JPH10200571A - Data communication method, data communication system, and computer-readable recording medium recording data communication program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] Telephone and fax of image, voice, and text data
And a data communication system that can easily transmit the data to various output devices. A terminal device (10) includes a message transmission unit (1).
1 transmits a message in which the type and address of the destination output device are added to the output information using an electronic mail or the like. In the relay device 20, the message receiving unit 21 receives the message transmitted from the terminal device 10, and the message decrypting unit 22 decrypts the received message and specifies the type and address of the output device of the transmission destination. The data conversion unit 23 converts the output information into transmission data according to the type of the output device specified by the message decoding unit 22, and the data transmission unit 24 sets the address of the output device specified by the message decoding unit 22 to
This transmission data is transmitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data communication technique for transmitting a message to various output devices such as a telephone, a facsimile, and a printer using a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the use of multimedia in communication systems has been progressing, and a system environment capable of handling various types of data such as images and sounds has been improved. Examples of such a system environment include, for example, MUSCAT (Arita et al., “Multim
edia Office System "MUSCAT""National Technical R
eport Vol.42 No.5 Oct. 1996).

[0003] MUSCAT is a MUSCAT computer.
This is a system in which CAT-compatible software is operated, image data can be transmitted from this computer to a fax via a fax modem, and voice data can be transmitted to a telephone via a microphone and a modem. Further, the image data can be transmitted to another computer by using an e-mail.

[0004]

However, in the above configuration, a computer in which software dedicated to MUSCAT is installed is required to transmit image data and audio data. That is, various kinds of different data cannot be transmitted without expensive dedicated software.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a data communication technique that can easily transmit image, voice, and text data to an output device such as a facsimile or telephone using software that is already widely available in the market and is easily available. The task is to provide

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a means taken by the invention of claim 1 is a data communication method for transmitting a message from a terminal device to an output device such as a telephone, a facsimile or a printer. A message transmitting step of transmitting a message in which the type and address of a destination output device are added to output information from a terminal device, and receiving a message transmitted from the terminal device, decoding a received message, and decoding the received message. Type and address,
A relay step of converting the output information into transmission data in accordance with the type of the specified output device, and transmitting the transmission data to an address of the specified output device.

According to the first aspect of the invention, in the message transmitting step, the terminal device transmits a message in which the type and address of the destination output device are added to the output information. Then, in the relaying step, a message transmitted from the terminal device is received, and the type and address of the output device of the transmission destination are specified by decoding the received message, and the output information is transmitted for transmission in accordance with the type of the specified output device. The data is converted to data, and the transmission data is transmitted to the specified output device address. Thus, the output information of the terminal device is transmitted to the destination output device in a data format according to the type. At this time, the terminal device only needs to have existing file transmission software such as e-mail and a function of adding the type and address of the output device of the transmission destination to the output information. do not do. Therefore,
Various data of different types such as image data and audio data can be easily transmitted from a terminal device to various output devices.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
In the message transmitting step of the data communication method, the message is transmitted by e-mail.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect,
The relaying step in the data communication method, when receiving an error signal from the output device after transmitting the transmission data,
A transmission error handling step of retransmitting the transmission data is provided.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in the transmission error handling step, when an error signal is received from the output device after transmitting the transmission data, that is, when a transmission error occurs, the transmission data is retransmitted. This saves the user from having to send the message from the terminal device again.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the message transmitted in the message transmitting step of the data communication method according to the first aspect has a reply destination address added thereto, and the relaying step includes a transmission When an error signal is received from the output device after transmitting the data, a transmission error handling step of identifying a reply destination address from the received message and transmitting data indicating a message transmission failure to the identified address is provided. I do.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the transmission error handling step, when an error signal is received from the output device after transmitting the transmission data, that is, when a transmission error occurs, the reply destination address specified from the received message. Is transmitted, the user can confirm whether or not the transmission information has been normally transmitted to the destination output device.

[0013] According to the invention of claim 5, according to claim 1,
The message transmitted in the message transmitting step of the data communication method of the present invention, the identifier of the recipient of the message is added instead of the address of the output device of the transmission destination, the relaying step specifies the recipient from the received message, An output address setting step of retrieving the location of the specified recipient and setting an address of a destination output device based on the location of the recipient, and transmitting transmission data to the set output device address And

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the output address setting step, the recipient is specified from the received message, the location of the specified recipient is searched, and the output of the transmission destination is output based on the location of the recipient. The device address is set. Then, the transmission data is transmitted to the set address of the output device. For this reason, even if the address of the output device cannot be specified because the location of the recipient is not known, the information can be transmitted to the recipient.

