JP6108433B2 - Image forming apparatus, facsimile information transmission method, and facsimile information transmission program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a facsimile information transmission method, and a facsimile information transmission program, and in particular, an image forming apparatus capable of performing facsimile proxy transmission using a one-touch transmission destination setting button for facsimile transmission as it is, and facsimile information transmission The present invention relates to a method and a facsimile information transmission program.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses having a copy function, a facsimile communication function, a network communication function, and the like are installed in various places. When such an image forming apparatus is used, data such as images can be transmitted and received between a facsimile terminal connected to a public telephone network, a network terminal connected to a local area network or the Internet.

  By the way, in the image forming apparatus, an abnormality that can be dealt with by the user such as a paper jam or out of paper and an abnormality that cannot be dealt with by the user such as a component failure may occur.

  For this reason, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-013550 “Control Method for Network Facsimile Device” of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-013550, when an abnormality that cannot be dealt with by the user occurs in the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus Has proposed a method of contacting an emergency contact address registered in advance using e-mail. Appropriate measures can be taken by contacting using such electronic mail.

  However, the user cannot use the facsimile communication function after contacting the emergency contact by the method of Patent Document 1 until the emergency contact administrator repairs the abnormality. Therefore, it will be a hindrance when it is desired to perform facsimile transmission immediately for business.

  As an alternative means for dealing with such a situation, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-177487, “Facsimile Communication System and Facsimile Device” of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-177487, the image forming device is another image forming device (relay facsimile device, hereinafter, Facsimile proxy transmission in which image data is transmitted to a relay terminal) by a network communication function, and the image data received by the relay facsimile apparatus (relay machine) is transmitted to a destination facsimile terminal by a facsimile communication function. Suggest features.

  However, when the user temporarily uses the facsimile proxy transmission function of the relay facsimile apparatus (relay machine) until the abnormality of the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus is repaired, for example, Patent Document 3 While looking at the number of the other party's facsimile terminal that has been set in the one-touch destination setting button for facsimile transmission as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-147669, the facsimile agency It takes time and effort to perform transmission, or to change the setting of the one-touch destination setting button from the conventional facsimile transmission to the facsimile proxy transmission. In particular, when performing facsimile proxy transmission to several tens to several hundreds of facsimile terminals, it is assumed that the burden of the operation described above further increases.

JP 2000-013550 A (page 3-5) JP 2009-177487 A (page 4-8) JP 2010-147669 (page 6-8)

  As described above, in the conventional technique as described in Patent Document 2, when an abnormality occurs in the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus, the temporary operation is performed until the abnormality of the facsimile communication function is repaired. In other words, even if the user tries to use a relay facsimile apparatus (relay machine) using the facsimile proxy transmission function, the number of the facsimile terminal of the other party that has been set in the one-touch destination setting button for facsimile transmission until now. From the viewpoint of operability, it may take time and effort to perform facsimile proxy transmission, or change the setting of the one-touch destination setting button from the previous facsimile transmission to the facsimile proxy transmission. There is a problem. In particular, when performing facsimile proxy transmission to a large number of facsimile terminals ranging from several tens to several hundreds, the operation burden as described above is further increased.

(Object of the present invention)
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and when an abnormality occurs in the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus, the user of the image forming apparatus has not set anything up to now. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a facsimile information transmission method, and a facsimile information transmission program capable of performing facsimile proxy transmission using the used one-touch destination setting button for facsimile transmission as it is.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus, a facsimile information transmission method, and a facsimile information transmission program according to the present invention mainly adopt the following characteristic configuration.

  (1) A first image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having at least a facsimile communication function for transmitting / receiving facsimile information and a network communication function for transmitting / receiving data via a network at a predetermined cycle. When the facsimile communication function is regularly monitored for abnormality or by using the facsimile communication function, the facsimile is set as a facsimile transmission mode to a designated destination or a destination preset in a one-touch destination setting button. When an abnormality in the facsimile communication function is detected when trying to transmit information, the detected abnormality is transmitted as an emergency contact notification to the emergency contact, and the emergency contact from which the emergency contact notification has been received is transmitted. The facsimile information transmission mode is set to the facsimile The communication mode is changed to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, and the network communication function is used to transmit information on the original data of the facsimile information as image data to the relay device via the network, and the image received by the relay device. When data is converted into facsimile information and switched to a relay destination that is designated or forwarded to a destination that is set in advance with the one-touch destination setting button, or a repair from an abnormality in the facsimile communication function is detected The repair from the detected abnormality is transmitted to the emergency contact as an emergency contact report for repair, and the facsimile information transmission mode is set according to the instruction from the emergency contact that has received the emergency contact report for repair. Return from the facsimile proxy communication mode to the facsimile transmission mode Using said facsimile communication function, and transmits the facsimile information to a partner that is preset to the destination or the one-touch destination setting button specified.

  (2) A second image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having at least a facsimile communication function for transmitting / receiving facsimile information and a network communication function for transmitting / receiving data via a network at a predetermined cycle. When the facsimile communication function is regularly monitored for abnormality or by using the facsimile communication function, the facsimile is set as a facsimile transmission mode to a designated destination or a destination preset in a one-touch destination setting button. When an abnormality in the facsimile communication function is detected when attempting to transmit information, the detected abnormality is displayed on the screen as an emergency contact notification, and the facsimile is entered in accordance with an instruction input from an administrator who has visually recognized the emergency contact notification. Whether the information transmission mode is the facsimile communication mode. By changing to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, using the network communication function, information on the original data of the facsimile information is transmitted as image data to the relay machine via the network, and the image data received at the relay machine is transmitted to the facsimile machine. Switched to the relay transfer operation to transfer to the destination specified by converting to information or the destination set in advance in the one-touch destination setting button, and when the repair from the malfunction of the facsimile communication function is detected The repair from the abnormality is displayed on the screen as an emergency contact notification for repair, and the facsimile information transmission mode is changed from the facsimile proxy communication mode to the facsimile in accordance with an instruction inputted by the administrator who has visually recognized the emergency contact notification for repair. Return to the transmission mode and switch the facsimile communication function There are, and transmits the facsimile information to a partner that is preset to the destination or the one-touch destination setting button specified.

  (3) A first facsimile information transmitting method according to the present invention is a facsimile information transmitting method in an image forming apparatus having at least a facsimile communication function for transmitting / receiving facsimile information and a network communication function for transmitting / receiving data via a network. , When regularly monitoring for an abnormality in the facsimile communication function at a predetermined cycle, or using the facsimile communication function, a specified destination or a destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button When an attempt is made to send facsimile information as a facsimile transmission mode, if an abnormality in the facsimile communication function is detected, the detected abnormality is sent as an emergency contact notification to the emergency contact and the emergency contact notification is received. According to the instructions from the emergency contact The facsimile information transmission mode is changed from the facsimile communication mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, and the network communication function is used to transmit information on the original data of the facsimile information as image data to the relay device via the network, The image data received at the relay is converted into facsimile information and switched to a designated destination or a forwarding transfer operation that is forwarded to a destination set in advance by the one-touch destination setting button. When the repair from the abnormality is detected, the detected repair from the abnormality is transmitted to the emergency contact as an emergency contact report for repair, and the instruction from the emergency contact that has received the emergency contact report for the repair The facsimile information transmission mode is changed to Back from mode to the facsimile transmission mode, using said facsimile communication function, and transmits the facsimile information to a partner that is preset to the destination or the one-touch destination setting button specified.

  (4) A second facsimile information transmitting method according to the present invention is a facsimile information transmitting method in an image forming apparatus having at least a facsimile communication function for transmitting / receiving facsimile information and a network communication function for transmitting / receiving data via a network. , When regularly monitoring for an abnormality in the facsimile communication function at a predetermined cycle, or using the facsimile communication function, a specified destination or a destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button When an attempt is made to send facsimile information as a facsimile transmission mode, if an abnormality in the facsimile communication function is detected, the detected abnormality is displayed on the screen as an emergency contact notification and input from an administrator who has visually recognized the emergency contact notification. The facsimile information The transmission mode is changed from the facsimile communication mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, and the information on the original data of the facsimile information is transmitted as image data to the relay device via the network using the network communication function. The image data received in the machine is converted into facsimile information and switched to a designated destination or a relay transfer operation to be transferred to a destination set in advance in the one-touch destination setting button, and from the abnormality of the facsimile communication function When the repair is detected, the repair from the detected abnormality is displayed on the screen as an emergency contact report for repair, and the facsimile information transmission mode is in accordance with an instruction input from the administrator who has visually recognized the emergency report for repair. From the facsimile proxy communication mode to the facsimile Back to signal mode, using said facsimile communication function, and transmits the facsimile information to a partner that is preset to the destination or the one-touch destination setting button specified.

  (5) A facsimile information transmission program according to the present invention is characterized in that at least the facsimile information transmission method described in (3) or (4) is implemented as a program executable by a computer.

