JP6467944B2 - Data transmission / reception system, image processing apparatus, data transmission / reception method, and data transmission / reception program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a data transmission / reception system, an image processing apparatus, a data transmission / reception method, and a data transmission / reception program, and a data transmission / reception system for transmitting / receiving data between a plurality of image processing apparatuses, the image processing apparatus, and data executed by the image processing apparatus The present invention relates to a transmission / reception method and a data transmission / reception program.

  An image processing apparatus represented by a multifunction peripheral (hereinafter referred to as “MFP”) has a function of transmitting and receiving facsimile data and a function of transmitting and receiving data via a network such as the Internet. Since facsimile data is transmitted and received in a one-to-one manner compared to data transmission and reception via the Internet, there is less risk of data being transmitted and received being known to a third party.

  In addition, a technique for transmitting facsimile data using the Internet while reducing the risk of data leakage has been developed. For example, in Japanese translations of PCT publication No. 2008-527832, in a facsimile document transmission / reception method via the Internet, (a) a step of receiving an authentication request for a transmission / reception document from a first facsimile system; And (c) transmitting the generated transmission / reception document authentication information to the first facsimile system and storing it in the transmission / reception document authentication database; and the first facsimile. The system encrypts a facsimile document using the authentication information of the received transmission / reception document and transmits the encrypted facsimile document to the second facsimile system, and the second facsimile system receives the facsimile document from the first facsimile system; Authentication confirmation of the transmitted / received document including facsimile reception header information. Requesting, (d) receiving an authentication confirmation request for a transmission / reception document from the second facsimile system, and (e) receiving the facsimile reception header information from the transmission / reception document authentication database in response to the authentication confirmation request for the transmission / reception document. And (f) transmitting the extracted authentication information of the transmitted / received document to the second facsimile system, wherein the second facsimile system receives the received information. A facsimile document transmission / reception method via the Internet is described, wherein the encryption of the facsimile document is decrypted using the authentication information of the transmitted / received document.

However, the facsimile document transmission / reception method disclosed in JP-T-2008-527832 is assigned to the second facsimile system on the Internet in order to transmit the facsimile document from the first facsimile system to the second facsimile system via the Internet. The designated network address must be registered in the first facsimile system. In the second facsimile system, for example, a process to be stored without forming an image or a process to be transferred to another computer is defined as a process to be performed on a facsimile document received via a facsimile line. If this is the case, a setting for executing the process must be made separately. As described above, there is a problem that it is difficult to set facsimile data to be transmitted via the Internet instead of the facsimile line.
Special table 2008-527832 gazette

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a data transmission / reception system that simplifies the work of setting the processing to be performed on the received data. is there.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that simplifies the work of setting a process to be executed on received data.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a data transmission / reception method that simplifies the work of setting a process to be executed on received data.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a data transmission / reception program that simplifies the work of setting a process to be executed on received data.

According to an aspect of the present invention in order to achieve the above object, a data transmitting and receiving system is a data transmission and reception system comprising a plurality of image processing apparatuses, and a server, each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses, a plurality Setting means for setting setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to each of one or more of the other image processing apparatuses, and data is received in the first communication procedure. The first data processing for processing the received data in accordance with the setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned to the transmission source device of the received data of the plurality of image processing devices And the transmission source device among the plurality of image processing devices transmits the data to be transmitted to the transmission destination device that is the data transmission destination via the server. The server includes a request transmission unit, and the server sends the data received from the transmission source device and the first type of address information assigned to the transmission source device in the first communication procedure to the transmission destination device in the second communication procedure. A server-side transmission unit that transmits the received data when the destination device receives the first type of address information together with the data in a second communication procedure different from the first communication procedure , among the plurality of image processing devices; and Ru with a second data processing means for processing according to the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data.

  According to this aspect, each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses can execute the same processing as that for processing the data received in the first communication procedure on the data received in the second communication procedure. For this reason, it is not necessary to make the setting for processing the data received in the second communication procedure for each transmission source device. As a result, it is possible to provide a data transmission / reception system that simplifies the work of setting a process to be executed on received data.

  Preferably, the transmission source device further includes an instruction reception unit that receives a transmission instruction for transmitting the data to be transmitted to the transmission destination device that is the transmission destination, and the request unit included in the transmission source device receives the received transmission instruction. A transmission request including data specified as a transmission target by the above and device identification information for identifying a transmission destination device is transmitted to the server.

  According to this aspect, when receiving the transmission instruction, the transmission source device transmits a transmission request including data and device identification information for identifying the transmission destination device to the server. For this reason, in the transmission source device, an operation for transmitting data to the transmission destination device in the second communication procedure can be simplified.

  Preferably, the server functions as a Web server, the request unit functions as a client of the server, and the server is based on an upload unit that uploads data to be transmitted from the transmission source device and an instruction from the transmission source device. And a transmission destination specifying means for specifying a transmission destination device as a data transmission destination from among the plurality of data processing devices.

  According to this aspect, the server functions as a Web server, the transmission source device functions as a client of the server, the server uploads data to be transmitted from the transmission source device, and transmits the data based on an instruction from the transmission source device. Since the destination device is specified, the operation for transmitting data to the destination device in the second communication procedure in the transmission source device can be simplified.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the image processing device is configured to set the setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to each of the other one or more image processing devices. When data is received in the first communication procedure with the means, the received data is processed according to the setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned to the transmission source device that is the data transmission source. When receiving the first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to the transmission source device that is the data transmission source together with the data in the second communication procedure different from the first communication procedure with the first data processing means, the received data, a second data processing means for processing according to the setting information associated with the first type of address information received with the data, Ru comprising a.

  If this situation is followed, the same process as the case where the data received by the 1st communication procedure is processed with respect to the data received by the 2nd communication procedure can be performed. For this reason, it is not necessary to make the setting for processing the data received in the second communication procedure for each transmission source device. As a result, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that simplifies the work of setting the process to be executed on the received data.

  Preferably, an instruction receiving means for receiving a transmission instruction for transmitting data to be transmitted to a transmission destination apparatus as a transmission destination, data specified as a transmission target by the received transmission instruction, and the own apparatus in the first communication procedure Requesting means for requesting the server to perform processing for transmitting the first type of address information assigned to the server to the destination device in the second communication procedure.

According to this aspect, when a transmission instruction is accepted, a process of transmitting data and the first type of address information assigned to the device in the first communication procedure to the transmission destination device in the second communication procedure, Ask the server. Therefore, it is possible to cause the transmission destination apparatus to process data according to the setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned to the image forming apparatus in the first communication procedure. In addition, the operation for transmitting data to the transmission destination device in the second communication procedure can be simplified.

  Preferably, an instruction receiving means for receiving a transmission instruction for transmitting data to be transmitted to a transmission destination apparatus as a transmission destination, data specified as a transmission target by the received transmission instruction, and the own apparatus in the first communication procedure And an alternative transmission means for transmitting the first type of address information assigned to the transmission destination device in the second communication procedure.

According to this aspect, when the transmission instruction is accepted, the data and the first type of address information assigned to the own device in the first communication procedure are transmitted to the transmission destination device in the second communication procedure. Therefore, it is possible to cause the transmission destination apparatus to process data according to the setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned to the image forming apparatus in the first communication procedure.

Preferably, the second data processing means outputs the received data to an output destination specified by setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data.

  According to this aspect, since the data received in the second communication procedure is output to the output destination determined for the transmission source device, the output destination can be varied depending on the transmission source device.

Preferably, the second data processing means further includes data conversion means for converting the received data into a format defined by setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data.

  According to this aspect, since the data received in the second communication procedure is converted into a format determined for the transmission source device, the format of the data can be varied depending on the transmission source device. Moreover, it can convert into the format received by a 1st communication procedure.

Preferably, the second data processing unit discards the received data when reception of data from the transmission source device is prohibited by setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data. To do.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to prevent data from being received in the second communication procedure from the transmission source device set so as not to receive data in the first communication procedure.

Preferably, the second data processing means is received on condition that reception of data from the transmission source device is permitted by setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data. Process the data.

  According to this aspect, data can be received in the second communication procedure from the transmission source device set to receive data in the first communication procedure.

Preferably, when the second data processing means is neither permitted nor prohibited from receiving data from the transmission source device by the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data, The received data is processed on condition that the user's permission is accepted.

  According to this aspect, from a transmission source device that is not set to receive or not receive data in the first communication procedure, data is received in the second communication procedure when there is permission from the user. be able to.

Preferably, when the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data does not permit or prohibit the reception of data from the transmission source device, and the permission by the user is If accepted, the permission setting for adding the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the information for permitting the reception of data from the transmission source device to the setting information set by the setting means Means are further provided.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to facilitate an operation of setting a transmission source device that is not set to receive or not receive data in the first communication procedure so as to receive data in the first communication procedure. it can.

Preferably, when data is transmitted in the first communication procedure, the first history information including the first type of address information of the transmission destination device of the data transmitted in the first communication procedure is generated as the setting information . 1 history generating means, and the second data processing means includes setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data in the second communication procedure in the generated first history information. The received data is processed on condition that there is first history information including the first type of address information received together with the data in the second communication procedure.

  According to this aspect, if data has been transmitted in the first communication procedure to the transmission source device that transmits data in the second communication procedure, the data is received from the transmission source device in the second communication procedure. For this reason, data can be received from the specific transmission source device by the second communication procedure.

Preferably, the second data processing unit is configured such that when the first history information including the first type of address information received together with the data in the second communication procedure does not exist in the generated first history information, the user The received data is processed on the condition that the permission by is accepted.

  According to this aspect, the data is received in the second communication procedure when there is permission from the user even if the data is transmitted in the first communication procedure to the transmission source device that transmits the data in the second communication procedure. Can be.

Preferably, switching means for setting the alternative reception to either valid or invalid, and the second data processing means, when the alternative reception is set to valid, the data received in the second communication procedure When the alternative reception is set to invalid, the data received in the second communication procedure is not processed even if the first type of address information is received together with the data in the second communication procedure. .

  According to this aspect, it is possible to switch whether or not to perform the same processing as that for processing the data received in the first communication procedure on the data received in the second communication procedure.

  Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes a registration unit configured to register a transmission source user who operates the transmission source device, and the second data processing unit receives the data in the second communication procedure together with the data and operates the transmission source device that is the data transmission source. The received data is processed on the condition that the user specified by the user identification information for identifying the user to be registered is registered as the transmission source user.

  According to this aspect, if the user who operates the transmission source device that transmits data in the second communication procedure is registered, the data is received from the transmission source device in the second communication procedure. For this reason, data can be received by the second communication procedure from a specific transmission source device operated by a specific user.

  Preferably, when the user specified by the user identification information received together with the data in the second communication procedure is not registered as the transmission source user, the second data processing unit accepts the permission of the received data by the user. Process on the condition.

  According to this aspect, even if the user who operates the transmission source device that transmits data in the second communication procedure is not registered, the data is received in the second communication procedure when there is permission from the user. Can do.

  Preferably, when the user specified by the user identification information received together with the data in the second communication procedure is not registered as the transmission source user and permission from the user is accepted, the registration unit preferably performs the second communication. The user specified by the user identification information received together with the data in the procedure is registered as a transmission source user.

  If this aspect is followed, operation which registers the user who operates the transmission source apparatus which transmits data in the 2nd communication procedure can be made easy.

  Preferably, an authentication means for authenticating a user who is permitted to use is further provided, and the second data processing means identifies a user who operates with the transmission source device that is received together with the data in the second communication procedure and is the data transmission source. The received data is processed on the condition that the user specified by the user identification information to be used is a user permitted to use by the authentication means.

  According to this aspect, if the user operating the transmission source device that transmits data in the second communication procedure is a user who is permitted to use the image processing device, the data is transmitted from the transmission source device in the second communication procedure. Receive. For this reason, data can be received by the second communication procedure from the transmission source device operated by a specific user.

  Preferably, image forming control means for forming an image of the received data according to the condition data received together with the data is further provided.

  According to this aspect, an image of data received in the second communication procedure can be formed under conditions set by the transmission source device.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a data transmission / reception method is a data transmission / reception method executed in a data transmission / reception system including a plurality of image processing devices and a server. A setting step for setting setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to each of one or more other image processing apparatuses, and data is received in the first communication procedure. The first data for processing the received data according to the setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned to the transmission source device that is the transmission source of the received data among the plurality of image processing devices. a processing step, to the execution through a server to the source device among the plurality of image processing apparatus, the destination apparatus which is the destination of the data to be transmitted data To execute the request step of transmitting Te, the server, the data received from the source device, and a first type of address information assigned to the source device in the first communication procedure, first the destination device 1 When a server-side transmission step for transmitting in a second communication procedure different from the communication procedure is executed, and the first type of address information is received together with data in the second communication procedure by the transmission destination device among the plurality of image processing devices. the received data, Ru to execute the second data processing step of processing according to the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data.

  If this aspect is followed, the data transmission / reception method which simplified the operation | work which sets the process performed to the received data can be provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a data transmission / reception method sets setting information associated with a first type of address information assigned in a first communication procedure to each of one or more other image processing apparatuses. When data is received in the setting step and the first communication procedure, the data is received according to the setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned to the transmission source device that is the transmission source of the received data . A first data processing step for processing data, and a first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to a transmission source device that is a data transmission source together with the data in a second communication procedure different from the first communication procedure. when receiving, second data for processing the received data, according to the setting information associated with the first type of address information received with the data And management step, Ru is executed to the image processing apparatus.

  If this aspect is followed, the data transmission / reception method which simplified the operation | work which sets the process performed to the received data can be provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the data transmission / reception program sets setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to each of the other one or more image processing apparatuses. When data is received in the setting step and the first communication procedure, the data is received according to the setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned to the transmission source device that is the transmission source of the received data . A first data processing step for processing data, and a first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to a transmission source device that is a data transmission source together with the data in a second communication procedure different from the first communication procedure. when receiving, the second processing the received data, according to the setting information associated with the first type of address information received with the data And over data processing step, Ru is executed to a computer for controlling an image processing apparatus.

  If this aspect is followed, the data transmission / reception program which simplified the operation | work which sets the process performed to the received data can be provided.

