JP3347391B2 - Facsimile system and communication method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile system and a communication method, and more particularly to, for example, a facsimile transmission request from a client terminal connected to a server / client type system connected by a LAN and a wide area communication network. The present invention relates to a facsimile system and a communication method capable of performing facsimile communication with a facsimile apparatus connected by the facsimile apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in an office environment, a client-server type system including a server device as a shared resource and a client terminal using the server device has begun to spread.

In particular, a plurality of client terminals such as personal computers and workstations connected to a local area network (hereinafter, referred to as LAN) and a wide area network (wide area network: hereinafter, WAN)
A facsimile server system including a facsimile server device (hereinafter, referred to as a server) communicating with a facsimile terminal connected to the facsimile terminal can efficiently transmit a document created by the client terminal to the facsimile terminal.

[0004] Such facsimile terminals include a G3 facsimile terminal connected to a public telephone network and an ISDN.
There is a G4 facsimile terminal connected to the (service integrated digital network), and various servers such as a dedicated G3 facsimile, a dedicated G4 facsimile, and a combined G3 / G4 facsimile according to the communication range with each facsimile terminal.

In such a facsimile server system, when a server receives a transmission request from a plurality of client terminals at the same time, or during reception of data from a facsimile terminal connected to a WAN, a transmission request is transmitted from the client terminals simultaneously. When receiving the request, there is a case where immediate transmission cannot be performed according to the transmission request.

In such a case, the server accumulates the transmission request as a transmission queue in the server, and takes out the transmission request connected to the transmission queue as soon as the line becomes available, and performs data transmission.

[0007]

However, in the above conventional example, when the server performs facsimile transmission in response to a transmission request from a client terminal, available servers are limited depending on the type of facsimile terminal of a communication partner. Therefore, there were the following disadvantages. (1) The user of the client terminal must always be aware of the available server in accordance with the type of the facsimile terminal of the communication partner, so that the transmission operation is complicated and the operability of the user is reduced. . (2) If a transmission request to a correct server is not made, for example, when a transmission request addressed to a G4 facsimile terminal is issued from a client terminal to a server device dedicated to G3 facsimile, the transmission is terminated as a transmission error. I have to do it. As a result, the user must issue a transmission request to the correct server again, and the time required for the transmission operation becomes longer.

In the above conventional example, when a large number of transmission requests are received from a plurality of client terminals or when data reception from a facsimile terminal is concentrated, the line of the server is occupied for a long time for the transmission and reception processing. There has been a problem that a transmission request received from a client terminal is not processed for a long time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and has as its object to provide a facsimile system and a communication method having high transmission operability and quick response to a transmission request.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile system according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, a facsimile system having two or more facsimile apparatuses having different processing capabilities and capable of communicating with each other, wherein each of the facsimile apparatuses includes a receiving unit for receiving transmission data, and a communication partner other than the facsimile apparatus. Communication means for communicating with the device to transmit transmission data, the transmission data received by the receiving means, analysis means for examining whether the communication means is capable of transmitting, according to the analysis results by the analysis means, A facsimile system is provided, comprising: a transmission requesting unit for requesting another facsimile device to transmit the transmission data; and a receiving unit for receiving a transmission data transmission request received by another facsimile device. Further, as a communication method corresponding to the system, a communication method of a facsimile system having at least a first facsimile apparatus and a second facsimile apparatus having different processing capabilities and capable of communicating with each other, wherein the first facsimile apparatus A receiving step of receiving transmission data in the apparatus; and transmitting the transmission data by transmitting the transmission data by communicating with a communication partner apparatus other than the first and second facsimile apparatuses. An analysis step of checking whether transmission is possible from the facsimile apparatus, a transmission request step of requesting the second facsimile apparatus to transmit the transmission data according to an analysis result in the analysis step, and a transmission data received in the reception step. Receiving the transmission request by the second facsimile machine A communication method characterized by a step.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile system having two or more facsimile apparatuses having the same processing capability and capable of communicating with each other, wherein each of the facsimile apparatuses includes a receiving unit for receiving transmission data;
A storage unit for storing a plurality of transmission requests received by the reception unit as a request queue, a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner device other than the facsimile device and transmitting transmission data, and the communication unit occupying the communication unit Analysis means for checking whether the transmission data has been transmitted, transmission request means for requesting another facsimile apparatus to transmit the transmission data, and reception of a transmission data transmission request received by another facsimile apparatus according to the analysis result by the analysis means. Receiving means for transmitting the transmission data to another facsimile apparatus by the transmission requesting means when the plurality of transmission requests is a predetermined number or more, and when the plurality of transmission requests are less than a predetermined number, Control means for controlling a plurality of transmission requests to be stored in the storage means as a request queue. Comprising a facsimile system, characterized by. Also, as a communication method corresponding to the system, a communication method of a facsimile system having at least a first facsimile apparatus and a second facsimile apparatus having the same processing capacity and capable of communicating with each other, wherein the first facsimile apparatus A receiving step of receiving transmission data in the apparatus, a storing step of storing a plurality of transmission requests received in the receiving step in a storage medium as a request queue, and communicating with a communication partner apparatus other than the first and second facsimile apparatuses Analyzing the communication unit of the first facsimile device when transmitting the transmission data, and analyzing the second facsimile device according to the analysis result in the analysis step. A transmission requesting step of requesting transmission of transmission data, and the first facsimile apparatus A receiving step of receiving a transmission request for transmission data received in the step of transmitting the transmission data to another facsimile apparatus in the transmission requesting step when the plurality of transmission requests is a predetermined number or more, and And controlling the plurality of transmission requests to be stored in the storage medium as a request queue when the number of transmission requests is less than a predetermined number.