  According to the image forming apparatus, facsimile information transmission method, and facsimile information transmission program of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  First, when an abnormality occurs in the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus, an emergency contact notification is transmitted to, for example, an emergency contact manager's terminal and the emergency contact is received. Automatically including the transmission mode of the one-touch destination setting button in the facsimile proxy transmission mode in which information about the original data of the facsimile information is transmitted as image data from the administrator's terminal to the repeater by the network communication function. Therefore, the user can perform facsimile proxy transmission using the one-touch transmission destination setting button for facsimile transmission without setting anything.

  Secondly, after the abnormality of the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus is repaired, the fact is sent as an emergency contact notification for repair to the administrator's terminal of the emergency contact, for example. Sending the image forming apparatus to the original facsimile communication mode that uses the facsimile communication function by canceling the facsimile proxy transmission mode that has been set so far, from the terminal of the administrator of the emergency contact received, and sending the one-touch destination setting button Since the configuration including the mode can be automatically restored, the user can perform facsimile transmission using the one-touch transmission destination setting button for facsimile transmission without setting anything.

1 is a network configuration diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus and its surrounding environment according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram for explaining an example of an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a mail address of a mobile terminal that is an emergency contact that is a destination of an e-mail that reports an abnormality of the facsimile communication unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. is there. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a table for registering destination information of an image forming apparatus that is a relay when the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 performs facsimile proxy transmission as the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a setting registration table for performing function setting registration in a facsimile proxy transmission mode release state of a one-touch transmission destination setting button provided in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention. is there. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a setting registration table for performing function setting registration when a facsimile proxy transmission mode is set for a one-touch transmission destination setting button provided in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention. is there. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of contents of an emergency contact mail received from the image forming apparatus in the mobile terminal of the emergency contact shown in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a screen diagram showing an example of a one-touch destination setting button display screen displayed on the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus when the facsimile proxy transmission mode of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is set as the first embodiment of the present invention. It is. 1 is a screen diagram showing an example of a one-touch destination setting button display screen displayed on the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus when the facsimile proxy transmission mode of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is released as the first embodiment of the present invention. It is. FIG. 5 is a network configuration diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention and its surrounding environment. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 11 as a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a screen diagram for explaining an example of contents of an emergency contact message displayed on the screen of the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 11 as the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a screen diagram for explaining an example of a transmission mode selection screen for selecting a transmission mode of facsimile information of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 11 as the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a network block diagram for demonstrating the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and its surrounding environment. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a table for registering destination information of an image forming apparatus that is a relay when the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 15 performs facsimile proxy transmission as the third embodiment of the present invention. As the third embodiment of the present invention, a repeater return waiting time (allowable) in which the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 15 can wait for a response from the repeater in response to an inquiry to the repeater when performing proxy proxy transmission. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the table which registers (waiting time). 16 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 15 as a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example different from FIG. 8 of the content of an emergency contact mail received from the image forming apparatus in the mobile terminal of the emergency contact shown in FIG. 15 as the third embodiment of the present invention.

  Preferred embodiments of an image forming apparatus, a facsimile information transmission method, and a facsimile information transmission program according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the image forming apparatus and the facsimile information transmission method according to the present invention will be described. However, the facsimile information transmission method may be implemented as a facsimile information transmission program executable by a computer, or Needless to say, the facsimile information transmission program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

(Features of the present invention)
Prior to the description of the embodiments of the present invention, an outline of the features of the present invention will be described first. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having at least a facsimile communication function and a network communication function. When an abnormality occurs in the facsimile communication function, a user of the image forming apparatus has used it without setting anything. The main feature is that facsimile proxy transmission can be performed using the one-touch transmission destination setting button for facsimile transmission as it is.

  More specifically, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes at least the following means. That is, an image forming apparatus having at least a facsimile communication function for transmitting / receiving facsimile information and a network communication function for transmitting / receiving various data via a network (for example, an IP network), and means for detecting abnormality of the facsimile communication function Means for notifying the registered emergency contact of the detected abnormality of the facsimile communication function, means for determining an instruction from the emergency contact, and a one-touch destination setting button for facsimile transmission for facsimile proxy transmission A one-touch transmission destination setting button, a one-touch transmission destination setting button converted for facsimile proxy transmission to a one-touch transmission destination setting button for facsimile transmission before conversion, and a relay device for one-touch proxy transmission Less means to choose It is the main features that are also provided.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in the emergency contact notification for reporting the abnormality of the facsimile communication function to the emergency contact, for example, the emergency contact mail, the image forming apparatus is set to the facsimile proxy transmission mode according to the emergency contact selection instruction. One-touch destination setting for all facsimile transmissions set by the user by returning the link information selection instruction result from the emergency contact by adding link information that can be set to For the button, change the destination of the facsimile information in the facsimile transmission mode and set it as the destination of the relay machine in the facsimile substitution transmission mode. When the one-touch destination setting button is pressed, the destination of the facsimile information is passed through the relay machine. Enables relay transfer. Thus, when the facsimile communication function is abnormal, it is not necessary for the user to change the setting of the one-touch transmission destination setting button, and the information regarding the original data of the facsimile information is used as image data by using the destination number of the repeater. In addition to the effect of enabling transmission to a relay station and relaying it to the final destination, the user can make a one-touch transmission destination at any timing before or after detecting the abnormality of the facsimile communication function. There is also an effect that it is not necessary to set the relay destination for the setting buttons (especially when a large number of one-touch destination setting buttons, which are several tens to several hundreds, are provided) Can expect).

(Configuration example of the first embodiment)
Next, a configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the surrounding environment of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus and its surrounding environment according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the network configuration diagram of FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is connected to an IP (Internet Protocol) network 2 and a public telephone network 6. In addition to the image forming apparatus 1, the IP network 2 connects a mobile phone network 4 in which a mobile terminal 3 possessed by an administrator who is an emergency contact to be notified when an abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus 1. In addition, an image forming apparatus 5 (that is, a relay facsimile apparatus, hereinafter referred to as a relay machine) having a facsimile proxy transmission function is also connected. The public telephone network 6 connects the image forming apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 5 (relay machine), and further, a facsimile terminal to which facsimile information from the image forming apparatus 1 and image forming apparatus 5 (relay machine) is transmitted. 7 is also connected.

  In the facsimile transmission mode, the image forming apparatus 1 can transmit facsimile information to the facsimile terminal 7 via the public telephone network 6 by using the facsimile communication function, and in the facsimile proxy transmission mode, Using the network communication function, information about the original data of the facsimile information for the facsimile terminal 7 is transmitted as image data to the image forming apparatus 5 (relay machine) via the IP network 2, and image formation of the relay machine is performed. The apparatus 5 can also send facsimile information about the image data to the facsimile terminal 7 via the public telephone network 6. That is, the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine is also connected to the IP network 2 and the public telephone network 6 as described above, and the facsimile information from the image forming apparatus 1 to the facsimile terminal 7 is transmitted via the IP network 2. Image data relating to the original data is converted into facsimile information for the facsimile terminal 7 and transmitted to the facsimile terminal 7 via the public telephone network 6.

  Further, when the image forming apparatus 1 detects an abnormality in the facsimile communication function or the like of the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the network communication function to make an emergency via the mobile phone network 4 connected to the IP network 2. By connecting to the portable terminal 3 possessed by the contact manager, an abnormality such as the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1 can be reported to the emergency contact manager. When an abnormality such as a facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1 is detected, the image forming apparatus 1 and the public telephone network 6 are set in a disconnected state where facsimile information cannot be transmitted and received.

  Next, components other than the image forming apparatus 1 in the network configuration diagram of FIG. 1 will be described first, and the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described later as a block configuration diagram of FIG. First, the IP network 2 refers to a network to which an IP (Internet Protocol) communication protocol such as a LAN (Local Area Network) constructed in a company is applied, and is realized by an interface such as 100BASE-T or 1000BASE-T. .

  The portable terminal 3 is a portable wireless telephone, and has a function of browsing a Web page on the Internet, a function of transmitting and receiving an electronic mail, etc. in addition to a call. In the first embodiment, as described above, it is assumed that the portable terminal 3 is possessed by an administrator who is an emergency contact address of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The mobile phone network 4 is a network for the mobile terminal 3 to perform a call or Internet communication, and is composed of a base station that communicates with the mobile terminal 3 and an aggregation station that connects the base station. In the first embodiment, as described above, the cellular phone network 4 is connected between the image forming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal 3 serving as an emergency contact terminal of the image forming apparatus 1 with an IP network. Although the mobile phone network 4 is not shown, the mobile phone network 4 can also be connected to the public telephone network 6.

