JPH04245831A - Picture storage and forward switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To hold communication control information such as a communicated result, etc., and in addition, to facilitate the acquisition of this communication control information. CONSTITUTION:The communication control information generated successively during the execution of picture communication processing by a store and forward switching control part 14 is written in a control information storage part 16 in an electronic notice board function part 13. At the time of grasping a communication state, the communication state is quickly and surely grasped by accessing electronic notice board service from a personal computer 3 connected to a line.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image storage and exchange device,
In particular, the present invention relates to an image storage and exchange device having a function of displaying a list of management information of image data received through data communication.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art There is an image storage and exchange device that sends and receives image data using a communication line, temporarily stores the received image data, and outputs it to an image data terminal as needed. A conventional example of such an image storage/exchange device is shown in FIG. 4, for example.

The device shown in this figure is a storage and forwarding device applied to a facsimile communication device.
Reference numerals 1 and 2 refer to a facsimile machine as a terminal, 3 a personal computer, 4 a modem for modulating and demodulating signals for personal computer communication, and 5 an exchanger connecting the facsimile machines 1, 2, personal computer 3, etc. to the communication line 6. It is. Reference numeral 7 denotes a facsimile storage and exchange device that stores image data obtained through facsimile communication and also exchanges image data with other terminals. It consists of a line control section 8, a facsimile transmission/reception control section 9, and an image storage section 10 that stores image data input via the exchange 5.

[0004] When image data is transmitted from the facsimile terminal 1 or 2 together with an instruction for broadcasting or confidential communication, the facsimile storage/exchange device 7 temporarily stores the read image in the image storage unit 10 and sends it as a facsimile. Image data is sent onto the communication line 6 according to instructions from the terminals 1 and 2.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such conventional facsimile storage and forwarding devices, in the case of relay communication instructed by facsimile terminals 1 and 2, it is difficult to send information to the other party's facsimile terminal to see if it has been delivered. It is not possible to know directly from the facsimile on the side. In particular, in facsimile transmission, the transmission is started after the sending side calls the other party's facsimile terminal and the call is established, and the process is completed only when it ends normally. Therefore, if the e-mail device starts sending and the other party is busy, it will be necessary to send the e-mail again by calling again, and in this case it will take a considerable amount of time until the sending result is available. During this time, there is no notification to the facsimile terminal on the calling side, so the operator on the calling side cannot determine whether the call has ended normally or whether the transmission is in progress. What the sender's fax machine can know is a non-delivery notification from the facsimile e-mail device or a non-delivery notification obtained by request from the sender, but this non-delivery notification is sent to the sender. Until then, the sender assumes that the delivery has already been completed, which tends to cause various confusion. Therefore, in order to send important documents,
After sending, it is necessary to confirm delivery by telephone, etc.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide an image storage/exchange device that retains communication management information and can easily acquire this communication management information.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image storage and exchange device with means for creating communication management information, management information storage means for storing this communication management information, and management information storage means for storing this communication management information. The gist of this invention is to provide the function of an electronic bulletin board consisting of an information storage means and a means for writing communication management information in the form of a list.

[0008]

[Operation] With the above configuration, while image communication processing is being executed, the communication execution status is sequentially created as communication management information.
It will be posted and registered on the electronic bulletin board. This electronic bulletin board can be read at any time, so if you want to understand the current communication execution status in more detail, connect a terminal such as a personal computer to the communication line and access the electronic bulletin board service. You can know the communication status.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile communication device in which the image storage and exchange device of the present invention is applied. In this figure, the same members as those in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanation will be omitted. The facsimile storage and forwarding device 11 according to this embodiment includes a facsimile storage and forwarding function section 12 and an electronic bulletin board function section 13. The facsimile storage and forwarding function section 12 is connected to the line control section 8.
, a facsimile transmission/reception control section 9, an image storage section 10, and a storage/exchange control section 14 that creates management information for image communication. The electronic bulletin board function section 13 also includes a modem 1 that modulates and demodulates signals when communicating with a PC, etc.
5, a management information storage unit 16 having a bulletin board area in which communication management information is written, and a management information storage unit 16 that receives communication management information from the storage and exchange control unit 14 and stores this communication management information.
and a bulletin board control unit 17 that writes information in a list format.

