JP3408997B2 - Network facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network facsimile machine connected to a network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile machines have become widespread in almost all companies as devices that can send and receive image data with a simple operation. With the rapid spread of the Internet and Intranet, many companies are now connecting their personal computers and workstations to networks to perform e-mail communications and to access homepages with WWW browsers.

Further, in order to take in the data received by the facsimile apparatus to each personal computer and to send the facsimile from each personal computer via the network, the FAX is used.
Many companies connect servers to networks to send and receive facsimiles.

A conventional technique will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 is a system configuration diagram in the case of transmitting and receiving a facsimile using a conventional FAX server. Figure 1
At 0, the FAX modem 1001 is connected to the telephone line. FAX server 1002 is FAX modem 1
Facsimile data is transmitted and received via 001. The file server 1003 stores facsimile transmission / reception data. The client personal computer 1004 operates a dedicated application to instruct transmission / reception of facsimile data.

The receiving operation of the client personal computer when the conventional FAX server configured as described above is used will be described. First, the FAX modem 1001 receives image data upon receiving an incoming call through the telephone line, and the FAX server 1
Pass to 002. F running on FAX server 1002
The AX server software receives the image data,
The image data file is stored in the file server 1003 via the network. The storage of the facsimile reception data is completed by this point. In order to load the received image data into the client personal computer 1004, the user activates the dedicated application of the client personal computer 1004 and reads the image data file from the file server 1003 via the network.

Recently, Internet FAX and W
A method of reusing facsimile reception data by combining a WW server has also been proposed. This utilizes a gateway function of converting data received by the Internet FAX from a telephone line into an electronic mail.

FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram in the case of transmitting and receiving a facsimile using a conventional Internet FAX and a WWW server. In FIG. 11, the Internet FAX 1101 is connected to a telephone line and equipped with a network interface. The electronic mail server 1102 receives the electronic mail and distributes the electronic mail to each individual. The WWW server 1103 is a workstation on which dedicated software that publishes received data as a home page operates. Client computer 1104
Can operate the WWW browser to browse the homepage.

The reception operation of the client personal computer when using the conventional Internet FAX and WWW server configured as above will be described.

First, the image data received by the Internet FAX 1101 via the telephone line is converted into an attachment file format of an E-mail in the Internet FAX and the WWW server 11 as an E-mail attachment file.
It is sent to 03. The sent e-mail is received by the e-mail server 1102 via the network. The received e-mail is transmitted again to the WWW server 1103 which is the destination via the network. WW
The W server 1103 stores the attached file of the electronic mail as image data and links it to the home page for facsimile reception. The storage of the facsimile reception data is completed by this point. In order to load the received image data into the client personal computer 1104, the user activates the WWW browser of the client personal computer 1104 to access the facsimile reception home page of the WWW server 1103, and reads the image data file via the network.

[0010]

However, the above-mentioned FAX
With the configuration of the conventional technique using the server, the FA reception data is sent by the FA
There is a problem that image data is transferred twice between the X server and the file server and between the file server and the client personal computer via the network, which increases network traffic.

Further, since a file server for accumulating the facsimile reception data and a dedicated application for transmitting and receiving the facsimile data by the client personal computer are required, there is a problem that the cost is high.

Further, the above-mentioned Internet FAX and WW
In the configuration of the conventional technique using the W server, the facsimile reception data reaches the client personal computer via the network between the Internet FAX and the e-mail server, between the e-mail server and the WWW server, and between the WWW server and the client personal computer. The transfer of the image data occurs three times, and the image data attached to the e-mail swells about 1.3 times as much as the binary data, resulting in a further increase in network traffic.

Further, since a workstation for WWW server and a dedicated application for publishing the received data as a home page are required, there is a problem that the cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a network facsimile apparatus capable of reducing network traffic due to data transfer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a network facsimile apparatus which does not require dedicated hardware or software and which can transmit and receive image data via a network with an inexpensive structure.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has the following constitution.

The network facsimile apparatus of the present invention, a network communication means for receiving electronic mail via a network, received by the network communication unit
Receive list that lists the items containing the sender name of the data
Information and the transfer instruction of the data specified from this reception list
Receive list that displays the instruction button and the one screen on one screen
HTML generating means for generating a file in a document structure description language such as HTML, accumulating means for accumulating the received data and the reception list information in a storage area, and receiving list information of the reception list information from a terminal connected via a network. When there is a request, the reception list file is sent to the terminal, and the transfer instruction by the instruction button is sent from the terminal.
Wait for the specified data to be sent until there is
When receiving the transfer instruction by the instruction button, the page data for inputting the destination as the transmission destination is sent to the terminal, and when the destination is input from the terminal and the transmission instruction is given, the CGI for the transmission processing is performed. A server that executes a program to execute transmission processing of designated data, and displays the designated data from the reception list file.
The transfer instruction can be given without showing it . Also,
The reception data transmission method of the present invention specifies from reception list information and a reception list in which items including a sender name of data received by e-mail via a network are listed.
Displayed on one screen with an instruction button for instructing data transfer
When a reception list file is generated by a document structure description language such as HTML, the received data and the reception list information are stored in a storage area, and a request for the reception list information is made from a terminal connected via a network. ,Previous
The serial reception list file is sent to the terminal, or the terminal
Should be sent until there is a transfer instruction from the above instruction button
Standby in the state of waiting for data specification
When the transfer instruction is received, the page data for inputting the destination as the transmission destination is sent to the terminal, and when the destination is input from the terminal, the CGI program for the transmission process is started and the specified Data transmission process ,
Display the specified data from the reception list file
It is now possible to give transfer instructions without having to .

