JPH1198299A - Facsimile server equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize a communication charge imposed on the reception of message data by connecting a call, in response to the arrival of the call from a sender facsimile equipment, only when message data are stored in a mail box and distributing the message data stored in the mail box corresponding to the facsimile equipment. SOLUTION: A sender number obtained from a received caller ID signal is given from a communication control section 31 to a mail control section, where a corresponding record is retrieved from a mail management database 39b. Whether or not one item or more of electronic mails are stored in a mail box corresponding to the sender number is discriminated. When there is no electronic mail stored to be delivered to the sender facsimile equipment that reaches the mail box to receive distribution of the electronic mails addressed to the sender facsimile equipment, the system is not transitted to the phase where communication charge is imposed. Thus, no wasteful communication cost will not be imposed on the facsimile equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile server device, and more particularly, to a facsimile server device, which is connected to a network and is connected to a public line network, and stores message data received via the network in a mailbox for each distribution destination. On the other hand, the stored message data is distributed to a facsimile apparatus that has been connected to the facsimile apparatus via the public line network and stores message data in a mailbox corresponding to the facsimile apparatus. Facsimile server device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent development of the use of the Internet, various kinds of facsimile transmission / reception services via the Internet have been started or have been started, taking advantage of the characteristic of the Internet that communication charges within the network are free. It is scheduled.

[0003] As a specific example of a facsimile transmission / reception service via the Internet, a facsimile apparatus (network facsimile apparatus) directly connected to a LAN (local area network) connected to the Internet via a gateway is used as another network facsimile apparatus. Alternatively, there is a service in which facsimile transmission / reception is performed via the Internet with a network terminal such as a personal computer.

An advantage of the facsimile transmission / reception service in this mode is that message data can be transmitted / received by a simple operation peculiar to the facsimile apparatus, and that the message data can be transmitted / received free of charge even if the destination apparatus is located at a remote place. On the other hand, a disadvantage is that it is necessary to provide a dedicated interface for directly connecting the network facsimile apparatus to the network.

On the other hand, most ordinary facsimile apparatuses are used by being connected to a public line network such as a telephone network or ISDN, such as a G3 facsimile apparatus or a G4 facsimile apparatus, and are directly connected to the network. Is not provided separately from the interface with the public line network, so that the user cannot receive a facsimile transmission / reception service via the Internet as it is.

In order to transmit message data via the Internet, a normal facsimile apparatus having only an interface with a public line network is required.
The nearest Internet service provider (ISP: Inter)
call to the server device (ISP server device) of the Internet Service Provider (ISP)
P (Point to Point Protocol)
l) and a dial-up IP connection using a protocol such as
IME (Multipurpose Internet)
MessageExtensions) with standard BA
By transmitting message data encoded by an encoding method based on SE64 or uuencode or text data itself to the distribution destination via the ISP server device, only an interface with the public line network is provided. There is also a form of facsimile transmission / reception service in which message data can be transmitted via the Internet with a simple operation peculiar to the facsimile machine at a communication cost of about a local communication charge even if it is not.

In this type of facsimile transmission / reception service, a normal facsimile apparatus having only an interface with the public network is required to receive message data via the Internet. And make a line connection, make a dial-up IP connection using a protocol such as PPP, and, while temporarily connected to the Internet, make a POP (Post Office Prot
ocol) or the like, the message data, which is stored in the mailbox of the ISP device for its own device and is addressed to its own device, is transmitted to BASE64,
the message data encoded by the encoding method based on uuencode or the like is received as an e-mail having the content, and the original message data is restored by the decoding method based on BASE64 or uudecode or the like.
Alternatively, it is received directly as text data. As a result, even if only an interface with the public line network is provided, it is possible to receive message data via the Internet with a simple operation peculiar to the facsimile machine at a communication cost of about a local communication charge.

[0008]

However, when a facsimile transmission / reception service is provided via the Internet via a public line network as described above, a call is sent from the facsimile apparatus on the transmission side to the ISP server apparatus and the line is transmitted. By connecting, even if it is unavoidable that the communication fee is charged to the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side, the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side transmits the message data addressed to itself,
It is not possible to know whether or not the data is stored in the mailbox of its own device of the ISP server device by calling the ISP server device, connecting the line, and inquiring of the ISP server device.

