JP3564904B2 - Facsimile machine that can be operated remotely - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of retrieving a file in the personal computer when the user is at a remote place from a personal computer or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art It has been widely practiced that a document file created in a personal computer or the like is subjected to facsimile transmission by using a modem device connected to the personal computer. Such a modem used for facsimile transmission is often called a so-called FAX modem. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-105059 discloses a document transmission facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting a document file to a remote facsimile apparatus using such a FAX modem. The facsimile apparatus disclosed in the publication is a facsimile apparatus capable of improving the quality of a received image of a facsimile and shortening the transmission time.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional facsimile apparatus, for example, when the user is away from the office and away from the company's LAN or WAN, the information is stored in the user's office such as a personal computer. Files cannot be retrieved using a facsimile machine on the go. The same applies to a single-function facsimile machine and a facsimile machine using a FAX modem.
[0004]
As described above, when the user wants to retrieve a file in the user's personal computer from the facsimile apparatus while away from home, for example, first calls a person in the company of the user's company, and the name of the file desired by the user, and It is necessary to inform the person of the facsimile number provided at the location where the user is located. Then, by having the person operate the personal computer of the user, it becomes possible to extract the contents of the desired file from the facsimile machine at the place where the user is located. In summary, the conventional facsimile machine has the following problems. First, in the facsimile apparatus (the same applies to a form in which a so-called FAX modem or the like is connected to a personal computer), the facsimile function cannot be operated from another device. Specifically, a facsimile apparatus that can be remotely operated from another device has not been realized yet.
[0005]
Therefore, it has not been possible to specify a facsimile number or a file name to be sent from another device such as a personal computer.
[0006]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of operating a facsimile transmission function (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a facsimile transmission function) from a device such as another personal computer. That is. Another object of the present invention is to enable a facsimile transmission function to be operated from another personal computer, a PDA, or the like. Is to provide a facsimile apparatus that can be transmitted to a user.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the following functions are added to a server-side computer. First, a function part of the facsimile service is provided. This is necessary for operating the computer constituting the server as a facsimile machine. Further, a function of receiving a facsimile transmission request from a client, a function of receiving a facsimile transmission request, supplying a facsimile number and a file name to the facsimile function, and activating the function of the facsimile service are provided. In addition, a function is provided for transmitting a facsimile transmission result to a client after facsimile transmission of a predetermined file in accordance with a facsimile transmission request. These functions are preferably realized by a program on a computer on the server side which is a facsimile machine.
[0008]
Various protocols can be applied to the portion that receives the facsimile transmission request. For example, it is preferable to perform communication using a hypertext transport protocol (http) between the client and the server. In this case, the function of receiving the facsimile transmission request is realized by a program of httpd (hypertext transport protocol daemon) on the server computer. In this case, the server computer constituting the facsimile apparatus is a so-called WWW (World Wide Web) server. When the WWW is used as the facsimile apparatus in the present invention, the UI (user interface) on the client side is represented by HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language).
[0009]
As described above, when the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is realized by a WWW server, the client accesses the computer of the server using a WWW browser.