  The image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine is a device having a facsimile communication function, a network communication function, and a facsimile proxy transmission function, and has a facsimile proxy transmission function for image data received via the IP network 2 using the network communication function. Using this function, a facsimile transfer function for converting the image data to facsimile information about the image data and transmitting the converted facsimile information to the designated facsimile terminal 7 via the public telephone network 6 by the facsimile communication function is realized. doing.

  The public telephone network 6 connects the fixed telephone lines connected to the respective devices of the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine, and the facsimile terminal 7 by a telephone exchange to perform mutual communication between the devices. It is a communication network.

  The facsimile terminal 7 is a device that transmits and receives facsimile information via the public telephone network 6.

  Next, an example of the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to the block configuration diagram of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram for explaining an example of the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2 includes a scanner unit 1a, an operation display unit 1b, a nonvolatile memory unit 1c, an image information compression / playback unit 1d, a facsimile control unit 1e, a LAN control unit 1f, a control unit 1g, and a control unit 1g. The button conversion unit 1h is provided at least. Here, the button conversion unit 1h realizes both functions of means for converting the one-touch destination setting button from a button for facsimile transmission to a button for facsimile proxy transmission and a means for returning from the button for facsimile proxy transmission to the button for facsimile transmission. One-touch transmission destination setting button conversion means.

  The scanner unit 1a is a document reading unit that reads a document placed on a document table, reads the document, performs image processing, and converts the document into electronic data. The operation display unit 1b is an operation display unit that allows the user to input an instruction to the image forming apparatus 1 or display information such as an emergency notification message from the image forming apparatus 1 to the user on the screen. is there.

  The non-volatile memory unit 1c is a storage unit that stores various data in the image forming apparatus 1 and stores data shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 (or FIG. 6). Here, FIG. 3 cannot be dealt with by the user, such as a component failure, in the facsimile control unit 1e which is the facsimile communication means of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention. An example of the mail address of the mobile terminal 3 of the emergency contact that is the destination of an electronic mail (hereinafter referred to as an emergency contact mail) used as an example of an emergency contact notification indicating an abnormality of the facsimile communication means when an abnormality is detected It is explanatory drawing which shows. In the explanatory diagram of FIG. 3, the mail address' support @ abc. co. In the example, jp ′ is stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 1c. Note that the emergency contact mail address shown in FIG. 3 is also referred to in a third embodiment to be described later.

  FIG. 4 shows destination information (relay destination) of the image forming apparatus 5 which is a transfer destination relay when the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 performs facsimile proxy transmission as the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a table for registering (information), and the destination information of the image forming apparatus 5 is designated by an IP address or a mail address. In the explanatory diagram of FIG. 4, the destination information of the image forming apparatus 5 that is a relay, that is, the relay destination information 20 is stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 1 c as an IP address “192.168.1.135”. Show. Note that the destination information of the image forming apparatus 5 that is a relay machine shown in FIG. 4 is also referred to in a second embodiment to be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a setting registration table for performing function setting registration in the facsimile proxy transmission mode release state of the one-touch transmission destination setting button provided in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example. In the explanatory diagram of FIG. 5, the one-touch transmission destination setting buttons are composed of N (N: any positive integer) buttons, and the function of each of the N one-touch transmission destination setting buttons is designated as the setting registration table 30. For this reason, the setting contents of the button name 31, the destination 32, the transmission mode 33, and the conversion flag 34 are stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 1c.

  In the setting registration table 30 of FIG. 5, the button name 31 is the name of each of the N one-touch transmission destination setting buttons. The destination 32 is destination information indicating a destination of a destination to which facsimile information is transmitted when each one-touch destination setting button is selected, and is specified by a telephone number, a mail address, an IP address, or the like. The transmission mode 33 is information indicating a transmission type when each one-touch transmission destination setting button is selected, and is designated by a facsimile transmission mode, a network transmission mode, a facsimile proxy transmission mode, or the like. The conversion flag 34 is information indicating whether or not the transmission mode 33 is converted from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, and is “OFF” at the initial setting when the transmission mode 33 is set to the facsimile transmission mode. “ON” while the transmission mode 33 is converted from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile transmission mode, and “OFF” while the transmission mode 33 returns from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile transmission mode and the facsimile transmission continues. It is.

  In the setting registration table 30 of FIG. 5, for example, in the case of the first one-touch transmission destination setting button, the button name 31 is “Company A” indicating that it is a button for facsimile transmission for Company A, and the destination 32 shows a setting example in which the telephone number indicating the address of Company A is “12345”, the transmission mode 33 is “facsimile transmission”, and the conversion flag 34 is “OFF”. In the case of the second one-touch destination setting button, the button name 31 is “Company B” indicating that it is a button for mail transmission for Company B, and the destination 32 indicates the destination of Company B. In this example, the mail address is “abc@x.co.jp”, the transmission mode 33 is “network transmission”, and the conversion flag 34 is “OFF”.

  FIG. 6 shows a setting registration table 30 for performing function setting registration at the time of setting the facsimile substitution transmission mode of the one-touch transmission destination setting button provided in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example in which the transmission mode of the image forming apparatus 1 is switched from the facsimile transmission mode to the fax millimeter proxy transmission mode, and the one-touch transmission destination setting button in the facsimile proxy transmission mode cancel state of the setting registration table illustrated in FIG. Shows a state after the transmission mode 33 is switched from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode.

  As shown in the setting registration table 30 in FIG. 6, when the transmission mode 33 is switched from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile substitution transmission mode, the transmission mode 33 is set to perform facsimile transmission in the facsimile substitution transmission mode release state in FIG. For the one-touch transmission destination setting button that has been set, for example, for the first one-touch transmission destination setting button, the button name 31 and the destination 32 do not change from the state of FIG. Although “12345” remains unchanged, the transmission mode 33 is changed from “facsimile transmission” to “facsimile proxy transmission”, and the conversion flag 34 is also switched from “OFF” to “ON”. On the other hand, for the one-touch destination setting button for which the transmission mode 33 is not set to perform facsimile transmission in the facsimile proxy transmission mode release state in FIG. 5, for example, the second one-touch destination setting button 5, all of the button name 31, destination 32, transmission mode 33, and conversion flag 34 do not change from the state of FIG. 5, respectively, “Company B”, “abc@x.co.jp”, “Network” “Transmission” and “OFF” remain.

  Note that the emergency contact mail address 10 in FIG. 3, the relay destination information 20 in FIG. 4, the button name 31 of the one-touch destination setting button in the setting registration table 30 in FIG. 5, the destination 32, and the transmission mode 33 are used. When the user uses the image forming apparatus 1, the user or the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 sets and registers in advance in the nonvolatile memory unit 1c via the operation display unit 1b.

  Next, returning to the description of each part of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2, the image information compression / playback unit 1d converts electronic data (image data) obtained by converting the document read by the scanner unit 1a serving as document reading means. This is an image conversion means for generating facsimile information by compression or expansion. Further, the facsimile control unit 1e is connected to a telephone line, thereby realizing a facsimile communication function for realizing a facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving facsimile information between the image forming apparatus 1 and another apparatus connected to the public telephone network 6. Means. The facsimile control unit 1e is a part that also detects abnormality of the facsimile communication function.

  Further, the LAN control unit 1f, which is a network communication means, transmits image data, call information, and mail data between the image forming apparatus 1 and other devices connected to the IP network 2, the mobile phone network 4, and the public telephone network 6. Is a part that realizes a network communication function for transferring, such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), POP3 (Post Office Protocol), The communication protocol is controlled.

  The control unit 1g controls the entire image forming apparatus 1 and includes a button conversion unit 1h. As described above, when the transmission mode is switched from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, the button conversion unit 1h selects the one-touch transmission destination setting button in which the transmission mode 33 in FIG. 5 is set to “facsimile transmission”. This is a part to be searched and converted from a one-touch transmission destination setting button for facsimile transmission to a one-touch transmission destination setting button for facsimile proxy transmission. When this one-touch transmission destination setting button is selected and pressed, a facsimile is sent instead of facsimile transmission. Perform proxy transmission. The state of the image forming apparatus 1 after switching to the facsimile proxy transmission operation is referred to as a “facsimile proxy transmission mode” including the state of the one-touch transmission destination setting button.

  Further, the button conversion unit 1h can return the one-touch transmission destination setting button converted for facsimile proxy transmission to the one-touch transmission destination setting button for facsimile transmission before conversion. Returning the state of the image forming apparatus 1 to the state in which the facsimile transmission operation before the conversion is performed, including the state of the one-touch destination setting button, is referred to as “releasing the facsimile proxy transmission mode” and is returned to before the conversion. The state of the image forming apparatus 1 is referred to as “state when the facsimile proxy transmission mode is released”.

  In the facsimile substitution transmission mode, not only when the user designates a destination, but all one-touch transmission destination setting buttons for facsimile transmission in the image forming apparatus 1 are converted into one-touch transmission destination setting buttons for facsimile substitution transmission. Therefore, it is desirable to limit the case where the conversion from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode can be performed only when the conversion is permitted by an instruction from the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1. Conversely, it is desirable that the facsimile proxy transmission mode can be canceled only when the cancellation is permitted by an instruction from the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1.