[0013]

In the above arrangement, it is checked whether or not the communication means of the own apparatus has a capability of transmitting transmission data received by a certain facsimile apparatus, and a request for transmission of the transmission data is made to another facsimile apparatus according to the analysis result. Works as follows.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether the communication means is occupied by the communication partner apparatus, and an operation is performed to request another facsimile apparatus to transmit transmission data according to the analysis result.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration in which two facsimile server apparatuses (hereinafter, referred to as servers), which are typical embodiments of the present invention, are connected. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a LAN, and reference numerals 2a, 2b, and 2c denote client terminals connected to the LAN 1, which include a personal computer, a workstation, and the like. 3 is ISDN
(Integrated service digital network), 4a and 4b are I
This is a facsimile terminal connected to SDN3 and capable of transmitting and receiving data in the G4 standard. Reference numeral 5 denotes a G4 facsimile server device (hereinafter, referred to as a G4 server) which is connected to the client terminals 2a to 2c via the LAN 1 and can communicate with the G4 facsimile terminal via the ISDN 3. Reference numeral 15 denotes a G3 facsimile server device (hereinafter, referred to as a G3 server) which is connected to the client terminals 2a to 2c via the LAN 1 and can communicate with the G3 facsimile terminal via the public telephone network 13.

The G4 server device 5 includes a LAN communication control unit 6, a ROM 7, a CPU 8, a document storage unit 9,
G4 facsimile control unit 10, data conversion unit 11, WA
An N communication control unit 12 is provided.

The LAN communication controller 6 controls communication with each of the client terminals 2a to 2c via the LAN 1. R
The OM 7 stores a program for performing processing according to a control procedure shown in FIG. The CPU 8 controls the entire G4 server 5 according to a program stored in the ROM 7. The document storage unit 9 stores documents received from client terminals and facsimile terminals. The G4 facsimile control unit 10 controls transmission and reception with the G4 facsimile terminal. The data conversion unit 11 has a data format handled by the client terminal and an MMR (Modif) which is a communication data format for the G4 facsimile terminal.
ied Modified READ) code. The WAN communication control unit 12 controls communication with the G4 facsimile terminal via the ISDN3.

On the other hand, the G3 server 15 includes a LAN communication control unit 16, a ROM 17, a CPU 18, a document storage unit 19, a G3 facsimile control unit 20, and a data conversion unit 2.
1. It has a WAN communication control unit 22.