It is a figure which shows an example of the whole outline | summary of the data transmission / reception system in this Embodiment. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an outline of a hardware configuration of an MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the outline | summary of the hardware constitutions of the cloud server in this Embodiment. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a function of a CPU included in the MFP in the first embodiment; It is a figure which shows an example of an alternative reception setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of an alternative transmission setting screen. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the function which CPU with which a cloud server is provided has. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a header portion of a print job. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a data transmission / reception process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an alternative reception process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a reception decision | availability judgment process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of IP reception processing. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an alternative transmission process. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU provided in an MFP according to a modification of the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the data transmission / reception process in a modification. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the reception availability determination processing in a modification. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU provided in an MFP according to a second embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the function which CPU with which the cloud server in 2nd Embodiment is provided has. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU provided in an MFP according to a third embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the data transmission / reception process in 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall outline of a data transmission / reception system according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, a data transmission / reception system 1 includes a management server 300, a cloud server 400, gateway (G / W) devices 200 and 200A that function as relay devices, and an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) that is a multifunction device. 100,100A-100D. The management server 300, the cloud server 400, and the gateway devices 200 and 200A are each connected to the Internet 5 and can communicate with each other via the Internet 5. Furthermore, each of the management server 300, the cloud server 400, and the gateway devices 200 and 200A can communicate with other computers connected to the Internet 5.

  The gateway device 200 is further connected to a local area network (LAN) 3, and the MFP 100 is connected to the LAN 3. The gateway device 200 can communicate with the MFP 100 connected to the LAN 3. Furthermore, each of gateway apparatus 200 and MFP 100 can communicate with other computers connected to LAN 3. Gateway device 200A is further connected to LAN 3A, and MFPs 100A to 100D are connected to LAN 3A. Gateway device 200A can communicate with MFPs 100A to 100D connected to LAN 3A. Furthermore, each of gateway apparatus 200A and MFPs 100A to 100D can communicate with other computers connected to LAN 3A.

  Each of the gateway devices 200 and 200A has a firewall function. The gateway device 200 connects the LAN 3 inside the firewall and the Internet 5 outside the firewall. The gateway device 200 restricts access from the management server 300 and the cloud server 400 connected to the Internet 5 to the MFP 100 connected to the LAN 3. The gateway device 200A connects the LAN 3A inside the firewall and the Internet 5 outside the firewall. The gateway device 200A restricts access from the management server 300 and the cloud server 400 connected to the Internet 5 to the MFPs 100A to 100D connected to the LAN 3A.

  The firewall function of the gateway devices 200 and 200A is not particularly limited, but is a packet filter type firewall function that determines whether communication is permitted or not based on an address included in the packet. Note that an application-type firewall function may be used in which communication with the outside is substituted and controlled at the protocol level of the application layer. The position where the gateway devices 200 and 200A are arranged is inside the firewall.

  In the data transmission / reception system 1 according to the first embodiment, the cloud server 400 connected to the Internet 5 outside the firewall is connected to the MFP 100 connected to the LAN 3 inside the firewall, or the LAN 3 inside the firewall. Access is possible to any of the connected MFPs 100A to 100D. The functions of the gateway devices 200 and 200A in this case are the same. Here, a case where cloud server 400 transmits data to MFP 100A based on a request from MFP 100 will be described as an example.

  In order for data transmitted from the cloud server 400 to the MFP 100A to pass through the firewall of the gateway device 200A, the gateway device 200A establishes a tunnel connection between the cloud server 400 and the MFP 100A. There are various methods for establishing a tunnel connection. Here, a method in which the management server 300 supports the tunnel connection is used.

  The gateway device 200A requests establishment of a communication session with the management server 300 using the network address of the management server 300 stored in advance. Since the gateway device 200A is inside the firewall and the management server 300 is outside the firewall, a communication session passing through the firewall is established. Hereinafter, this communication session is referred to as a constant connection session.

  When the gateway device 200A establishes a constant connection session with the management server 300, the gateway device 200A transmits device identification information for identifying each of the MFPs 100A to 100D connected to the LAN 3A to the management server 300 via the constant connection session. Management server 300 recognizes MFPs 100A to 100D connected to gateway device 200A.

  Next, the cloud server 400 establishes a communication session with the management server 300. Here, a communication session established between the cloud server 400 and the management server 300 is referred to as a global session. Since management server 300 has received the device identification information of MFPs 100A to 100D received from gateway device 200, management server 300 transmits the network addresses of MFPs 100A to 100D connected to gateway device 200A to cloud server 400. As a result, the cloud server 400 recognizes that the management server 300 may be requested to connect when making a tunnel connection with any of the MFPs 100A to 100D.

  When requested to transmit data from MFP 100 to MFP 100A, cloud server 400 transmits a connection request to management server 300 in order to transmit the data to MFP 100A. The connection request includes access information of the cloud server 400 as access information to the connection destination, and includes a network address of the MFP 100A as a network address of the connection source. The network address of MFP 100A is a set of the network address of gateway device 200A and the device identification information of MFP 100A. The access information of the cloud server 400 includes, in addition to the network address of the cloud server 400, an identifier of a process in which the cloud server 400 transmits data in response to a request from the MFP 100. Here, the access information of the cloud server 400 is a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for accessing the cloud server 400 from the MFP 100A. As the URL, for example, “https://www.example.com/print_service?job_id=j00123:60001”, the network address (domain name) of the cloud server 400, the identifier of the web page, and the cloud server 400 execute The process identifier and the port number of the standby port are included. As the standby port, an unused port in a predetermined range is used. Also, a unique ID can be used as a process identifier. Since the URL that is the access information of the cloud server 400 includes the identifier of the process for transmitting the data requested from the MFP 100, the device that has accessed the URL can be associated with the process specified by the identifier. In other words, the processing executed by the cloud server 400 can be associated with an apparatus identified by the connection destination address included in the connection request, in this case, the MFP 100A.

  When the management server 300 receives a connection request from the cloud server 400, the management server 300 identifies the gateway device 200A based on the network address of the gateway device 200A included in the network address of the MFP 100A included in the connection request, and sends the connection request to the gateway device 200A. Transfer through an always-on session. In this case, the connection request is encapsulated and transmitted according to the protocol corresponding to the always-on session.

  Further, when receiving a connection request from the management server 300, the gateway device 200A establishes a communication session with the cloud server 400 based on the access information of the cloud server 400 included in the connection request. Here, the communication session established between the gateway device 200A and the cloud server 400 is referred to as a first communication session. This completes the tunnel connection through the firewall.

  When gateway device 200A receives the connection request from management server 300, gateway device 200A identifies MFP 100A based on the device identification information of MFP 100A included in the network address of MFP 100A included in the connection request, and establishes a communication session with MFP 100A. . Here, the communication session established between gateway apparatus 200A and MFP 100A is referred to as a second communication session.

  Gateway device 200A relays communication between cloud server 400 and MFP 100A using the first communication session established with cloud server 400 and the second communication session established with MFP 100A. To do. For example, the communication between the cloud server 400 and the MFP 100 is relayed by connecting the first communication session and the second communication session. As a result, the cloud server 400 can transmit data to the MFP 100A disposed inside the firewall via the tunnel connection.

  Since the MFPs 100 and 100A to 100D have the same hardware configuration and functions, the MFP 100 will be described as an example unless otherwise specified.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an outline of the hardware configuration of the MFP according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, MFP 100 includes a main circuit 110, a document reading unit 130 for reading a document, an automatic document feeder 120 for transporting a document to document reading unit 130, and a document reading unit 130. An image forming unit 140 for forming an image on a sheet or the like based on image data output by reading the image, a sheet feeding unit 150 for supplying the image to the image forming unit 140, and processing the sheet on which the image is formed A post-processing unit 155 and an operation panel 160 as a user interface.

  The post-processing unit 155 executes a sorting process for sorting and discharging one or more sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit 140, a punching process for punch hole processing, and a staple process for driving staple needles.

  The main circuit 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a communication interface (I / F) unit 112, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 113, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 114, and a hard disk as a mass storage device. A drive (HDD) 115, a facsimile unit 116, and an external storage device 117 on which a CD-ROM (Compact Disk ROM) 118 is mounted are included. CPU 111 is connected to automatic document feeder 120, document reading unit 130, image forming unit 140, paper feeding unit 150, post-processing unit 155, and operation panel 160, and controls the entire MFP 100.

  The ROM 113 stores a program executed by the CPU 111 or data necessary for executing the program. The RAM 114 is used as a work area when the CPU 111 executes a program. The RAM 114 temporarily stores read data (image data) continuously sent from the document reading unit 130.

  Operation panel 160 is provided on the upper surface of MFP 100 and includes a display unit 161 and an operation unit 163. The display unit 161 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic ELD (Electro-Luminescence Display), and displays an instruction menu for the user, information about acquired image data, and the like. The operation unit 163 includes a hard key unit 167 including a plurality of keys, and accepts input of various instructions, data such as characters and numbers by user operations corresponding to the keys. The operation unit 163 further includes a touch panel 165 provided on the display unit 161.

  The facsimile unit 116 is connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and transmits and receives facsimile data according to a facsimile communication procedure.

  Communication I / F unit 112 is an interface for connecting MFP 100 to LAN 3, and transmits and receives data according to a communication procedure different from the facsimile communication procedure. Here, a case will be described in which the communication I / F unit 112 transmits / receives data using a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) communication procedure. Here, TCP will be described as an example of a communication procedure different from the facsimile communication procedure, but the communication procedure for transmitting and receiving data via the communication I / F unit 112 is different from the facsimile communication procedure. For example, UDP (User Datagram Protocol) may be used. The CPU 111 communicates with a device connected to the LAN 3 via the communication I / F unit 112 to transmit / receive data. Further, the communication I / F unit 112 can communicate with a computer connected to the Internet such as the management server 300 and the cloud server 400 via the gateway device 200.

The external storage device 117 is loaded with a CD-ROM 118. The CPU 111 can access the CD-ROM 118 via the external storage device 117. The CPU 111 loads the program recorded on the CD-ROM 118 attached to the external storage device 117 to the RAM 114 and executes it. The medium for storing the program executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the CD-ROM 118, but an optical disc (MO (Magnetic Optical Disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), IC card, optical card, It may be a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (registered trademark) (Electrically EPROM) or the like.

  Further, the CPU 111 may load a program stored in the HDD 115 into the RAM 114 and execute it. In this case, another computer connected to the LAN 3 or the Internet 5 may rewrite the program stored in the HDD 115 of the MFP 100 or may add a new program and write it. Further, MFP 100 may download a program from another computer connected to LAN 3 or Internet 5 and store the program in HDD 115. The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU 111 but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an outline of the hardware configuration of the cloud server according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, the cloud server 400 includes a CPU 401 for controlling the entire cloud server 400, a ROM 402 for storing a program to be executed by the CPU 401, a RAM 403 used as a work area for the CPU 401, data Including a communication unit 405 for connecting the CPU 401 to the Internet 5, a display unit 406 for displaying information, an operation unit 407 for accepting user operation input, and an external storage device 409. .

  The HDD 407 stores an IP address of the management server 300, device identification information of each of the MFPs 100 and 100A to 100D, and a facsimile number. Further, at the stage where the communication path of the global session with the management server 300 is established, the network addresses of the MFPs 100 and 100A to 100D are acquired. At this stage, device identification information, a facsimile number, and a network address are associated with the HDD 407 for each of the MFPs 100 and 100A to 100D. The network address of MFP 100 includes a network address of gateway device 200 and device identification information of MFP 100. Each of the network addresses of MFPs 100A to 100D includes a network address of gateway apparatus 200A, and each of the network addresses of MFPs 100A to 100D includes apparatus identification information of MFPs 100A to 100D.

The external storage device 409 is loaded with a CD-ROM 409A. The CPU 401 can access the CD-ROM 409A via the external storage device 409. The CPU 401 loads the program recorded on the CD-ROM 409A attached to the external storage device 409 into the RAM 403 and executes it. The medium for storing the program executed by the CPU 401 is not limited to the CD-ROM 409A, and may be a semiconductor memory such as an optical disc, an IC card, an optical card, a mask ROM, an EPROM, or an EEPROM (registered trademark) .

  Further, the program executed by the CPU 401 is not limited to the program recorded in the CD-ROM 409A, and the program stored in the HDD 404 may be loaded into the RAM 403 and executed. In this case, another computer connected to the Internet 5 may rewrite the program stored in the HDD 404 of the cloud server 400 or may add a new program and write it. Further, the cloud server 400 may download a program from another computer connected to the Internet 5 and store the program in the HDD 404. The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU 401 but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the CPU provided in the MFP in the first embodiment. The functions shown in FIG. 4 are functions formed in CPU 111 when CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 executes a data transmission / reception program stored in ROM 113, HDD 115, or CD-ROM 118. Referring to FIG. 4, CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 includes a first setting unit 11, a first instruction receiving unit 13, a first data transmitting unit 15, a first data receiving unit 17, and a first data processing unit 19. A second setting unit 21, a second instruction receiving unit 23, a second data transmitting unit 25, a second data receiving unit 27, a third data processing unit 29, an alternative instruction receiving unit 31, and a request unit. 33, a switching unit 35, a second data processing unit 37, a permission setting unit 39, a first history storage unit 41, and a second history storage unit 43.

  The first setting unit 11 is used when executing a facsimile transmission process for transmitting facsimile data via the facsimile unit 116, a facsimile reception process for receiving facsimile data, and an output process for outputting received facsimile data. First setting information is set.

  The facsimile transmission process is a process executed by a first data transmission unit 15 to be described later, and is a process for transmitting data to be transmitted to a destination according to a facsimile communication procedure. The first setting information used for executing the facsimile transmission process includes the address of the destination device. The first setting unit 11 sets first setting information in which device identification information for identifying a destination device is associated with a facsimile number that is an address assigned to the device in the communication procedure of the factory. Here, an example will be described in which first setting unit 11 sets first setting information in which device identification information of each of MFPs 100A to 100D is associated with a factory number.

