JP3389657B2 - Facsimile communication device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile communication device for communicating documents, and more particularly to a facsimile communication device connected to a communication line and capable of communicating documents with a computer via the communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Local Area Network (LAN)
The development of such communication networks has been remarkable, and not only computers but also various terminal devices are connected to the communication lines so that data can be transmitted and received between them. With respect to the facsimile apparatus, not only the traditional image data communication between facsimile transceivers but also image data such as document data is received by a facsimile receiver from a computer by personal computer communication, for example. Under such circumstances, the facsimile communication device can also serve as a relay base for image data transmitted between computers.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 64-64461 discloses a technique in which a document received by a facsimile communication device is transferred to a computer having a transfer request. When the facsimile communication apparatus completes the transfer of the document to be transferred (hereinafter, such data that includes not only text information but also image information and is sent at one time is simply referred to as a document), It is designed to be erased from the storage device in its own device.

[0004]

It is necessary to properly organize the received documents in this way in order to prevent the overflow of the documents in the storage device. However, in a communication system in which a plurality of computers are connected to a communication line, another computer may make a transfer request before a computer that originally needs to receive the document makes a transfer request. In such a case, if the facsimile communication apparatus erases the received document, the computer that originally needs the transfer cannot obtain this document.

Of course, since the document is transmitted to other computers, if it is possible to know which computer it is, it is possible to obtain the required document from that computer. However, there are also cases where the computer is editing a document that has already been received or deleting the document. In the former case, a document different from the required document is obtained, which is inconvenient. In the latter case, the document itself cannot be obtained.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile communication apparatus for transferring a document so that one of a plurality of computers that requires the document can surely obtain the document.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile communication apparatus in which one of a plurality of computers that requires a document can be surely obtained and the burden of the storage capacity for temporarily storing the document is reduced. To do.

Still another object of the present invention is to allow a computer to which a document has been transferred to know whether or not the document has already been transferred to another computer without performing unnecessary transfer work. It is to provide a good facsimile communication device.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the invention, (a) communication means for transmitting / receiving a document to / from a plurality of computers or facsimile terminals; and (b) receiving from a facsimile terminal via the communication means. A document storage means for storing a document, and (c) a transfer control of the document stored in the document storage means to a requesting computer when a document transfer request is made from any of the plurality of computers described above. Request-time transfer control means for performing, and (d) a plurality of specific computers predetermined for receiving documents ,
Destination storage means for storing together with the priority of (e) When a document is received, it is described above regardless of the transfer request.
Until one of the specific computers succeeds in receiving,
The facsimile communication apparatus is provided with a specific destination transfer control unit that attempts transmission a predetermined number of times in descending order of priority.

That is, in the invention described in claim 1, when the document received from the facsimile terminal is stored in the document storage means, it is transferred to a predetermined specific computer, and the data transfer between the computers thereafter is carried out to the computer. By entrusting management, it is possible to prevent a situation in which data is erased after being transferred to another computer that happens to request the data transfer, and the data cannot be transferred to a necessary computer. Here, the specific computer
There are multiple computers, and these specific
The computer is stored with the priority. Specific person
The forward transfer control means needs to transfer the document when it is received.
One of the specified computers receives the
Sends a predetermined number of times in order from the highest priority until it works.
I'm going to try faith. In this way specific computer
Since there are multiple data sources, some of them
If they do occur, lower priority computers
Transfer the document received from the facsimile terminal to the computer
Management of data transfer between computers after that.
You can leave it to me.

According to the second aspect of the invention, (a) communication means for transmitting and receiving documents to and from a plurality of computers and facsimile terminals; and (b) document storage for storing documents received from the facsimile terminals via the communication means. Means and (C)
When a document transfer request is issued from any of the plurality of computers described above , a request-time transfer control means for controlling transfer of the document stored in the document storage means to the requested computer, and (d) document Transfer on behalf of
Destination storage means that stores a specific computer that has been set in advance, and (e) it is sent each time the document transfer is completed.
Documents for specific computer stored in pre-storage means
Presence of a specific computer to determine whether the transfer was a transfer
Discriminating means and (f) this specific computer presence / absence discriminating means
It is determined that the transfer of the document to the specified computer is completed
The facsimile communication device is provided with a document erasing means for erasing this document from the document storing means when it is separated .