The LAN communication control unit 16 controls communication with each of the client terminals 2a to 2c via the LAN 1.
The ROM 17 stores a program for performing processing according to a control procedure shown in FIG. CPU 18 is a ROM
The G3 server 15 is controlled in accordance with the program stored in the server 17. The document storage unit 19 stores documents received from client terminals and facsimile terminals. The G3 facsimile control unit 20 controls transmission and reception with the G3 facsimile terminal. Data converter 21
Is the data format handled by the client terminal and G3
Communication data format for facsimile terminals MR (Mod
MH (Modified Huffman) code or MH (Modified Huffman) code. The WAN communication control unit 22 controls communication with the G3 facsimile terminal via the public telephone network 13.

In the above configuration, each of the client terminals 2a to 2c is owned by each user and is a shared resource G4.
The server 5 and the G3 server 15 can be used respectively. The G4 server 5 and the G3 server 15 can exchange information by communicating with each other via the LAN 1 using the respective LAN communication controllers 6 and 16.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an inter-server message format commonly used by the G4 server 5 and the G3 server 15 according to the present embodiment, and includes a request source server LAN address, a destination server LAN address, a command / status, and an addition. It consists of information fields.

Next, a transmission processing procedure executed in the facsimile server system having the above configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. Here, a case where the user of the client terminals 2a to 2c makes a transmission request to the G4 server 5 is taken as an example. And G4 server 5
It is assumed that the state of the device is waiting for a transmission request from the client terminal.

First, in step S1, it is checked whether there is a transmission request from the client terminals 2a to 2c. Here, if there is a transmission request, the process proceeds to step S2, and if there is no transmission request, the process proceeds to step S6. Next, in step S2, it is checked whether a transmission request from the client terminal can be processed by the own device, that is, the G4 server 5. Here, if it is determined that the transmission request can be processed, the process proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, if it is determined that the transmission request cannot be processed, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S11, the document requested to be transmitted is converted by the data converter 11 into a communication data format for the destination facsimile terminal, and then transmitted via the WAN communication controller 12. Then, the process returns to step S1, and waits for a transmission request from the client terminal.

In step S3, a transmission request command is issued to another server (here, the G3 server 15) using the message format between servers shown in FIG. Next, in step S4,
It waits for a status notification response from another facsimile server (G3 server 15). Here, if the content of the status notification is "acceptable", the process proceeds to step S5.
To transfer the transmission request (including the transmission document) information from the client terminal to another server (G3 server 15). In contrast, step S
Proceed to 6.

If it is determined in step S4 that the content of the status notification is "acceptable", the process proceeds to step S12, where a transmission error is notified to the client terminal, and the process returns to step S1. Waits for a transmission request from the client terminal.

In step S6, it is checked whether or not there is a transmission request from another server (G3 server 15) (whether or not the transmission request command shown in FIG. 2 has been received). Here, when the transmission request request command is detected, the process proceeds to step S7. When the transmission request request command is not detected, the process returns to step S1 and waits for a transmission request from the client terminal.

In step S7, it is checked whether or not processing for a transmission request command from another server (G3 server 15) is possible in its own device, that is, the G4 server 5. If it is determined that the transmission request command can be processed, the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, if it is determined that the transmission request command cannot be processed, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S8, a status notification indicating "acceptable" is sent to the requesting server (G3 server 15) using the message format between servers shown in FIG. Subsequently, in step S9, transmission information from the request source server (G3 server 15) is obtained, and in step S10, facsimile transmission is performed. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1.

On the other hand, in step S13, a status notification indicating "acceptable" is sent to the requesting server (G3 server 15) using the message format between servers shown in FIG. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S1
Return to

Although the transmission processing procedure executed in the facsimile server system has been described above, such processing can be similarly performed when the G3 server 15 receives a transmission request from a client terminal.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, even when a client terminal issues a transmission request to a facsimile server device that the server device cannot process, the transmission request is sent to another server device that can process the request. Transfer and facsimile transmission can be performed.

[0034]

[Other Embodiments] Here, when a large number of transmission requests are received from a plurality of client terminals or when data reception from a facsimile terminal is concentrated, the transmission request is transferred to another server and facsimile transmission is executed. The case will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system configuration to which a facsimile server (hereinafter, referred to as a server) according to the present embodiment is connected. In FIG. 4, the same components as those of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Only the characteristic portions of this embodiment will be described.