  The facsimile transmission process includes a data conversion process for converting data to be transmitted into data for transmission by a facsimile communication procedure. The data conversion process is, for example, a process of converting bitmap image data into data in a format defined by a facsimile communication procedure. The data conversion process includes a process of adding a cover page and a process of adding a header and / or a footer for each page. The first setting unit 11 sets first setting information for determining whether to add a cover page, and first setting information for determining whether to add a header and / or a footer. The first setting unit 11 sets first setting information used for executing the data conversion processing for each destination device.

  Note that the first setting unit 11 may set the first setting information used for executing the data conversion process for the MFP 100 that is the device itself. In this case, the data conversion process is executed using the same first setting information regardless of the destination. For example, when the first setting information for adding the cover page is set, when the first data transmission unit 15 executes the data conversion process, it is transmitted to any of a plurality of destination devices. Even if it exists, it is converted into data with a cover page added to the data to be transmitted.

  The facsimile reception process is a process executed by a first data receiving unit 17 to be described later, and is a process for receiving facsimile data from a transmission source apparatus that is a transmission source of facsimile data by a facsimile communication procedure. The facsimile reception processing includes processing for receiving facsimile data from a predetermined transmission source device and processing for rejecting reception of facsimile data from a predetermined transmission source device. The first setting unit 11 sets first setting information including a facsimile number assigned to a device that permits reception of facsimile data, and first setting includes a facsimile number assigned to a device that rejects reception of facsimile data. Set the information.

  The output process is a process executed by a first data processing unit 19 described later, and is a process for outputting received facsimile data. The first setting unit 11 sets first setting information for executing output processing. When the output process is a storage process for storing facsimile data, the first setting unit 11 sets first setting information including position information indicating a position where the facsimile data is stored. The position information is, for example, the folder name of the folder that the HDD 115 has. The first setting unit 11 sets first setting information including information for specifying the image forming unit 140 when the output process is an image forming process for forming an image. When the output process is a data transmission process for transmitting data, the first setting unit 11 sets first setting information including information for specifying an application program for executing the data transmission process and a data transmission destination address To do. For example, when the data transmission process is a process of transmitting by e-mail, the first setting unit 11 includes information specifying an application program that transmits an e-mail and an e-mail address of an e-mail transmission destination. 1 Setting information is set. When the data transmission process is a file transfer process, the first setting unit 11 includes information for specifying an application program to transfer a file by FTP and an IP (Internet Protocol) address that is a transfer destination address. First setting information is set.

  The first instruction receiving unit 13 receives a facsimile transmission instruction from the user. For example, if a facsimile transmission instruction acceptance screen is displayed on the display unit 161 and the user operates the operation unit 163 to specify the data to be transmitted and the facsimile number of the transmission destination device, the facsimile Accept transmission instructions. When receiving the facsimile transmission instruction, the first instruction receiving unit 13 outputs the data to be transmitted and the facsimile number of the transmission destination device to the first data transmitting unit 15.

  Since the first setting unit 11 associates the facsimile numbers with the device identification information of the MFPs 100A to 100D, the first instruction receiving unit 13 displays a list of the device identification information of the MFPs 100A to 100D on the display unit 161. If the user inputs an operation to instruct one of the device identification information of each of MFPs 100A to 100D to operation unit 163, designation of the facsimile number associated with the instructed device identification information by the first setting information is accepted. The data to be transmitted includes data output by reading the original by the original reading unit 130, data stored in the HDD 115, and data stored in a computer connected to the LAN 3 or the Internet 5.

  In addition, when MFP 100 is controlled by a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) connected to LAN 3 and receives a facsimile transmission instruction from the PC, first instruction receiving unit 13 receives the facsimile transmission instruction. The facsimile transmission instruction received from the PC includes data to be transmitted and the facsimile number of the transmission destination apparatus, and address information indicating the position where the data to be transmitted is stored, for example, stored in the HDD 115. In some cases, the file name of the received data and the facsimile number of the destination apparatus are included.

  The first data transmission unit 15 controls the facsimile unit 116 in response to the input of the data to be transmitted from the first instruction receiving unit 13 and the facsimile number of the transmission destination device, and the first setting unit 15 In accordance with the first setting information set in step 11, the data to be transmitted is converted into facsimile data, and the facsimile data is transmitted to the transmission destination device specified by the facsimile number.

  Specifically, the first data transmission unit 15 acquires the first setting information set by the first setting unit 11 with respect to the facsimile number of the transmission destination device input from the first instruction reception unit 13, and 1 Data to be transmitted input from the instruction receiving unit 13 is converted into data in a format determined by a facsimile communication procedure. When the first data transmission unit 15 has set a setting value that determines to add a cover page by the first setting unit 11 to the facsimile number of the transmission destination device input from the first instruction reception unit 13, The cover sheet facsimile data is added to the facsimile data. The cover sheet facsimile data may be stored in the HDD 115. The first data transmission unit 15 is set with a setting value that determines that the first setting unit 11 adds a header and / or footer to the facsimile number of the transmission destination device input from the first instruction reception unit 13. If there is, a header and / or a footer is added for each page included in the facsimile data. The header is a region having a predetermined length from the top of the page, and the footer is a region having a predetermined length from the bottom of the page. The first data transmission unit 15 reduces the image of the page as necessary to secure a header and / or footer area. The header and / or footer includes information indicating the date or the transmission source, and the first data transmission unit 15 displays an image of the information indicating the date or transmission source as necessary in the header and / or footer. Add to

  The first data transmission unit 15 outputs the facsimile data obtained by converting the data to be transmitted and the facsimile number of the destination device to the facsimile unit 116, and the facsimile unit 116 transmits the facsimile data specified by the facsimile number. Send to destination device. Further, when the transmission of the facsimile data is completed, the first data transmission unit 15 outputs a transmission completion signal to the first history storage unit 41. The transmission completion signal includes at least the facsimile number of the transmission destination device.

  The first data receiving unit 17 controls the facsimile unit 116 to receive the facsimile data and the facsimile number of the transmission source device that is the transmission source of the facsimile data in accordance with the facsimile communication procedure. The first data receiving unit 17 receives facsimile data according to the first setting information set by the first setting unit 11. Specifically, the first data receiving unit 17 sets the same facsimile number as the received facsimile number of the transmission source device in the first setting information including the facsimile number of the transmission source device that is permitted to receive facsimile data. If there is the first setting information including the facsimile data, the facsimile data and the facsimile number of the transmission source device are output to the first data processing unit 19. The first data receiving unit 17 includes first setting information including the same facsimile number as the received facsimile number of the transmission source device among the first setting information including the facsimile number of the transmission source device which refuses reception of the facsimile data. Does not output the facsimile data and the facsimile number of the transmission source device to the first data processing unit 19.

  The first data receiving unit 17 receives the first setting information including the facsimile number of the transmission source apparatus that permits the reception of the facsimile data, and the first setting information including the same facsimile number as the received facsimile number of the transmission apparatus. If none of the first setting information including the facsimile number of the transmission source device that refuses to receive data exists, the facsimile data and the facsimile number of the transmission source device are output to the first data processing unit 19. The first data receiving unit 17 outputs a reception completion signal to the first history storage unit 41 when outputting the facsimile data and the facsimile number of the transmission source device to the first data processing unit 19. The reception completion signal includes at least the facsimile number of the transmission source device.

  The first history storage unit 41 stores first history information indicating that facsimile data has been transmitted to the destination device specified by the facsimile number in response to the transmission completion signal input from the first data transmission unit 15. Store in the HDD 115. The first history information indicating that the facsimile data has been transmitted includes at least the facsimile number of the transmission destination device included in the transmission completion signal. In addition, the first history storage unit 41 indicates that the facsimile data is received from the transmission source device specified by the facsimile number in response to the reception completion signal input from the first data receiving unit 17. Information is stored in the HDD 115. The first history information indicating that the facsimile data has been received includes at least the facsimile number of the transmission source device included in the reception completion signal.

  The first data processing unit 19 receives the facsimile data and the facsimile number of the transmission source device from the first data receiving unit 17 and transmits the facsimile according to the first setting information set by the first setting unit 11. Output data. Specifically, the first data processing unit 19 acquires the first setting information set by the first setting unit 11 for the facsimile number of the transmission source device input from the first data receiving unit 17, and 1 Facsimile data input from the data receiving unit 17 is processed. When the first setting information including the position information indicating the position where the data is stored is set by the first setting unit 11, the first data processing unit 19 stores the facsimile data at the position specified by the position information. To do. For example, when the position information indicates the folder name of the folder held by the HDD 115, the facsimile data is stored in the folder specified by the folder name of the HDD 115. When the first setting unit 11 sets information for specifying the image forming unit 140 as the first setting information related to the image forming process, the first data processing unit 19 converts the facsimile data into image data, The image forming unit 140 is controlled to form an image of the image data.

  Further, when the first setting unit 11 has set the first setting information including the information specifying the application program and the address of the data transmission destination as the first setting information regarding the data transmission process, the first data The processing unit 19 executes the application program and transmits the facsimile data to the transmission destination specified by the address included in the first setting information. For example, the first setting unit 11 sets first setting information including information for specifying an application program that transmits an e-mail and an e-mail address of an e-mail transmission destination as the first setting information related to the data transmission process. If so, the first data processing unit 19 executes an application program for transmitting an e-mail, and generates an e-mail including the facsimile data as attached data and the e-mail address included in the first setting information as the destination Then, the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to transmit the generated electronic mail to the electronic mail server. Further, for example, the first setting unit 11 sets first setting information including information specifying an application program to be transmitted by FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and IP address as the first setting information regarding the data transmission processing. If so, the first data processing unit 19 executes an application program transmitted by FTP, controls the communication I / F unit 112, and transmits facsimile data to the IP address included in the first setting information.

  The second setting unit 21 sets second setting information used when executing data transmission processing for transmitting data via the communication I / F unit 112 and data output processing for outputting received data. . The data transmission process is a process executed by a second data transmission unit 25 described later, and is a process of transmitting data to be transmitted to a destination. The second setting information used for executing the data transmission process includes a destination IP address. The second setting unit 21 sets second setting information in which device identification information for identifying a destination device is associated with an IP address that is an address assigned to the device in a TCP communication procedure. Here, a case will be described as an example where second setting unit 21 sets second setting information in which device identification information of each of MFPs 100A to 100D is associated with an IP address.

  The data output process is a process executed by a third data processing unit 29 described later and is a process for outputting received data. The second setting unit 21 sets second setting information for executing the data output process. When the data output process is a storage process, the second setting unit 21 sets second setting information including position information indicating a position where data is stored. The position information is, for example, the folder name of the folder that the HDD 115 has. When the data output process is an image forming process, the second setting unit 21 sets second setting information including information for specifying the image forming unit 140. When the data output process is the data transmission process, the second setting unit 21 sets the second setting information including the address of the data transmission destination. For example, when the data transmission process is a process of transmitting by e-mail, the second setting unit 21 sets third setting information including the e-mail address of the e-mail transmission destination. When the data transmission process is a file transfer process, the second setting unit 21 sets second setting information including an IP address that is a transfer destination address.

  The second instruction receiving unit 23 receives a data transmission instruction from the user. For example, if a data transmission instruction reception screen is displayed on the display unit 161 and the user operates the operation unit 163 to specify the data to be transmitted and the transmission destination device of the transmission destination, the data transmission instruction is issued. Accept. When receiving the data transmission instruction, the second instruction receiving unit 23 outputs the data to be transmitted and the device identification information of the transmission destination device to the second data transmitting unit 25. Since the IP address is associated with the device identification information of each of MFPs 100A to 100D by second setting unit 21, a list of device identification information for each of MFPs 100A to 100D is displayed on display unit 161, and the user can select each of MFPs 100A to 100D. If an operation for instructing any one of the device identification information is input to the operation unit 163, designation of the instructed device identification information may be accepted. The data to be transmitted includes data output by reading the original by the original reading unit 130, data stored in the HDD 115, and data stored in a computer connected to the LAN 3 or the Internet 5.

  Further, when the MFP 100 is controlled by a PC connected to the LAN 3 and receives a data transmission instruction from the PC, the second instruction reception unit 23 receives the data transmission instruction. The data transmission instruction received from the PC includes data to be transmitted and the IP address of the destination device, and address information indicating the location where the data to be transmitted is stored, for example, stored in the HDD 115. In some cases, the file name of the received data and the IP address of the destination device are included.

  The second data transmission unit 25 controls the communication I / F unit 112 in response to the data to be transmitted from the second instruction receiving unit 23 and the device identification information of the transmission destination device being input. In accordance with the second setting information set by the second setting unit 21, the transmission target data is transmitted to the transmission destination device specified by the device identification information. Specifically, the second data transmission unit 25 acquires the second setting information set by the second setting unit 21 with respect to the device identification information of the transmission destination device input from the second instruction receiving unit 23. Here, since the second setting unit 21 sets the second setting information in which the IP address is associated with the device identification information of the transmission destination device, the second data transmission unit 25 receives the input from the second instruction receiving unit 23. An IP address associated with the device identification information of the transmission destination device by the second setting information is acquired. The second data transmission unit 25 outputs the data to be transmitted and the IP address input from the second instruction receiving unit 23 to the communication I / F unit 112 and is to be transmitted to the communication I / F unit 112. The data is transmitted to the destination device specified by the IP address. In addition, when the data transmission is completed, the second data transmission unit 25 outputs a transmission completion signal to the second history storage unit 43. The transmission completion signal includes at least device identification information of the transmission destination device.

  The alternative instruction receiving unit 31 receives an alternative transmission instruction from the user. The alternative transmission instruction includes an instruction for specifying data to be transmitted, an instruction for specifying device identification information of a transmission destination device that is a data transmission destination, and an instruction for setting print conditions. For example, if the user operates the operation unit 163 to specify data to be transmitted, specify device identification information of a transmission destination device, and print conditions, an alternative transmission instruction is accepted. The substitution instruction accepting unit 31 displays a data designation screen on the display unit 161, and accepts designation of data to be transmitted according to an operation that the user inputs to the operation unit 163 according to the data designation screen. The data to be transmitted includes data output by reading the original by the original reading unit 130, data stored in the HDD 115, and data stored in a computer connected to the LAN 3 or the Internet 5. For example, when a scan button to which an instruction to read an original document is assigned to the original reading unit 130 is instructed on the data designation screen, data output by the original reading unit 130 reading the original is set as data to be transmitted. To do. In addition, when a list of data identification information of data stored in the HDD 115 is displayed on the data designation screen and the user performs an operation of designating the data identification information from the list, the data of the designated data identification information is displayed. Set to the data to be sent.

