JP3402290B2 - Communication network system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication network system, and more particularly, to a communication network system in which a facsimile device and a communication terminal device, which are connected to the communication network by an option board, are connected via the communication network. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a communication network system in which a facsimile machine, a mail server, a personal computer and the like are connected to each other using a communication network is becoming popular. For this reason, some recent facsimile machines have a configuration in which the facsimile machine is connected to a communication network by adding an option board.

With such a structure, when image data is transmitted from a personal computer through a facsimile machine,
The sender information was added by the facsimile machine.

[0004]

However, in the configuration in which the source information is added in the facsimile device, the source information is added based on the source information set in the facsimile device, so that the information is set in the facsimile device. It depends on the source information. In other words, only one type of sender information can be added. That is, the content of the sender information could not be arbitrarily changed.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of arbitrarily setting sender information.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a communication network system in which a communication terminal device and a facsimile device are connected via a communication network. The device is
The transmission command and the transmission image data are sent to the facsimile device, and the facsimile device is composed of the facsimile device main body and an option board for connecting to the communication network. The option board excludes the transmission date and time based on the transmission command. The facsimile apparatus main body is provided with an option board control means for adding the sender information to the transmission image data, and the facsimile apparatus main body is provided with the facsimile control means for adding the sender information of the transmission date and time to the transmission image data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the communication network system according to the first aspect, the option board control means expands a character string of source information excluding a transmission date and time into image data based on a transmission command. After that, the image data is added to the transmission image data.

[0008]

In the embodiments of the invention described below, the "communication terminal device" described in the claims or the means for solving the problems corresponds to the personal computer 3, and the "option board control means" is also the same. MPU31, ROM
32 and the RAM 33, and the “facsimile control means” also includes the MPU 11, the ROM 12, and the RAM 13.
Equivalent to.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a communication network system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication network system includes a facsimile machine (FA) having a telephone line L.
X) 1, a mail server 2, a plurality of personal computers 3 and a hub (HUB) 5 for connecting the respective devices 1 to 3, a transceiver 6, an Ethernet cable 7, an AUI cable 8, a twisted pair cable 9 and a router 10. .

The facsimile device 1, the mail server 2 and the personal computer 3 are connected to the hub 5 via the twisted pair cable 9.
It is connected to the. The hub 5 is connected to the transceiver 6 via an AUI cable 8. Transceiver 6
Is connected to another transceiver 6 via an Ethernet cable 7. The facsimile machine 1, the mail server 2, and the personal computer 3 have a built-in interface for connecting to the twisted pair cable 9. Hub 5
Is provided for connecting the twisted pair cable 9 and the AUI cable 8, and is connected to the communication network T.
Function as a concentrator in the connection. The transceiver 6 is provided to connect the AUI cable 8 and the Ethernet cable 7. The router 10 is provided for connecting to the Internet and other communication networks.

The mail server 2 has a communication protocol for controlling communication with other devices on the communication network T and with the devices other than the communication network T via the router 10. Specifically, it is provided with a communication protocol (e.g., SMTP, POP3) used for e-mail. By attaching the image data to this electronic mail and transmitting it, the Internet FAX can be realized.

The plurality of personal computers 3 are a control unit for controlling the whole personal computer 3 and an LCD for displaying various information.
And the like, and a storage unit such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting predetermined characters and the like, and a hard disk for designating received data displayed on the display unit. Further, the plurality of personal computers 3 communicate with each other to communicate with the facsimile machine 1, the mail server 2 and another personal computer 3, and with the external facsimile machine via the facsimile machine 1 or the mail server 2. It has a protocol.

As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile machine 1
Is the facsimile apparatus main body 1a and the option board 30.
It consists of and. The facsimile device body 1a is
MPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, reading unit 14, recording unit 15, operation unit 16, display unit 17, image memory 18,
It is composed of a codec 19, a modem 20, an NCU 21, and an option board slot unit 22, and each unit 11 to 22 is connected via a bus 23.

The MPU 11 controls each part of the facsimile machine 1. The ROM 12 stores a program for controlling the facsimile device 1. RAM13
Is a non-volatile memory such as SRAM (StaticRAM)
And temporarily stores various information relating to transmission / reception of the facsimile apparatus 1.

The reading unit 14 reads the image data on the document and outputs black and white binary image data. The recording unit 15 is composed of an electrophotographic printer, and records the received image data or the image data of the document read by the reading unit 14 on a recording paper in the recording operation or the copying operation of the received image data.

