and 4c of the RAM 4 have
Each stores one-touch dial registration information and speed dial registration information. Normally, the one-touch dial registration information is a correspondence table between the destination fax number and the one-touch key number arranged on the operation display unit 9.
In the present embodiment, the destination e-mail address is registered in association with the one-touch key number and the destination fax number as necessary. The speed dial registration information is usually a correspondence table between the destination fax number and the abbreviated number. In this embodiment, the destination e-mail address is added to the abbreviated number in addition to the destination facsimile number, if necessary. Are registered in association with each other. The storage area 4d registers its own fax number, which is information to be notified to the other party as the transmission terminal identification signal TSI, the called terminal identification signal CSI, or the like in G3 facsimile communication via the public network.

Next, each processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the following description, communication data (image information) is transmitted from the facsimile apparatus 1a on the transmission side to the facsimile apparatus 1b on the reception side. ) As a facsimile message over the public network, or
A case where the electronic mail is transmitted via the Internet will be described.

First, the transmission processing procedure in the facsimile machine 1a on the transmission side will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the system control unit 2 of the facsimile machine 1a monitors whether a document is set on the scanner 5 (No loop in decision 101), sets a document (Yes in decision 101), and transmits the document. A format selection process is performed (process 102). The transmission format selection process is a process for selecting whether to transmit image information of a document to be read from the facsimile via the operation display unit 9 via facsimile or via e-mail via the Internet. Specifically, by detecting which of the keys corresponding to each transmission format is pressed,
Whether the user desires to transmit the original image information by facsimile communication (normal format) via a public network, or the user desires to transmit the original image information in an e-mail format via the Internet. Judge.

If the transmission format is the normal format (No in decision 103), the destination for which the transmission destination facsimile number is directly input through the operation display unit 9 or indirectly designated by one-touch dialing or abbreviated dialing A fax number input process is performed (process 104), and the process waits until the [Start] key of the operation display unit 9 for instructing the start of transmission is pressed (No loop of the determination 105). If the [Start] key is pressed (Yes in decision 105),
A call is made to the destination fax number (in this case, the fax number of the facsimile machine 1b) via the public network (process 10).
6) A facsimile transmission process of transmitting image information obtained by reading the original set in the judgment 101 by the scanner 5 as a facsimile message by the G3 facsimile protocol is performed (process 107).

On the other hand, when the selected transmission format is the e-mail format (Yes in decision 103), the destination fax number and the e-mail address are directly input through the operation display unit 9 or by one-touch dialing. Of the destination fax number and e-mail address to be indirectly specified by the user or speed dial (processing 10
8) [Start] of the operation display unit 9 for instructing the start of transmission
It waits for the key to be pressed (No loop of decision 109). If the [Start] key has been pressed (Yes in decision 109), a mail format transmission process is performed (process 110).

FIG. 5 shows a specific processing procedure of the mail format transmission processing of processing 110.

In the figure, the system control unit 2 reads the image information of the original set in the judgment 101 by the scanner 5 and stores it in the image memory 7 (processing 201), and stores the original image information in the attached file of the electronic mail. (Step 202). As the file format, any format can be used as long as the format can be restored on the receiver side. However, in this case, the encoding / decoding unit 8 considers compatibility with the data format in facsimile communication.
After conversion into facsimile data in three formats, a file converted into a file in TIFF-F format is used. Next, the created image information image file is used as an attached file.
An electronic mail in an IME format is created (process 203). Specifically, an e-mail with an image file as an attached file is created by adding header information such as an e-mail address (destination) of a transmission destination, an e-mail address of a sender (sender), a title, a transmission date and time, and the like.

Subsequently, dial-up connection is made to the ISP server device 20a on the provider side with reference to the dial-up connection information 4a (process 204), and after connection, the user ID and password are transmitted based on the procedure determined by the provider. Log in to the server (Process 205), Process 20
The e-mail created in step 3 is transmitted (step 206). When transmission is completed normally, the user logs off (step 207) and disconnects the line (step 208).