For this reason, the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side periodically transmits the ISP message to the ISP regardless of whether or not the message data addressed to the ISP server apparatus is stored in its own mailbox. A call must be made to the server device and the line must be connected.
Even if it is found that the message data addressed to the own device is not stored in the mailbox of the own device of the ISP server device, at that time, the message data has already been stored for at least 3 minutes.
A communication fee such as a basic call fee such as a yen is charged to the facsimile machine on the receiving side.

[0010] Therefore, the communication fee charged to the receiving facsimile apparatus may fluctuate to shorten the calling cycle to the ISP server apparatus with priority given to prompt reception of message data addressed to the own apparatus. Conversely, in order to reduce the communication fee charged to the receiving-side facsimile apparatus, there is a problem that a delay occurs in receiving message data addressed to the apparatus itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to quickly send message data addressed to the facsimile apparatus to the facsimile apparatus while minimizing the communication fee charged to the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile server device capable of receiving a facsimile.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile server device according to claim 1 is connected to a network and connected to a public network, and distributes message data received via the network. A facsimile apparatus that stores data in a mailbox for each destination and performs call connection via the public network,
A facsimile server device that distributes the stored message data to a facsimile device in which message data is stored in a mailbox corresponding to the facsimile device, wherein the public of each facsimile device to which the message data is to be distributed is A mail management database pre-stored in association with a mailbox corresponding to each facsimile machine with the subscriber number in the circuit network as a source number, and the public circuit network provides when receiving an incoming call via the public circuit network. Source number detecting means for receiving a source number notification signal transmitted from the public network based on the source number notification service and detecting a source number, and a call detected by the source number detecting means Check the source number against the mail management database Only when message data is stored in a mailbox, a call connection is made in response to an incoming call from the source facsimile machine, and delivery control is performed to deliver the message data stored in the mailbox corresponding to the facsimile machine. Means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the facsimile server is connected to a network and connected to a public line network, and stores message data received via the network in a mailbox for each delivery destination, while the public line is connected to the public line. A facsimile apparatus that has been connected to a call via a network and that delivers the stored message data to a facsimile apparatus in which message data is stored in a mailbox corresponding to the facsimile apparatus. The subscriber number of each facsimile apparatus to which message data is to be distributed in the public line network is stored as a source number in association with a mailbox corresponding to each facsimile apparatus in advance, and additional information of the stored message data is stored. Set the delivery time for each A mail management database in which the delivery time setting table is also stored in association with a mailbox corresponding to each facsimile machine, and a caller ID provided by the public line network when an incoming call is received via the public line network. Source number detecting means for receiving a source telephone number notification signal transmitted from the public network based on a service and detecting a source number, and detecting a current time at the time of an incoming call via the public network A case where message data is stored in a corresponding mailbox by comparing a source number detected by the source number detecting means with the mail management database, and The delivery time corresponding to the incoming mailbox detected by the means in the mail management database corresponding to the mailbox; Substantially coincides with the one of the delivery time set in the time setting table, and,
Only when one of the message data stored in the mailbox has the supplementary information corresponding to the matched delivery time, the call is transmitted in response to the incoming call from the source facsimile machine. And a distribution control means for distributing message data stored in a mailbox corresponding to the facsimile apparatus, the supplementary information of which corresponds to the coincident distribution time. Features.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile server device according to any one of the first and second aspects, the mail management database is capable of distributing for each facsimile device to which message data is to be distributed. The data format is also stored in advance in association with the mailbox corresponding to each facsimile device, and when storing the message data received via the network in the mailbox of the distribution destination, the data format of the received message data is stored. And storage control means for storing the received message data in the mailbox only when the format of the deliverable data stored in the mail management database corresponds to the mailbox. And

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile server according to the third aspect,
When storing the message data received via the network in the mailbox of the distribution destination, the data format of the received message data and the deliverable data format stored in the mail management database corresponding to the mailbox. If the message data does not match, a non-delivery notification means for transmitting an e-mail to the source mail address of the message data indicating that the received message data was not delivered to the delivery destination is further provided. Features.

[0016]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, ISP server devices 30a and 30 which are facsimile server devices according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a network system including the network device b.