  Since the first setting unit 11 associates a facsimile number with the device identification information of each of MFPs 100A to 100D, substitution instruction receiving unit 31 displays a destination designation screen including a list of device identification information for each of MFPs 100A to 100D. If the user inputs an operation for instructing one of the device identification information of each of MFPs 100 </ b> A to 100 </ b> D to operation unit 163, designation of the instructed device identification information is accepted. In addition, since the second setting unit 21 associates the IP address with the device identification information of each of MFPs 100A to 100D, substitution instruction receiving unit 31 displays a destination designation screen including a list of device identification information of each of MFPs 100A to 100D. If the user inputs an operation for displaying any one of the device identification information of each of MFPs 100 </ b> A to 100 </ b> D to operation unit 163, the designation of the specified device identification information may be accepted. Further, the alternative instruction receiving unit 31 may receive device identification information input by the user to the operation unit 163.

  When the MFP 100 is controlled by a PC connected to the LAN 3 or the Internet 5 and receives an alternative transmission instruction from the PC, the alternative instruction reception unit 31 receives the alternative transmission instruction. The alternative transmission instruction received from the PC includes data to be transmitted and device identification information of the transmission destination device, and address information indicating the position where the data to be transmitted is stored, for example, in the HDD 115. The file name of the stored data and the device identification information of the transmission destination device may be included.

  Further, the substitute instruction receiving unit 31 displays a print condition setting screen on the display unit 161 and receives a print condition input by the user operating the operation unit 163. The print conditions include image processing conditions, image forming conditions, and post-processing conditions. The image processing condition is a condition for image processing of image data that is an object of image formation. The image processing conditions include, for example, a scaling condition for enlarging or reducing an image, an aggregation condition for aggregating a plurality of pages into one page, and an imparting condition for imparting a watermark. The image forming condition is a condition for executing an image forming process for forming image data on a sheet. The image forming conditions include, for example, paper size, document size, number of copies, color or monochrome. The post-processing condition is a condition for processing a sheet on which an image is formed. Post-processing conditions include, for example, conditions for executing sort processing, conditions for executing processing for inserting paper, conditions for bending paper, conditions for punching holes, conditions for driving staples, etc. including.

  The substitution instruction receiving unit 31 generates a print job based on the data designated as the processing target and the print condition set by the user, and sends the print job and the device identification information of the transmission destination device to the request unit 33. Output. The print job is, for example, data described in PJL (Printer Job Language) or PCL (Printer Control Language), although not limited thereto. The print job includes print data obtained by converting data designated as a processing target into image data.

  In response to the input of the print job and the device identification information of the transmission destination device from the substitute instruction reception unit 31, the request unit 33 sends the print job to the cloud server 400 and the facsimile communication procedure to the transmission destination device. Requests transmission according to a different communication procedure, here a TCP communication procedure. Specifically, the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to transmit a transmission request including data to be transmitted and device identification information of the transmission destination device to the cloud server 400.

  Although details of the cloud server 400 that receives the transmission request from the MFP 100 will be described later, the cloud server 400 specifies the facsimile number of the MFP 100 that is the transmission source apparatus that has transmitted the transmission request, and includes the MFP 100 in the print job included in the transmission request. A description including the facsimile number is added, and the print job is transmitted to the transmission destination apparatus specified by the apparatus identification information included in the transmission request by the TCP communication procedure.

  The second data receiving unit 27 controls the communication I / F unit 112 to receive data and the IP address of the device that has transmitted the received data according to the TCP communication procedure. The second data receiving unit 27 outputs the received data and the IP address to the second data processing unit 37 and the third data processing unit 29. The second data receiving unit 27 outputs a reception completion signal to the second history storage unit 43 when outputting to the second data processing unit 37 and the third data processing unit 29. The reception completion signal includes at least the IP address of the device that has transmitted the received data.

  The second history storage unit 43 stores, in the HDD 115, second history information indicating that data has been transmitted to the transmission destination device in response to the transmission completion signal being input from the second data transmission unit 25. The second history information indicating that data has been transmitted includes at least the IP address of the transmission destination device included in the transmission completion signal. The second history storage unit 43 stores, in the HDD 115, second history information indicating that data has been received from the transmission source device in response to the reception completion signal input from the second data reception unit 27. The second history information indicating that data has been received includes at least the IP address of the transmission source device included in the reception completion signal.

  The switching unit 35 receives an alternative reception setting instruction from the user and sets the alternative reception function to either valid or invalid. Specifically, the switching unit 35 displays an alternative reception setting screen on the display unit 161 and sets whether the alternative reception function is valid or invalid according to an operation input to the operation unit 163 by the user. When the switching unit 35 accepts an operation for enabling the alternative reception function, the switching unit 35 outputs an effective signal indicating that the alternative reception function is set to be effective to the second data processing unit 37 and the third data processing unit. When receiving an operation for setting the reception function to be invalid, an invalid signal indicating that the alternative reception function is set to invalid is output to the second data processing unit 37 and the third data processing unit.

  When the invalid signal is input from the switching unit 35, the third data processing unit 29 is set by the second setting unit 21 in response to the data and the IP address being input from the second data receiving unit 27. Data is output according to the second setting information. When an invalid signal is input from the switching unit 35, the IP address received from the second data receiving unit 27 may be the cloud server 400. In this case, the data received from the second data receiving unit 27 may be a print job including a facsimile number and having an alternative transmission flag set. Even in this case, when the invalid signal is input from the switching unit 35, the third data processing unit 29 outputs the print job in accordance with the second setting information set by the second setting unit 21. Further, the third data processing unit 29 is configured such that when a valid signal is input from the switching unit 35, when the data received from the second data receiving unit 27 has no alternative transmission flag set, the second setting unit Data is output in accordance with the second setting information set by 21. The alternative transmission flag is a facsimile number. When the print job includes a facsimile number, the alternative transmission flag is set for the print job. When the print job does not include the facsimile number, the alternative transmission flag is not set for the print job.

  Specifically, the third data processing unit 29 acquires the second setting information set by the second setting unit 21 with respect to the IP address input from the second data receiving unit 27, and the second data receiving unit The data input from 27 is output according to the acquired second setting information. When the second setting information including the position information indicating the position where the data is stored is set by the second setting unit 21, the third data processing unit 29 stores the data at the position specified by the position information. . For example, when the position information indicates the folder name of the folder that the HDD 115 has, the data is stored in the folder specified by the folder name of the HDD 115. Further, when the second setting information including the information for specifying the image forming unit 140 is set by the second setting unit 21, the third data processing unit 29 converts the data into image data, and the image forming unit 140. To form an image of the image data. When the data is a print job, the print job is executed to control the image forming unit 140 to form an image on a sheet.

  In addition, when the second setting unit 21 sets the second setting information including information specifying the application program and the address of the data transmission destination, the third data processing unit 29 executes the application program. The data is transmitted to the transmission destination specified by the address included in the second setting information. For example, when the second setting unit 21 sets second setting information including information for specifying an application program that transmits an e-mail and an e-mail address of an e-mail transmission destination, the third data processing unit 29 executes an application program for transmitting an e-mail, generates an e-mail including the facsimile data as attached data, the e-mail address included in the second setting information as a destination, and controls the communication I / F unit 112 Then, the generated e-mail is transmitted to the e-mail server. Further, for example, when the second setting unit 21 sets second setting information including information specifying an application program to be transmitted by FTP and an IP address, the third data processing unit 29 transmits by FTP. The communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to transmit data to the IP address included in the second setting information.

  The second data processing unit 37 is effective when the signal in the first embodiment is inputted from the switching unit 35 in the third embodiment, and the data inputted from the second data receiving unit 27 In the case where the alternative transmission flag is set, the data input from the second data receiving unit 27 is a print job transmitted by the cloud server 400. When the alternative transmission flag is set in the data input from the second data receiving unit 27, the second data processing unit 37 displays the print job received from the second data receiving unit 27 as the first setting unit 11. Output according to the set value set by. Specifically, the second data processing unit 37 extracts a facsimile number included in the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27, and is set by the first setting unit 11 for the extracted facsimile number. First setting information is acquired.

  The second data processing unit 37 includes a reception availability determination unit 51, an alternative history storage unit 53, a data conversion unit 55, and a transfer unit 57. The reception availability determination unit 51 determines whether to receive data input from the second data reception unit 27 according to the first setting information set for the facsimile number included in the print job by the first setting unit 11. to decide. Receivability determination unit 51 includes a device determination unit 61, a discard unit 63, an inquiry unit 65, and a device permission reception unit 67.

  The device determination unit 61 includes the same facsimile number as the facsimile number extracted from the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27 in the first setting information including the facsimile number of the transmission source device that is permitted to receive facsimile data. If the first setting information including the number exists, it is determined that the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27 can be received. The device determination unit 61 includes the same facsimile number as the facsimile number extracted from the print job input from the second data reception unit 27 in the first setting information including the facsimile number of the transmission source device that refuses to receive facsimile data. If the first setting information including the number exists, it is determined that the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27 cannot be received, and a discard instruction is output to the discard unit 63.

  The device determination unit 61 determines that the first setting information including the muddy millimeter number extracted from the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27 is the facsimile number of the transmission source device that permits the reception of facsimile data. If there is neither the first setting information including the first setting information and the first setting information including the facsimile number of the transmission source device that refuses to receive the facsimile data, or if the history confirmation mode is set, whether or not reception is possible is further determined. Check.

  If the history check mode is set, the device determination unit 61 determines whether or not a print job can be received based on the first history information. If the history check mode is not set, the device determination unit 61 determines whether the print job can be received. 1 Whether or not a print job can be received is not determined based on the history information. If the history confirmation mode is set, the apparatus determination unit 61 stores the first history information that includes the same facsimile number as the facsimile number extracted from the print job and indicates that the facsimile data has been transmitted. Judge whether or not. If such first history information is stored, the device determination unit 61 determines that a print job input from the second data reception unit 27 can be received.

  If the history confirmation mode is not set and the user confirmation mode is set, the device determination unit 61 outputs an inquiry instruction to the inquiry unit 65. In addition, the device determination unit 61 sets the history confirmation mode, and cannot determine whether or not a print job can be received based on the first history information. An inquiry instruction is output to 65. The device determination unit 61 does not output an inquiry instruction to the inquiry unit 65 when neither the history confirmation mode nor the user confirmation mode is set. The inquiry instruction includes a facsimile number extracted from the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27. In addition, if the apparatus identification information corresponding to the facsimile number is set by the first setting unit 11, the apparatus identification information is included.

  In response to the input of the inquiry instruction, the inquiry unit 65 inquires of the user whether or not reception is possible and outputs the reception instruction to the device permission reception unit 67. For example, an e-mail including a message for inquiring whether or not reception from a facsimile number included in the inquiry instruction is permitted is generated, and the generated e-mail is transmitted to a predetermined e-mail address. Further, an inquiry screen including a message for inquiring whether or not reception from the facsimile number included in the inquiry instruction is permitted may be displayed on the display unit 161.

  The device permission receiving unit 67 receives permission from the user after the receiving instruction is input from the inquiry unit 65. For example, when inquiring by e-mail, permission from the user is accepted when receiving a reply mail in response to the transmitted e-mail. Further, when the inquiry screen is displayed on the display unit 161, the user's permission is accepted when a button for instructing “permission” included in the inquiry screen is instructed. When accepting permission from the user, the device permission accepting unit 67 determines that the data input from the second data receiving unit 27 can be received, and outputs a setting signal to the permission setting unit 39. The setting signal includes a facsimile number extracted from the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27.

  The permission setting unit 39 includes a facsimile number included in the setting instruction in response to the setting instruction input from the device permission receiving unit 67 as a facsimile number of a transmission source device that permits reception of facsimile data. The information is added to the first setting information set by the first setting unit 11.

  The substitution history storage unit 53 is extracted from the print job input from the second data reception unit 27 when the reception possibility determination unit 51 determines that the print job input from the second data reception unit 27 can be received. First history information indicating that facsimile data has been received from the transmission source device specified by the facsimile number is stored in HDD 115.

  If the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27 is determined to be receivable by the receivability determining unit 51, the data converting unit 55 performs the first setting unit 11 on the facsimile number extracted from the print job. When the first setting information for executing the data conversion process is present in the first setting information set by the first setting information, the print data included in the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27 is set to the first setting information. Convert according to information. Specifically, when the first setting information indicating that a cover page is added is set, the first of one or more pages included in the print data included in the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27 An image page of facsimile data of the cover sheet is added to the page. The cover sheet facsimile data may be stored in the HDD 115. In addition, when the first setting information indicating that a header and / or a footer is added is set, the data conversion unit 55 adds the header and the print data included in the print job input from the second data reception unit 27 to the print data. Add a footer. When the print data is composed of image data of a plurality of pages, a header and / or a footer is added for each of the plurality of pages. The data converter 55 reduces the image of the page included in the print data as necessary in order to secure a header and / or footer area. The header and / or footer includes information indicating a date or a transmission source, and the data conversion unit 55 acquires necessary information from the header portion of the print job input from the second data reception unit 27 and acquires the information. A header and / or footer image is generated using the processed information.

  When the reception job determination unit 51 determines that the print job input from the second data reception unit 27 can be received by the transfer unit 57, the transfer unit 57 sets the facsimile number extracted from the print job by the first setting unit 11. If the first setting information including the position information indicating the position where the data is stored exists in the set first setting information, the transfer unit 57 executes the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27. When converted by the data converter 55, the print job including the converted print data is stored at a position specified by the position information included in the first setting information. For example, when the position information indicates the folder name of the folder that the HDD 115 has, the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27 or the print job whose print data has been converted by the data converting unit 55 is identified by the folder name of the HDD 115. Stored in the folder.