The e-mail transmitted in the process 206 is received by the facsimile machine 1b on the receiving side being dial-up connected to the ISP server apparatus 20b and extracting the e-mail addressed to the own apparatus from the mailbox. Since the mail transmission in the process 206 is not recognized, after waiting a predetermined time in consideration of the delay time until the arrival of the e-mail (process 209), the destination fax number specified in the process 108 is transmitted via the public network. After calling, the line is connected (process 210), after the connection, the fact that the image information has been transmitted by e-mail is notified in the G3 facsimile protocol pre-transmission procedure (process 211), and the line is disconnected (process 212). The notification that the image information has been transmitted by e-mail in the process 211 is performed by setting a predetermined bit in the information field of the non-standard function setting signal NSS in the pre-transmission procedure. Includes the fax number, e-mail address, and file size of the image information sent as e-mail.

FIG. 6 shows another example of the specific processing procedure of the mail format transmission processing of the processing 110, which is different from that shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, the system control unit 2 makes a call to the destination facsimile number designated in the process 108 via the public network to establish a line connection (process 301), and after the connection, transmits image information by e-mail. The G3 facsimile protocol is notified in the pre-transmission procedure, and the receiving side capability information such as the resolution of image information that can be output on the receiving side, the paper size, and the corresponding encoding / decoding method is acquired ( (Process 302), the line is disconnected (Process 303). The notification that the image information has been transmitted by e-mail in the process 302 is performed by setting a predetermined bit in the information field of the non-standard function setting signal NSS in the pre-transmission procedure. Including fax number, email address. Processing 30
2 is performed by detecting a non-standard function identification signal NSF sent from the receiving side in a pre-transmission procedure.

Thus, not only can the receiving side be notified that the original document image information will be transmitted by e-mail, but also the capability of the receiving side can be known in advance, and an e-mail is created in the subsequent processing. In this case, it can be created in an optimal format that matches the capability of the receiving side.

Next, the image information of the document set in the judgment 101 is read by the scanner 5 and stored in the image memory 7 (step 304).
The original is read at an optimum resolution according to the output resolution of the receiving side obtained in step 2 and the paper size. Then, the original image information is converted into a file format so that it can be transmitted as an attached file of an e-mail (process 305). As the file format, any format can be used as long as it can be restored on the receiver side. Here, in consideration of compatibility with the data format in facsimile communication, facsimile data in G3 format is After the conversion, the file converted to the TIFF-F format file is used. Also in this case, the most suitable coding method is selected and used according to the capability of the receiving side.

Then, an e-mail in MIME format is created with the created image information file as an attached file (process 306). Specifically, an e-mail with an image file as an attached file is created by adding header information such as an e-mail address (destination) of a transmission destination, an e-mail address of a sender (sender), a title, a transmission date and time, and the like.

Subsequently, dial-up connection is made to the ISP server device 20a on the provider side with reference to the dial-up connection information 4a (process 307), and after connection, the user ID and password are transmitted based on the procedure determined by the provider. Login to the server (process 308), and process 30
The e-mail created in step 6 is transmitted (step 309). When the transmission is completed normally, the user logs off (step 310) and disconnects the line (step 311).

Next, an incoming call performed by the receiving facsimile machine 1b or the transmitting facsimile machine 1a corresponding to the transmission processing procedure in the transmitting facsimile machine 1a shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 or FIG. The corresponding processing procedure will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, in FIG. 7, the facsimile machine 1
The system control unit 2 of a or 1b monitors whether the incoming call from the public network is detected by the network control unit 11 (No loop of decision 401), and when there is an incoming call (Yes of decision 401). , A pre-transmission procedure based on the G3 facsimile protocol is performed (process 402). In the pre-transmission procedure of the process 402, the capability of the called side is notified to the calling side by the non-standard function identification signal NSF.