In FIG. 1, ISP server devices 30a and 30b are connected to the Internet 60 and to a public line network 50, respectively. The facsimile apparatuses 10a and 10b are connected to the public line network 50. The public line network 50 provides an outgoing telephone number notification service to subscriber terminals, and the ISP server devices 30a and 30b also provide the outgoing telephone number notification service as one of the public line network 50 subscriber terminals. It has corresponding functions.

The facsimile apparatus 10a is a representative example of a facsimile apparatus which receives a message data transmission / reception service via the Internet 60 by the ISP server apparatus 30a.
Similarly, 0b is a representative example of a facsimile apparatus which receives a message data transmission / reception service via the Internet 60 by the ISP server apparatus 30b. In the following description, the facsimile machine 10 means either the facsimile machine 10a or 10b having the same configuration, and the ISP server 30
Are the same ISP server devices 30a or 30
0b.

The present invention is applied to the ISP server device 30 as a facsimile server device.
First, the configuration and operation of the facsimile device 10 will be described so that the configuration and operation of the SP server device 30 can be more clearly described.

First, the configuration of the facsimile machine 10 is shown in FIG.
Shown in In FIG. 1, a facsimile machine 10 includes a system control unit 11, a ROM 12, an RA 13,
4, plotter section 15, clock circuit 16, operation display section 17,
Encoding / decoding unit 18, network control unit 19, fax / data modem 20, communication control unit 21, and system bus 2
2.

Here, the system control unit 11 stores the ROM 1
2 This is a microcomputer that controls each unit of the apparatus according to the written control program while using the RAM 13 as a work area.

As described above, the ROM 12 is a read-only memory in which a control program for the system control unit 11 to control each unit of the apparatus is stored. RAM1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a random access memory used as a work area of the system control unit 11 as described above, and temporarily stores or receives image data read by the scanner unit 14 as a file for memory transmission. It is also used to temporarily store image data as a file until it is recorded by the plotter unit 15.

The scanner section 14 has 3.85 lines / mm,
This is for obtaining image data by reading a document image at a predetermined reading line density such as 7.7 lines / mm or 15.4 lines / mm. The plotter unit 15 records and outputs the received image data and text data, and records and outputs (copy operation) the image data read by the scanner unit 5.

The clock circuit 16 measures the current time, measures the elapse of the time set in the system control unit 11, and, when the set time elapses, the system control unit 11
To perform a timer operation for notifying by an interrupt.
The operation display unit 17 is provided with various keys such as a numeric keypad, a start key, a one-touch dial key, and various setting keys for designating a destination telephone number. The operation display unit 17 receives various operations by a user and is configured by a liquid crystal display device or the like. The display is provided with a display for displaying the operating state of the device to be notified to the user and various messages. The detailed configuration of the operation display unit 17 will be described later.

The encoding / decoding unit 19 converts the transmission image data into an MH encoding method or an MH code conforming to G3 facsimile.
The encoding and compression is performed by a predetermined coding method such as the R coding method, and the received image data is decoded and decompressed by a predetermined decoding method corresponding to the MH coding method and the MR coding method. When data is transmitted and received as e-mail as described later, BASE64 or uuencod
Encoding / decoding processing based on e / udecode is also performed.

The network control unit 19 is connected to the public line network 50, and closes / releases a DC loop of the line, detects line reversal, detects line release, detects a dial tone, and outputs a busy tone (busy). ), Control of connection to a line such as detection of a call signal, generation of a dial pulse, and the like. Fax data modem 20 is 27
ter. 29, V.I. G3 facsimile modem function such as V.17, 32, V.I. 32ter, V.I. 34, which modulates data transmitted to the public line network 50 via the network control unit 19 and demodulates data received from the public line network 50 via the network control unit 19. is there. The fax / data modem 20
Also transmits a DTMF signal corresponding to the input dial number.