(Description of operation of the first embodiment)
Next, an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 as the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 and the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. . In the following description, the term “step” means each processing step in the flowchart of FIG.

  Here, FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the contents of the emergency contact mail received from the image forming apparatus 1 in the mobile terminal 3 of the emergency contact shown in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the present invention. The contents of the emergency contact mail shown in FIG. 8 are also referred to in a third embodiment described later. FIG. 9 shows one-touch destination setting displayed on the operation display unit 1b of the image forming apparatus 1 when the facsimile proxy transmission mode of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is set as the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a screen diagram illustrating an example of a button display screen. FIG. 10 illustrates an operation display unit of the image forming apparatus 1 in the facsimile proxy transmission mode cancel state of the image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment of the invention. It is a screen figure which shows an example of the one-touch transmission destination setting button display screen displayed on the screen by 1b.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the facsimile control unit 1e of the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether there is an abnormality in the facsimile communication function that cannot be dealt with by the user every predetermined period, for example, every 5 seconds. Monitoring is performed (step S1). When the abnormality of the facsimile communication function is detected (step S2: Yes), the facsimile control unit 1e makes an emergency contact of the mobile terminal 3 as an emergency contact that can be connected via the IP network 2 and the mobile phone network 4. Facsimile communication that cannot be handled by the user via the LAN control unit 1f, which is a network communication means, for the previous mail address 10 (in the example shown in FIG. 3, 'support@abc.co.jp') An emergency contact mail indicating that a malfunction has occurred is transmitted (step S3).

  On the other hand, when the abnormality of the facsimile communication function is not detected (step S2: No), the process returns to step S1 to periodically monitor the abnormality of the facsimile communication function. Even when the abnormality of the facsimile communication function is repaired and returned to a usable state, the facsimile control unit 1e detects recovery from the abnormality (step S2: Yes) and recovers from the abnormality. An emergency contact report for repair indicating that, for example, an emergency contact mail is transmitted to the portable terminal 3 (step S3).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the emergency contact mail 40 transmitted to the mobile terminal 3 when an abnormality is detected is, for example, an abnormality notification text for reporting the occurrence of an abnormality “an error has occurred in the facsimile communication function!” 41, and a treatment selection sentence 42 for setting and canceling the facsimile proxy transmission mode, such as “Press the following ON to switch to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, and press the following OFF to cancel”. Like the “ON” and “OFF” selection buttons arranged at the bottom, an HTML mail composed of an HTTP request 43 that is link information for communicating with the image forming apparatus 1 is used. In the case of the emergency contact mail 40 for repairing reporting recovery from an abnormality, the abnormality report text 41 is an abnormal repair report text such as “Facsimile communication function abnormality repaired!”, For example.

  When the mobile terminal 3 receives the emergency contact mail 40, the administrator of the emergency contact address indicates “ON” or “ON” of the link information displayed as the HTTP request 43 of the emergency contact mail 40 received by the mobile terminal 3. When one of the “OFF” is selected and the pressing operation is performed, the mobile terminal 3 selects the image forming apparatus 1 that is the transmission source of the emergency contact mail 40 via the mobile phone network 4 and the IP network 2. The HTTP request is transmitted. The image forming apparatus 1 receives the HTTP request transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 via the LAN control unit 1f (step S4).

  If the received HTTP request is an “ON” request (step S5: Yes), the transmission mode of the image forming apparatus 1 is set to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, and the button conversion unit 1h uses the facsimile shown in FIG. In the setting registration table 30 related to the one-touch transmission destination setting button in the proxy transmission mode release state, the one-touch transmission destination setting button whose transmission mode 33 is set to “facsimile transmission” is searched (step S6).

  When the one-touch transmission destination setting button set to “facsimile transmission” is searched (step S7: Yes), as described in the setting registration table 30 in FIGS. 5 and 6, the one-touch transmission destination setting button The transmission mode 33 is converted from “facsimile transmission” to “facsimile proxy transmission”, and the conversion flag 34 is set to “ON” (step S8). Even if the destination of facsimile information is not the destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button, but is any destination entered by the user at the time of transmission, as described above, the facsimile transmission mode depends on the destination. The transmission operation is switched to the transmission operation in the facsimile proxy transmission mode. Further, as shown in the screen diagram of FIG. 9, the fact that it is <in the facsimile proxy transmission mode> is displayed on the operation display unit 1b to notify the user of that fact (step S9).

  On the other hand, when the one-touch transmission destination setting button set to “facsimile transmission” does not exist (step S7: No), the one-touch transmission destination setting button is terminated without performing any processing.

  In step S5, if the received HTTP request is an “OFF” request (step S5: No), the facsimile proxy transmission mode of the transmission mode of the image forming apparatus 1 is canceled to return to the facsimile transmission mode, and the button The conversion unit 1h searches for the one-touch transmission destination setting button in which the conversion flag 34 is set to “ON” in the setting registration table 30 related to the one-touch transmission destination setting button when the facsimile proxy transmission mode is set as shown in FIG. (Step S10).

  When a one-touch transmission destination setting button whose conversion flag 34 is set to “ON” is searched (step S11: Yes), as described in the setting registration table 30 of FIGS. 5 and 6, the one-touch transmission is performed. The transmission mode 33 of the first setting button is converted from “facsimile proxy transmission” to “facsimile transmission”, and the conversion flag 34 is set to “OFF” (step S12). In addition, as described above, the facsimile proxy transmission mode is also used when the transmission destination of the facsimile information is not a destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button but an arbitrary destination input by the user at the time of transmission. The transmission operation returns to the transmission operation in the facsimile transmission mode. Further, as shown in the screen diagram of FIG. 10, the display indicating that <the facsimile proxy transmission mode is in progress> is deleted, the original state where the transmission mode is not displayed is restored, and the screen is displayed on the operation display unit 1b. As a result, the user is notified of this (step S13).

  On the other hand, if there is no one-touch destination setting button for which the conversion flag 34 is set to “ON” (step S11: No), the one-touch destination setting button is terminated without performing any processing.

  By operating as described above, an emergency that the user cannot handle the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1 has occurred to the mobile terminal 3 possessed by the administrator of the emergency contact. By transmitting the contact mail 40 as an emergency notification, the image forming apparatus 1 can be automatically set to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, and the user does not change the setting of the one-touch transmission destination setting button. Just by pressing the one-touch destination setting button, the one-touch destination setting button is designated via the IP network 2 and the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine in the facsimile proxy transmission mode. The facsimile information can be transmitted to the destination facsimile terminal 7.

  In addition, when an abnormality in the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1 is repaired, an emergency contact mail 40 indicating that fact is transmitted as an emergency contact report for repair, whereby the image forming apparatus 1 is in a facsimile proxy transmission mode. The user can automatically return to the facsimile transmission mode, and the user can change the setting of the one-touch transmission destination setting button without changing the setting of the one-touch transmission destination setting button. The facsimile information can be transmitted to the destination facsimile terminal 7 designated by the one-touch transmission destination setting button via the public telephone network 6.

  Furthermore, link information that enables the image forming apparatus 1 to be switched from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, for example, in the emergency contact mail 40 that reports the abnormality of the facsimile communication function to the mobile terminal 3 of the emergency contact address. Since the request is added as an HTTP request 43, the link information selection instruction result is returned from the portable terminal 3 of the emergency contact point, so that all the one-touch destination setting buttons for facsimile transmission set by the user can be obtained. The destination of the facsimile information in the facsimile transmission mode is set to the destination number of the relay machine in the facsimile substitution transmission mode, and when the one-touch destination setting button is pressed, the final destination of the facsimile information is passed through the relay machine. Enables relay transfer to the facsimile terminal 7 .

  Thus, when the facsimile communication function is abnormal, it is not necessary for the user to change the setting of the one-touch transmission destination setting button. Using the destination number of the repeater, the information about the original data of the facsimile information is automatically sent to the repeater as image data, and the converted facsimile information from the repeater is set to the one-touch destination setting button. An effect of enabling relay transfer to the other party that has been performed is obtained. Furthermore, there is an effect that the user does not need to set the destination of the relay device to the one-touch transmission destination setting button at any timing before or after the abnormality detection of the facsimile communication function (several tens of times). In particular, when a large number of one-touch destination setting buttons as many as several hundreds are provided, a great effect can be expected).

  In the above description, the administrator may always carry the emergency contact terminal so that the emergency contact mail 40 can be confirmed wherever the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 is. Although the portable terminal 3 can be used, a PC (Personal Computer) or the like may be used as long as the terminal can receive an emergency contact notification such as the emergency contact mail 40. Also, instead of using an e-mail such as the emergency contact mail 40 as an emergency contact report to the administrator of the emergency contact, a voice report is used, or information related to emergency contact is uploaded on the Internet and reported. You may do it.