In the pre-transmission procedure of the process 402, whether a transmission notification, a retransmission request notification, or a reception notification has been received, or whether there has been no notification, is determined by a non-standard function setting signal corresponding to each of those notifications. The determination is made by detecting the state of a predetermined bit of the NSS (decision 4
03, judgment 404, judgment 405).

If there is no notification (judgment 4
No. 05), since the incoming call is a normal facsimile communication via the public network, the image information is received as a facsimile message, decoded and decompressed by the encoding / decoding unit 8, and recorded on a recording paper by the plotter 6. (Step 406).

The facsimile machine 1b on the receiving side (reception side) of the e-mail receiving the original image information receives the transmission notification, and receives the retransmission request or the reception notification only on the original image. This is a facsimile machine 1a that transmits (transmits) electronic mail containing information.

When the system control unit 2 of the facsimile machine 1b on the receiving side receives a transmission notification corresponding to the mail format transmission processing specifically shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 in the facsimile machine 1a on the transmitting side, Ye of decision 403
s) The line is disconnected, and the facsimile communication called by only the pre-transmission procedure is terminated (process 407).

Then, after waiting for a predetermined time in consideration of the delay time until the arrival of the e-mail (step 408), the ISP on the provider side is referred to by referring to the dial-up connection information 4a.
A dial-up connection is made to the server device 20a (process 40).
9) After connection, based on the procedure determined by the provider, transmit the user ID and password, log in to the server (process 410), and receive an e-mail containing the image information transmitted from the transmitting side (process 411). When the reception is completed, the user logs off (process 412), disconnects the line (process 414), and performs post-mail processing (process 414).

Here, a specific processing procedure of the post-mail reception processing of processing 414 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the system control unit 2 of the facsimile machine 1b on the receiving side determines whether or not the mail reception in the process 411 was normal and the file size of the image information received as the electronic mail in the transmission notification in the process 402. It is determined whether or not the file size is notified at the time.

If the mail reception is normal and the file sizes match (Yes in decision 501, Yes in decision 502)
s) A call is made via the public network to the transmission source facsimile number notified in step 402 together with the transmission notification, and a line connection is made (step 503). Notification is made in the G3 facsimile protocol pre-transmission procedure (process 504), and the line is disconnected (process 505). Note that the notification that the image information has been correctly received by e-mail in the process 504 is performed by setting a predetermined bit in the information field of the non-standard function setting signal NSS in the pre-transmission procedure. Includes the fax number, email address, date and time of receipt of the side. Also, the notification that the image information has been correctly received by e-mail may be made by e-mail communication via the Internet instead of facsimile communication via the public network.

Then, a header file and an image information file as an attached file are separated from the file received as an electronic mail, and the image information file is decoded into the original image information by the encoding / decoding unit 8 and recorded by the plotter 6. It is recorded and output on paper (process 506).

As a result, the e-mail of the image information correctly received can be received without delay and recorded on the recording paper, and the receiving side receives a transmission notification from the transmitting side for receiving without delay. Communication via the public network is
Since the processing is completed only by the pre-transmission procedure, the communication time is minimal, and the low cost of e-mail communication via the Internet is hardly impaired.

If the mail reception is not normal or the file sizes do not match (No in decision 501,
Alternatively, No in step 502), a call is made via the public network to the transmission source facsimile number notified in step 402 together with the transmission notification, and a line connection is made (step 507). Is notified in a pre-transmission procedure of the G3 facsimile protocol (process 508), and the line is disconnected (process 509). Note that the notification of the request for retransmission of the image information in the process 508 is made by setting a predetermined bit in the information field of the non-standard function setting signal NSS in the pre-transmission procedure, and as additional information, Includes fax number, email address, date and time of receipt.