  Further, when the transfer unit 57 determines that the print job input from the second data reception unit 27 can be received by the reception determination unit 51, the transfer unit 57 sets the first setting unit for the facsimile number extracted from the print job. 11, when the information specifying the application program and the data transmission destination address are set, the application program is executed and input from the second data receiving unit 27. The print job or the print job whose print data has been converted by the data conversion unit 55 is transmitted to the transmission destination specified by the address included in the first setting information. For example, the first setting information including information specifying an application program for transmitting an e-mail and an e-mail address of an e-mail transmission destination by the first setting unit 11 for the facsimile number extracted from the print job is provided. If set, the transfer unit 57 executes an application program for sending an e-mail, and attaches a print job input from the second data receiving unit 27 or a print job whose print data has been converted by the data conversion unit 55 An e-mail including the e-mail address included in the data and included in the first setting information as a destination is generated, the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled, and the generated e-mail is transmitted to the e-mail server. Further, for example, when the first setting information including the information specifying the application program to be transmitted by FTP and the IP address is set by the first setting unit 11 for the facsimile number extracted from the print job, The transfer unit 57 executes an application program transmitted by FTP, controls the communication I / F unit 112, and print data converted by the print job or data conversion unit 55 input from the second data receiving unit 27. The print job is transmitted to the IP address included in the first setting information.

  When the second data processing unit 37 determines that the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27 is receivable by the receivability determining unit 51, the second data processing unit 37 applies the first to the facsimile number extracted from the print job. When the setting unit 11 sets the first setting information including information for specifying the image forming unit 140, the second data processing unit 37 receives the print job or data conversion unit input from the second data receiving unit 27. The print job in which the print data is converted by 55 is executed, the image forming unit 140 is controlled, and an image of the print data is formed.

  When the second data processing unit 37 determines that the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27 is receivable by the receivability determining unit 51, the second data processing unit 37 applies the first to the facsimile number extracted from the print job. When the first setting information for the output process is not set by the setting unit 11, the second data processing unit 37 has the print data converted by the print job or the data conversion unit 55 input from the second data receiving unit 27. A print job is executed, the image forming unit 140 is controlled, and an image of print data is formed.

  Since the print job includes print conditions and print data, the second data processing unit 37 forms an image of the print data on a sheet according to the print conditions. The second data processing unit 37 performs image processing on the image of the print data according to the image processing condition when the image processing condition is set in the print condition. The image processing conditions include, for example, a scaling condition for enlarging or reducing an image, an aggregation condition for aggregating a plurality of pages into one page, and an imparting condition for imparting a watermark. The second data processing unit 37 forms an image of the print data on the paper according to the image forming condition when the image forming condition is set as the printing condition. The image forming conditions include, for example, the resolution of the image to be formed, the paper size, the number of copies, color or monochrome. For this reason, the second data processing unit 37 performs a process of forming one image defined by the print condition of color and monochrome on a paper having a size determined by the print condition at a resolution determined by the print condition. Repeat for the number of copies specified by the print conditions.

  In addition, when the post-processing condition is set in the print condition, the second data processing unit 37 processes the sheet on which the image is formed according to the post-processing condition. Post-processing conditions include, for example, conditions for executing sort processing, conditions for executing processing for inserting paper, conditions for bending paper, conditions for punching holes, conditions for driving staples, etc. including.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an alternative reception setting screen. Referring to FIG. 5, alternative reception setting screen 600 includes an area 601 for setting validity / invalidity of the alternative reception function, and an area 610 for setting a reception determination mode. The area 601 includes a button 602 for setting the alternative reception function to be valid and a button 603 for setting the alternative reception function to be invalid. The buttons 602 and 603 are exclusively turned on, and either one can be designated. When the button 602 is instructed, the switching unit 35 accepts an operation for enabling the alternative reception function, and when the button 603 is instructed, the switching unit 35 accepts an operation for invalidating the alternative reception function.

  An area 610 is an area for setting a reception determination mode. The reception determination mode includes a history confirmation mode and a user confirmation mode. The area 610 includes a button 611 in which characters “communication history” are represented and a button 612 in which characters “reception confirmation” are represented. The button 611 is normally displayed when the history confirmation mode is not set, and is highlighted when the history confirmation mode is set. Each time the button 611 is instructed by the user, the display mode is switched between normal display and reverse display. In the figure, the button 611 is normally displayed, and the history confirmation mode is not set. The button 612 is normally displayed when the user confirmation mode is not set, and is highlighted when the user confirmation mode is set. Each time the button 612 is instructed by the user, the display mode is switched between normal display and reverse display. In the figure, the state where the button 612 is highlighted is shown by hatching, and the state where the user confirmation mode is set is shown. The button 611 and the button 612 are independent. When the history confirmation mode and the user confirmation mode are set, the history confirmation mode is set. However, when the user confirmation mode is not set, the user confirmation mode is not set. When the mode is set, it may not be set to either the history confirmation mode or the user confirmation mode.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an alternative transmission setting screen. Referring to FIG. 6, alternative transmission setting screen 700 includes an address designation screen 701 and a print condition setting screen 710. The destination designation screen 701 includes an area 702 for displaying device identification information of a device designated as a transmission destination device by the user, and a pull-down button 703. When the pull-down button 703 is instructed, a list of device identification information of devices that can be designated as transmission destination devices is displayed in a pull-down manner.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in the cloud server. The functions illustrated in FIG. 7 are functions formed in the CPU 401 when the CPU 401 included in the cloud server 400 executes the alternative transmission program stored in the ROM 402, the HDD 404, or the CD-ROM 409. Referring to FIG. 7, CPU 401 included in cloud server 400 includes a request receiving unit 451, an address adding unit 453, and an alternative transmission unit 455. The request reception unit 451 controls the communication unit 405 and receives a transmission request from the transmission source device. Upon receiving the transmission request, the request reception unit 451 identifies the transmission source device that has transmitted the transmission request, outputs the transmission request and the device identification information of the transmission source device to the address addition unit 453, and also receives the transmission request. The device identification information of the included transmission destination device is output to the alternative transmission unit 455. The transmission request includes a print job to be transmitted and device identification information of the transmission destination device.

  The address adding unit 453 sets an alternative transmission flag for the print job included in the transmission request. Here, the alternative transmission flag is the facsimile number of the transmission source device. The alternative transmission flag may be a flag different from the facsimile number. The address adding unit 453 specifies the facsimile number of the transmission source device based on the device identification information of the transmission source device received from the request reception unit 451, and adds the facsimile number of the transmission source device to the print job included in the transmission request. And added as an alternative transmission flag. The address adding unit 453 outputs the print job to which the facsimile number of the transmission source device is added to the alternative transmission unit 455.

  The alternative transmission unit 455 specifies the IP address of the transmission destination device based on the device identification information of the transmission destination device. Further, the alternative transmission unit 455 controls the communication unit 405 to transmit the print job input from the address addition unit 453 to the transmission destination apparatus using the specified IP address. More specifically, the alternative transmission unit 455 transmits a connection request to the management server 300, and transmits a print job input from the address addition unit 453 via a communication path that is tunnel-connected to the transmission destination device. To do. For this reason, even when the transmission destination device is arranged inside the firewall, data can be transmitted to the transmission destination device.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a header portion of a print job. Here, the header portion of the print job described in PJL is shown. Referring to FIG. 8, the header portion 800 of the print job includes a description “@PJL SET ALTERNATIVE FAX_NO = 0123345678” and a description indicating that the facsimile number of the transmission source apparatus is “012345678”. Further, the description “@PJL SET ALTERNATEFAX_USERNAME =“ user1 ”” indicates that the user identification information of the user who has instructed transmission of the print job is “user1”.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of data transmission / reception processing. The data transmission / reception process is a process executed by CPU 111 when CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 executes a data transmission / reception program stored in ROM 113, HDD 115, or CD-ROM 118. Referring to FIG. 9, CPU 111 determines whether an alternative transmission setting instruction has been accepted. The alternative transmission setting instruction is input to MFP 100 by the user. For example, when a user designates a predetermined key among a plurality of hard keys provided in the hard key unit 167 provided in the operation unit 163, an alternative transmission setting instruction is accepted. If an alternative transmission setting instruction is accepted, the process proceeds to step S02; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S02, designation of data to be transmitted is accepted. When the data designation screen is displayed on the display unit 161 and a scan button included in the data designation screen is designated, the document reading unit 130 reads the document and sets the data to be output as data to be transmitted. Further, a list of data identification information of data stored in the HDD 115 is displayed on the data designation screen, and data of the data identification information designated by the user from the list is set as data to be transmitted.

  In step S03, an address designation screen is displayed on display unit 161. The destination designation screen is a screen that displays the device identification information of each of MFPs 100A to 100D in a selectable manner. For example, since the address book in which the facsimile number is associated with the device identification information of each of MFPs 100A to 100D is stored for facsimile transmission, the device identification information of each of MFPs 100A to 100D included in the address book is displayed in a selectable manner. Display the destination designation screen. In the next step S04, designation of a transmission destination device is accepted. When any of a plurality of device identification information included in the destination designation screen displayed on the display unit 161 is instructed by the user, the device having the instructed device identification information is set as a transmission destination device.

  In the next step S05, the data designated as the transmission target in step S02 is acquired. When the scan button included in the data designation screen is instructed, the document reading unit 130 reads the document, and the document reading unit 130 reads the document and acquires data to be output. In addition, the data of the data identification information designated by the user from the data identification information of the data stored in the HDD 115 is acquired by reading from the HDD 115.

  In the next step S06, a print condition setting screen is displayed on the display unit 161. Then, a print condition input by the user to the operation unit 163 according to the print condition setting screen is received (step S07). In the next step S08, a print job is generated based on the data acquired in step S05 and the print conditions accepted in step S07. In the next step S09, the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to transmit a transmission request to the cloud server 400. The transmission request includes the print job generated in step S08 and the device identification information of the transmission destination device accepted in step S04. In the next step S10, the first history information is stored in the HDD 115, and the process proceeds to step S11. The first history information is information indicating that facsimile data has been transmitted, including the facsimile number of the transmission destination apparatus designated by the user in step S04.

  In step S11, it is determined whether communication I / F unit 112 has received data. If communication I / F unit 112 has received data, the process proceeds to step S13; otherwise, the process returns to step S01. In step S12, the IP address of the device that transmitted the data is acquired. In the next step S13, it is determined whether or not the alternative reception function is enabled. If the alternative reception function is enabled, the process proceeds to step S14; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S14, it is determined whether an alternative transmission flag is set for the data. If the data received in step S11 includes the facsimile number of the transmission source device, it is determined that the alternative transmission flag is set. The data received in step S11 may be a print job transmitted by the cloud server 400. Since the print job is described in PJL or PCL, the presence or absence of the facsimile number can be determined by extracting the description of the facsimile number of the transmission source device from the description. If the alternative transmission flag is set, the process proceeds to step S15; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S16.

  When the process proceeds to step S15, the data received in step S11 is a print job transmitted by the cloud server 400. In step S15, an alternative reception process is executed, and the process returns to step S01. Details of the alternative reception process will be described later.

  In step S16, an IP reception process is executed, and the process returns to step S01. Although details of the IP reception process will be described later, this is a process for outputting the data received in step S11 according to the second setting information set for the IP address acquired in step S12.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of alternative reception processing. The alternative reception process is a process executed in step S15 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 10, in step S61, the facsimile number of the transmission source apparatus is acquired from the print job received in step S11 of FIG.

  In the next step S62, the first setting information set corresponding to the facsimile number of the transmission source device is read, and the process proceeds to step S63. In step S63, a reception possibility determination process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S64. Although details of the reception possibility determination process will be described later, it is a process for determining whether or not to receive the print job received from the cloud server 400 in step S11 using the first setting information read in step S62. is there. In step S64, the process is branched based on the result of the reception possibility determination process. If it is determined that reception is possible, the process proceeds to step S65; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S73. In step S73, the print job received from the cloud server 400 is discarded, and the process returns to the data reception process.

  In step S65, it is determined whether data conversion is set. When the first setting information for executing the data conversion process exists in the first setting information read in step S62, it is determined that the data conversion setting is performed. If data conversion is set, the process proceeds to step S66; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S67.

  In step S66, the print data included in the print job received in step S11 is converted according to the first setting information read in step S62, and the process proceeds to step S67. Specifically, when the first setting information read in step S62 indicates that a cover page is to be added, an image of the cover sheet facsimile data is added to the first page of one or more pages included in the print data. Add a page. The cover sheet facsimile data may be stored in the HDD 115. If the first setting information read in step S62 indicates that a header and / or footer is added, the header and / or footer is added to the print data. When the print data is composed of image data of a plurality of pages, a header and / or a footer is added for each of the plurality of pages. Further, in order to secure a header and / or footer area, the image of the page included in the print data is reduced as necessary. The header and / or footer includes information indicating the date or the transmission source, etc., acquires necessary information from the header portion of the print job received in step S11, and uses the acquired information to obtain a header and / or header and / or footer. Generate footer image.

  In step S67, it is determined whether or not output setting has been made. If the first setting information for executing the output process exists in the first setting information read in step S62, it is determined that the output is set. If the output is set, the process proceeds to step S68; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S72. In step S72, the print job received from the cloud server 400 in step S11 is executed, and the process returns to the data reception process. When the image forming unit 140 is controlled to execute the print data included in the print job, step S66, the image of the print data converted in step S66 is formed on the sheet.

  In step S68, the process branches depending on the output setting. If the first setting information read out in step S62 includes the first setting information for executing the data storage process, the process proceeds to step S69, and the first setting for executing the data transmission process is performed. If the information exists, the process proceeds to step S70, and if the first setting information for executing the image forming process exists, the process proceeds to step S71.

  In step S69, the print job is stored at the position specified by the position information included in the first setting information, and the process returns to the data reception process. For example, when the position information indicates the folder name of the folder held by the HDD 115, the print job, and when step S66 is executed, the print job including the converted print data is stored in the folder specified by the folder name of the HDD 115. To do.