  In the above description, as shown in steps S1 and S2 of the flowchart of FIG. 7, the operation in the case of detecting an abnormality in the facsimile communication function by periodically monitoring at a predetermined period has been described. When the user detects an abnormality in the facsimile communication function when trying to send facsimile information to a destination specified arbitrarily or to a destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button. Even if there is, the same operation is performed.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
As described in detail above, the following effects can be achieved in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, when an abnormality occurs in the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1, the fact is transmitted as an emergency contact notification, for example, an emergency contact mail 40 to the mobile terminal 3 of the administrator of the emergency contact, and the emergency contact is sent. Facsimile agent that transmits information related to the original data of the facsimile information as image data from the portable terminal 3 of the administrator of the emergency contact who has received the report, for example, the emergency contact mail 40, to the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine as a network communication function Since the image forming apparatus 1 can be automatically switched to the transmission mode including the transmission mode of the one-touch transmission destination setting button, the user can perform one-touch transmission for facsimile transmission without setting anything. Facsimile proxy transmission can be performed using the first setting button.

  Secondly, after the abnormality of the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1 is repaired, the fact is transmitted as an emergency contact notification for repair, for example, an emergency contact mail 40 to the portable terminal 3 of the administrator of the emergency contact, The original facsimile communication that uses the facsimile communication function by canceling the facsimile proxy transmission mode that has been set so far from the portable terminal 3 of the administrator of the emergency contact who has received the emergency contact notification for repair, for example, the emergency contact mail 40 Since the image forming apparatus 1 can be automatically returned to the mode including the transmission mode of the one-touch transmission destination setting button, the user does not set anything and the one-touch transmission destination for facsimile transmission. Facsimile transmission can be performed using the setting button.

(Configuration example of the second embodiment)
Next, a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus, unlike the case of the first embodiment, the management of emergency contact information is performed. Instead of notifying the portable terminal 3 possessed by the person as an e-mail, the screen is displayed on the image forming apparatus as an emergency contact message (emergency contact notification). First, the surrounding environment of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a network configuration diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus and its surrounding environment according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The network configuration shown in FIG. 11 as the second embodiment is different from the network configuration shown in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment in that the mobile terminal 3 and the mobile phone network 4 possessed by the administrator of the emergency contact are provided. The only difference is that the image forming apparatus 1, the IP (Internet Protocol) network 2, the image forming apparatus 5 (that is, a relay facsimile apparatus, hereinafter referred to as a relay machine), the public telephone network 6, and the facsimile terminal 7. At least, the connection configuration is the same as the network configuration of FIG.

  That is, as shown in the network configuration diagram of FIG. 11, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is connected to an IP (Internet Protocol) network 2 and a public telephone network 6. In addition to the image forming apparatus 1, the IP network 2 is connected to an image forming apparatus 5 having a facsimile proxy transmission function (that is, a relay facsimile apparatus, hereinafter referred to as a relay machine). The public telephone network 6 connects the image forming apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 5 (relay machine), and further, a facsimile terminal to which facsimile information from the image forming apparatus 1 and image forming apparatus 5 (relay machine) is transmitted. 7 is also connected.

  Here, the functions of the image forming apparatus 1, the IP network 2, the relay image forming apparatus 5, the public telephone network 6, and the facsimile terminal 7 shown in FIG. 11 are exactly the same as those in FIG. I won't repeat the explanation here.

  However, in the second embodiment, when the user of the image forming apparatus 1 detects an abnormality in the facsimile communication function that cannot be dealt with, the facsimile control unit 1e sends an emergency notification to that effect as described above. As described above, the emergency contact mail is not sent to the portable terminal 3 possessed by the administrator of the emergency contact as an emergency contact mail 40, but is displayed on the operation display unit 1b of the image forming apparatus 1 as an emergency contact message. Therefore, as shown in the network configuration of FIG. 11, the emergency contact mobile terminal 3 does not exist. Therefore, the emergency contact mail address 10 of FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment and the emergency contact of FIG. It is not necessary to store the mail 40 in the nonvolatile memory unit 1c.

(Description of the operation of the second embodiment)
Next, as an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 in the network configuration shown in FIG. 11 as the network configuration of the second embodiment, the flowchart of FIG. 12, the screen diagrams of FIGS. 13 and 14, and the first embodiment 2 will be described in detail with reference to the block configuration diagram of FIG. 2, the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 5 and 6, and the screen diagrams of FIGS. In the following description, the term “step” means each processing step in the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 11 as the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of the content of an emergency contact message displayed on the screen as an emergency contact notification on the operation display unit 1b of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 11 as the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a screen diagram showing a screen display example that prompts the user to contact the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 in order to have the facsimile proxy communication mode set when an abnormality occurs in the facsimile communication function. . FIG. 14 is a screen diagram for explaining an example of a transmission mode selection screen for selecting a transmission mode of facsimile information of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 11 as the second embodiment of the present invention. An administrator screen displayed on the operation display unit 1b of the image forming apparatus 1 for the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1, and the administrator sets or cancels the facsimile proxy transmission mode as a facsimile information transmission mode. The example of the screen display for selecting is shown.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, the facsimile control unit 1e of the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not an abnormality of the facsimile communication function that cannot be dealt with by the user occurs every predetermined period, for example, every 5 seconds. Monitoring is performed (step S21). When the abnormality of the facsimile communication function is detected (step S22: Yes), the facsimile control unit 1e indicates to the operation display unit 1b an emergency indicating that the abnormality of the facsimile communication function that cannot be dealt with by the user has occurred. The contact message is displayed on the screen as an emergency contact notification (step S3).

  On the other hand, when the abnormality of the facsimile communication function is not detected (step S22: No), the process returns to step S21 to periodically monitor the abnormality of the facsimile communication function. Even when the abnormality of the facsimile communication function is repaired and returned to a usable state, the facsimile control unit 1e detects recovery from the abnormality (step S22: Yes) and recovers from the abnormality. An emergency contact message indicating this is displayed on the operation display unit 1b as an emergency contact report for repair (step S23).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 13, an emergency contact message 50 displayed on the operation display unit 1b when an abnormality is detected is, for example, “An error has occurred in the facsimile communication function. To change to the facsimile proxy transmission mode. ”Message for prompting the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 to make a setting for the facsimile proxy transmission mode. Display the screen in the display area of the destination setting button. In addition, when recovering from the abnormality, as an emergency contact message 50 for repair communication that becomes an emergency contact report for repair, for example, “The abnormality of the facsimile communication function has been repaired. If you want to return to the mode, please contact the administrator and cancel the facsimile proxy transmission mode. "

  A user who visually recognizes the emergency contact message 50 displayed on the screen of the operation display unit 1b contacts the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 by using some notification means such as voice call, e-mail, or verbal management, and manages it. A person is called to request diagnosis of the image forming apparatus 1. The administrator redisplays the emergency contact message 50 displayed on the operation display unit 1b of the image forming apparatus 1 and visually confirms it, and then operates the operation display unit 1b of the image forming apparatus 1 to Make a diagnosis. If the administrator diagnoses that the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1 cannot be immediately restored due to a component failure or the like, the administrator operates the operation display unit 1b to operate the administrator. 14 is displayed on the operation display unit 1b, and a transmission mode selection screen 60 as shown in FIG. 14 capable of setting the facsimile proxy transmission mode is displayed on the screen.

  Here, the transmission mode selection screen 60 displayed on the operation display unit 1b includes, for example, a title 61 such as “administrator screen facsimile proxy transmission mode setting” and “facsimile proxy transmission mode” as shown in FIG. "Select the following ON to cancel, press the following OFF to cancel", and the action selection text 62 regarding the setting of the facsimile proxy transmission mode and the selection of cancellation, and " And a selection button 63 for selecting a transmission mode of facsimile information such as “ON” and “OFF”. In order to clarify that the title 61 is a selection screen for the transmission mode of facsimile information, including not only the case of setting the facsimile proxy transmission mode but also the case of canceling, for example, “transmission of administrator screen” An expression such as “mode selection facsimile proxy transmission mode setting / cancellation” may be used.

  When the administrator who visually recognizes the transmission mode selection screen 60 displayed on the operation display unit 1b selects either “ON” or “OFF” of the selection button 63 and performs a pressing operation, the image forming apparatus 1 is switched. The control unit 1g determines whether “ON” or “OFF” of the selection button 63 is pressed based on selection information input via the operation display unit 1b (step S24).

  When the administrator depresses “ON” (step S25: Yes), the transmission mode of the image forming apparatus 1 is set to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, and the button conversion unit 1h uses the diagram of the first embodiment. In the setting registration table 30 related to the one-touch transmission destination setting button in the facsimile substitution transmission mode release state shown in FIG. 5, a one-touch transmission destination setting button whose transmission mode 33 is set to “facsimile transmission” is searched (step S26).