In response to such a call for a reception notification or retransmission request performed in the post-mail reception process on the receiving side, the incoming call corresponding process shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 in the facsimile machine 1a on the transmitting side. In the procedure, a retransmission request is detected in the pre-transmission
If the answer is 4 in Yes, the line is disconnected (process 417), a call is made via the public network to the destination facsimile number notified together with the retransmission request, and a line connection is made with the receiving side (process 418). Image information that has been transmitted by e-mail but could not be transmitted by e-mail is read from the image memory 7 and transmitted by facsimile (process 41).
9), disconnect the line (process 420). As a result, an emergency in which image information cannot be transmitted to the receiving side by e-mail communication via the Internet can be dealt with by retransmission via the public network, and the image information remains untransmitted. Can be prevented. In addition,
The retransmission may be performed by shifting the transmission right from the reception side to the transmission side by the polling transmission procedure without disconnecting the line in the process 417. It is possible to reduce the communication cost about the basic call volume.

When the reception notification is detected in the pre-transmission procedure of the process 402 and the judgment 405 becomes Yes, the line is disconnected (process 415) and the process after the reception notification is performed (process 41).
6). The post-reception processing includes deleting the image information held in the image processing 7 that has been confirmed to have been normally received by the receiving side and has been transmitted to the receiving side, or transmitted by e-mail. That the received image information is correctly received by the receiving side is displayed on the display unit of the operation display unit 9, output as a report by the plotter 6,
Processing similar to that performed after facsimile transmission via the public network, such as registration, is performed as communication management information to be output as a communication management report. This eliminates the uncertainty of e-mail communication, in which the sender does not know the e-mail reception state on the receiving side, reduces the cost of e-mail communication, and ensures the reliability of communication via the public network. It is possible to perform high-quality communication that is compatible with performance. Communication via the public network for receiving notification from the receiving side to the transmitting side and requesting retransmission is completed only by the pre-transmission procedure, so the communication time is minimum and communication by e-mail via the Internet is required. The low cost performance is not impaired.

In the embodiment described above, the present invention is applied to the case where image information is transmitted / received by e-mail via the Internet. However, the present invention is limited by the transmission protocol of the network for transmitting / receiving e-mail. It is not something to be done. Further, in the embodiment described above, the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus which is a communication terminal apparatus in which data transmitted / received via a public network or a network is mainly image information. The present invention can be similarly applied to a communication terminal device that performs other data communication via a public network or a network. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a case where the present invention is connected to a network by a dial-up connection via a public network. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is connected to a public network and directly connected to the network. Connected to a communication terminal device that sends e-mail via a mail server in the network, or connects to a mail server in the network as needed to receive electronic mail addressed to itself. It is equally applicable.