That is, according to the second aspect of the invention, when the document received from the facsimile terminal is stored in the document storing means, when a document transfer request is made from any of a plurality of computers, the requesting computer is sent to the computer. While the document stored in the document storage means is transferred, the computer that has transferred the document replaces the predetermined document transfer.
I will check whether it is a specific computer for doing so, and if it is this specific computer, I will delete the document. That is, after a document is transferred to a specific computer, the computer is entrusted with the data transfer management between the computers thereafter, and the corresponding document is erased, so that the storage capacity for temporarily storing the document is increased. Does not grow unnecessarily.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, communication means for transmitting / receiving a document to / from a plurality of computers or facsimile terminals, document storage means for storing a document received from the facsimile terminal via the communication means, and document transfer. When there is a request, the document transfer control means for controlling the transfer of the requested document stored in the document storage means to the requesting computer and the identification information of the computer that has transferred the same document Facsimile communication between the transferred storage means for storing and the transferred computer identification information name notifying means for notifying the identification information of all the computers stored in the transferred storage means for the document when the document transfer control means transfers the document Prepare for the device.

That is, according to the third aspect of the invention, when the document received from the facsimile terminal is stored in the document storing means, the identification information such as the name of the computer is stored each time the computer requests the transfer of the document. Once the document has been transferred, the transfer destination computer is notified of the identification information of all the transferred computers so that the computer does not need to transfer the document to other computers unnecessarily.

[0015]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

First embodiment

FIG. 2 shows an outline of a communication system applied to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this communication system, the facsimile communication device 11 of the present embodiment is connected to a plurality of facsimile terminals 13 _{1 to} 13 _N through a normal telephone line network 12 as in the conventional case, and constitutes an Ethernet which is a kind of local area network. It is also connected to the communication cable 15. This communication cable 1
First to Mth workstations 16 _{1 to} 16 _M as a plurality of computers are connected on the computer 5.

[0018] In this communication system, a facsimile communication device 11 temporarily stores the document sent from one of the facsimile terminal of the first to N, the first through the workstation 16 ₁ ~ 16 _M of the M This can be transferred to one of the requested transfer requests. On the contrary, the first to M-th workstations 16 ₁ to 1
Can receive a document from any of 6 _M,
This can be transmitted to any of the destinations of the facsimile terminals 13 _{1 to} 13 _N , or can be transferred to the work station 16 that has made a transfer request. Of course, the facsimile communication device 11 may have only the function as a relay station, but may have the function of receiving and printing out a document sent to its own station. .

FIG. 1 is a facsimile communication apparatus of this embodiment.
It represents the functional configuration of. Facsimile communication
The communication device 11 is connected through the communication cable 15 shown in FIG.
I / F (interface) unit 21 for sending and receiving documents
Is equipped with. This I / F unit 21 is a specific destination of the document.
Stored in the received document transfer destination storage unit 22 and the workstation.
Option 16₁~ 16_MDocuments received from any of the
Data to be converted for excimer communication or vice versa
It is connected to the conversion unit 23. The data conversion unit 23 receives
Data storage unit that stores the received documents for a required period
It is connected to 24. This data storage unit 24
The telephone line network 1 shown in FIG.
It is connected to 2. Therefore, the data storage unit 24
Is the facsimile terminal 13₁~ 13_NSent from either
In addition to accumulating documents that have been received, Ethernet
Workstation 1 via a communication cable 15
6₁~ 16_MDocuments sent from any of
Both, facsimile terminal 13 ₁~ 13_NDay to send to the side
It will be stored in the data format.