  In step S70, the print job is transmitted to the destination address included in the first setting information, and the process returns to the data reception process. For example, when the first setting information includes information for specifying an application program that transmits an e-mail and an e-mail address of an e-mail transmission destination, a print job, and when step S66 is executed, a converted result An e-mail including a print job including print data as attached data and including an e-mail address included in the first setting information as a destination is generated, the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled, and the generated e-mail is converted into an e-mail. Send to server. When the first setting information includes information specifying an application program to be transmitted by FTP and an IP address, when the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to execute a print job, step S66. A print job including the converted print data is transmitted to the IP address by the FTP procedure.

  In step S71, a print job is executed, and if step S66 is executed, a print job including the converted print data is executed, the image forming unit 140 is controlled to form an image of the print data, and the process is received as data. Return to processing.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of reception availability determination processing. The reception availability determination process is a process executed in step S63 of FIG. The first setting information corresponding to the facsimile number extracted from the print job received from the cloud server 400 is read out before the reception permission determination process is executed. Referring to FIG. 11, CPU 111 determines whether the facsimile number extracted from the print job is set to a facsimile number that refuses reception of facsimile data (step S31). If the first setting information corresponding to the facsimile number includes the first setting information including the same facsimile number as the facsimile number for rejecting reception of the facsimile data, the setting is made to the facsimile number for rejecting reception. Judge that it has been. If it is set to a facsimile number that refuses reception of facsimile data, the process proceeds to step S40; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S32, it is determined whether the facsimile number extracted from the print job is set to a facsimile number that permits reception of facsimile data. In the first setting information corresponding to the facsimile number, if there is first setting information that includes the same facsimile number as the facsimile number that permits the reception of facsimile data, the facsimile number that is permitted to be received is set. Judge that it has been. If it is set to a facsimile number that permits reception of facsimile data, the process proceeds to step S33; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S35.

  In step S35, it is determined whether or not the history confirmation mode is set. If the history confirmation mode is set, the process proceeds to step S36; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S40. In step S <b> 36, it is determined whether or not the first history information including the facsimile number extracted from the print job and indicating that the facsimile data has been transmitted is stored in HDD 115. If the first history information including the facsimile number and indicating that the facsimile data has been transmitted is stored, the process proceeds to step S33; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S37. This is because if the facsimile data is received from a device that has transmitted it in the past, it is safe because the partner device is known.

  In step S37, the user is inquired of whether or not data can be received from the facsimile number apparatus, and the process proceeds to step S38. For example, an e-mail including a message inquiring whether or not reception from a facsimile number is permitted is generated, and the generated e-mail is transmitted to a predetermined e-mail address. Further, an inquiry screen including a message for inquiring whether or not reception from the facsimile number is permitted may be displayed on the display unit 161.

  In step S38, it is determined whether permission from the user has been accepted. For example, when inquiring by e-mail, when receiving a reply e-mail in response to the transmitted e-mail, the user's permission is accepted. Further, when the inquiry screen is displayed on the display unit 161, the user's permission is accepted when a button for instructing “permission” included in the inquiry screen is instructed. If permission from the user is accepted, the process proceeds to step S39; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S40.

  In step S39, first setting information for permitting reception of facsimile data from the facsimile number extracted from the print job is added, and the process proceeds to step S33.

  In step S33, the first history information including the facsimile number of the transmission source device and indicating that facsimile data has been received is stored in HDD 115, and the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, “Receivable” is set as the return value, and the process returns to the data transmission / reception process. On the other hand, in step S40, “reception impossible” is set as the return value, and the process returns to the data transmission / reception process.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of IP reception processing. The IP reception process is a process executed in step S16 of FIG. 9, and data is received before the IP reception process is executed, and the IP address of the device that has transmitted the data is acquired. ing. Referring to FIG. 12, CPU 401 stores, in HDD 115, second history information that includes an IP address and indicates that data has been received (step S51). In the next step S52, second setting information set corresponding to the IP address is acquired. In the next step S53, it is determined whether or not output setting has been made. If the second setting information for executing the output process exists in the second setting information acquired in step S52, it is determined that the output is set. If the output is set, the process proceeds to step S54; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S58. In step S58, an image of the data received from the outside in step S11 of FIG. 9 is formed, and the process returns to the data transmission / reception process. The image forming unit 140 is controlled to form an image of the received data on a sheet.

  In step S54, the process branches depending on the output setting. If second setting information for executing the data storage process exists in the second setting information acquired in step S52, the process proceeds to step S55, and the second setting information for executing the data transmission process is determined. If it exists, the process proceeds to step S56, and if the second setting information for executing the image forming process exists, the process proceeds to step S57.

  In step S55, the received data is stored at the position specified by the position information included in the second setting information, and the process returns to the data transmission / reception process. For example, when the position information indicates the folder name of the folder that the HDD 115 has, the received data is stored in the folder specified by the folder name of the HDD 115.

  In step S56, data is transmitted to the transmission destination address included in the second setting information, and the process returns to the data transmission / reception process. For example, when the second setting information includes information specifying an application program that transmits an e-mail and an e-mail address of an e-mail transmission destination, the received data is included as attached data and included in the second setting information An e-mail including a destination e-mail address is generated, and the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to transmit the generated e-mail to the e-mail server. Further, for example, when the second setting information includes information specifying an application program to be transmitted by FTP and an IP address, the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to send the received data to the IP address. Send in steps.

  When the process proceeds to step S57, the image forming unit 140 is controlled to form an image of the received data, and the process returns to the data transmission / reception process.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary flow of an alternative transmission process. The alternative transmission process is a process executed by the CPU 401 when the CPU 401 included in the cloud server 400 executes the alternative transmission program stored in the ROM 402, the HDD 404, or the CD-ROM 409. Referring to FIG. 13, CPU 401 determines whether communication unit 405 has received a transmission request (step S201). The process waits until a transmission request is received (NO in step S211). If a transmission request is received (YES in step S201), the process proceeds to step S202. The transmission request includes a print job and device identification information for identifying the transmission destination device. Here, a case where a transmission request is received from MFP 100 will be described as an example.

  In step S202, the transmission source device that has transmitted the transmission request is specified. For example, an IP address received from the transmission source device is acquired. In the next step S203, the facsimile number of the transmission source device is acquired. The HDD 407 stores device identification information, a facsimile number, and a network address in association with each other for each of the MFPs 100 and 100A to 100D. The CPU 401 acquires a facsimile number associated with the same network address as the IP address of the transmission source device.

  In the next step S204, the facsimile number acquired in step S203 is added to the print job included in the transmission request as an alternative transmission flag. Specifically, a description of the facsimile number is added to the header portion of the print job.

  In the next step S205, the transmission destination device is specified. Based on the device identification information included in the transmission trust received in step S201, the transmission destination device is specified. In the next step S206, the communication unit 405 is controlled to transmit the print job to which the facsimile number of the transmission source apparatus is added to the transmission destination apparatus, and the process is terminated.

  In the first embodiment, the facsimile number of the transmission source device is added to the print job by the cloud server 400. However, when the print job is generated in the transmission source device, the transmission source device is notified to the transmission source device. You may make it add the allocated facsimile number. In this case, when the cloud server 400 receives a transmission request from the transmission source device, the cloud server 400 transmits the request to the transmission destination device specified by the print job included in the transmission request and the device identification information included in the transmission request. Good. For this reason, the load of the cloud server 400 can be reduced. Further, it is not necessary to store the device identification information of each of MFPs 100 and 100A to 100B and the facsimile number in cloud server 400 in association with each other.

  As described above, each of MFPs 100, 100A to 100D in the first embodiment functions as an image processing apparatus. Here, the transmission source device is MFP 100, and the transmission destination device is MFP 100B. When each of MFPs 100, 100A to 100D receives data in the facsimile communication procedure, the received facsimile data is received in accordance with the first setting information associated with the facsimile number assigned to the transmission source apparatus of the received facsimile data. The MFP 100 that is the transmission source apparatus transmits the transmission of the print job to be transmitted to the MFP 100A that is the transmission destination apparatus via the server 300, and the server 300 receives the print job received from the MFP 100 as the print job. The facsimile number of the MFP 100 is added and transmitted to the MFP 100B by the TCP communication procedure. When the MFP 100B receives a print job including the facsimile number by the TCP communication procedure, the MFP 100B transmits the print job to the facsimile number included in the print job. Processing in accordance with the first setting information associated. Therefore, each of MFPs 100, 100 </ b> A to 100 </ b> D can execute the same processing as when processing the facsimile data received by the facsimile communication procedure for the print job received by the TCP communication procedure. Therefore, in each of MFPs 100, 100A to 100D, setting for processing data received in the TCP communication procedure does not need to be performed for each transmission source apparatus, and is executed for data received in the TCP communication procedure. The process of setting the process can be simplified.

  When MFP 100 as the transmission source apparatus receives a transmission instruction for transmitting data to MFP 100A as the transmission destination apparatus, MFP 100 generates a print job and includes the print job and apparatus identification information of MFP 100A as the transmission destination apparatus. A transmission request is transmitted to the server 300. Therefore, in MFP 100, an operation for transmitting a print job to MFP 100A by a TCP communication procedure can be simplified.

  When MFP 100 serving as the transmission source device receives a transmission instruction for transmitting data to MFP 100A serving as the transmission destination device, MFP 100 generates a print job, and transmits the print job and its own facsimile number to the transmission destination device. The server 300 is requested to perform a process of transmitting to a certain MFP 100A by a TCP communication procedure. Therefore, based on the first setting information associated with the facsimile number of MFP 100 in MFP 100A, MFP 100A can process the print job. Further, in MFP 100, an operation for transmitting a print job to MFP 100A by a TCP communication procedure can be simplified.

  Further, MFP 100A as the transmission destination apparatus outputs the received print job to the output destination specified by the first setting information associated with the facsimile number of MFP 100 as the transmission source apparatus included in the print job. For this reason, the output destination can be varied depending on the transmission source device. For example, in MFP 100A, when the first setting information associated with the facsimile number of MFP 100 includes position information indicating the position where data is stored, the print job is stored at the position specified by the position information. For example, when the position information indicates the folder name of the folder that the HDD 115 has, it is stored in the folder specified by the folder name. Further, in MFP 100A, when the first setting information associated with the facsimile number of MFP 100 is set with information for specifying the application program and the data transmission destination address, the application program is executed, and the print job is executed. It transmits to the transmission destination specified by the address included in the first setting information. For example, when the first setting information includes information for identifying an application program that transmits an e-mail and an e-mail address of an e-mail transmission destination, the application program that transmits the e-mail is executed, and the print job is attached to And an e-mail including the e-mail address included in the first setting information as a destination is generated, and the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to transmit the generated e-mail to the e-mail server. If the first setting information includes information specifying an application program to be transmitted by FTP and an IP address, the application program to be transmitted by FTP is executed and the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to execute a print job. And sent to the IP address included in the first setting information.

  Also, MFP 100A, which is the transmission destination apparatus, converts to a format defined by the first setting information associated with the facsimile number of MFP 100, which is the transmission source apparatus included in the print job. Therefore, print data included in the print job can be converted into a format determined for MFP 100. Further, the data format can be varied depending on the transmission source device. When MFP 100A determines the format regardless of the transmission source device, print data included in a print job transmitted from any of MFPs 100, 100B, 100C, and 100D can be converted into a format determined by MFP 100A. For example, in MFP 100A, when the first setting information associated with the facsimile number of MFP 100 indicates that a cover page is to be added, a cover sheet is added to the first page of one or more pages included in the print data included in the print job. Add a page of facsimile data image. When the first setting information indicates that a header and / or footer is added, the header and / or footer is added to the print data included in the print job.

  Further, MFP 100A that is the transmission destination apparatus discards the print job when data reception is prohibited by the first setting information associated with the facsimile number of MFP 100 that is the transmission source apparatus included in the print job. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a print job from being received from a transmission source apparatus to which a facsimile number set so as not to be received is assigned.

  Further, MFP 100A as the transmission destination apparatus processes the print job on condition that reception of data is permitted by the first setting information associated with the facsimile number of MFP 100 as the transmission source apparatus included in the print job. To do. For this reason, it is possible to receive a print job from a transmission source apparatus to which a facsimile number set to be received is assigned.

  Further, MFP 100A that is the transmission destination device prints if the reception of data is neither permitted nor prohibited by the first setting information associated with the facsimile number of MFP 100 that is the transmission source device included in the print job. Process the job on condition that it accepts user permission. Therefore, it is possible to receive a print job when there is permission from the user.

  Also, MFP 100A, which is the transmission destination device, is either permitted or prohibited from receiving data from MFP 100, which is the transmission source device, according to the first setting information associated with the facsimile number of MFP 100, which is the transmission source device included in the print job. If the user permission is accepted, the first setting information for permitting the reception of data from the MFP 100 is set in association with the facsimile number of the MFP 100. Therefore, an operation for setting to receive facsimile data transmitted from MFP 100 that is not set to receive or not receive facsimile data can be facilitated.

  In addition, MFP 100 </ b> A as a transmission destination apparatus stores first history information indicating that the facsimile data has been transmitted to MFP 100 when facsimile transmission is performed to MFP 100, and receives a print job including the facsimile number of MFP 100 from server 300. In this case, the print job is processed on condition that the first history information indicating that the facsimile data has been transmitted is stored in the MFP 100. Therefore, it is possible to receive a print job from a transmission source apparatus that has transmitted the factory data.

  Further, when receiving a print job including the facsimile number of MFP 100 from server 300, MFP 100A as the transmission destination apparatus does not store the first history information indicating that the facsimile data has been transmitted to MFP 100. Process on condition that permission is accepted. Therefore, even if the factory data has not been transmitted to the MFP 100, it is possible to receive a print job from the MFP 100 when the user has permission.

  In addition, when alternative reception is set to be valid, MFP 100A, which is the transmission destination apparatus, executes the same process as the process for executing the print job including the facsimile number of MFP 100 on the facsimile data received from MFP 100. If the alternative reception is set to be invalid, the same process as the process for executing the print job including the facsimile number of MFP 100 on the facsimile data received from MFP 100 is not executed. Therefore, in MFP 100A, it is possible to switch whether or not to execute the same process as the process executed on the facsimile data received from MFP 100 for the print job including the facsimile number of MFP 100.