Further, in the invention according to claim 6, in the data communication method according to claim 5, the output address setting step comprises:
It is assumed that the location of the recipient is specified with reference to a database storing entry / exit information of a building or a room.

Further, in the invention of claim 7, the above-mentioned claim 1 is provided.
In the data communication method described above, the message transmitting step includes a step of dividing the message into a predetermined size, the divided message is added with a division number and a division order, and the message is transmitted. It is assumed that the method includes a step of specifying the division number and the division order from the message, and merging the divided messages based on the specified division number and the division order.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since a large message is divided and transmitted, large-capacity data such as image data and audio data can be transmitted easily.

In the invention according to claim 8, in the message transmitting step of the data communication method according to claim 7, the message is transmitted by e-mail, and the number of divisions and the order of division are determined by the SUB of the e-mail header.
It shall be described in the JECT field.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect,
In the data communication method, the message transmitting step includes a step of encrypting the message by a predetermined encryption method, and the relay step includes a step of decrypting the received message according to the predetermined encryption method. And

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the message is transmitted after being encrypted, data leakage can be prevented.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data communication system for transmitting a message from a terminal device to an output device such as a telephone, a facsimile or a printer.
The terminal device transmits a message in which the type and address of the destination output device are added to the output information, and the data communication system receives the message transmitted from the terminal device and decodes the received message. A relay that specifies the type and address of the output device at the transmission destination, converts the output information into transmission data according to the type of the specified output device, and transmits the transmission data to the specified output device address. It is equipped with a device.

According to the tenth aspect, a message in which the type and address of the destination output device are added to the output information is transmitted by the terminal device. Then, the relay device receives the message transmitted from the terminal device, the relay device decodes the received message, specifies the type and address of the output device of the transmission destination, and outputs the output according to the type of the specified output device. The information is converted into transmission data, and the transmission data is transmitted to the specified address of the output device. Thus, the output information of the terminal device is transmitted to the destination output device in a data format according to the type. At this time, the terminal device only needs to have existing file transmission software such as e-mail and a function of adding the type and address of the output device of the transmission destination to the output information. do not do. Therefore, various data of different types such as image data and audio data can be easily transmitted from the terminal device to various output devices.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the data communication system of the tenth aspect, the message is transmitted by electronic mail.

In the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the relay device in the data communication system according to the tenth aspect retransmits the transmission data when receiving an error signal from an output device after transmitting the transmission data. It is assumed that transmission error handling means is provided.

According to the twelfth aspect, when an error signal is received from the output device after transmitting the transmission data, that is, when a transmission error occurs, the transmission error handling means retransmits the transmission data from the relay device. This saves the user from having to retransmit the message from the terminal device.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the data communication system according to the tenth aspect, the terminal device transmits a message to which a reply destination address is added, and the relay device transmits transmission data. When an error signal is received from the output device after the transmission, an address of a reply destination is specified from the received message, and transmission error handling means for transmitting data indicating failure of message transmission to the specified address is provided.

According to the thirteenth aspect, when an error signal is received from an output device after the relay device transmits the transmission data, that is, when a transmission error occurs, the transmission error handling means specifies the reply specified from the received message. Since the data indicating the failure of the message transmission is transmitted to the destination address, the user can confirm whether the transmission information has been normally transmitted to the destination output device.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the data communication system according to the tenth aspect, the terminal device transmits a message to which an identifier of a message recipient is added instead of an address of a destination output device. age,
The relay device identifies a recipient from the received message,
It is assumed that the apparatus has output address setting means for searching for the location of the specified recipient and setting the address of the output device of the transmission destination based on the location of the recipient.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the invention, the recipient is specified from the received message by the output address setting means, the location of the specified recipient is searched, and the output of the destination is output based on the location of the recipient. The device address is set. Then, the transmission data is transmitted to the set address of the output device. For this reason, even if the address of the output device cannot be specified because the location of the recipient is not known, the information can be transmitted to the recipient.