The communication control unit 21 uses the fax / data modem 20 as a fax modem and
It controls G facsimile communication by the G facsimile protocol based on Recommendation T-30. Further, the communication control unit 21 uses a PPP (Point to Point Prot) as a data link layer on a physical layer using the fax / data modem 20 as a data modem.
ocol), and controls the dial-up IP connection to the ISP server device 30 to be described later, and performs SMT on TCP / IP as a network transport layer.
P (Simple Mail Transfer Pr)
(e.g., transmission of an e-mail with ordinary text) using MIME (Multicolpose).
Internet Message Extension
ons), transmission of an e-mail containing data obtained by encoding data such as images other than ordinary text into text data, POP (Post Office Pr)
(e.g., electronic mail, etc.). The system bus 22 is a signal line through which the above components exchange data.

Next, a partial configuration of the operation display section 17 particularly related to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, a display 17a is for displaying a character string of a text, and is used for displaying an electronic mail received as a text in addition to an operation state of the apparatus and various messages. The keyboard 17b is
It is composed of a number of keys for inputting alphabets and various symbols, and is used for inputting e-mail addresses. The ten-key 17c is used for inputting a fax number and the like. Start key 17d
Is for instructing the start of transmission. The stop key 17e is for giving an instruction to interrupt the operation.
The scroll keys 17f are used to scroll the text data and the like of the e-mail displayed on the display 17a up, down, left, and right.

The manual reception key 17g is for forcibly starting the operation of receiving the e-mail destined for the own device stored in the ISP server device 30. Subscription key 1
7h is an operation mode for automatically starting the operation of receiving the e-mail destined to the own device stored in the ISP server device 30 every time a preset time (for example, 30 minutes) elapses. This key is used to set the mode.
When the regular reception key 17h is pressed by the user, the indicator lamp 17i lights up, indicating that the mode is currently set to the “regular reception” mode, and the regular reception key 1
When 7h is pressed, the indicator lamp 17i turns off, indicating that the "regular reception" mode is not currently set.

Next, the message data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus 10a is transmitted between the facsimile apparatus 10a and the facsimile apparatus 10b configured as described above.
The operation of the facsimile machine 10 will be described by taking as an example a case where the facsimile machine 10b receives data via the ISP server device 30a, via the Internet 60, and further via the ISP server device 30b. In addition, IS
The detailed configuration of the P server devices 30a and 30b will be described later.

First, a transmission processing procedure on the facsimile apparatus 10a side as a transmission side apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the system control unit 11 of the facsimile machine 10a monitors whether a document is set on the scanner unit 14 (No loop in decision 101), and when a document is set (Yes in decision 101), Operation display unit 1
The message "Please specify the fax number or e-mail address of the transmission destination and press the start key" is displayed on the display unit 7 (process 102), and the numeric keypad 17c
Enter a fax number by using the keyboard 17
It is monitored whether a transmission destination is designated by inputting an e-mail address, pressing a one-touch dial key (not shown), or specifying an abbreviated dial number (step S103: No loop).

When the transmission destination is specified (Yes in decision 103), the press of the start key is monitored (No loop in decision 104), and when the start key is pressed (Yes in decision 104). ), It is determined whether the designated transmission destination is a fax number (decision 105), and if it is a fax number (Yes in decision 105), a call is made to the designated fax number (process 106) and within a certain period of time. Has received a response from the transmission destination device (decision 107).
Yes), a normal facsimile transmission process is performed (process 108). That is, the data obtained by encoding the image data of the original read by the scanner unit 14 by the encoding / decoding unit 18 is transmitted by the transmission control procedure based on the G3 facsimile protocol using the facsimile / data modem 20 as a facsimile modem. It is transmitted to the transmission destination device as a facsimile message.

If there is no response from the transmission destination device within the predetermined time in the judgment 107 (No in the judgment 107), the processing is terminated as it is. If a fax number is specified as the transmission destination in the determination 105, the device of the transmission destination specified by the fax number is another facsimile device connected to the public line network 50. That is, when the fax number is specified as the transmission destination, the facsimile apparatus 10a performs the same operation as a normal facsimile apparatus that transmits and receives a facsimile message via the telephone network 50. If there is no response from the device of the transmission destination within the predetermined time in the determination 107, the process is terminated because the device of the transmission destination is in a state where reception is not possible, or during communication, a response cannot be made. Or, in the case where the call is not made, the calling operation is not kept indefinitely, and it can be said that this is an essential process in a practical facsimile machine.