With this configuration, the home page of the reception information can be transmitted to the outside and the reception data instructed on the home page can be transmitted to another terminal. Therefore, the user can store the network facsimile device only by operating the browser software. Any of the above data can be transmitted to any terminal.

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

[0028]

[0029]

[0030]

[0031]

[0032]

[0033]

[0034]

[0035]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a network facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a CPU 1 controls the entire device. The ROM 2 is a read-only memory that stores programs, and includes an HTML file generation unit 11, a WWW server unit 12, an email communication unit 13, and a TIFF conversion unit 1.
Each program of 4 is built in. RAM3 is ROM
2 is a memory used for data of the program stored in 2. E-mail software holding its own e-mail address, URL address, etc. are also stored in the RAM 3. The external storage unit 4 is a memory such as a hard disk, and stores compressed image data, HTML files, and the like. The scanner unit 5 reads image data such as a document. The printer unit 6 prints the received image data or the read image data. The panel unit 7 performs operations such as an image reading instruction and a destination input of a transmission destination. The compression / expansion unit 8 expands the received image data or compresses the read image data. The FAX / voice communication unit 9 is connected to a telephone line to perform facsimile communication and voice communication. The network control unit 10 connects to a network and performs internet communication. The HTML file generator 11 generates a list of received image data and the like as an HTML file that can be browsed on the home page. WWW server section 1
2 carries out HTTP protocol communication with WWW browser software and delivers home page data (HTML file). The electronic mail communication unit 13 has an electronic mail server function in addition to transmitting and receiving electronic mail via the network. The TIFF conversion unit 14 converts facsimile coded data and document file data into TIFF format.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram when a network facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. In FIG. 2, the network facsimile apparatus 2
01 is connected to a telephone line and equipped with a network interface. As shown in FIG. 1, a WWW server unit,
E-mail communication part is built in. The client personal computer 202 operates a WWW browser to browse the home page.

The reception operation of the network facsimile apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step (hereinafter abbreviated as ST) 301, it is determined whether the reception mode is a telephone line or the Internet. ST
In 302 to ST307, if the reception is from the Internet, the e-mail communication unit 13 receives the e-mail, and the attached data is the image data of the TIFF (Tag Images File Format) format which is the standard format of the image file, For example, a file name such as "mail0001.tif" is added and stored in the external storage unit 4, and for audio data, a file name such as "audio0001.wav" is added and stored in the external storage unit 4. When receiving from the telephone line, the FAX / sound communication unit 9 receives image data or sound data.
After requesting the IFF conversion unit 14 to convert the encoded data into the TIFF format, the file is given a file name such as “fax0001.tif” and stored in the external storage unit 4. After conversion, a file name is given and stored in the external storage unit 4. Depending on the setting, it is also possible to make a ringing tone of the telephone of the network facsimile machine and directly pick up the handset to talk.

The HTML file generation section 11 manages the reception list table shown in FIG. 5 stored in the external storage section 4, and in ST308, it is added to the reception data from the FAX / voice communication section or the electronic mail communication section. When the file name is received, the file name is added to the reception list table. At that time, the document numbers assigned in the order of storage, the title of the email notified from the email communication unit (fixed character string such as “G3 FAX received document” when receiving a facsimile), date and time registered in the reception list table , The sender's name, etc. are also stored. Next, HTM
The L file generation unit 11 uses the HT for displaying the reception list on the browser based on the updated reception list table.
Also update the ML file. Specifically, reference numeral 60 in FIG.
The HTML file prepared in advance for displaying the FAX reception list page 2 is read, and the character string such as the document number which is the management data newly stored in the reception list table of FIG. 5 is written and edited. The text "0001" of the edited document number contains <A HREF = ¨fax0001.
By adding the tag “tif”>, the character string “0001” and the received file fax0001.tif are linked.

In ST309, if the received data is voice data, the process ends.

The network facsimile apparatus can be set so that the image data is immediately printed by the printer unit 6 when the received image data is stored in the external storage unit 4.