Further, in the invention according to claim 15, the output address setting means in the data communication system according to claim 14 specifies the location of the recipient by referring to a database storing entry / exit information of a building or a room. Shall be.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the data communication system of the tenth aspect, the terminal device has means for dividing the message into a predetermined size, and adds the number of divisions and the division order to the divided message. It is assumed that the relay device includes means for specifying the number of divisions and the order of division from the received message and merging the messages divided based on the specified number of divisions and the order of division.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, since a large message is divided and transmitted, large data such as image data and audio data can be transmitted easily.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the data communication system of the sixteenth aspect, the message is transmitted by e-mail, and the number of divisions and the order of division are described in a SUBJECT field of an e-mail header. Shall be.

[0034] In the invention of claim 18, in the data communication system of claim 10, the terminal device includes means for encrypting a message by a predetermined encryption method, and the relay device transmits the received message. Is provided in accordance with the predetermined encryption method.

According to the eighteenth aspect, since the message is transmitted after being encrypted, it is possible to prevent data leakage.

The present invention provides a computer-readable recording medium storing a data communication program for transmitting a message from a terminal device to an output device such as a telephone, a facsimile or a printer. Means for receiving a message transmitted from the terminal device, wherein the type and address of the output device of the transmission destination are added to the output information, and the type and address of the output device of the transmission destination by decoding the received message , A means for converting the output information into transmission data according to the type of the specified output device, and a data communication for functioning as a means for transmitting the transmission data to the address of the specified output device. It is a recording of the program.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, the data communication program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium according to the nineteenth aspect includes a computer which receives an error signal from an output device after transmitting transmission data. At this time, it is made to function as a transmission error handling means for retransmitting the transmission data.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the data communication program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium according to the nineteenth aspect, the terminal device transmits a message to which a reply destination address is added. Assuming that, when an error signal is received from an output device after transmitting data for transmission, the computer specifies a return destination address from the received message, and transmits data indicating a message transmission failure to the specified address. It shall function as transmission error handling means.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the data communication program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium according to the nineteenth aspect, the terminal device is configured such that the address of the destination output device is used instead of the address of the destination output device. Assuming that the message is sent with the identifier of the recipient, the computer identifies the recipient from the received message, searches for the location of the identified recipient, and based on the location of the recipient, the destination Function as output address setting means for setting the address of the output device.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the data communication program in the computer-readable recording medium according to the nineteenth aspect, the terminal device has means for dividing a message into a predetermined size, Assuming that the transmission is performed with the number of divisions and the order of division added, the computer identifies the number of divisions and the order of division from the received message, and It shall function as a means of merging.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the data communication program in the computer-readable recording medium according to the nineteenth aspect is characterized in that the terminal device has means for encrypting a message by a predetermined encryption method. It is assumed that the computer functions as means for decrypting the received message according to the predetermined encryption method.

[0042]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a data communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a terminal device having a message transmitting unit 11, and reference numeral 20 denotes a relay device having a message receiving unit 21, a message decoding unit 22, a data converting unit 23, and a data transmitting unit 24. 31 is a network connecting the terminal device 10 and the relay device 20;
It is realized by a WAN 31a including a public line or a satellite line, a LAN 31b using a dedicated line, and the like. Also,
A network 32 connects the relay device 20 and the output device.
This is realized by N32b or the like. Telephone 4 as output device
1, FAX 42, information display panel 43, printer 44,
And a computer 45.

The function of the data communication system according to this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

The message transmission means 11 of the terminal device 10 transmits a message in which the type and address of the output device of the transmission destination are added to the output information to the relay device 20 by using an electronic mail.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format of a message transmitted by the message transmitting means 11. In FIG. 2, “OUT_EQUIP” in 1A is a label indicating that the character described in the next line is the type of the output device of the transmission destination, and 1B is a field for storing a character indicating the type of the output device of the transmission destination. is there. In FIG. 2, the field 1B indicates that the type of the output device at the transmission destination is FAX. 2
“OUT_ADDRESS” of A is a label indicating that the character described in the next line is the address of the output device of the transmission destination, and 2B is a field for storing the address of the output device of the transmission destination. Although the FAX number is shown as an example in FIG. 2, a telephone number, an IP address, and the like can also be described. Also, “OUT_DATA” in 3A is a label indicating that the next line is output information, and 3B is a field for storing image data of a still image or a moving image, character data described in ASCII code, and audio data such as conversation as output information. It is. Note that binary data such as image data and audio data is converted into ASCII format and stored in the field 3B.