[0010]
Specifically, the present invention achieves the above object by taking the following measures. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile request receiving means for receiving a facsimile transmission request output by a client, and analyzing the contents of the facsimile transmission request received by the facsimile request receiving means, Analyzing means for specifying the document name of the document and the external facsimile machine as the transmission destination, and transmitting the contents of the document name specified by the analyzing means to the external facsimile apparatus specified by the analyzing means. to look including a facsimile transmission means, wherein the analyzing means, the file path name of the document name, whether the cover sheet in the facsimile transmission, the resolution, or, the sender during a facsimile transmission comment, any one or more Parameter analyzing means for analyzing the parameters of the facsimile, wherein the facsimile transmitting means comprises: Based on the parameter analyzer were analyzed, a facsimile apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a facsimile transmission control means for controlling the facsimile transmission, the.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the facsimile apparatus of the first aspect, a transmission result for notifying the client whether or not the facsimile transmission to the external facsimile apparatus is successful. A facsimile apparatus including a notifying unit.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the facsimile request receiving means stores a hypertext transport protocol daemon program for configuring a world wide web server. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a storage unit configured to execute the hypertext transport protocol daemon program;
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus of the third aspect , the analyzing means stores a common gateway interface application program started by the hypertext transport protocol daemon program. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a storage unit, and a processor unit that executes the common gateway interface application program.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall flow of providing a facsimile service by a FAX server 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0017]
In the present embodiment, the FAX server 10 is realized using a WWW server. As described above, in the present embodiment, since a facsimile apparatus which can be remotely operated by using the function of the WWW server is realized, a WWW browser can be used as a client.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, the fax server 10 according to the present embodiment runs a program of a hypertext transport text daemon (httpd). By operating this httpd12, it functions as a WWW server.
[0019]
Any device that has the function of a WWW browser can be used as a client that uses the FAX server. For example, it is possible to access the FAX server 10 using a function of a WWW browser provided in a personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or the like. This WWW browser function of the client is simply referred to as browser 100.
[0020]
The client uses the browser 100 to make a connection request to the httpd 12 of the FAX server 10 (URL (uniform resource locator) instruction). Here, the client can use the function of the FAX server 10 by instructing the URL of the FAX server 10 as the URL when making a connection request to the WWW server. The httpd 12 transmits a FAX transmission screen to the browser 100 (running on the client) in accordance with the contents of the URL specified via the browser 100. This FAX transmission screen is described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). This FAX transmission screen is performed by the httpd 12 taking out a file described in HTML from the HTML file 14 and returning it to the browser 100. The browser 100 running on the client displays a fax transmission screen for the user based on the returned HTML file. An example of such a FAX transmission screen is shown in FIG.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the FAX server 10 according to the present embodiment allows a client to set parameters such as a document name and a path name by using HTML. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the user should attach a document name, a path name, a FAX number, the presence or absence of a cover sheet, a resolution, and a facsimile thereof on the FAX transmission screen displayed by the browser 100. Comments can be entered individually.
[0022]
For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, "Estimate" is input as the document name, and "C: \ temp \ mitsu.akd" is input as the (file) path name. Further, a facsimile number to which the facsimile is transmitted is also input. Further, the presence or absence of a cover sheet in the facsimile is set by, for example, a radio button. In the example shown in FIG. 2, this cover sheet is set to "none". Also, the resolution of the facsimile can be designated by radio buttons. In the example shown in FIG. 2, "standard" is selected as the facsimile resolution. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 2, a column for inputting a facsimile comment is indicated by "", and a column for inputting a comment is provided at a position to the right of "".
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, after setting various parameters, the user can actually perform a facsimile transmission operation by pressing (clicking) the transmission button 30. The screen shown in FIG. 2 is also provided with a reset button 32, and the user can reset the values of various parameters such as a document name by clicking the reset button 32.
[0024]
When the user clicks the send button 30, parameters such as the document name are transmitted from the browser 100 to the FAX server 10 using http. When the parameters are transmitted, the httpd 12 running on the FAX server 10 activates the FAX service and sends the contents of the parameters transmitted from the browser 100 to the FAX service.
[0025]
A characteristic of this embodiment is that the function of the facsimile service is realized by a CGI program. A CGI (Common Gateway Interface) program is a program that is activated and operates on the WWW, and is sometimes called a standard program. The CGI program 16 analyzes the contents of parameters (contents input by the user) sent from the httpd12. Then, based on the analysis contents, if there is a cover sheet, a document name and a comment are input on the cover sheet, and the facsimile resolution is specified based on the parameters. The presence or absence of these cover sheets and the resolution are sent to the FAX transmission section. The facsimile transmission section includes a facsimile format generation / transmission unit 20 and a facsimile communication unit 22 as shown in FIG. Existing software can be used for the FAX format generation / transmission unit 20 and the FAX communication unit 22 as they are.