In ST310, it is checked whether or not the immediate print setting is set, and if not, the receiving operation is ended. If immediate print settings are set, ST311 to ST311
In ST312, the image data stored in the external storage unit in the TIFF format is decompressed by the compression / decompression unit 8 and then sent to the printer unit 6 for printing.

Next, the operation of sending the data received and accumulated by the network facsimile apparatus to the client personal computer will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The network facsimile apparatus is in a standby state until the home page address (URL address) is input in ST401. In ST402, the client personal computer connected to the network activates a WWW browser (home page browsing software) and inputs the URL address of the network facsimile apparatus to access the home page. In response to this access, in ST403, the network facsimile machine starts the processing through the network control unit 10 by the WWW server unit 12, and stores the home page data (HT data stored in the external storage unit 4).
ML file) to the WWW browser of the client personal computer. As a result, in ST404, the home page of the network facsimile apparatus is displayed on the client personal computer, for example, as indicated by reference numeral 601 in FIG. The network facsimile apparatus stands by in ST405 until the next selection is made.

When the user selects "FAX reception list" from the display data in ST406 to ST408, the network facsimile machine sends the HTML file of the FAX reception list linked to this character string. The FAX reception list is displayed as indicated by reference numeral 602 in FIG. 6 on the WWW browser. The network facsimile apparatus stands by in ST409 until the next selection is made. ST
In 410 to ST412, when the user displays and selects a file from the FAX reception list, the network facsimile machine sends out the image data file, so that the image data (for example, file0001.tif) is transmitted to the TIFF file on the WWW browser of the client personal computer. The file is displayed as reference numeral 603 in FIG. 6 via the helper application for displaying the file.

In the above example, the case where the FAX received data is displayed has been described. However, when the voice file is selected, the linked voice data is reproduced from the speaker of the client personal computer. The voice data includes voice data received from the outside and voice data that is self-incorporated into the receiver of the network facsimile device, and these can be linked to a home page or transmitted to the outside.

Next, the operation of transmitting from the network facsimile apparatus from the WWW browser of the client personal computer will be described. This transmission operation may be performed in the case of transmitting the data stored in the network facsimile apparatus or in the case of transmitting the document file on the client personal computer.

First, the case of transmitting the data stored in the network facsimile will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. In ST701, the network facsimile machine sends the home page address (UR
It is in a standby state until (L address) is input. The client personal computer connected to the network is ST7
In 02, start the WWW browser (home page browsing software) and enter the URL of the network facsimile device.
Enter the address to access the home page. In response to this access, the network facsimile machine sends S
At T703, the WWW server unit 12 starts processing through the network control unit 10 and homepage data (HTML file) stored in the external storage unit 4
To the WWW browser of the client personal computer.
As a result, in ST704, the home page of the network facsimile apparatus is displayed on the client personal computer (reference numeral 601 in FIG. 6). The network facsimile apparatus stands by in ST705 as it is until the next selection is made.

In ST706 to ST708, the user selects the target file from the screen indicated by reference numeral 602 in FIG. 6 and presses "Send" in the menu. The network facsimile device sends out a page (not shown) for instructing transmission in ST709, and is displayed on the client personal computer in ST710. ST711-ST
In 713, when the user specifies a facsimile number or a mail address of a transmission destination and issues a transmission instruction, the WWW server unit 12 instructed to transmit activates the CGI program for transmission by the CGI interface and executes the transmission processing. To do.

Next, the case of transmitting the document file on the client personal computer by the network facsimile apparatus will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. In ST801 to ST802, the user of the client personal computer opens the target document file with word processing software or the like, designates the network facsimile as a printer, and gives the same instruction as when printing.

In ST 803 to ST 805, in the network facsimile apparatus, the network control unit 10 receives the transmission data from the client personal computer, requests the TIFF conversion unit 14 to convert this, and converts it to the TIFF format. It is stored in the storage unit 4. Further, the HTML file generation unit is notified of the storage of the file.

HST notified in ST806
The L file generation unit 11 adds the file information to the reception list table (see FIG. 5) and also updates the HTML file for displaying the file information on the browser.

As described above, the document file on the client personal computer is temporarily stored in the network facsimile machine. Then, the transmission is performed in the same manner as in the case of transmitting the accumulated data shown in FIG. When it is desired to actually print only, not to send, the data can be immediately sent to the printer unit 6 for printing.

In the above description, the transmission data is once stored in the external storage unit 4 and then transmitted. However, when the user gives a print instruction, the facsimile data or the mail address is input so that the transmission data can be stored. The transmission program may be activated and transmitted by the CGI interface immediately after conversion to the TIFF format.