The message receiving means 21 of the relay device 20 receives the electronic mail transmitted from the terminal device 10 by the message transmitting means 11.

When the message receiving means 21 receives the e-mail, the message decoding means 22 first detects the labels 1A, 2A, 3A from the received e-mail, and then detects the detected labels 1A, 2A, 3A. , The type of the output device of the transmission destination, the address of the output device of the transmission destination, and the output information are extracted. That is, "OUT_EQUIP" of the label 1A is detected, a character indicating the type of the output device of the transmission destination is extracted from the field 1B, "OUT_ADDRESS" of the label 2A is detected, and the address of the output device of the transmission destination is detected from the field 2B. Then, "OUT_DATA" of the label 3A is detected, and output information is extracted from the field 3B.

The data conversion means 23 specifies the type of the output device from the characters extracted from the field 1B, and transmits the output information extracted from the field 3B in a data format that can be handled by the specified type of output device. Convert to credit data. For example, if the type of the specified output device is FAX
When it is 42, an image format that can be handled by software (for example, “FAXLINK” manufactured by Seiko Denshi Kogyo Co., Ltd.) that converts the image data that has been converted to the ASCII format into a binary format and transmits the data to a FAX via a FAX modem (For example, TIFF format). In addition, the type of the specified output device is telephone 4
When it is 1, the character data extracted from the field 3B is converted into voice data using a voice synthesizer.

The data transmitting means 24 is a data converting means 2
3 using software or an apparatus for transmitting data to the output device of the type specified by the data conversion unit 24, to the address of the output device of the transmission destination extracted from the field 2B by the message decoding unit 22. Transmit the transmission data.

For example, when the output device is FAX 42, F
Software for transmitting FAX data via an AX modem (such as “FAXLINK”) is used. When the output device is the telephone 41, a device for transmitting voice data to the telephone (for example, “Otsuta-kun” of Takacom Inc.) is used. When the output device is the printer 44, the data is transmitted to the printer at the designated address by using a printing function (such as an lp command) provided in the relay device 20.

When the output device is the information display panel 43,
It uses software ("FAXLINK" or the like) for transmitting to a FAX via a FAX modem, or creates and uses transmission-only software. When the output device is the computer 45, a file transfer program (FTP, RCP, etc.) provided in the computer may be used, but any other method capable of exchanging messages between computers may be used. Is also good.

As described above, the data communication system according to the first embodiment transmits image data, audio data, and text data to various output devices by using e-mails used in many computers. Can be easily sent.

In this embodiment, electronic mail is used for message transmission. However, the present invention is not limited to message transmission using electronic mail. For example, a file transfer function using a file transfer protocol is used. (FTP) may be used.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a data communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the same components as those of the data communication system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1, and detailed description is omitted here. As shown in FIG. 3, the relay device 20A in the data communication system according to the present embodiment includes a transmission error handling unit 25 in addition to the units included in the relay device 20 according to the first embodiment.
Is further provided.

When receiving an error signal from the output device after the transmission data is transmitted from the data transmission device 24 to the output device, the transmission error handling device 25 instructs the data transmission device 24 to transmit the transmission data again. . This process is repeated a preset number of times. Also, a waiting time until the transmission data is transmitted again is set in advance.

If an error signal is returned even after retransmission for a preset number of times, the transmission error handling means 25 sends an e-mail describing that the message could not be transmitted normally to the output device. It transmits to the terminal device 10. The e-mail address of the terminal device 10 at this time is
It is assumed that it is described in a transmission message from the terminal device 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format of a message transmitted from the terminal device 10 according to the present embodiment.
Is added to the format according to the first embodiment shown in (1), in which a field for describing the e-mail address of the terminal device 10 of the transmission source as the address of the reply destination is added. In FIG. 4, “IN_ADDRESS” of 4A is a label indicating that the e-mail address of the source terminal device 10 is described in the next line, and 4B is a label of the source terminal device 10
Is a field for storing an e-mail address. The transmission error handling unit 25 detects “IN_ADDRESS” of the label 4A from the received message and transmits the character data described in the field 4B of the next line in order to obtain the e-mail address of the terminal device 10 of the transmission source. The e-mail address of the original terminal device 10 is extracted.