[0026]
The facsimile format generation / transmission unit 20 generates a so-called facsimile format based on the designation of the resolution and the like from the CGI program 16. When generating the FAX format, a document to be transmitted is extracted from the document file 18 and used. The generated FAX format is transmitted to the FAX communication unit 22. The facsimile communication unit 22 calls a facsimile machine to which a facsimile is to be transmitted via a telephone line, and transmits a facsimile. The result of FAX transmission is reported from the FAX communication unit 22 to the FAX format generation / transmission unit 20. The FAX format generation / transmission unit 20 returns the transmission result of the facsimile to the CGI program 16. This return of the transmission result is indicated by B in FIG. The value of the FAX transmission result is “OK” or “NG”. The value is “OK” if the FAX transmission is successfully completed, and the value is “NG” if the FAX transmission fails due to, for example, a busy destination of the FAX transmission. The CGI program 16 reports this fax transmission result to the browser 100 via HTML. The client can see whether or not the facsimile transmission is successful by looking at the screen of the browser 100.
[0027]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the display of such a facsimile transmission result. In the example shown in FIG. 3, it indicates that the facsimile transmission was successful. When facsimile transmission cannot be performed, such as when the facsimile transmission destination facsimile apparatus is busy, a message indicating that facsimile transmission has failed is displayed, contrary to the example shown in FIG.
[0028]
Next, the facsimile transmission will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation mainly of the FAX server 10 according to the present embodiment.
[0029]
First, on the client side, the browser 100 is started on a personal computer or the like.
[0030]
The user designates the URL of the FAX server 10 on the browser 100. This URL is transmitted to the function of the WWW server in the FAX server 10. Specifically, the URL instruction is received by the httpd 12 of the FAX server 10.
[0031]
On the other hand, in the FAX server 10, an httpd12 program has been activated to perform the function of the WWW server (step S4-5).
[0032]
In step S4-6, the httpd 12 waits for reception of the URL (step S4-1) transmitted from the browser 100. If the request has not been received, step S4-6 performs a self-loop, and if a request has been received, the process proceeds to the next step S4-7.
[0033]
In step S4-7, it is checked whether HTML is requested from the browser, and if so, the process proceeds to step S4-9, where HTML is transmitted.
[0034]
On the client browser 100, the HTML transmitted in step S4-2 (transmitted in S4-9) is received. Then, a fax transmission screen is displayed on the browser 100 based on the received HTML.
[0035]
On the FAX transmission screen, the user instructs FAX transmission parameters (step S4-3). The facsimile transmission parameter is a document name or a facsimile transmission destination facsimile number, as described above. As described in FIG. 2, when the user clicks the transmission button 30, the FAX transmission parameter input by the user is transmitted to the FAX server 10.
[0036]
The httpd 12 running on the facsimile server 10 receives the facsimile transmission parameters sent from the browser 100 in step S4-6. Then, in step S4-7, it is checked whether or not the content transmitted is a request for HTML. Since the data transmitted by the browser 100 in step S4-3 is not an HTML request but a facsimile transmission parameter, the process proceeds to step S4-8.
[0037]
In step S4-8, it is checked whether the CGI program requires activation. As described above, since the transmission of the facsimile transmission parameter in step S4-3 means that a facsimile transmission is requested based on this parameter, the CGI program is activated based on this request. . Therefore, it is determined in step S4-8 that the CGI program has been requested, and the CGI program is activated in step S4-10. If it is not determined that the activation of the CGI program is requested in step S4-8, other processing is performed in step S4-11, and then a request from the browser 100 is received again in step S4-6. The processing shifts to.
[0038]
In step S4-10, the CGI program of the fax service is started.
[0039]
The activated CGI program first analyzes the parameters sent from the httpd12 in step S4-12.
[0040]
Then, in step S4-13, various parameters for generating the FAX format are set based on the analysis result of the parameters.