On the other hand, if the designated transmission destination is not a fax number but an e-mail address (No in decision 105), the scanner unit 14
The document set in the document is read to obtain document image data (step 109). Then, the transmission image data is stored in the BAS
The data is encoded into text data by the encoding method of E64 or the like, and is converted into an electronic mail in a format based on MIME or the like (process 110).

Then, a call is made to the subscriber number of the ISP server device 30a in the public line network 50 which has been registered in advance and stored in the RAM 13 (process 111), and there is a response from the ISP server device 30a within a predetermined time. It is determined whether or not there is a response (No loop of the determination 112), and the process ends as in the case of the determination 107.

If there is a response from the ISP server device 30b within a predetermined time (Yes in decision 112), the fax / data modem 20 is used as a data modem to
A dial-up IP connection using PP or the like is performed (processing 11
3) The transmission image data converted into the e-mail in the processing 110 is transmitted to the mail address of the transmission destination designated in the judgment 103 by the SMTP (processing 114). In this case, the mail address of the transmission destination is basically the mail address of the facsimile machine 10b that receives the service of the ISP server device 30b, but the mail address of the other destination connected to the Internet 60 to a network terminal such as a personal computer is used. An e-mail address may be used. In this case, the destination network terminal uses an e-mail application compatible with MIME or the like to send BASE6.
4 to restore the original image data,
It is used for displaying on a display or printing out.

After sending the e-mail in step 114,
The call is released (process 115), and the process is completed.

As described above, the transmission of message data from the facsimile apparatus 10a is performed in a manner similar to that of a normal facsimile apparatus, although there is a difference between specifying a destination number as a facsimile number or a mail address. It can be performed with the simple operation inherent in the device.

Next, processing at the time of incoming call in the facsimile machine 10b on the receiving side will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the system control section 11 of the facsimile apparatus 10b monitors the state of the network control section 19 to monitor whether there is an incoming call via the public line network 50 (No loop in decision 201). If there is an incoming call (Yes in decision 201), a process of receiving a facsimile message using a normal G3 facsimile protocol is performed (process 202). In other words, the processing at the time of the incoming call performs the same operation as that of a normal facsimile apparatus that transmits and receives facsimile messages via the public line network 50.

Next, the e-mail addressed to the own device stored in the ISP device 30b is transmitted to the facsimile device 1 on the receiving side.
The processing procedure when 0b is received will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the system control section 11 of the facsimile apparatus 10b determines whether the manual reception key 17g has been pressed in the non-regular reception mode (decision 30).
No. 1, No loop of judgment 302) or in the case of the regular reception mode, whether the manual reception key 17g is pressed or whether a certain time (for example, 30 minutes) has elapsed (No of judgment 301, Yes of decision 302,
(No loop of decision 303) is monitored, and if the manual reception key is pressed (Yes of decision 301) or after a certain time has passed (Yes of decision 303), the ISP server device 30b joins the public network 50. The user number is called (process 304), and it is monitored whether or not there is a response within a predetermined time (decision 305).
No in step 05), the call is released (step 306), and the decision 3 is made.
Return to 01.

When there is a response within a predetermined time (decision 30)
5), dial-up IP connection using PPP or the like is performed using the fax / data modem 20 as a data modem (process 307), and the ISP
The e-mail addressed to the own device transferred from the server device 30b is received (process 308). The e-mail received at this time may be from the facsimile machine 10a, or may be from another network terminal connected to the Internet 60.

After receiving the e-mail addressed to the own device in step 308, the call is released (step 309), and the received e-mail is processed according to its contents (step 310). More specifically, “Content-Type” in the mail header in the format specified in RFC1521 / RFC1522.
If the content of the received e-mail specified by “e:” or the like is image data, the content is decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 18 and returned to the original image data.
In the case where the content is the text itself, the font is expanded and recorded on the recording paper by the plotter unit 15 or displayed on the display 17a, and is displayed according to the operation of the scroll key 17f by the user. Processing such as scrolling is performed.

As described above, the facsimile machine 10 can transmit and receive a normal facsimile message to and from another facsimile machine via the public line network 50, and
Message data such as image data and text data can be transmitted and received via the Internet 60 via the P server device 30.