As described above, the data communication system according to the second embodiment is provided with the means for retransmitting the message when the transmission of the message to the output device has failed. It is possible to save the trouble of reworking. In addition, in the event that retransmission of the message has failed even after the predetermined number of repetitions, the message transmission failure is transmitted to the user of the terminal device 10 so that the user can confirm that the message has been normally transmitted to the output device. can do.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a data communication system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same components as those of the data communication system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1, and the detailed description is omitted here. As shown in FIG. 5, the relay device 20B in the data communication system according to the present embodiment includes an output address setting unit 2 in addition to the units included in the relay device 20 according to the first embodiment.
6 is further provided.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a format of a message transmitted from the terminal device 10 according to the present embodiment. The difference from the message format according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is that a field 5B for storing a name as an identifier of a recipient of the message instead of a field 2B for storing an address of an output device of a transmission destination. It is a point provided. In FIG. 6, “MSG” of 5A
"_RECEIVE" is a label indicating that the name of the recipient of the message is described on the next line, and 5B is a field for storing the name of the recipient of the message.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation in which the output address setting means 26 extracts the output destination address from the name of the recipient of the message. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 51 denotes an entry / exit record database provided in a well-known system for managing entry / exit to a building or room using an ID card or the like, in which the names of enter / exit persons and the date and time of entry / exit are recorded. ing. Reference numeral 52 denotes a database in which the types and addresses of output devices installed around buildings and rooms are registered.

The output address setting means 26 first detects "MSG_RECEIVE" of the label 5A from the message as shown in FIG. 6 transmitted from the terminal device 10,
The character data described in the field 5B of the next line is extracted as the name of the recipient of the message.

Next, as shown in FIG.
Using the name of the recipient of the message extracted from, the database 51 is checked to see in which building or room the recipient of the message is located, and the name of the building or room where the recipient is located is specified. Then, using the specified name of the building or room and the type of output device described in the message, the database 52 is searched for the address of the output device near the building or room where the recipient of the message is located. Then, the address of the searched output device is extracted as the address of the destination output device.

As described above, in the data communication system according to the third embodiment, even if the address of the destination output device is not described in the message, the data is output to the output device near the building or room where the recipient is located. Information can be sent. Therefore, it is possible to transmit information to a recipient whose location is unknown without using a mobile device such as a mobile phone.

In this embodiment, the location of the recipient is specified by using a database for recording the entry / exit information of the building or the room. However, a device for recording the user of the building or the room and the use time is managed. Any database that can be used as a database for specifying the location of the recipient.

In this embodiment, the name is used as the identifier of the recipient of the message. However, for example, an employee number or the like can be used as the identifier.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a data communication system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 8, the same components as those of the data communication system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1, and the detailed description is omitted here. As illustrated in FIG. 8, in the data communication system according to the present embodiment, the terminal device 10A further includes a message encryption unit 12 and a message division unit 13 in addition to the message transmission unit 11, and the relay device 20C includes A message merging unit 27 and a message decoding unit 28 are further provided in addition to the units included in the relay device 20 according to the first embodiment.

The message encrypting means 12 encrypts a message to be transmitted. The encryption is DES (Data Encryptio
n), an asymmetric key encryption method such as RSA (Rivent Shamir Adelman) or an asymmetric key encryption method such as RSA (Rivent Shamir Adelman).

The message dividing means 13 divides the encrypted message into a certain size. For example, a plurality of messages are generated by dividing an encrypted message for every 32 KB. The unit of the division size may be determined in accordance with the specification of the e-mail for transmitting the message. In order to perform the division, an existing software tool may be used.

The order of encryption and message division is not particularly limited, and either may be performed first. Alternatively, the message may be compressed using an existing data compression tool or the like.

The message transmitting means 11 transmits the divided message to the relay device 20C via the network 31 using electronic mail. Message transmission means 11
Has a function corresponding to transmission of the divided message.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail header according to the present embodiment. The e-mail header is information added before the main body of the e-mail, and describes a destination and a source of the e-mail. In FIG. 9, 6 is a TO field indicating a transmission destination, and 7 is a FROM field indicating a transmission source.
Field 8 is a SUBJECT field. Following the e-mail header as shown in FIG. 9, an e-mail text in a format as shown in FIG. 2 is transmitted.

In this embodiment, the SUBJECT field 8 describes the identifier for identifying the electronic mail, the number of divisions of the message, and the order of division. In the example shown in FIG.
The identifier is “emergency call”, the division order is “1”, and the number of divisions is “3”. That is, the e-mail header shown in FIG. 9 is added to the e-mail that transmits the first message of the three "emergency calls". Similarly, in the e-mail transmitting the second message, "emergency notification 2/3" is described in the SUBJECT field 8, and in the e-mail transmitting the third message, "emergency notification 3/3" is specified in the SUBJECT field 8. Is described.