The operation of the facsimile storage and forwarding device having such a configuration will be explained.

First, facsimile terminal 1 or 2 (herein referred to as facsimile terminal 1) is connected to a public telephone line.
Alternatively, it is connected to the facsimile storage and forwarding function section 12 inside the facsimile storage and forwarding device 11 via a switch 5 in a local area network, etc., and communication becomes possible. Inside the facsimile storage/exchange function unit 12, a line control unit 8 and a facsimile transmission/reception control unit 9 connect the communication line 6, communicate transmission/reception procedures, and transmit/receive image data. The storage and exchange control unit 14 inputs and outputs image data to and from the image storage unit 10 along with information such as the type of storage and exchange service, the destination, the sender, and the time of transmission obtained through these transmissions and receptions.

The bulletin board control section 17 in the electronic bulletin board function section 13 exchanges character data with the storage and exchange control section 14, and the communication management information of the facsimile storage and exchange control section 14 is sent to the bulletin board control section 17. Then, the bulletin board control unit 17 classifies this information and assembles it in the form of a list on the bulletin board. Figure 2 shows an example of this communication management information.
and shown in FIG. Of these, FIG. 2 shows transmission information, and FIG. 3 shows reception information.

The electronic bulletin board function section 13 provides a service similar to a general electronic bulletin board service for personal computer communication, etc., but as mentioned above, the storage and exchange control section 14 updates the contents of the bulletin board. Depends on what you want to do.

Next, the operation for viewing the contents of the electronic bulletin board will be explained. After making a call to the bulletin board service telephone number from the personal computer 3 connected to the modem 4 and connecting to the electronic bulletin board function unit 13, a communication procedure is performed between the modem 4 on the calling side and the modem 15 on the called side. The exchange of data begins with the exchange of Bulletin board control unit 14
performs login processing, displays service menu names, etc. on the personal computer 3 accessing the electronic bulletin board, displays the type of communication management information requested by the terminal in the form of a list, and performs the selected service. . Figure 2
As shown in FIG. 3, the bulletin board control unit 17 can respond to requests such as searches in an interactive manner with the terminal side. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to request distribution of the stored facsimile received documents, and there is no need to make a new request at the facsimile terminal 1. This is achieved by, when receiving a reception instruction from the personal computer 3, as shown in FIG. do. Since such a confidential reception instruction requires a password inquiry when accessing the electronic bulletin board service, confidentiality is not compromised.

[0016] In addition to the communication information described above, information regarding communication such as post office box communication and facsimile bulletin board transmission provided by the facsimile storage and forwarding device can also be searched and
Alternatively, it is possible to give instructions.

[0017]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
You can check whether the facsimile sent from the sender has definitely reached the other party, and also check whether there are e-mails received and stored in this image storage and exchange device via confidential communication or post office box communication, the sender, the time of reception, etc. information, and more reliable relay communication can be performed. Furthermore, since it is possible to interactively specify the reception of stored documents to the image storage and exchange apparatus from a familiar data terminal, various effects such as improved operability can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a storage and forwarding device in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile communication device.

[Fig. 2] A diagram showing an example of communication management information created when transmitting data in this embodiment.

[Fig. 3] A diagram showing an example of communication management information created on the data receiving side in this embodiment.

[Fig. 4] A block diagram showing a conventional example of a facsimile storage and forwarding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 Facsimile terminal 3 Personal computer 4, 15 Modem 5 Exchange 6 Communication line 8 Line control section 9 Facsimile transmission/reception control section 10 Image storage section 11 Facsimile (image storage and exchange device) 12 Facsimile storage and exchange function section 13 Electronic bulletin board function section 14 Store and exchange control unit 16 Management information storage unit 17: Bulletin board control unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image storage and exchange function section having a data storage means for storing image data received through a communication line and a storage and exchange control means for creating management information for data communication, and a bulletin board area in which the communication management information is written. and an electronic bulletin board function section having a bulletin board control means for receiving communication management information from the storage and forwarding control section and writing it in the management information storage means in the form of a list;
An image storage and exchange device consisting of: