JP2003324575A - Internet facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an internet facsimile machine, having the capability of exchange function, which saves an operator's work of storing reception capability information of terminal equipment of the party at the other end, and stores only reception capability information of the party at the other end, to which transmission opportunities are supposed to be large in number. <P>SOLUTION: An Internet Facsimile device 1A is provided with a means for acquiring reception capability information of terminal equipment of the party on the other end by a capability exchange function, and a telephone directory table TA for storing the acquired reception capability information, associated with destination information of the terminal equipment of the party on the other end, when the destination information of the terminal equipment of the party on the other end, according to the reception capability information at acquiring of the reception capability information by the means is preliminarily stored. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an internet facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving image data by electronic mail, and more particularly, it has a function of transmitting image data in a format suitable for the receiving capability of a receiving side device. Internet fax machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general Internet facsimile communication, the format of image data transmitted and received between Internet facsimile apparatuses is standardized (for example,
Since the recording paper size is A4, the encoding method is MH (Modified Huffman) method, and the resolution is standardized to image data of 200 dpi), the receiving side Internet facsimile apparatus recognizes the receiving capability of the transmitting side Internet facsimile apparatus. It is possible to send and receive image data without problems even if it is not.

In recent years, in order to send and receive image data of higher quality than image data in a standardized format (hereinafter referred to as "standard format"), information regarding the receiving ability of the receiving side Internet facsimile apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "reception ability information"). "), The printable recording paper size, the receivable resolution, the decodable coding method, and other information are acquired by the sending-side Internet facsimile apparatus from the receiving-side Internet facsimile apparatus.
Internet facsimile communication has been proposed in which image data in a format most suitable for the receiving capability of the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine is transmitted.

In this Internet facsimile communication, FIG.
The communication procedure shown in the sequence diagram is executed. That is, the transmitting-side Internet facsimile apparatus T generates original image data with high resolution from a document read from the reading unit, stores the original image data in the storage unit, and converts the original image data into a standard format image. Generate data. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a delivery confirmation mail (for example, RF
A message 16 requesting a reply of MDN specified in C2298, and capability exchange notification information 17 for notifying the partner terminal device that image data of higher quality than the attached standard format image data will be transmitted if requested. And an e-mail M1 in which information 18 regarding the format of the original image data held (hereinafter referred to as "original image data format information") is described, and the image data 15 in the standard format is attached to this. Send (T1).

On the other hand, when the receiving side Internet facsimile apparatus R receives the electronic mail M1, it is regarded as the delivery confirmation mail based on the capability exchange notification information 17 and the format information 18 of the original image data described in the electronic mail M1. , Information about the receiving capability of the device 1B as shown in FIG. 8 (hereinafter, “reception capability information”).
Say. ) 19, an electronic mail M2 describing various information 20 of the electronic mail M1 and the like is generated and returned to the transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine T (T2).

When the sending side Internet facsimile machine T receives this electronic mail M2, the electronic mail M sent by itself from the various information 20 described therein.
This e-mail M2
Based on the receiving capability information 19 described in the above, the image data in the optimum format for the receiving capability of the receiving side Internet facsimile machine 1B (hereinafter referred to as "high quality image data").
Say. ) Is generated by converting the format from the original image data stored previously, and, for example, as shown in FIG.
The electronic mail M3 with the high-quality image data 15A attached is generated and transmitted to the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine R (T6). In this specification, the function of transmitting and receiving image data according to the series of communication procedures of T1 to T3 described above is referred to as "capability exchange function".

According to the Internet facsimile communication, since it is necessary to send and receive a plurality of electronic mails, the communication time is longer than that of the normal Internet facsimile transmission, but it depends on the receiving capability of the partner terminal device. There is an advantage that the image data of the optimum format can be transmitted.