[0066]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the fact that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail from the transmitting side to the receiving side via the network, the transmission from the transmitting side to the receiving side via the public network. Notification, the receiving side can know the arrival of the e-mail addressed to the own device without delay without frequently connecting to the network, and the unnecessary communication cost can be reduced. Is obtained. Further, the notification via the public network that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail from the transmission side to the reception side requires a small amount of information such as setting a predetermined bit in a control signal in the transmission control procedure. Communication time is very short, and the communication cost required for notification is lower because the receiving side does not need to frequently connect to the network to confirm the arrival of e-mail addressed to its own device. It requires much less than the reduction effect.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same effect as the first aspect of the present invention, the transmitting side can know the receiving side capability before transmitting communication data by e-mail. Data communication by e-mail in a data format according to the receiving side capability such as an encoding method and a data format supported by the side becomes possible. Therefore, an effect is obtained that the amount of data required for transmission can be minimized and unnecessary communication costs can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the receiving side can normally receive the communication data from the transmitting side by e-mail, this is notified to the transmitting side via the network or the public network. Therefore, the transmitting side can know that the communication data transmitted by e-mail has been normally received by the receiving side. Therefore, an effect is obtained that the reliability and reliability of transmission and reception of communication data by electronic mail can be improved. In addition, the notification via the public network that the e-mail has been received normally requires only a small amount of information such as setting a predetermined bit in a control signal in the transmission control procedure. It is very short and requires little communication cost.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the receiving side cannot normally receive the communication data from the transmitting side by e-mail, a request for retransmission is sent to the transmitting side via the public network. Therefore, the transmitting side knows that the communication data cannot be normally transmitted to the receiving side depending on the e-mail, and transmits the communication data that could not be normally transmitted to the receiving side depending on the e-mail via the public network. Since the data is retransmitted, the reliability and reliability of transmission / reception of communication data by e-mail can be further improved. Further, the notification via the public network to request retransmission requires only a small amount of information, such as setting a predetermined bit in a control signal in the transmission control procedure, so that the communication time for notification is very short. It is time and requires little communication cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration including a facsimile apparatus as a communication terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a facsimile apparatus as a communication terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents stored in a RAM of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a transmission processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a specific processing procedure of a mail format transmission process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another specific processing procedure of the mail format transmission processing different from FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an incoming call correspondence processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an incoming call correspondence processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, together with FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a specific processing procedure of post-mail reception processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1a, 1b Facsimile machine 2 System control unit 3 ROM 3a Font table 4 RAM 4a Dial-up connection information 4b One-touch dial registration information 4c Short dial registration information 4d Own fax number 5 Scanner 6 Plotter 7 Image memory 8 Encoding / decoding Unit 9 Operation display unit 10 Modem 11 Network control unit 12 System bus 20a, 20b ISP server device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/32 F term (Reference) 5B089 GA21 HA01 JA31 KA12 KH04 LA01 LA13 5C062 AA02 AA30 AB02 AB17 AB20 AB42 AB44 AC02 AC29 AE14 AF02 AF05 AF08 AF13 BA00 BD09 5C075 AB90 BA08 BA09 BA90 CD07 CE02 CE09 CF01 CF04 FF90 GG09 5K030 GA16 HA06 HC02 HC05 HC14 HD06 JT05 LA01 LD13 5K101 KK01 KK02 LL01 LL02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A communication terminal device connected to a public network for transmitting and receiving communication data via the public network, and connecting to a network as needed to transmit and receive communication data by e-mail via the network. In, after transmitting the communication data by e-mail to the specified e-mail address of the receiving side via the network, the transmitting side notifies the receiving side that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail to the public network A mail transmission notification detecting means for detecting a notification via the public network that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail, and the mail transmission notification detecting means When a notification that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail is detected, Communication terminal apparatus characterized by comprising a mail receiving means for receiving the communication data as an e-mail. 2. A communication terminal device connected to a public network for transmitting and receiving communication data via the public network, and connecting to a network as needed to transmit and receive communication data by e-mail via the network. The transmitting side, before transmitting communication data by e-mail to the designated e-mail address of the receiving side via the network via the network, informs the receiving side that the communication data has been transmitted by the e-mail to the public network. E-mail transmission notifying means for notifying via the public network, receiving side capability detecting means for detecting a receiving side capability notified from the receiving side when the notification via the public network by the e-mail transmission notifying means, The communication data transmitted by e-mail is converted into data in a format compatible with the receiving capability detected by the receiving capability detecting means, A mail transmission means for transmitting a notification via the public network that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail; and a mail transmission notification detection means for detecting the notification via the public network. And a mail receiving means for connecting to the network and receiving the communication data from the transmitting side as an electronic mail when a notification that the communication data is transmitted by the electronic mail is detected. Communication terminal device. 3. The receiving side receives the notification from the transmitting side that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail, connects to the network, and normally receives the communication data from the transmitting side as an e-mail. 3. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a normal reception notifying unit that notifies the transmission side via the network or the public network that the communication data has been normally received by electronic mail. A communication terminal device according to any one of the above. 4. When the receiving side receives the notification from the transmitting side that the communication data has been transmitted by e-mail, connects to the network, and receives the communication data from the transmitting side as e-mail. When the reception of the e-mail is not normal, the transmission side further includes a retransmission request unit that notifies the transmission side via the public network of a request to retransmit communication data. When receiving a notification from the receiving side requesting retransmission via the public network, the unreached communication data transmitted by e-mail to the receiving side is retransmitted to the receiving side via the public network. 4. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a retransmitting unit for transmitting.