[0041]
Then, in step S4-14, actual fax transmission is performed. This transmission is performed using the existing FAX service function as described in FIG. Specifically, facsimile transmission is performed by sending the set parameters to the FAX format generation / transmission unit 20.
[0042]
The FAX format generation / transmission unit 20, which has received the parameters, performs facsimile transmission in the same manner as the existing method.
[0043]
In step S4-15, the result of facsimile transmission is confirmed. Then, in step S4-16, the facsimile transmission result is transmitted to the client. Specifically, a screen displaying the transmission result of the facsimile is described in HTML, and the HTML is transmitted to the browser 100 on the client side.
[0044]
When the browser 100 receives the HTML that is the facsimile transmission result (S4-4), the facsimile transmission result is displayed based on the received HTML. An example of this screen is shown in FIG.
[0045]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, a facsimile apparatus which can be remotely operated is realized by the existing WWW mechanism. As a result, a facsimile transmission instruction can be made from the existing WWW browser. Further, as described in FIG. 2 and the like, the facsimile transmission screen is described in HTML on the server, so even if a function to be processed is changed or a new processing function is added, the HTML on the server side is used. Can be dealt with by simply changing the program, and no client program change is required.
[0046]
Further, since the processing is executed on the server side, there is an effect that it is not necessary to prepare a high-performance device on the client side.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, first, according to the present invention, a predetermined document is transmitted to an external facsimile apparatus in response to a request from the client, so that the client performs facsimile transmission even when the user does not have a document. It is possible. In particular, by specifying a facsimile machine near the client, a desired document can be extracted from a facsimile machine near the user.
[0048]
Second, according to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not facsimile transmission has been successful, so that a facsimile apparatus with improved convenience can be obtained.
[0049]
Thirdly, according to the present invention, since various parameters of facsimile transmission can be specified, a facsimile apparatus capable of performing facsimile transmission in which transmission parameters are finely specified can be obtained.
[0050]
Fourth, according to the present invention, since a so-called WWW mechanism is used as a facsimile request receiving means, it is possible to access from a client using a WWW browser which is an existing technology.
[0051]
Fifth, according to the present invention, since a so-called CGI program is used as a means for analyzing a document name or the like, it is possible to easily construct a facsimile apparatus using a WWW mechanism.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a flow of processing centered on a FAX server according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a facsimile transmission screen according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of a facsimile transmission result screen according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation of facsimile transmission in the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 FAX server, 12 httpd, 14 HTML file, 16 CGI program, 18 document file, 20 FAX format generation / transmission unit, 22 FAX communication unit, 30 transmission button, 32 reset button, 100 browser, 110 facsimile machine.

Claims (4)

Facsimile request receiving means for receiving a facsimile transmission request output by the client,
Analyzing the content of the facsimile transmission request received by the facsimile request receiving means, a document name to be transmitted, and an external facsimile device as a transmission destination, analysis means for specifying
Facsimile transmission means for transmitting the contents of the document name specified by the analysis means to the external facsimile apparatus specified by the analysis means,
Only including,
The analysis means,
Parameter analysis means for analyzing any one or more parameters of the file path name of the document name, the presence or absence of a cover sheet in facsimile transmission, the resolution, or the comment of the sender in facsimile transmission,
Has,
The facsimile transmission means,
Facsimile transmission control means for controlling facsimile transmission based on the parameters analyzed by the parameter analysis unit,
Facsimile machine characterized by having: The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
A transmission result notifying unit that notifies the client whether or not the transmission of the facsimile to the external facsimile apparatus is successful;
A facsimile machine comprising: The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1,
The facsimile request receiving means,
Storage means for storing a hypertext transport protocol daemon program for configuring a world wide web server;
Processor means for executing the hypertext transport protocol daemon program;
A facsimile machine comprising: The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3 ,
The analysis means,
Storage means for storing a common gateway interface application program started by the hypertext transport protocol daemon program,
Processor means for executing the common gateway interface application program;
A facsimile machine comprising:

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