The facsimile communication device 11 shown in FIG. 1 has a CPU (central processing unit), a read only memory (ROM) storing a program, and a random access memory having a relatively large capacity for storing a document. Memory (R
AM), a non-volatile memory (NVM) for storing the address of a specific work station 16 _X (where 1 ≦ X ≦ M) predetermined as a transfer destination, and other circuit components.

In this embodiment, the workstation 16 _X
SCSI (Small Computer Syste
m Interface) ID (hereinafter simply referred to as identification data) is used. This identification data is composed of numbers from "0" to "7", and each of the workstations 16 ₁ to 16 ₁ connected to the Ethernet shown in FIG.
6 _M each other is adapted to be used to identify the communication partner. In this example, the first workstation 1
The identification data of 6 ₁ is “ID ₁ ”, and the identification data of the second workstation 16 ₂ is “ID ₂ ”. The identification data is defined in the same manner below. In this embodiment, assuming that the specific workstation 16 _X is the first workstation 16 ₁ , the received document transfer destination storage unit 22
The identification data “ID ₁ ” is stored in this field.

By the way, the facsimile communication apparatus of the present embodiment is adapted to store the document sent from any of the _first to Nth facsimile terminals 13 _{1 to} 13 _{N in} the data storage section 24. Then, this is to be transmitted to a specific work station 16 _X among the _first to M th work stations 16 _{1 to} 16 _M. The other workstations 16 may be notified of the receipt of the document from this particular workstation 16 _X, and those needing this may receive the transfer of the document from the particular workstation 16 _X.

FIG. 3 shows how the facsimile communication apparatus in the first embodiment is controlled. Facsimile transmission unit 25 of the facsimile communication apparatus 11 shown in FIG. 2 facsimile terminal 13 ₁ of the first to N
When a document is received from any of 13 _N (step S
101; Y), which is stored in the data storage unit 24 (step S102). At this stage, the I / F unit 21 reads the specific workstation 16 _X for the document (step S103) and sends a control signal to the effect that the transfer is to be started (step S104). Specific workstation 16 _X for sending this control signal
Receives a response indicating that the document can be received (step S105; Y). In this case, the data conversion unit 23 transmits the document modified for the workstation 16 to the specific workstation 16 _X. If this transmission ends normally (step S107;
Y) That means that the document is normally stored in the specific workstation 16 _X which is the workstation that is obliged to store and transfer the document. Therefore, in this case, the corresponding document stored in the data storage unit 24 is deleted (step S108).

By the way, if there is no response from the specific workstation 16 _X in step S105 (N), after a lapse of time t ₁ (for example, 15 minutes),
It returns to step S103 again and repeats the same operation.
The same applies when the transfer to the workstation 16 _X is not normally completed in step S107.

Depending on the communication system, it is possible to set a plurality of specific workstations 16 _X instead of a single workstation. In this case, the first with the highest priority
When the transfer to this particular workstation 16 _X1 fails one or more times in succession, such as in the case where the particular workstation 16 _X1 fails, the process returns to the next particular workstation 16 _X2 when returning to step S103. You can change the destination.

Modification of the first embodiment

FIG. 4 shows a control state of a facsimile communication apparatus which is a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. In this modified example, the facsimile transmission / reception unit 25 of the facsimile communication device 11 (see FIG. 1) receives a document from any of the _first to Nth facsimile terminals 13 _{1 to} 13 _N (FIG. 2) (step S201; Y), which is stored in the data storage unit 24 (step S202). At this stage, the I / F unit 21 notifies all the workstations (hosts) 16 _{1 to} 16 _M that the document has been received (step S203).

These first to Nth workstations 1
6 _{1 to} 16 _M are connected via the communication cable 15 and unconditionally receive the packet signal sent from the facsimile communication device 11, and look at the address to determine whether to take it in their own device. Is supposed to do. Therefore, the facsimile communication device 11 designates all the workstations 16 _{1 to} 16 _M as recipients in the address item of this packet signal.
Is written, it is possible to notify all of these workstations 16 _{1 to} 16 _M that a predetermined document has been received.