The operation unit 16 includes ten keys (including * and # keys) 16a for inputting a telephone number, abbreviated keys 16b for registering a shortened number or making a call from a shortened number, a telephone number or a fax number registered in advance. One-touch key 16c for designating one-touch, a start key 16d for starting a document reading operation, "Communication (FA
X) ”operation or communication for setting“ copy ”operation /
Various operation keys such as a copy key 16e are provided. LC
The display unit 17 including D and the like displays various information such as the operating state of the facsimile apparatus 1.

The image memory 18 is read by the received image data and the reading unit 14 and binarized, and the MM is read by the codec 19.
The image data encoded according to the R method is temporarily stored. The image memory 18 also temporarily stores image data sent from the personal computer 3 via the option board slot section 22. Further, the image memory 18 also has a function of managing a job waiting for transmission of image data or a job waiting for recording.

The codec 19 encodes the image data read by the reading unit 14 in accordance with the MH, MR, MMR system or the like for transmission. The codec 19 also decodes the received image data.

The modem 20 uses the ITU-T recommendation T.264. Facsimile transmission control procedure according to V.30 and V.30. 17, V.I. Two
7 ter, V.I. The transmission / reception data is modulated and demodulated according to 29 or the like. The NCU 21 has a function of closing and opening the telephone line L and detecting a sending and receiving of a dial signal corresponding to the FAX number of the other party.

The option board slot section 22 has an option board 3 for connecting to the communication network T.
Equipped with 0. As shown in FIG. 3, the option board 30 includes an MPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an image memory 34, a data converter 35, a PC card interface 36, a PC card type memory 37, a communication protocol controller 38, and a network interface 39. At the same time, each part 31 to 36, 38 is connected to the bus 40
Are respectively connected via.

The MPU 31 controls each part of the option board 30. The ROM 32 stores a basic program for controlling the option board 30. The RAM 33 temporarily stores various information regarding the option board 30. The image memory 34 stores image data sent from the personal computer 3. The image memory 34 also has a function of managing a job waiting to be sent or a job waiting to be recorded for image data sent from the personal computer 3. Further, the image memory 34 also has a work area for developing a character string into image data, for example.

The data converter 35 is a TIFF, BM sent from the personal computer 3 via the communication network T.
Image data of P, GIF, JPEG, PCX, DCX, etc. is converted into image data of MH, MR, MMR system and the like.
On the contrary, the MH received via the telephone line L,
In order to make the image data of MR, MMR system, etc. easy to handle for a plurality of personal computers 3, TIFF, BMP,
Convert to image data such as GIF, JPEG, PCX, DCX.

The PC card interface 36 is an M
The PC card type memory 37 is accessed through the PC card adapter 36a based on the control signal from the PU 31. PC card type memory 37 is "PC Card Standard"
In conformity with the above, it is configured by a flash memory (EEPROM), for example, and stores various information regarding the option board 30. Specifically, it stores image data received by the mail server 2, that is, received image data of the Internet FAX and transmission image data sent from the plurality of personal computers 3 via the communication network T.

The communication protocol control unit 38 communicates with other devices on the communication network T via the network interface 39 and the network interface 3
9 and a public line network or the like to provide a communication protocol for controlling communication with other devices than the communication network T. Specifically, for example, SMTP (mail sending protocol), POP3 (mail receiving protocol), FT
P (File Transfer Protocol), ITU-T Recommendation T.P. Three
0, that is, a communication protocol of a facsimile transmission control procedure, a salutation communication protocol defined by a salutation consortium, and the like.

The plurality of personal computers 3 are a control unit for controlling the whole personal computer 3 and an LCD for displaying various information.
And the like, and a storage unit such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting predetermined characters and the like, and a hard disk for designating received data displayed on the display unit. Further, the plurality of personal computers 3 communicate with each other to communicate with the facsimile machine 1, the mail server 2 and another personal computer 3, and with the external facsimile machine via the facsimile machine 1 or the mail server 2. It has a protocol. In addition, PC 3
Also has a network interface for connecting to the communication network T.

Next, the structure of the transmission command transmitted from the personal computer 3 will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the transmission command includes the FAX number (including the abbreviated number) of the destination, the transmission reservation time (omitted for immediate transmission), and the sender name (facsimile apparatus body 1).
Omitted when adding the sender name of a), the sender FAX
A number (omitted when the FAX number of the facsimile apparatus body 1a is added), a sending form of sender information, and a remark.

Here, as the transmission mode of the transmission source information, [1] when only the transmission image data is transmitted from the personal computer 3 [2] a character string of the transmission image data and the transmission source information from the personal computer 3 (excluding the transmission date and time) ) And [3] There are cases where the transmission image data and the image data of the sender information (excluding the transmission date and time) are transmitted from the personal computer 3.