  When the one-touch transmission destination setting button set to “facsimile transmission” is searched (step S27: Yes), as described in the setting registration table 30 of FIGS. 5 and 6 of the first embodiment, The transmission mode 33 of the one-touch transmission destination setting button is converted from “facsimile transmission” to “facsimile proxy transmission”, and the conversion flag 34 is set to “ON” (step S28). Even if the destination of facsimile information is not the destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button, but is any destination entered by the user at the time of transmission, as described above, the facsimile transmission mode depends on the destination. The transmission operation is switched to the transmission operation in the facsimile proxy transmission mode. Further, as shown in the screen diagram of FIG. 9 of the first embodiment, by displaying on the operation display unit 1b that it is in <facsimile proxy transmission mode>, this is notified to the user ( Step S9).

  On the other hand, if the one-touch transmission destination setting button set to “facsimile transmission” does not exist (step S27: No), the one-touch transmission destination setting button is terminated without performing any processing.

  If the administrator depresses “OFF” in step S25 (step S25: No), the facsimile proxy transmission mode of the transmission mode of the image forming apparatus 1 is canceled to return to the facsimile transmission mode, and button conversion is performed. In the setting registration table 30 regarding the one-touch transmission destination setting button when the facsimile proxy transmission mode shown in FIG. 6 of the first embodiment is set in the unit 1h, the one-touch transmission destination whose conversion flag 34 is set to “ON” A setting button is searched (step S30).

  One-touch transmission destination setting button whose conversion flag 34 is set to “ON” When a one-touch transmission destination setting button is searched (step S31: Yes), the setting registration of FIGS. 5 and 6 of the first embodiment is performed. As described in the table 30, the transmission mode 33 of the one-touch destination setting button is converted from “facsimile proxy transmission” to “facsimile transmission”, and the conversion flag 34 is set to “OFF” (step S32). In addition, as described above, the facsimile proxy transmission mode is also used when the transmission destination of the facsimile information is not a destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button but an arbitrary destination input by the user at the time of transmission. The transmission operation returns to the transmission operation in the facsimile transmission mode. Further, as shown in the screen diagram of FIG. 10 of the first embodiment, the display indicating <in the facsimile proxy transmission mode> is deleted, and the operation is performed by returning to the original state where the transmission mode is not displayed. By displaying the screen on the display unit 1b, the user is notified of this (step S33).

  On the other hand, if there is no one-touch destination setting button for which the conversion flag 34 is set to “ON” (step S31: No), the one-touch destination setting button is terminated without performing any processing.

  By operating as described above, a notification is given to the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 that an abnormality has occurred that prevents the user from dealing with the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1. By displaying a screen on the operation display unit 1b as an emergency contact notification, for example, as an emergency contact message 50, in the second embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is set to the facsimile proxy transmission mode as in the first embodiment. It is possible to automatically set the IP network 2 in the facsimile proxy transmission mode by simply pressing the one-touch destination setting button without changing the setting of the one-touch destination setting button. The destination fax address specified by the one-touch destination setting button via the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine. It is possible to transmit facsimile information to the terminal 7.

  Further, when the abnormality of the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1 is repaired, an emergency contact message 50 indicating that fact is displayed on the operation display unit 1b as an emergency contact report for repair, thereby making it possible to perform the second operation. Also in the embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 can be automatically returned from the facsimile proxy transmission mode to the facsimile transmission mode, and the user can set the one-touch transmission destination setting button. Without changing, the user can simply press the one-touch destination setting button, and the destination facsimile specified by the one-touch destination setting button via the public telephone network 6 in the facsimile transmission mode. Facsimile information can be transmitted to the terminal 7.

  Further, when the facsimile communication function is abnormal, the emergency display message 50 for prompting the administrator to be contacted is displayed on the operation display unit 1b, the administrator is called, and the operation display is performed by the administrator operating the operation display unit 1b. Since the selection button 63 that enables the image forming apparatus 1 to be switched from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode is added and displayed on the transmission mode selection screen 60 displayed on the screen of the section 1b. By selecting the “ON” selection button 63, the destination of facsimile information in the facsimile transmission mode is set in the facsimile proxy transmission mode with respect to all the one-touch transmission destination setting buttons for facsimile transmission set by the user. Set to the destination number of the repeater and press the one-touch destination setting button Via machine, it is made possible to relay transfer to the final destination facsimile terminal 7 of the facsimile information.

  Thus, as in the first embodiment, when the facsimile communication function is abnormal, it is not necessary for the user to change the setting of the one-touch transmission destination setting button. By simply using the switched facsimile proxy transmission mode, the information about the original data of the facsimile information is automatically transmitted to the relay as image data using the destination number of the relay. It is possible to obtain an effect that the facsimile information can be relayed and transferred to the other party set in the one-touch destination setting button. Furthermore, there is an effect that the user does not need to set the destination of the relay device to the one-touch transmission destination setting button at any timing before or after the abnormality detection of the facsimile communication function (several tens of times). In particular, when a large number of one-touch destination setting buttons as many as several hundreds are provided, a great effect can be expected).

  Further, in the case of the second embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is set to the facsimile proxy transmission mode or released by remote operation from the mobile terminal 3 of the emergency contact address. However, when the administrator is in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 1, the administrator directly operates the operation display unit 1 b of the image forming apparatus 1 without using the portable terminal 3. Thus, the facsimile proxy transmission mode can be immediately set or canceled. Even in the case where the administrator's portable terminal 3 cannot be used due to radio wave conditions or the like, in the case of the second embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is set to the facsimile proxy transmission mode. Can be set or canceled.

  In the above description, as shown in steps S21 and S22 of the flowchart of FIG. 12, the operation in the case of detecting an abnormality in the facsimile communication function by periodically monitoring at a predetermined cycle has been described. When the user detects an abnormality in the facsimile communication function when trying to send facsimile information to a destination specified arbitrarily or to a destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button. Even if there is, the same operation is performed.

(Effect of 2nd Embodiment)
As described in detail above, the following effects can be achieved in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  First, when an abnormality occurs in the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1, the fact is displayed on the operation display unit 1b as an emergency contact notification, for example, an emergency contact message 50, and the emergency contact notification, for example, the emergency contact message 50 is displayed. When the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 that has received the communication from the user who has visually recognized the information directly selects the transmission mode of the image forming apparatus 1 by directly operating the operation display unit 1 b of the image forming apparatus 1. Automatic transmission of the image forming apparatus 1 including the transmission mode of the one-touch destination setting button to the facsimile proxy transmission mode in which information relating to the original data of the facsimile information is transmitted as image data to the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay device by the network communication function. The user can switch to the fax machine without setting anything. It is possible to perform the facsimile behalf transmitted using the one-touch destination setting button for re-transmission.

  Secondly, after the abnormality of the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1 is repaired, the fact is displayed on the operation display unit 1b as an emergency contact report for repair, for example, an emergency contact message 50, and the emergency contact report, for example, an emergency contact message is displayed. The administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 that has received a notification from the user who has viewed 50 directly operates the operation display unit 1b of the image forming apparatus 1 to select and input the transmission mode of the image forming apparatus 1. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 1 is automatically returned to the original facsimile communication mode that uses the facsimile communication function by canceling the facsimile proxy transmission mode that has been set up to now, including the transmission mode of the one-touch destination setting button. The user can set the one-touch destination setting button for facsimile transmission without setting anything. It is possible to perform facsimile transmission with down.

(Configuration example of the third embodiment)
Next, a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the network in which the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention is accommodated, the image forming apparatus used as a relay device in the facsimile substitution transmission mode when an abnormality occurs in the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus. Unlike the case of the first embodiment, it is composed of a plurality of devices so that it is possible to cope with the occurrence of an abnormality in the relay transfer function, and any one of the devices is arbitrarily relayed. It can be selected and used as a feature. First, the surrounding environment of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a network configuration diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus and its surrounding environment according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The network configuration shown in FIG. 15 as the third embodiment is different from the network configuration shown in FIG. 1 as the first embodiment in that a plurality of image forming apparatuses 5 serving as relay devices are provided. Image forming apparatus 1, IP (Internet Protocol) network 2, mobile terminal 3, mobile phone network 4, image forming apparatus 5 (that is, a relay facsimile apparatus, hereinafter referred to as a relay machine), public telephone network 6, The facsimile terminal 7 is provided at least and has a connection configuration similar to the network configuration of FIG.