When such a notification is made, the facsimile communication device 11 waits for a request for transfer of this document to be sent (step S204). And the first to Nth
If there is a request from any of the workstations 16 _{1 to} 16 _M (Y), the requested document is the data storage unit 2.
4 is checked (step S2)
05). Then, if the document exists, it is transferred to the workstation 16 of the request destination (step S206). If this transfer is not normally completed (step S207; N), the process returns to step S204 and waits for a transfer request from the workstation 16 or the like.

When the transfer of the document is completed normally (step S207; Y), the data of the specific workstation 16 _X stored in the received document transfer destination storage unit 22 is read out and the workstation 16 currently transferred.
Is determined to be the same as this (step S208). In this embodiment, the workstations 16 _{1 to} 16 _M are provided with IP addresses for specifying them. Here, the IP address is composed of a network number that specifies a net such as Ethernet and a local host number that specifies a host computer such as a workstation in the net, and these have a 32-bit configuration. The received document transfer destination storage unit 22 stores the IP address of the specific workstation 16 _X , which is the object of comparison.

If the IP addresses match (Y), the document is deleted from the data storage unit 24 as in the first embodiment (step S209). If they do not match (step S208; N), since the specific workstation 16 _X has not made a transfer request yet, the process returns to step S204 again and waits for a transfer request.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S205 that the relevant document does not exist (N), it means that the document has already been deleted.
Its document 6 _X means that transferred. Therefore, in this case, the specific work station 16 _X is notified that the corresponding document has already been transferred (step S210), and the process is ended (END). In this case, the workstation 16 that has requested the transfer requests the specific workstation 16 _X to transfer the document.

Second embodiment

FIG. 5 shows the structure of a facsimile communication apparatus according to the second embodiment. The same parts as those of the facsimile communication apparatus 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. In addition, the facsimile communication device 11A of the second embodiment
Is connected to the communication system shown in FIG.

The I / F unit 21 in the facsimile communication device 11A is connected to the transferred document storage destination storage unit 22 and the transferred host storage unit 31. This transferred host storage unit 31
Like the data storage unit 24 of the facsimile communication apparatus 11 of the first embodiment, is also composed of a random access memory. The transferred host storage unit 31 stores the transferred host computer (host) such as the workstation 16 for each document.

The facsimile communication apparatus 11A of the second embodiment is also the first to Nth workstations 16 _{1 to} 16
_The IP address is used as information for identifying each of the Ms. Also in this embodiment, the specific workstation 16
An IP address indicating _X is stored in the received document transfer destination storage unit 22.

FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the structure of the transferred host storage unit and the data storage unit in the second embodiment. The data storage unit 24 stores the received data 41, the reception time 42, and the transmission source facsimile terminal 1
Local ID 43 indicating 3 and the number of pages of the data 44
And the storage destination 45 of the transferred host information are stored. Here, in the storage destination 45 of the transferred host information, any one of 16-bit numbers “0” to “0FFFF _H ” is stored. When the data 41 has never been transferred to any of the _first to Nth workstations 16 _{1 to} 16 _M , “0FFF is stored in the storage destination 45 of the transferred host information of the data storage unit 24.
F _H ”is stored.“ 0FFFF _H ”indicates that the transfer destination does not exist.

On the other hand, the transferred host storage unit 31 stores in FIG.
As shown on the right side of, the address information of the storage destination of the next information in the RAM, the ID of the transferred host (workstation 16), the address information of the storage destination of the next information and the ID of the transferred host. The address information of the storage destination and the ID of the transferred host are paired and stored in sequence.