The message transmitting means 11 repeatedly executes message transmission by the number of times corresponding to the number of divisions of the message, and transmits e-mails equal in number to the number of divisions.

The message merging unit 27 merges the electronic mails received by the message receiving unit 21. From the header of the received e-mail, SUBJECT field 8
Extract the identifier, division order and division number described in
The contents of the body of the e-mail having the same identifier are extracted, and the output information described in the field 3B is merged according to the division order. An existing software tool or the like may be used for merging the output information.

The message decrypting means 28 decrypts the message merged by the message merging means 27 in accordance with the encryption method of the message encrypting means 12. An existing software tool may be used for the decryption.

As in the first embodiment, the data transmitting means 24 uses software or a device for transmitting data to the output device of the type specified by the data converting means 23, and the message deciphering means 22 uses the field 2B. To the address of the destination output device extracted from
The transmission data generated by the data conversion means 24 is transmitted.

As described above, the data communication system according to the fourth embodiment uses the e-mail used by many computers to transmit image data, audio data, and text data to various output devices. Can be easily sent. Further, by dividing and transmitting the message, large-capacity image data and audio data can be easily transmitted.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention, data such as images, voices, and texts corresponding to the output device can be transmitted from the terminal device to various output devices such as a facsimile and a telephone. As a result, the user can easily transmit data from various places such as a business trip to various output devices using e-mails and the like that have already spread in the market.

When a transmission error occurs, the transmission data is retransmitted, so that the user does not need to retransmit the message. Also, when a transmission error occurs, data indicating the failure of message transmission is transmitted to the reply destination address, so the user checks whether the transmission information has been normally transmitted to the destination output device. be able to.

Further, even when the address of the output device cannot be specified because the location of the recipient is not known, the information can be transmitted to the recipient.

Further, large data such as image data and audio data can be easily transmitted. Also,
Data leakage can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a data communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a message format according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a data communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a message format according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a data communication system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a message format according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation in which an output address setting unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention extracts an address of a destination output device from a name of a recipient of a message.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a data communication system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an e-mail header according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10A terminal equipment 11 message transmission means 12 message encryption means 13 message division means 20, 20A, 20B, 20C relay device 21 message reception means 22 message decryption means 23 data conversion means 24 data transmission means 25 transmission error handling means 26 output Address setting means 27 Message merging means 28 Message decoding means 41 Telephone 42 FAX 44 Printer