  That is, as shown in the network configuration diagram of FIG. 15, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is connected to an IP (Internet Protocol) network 2 and a public telephone network 6. In addition to the image forming apparatus 1, the IP network 2 connects a mobile phone network 4 in which a mobile terminal 3 possessed by an administrator who is an emergency contact to be notified when an abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus 1. In addition, an image forming apparatus 5 (that is, a relay facsimile apparatus, hereinafter referred to as a relay machine) having a facsimile proxy transmission function is also connected. The public telephone network 6 connects the image forming apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 5 (relay machine), and further, a facsimile terminal to which facsimile information from the image forming apparatus 1 and image forming apparatus 5 (relay machine) is transmitted. 7 is also connected.

  Here, each of the image forming apparatus 1, the IP network 2, the mobile terminal 3, the mobile phone network 4, the image forming apparatus 5 of a plurality of relay machines, the public telephone network 6, and the facsimile terminal 7 shown in FIG. The function of the apparatus is exactly the same as in the case of FIG. 1, and a duplicate description is omitted here.

  However, in the third embodiment, the number of image forming apparatuses 5 of the relay machine used at the time of setting the facsimile proxy transmission mode is not one in the case of the first embodiment but a plurality. Therefore, the relay destination information (indicating the destination of the relay) stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 1c of the image forming apparatus 1 is 1 like the relay destination information 20 of FIG. 4 described as the first embodiment. As shown in the relay destination information 70 of FIG. 16, not only the case but also a plurality of pieces of destination information are included. FIG. 16 registers destination information (relay machine destination information) of the image forming apparatus 5 as a relay machine when the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 15 performs facsimile proxy transmission as the third embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a table, and is 1st repeater destination information 71, 2nd repeater destination information 72, 3rd repeater destination information 73, 4th repeater destination information 74, as the relay destination information 70, In this example, N relay destination information 75, fifth relay destination information 76,..., N relay destination information 7N (N: any positive integer) are included.

  Furthermore, the non-volatile memory unit 1c of the image forming apparatus 1 also stores an allowable waiting time during which a response from each relay device to an inquiry to the relay device (image forming device 5) regarding whether or not the relay transfer operation is possible can be waited. ing. FIG. 17 shows a relay device capable of waiting for a response from the relay device in response to an inquiry to the relay device when the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 15 performs facsimile proxy transmission as the third embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the table which registers return waiting time (allowable waiting time). 17, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the LAN control unit 1f of the network communication function to connect the IP network 2 to the image forming apparatuses 5 of any one of the plurality of relay apparatuses. When the image data is transmitted via the IP network 2 when an inquiry is made as to whether the image data can be relayed and transferred to the designated destination facsimile terminal 7 after being converted into facsimile information. The maximum waiting time allowed until a response indicating whether relay transfer is possible is returned from the repeater.

  The relay destination information 70 in FIG. 16 and the relay return time 80 in FIG. 17 are determined by the user or the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 in advance before the user uses the image forming apparatus 1. It is set in the nonvolatile memory unit 1c through the operation display unit 1b.

(Description of operation of the third embodiment)
Next, as an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 in the network configuration shown in FIG. 15 as the network configuration of the third embodiment, the flowchart of FIG. 18, the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 16 and 17, the screen diagram of FIG. 2 will be described in detail with reference to the block configuration diagram of FIG. 2 described as the first embodiment, the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 8, and the screen diagrams of FIGS. In the following description, “step” refers to each processing step in the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 15 as the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 shows the contents of the emergency contact mail (emergency contact notification) received from the image forming apparatus 1 in the mobile terminal 3 of the emergency contact shown in FIG. 15 as the third embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a different example, and has shown an example of the emergency contact mail when abnormality has generate | occur | produced also in the image forming apparatus 5 of a relay machine when it is going to set to the facsimile proxy transmission mode. .

  Each processing step in the flowchart of FIG. 18 is exactly the same as the flowchart of FIG. 7 in the first embodiment, except for the process of confirming and selecting the relay function of the image forming apparatus 5 of a plurality of relay machines. Each processing step performing the same processing as in FIG. 7 is denoted by the same number as the step number in FIG. 7, and redundant description here is omitted. That is, each processing step of step S1 to step S13 in the flowchart of FIG. 18 performs exactly the same processing as each processing step of step S1 to step S13 in the flowchart of FIG. Will be omitted. In the following, as processing unique to the third embodiment for checking and selecting the relay function of the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine, each processing step surrounded by a broken line in the flowchart of FIG. The details will be described with a focus on the respective processes of Step S41 to Step S43 sandwiched between Step S3 and Step S44 branched from Step S42.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 18, the facsimile control unit 1 e of the image forming apparatus 1 notifies the user every predetermined period, for example, every 5 seconds, as in the flowchart of FIG. 7 of the first embodiment. Whether or not an abnormality of the facsimile communication function that cannot be dealt with has occurred is monitored (step S1). When the abnormality of the facsimile communication function is not detected (step S2: No), the process returns to step S1 to periodically monitor the abnormality of the facsimile communication function. On the other hand, when the abnormality of the facsimile communication function is detected (step S2: Yes), the facsimile control unit 1e differs from the case of the flowchart of FIG. 7 of the first embodiment in that the relay destination information 70 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the LAN controller 1f of the network function is sequentially set to each destination of the image forming apparatuses 5 of the plurality of relay devices indicated by the first relay device destination information 71 to the Nth relay device destination information 7N. In step S41, an inquiry is made as to whether relay transfer at the time of facsimile proxy transmission is possible.

  The image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine that has received the inquiry from the image forming apparatus 1 receives the image data from the IP network 2 as a relay transfer function, converts it into facsimile information, and sends it to the designated destination facsimile terminal 7. When it is determined whether or not transfer is possible and it is determined that normal operation is possible, response information indicating that relay transfer operation is possible is sent to the image forming apparatus 1 as the inquiry source. In response to this, it returns via the IP network 2. On the other hand, when it is determined that the normal operation cannot be performed, response information indicating that the relay transfer operation is impossible is returned to the inquiring source image forming apparatus 1 via the IP network 2. .

  The image forming apparatus 1 that sequentially inquires the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine relays the inquiry destination within the allowable waiting time registered as the relay machine return waiting time 80 in FIG. 17 from the inquiry transmission timing. It is monitored whether or not response information indicating that the relay transfer operation is possible is received from the image forming apparatus 5 of the image forming apparatus (step S42). When the response information indicating that the relay transfer operation is possible is received from the image forming apparatus 5 of the inquiry destination relay within the allowable waiting time registered as the relay return time 80 in FIG. 17 (step S42). : Yes), the image forming apparatus 5 of any relay machine capable of the relay transfer operation, for example, the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine that has received the response information indicating that the relay transfer operation is possible earliest It selects as a relay machine at the time of transmission, and preserve | saves the destination information of the selected relay machine (step S43).

  Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 1 transmits an emergency contact mail 40 indicating that the abnormality of the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1 has occurred to the mobile terminal 3 of the administrator of the emergency contact as an emergency contact notification, In order to change the transmission mode of the image forming apparatus 1 from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode that uses the relay transfer operation of the relay device (image forming apparatus 5) for the stored destination information, the process proceeds to step S3. The subsequent steps S3 to S13 are exactly the same as those in the flowchart of FIG. 7 of the first embodiment.

  On the other hand, response information indicating that the relay transfer operation can be performed from any of the image forming apparatuses 5 of the inquired relay device within the allowable waiting time registered as the relay device return waiting time 80 in FIG. , That is, response information indicating that the relay transfer operation is not possible is returned from any of the image forming apparatuses 5 of the inquired relay machine, or in FIG. If no response information can be received within the allowable waiting time registered as the relay device return waiting time 80 (step S42: No), the image forming apparatus 1 forms an image of a plurality of relay devices. It is determined that some abnormality has occurred in which all the devices 5 cannot perform the relay transfer operation, and it is not possible to switch to the facsimile proxy transmission mode.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 sends the emergency contact mail address 10 of the mobile terminal 3 of the administrator of the emergency contact via the IP network 2 and the mobile phone network 4 (in the example shown in FIG. 3, 'support @ abc .Co.jp ') via the LAN controller 1f, which is a network communication means, the image forming apparatus 1 has an abnormality in the facsimile communication function that cannot be dealt with by the user, and all For example, an emergency contact mail 90 as shown in FIG. 19 is transmitted as an emergency contact notification indicating that an abnormality has occurred that prevents the repeater from executing the relay transfer function (step S44).

  Here, the emergency contact mail 90 transmitted to the mobile terminal 3 is for notifying the occurrence of an emergency in which an abnormality has occurred not only in the image forming apparatus 1 but also in the image forming apparatus 5 that is a relay machine. As shown in FIG. 19, for example, the own apparatus abnormality report sentence 91 for reporting the occurrence of an abnormality in the self-image forming apparatus 1 such as “An abnormality has occurred in the facsimile communication function!” Cannot switch to the facsimile proxy transmission mode because an error has occurred in the transfer function. " And an emergency response request sentence 93 that prompts an urgent repair work.