Therefore, in the case of the above [1] as the transmission form of the transmission source information, the transmission source information excluding the transmission date and time stored in the facsimile apparatus main body 1a is set. In the case of [2], the character string of the sender information is also sent from the personal computer 3 in association with the sending form of the sender information. Further, in the case of [3] as the transmission form of the transmission source information, the image data of the transmission source information is also transmitted from the personal computer 3 in addition to the transmission form of the transmission source information.

In addition, information (for example, confidential communication, relay transmission, etc.) associated with the transmission mode is set in the remarks. Specifically, in the case of confidential communication as the transmission mode, a password is set in this remark. In the case of relay transmission as the transmission mode, the FAX number of the relay destination is set.

Next, from the personal computer 3 to the facsimile machine 1
The operation of transmitting the transmission command and the transmission image data to the facsimile apparatus main body 1a and transmitting the image data will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this operation, the operation related to the personal computer 3 is the personal computer 3
The option board 30 is executed by the control of the control unit of
The operation relating to the facsimile apparatus main body 1a is executed under the control of the MPU 11 based on the program stored in the ROM 32, and the operation relating to the facsimile apparatus main body 1a is executed based on the program stored in the ROM 12.

In step S1 shown in FIG. 5, the transmission command and the transmission image data are sent from the personal computer 3 to the option board 30 via the communication network T. In step S2, the option board 30 analyzes the transmission form of the transmission source information of the transmission command.

In step S3, as shown in FIG. 6, sender information (for example, sender name, sender FAX number, number of pages) excluding the transmission date and time is added to all the transmission image data. Specifically, when the transmission mode of the transmission source information is [1], the transmission source information except the transmission date and time stored in the facsimile apparatus main body 1a is added to all the transmission image data. In addition, the transmission form of the sender information is [2].
In the case of 1, the character string of the transmission source information is expanded into image data, and then the image data is added to all the transmission image data. In this case as well, the sender information of the transmission date and time is not added. Further, when the transmission form of the transmission source information is [3], the image data of the transmission source information is added to all the transmission image data. In this case as well, the sender information of the transmission date and time is not added.

In step S4, the transmission image data and the transmission command are stored in the image memory 3 as a transmission waiting job.
4 is stored. In step S5, a transmission request command is sent from the option board 30 to the facsimile apparatus main body 1a. That is, in the present embodiment, the transmission image data or copy image data read by the reading unit 14 of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a is also stored in the image memory 18 as a transmission waiting job or a recording waiting job. Therefore, during transmission of the image data read by the reading unit 14,
Alternatively, the image data from the personal computer 3 may not be transmitted during reception from an external facsimile device. Therefore, the transmission request command is sent from the option board 30 to the facsimile apparatus main body 1a.

In step S6, the step S
When the facsimile apparatus main body 1a becomes ready for transmission on the basis of the transmission request command in 5, the facsimile apparatus main body 1a sends a transmission enable command indicating that transmission is possible to the option board 30.

In step S7, the NCU 21 makes a call to the FAX number of the other party based on the transmission command, and the line between the other party and the facsimile apparatus main body 1a is connected.

In step S8, as shown in FIG. 7, the sender information of the transmission date and time is added to the transmission image data page by page and transmitted. As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the following actions and effects can be obtained.

(1) As the transmission form of the transmission source information indicated by the transmission command, [1] the case where only the transmission image data is transmitted from the personal computer 3 and [2] the characters of the transmission image data and the transmission source information from the personal computer 3 In some cases, the column (excluding the transmission date and time) is transmitted, and in [3] the transmission image data and the image data of the transmission source information (excluding the transmission date and time) are transmitted from the personal computer 3. When the transmission mode of the transmission source information is [1], the transmission source information except the transmission date and time stored in the facsimile apparatus main body 1a is added to all the transmission image data. When the transmission form of the transmission source information is [2], the character string of the transmission source information is expanded into image data by the option board 30, and then the image data is added to all the transmission image data. Further, when the transmission form of the transmission source information is the above [3], the image data of the transmission source information is added to all the transmission image data by the option board 30. Therefore, when the image data is sent from the personal computer 3 to the facsimile device 1 and the image data is sent from the facsimile device main body 1a, the sender information is added in any one of the above [1] to [3]. Will be done. As a result, in the case of [2] or [3], the sender information set by the personal computer 3 is added without depending on the sender information set in the facsimile apparatus main body 1a. More specifically, this is the case where the "source name" and "source FAX number" of the facsimile apparatus body 1a are set to "company name" and "FAX number of the facsimile apparatus body 1a", respectively. However, for example, "company name and department name" and "fax number of other facsimile apparatus" can be set in the "sender name" and "sender fax number", respectively. Therefore, the sender information can be set arbitrarily.