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A data communication method for transmitting a message from a terminal device to an output device such as a telephone, a facsimile, a printer, etc., wherein the terminal device adds a type and an address of a destination output device to output information to the output information. A message transmitting step of transmitting a message transmitted from the terminal device, decoding the received message to specify the type and address of the output device of the transmission destination, and outputting the output information according to the type of the specified output device. To a transmission data, and a relaying step of transmitting the transmission data to the specified address of the output device. 2. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein in the message transmitting step, a message is transmitted by electronic mail. 3. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the relaying step includes a step of retransmitting the transmission data when receiving an error signal from an output device after transmitting the transmission data. A data communication method, comprising: 4. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the message transmitted in the message transmitting step has a reply destination address added thereto, and the relaying step includes transmitting the transmission data. A data communication method comprising: when receiving an error signal from an output device, specifying a return destination address from a received message and transmitting data indicating a failure in message transmission to the specified address. Method. 5. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the message transmitted in the message transmitting step is obtained by adding an identifier of a recipient of the message instead of an address of an output device of a transmission destination, The relaying step identifies a recipient from the received message,
An output address setting step of retrieving the location of the specified recipient and setting an address of a destination output device based on the location of the recipient, and transmitting transmission data to the set output device address A data communication method, characterized in that: 6. The data communication method according to claim 5, wherein the output address setting step specifies a location of a recipient by referring to a database storing entry / exit information of a building or a room. Characteristic data communication method. 7. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the message transmitting step includes a step of dividing the message into a predetermined size, and transmitting the divided message by adding a division number and a division order. Wherein the relaying step includes a step of specifying the number of divisions and the order of division from the received message, and merging the divided messages based on the specified number of divisions and the order of division. Method. 8. The data communication method according to claim 7, wherein, in the message transmitting step, the message is transmitted by e-mail, and the number of divisions and the order of division are described in a SUBJECT field of an e-mail header. A data communication method, comprising: 9. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the message transmitting step includes a step of encrypting the message by a predetermined encryption method, and the relaying step includes converting the received message to the predetermined encryption method. A data communication method, comprising the step of decoding according to: 10. A data communication system for transmitting a message from a terminal device to an output device such as a telephone, a facsimile, a printer, etc., wherein the terminal device adds a type and an address of a destination output device to output information. The data communication system receives the message transmitted from the terminal device, identifies the type and address of the output device of the transmission destination by decoding the received message, and A data communication system comprising: a relay device that converts the output information into transmission data according to a type and transmits the transmission data to an address of a specified output device. 11. The data communication system according to claim 10, wherein the message is transmitted by electronic mail. 12. The data communication system according to claim 10, wherein the relay device includes a transmission error handling unit that retransmits the transmission data when receiving an error signal from an output device after transmitting the transmission data. A data communication system, comprising: 13. The data communication system according to claim 10, wherein the terminal device transmits a message to which a reply destination address is added, and wherein the relay device transmits a message to be transmitted from the output device after transmitting the transmission data. A data communication system comprising: a transmission error handling unit that specifies a reply destination address from a received message when receiving an error signal, and transmits data indicating a failure in message transmission to the specified address. 14. The data communication system according to claim 10, wherein the terminal device transmits a message to which an identifier of a recipient of the message is added instead of an address of an output device of a transmission destination. Comprises output address setting means for specifying a recipient from a received message, searching for the location of the specified recipient, and setting an address of a destination output device based on the location of the recipient. Characteristic data communication system. 15. The data communication system according to claim 14, wherein said output address setting means refers to a database storing entry / exit information of a building or a room, and specifies a location of a recipient. Characteristic data communication system. 16. The data communication system according to claim 10, wherein the terminal device has a unit for dividing the message into a predetermined size, and transmits the divided message with a division number and a division order added thereto. A data communication system comprising: means for specifying the number of divisions and the order of division from the received message, and merging the divided messages based on the specified number of divisions and the order of division. . 17. The data communication system according to claim 16, wherein the message is transmitted by electronic mail.
The number of divisions and the order of division are specified in SUB of the e-mail header.
A data communication system described in a JECT field. 18. The data communication system according to claim 10, wherein said terminal device includes means for encrypting a message by a predetermined encryption method, and said relay device converts a received message according to said predetermined encryption method. A data communication system comprising decoding means. 19. A computer-readable recording medium recording a data communication program for transmitting a message from a terminal device to an output device such as a telephone, a facsimile, a printer, and the like. Means for receiving a message in which the type and address of the destination output device are added to the output information; means for decoding the received message to specify the type and address of the destination output device; and the specified output device. Means for converting the output information into transmission data according to the type of the computer, and a computer-readable recording medium recording a data communication program for functioning as a means for transmitting the transmission data to an address of the specified output device . 20. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the data communication program retransmits the transmission data when an error signal is received from an output device after transmitting the transmission data. A computer-readable recording medium that functions as transmission error handling means for transmission. 21. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the terminal device transmits a message to which a reply destination address is added, and wherein the data communication program causes the computer to transmit transmission data. When an error signal is received from an output device after sending a message, the address of the reply destination is specified from the received message, and the data is transmitted to the specified address to indicate data transmission failure. A computer-readable recording medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 22. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the terminal device transmits a message to which an identifier of a recipient of the message is added instead of an address of an output device of a transmission destination, The data communication program causes a computer to specify a recipient from a received message, search for the location of the specified recipient, and set an address of a destination output device based on the location of the recipient. A computer-readable recording medium characterized by functioning as means. 23. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the terminal device has a unit for dividing the message into a predetermined size, and transmits the divided message by adding a division number and a division order. The data communication program causes the computer to specify the number of divisions and the order of division from the received message, and to function as a unit for merging the divided messages based on the specified number of divisions and the order of division. A computer-readable recording medium, characterized in that: 24. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 19, wherein said terminal device includes means for encrypting a message by a predetermined encryption method, wherein said data communication program causes a computer to transmit a received message. A computer-readable recording medium, which functions as means for decrypting according to the predetermined encryption method.