[0008]

On the other hand, even without using the capability exchanging function, the receiving capability information of the partner terminal device is stored in association with the recipient's mail address,
There is an Internet facsimile apparatus that further has a function of generating high-quality image data based on the reception capability information of the partner terminal apparatus stored in association with the designated mail address and transmitting the high-quality image data. According to this device, although the above-mentioned disadvantage that the communication time of the capability exchange function becomes long is solved, in order to register the reception capability,
It is necessary for the user or the like to check the reception capability of the partner terminal device and input the reception capability information from the operation unit or the like of the Internet facsimile machine. Further, if the reception frequency information is uniformly stored while ignoring the frequency of use, there is a problem that the memory of the Internet facsimile machine is wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and saves the operator the trouble of storing the receiving capability information of the partner terminal device and stores only the receiving capability information of the partner who is expected to have many opportunities to transmit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an internet facsimile machine that operates.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the Internet facsimile machine according to claim 1 is characterized in that when the destination information stored in association with the reception capability information is designated as a destination to be transmitted, In an internet facsimile apparatus including means for generating and transmitting image data based on reception capability information, means for acquiring reception capability information of a partner terminal device by a capability exchange function, and reception when the reception capability information is acquired by the means. When the destination information of the partner terminal device related to the capability information is stored in advance, a unit for storing the acquired reception capability information in association with the destination information of the partner terminal device is stored. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the internet facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, the destination information is registered in the speed dial.

An internet facsimile apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises means for generating and transmitting image data based on the reception capability information when the destination information stored in association with the reception capability information is designated as a destination to be transmitted. In an internet facsimile apparatus provided, means for acquiring the reception capability information of the partner terminal device by the capability exchange function, and when the reception capability information is acquired by the means, the destination information of the partner terminal device related to the reception capability information is stored as redial information. And a means for storing the acquired reception capability information in association with the destination information stored as redial information.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An Internet facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the Internet facsimile machine that is the side transmitting the image data will be referred to as the "sending Internet facsimile machine", and the Internet facsimile machine that will be the side receiving the image data will be referred to as the "reception side Internet facsimile machine".

The transmitting side internet facsimile apparatus and the receiving side internet facsimile apparatus have the same constitution, and a concrete constitution example thereof is shown in FIG.
That is, the Internet facsimile machine 1A,
1B includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2, a RAM (random access memory) 3, a ROM (read only memory) 4, a codec 5, a modem 6, an NCU (network control unit) 7, a reading unit 8, a recording unit 9, and an operation. A unit 10 and a LAN I / F (local area network interface) 11 are provided, and the units 2 to 11 are communicably connected by a bus 12.

The CPU 2 controls each device constituting the Internet facsimile machines 1A and 1B according to a predetermined program.

The RAM 3 stores image data, FAX number,
It functions as a storage unit for storing in advance a mail address, a telephone directory table, a redial table, etc., which will be described later, or a storage unit for temporarily storing various data and the like.

The ROM 4 stores various programs for controlling the operations of the respective parts of the Internet facsimile machines 1A, 1B by the CPU 2, a program for converting the format of image data, and the like.

The codec 5 is for encoding / decoding in accordance with a plurality of protocols. That is, the image data read by the reading unit 8 is encoded by the MH, MR, MMR system or the like for transmission, and the received image data is decoded. In addition, TIFF (Tagged Image File Forma), which is a commonly used image format used in computers.
It can also be encoded and decoded according to the t) format.
The TIFF specifications are published by Adobe System, Inc., USA.

The modem 6 is, for example, ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union) Recommendation V.6. The transmission / reception data is modulated and demodulated according to the 34 standard or the like.

The NCU 7 is a line network control device for controlling a telephone line to make a telephone call and hang up a telephone, and is connected to a PSTN (public switched telephone network) 13.

The reading unit 8 reads image data of a document and outputs image data converted into monochrome binary.

The recording unit 9 is of an electrophotographic type, for example, forms an image of the received image data on a recording sheet, and ejects (prints out) the recording sheet.

The operation unit 10 has information regarding the status of the Internet facsimile machines 1A and 1B, a display 10a for displaying various operation instruction screens, an input of a mail address and the like, an instruction to start a document reading operation, and a display 10a in the display 10a. Short-cut / one-touch key 10 for designating a destination by a plurality of operation keys 10b for moving highlighted display, speed dial / one-touch dial (these are collectively referred to as "speed dial" hereinafter).
c, a redial key 10d for redialing,
Various operations are performed from this operation unit 10.

Note that the one-touch dial is a registered destination by simply registering the mail address and telephone number of the other party who frequently communicates with a large number of one-touch keys and pressing the one-touch key 10c. Is a function of designating a mail address of as a destination, and the redial is to store the mail address and telephone number of the other party with whom the last communication was made, as redial information, and only by pressing the redial key 10d. This is a function of designating the mail address of the other party as the destination.

The LAN I / F 11 has an interface with a LAN (local area network) 14, and connects the LAN 14 and the Internet facsimile machines 1A and 1B so that they can communicate with each other.