  In addition, MFP 100A, which is the transmission destination apparatus, executes a print job including the facsimile number of MFP 100 in accordance with print conditions determined by the print job. Therefore, an image of print data can be formed under the print conditions set in MFP 100.

<Modification>
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the CPU provided in the MFP according to the modification of the first embodiment. The function shown in FIG. 14 is different from the function shown in FIG. 4 in that the substitute instruction receiving unit 31 and the reception availability determining unit 51 are changed to the alternative instruction receiving unit 31A and the reception availability determining unit 51A, respectively. 71, a user inquiry unit 73, a user authentication unit 75, a user registration unit 77, and a user permission reception unit 79 are added. The other functions are the same as the functions shown in FIG. 4, and thus description thereof will not be repeated here.

  User authentication unit 75 authenticates a user who operates MFP 100. User authentication information including user identification information and a password of a user predetermined as a user who operates MFP 100 is stored in HDD 115, and user authentication information including user identification information and a password input to operation unit 163 is stored. Is authenticated on the condition that is stored in the HDD 115. The user authentication unit 75 outputs the user identification information of the authenticated user to the substitution instruction receiving unit 31A.

  When receiving an alternative transmission instruction from the user, the alternative instruction receiving unit 31A generates a print job in the same manner as the alternative instruction receiving unit 31 described above. The substitution instruction receiving unit 31A adds the user identification information input from the user authentication unit 75 to the generated print job, and requests the print job to which the user identification information is added and the device identification information of the transmission destination device. To the unit 33.

  The user registration unit 77 registers a pair of a device and a user permitted to receive a print job. Specifically, the user registration unit 77 stores permitted user information including device identification information of a device that is permitted to receive a print job and user identification information of a user who operates the device in the HDD 115. For example, when the user who manages MFP 100 inputs an operation for designating a device that permits data reception and a user who operates the device to operation unit 163, user registration unit 77 displays permitted user information. Store in the HDD 115.

  The user determination unit 71 is a transmission source device permitted to receive data input from the second data reception unit 27 by the device determination unit 61 or a print input from the second data reception unit 27 by the device permission reception unit 67. Based on the user using the transmission source apparatus permitted to receive the job, it is determined whether or not the data input from the second data receiving unit 27 can be received. Specifically, the user determining unit 71 extracts user identification information from the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27. If the permitted user information including the device identification information of the transmission source device and the user identification information extracted from the print job input from the second data reception unit 27 is stored in the HDD 115, the user determination unit 71 (2) The reception of data input from the data reception unit 27 is permitted, and a permission signal is output to the reception permission / inhibition determination unit 51A.

  Further, the user determination unit 71 receives an input from the second data receiving unit 27 if user authentication information including user identification information extracted from the data input from the second data receiving unit 27 is stored in the HDD 115. Allow data reception.

  The user determination unit 71 outputs a user inquiry instruction to the user inquiry unit 73 when the reception of data input from the second data reception unit 27 is not permitted by any of the permitted user information and the user authentication information. The user inquiry instruction includes user identification information extracted from data input from the second data receiving unit 27.

  In response to the input of the user inquiry instruction, the user inquiry unit 73 inquires of the user whether or not reception is possible and outputs the user permission reception instruction to the user permission reception unit 79. For example, a predetermined e-mail is generated by generating an e-mail including a message for inquiring whether or not reception of a print job transmitted based on an operation by a user specified by the user identification information included in the user inquiry instruction is permitted Send the generated email to the address. In addition, a user inquiry screen including a message for inquiring whether or not to allow reception of a print job transmitted based on an operation by a user specified by the user identification information included in the user inquiry instruction is displayed on the display unit 161. May be.

  The user permission receiving unit 79 receives a user permission instruction from the user indicating that reception is permitted after the user permission receiving instruction is input from the user inquiry unit 73. For example, when an inquiry is made by e-mail, a user permission is accepted when a reply e-mail is received in response to the sent e-mail. When displaying the user inquiry screen on the display unit 161, the user permission is accepted when a button for instructing “permission” included in the user inquiry screen is instructed. When accepting user permission, the user permission receiving unit 79 determines that the data input from the second data receiving unit 27 can be received, outputs a permission signal to the receiving permission determining unit 51A, and registers with the user registration unit 77. Output instructions. The registration instruction includes device identification information of the transmission source device and user identification information extracted from the print job input from the second data receiving unit 27.

  In response to the input of the registration instruction, the user registration unit 77 stores permitted user information including the device identification information of the transmission source device included in the registration instruction and the user identification information in the HDD 115.

  The reception determination unit 51A determines whether the data input from the second data reception unit 27 is permitted by the device determination unit 61 or the data input from the second data reception unit 27 by the device permission reception unit 67. When reception is permitted, reception of data input from the second data reception unit 27 is permitted on condition that a permission signal is received from the user determination unit 71 or the user permission reception unit 79.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary flow of a data transmission / reception process in the modification. Referring to FIG. 15, the difference from the data transmission / reception process shown in FIG. 9 is that step S41 is added before step S01, and step S42 is added between steps S08 and S09. . Since other processes are the same as those shown in FIG. 9, the description thereof will not be repeated here. Referring to FIG. 15, CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 in the modified example authenticates the user who operates MFP 100 in step S <b> 41, and advances the process to step S <b> 01. A login screen is displayed on the display unit 161, and user identification information and a password input by the user to the operation unit 163 are received. If the received user identification information and password are stored in HDD 115 as the user identification information and password of the registered user, CPU 111 authenticates.

  When the CPU 111 generates a print job in step S08, the user identification information of the user authenticated in step S41 is added to the generated print job in the next step S42, and the process proceeds to step S09. A description of user identification information indicating that the user has instructed transmission of the print job is added to the header portion of the print job.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of reception availability determination processing according to the modification. Referring to FIG. 16, the difference from the reception availability determination process shown in FIG. 11 is that steps S43 to S49 are added after steps S32 and S39. Since the subsequent processing is the same as the processing shown in FIG. 11, the description thereof will not be repeated here. In step S32, if reception of a print job from the transmission source apparatus is permitted, or if reception is permitted by a user instruction in step S39, the process proceeds to step S43. In step S43, it is determined whether or not the user confirmation mode is set. If the user confirmation mode is set, the process proceeds to step S44; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S40.

  In step S44, it is determined whether user identification information has been extracted from the print job. If user identification information has been extracted, the process proceeds to step S45; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S47. In step S45, it is determined whether or not the user specified by the user identification information extracted in step S44 is a registered user. If authorized user information including device identification information of the transmission source device and user identification information extracted in step S43 is stored in HDD 115 among the authorized user information stored in HDD 115, the user is determined to be a registered user. . If it is determined that the user is a registered user, the process proceeds to step S33; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S46.

  In step S46, it is determined whether or not the user specified by the user identification information extracted in step S44 is an authorized user. If user authentication information including the user identification information extracted in step S44 exists in the user authentication information stored in the HDD 115, it is determined that the user is an authorized user. If it is determined that the user is an authorized user, the process proceeds to step S33; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S47.

  In step S47, the user is inquired of whether or not a print job can be received, and the process proceeds to step S48. For example, a predetermined e-mail is generated by generating an e-mail including a message for inquiring whether or not to accept a print job transmitted based on an operation by a user specified by the user identification information extracted from the print job. Send the generated email to the address. In addition, a user inquiry screen including a message for inquiring whether or not to accept a print job transmitted based on an operation by a user specified by the user identification information extracted from the print job is displayed on the display unit 161. May be.

  In step S48, it is determined whether permission from the user has been accepted. For example, when an inquiry is made by e-mail, a user permission is accepted when a reply e-mail is received in response to the sent e-mail. When displaying the user inquiry screen on the display unit 161, the user permission is accepted when a button for instructing “permission” included in the user inquiry screen is instructed. If permission from the user is accepted, the process proceeds to step S49; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S40. In step S49, permitted user information including the device identification information of the transmission source device and the user identification information extracted from the print job is added to the HDD 115, and the process proceeds to step S33.

  As described above, in the modification of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects described above. Here, it is assumed that the transmission source device is MFP 100 and the transmission destination device is MFP 100A.

  MFP 100A, which is the transmission destination apparatus in the modification, is authorized user information including user identification information of the user who operates MFP 100 included in the print job including the facsimile number of MFP 100, which is the transmission source apparatus, and apparatus identification information of MFP 100. Is stored in the HDD 115 and is registered as a transmission source user, a print job including the facsimile number of the MFP 100 is processed. Therefore, if the user who operates MFP 100 is registered as an authorized user, a print job including the facsimile number of MFP 100 is received, and therefore, a print job transmitted from a specific device operated by a specific user is received. Can do.

  Further, MFP 100A that is the transmission destination apparatus in the modified example includes the user identification information of the user who operates MFP 100 included in the print job that includes the facsimile number of MFP 100 that is the transmission source apparatus, and the apparatus identification information of MFP 100. If the user information is not stored in the HDD 115 and is not registered as a transmission source user, the print job is processed on condition that the user's permission is accepted. For this reason, even if the permitted user information is not stored, the print job can be received when the user has permission.

  Further, MFP 100A that is the transmission destination apparatus in the modified example includes the user identification information of the user who operates MFP 100 included in the print job that includes the facsimile number of MFP 100 that is the transmission source apparatus, and the apparatus identification information of MFP 100. When the user information is not stored in the HDD 115 and is not registered as a transmission source user and permission is received from the user, the device identification information of the MFP 100 and the user who operates the MFP 100 included in the print job are displayed. Allowed user information including user identification information is stored in HDD 115. Therefore, an operation for storing authorized user information in HDD 115 can be facilitated, and an operation for registering a user who operates MFP 100 can be facilitated.

  Also, MFP 100A, which is the transmission destination apparatus in the modification, includes the user identification information and password of the user specified by the user identification information of the user who operates MFP 100 included in the print job including the facsimile number of MFP 100, which is the transmission source apparatus. Are stored in the HDD 115 and are registered as users who are permitted to use the MFP 100A, the print job is processed. Therefore, a user who is permitted to use MFP 100A can operate MFP 100 and receive a print job instructed to transmit to MFP 100A.

<Second Embodiment>
In the data transmission / reception system 1 according to the first embodiment, the MFP 100 as the transmission source apparatus determines a transmission destination apparatus, and transmits a transmission request including the print job and the apparatus identification information of the transmission destination apparatus to the cloud server 400. I did it. In the data transmission / reception system according to the second embodiment, a user who operates MFP 100 remotely operates cloud server 400 to upload data to be transmitted to cloud server 400 and determines a destination device in cloud server 400. I tried to do it. Hereinafter, differences from the data transmission / reception system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functions of the CPU provided in the MFP according to the second embodiment. The function shown in FIG. 17 is different from the function shown in FIG. 4 in that the substitution instruction receiving unit 31 and the request unit 33 are deleted, and the server remote operation unit 81 is added. The other functions are the same as the functions shown in FIG. 4, and thus description thereof will not be repeated here.

  The server remote operation unit 81 controls the communication I / F unit 112 to remotely operate the cloud server 400. Here, the server remote operation unit 81 is a task for the CPU 111 to execute a browsing program. The server remote operation unit 81 receives a web page stored in the cloud server 400 and inputs the web page to the display unit 161. The URL of the web page stored in the cloud server 400 may be stored in advance. The server remote operation unit 81 transmits an operation input by the user to the operation unit 163 according to the Web page to the cloud server 400. Further, the server remote operation unit 81 uploads data designated by the user to the cloud server 400 in accordance with the operation by the user. The data to be uploaded is data stored in the HDD 115 or data that the document reading unit 130 reads and outputs the document.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in the cloud server according to the second embodiment. The function shown in FIG. 18 is that the CPU 401 provided in the cloud server 400 in the second embodiment executes the alternative transmission program in the second embodiment stored in the ROM 402, HDD 404 or CD-ROM 409. It is a function formed. Referring to FIG. 18, the difference from the function shown in FIG. 7 is that request receiving unit 451 is deleted and remote control unit 461 and job generating unit 463 are added. Other functions are the same as the functions shown in FIG. 7, and thus description thereof will not be repeated here.

  The remote control unit 461 causes the cloud server 400 to function as a Web server. Specifically, the remote control unit 461 controls the communication unit 405 to communicate with a transmission source device that is a client. Here, a case where communication is performed with MFP 100 as the transmission source device will be described as an example. Remote control unit 461 transmits a Web page to MFP 100 in response to a request from MFP 100, and executes a command when a command included in the Web page is returned from MFP 100.

  The remote control unit 461 includes an upload unit 465, a print condition reception unit 467, and a transmission destination reception unit 469. Upload unit 465 receives transmission target data transmitted from MFP 100. Upload unit 465 outputs the data uploaded from MFP 100 to job generation unit 463.

  Print condition receiving unit 467 transmits a Web page for setting print conditions in response to a request from MFP 100, and receives the print conditions in accordance with a command returned from MFP 100. The print condition reception unit 467 outputs the received print conditions to the job generation unit 463.

  Transmission destination accepting unit 469 transmits a Web page for accepting designation of the transmission destination device in response to a request from MFP 100, and identifies the transmission destination device in accordance with a command returned from MFP 100. For example, a Web page in which the device identification information of each of MFPs 100A to 100D is selectably transmitted is transmitted, and the device of the device identification information specified by the command returned from MFP 100 is specified as the transmission destination device. Here, a case where MFP 100A is specified as a transmission destination device will be described as an example. The transmission destination receiving unit 469 outputs the device identification information of the transmission destination device to the alternative transmission unit 455.

  The job unit generation unit 463 generates a print job based on the data input from the upload unit 465 and the print conditions input from the print condition reception unit 467, and outputs the generated print job to the address addition unit 453. .

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects in the first embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the transmission source device is MFP 100 and the transmission destination device is MFP 100A.