Therefore, the data storage unit 24
The storage destination 45 of the sent host information is “0FFFF_H”And
First, make sure that the data 41 has not been transferred yet.
I mean. Transfer this data 41 once
Then, the ID of the transferred host is stored in the transferred host storage section.
Write to a specified address (eg "0") in 31
Rarely, the address is the storage destination of the transferred host information 45
Memorized in. When the next transfer is made,
The ID of the transferred host at the time is stored in the transferred host storage unit 31.
Write to another predetermined address (eg "1") in
And the storage destination indicating that address is stored in the previously transferred host.
It will be stored as a pair with the ID. And so on
It That is, "0" is stored in the storage destination 45 of the transferred host information.
FFFF _HWhen an address other than "is stored
Will follow the address sequentially from that address
The transferred workstations for that data 41.
Option 16 can be tracked in sequence.

FIG. 7 shows how the facsimile communication apparatus in the second embodiment is controlled. In the second embodiment, the facsimile communication device 11A (FIG. 5)
When the facsimile transmission / reception unit 25 receives the document from any of the first to Nth facsimile terminals 13 _{1 to} 13 _N (see FIG. 2) (step S301; Y), it stores it in the data storage unit 24. (Step S302). At this stage, the I / F unit 21 notifies all the workstations (hosts) 16 _{1 to} 16 _M that the document has been received (step S303). This is the same as the previous modification.

When such a notification is made, the facsimile communication device 11 waits for the transfer request of this document to be sent (step S304). And the first to Nth
If there is a request from any of the workstations 16 _{1 to} 16 _M (Y), the requested document is the data storage unit 2.
4 is checked (step S3)
05). When the document exists, the document and the transferred host information are sent to the workstation 1 of the request destination.
6 (step S306). Here, the transferred host information is information indicating to which of the first to Nth workstations 16 _{1 to} 16 _M the data 41 of the document has been sent so far. If the transfer to the requested workstation is not normally completed (step S307; N), the process returns to step S304 and waits for the transfer request from the workstation 16 or the like.

When the transfer of the document is completed normally (step S307; Y), the data concerning the specific work station 16 _X stored in the received document transfer destination storage unit 22 is read out and the work station 16 which has transferred at present is read.
Is determined to be in agreement with this (step S308). Also in this embodiment, the workstations 16 _{1 to} 16 _M are provided with IP addresses for specifying them. Further, the received document transfer destination storage unit 22 stores the IP address of the specific workstation 16 _X , and this is the object of comparison.

If the IP addresses match (Y), the document is deleted from the data storage unit 24 as in the first embodiment (step S309). If they do not match (step S308; N), the ID of the transferred workstation is transferred to the transferred host storage unit 31.
Are additionally stored (step S310), and the process returns to step S304 and waits for a transfer request.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S305 that the relevant document does not exist (N), it means that the document has already been erased, which means that the particular workstation 1
Its document 6 _X means that transferred. Therefore, in this case, the specific work station 16 _X is notified that the corresponding document has already been transferred (step S311), and the process is ended (END). In this case, the workstation 16 that has requested the transfer requests the specific workstation 16 _X to transfer the document.

[0045] In the second embodiment, but will remove it in the facsimile communication apparatus 11A side when the document is transferred to a particular workstation 16 _X, that particular workstation 16 _X at that time The transferred host information sent together with the sent data 41 makes it possible to know to which workstation 16 the data has been transferred. Therefore, when a specific workstation 16 _X transfers this document, it is not duplicated and transferred to these workstations 16.

In the embodiment described above, the case where the workstation is connected to the Ethernet has been described, but the present invention is also applicable to the case where the computer of another type is connected to the communication means such as another local area network. Of course, the invention is applied.