The Internet facsimile machine 1
A and 1B each have a function of transmitting and receiving image data of an original or the like by a G3 method and the like, and an Internet facsimile function of transmitting and receiving image data of an original or the like by e-mail, and further described in the "Prior Art" section. It has a capability exchange function.

In a predetermined storage area of the RAM 3 of the transmitting side internet facsimile apparatus 1A, an operator or the like can edit the contents by operating the operation unit 10 or the like, as shown in FIG. Table TA
And a redial table TB for storing redial information
Is remembered. In the telephone directory table TA, a "shortened number" field for storing a short number for input designation by speed dial and a "destination name" for storing a destination name
Column, "destination" column for storing the mail address (destination information) of the other party (other terminal device), and "reception capability" for storing information on the receiving capability of the other terminal device (hereinafter referred to as "reception capability information"). It consists of columns. The destination name, the destination information, and the receiving capability information registered for each abbreviated number are stored in the same record, whereby the receiving capability information is associated with each destination information.

The redial table TB is composed of a "number" column indicating the order of communication history, a "destination name" column, a "destination" column, and a "reception capability" column similar to the telephone directory table TA. Each time you do, add the latest redial information. Further, the redial information stored in the redial table TB is limited to within a fixed number, and when the fixed number of redial information is accumulated, the latest redial information is stored. at the same time,
It is designed to erase the oldest redial information.

The information stored in the "reception capability" column of the illustrated telephone directory table TA is, for example, "dp", which is information about the resolution at which the receiving terminal device can perform reception processing.
After "i =", the information about the encoding method of the partner terminal device is "image-coding =", and then the information about the printable recording paper size of the partner terminal device is "pa".
per-size = ”.

The transmission-side Internet facsimile apparatus 1A and the reception-side Internet facsimile apparatus 1B having the above-described structure and various functions are installed and used in a network environment A as shown in FIG. 3, for example. That is, the sender Internet facsimile machine 1A
Is communicably connected to the mail server 23, the client PC 24 subordinate to the sender Internet facsimile machine 1A, the router 25, and the like via the LAN 14, and can communicate with the receiver Internet facsimile machine 1B via the Internet. . In addition, G3 FAX terminal 26 and other G3 FAX terminal 26 through PSTN13
It is also possible to send and receive image data in three formats.

The operation of the transmission side internet facsimile apparatus 1A installed in the network environment A for transmitting image data such as a document will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In addition,
The operation described based on this flowchart is performed according to the instruction issued by the CPU 2 based on the control program or the like stored in the ROM 4 of the transmitting side internet facsimile apparatus 1A.

First, in the operation unit 10 or the client PC 24 of the sending side Internet facsimile machine 1A, an e-mail address is designated by an operator or the like by speed dialing, redialing or direct input, and when sending by the capability exchange function, further instructions for that are sent. When the transmission instruction is issued after the above (S1), the transmission side Internet facsimile apparatus 1A reads the original image data from the original and stores it in the RAM 3 (S2). Then, the telephone directory table TA or the redial table TB
It is searched whether or not the reception capability information of the mail address designated as the transmission destination is stored (S3), and if stored, based on the reception capability information, the other terminal device is read from the read original image data. (High-quality image data corresponding to the receiving capability of the (reception-side Internet facsimile machine 1B) is generated (S4), this is transmitted to the designated transmission destination (S5), the redial table TB is updated, and The mail address of the partner terminal device is stored in the column "," and the reception capability information of the device is stored in the "reception capability" column (S6).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the reception capability information is not stored (S3: NO), standard format image data is generated from the read original image data (S3).
7) In S1, when the operator or the like does not give a transmission instruction by the capability exchange function (S8: N
O), the standard format image data is attached to an e-mail and transmitted to the designated destination (S9), the redial table TB is updated, and the mail address of the partner terminal device is stored in the "destination" column (S10). . On the other hand, when the capability exchange function is used for transmission (S7: YES), the standard format image data for internet facsimile communication is transmitted by the capability exchange function (S11; T1), the redial table TB is updated, and the "destination" is set. The mail address of the partner terminal device is stored in the field (S10).

As the response of the transmission (T1) by the capability exchanging function in S11, the reception capability information of the partner terminal device 1B described in the e-mail received from the partner terminal device 1B is acquired (S21). Based on the reception capability information of the terminal device 1B, high quality image data corresponding to the reception capability of the partner terminal device 1B is generated and transmitted (S22).