  The cloud server 400 according to the second embodiment functions as a Web server, and the MFP 100 that is a transmission source device functions as a client of the cloud server 400. The cloud server 400 uploads a print job from the MFP 100, and specifies the MFP 100B that is a transmission destination device based on an instruction from a user who operates the MFP 100. Then, the cloud server 400 assigns the facsimile number of the MFP 100 to the print job uploaded from the MFP 100, and transmits the print job with the facsimile number of the MFP 100 to the MFP 100B by the TCP communication procedure. Therefore, in MFP 100 that is the transmission source apparatus, an operation for transmitting a print job to MFP 100B that is the transmission destination apparatus by the TCP communication procedure can be simplified.

<Third Embodiment>
In the data transmission / reception system 1 in the first embodiment, the cloud server 400 and the management server 300 are used to pass through the firewalls of the gateway devices 200 and 200A. In the data transmission / reception system 1 according to the third embodiment, when there is no firewall between the MFPs 100 and 100A to 100B, or even when there is a firewall, it is set to pass through the firewall in advance. It is effective.

  FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the CPU provided in the MFP according to the third embodiment. The function shown in FIG. 19 is different from the function shown in FIG. 4 in that the request unit 33 is changed to an alternative transmission unit 33A. The other functions are the same as the functions shown in FIG. 4, and thus description thereof will not be repeated here.

  The alternative transmission unit 33A receives the print job and the device identification information of the transmission destination device from the alternative instruction reception unit 31. The alternative transmission unit 33A adds the facsimile number assigned to the own apparatus to the print job. Further, since the IP address is set by the second setting unit 21 in association with the device identification information of the transmission destination device, the alternative transmission unit 33A receives the device identification of the transmission destination device input from the alternative instruction reception unit 31. The IP address assigned to the information is acquired from the second setting unit 21. The alternative transmission unit 33A outputs the print job to which the facsimile number is added and the IP address of the transmission destination device to the communication I / F unit 112, and the print job is specified by the IP address in the communication I / F unit 112. To the destination device. In addition, when the transmission of the print job is completed, the alternative transmission unit 33A outputs a transmission completion signal to the second history storage unit 43. The transmission completion signal includes at least device identification information of the transmission destination device.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of data transmission / reception processing according to the third embodiment. In the data transmission / reception processing in the third embodiment, the CPU 111 provided in the MFP 100 in the third embodiment executes the data transmission / reception program in the third embodiment stored in the ROM 113, the HDD 115, or the CD-ROM 118. Thus, the process is executed by the CPU 111. Referring to FIG. 20, the difference from the data transmission / reception process in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is that step S81 to step S83 are executed instead of step S09. Other processing is the same as the processing shown in FIG. 9, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated here.

  When CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 in the third embodiment generates a print job in step S08, in the next step S81, the facsimile number assigned to the own apparatus is added to the generated print job as an alternative transmission flag. . Specifically, a description of the facsimile number is added to the header portion of the print job.

  In the next step S82, the IP address of the transmission destination device designated in step S04 is acquired. The second setting information including the device identification information of the transmission destination device is extracted from the second setting information set in the second setting unit 21, and the IP address included in the extracted second setting information is acquired.

  In the next step S83, the communication I / F unit 112 is controlled to transmit the print job to which the facsimile number of the own apparatus is added to the transmission destination apparatus, and the process proceeds to step S11.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects in the first embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the transmission source device is MFP 100 and the transmission destination device is MFP 100A. In the third embodiment, a print job can be transmitted from MFP 100 to MFP 100A without using cloud server 400 in data transmission / reception system 1 in the first embodiment.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

<Appendix>
(1) The first communication procedure is a procedure for transmitting and receiving facsimile data.
(2) The second communication procedure is TCP / IP.
(3) The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising transmission-side data conversion means for converting data to be transmitted into a format defined in the first communication procedure.
(4) The data conversion unit converts the data into a data to which a header or / and a footer is added for each of one or more pages included in the received data based on the conversion data received together with the data. Item 9. The image processing apparatus according to Item 8.
(5) The image processing apparatus according to (8) or (1), wherein the data conversion unit converts the data into data with a cover page added based on the conversion data received together with the data.
(6) The system further comprises a notification means for notifying the user when reception is not permitted or prohibited by the related information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data. Item 12. The image processing apparatus according to Item 11.
(7) The first history generation means is a case where there is no first history information including the first type of address information received together with data in the second communication procedure, and when the permission by the user is received, The image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein first history information including first type address information received together with data in the second communication procedure is generated.
(8) When data is received in the second communication procedure, second history information including second type address information of a transmission source device that is a transmission source of the data received in the second communication procedure is generated. The image processing apparatus according to (7), further comprising: a second history generation unit that performs the operation.
(9) The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising notification means for notifying a user when a user specified by the user identification information received together with data in the second communication procedure is not registered as the transmission source user. An image processing apparatus according to 1.
(10) The image processing apparatus according to (20), wherein the image formation control unit forms an image having an image quality corresponding to the resolution when the condition data defines a resolution.
(11) When receiving data received in the second communication procedure, the received data is associated with second type address information assigned to a transmission source device that is a transmission source of the data. Further comprising third data processing means for processing the received data according to the information;
The third data processing means, when the alternative reception is set to invalid, even if the first type of address information is received together with the data in the second communication procedure, the received data, 21. The received data is processed according to second setting information associated with address information of a second type assigned to a transmission source device that is a transmission source of the data. Image processing apparatus.

1 Data transmission / reception system, 3, 3A LAN, 5 Internet, 100, 100A to 100D MFP, 200, 200A G / W, 300 management server, 400 cloud server, 110 main circuit, 111 CPU, 112 communication I / F unit, 113 ROM, 114 RAM, 115 HDD, 116 facsimile unit, 117 external storage device, 118 CD-ROM, 120 automatic document feeder, 120 document reading unit, 130 document reading unit, 140 image forming unit, 150 sheet feeding unit, 155 back Processing unit, 160 operation panel, 161 display unit, 163 operation unit, 165 touch panel, 167 hard key unit, 401 CPU, 402 ROM, 403 RAM, 404 HDD, 405 communication unit, 406 display unit, 407 operation unit, 409 external storage Device, 11 first setting unit, 13 First instruction reception unit, 15 First data transmission unit, 17 First data reception unit, 19 First data processing unit, 21 Second setting unit, 23 Second instruction reception unit, 25 Second data transmission unit, 27 2 data receiving units, 29 second data processing unit, 31, 31A substitution instruction receiving unit, 33 request unit, 33A substitution sending unit, 35 switching unit, 37 data processing unit, 39 permission setting unit, 41 first history storage unit, 43 Second history storage unit, 51, 51A Receivability determination unit, 53 Substitution history storage unit, 55 Data conversion unit, 57 Transfer unit, 61 Device determination unit, 63 Discarding unit, 65 Query unit, 67 Device permission reception unit, 71 User judgment part, 73 User inquiry part, 75 User authentication part, 77 User registration part, 79 User permission reception part, 81 Server remote operation part, 451 Request reception part, 453 Address addition part, 4 5 alternative transmission unit, 461 remote controller, 463 job generating unit, 463 a job unit generating unit, 465 uploader, 467 printing condition reception unit, 469 transmission destination receiving unit.

Claims (23)

A data transmission / reception system comprising a plurality of image processing devices and a server,
Each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses includes
Setting means for setting setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to each of the other one or more of the plurality of image processing devices;
If the data is received by the first communication procedure, the associated with the first type of address information assigned to the transmission source of the transmission source device of the received data among the plurality of image processing apparatuses First data processing means for processing the received data according to setting information;
Of the plurality of image processing devices, the transmission source device is:
Comprising request means for transmitting data to be transmitted to the transmission destination device that is the transmission destination of data via the server;
The server includes a data received from the transmission source device, the a first type of address information assigned to the transmission source device in the first communication procedure, the first communication procedure in the destination apparatus Server-side transmission means for transmitting in a second communication procedure different from
Of the plurality of image processing devices, the transmission destination device is:
When receiving the first type of address information along with the data in the second communication procedure, the received data in accordance with the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data A second data processing means for processing ,
It was, data transmission and reception system. The transmission source device further includes:
Comprising an instruction receiving means for receiving a transmission instruction to transmit the data is transmitted to the destination device as the destination,
The request unit included in the transmission source device transmits a transmission request including data specified as a transmission target by the received transmission instruction and device identification information for identifying the transmission destination device to the server. The data transmission / reception system according to claim 1. The server functions as a web server,
The request means functions as a client of the server,
The server includes upload means for uploading data to be transmitted from the transmission source device;
The data according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission destination specifying unit that specifies the transmission destination device as a data transmission destination from among the plurality of image processing devices based on an instruction from the transmission source device. Transmission / reception system. Setting means for setting setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to each of one or more other image processing apparatuses;
If the data is received by the first communication procedure, in accordance with the setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned to the source device which is the source of the data, the received data First data processing means for processing;
When receiving the first communication procedure is different from the second the first type of address information allocated by the first communication procedure in said source device which is the source of the data with the data communication procedure, the receiving has been the data, with a, a second data processing means for processing in accordance with the setting information associated to the first type of address information received together with the data, the image processing apparatus. Instruction receiving means for receiving a transmission instruction for transmitting data to be transmitted to a transmission destination device as a transmission destination;
And data specified in the transmission target by the accepted transmission instruction, and said allocated to its own device the first type of address information in said first communication procedure, in the second communication procedure to the destination device The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising request means for requesting the server to perform processing to be transmitted. Instruction receiving means for receiving a transmission instruction for transmitting data to be transmitted to a transmission destination device as a transmission destination;
And data specified in the transmission target by the accepted transmission instruction, and said allocated to its own device the first type of address information in said first communication procedure, in the second communication procedure to the destination device The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an alternative transmission unit that transmits the image. The second data processing means outputs the received data to an output destination specified by the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data. 6. The image processing device according to any one of items 6. The second data processing means further comprises data conversion means for converting the received data into a format defined by the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: The second data processing means receives the received data from the transmission source device when the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data is prohibited. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein data is discarded. The second data processing means is provided on the condition that reception of data from the transmission source device is permitted by the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data. processing the received data, the image processing apparatus according to any There deviation of claims 4-9. In the second data processing means, reception of data from the transmission source device is neither permitted nor prohibited by the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the received data is processed on condition that a permission from a user is received. If the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data does not permit or prohibit the reception of data from the transmission source device, the permission by the user If is accepted, the setting of the information for permitting reception of data, the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data, set by said setting means from said source apparatus The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising permission setting means for adding to information . If the data in the first communication procedure is sent, to generate a first history information containing the first type of address information of said first transmission destination of data transmitted by the communication procedure device as the setting information A first history generating means;
Said second data processing means, one of the first history information said generated as the setting information associated with the first type of address information received with the data in the second communication procedure, the first on condition that the first history information containing the first type of address information received together with the data in the second communication procedure is present, it processes the received data to any of claims 4-12 The image processing apparatus described. If the second data processing means, one of the first history information said generated first history information containing the first type of address information received with the data in the second communication procedure is not present, The image processing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the received data is processed on condition that permission from a user is received . Switching means for setting alternative reception to either valid or invalid, and
The second data processing means processes the data received in the second communication procedure when the alternative reception is set to be valid, and when the alternative reception is set to be invalid, the second communication do not process the data received by the second communication procedure even when the first type of address information is received together with the data in step, the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 4-14. A registration unit for registering a transmission source user who operates the transmission source device;
Said second data processing means, the second received with data communication procedure, users the transmission identified by the user identification information for identifying a user who operates the transmission source device which is the source of the data The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the received data is processed on condition that the user is registered as an original user.   When the user specified by the user identification information received together with the data in the second communication procedure is not registered as the transmission source user, the second data processing means permits the received data by the user The image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the processing is performed on condition that the image is received.   The registration means is a case where a user specified by the user identification information received together with data in the second communication procedure is not registered as the transmission source user, and when permission by the user is accepted, The image processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a user specified by the user identification information received together with data in two communication procedures is registered as the transmission source user. An authentication means for authenticating the authorized user,
Said second data processing means, the second received with data communication procedure, the user identified by the user identification information for identifying a user who operates the transmission source device which is the source of the data, the The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the received data is processed on condition that the user is permitted to use the authentication unit.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an image formation control unit that forms an image of the received data according to condition data received together with the data. A data transmission / reception method executed in a data transmission / reception system including a plurality of image processing apparatuses and a server,
For each of the plurality of image processing devices,
A setting step for setting setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to each of the other one or more of the plurality of image processing devices;
If the data is received by the first communication procedure, the associated with the first type of address information assigned to the transmission source of the transmission source device of the received data among the plurality of image processing apparatuses according to the setting information, a first data processing step of processing the received data, then the execution,
Among the plurality of image processing devices, the transmission source device
Executing a requesting step of transmitting data to be transmitted to the transmission destination device that is the transmission destination of the data via the server;
The server, the data received from the transmission source device, the a first type of address information assigned to the transmission source device in the first communication procedure, the first communication procedure in the destination apparatus A server-side transmission step of transmitting in a second communication procedure different from
Among the plurality of image processing devices, the transmission destination device
When receiving the first type of address information along with the data in the second communication procedure, the received data in accordance with the setting information associated with the first type of address information received together with the data Ru to execute the second data processing step of processing,
Data transmission / reception method. A setting step for setting setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to each of the other one or more image processing devices;
If the data in the first communication procedure is received, in accordance with the setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned to said a received data source transmission source apparatus, said received A first data processing step for processing the received data;
When receiving the first communication procedure is different from the second the first type of address information allocated by the first communication procedure in said source device which is the source of the data with the data communication procedure, the receiving has been data, a second data processing step of processing in accordance with the setting information associated to the first type of address information received together with the data, Ru is executed to the image processing apparatus, data transmitting and receiving method . A setting step for setting setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned in the first communication procedure to each of the other one or more image processing devices;
If the data in the first communication procedure is received, in accordance with the setting information associated with the first type of address information assigned to said a received data source transmission source apparatus, said received A first data processing step for processing the received data;
When receiving the first communication procedure is different from the second the first type of address information allocated by the first communication procedure in said source device which is the source of the data with the data communication procedure, the receiving has been data, Ru is performed and a second data processing step of processing in accordance with the setting information associated to the first type of address information received together with the data to a computer for controlling the image processing apparatus , data transmission and reception program.

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