[0047]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a document received from a facsimile terminal is stored in the document storage means, this is prioritized to a plurality of specific computers predetermined between communication systems. From highest to lowest
Since the decision was made to attempt transmission by a predetermined number, of which
Some specific computers seem to have failed, for example
Even in this case, it is necessary to select the highest priority one in order and let the subsequent data transfer management between computers, complicate the device configuration of the facsimile communication device side and increase the capacity of the storage device. Therefore, the efficiency of the entire communication system can be improved. In addition, since the computer that needs the document can obtain it by communication between the computers, there is also an effect that generally necessary data such as a document can be efficiently obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the transfer of the document determined in advance between the communication systems is performed instead.
Because of when performing the transfer of the document to a particular computer decides to remove the document from the facsimile communication apparatus, performing a sort of the document at the time the document is in a state of free access to the transfer between computers As a result, cost reduction on the side of the facsimile communication device can be achieved, and efficient communication of the entire communication system can be realized.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3, when the document received from the facsimile terminal is stored in the document storing means,
Each time a computer requests a transfer of a document, the identification information such as the name of these computers is stored, and the transfer destination computer is notified of the identification information of all the transferred computers together with the transfer of the document. As a result, unnecessary transfer of documents between computers and inquiries at the time of transfer can be prevented, traffic of communication means such as a communication cable is reduced, and unnecessary communication is prevented. Can be configured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a facsimile communication apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing a communication system applied to a first embodiment of the present invention, a modification thereof, and a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing how the facsimile communication device in the first embodiment is controlled.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a control state of the facsimile communication apparatus in the modified example of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile communication apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a structure of a transferred host storage unit and a data storage unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a control state of a facsimile communication apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 11A ... Facsimile communication device, 13 _{1 to} 13 _N
... 1st to Nth facsimile terminals, 15 ... communication cable, 16 _{1 to} 16 _M ... 1st to Mth workstations (computer, host), 21, 21A ... I / F section,
22 ... Received document transfer destination storage unit, 23 ... Data conversion unit, 2
4 ... Data storage unit, 25 ... Facsimile transmission / reception unit, 31
Transfer destination host storage unit, 41 Data, 45 Transfer destination host information storage destination

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Takahiro Yamada 3-7-1, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Plant (72) Inventor Hideo Kinami 3-7-1, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (56) References JP 64-64461 (JP, A) JP 4-47759 (JP, A) JP 3-272266 (JP, A) JP 3-102950 (JP , A) JP-A 6-178074 (JP, A) JP-A 2-199957 (JP, A) JP-A 4-855 (JP, A) JP-A 4-29461 (JP, A) 4-8571 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A communication means for transmitting / receiving a document to / from a plurality of computers or a facsimile terminal, a document storage means for storing a document received from the facsimile terminal via the communication means, and a document from any one of the plurality of computers. double the time of transfer control unit requests, a predetermined specific computer for receiving documents for transferring control of the documents stored in the document storage means to the request of a computer when a transfer request
Number, the destination storage means for storing them together with their priority, and when the document is received, this is related to the transfer request.
One of the specific computers
Transmission from the highest priority until a certain number of times.
A facsimile communication apparatus comprising a specific destination transfer control means to be seen . 2. A communication means for transmitting / receiving a document to / from a plurality of computers or a facsimile terminal, a document storage means for storing a document received from the facsimile terminal via the communication means, and a document from any one of the plurality of computers. Request transfer control means for controlling the transfer of the document stored in the document storage means to the requesting computer, and a specific computer predetermined for performing the transfer of the document instead. And a destination storing means for storing the document every time the transfer of the document is completed.
Of said document to a specific computer stored in
Whether or not it was a specific computer
And the specific computer with this specific computer presence / absence determining means.
And a document erasing means for erasing the document from the document storing means when it is judged that the transfer of the document to the document is completed . 3. Communication means for transmitting / receiving a document to / from a plurality of computers or a facsimile terminal, a document storing means for storing a document received from the facsimile terminal via the communication means, and a document transfer request when there is a request. Document transfer control means for controlling transfer of the requested document stored in the document storage means to the requested computer, and transferred storage means for storing the identification information of the computer that transferred the same document And a transferred computer identification information name notifying means for notifying the identification information of all the computers stored in the transferred storage means for the document when the document transfer control means transfers the document. Facsimile communication device.