(2) The sender information except the sending date and time of the sending image data sent from the personal computer 3 is added by the option board 30. Therefore, the load on the facsimile apparatus main body 1a is reduced. Therefore, the facsimile apparatus main body 1a can be connected to the communication network T without reducing the original functions of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a (for example, copy function, facsimile communication function, etc.).

(3) In the item of "transmission reservation time" in the transmission command, when immediate transmission is performed, it is configured to be omitted. Also, in the case of adding the "sender name" and the "sender's fax number" of the sender information set in the facsimile apparatus main body 1a in the "sender's name" and "sender's fax number" items, It is configured to be omitted. Therefore, when transmitting image data from the personal computer 3 to the facsimile apparatus 1 and adding the sender information set in the facsimile apparatus main body 1a, the number of items for setting the transmission command is reduced. . As a result, there is almost no difference from the number of items set when the original is read by the reading unit 14 of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a and the image data is transmitted. Therefore, the image data can be easily transmitted from the personal computer 3 via the facsimile device 1.

The above embodiment can be modified and embodied as follows. The above embodiment may be applied to a case where image data is sent from the personal computer 3 to the mail server 2 and is sent from the mail server 2 via the internet FAX.

It is also possible to add "destination name" and "destination FAX number" to the transmission command. Then, these may be added as source information. In the above embodiment, the order of each item of “transmission date / time”, “source name”, “source FAX number”, and “page number” is unique as the source information, but it is based on the transmission command. The order of each item of "send date and time", "source name", "source FAX number", "page number", "destination name", "destination FAX number" as source information May be set arbitrarily. Specifically, in the transmission command, an item for setting the order of each item of the sender information, for example, an item of “setting order of sender information” is provided, and the order of each item of the sender information is set in that item. Configure to set. According to this structure, the order of each item of the sender information can be arbitrarily set according to the user's desire.

As a component of the transmission command, a standard cover page stored in the facsimile apparatus main body 1a, that is, a "front cover page" item for designating a so-called front cover page may be added. .

The "page number" as the sender information may be added together with the transmission date and time in the facsimile apparatus main body 1a. In the above-described embodiment, the sender information except the transmission date and time is added to the option board 30, but instead, the sender information including the transmission date and time is added to the option board 30 and the facsimile device main body 1a further. When transmitting, the sender information of the transmission date may be overwritten.

Further, technical ideas other than the claims grasped from the above-described embodiments will be described below together with their effects. [1] In the communication network system according to claim 1 or 2, the option board control means arbitrarily sets the order of each item of source information based on a transmission command.

According to this structure, the order of each item of the sender information can be arbitrarily set according to the user's request. [2] In the communication network system according to claim 1 or 2, if the content of the item of the sender information is omitted, the facsimile control means is omitted based on the sender information set in the facsimile apparatus main body. A communication network system that sets the item contents of the source information that is stored.

With this configuration, the number of items for setting the transmission command from the communication terminal device is reduced. Therefore,
Image data can be easily transmitted from the communication terminal device via the facsimile device.

[0049]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects. Claim 1 or Claim 2
According to the invention described in (1), the sender information can be arbitrarily set.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication network system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an option board.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a transmission command.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when image data is sent from a personal computer to a facsimile machine and image data is transmitted from the facsimile machine.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing sender information excluding transmission date and time.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing sender information.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Facsimile apparatus, 1a ... Facsimile apparatus main body,
11 ... MPU constituting facsimile control means, 12 ...
ROM constituting facsimile control means, 13 ... RAM constituting facsimile control means, 30 ... Option board, 31 ... MP constituting option board control means
U, 32 ... RO constituting option board control means
M, 33 ... RA constituting option board control means
M, T ... Communication network.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. In a communication network system in which a communication terminal device and a facsimile device are connected via a communication network, the communication terminal device sends a transmission command and transmission image data to the facsimile device, and the facsimile device is a facsimile. It is composed of an apparatus main body and an option board for connecting to a communication network, and the option board is provided with an option board control means for adding sender information except transmission date and time to transmission image data based on a transmission command, and a facsimile machine. The main body is a communication network system equipped with a facsimile control means for adding sender information of transmission date and time to transmission image data. 2. The communication network system according to claim 1, wherein the option board control means expands the character string of the transmission source information excluding the transmission date and time into image data based on the transmission command, and then extracts the image data. A communication network system that adds to transmitted image data.