Then, it is judged whether or not the mail address of the partner terminal device 1B relating to the reception capability information acquired in S21 is stored in advance in the telephone directory table TA (S2).
3) If only the stored reception capability information is stored in the “reception capability” column of the same record as the email address of the partner terminal device 1B, it is associated with the email address of the partner terminal device 1B. S21
The reception capability information acquired in step S24 is stored (S24).

On the other hand, when the mail address of the partner terminal device 1B is not stored in the telephone directory table TA, the contents of the phone book table TA are maintained as they are, and then the mail address of the partner terminal device 1B is stored in the redial table TB. It is determined whether or not the information is stored as redial information (S25). Then, only when the mail address of the partner terminal device 1B is stored in the redial table TB, the acquired reception capability information is stored in the “reception capability” column of the same record as the mail address of the partner terminal device 1B. , The reception capability information acquired in S21 is stored in association with the mail address stored as redial information (S26). When it is determined in S25 that the mail address of the partner terminal device 1B is not stored in the redial table TB, the redial table TB is not updated and the content is maintained as it is.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the internet facsimile apparatus of the first aspect, the capability exchange function transmits the destination information (mail address) stored in advance at least once. The reception capability information of the partner terminal device acquired in the transmission is stored in association with the destination information. As a result,
The work of investigating and inputting the receiving capability information, which is performed by an operator or the like for storing the receiving capability information in association with the destination information, is unnecessary, and the convenience of the present device can be improved.

According to the internet facsimile apparatus of the second aspect, the reception capability information is stored in association with only the destination information registered in the speed dial. Generally, only the destination information having a high transmission frequency is registered in the speed dial, so that it is possible to retain only the reception capability information having a high frequency of use and save unnecessary consumption of storage resources.

According to the internet facsimile apparatus of the third aspect, when the destination information (mail address) remains in the redial information when the data is resent to the destination sent by the capability exchange function, the redial is performed. Since the image data is generated and transmitted based on the reception capability information associated with the destination information, the high quality image data can be transmitted to the other party without using the capability exchange function. As a result, the efficiency of communication is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an internet facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a telephone directory table and a redial table.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a network environment in which the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is arranged.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when the internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention transmits image data.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when the (transmission-side) internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention acquires reception capability information of the partner terminal apparatus (reception-side internet facsimile apparatus).

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a communication procedure of Internet facsimile communication by a capability exchange function.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a description example of an electronic mail first transmitted from a transmitting-side internet facsimile apparatus in internet facsimile communication by a capability exchanging function.

FIG. 8 is a description example of an electronic mail returned by the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine to the transmitting-side Internet facsimile machine in the Internet facsimile communication by the capability exchanging function, in which the receiving capacity of the receiving-side Internet facsimile machine is described. is there.

FIG. 9 is a description example of an e-mail to which high-quality image data is attached, which is transmitted by the transmitting-side Internet facsimile apparatus after acquiring the receiving-capacity information from the receiving-side Internet facsimile apparatus in the Internet facsimile communication by the capability exchanging function. It is the figure shown.

[Explanation of Codes] TA Phone Book Table TB Redial Table 1A, T (Sending Side) Internet Facsimile Device 1B, R Receiving Side Internet Facsimile Device (Recipient Terminal Device) 2 CPU 3 RAM 4 ROM

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An internet facsimile apparatus comprising means for generating and transmitting image data based on the reception capability information when destination information stored in association with the reception capability information is designated as a destination to be transmitted. A means for acquiring the reception capability information of the partner terminal device by the function and the destination information of the partner terminal device related to the reception capability information when the reception capability information is acquired by the means are acquired in advance. Means for storing the received reception capability information in association with the destination information of the partner terminal device,
An Internet facsimile machine comprising: 2. The Internet facsimile machine according to claim 1, wherein the destination information is registered in the speed dial. 3. An Internet facsimile apparatus comprising means for generating and transmitting image data based on the reception capability information when the destination information stored in association with the reception capability information is designated as the destination to be transmitted. It is acquired when the function for acquiring the reception capability information of the partner terminal device by the function and the destination information of the partner terminal device related to the reception capability information when the reception capability information is acquired as the redial information. A means for storing the reception capability information in association with the destination information, which is stored as redial information, and storing the same.