  When the transmission processing of the emergency contact mail 90 to the portable terminal 3 in step S44 is completed, the facsimile communication function is in a state where it cannot be used at all including not only the facsimile transmission but also the facsimile proxy transmission function. The process of FIG. 18 is ended, and the apparatus waits until any one of the image forming apparatuses 5 of the relay machine or the self-image forming apparatus 1 is repaired.

  In the third embodiment including the image forming apparatuses 5 of a plurality of relay machines, the user cannot cope with the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1 by operating as described above. It is possible to automatically select the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine that can be used at the time of switching to the facsimile proxy transmission mode in advance of the switching operation to the facsimile proxy transmission mode when an abnormal event occurs. In addition, when a situation occurs in which none of the image forming apparatuses 5 of the plurality of relay machines can execute the relay transfer function, an emergency contact notification indicating the fact, for example, an emergency contact mail 90 is sent to the administrator's mobile terminal. 3 can be urged to urgently repair the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine.

  In the third embodiment described above, the emergency operation at the time of occurrence of an abnormality in the facsimile communication function or recovery from the abnormality when a plurality of repeaters are provided is the same as in the case of the first embodiment. Similarly, the case where the emergency contact mail 40 or the emergency contact mail 90 is transmitted to the mobile terminal 3 of the emergency contact has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case, and the case of the second embodiment. Similarly to the above, an abnormality in the facsimile communication function of the image forming apparatus 1 or an abnormality in the relay transfer function of the relay machine may be displayed on the operation display unit 1b of the image forming apparatus 1 as an emergency contact message.

  In addition, instead of using e-mails such as the emergency contact mail 40 and the emergency contact mail 90 as an emergency contact report to the administrator of the emergency contact information, a voice report is used or information on the emergency contact is uploaded on the Internet. You may make it report. In addition, even when it is composed of only one repeater instead of a plurality of repeaters, as described in the third embodiment, prior to switching to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, Inquires whether the relay transfer operation is possible as the facsimile substitution transmission mode, and returns response information indicating that the relay transfer operation is possible from the relay device within a predetermined allowable waiting time. Accordingly, it may be determined whether to switch to the facsimile proxy transmission mode.

(Effect of the third embodiment)
As described in detail above, the following effects can be achieved in the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, whether there is only one image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine and whether or not the relay transfer operation of the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine is possible. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the relay transfer function, for example, the facsimile communication function, in the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine, the image forming apparatus 1 is switched to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, For example, even if the user attempts to perform facsimile proxy transmission by pressing a one-touch destination setting button for facsimile transmission, the image forming apparatus 5 of the relay machine cannot perform relay transfer of facsimile information, and the facsimile proxy transmission mode. Therefore, the facsimile information cannot be transmitted to a destination desired by the user.

  On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses 5 as relay machines exist and the abnormality of the facsimile communication function occurs is switched to the facsimile proxy transmission mode. Prior to the operation, an inquiry is made in advance as to whether or not the relay transfer operation is possible with respect to each of the image forming apparatuses 5 of the plurality of relay machines, and from among the image forming apparatuses 5 of the plurality of relay machines, Since the image forming apparatus 5 of any relay machine capable of relay transfer operation is selected in advance, it is possible to more reliably switch to the facsimile proxy transmission mode, and the user can perform facsimile transmission without setting anything. By operating the trusted one-touch destination setting button, the facsimile information can be transmitted to a desired destination more reliably.

  The configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, it should be noted that such embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the present invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications and changes can be made according to a specific application without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 1a Scanner part 1b Operation display part 1c Non-volatile memory part 1d Image information compression reproduction | regeneration part 1e Facsimile control part 1f LAN control part 1g Control part 1h Button conversion part 2 IP network 3 Portable terminal 4 Portable telephone network 5 Image forming apparatus (Repeater)
6 Public telephone network 7 Facsimile terminal 10 Emergency contact mail address 20 Relay machine destination information 30 Setting registration table 31 Button name 32 Address 33 Transmission mode 34 Conversion flag 40 Emergency contact mail 41 Abnormality report text 42 Action selection text 43 HTTP request 50 Emergency Contact message 60 Transmission mode selection screen 61 Title 62 Action selection text 63 Select button 70 Relay destination information 71 First relay destination information 72 Second relay destination information 73 Third relay destination information 74 Fourth relay destination information 75 Fifth repeater destination information 76 Sixth repeater destination information 7N Nth repeater destination information 80 Relay unit return waiting time 90 Emergency contact mail 91 Own device abnormality report sentence 92 Relay impossible report sentence 93 Emergency response request sentence

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus having at least a facsimile communication function for transmitting / receiving facsimile information and a network communication function for transmitting / receiving data via a network,
When monitoring the presence or absence of abnormality of the facsimile communication function periodically at a predetermined cycle, or using the facsimile communication function, the designated destination or the destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button When detecting an abnormality in the facsimile communication function when transmitting facsimile information as the facsimile transmission mode,
The detected abnormality is transmitted to the emergency contact as an emergency contact notification, and the facsimile information transmission mode is changed from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode according to an instruction from the emergency contact that has received the emergency contact notification. Change
Using the network communication function, information related to the original data of the facsimile information is transmitted as image data to the relay device via the network, and the image data received at the relay device is converted into facsimile information and designated. Or switch to the relay transfer operation to transfer to the destination set in advance in the one-touch destination setting button,
In addition, when a repair from an abnormality of the facsimile communication function is detected,
The repair from the detected abnormality is transmitted to the emergency contact as an emergency contact report for repair, and the facsimile information transmission mode is set according to an instruction from the emergency contact that has received the emergency contact report for repair. Return from the facsimile proxy transmission mode to the facsimile transmission mode,
Using the facsimile communication function, the facsimile information is transmitted to a designated destination or a destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button,
One or more of the repeaters,
When changing the transmission mode of facsimile information from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode,
Sequentially inquiring to each of one or a plurality of relay machines whether or not the relay transfer operation in the facsimile proxy transmission mode can be performed,
Before the time set in advance as the allowable waiting time elapses, any one of the relay machines that sent back a response indicating that the relay transfer operation is possible is changed to information on the original data of the facsimile information in the facsimile proxy transmission mode. Select as a relay to send as image data,
In response to an inquiry to one or more relay devices, the relay transfer operation can be performed from any of the relay devices before the time set in advance as the allowable waiting time elapses. If no response is received,
Sending an emergency contact notification to the emergency contact indicating that an abnormality has occurred in all the repeaters and that the transmission operation in the facsimile proxy transmission mode cannot be performed,
An image forming apparatus. A facsimile information transmission method in an image forming apparatus having at least a facsimile communication function for transmitting / receiving facsimile information and a network communication function for transmitting / receiving data via a network,
When monitoring the presence or absence of abnormality of the facsimile communication function periodically at a predetermined cycle, or using the facsimile communication function, the designated destination or the destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button When detecting an abnormality in the facsimile communication function when transmitting facsimile information as the facsimile transmission mode,
The detected abnormality is transmitted to the emergency contact as an emergency contact notification, and the facsimile information transmission mode is changed from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode according to an instruction from the emergency contact that has received the emergency contact notification. Change
Using the network communication function, information related to the original data of the facsimile information is transmitted as image data to the relay device via the network, and the image data received at the relay device is converted into facsimile information and designated. Or switch to the relay transfer operation to transfer to the destination set in advance in the one-touch destination setting button,
In addition, when a repair from an abnormality of the facsimile communication function is detected,
The repair from the detected abnormality is transmitted to the emergency contact as an emergency contact report for repair, and the facsimile information transmission mode is set according to an instruction from the emergency contact that has received the emergency contact report for repair. Return from the facsimile proxy transmission mode to the facsimile transmission mode,
Using the facsimile communication function, the facsimile information is transmitted to a designated destination or a destination preset in the one-touch destination setting button,
One or more of the repeaters,
When changing the transmission mode of facsimile information from the facsimile transmission mode to the facsimile proxy transmission mode,
Sequentially inquiring to each of one or a plurality of relay machines whether or not the relay transfer operation in the facsimile proxy transmission mode can be performed,
Before the time set in advance as the allowable waiting time elapses, any one of the relay machines that sent back a response indicating that the relay transfer operation is possible is changed to information on the original data of the facsimile information in the facsimile proxy transmission mode. Select as a relay to send as image data,
In response to an inquiry to one or more relay devices, the relay transfer operation can be performed from any of the relay devices before the time set in advance as the allowable waiting time elapses. If no response is received,
Sending an emergency contact notification to the emergency contact indicating that an abnormality has occurred in all the repeaters and that the transmission operation in the facsimile proxy transmission mode cannot be performed,
Facsimile information transmission method characterized by the above. A facsimile information transmitting program, wherein the facsimile information transmitting method according to claim 2 is implemented as a program executable by a computer.

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