In the system shown in FIG. 4, two servers 23a and 23b having the same function and performance
The AN 1 is connected to a wide area network (WAN) 3 such as an ISDN or a public telephone network.

Each of the servers 23a and 23b has a transmission queue information storage unit 24, and stores information on transmission documents waiting to be transmitted as shown in FIG. 5, that is, transmission documents connected to the transmission queue. As shown in FIG. 5, the transmission queue information includes the name of the client terminal that has requested the transmission request, the transmission request time, the destination facsimile terminal telephone number (hereinafter simply referred to as the destination facsimile number), and the document capacity (KB: kilobytes). And so on.

Further, the servers 23a and 23b are LA
Communication is possible via N1. For the communication, a message format between servers is used as shown in FIG.

Next, a transmission processing procedure executed in the facsimile server system having the above configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. Here, a case where the user of the client terminals 2a to 2c makes a transmission request to the server 23a is taken as an example. And the server 23
In a, it is assumed that the state of the apparatus is waiting for a transmission request from the client terminal. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the same processing steps as those shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Only the following will be described.

After the processing in step S1, step S10
In step 1, it is checked whether the own device (the server 23a in this case) is communicating. Here, if the own device is not communicating, the process proceeds to step S11. If the device is communicating, the process proceeds to step S102, and the number of transmission requests stored in the communication queue information storage unit 24. Check (Q _n ). If the number (Q _n ) exceeds the predetermined number (N), the process proceeds to step S3, and the number (Q _n )
_{If n} ) is equal to or less than the predetermined number (N), the process proceeds to step S1.
Go to 03.

In step S103, regarding the requested communication request, the communication request is stored in the communication queue information storage unit 24 in the format shown in FIG. Next, step S10
In 4, the number of transmission requests (Q _n ) is incremented (+
1) Yes. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S105. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that there is no transmission request, or if it is determined in step S4 that another server (server 2
The process also proceeds to step S105 when 3b) is “acceptable” for the transmission request.

In step S105, it is checked whether or not communication is being performed with WAN3. Here, if it is determined that communication is being performed, the process proceeds to step S6, and if it is determined that communication is not being performed, the process proceeds to step S106.
In step S106, it is determined whether or not a transmission document is connected to the transmission queue. Here, if it is determined that there is no transmission document, the process returns to step S1, and if it is determined that there is a transmission document, the process proceeds to step S107, and the document is transmitted by facsimile. Subsequently, in step S108, the number (Q _n ) of transmission requests is decremented (−1). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S6.

As described above, by the above processing, for example, when a large number of transmission requests from the client terminal are generated or when reception from the facsimile terminal is concentrated, the line is occupied for a long time and facsimile transmission cannot be performed. Q _n )
Exceeds a predetermined number, the transmission request can be transferred to another server 23b connected to the LAN 1 to perform facsimile transmission. On the other hand, if the number is equal to or less than the number of transmission requests (Q _n ), it is considered that transmission can be performed within a relatively short time, and the transmission request is connected to the transmission queue to respond to the transmission request from the client terminal.

Although the transmission processing procedure executed in the facsimile server system has been described above, such processing can be similarly performed when the server 23b receives a transmission request from a client terminal.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, if the server is processing other facsimile transmission / reception data, or if the number of transmission requests issued from the client terminal to the server exceeds a predetermined number, Even in the case where the request cannot be processed immediately, the transmission request can be transferred to another server device capable of processing and facsimile transmission can be executed. If the number of transmission requests is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the transmission requests are connected to a transmission queue, and transmission is performed after waiting for an available line, so that transmission requests from client terminals can be handled.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is checked whether or not the communication means of its own device has the ability to transmit the transmission data received by a certain facsimile device, and to another facsimile device according to the analysis result. Since the transmission of the transmission data is requested, facsimile transmission can be performed flexibly according to the processing capability of each device. Even if the device user makes a transmission request without considering the processing capability of the device, the transmission is automatically performed. Furthermore, there is an effect that a facsimile transmission can be performed by sending a transmission request to another suitable device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the communication means is occupied by a communication partner apparatus, and a request for transmission of transmission data is made to another facsimile apparatus according to the analysis result. Facsimile transmission can be performed flexibly according to the status, and even if the device user makes a transmission request without considering the communication status of the device, it automatically sends a facsimile transmission to another suitable device. There is an effect that can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration in which two facsimile server devices (hereinafter, referred to as servers), which are typical embodiments of the present invention, are connected.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format of an inter-server message.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission processing procedure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system configuration to which a facsimile server device (hereinafter, referred to as a server) according to another embodiment is connected.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing contents of transmission queue information.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a transmission processing procedure according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 LAN (local area network) 2a, 2b, 2c Client terminal 3 ISDN 4a, 4b G4 facsimile terminal 5 G4 facsimile server device 6 LAN communication control unit 7, 17 ROM 8, 18 CPU 9 Document storage unit 10 G4 facsimile control unit 11 Data conversion unit 12 WAN communication control unit 13 Public telephone network 14a, 14b G3 facsimile terminal 15 G3 facsimile server device 16 LAN communication control unit 19 Document storage unit 20 G3 facsimile control unit 21 Data conversion unit 22 WAN communication control units 23a, 23b facsimile Server device 24 Transmission queue information storage