Next, the operation of setting the network facsimile apparatus from the WWW browser of the client personal computer will be described. The home page of the network facsimile device is provided with an input screen for making various device settings such as user settings and destination registration. The user of the client personal computer activates the WWW browser to access the home page of the network facsimile apparatus and displays the page for performing the desired apparatus setting. For example, if you open the setting page for sending, specify fine as the character size and press the "Setting" button,
The WWW server unit 12 executes the setting program linked to the “setting” button by the CGI interface to set the network facsimile apparatus.

Next, the operation of the network facsimile device for generating the device status in the HTML file will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In ST901, the scanner unit 8, the printer unit 6, the panel unit 7, and the FAX / speech communication unit 9 constantly monitor changes in their own states.

In ST902 to ST903, when a change occurs in the state such as when the printer unit 6 runs out of paper, the printer unit 6 indicates the content of the change in HTML.
Notify the file generation unit 11.

In ST904, the HTML file generator 11 preliminarily displays the HTML file for displaying the status (apparatus status) information and the GI that graphically represents the status.
Since a large number of F files are held, the contents of the HTML file are updated and the GIF file is replaced at all times in accordance with changes in the state.

When the user of the client personal computer refers to the status (device state) information, ST905 to ST905
In ST912, the WWW browser is activated to display the home page of the network facsimile device, and the status information of each of the scanner unit 8, printer unit 6, panel unit 7 and FAX / speech communication unit 9 is selected and displayed. The latest device status can be known.

The user of the client personal computer
Even if you are already accessing the home page of the network facsimile machine, the network facsimile machine updates the contents of the HTML file and replaces the GIF file when the machine status changes, so the machine status is changed in real time. Can be grasped.

In addition to the operation described above, various modes are conceivable, such as generating a facsimile communication log, a manual of a facsimile apparatus, etc. in an HTML file so that they can be browsed by a WWW browser.

[0060]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a facsimile device connected to a network generates a list of data accumulated in the device itself as an HTML file and provides it to a terminal connected to the network. As a result, the terminal can use the WWW browser software to connect to the network.
Since it is possible to transfer the accumulated data of the facsimile machine to another terminal, the range of use of the network facsimile machine can be dramatically expanded without increasing the network traffic.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a network facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a network system using the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a receiving operation of the network facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining an operation of sending the accumulated data of the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment to a client personal computer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of a FAX reception list of the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of a home page of the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of transmitting stored data in the network facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of storing a document file of a client personal computer in the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment and then transmitting the document file.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of sending status information created by the network facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment to a client personal computer.

FIG. 10 is a system configuration diagram when a conventional FAX server is used.

FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram when a conventional Internet FAX and WWW server are used.

[Explanation of symbols]

9 FAX / voice communication section 10 Network control unit 11 HTML file generator 12 WWW server section 13 E-mail communication department 201 network facsimile 202 Client PC

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI H04N 1/32 (56) References Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-107836 (JP, A) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-150462 (JP, A) Special Kaihei 7-212395 (JP, A) JP 10-173890 (JP, A) JP 10-63590 (JP, A) JP 9-231022 (JP, A) JP 10-149270 ( JP, A) JP 10-107943 (JP, A) JP 10-178488 (JP, A) JP 9-258764 (JP, A) JP 9-214560 (JP, A) International publication 97/38510 (WO, A1)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] Network communication means for receiving an e-mail claim 1] through a network, listing the items including caller name of the data received on this network communication means
Received list information and data specified from this received list
Display the instruction button and the instruction button for transferring
HTML generation means for generating a reception list file in a document structure description language such as HTML, storage means for storing the received data and the reception list information in a storage area, and the reception list from a terminal connected via a network. When there is a request for information, the reception list file is sent to the terminal, and the terminal presses the instruction button.
Wait for the specification of the data to be sent until the transfer is instructed
When standing by and receiving a transfer instruction by the instruction button , page data for inputting a destination that is a transmission destination is transmitted to the terminal, and when the destination is input from the terminal and a transmission instruction is issued, the transmission processing of start CGI program for, and a server means for executing transmission processing of the designated data, designated from the reception list file de
A network facsimile apparatus capable of issuing a transfer instruction without displaying the data. 2. By e-mail via a network
Receiving list information that lists items including the sender name of the received data and the transfer instruction of the data specified from the receiving list.
Indication button to display the reception list displayed on one screen.
Files in a document structure description language such as HTML,
The received data and the reception list information are stored in a storage area, and when a request for the reception list information is made from a terminal connected via a network , the reception list file is received.
File to the terminal, and the instruction button from the terminal
Waiting for specification of data to be sent until there is a transfer instruction from
Stand by and receive the transfer instruction from the instruction button
And sending page data for inputting a destination that is a destination to the terminal, and when the destination is input from the terminal,
The CGI program for transmission processing is started, the transmission processing of the specified data is executed, and the reception list file is transmitted.
Transfer without displaying the data specified by the file
A method of sending received data that enables instructions .