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 H04N 1/32-1/36 101 H04L 12/00-12/26 H04L 12/50 -12/66 G06F 13/00 351-357

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile system having two or more facsimile apparatuses having different processing capabilities and capable of communicating with each other, wherein each of the facsimile apparatuses includes a receiving unit for receiving transmission data, and a communication partner other than the facsimile apparatus. A communication unit that communicates with a device to transmit transmission data; an analysis unit that checks whether the communication unit has a capability of transmitting the transmission data received by the reception unit; and an analysis result by the analysis unit. A facsimile system comprising: a transmission request unit for requesting another facsimile device to transmit the transmission data; and a reception unit for receiving a transmission data transmission request received by another facsimile device. 2. A facsimile system having two or more facsimile apparatuses having the same processing capability and capable of communicating with each other, wherein each of the facsimile apparatuses includes a receiving unit for receiving transmission data, and a plurality of facsimile devices received by the receiving unit. Transmission of
Storage means for storing a request as a request queue, communication means for transmitting transmission data by communicating with a communication partner apparatus other than the facsimile apparatus, and analysis means for checking whether the communication means is occupied for communication. according analysis result by the analyzing means, and transmission request means for transmitting a request for the transmission data to another facsimile device, a receiving means for receiving the transmission request of the transmission data received by another facsimile device, transmitting the plurality When the number of requests exceeds a predetermined number,
The transmission data to another facsimile machine
Request for transmission, and the plurality of transmission requests
When the number is less than the constant, the plurality of transmission requests are referred to as a request queue.
Facsimile system characterized by a control means for controlling to store in the storage hand stage and. 3. A communication method for a facsimile system having at least a first facsimile device and a second facsimile device having different processing capabilities and capable of communicating with each other, wherein the first facsimile device accepts transmission data. A receiving step, and when transmitting transmission data by communicating with a communication partner device other than the first and second facsimile apparatuses, the transmission data received in the receiving step can be transmitted from the first facsimile apparatus. An analysis step of checking whether or not, according to an analysis result in the analysis step, a transmission request step of requesting the second facsimile apparatus to transmit the transmission data; and a transmission request of the transmission data received in the reception step. And a receiving step of receiving by the second facsimile apparatus. Communication how. 4. A communication method for a facsimile system having at least a first facsimile apparatus and a second facsimile apparatus having the same processing capability and capable of communicating with each other, wherein the first facsimile apparatus accepts transmission data. A receiving step; and a plurality of transmission requests received in the receiving step.
Storing a request in a storage medium as a request queue, and, when communicating with a communication partner device other than the first and second facsimile devices and transmitting transmission data, the communication unit of the first facsimile device An analysis step of checking whether or not it is occupied for communication; a transmission requesting step of requesting the second facsimile apparatus to transmit the transmission data in accordance with an analysis result in the analysis step; a receiving step for receiving a transmission request of the transmission data received, the plurality of transmission request is the transmission Yi when a predetermined number or more
The transmission data to another facsimile machine
Request for transmission, and the plurality of transmission requests
When the number is less than the constant, the plurality of transmission requests are referred to as a request queue.
And a control step of controlling the data to be stored in the storage medium .