However, when the facsimile machine 10 receives message data via the ISP server device 30 via the Internet 60 by e-mail, conventionally, the facsimile machine 10 addressed to the facsimile machine 10 that originated a call for dial-up IP connection. Regardless of whether or not the e-mail is stored, the ISP server device 30 responds and the line is connected. Therefore, even if the e-mail addressed to the facsimile device 10 is not stored in the ISP server device 30, Device 10 and ISP server device 3
0 is connected, and at least a basic call charge is charged to the facsimile apparatus 10 from the public line network 50 as communication costs.

This is because the ISP server device 30 cannot conventionally specify the calling facsimile device 10 before the line is connected and the communication fee is charged. Facsimile machine 10
This is a problem that arises because the mailbox corresponding to cannot be specified before the line is connected.

On the other hand, recently, in the public network 50,
A service for notifying a called subscriber terminal of a called side with a subscriber number of a calling subscriber terminal as a calling number has been started as a calling telephone number notification service.

A general use of the calling telephone number notifying service is when the user of the receiving terminal does not want to talk by looking at the calling party number notified by the calling telephone number notifying service and displayed by the receiving terminal. Is used for leaving a handset off-hook and talking when the user wants to talk.

In this case, the receiving terminal (user) can specify the calling terminal (user) before the line is connected and the charging state is started. Also for the terminal (user), there is an advantage that the call / communication is rejected after the line is connected and charged, and the communication fee is not charged unnecessarily.

Therefore, the ISP server device 30 as the facsimile server device according to the present invention has a public line network 50.
Utilizes the outgoing telephone number notification service provided by
To provide a message data receiving service via the Internet at low cost.

Before describing the configuration and operation of the ISP server device 30 therefor, a description will be given of a line connection procedure based on a calling telephone number notification service provided by the public telephone network 50, which is a premise thereof.

First, a connection operation sequence in the outgoing telephone number notification service shown in FIG. 7 will be described. In the same figure, the originating terminal is the I-terminal according to the present embodiment.
Facsimile machine 1 sending to SP server 30
0, and both the ID receiving terminal and the receiving terminal
It corresponds to the P server device 30. In addition, a subscriber line exchange in the public line network 50 accommodating the calling terminal and a subscriber exchange in the public line network 50 accommodating the ID receiving terminal and the receiving terminal are shown as one exchange for convenience. However, the switches may actually be different.

In the connection operation sequence shown in FIG.
The calling terminal goes off-hook (phase F1), closes the DC circuit with the exchange, and dials the subscriber number (telephone number) of the called terminal (phase F2).

In response, the exchange inverts the polarity of the subscriber line accommodating the ID receiving terminal corresponding to the telephone number dialed from the calling terminal (phase F3),
An ID receiving terminal activation signal is transmitted (phase F4). It should be noted that the ID receiving terminal activation signal differs from the general calling signal only in cadence, and the other signal characteristics are the same.

When the ID receiving terminal receives the ID receiving terminal start signal from the exchange, it closes the DC loop of the line and returns a primary response signal to the exchange (phase F5).

Upon receiving the temporary response signal, the exchange sends the originating ID of the calling terminal to the ID receiving terminal as a modem signal, and the ID receiving terminal receives the signal (phase F6).

Here, the data format of the calling ID received by the ID receiving terminal will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the signal of the calling ID is an SOH (start) indicating the start of the heading of the information message.
of header), a header indicating information transmission from the exchange to the terminal, an STX (start of text) indicating the start of text and an end of heading, and an SI (shift in) indicating that a graphic character uses Roman characters. Followed by an ETX indicating the end of the text, followed by the body of the message
(End of text) and an error detection code (C
RCK).

Further, the message body includes a service type, a message length indicating the number of bytes of the message, and
Consists of parameters.

Further, the parameters include a parameter type,
It consists of a parameter length and information content. As shown in FIG. 9A, the parameter type is divided into two types according to the parameter type value, and the type value is “00100
If "01", it indicates that the parameter name is the calling telephone number, that is, the information content is the telephone number of the calling terminal to be notified. If the type value is "001001
If "0", the parameter name indicates the reason for non-notification of ID, that is, the information content indicates that the telephone number of the calling terminal is non-notification and the reason for the non-notification.

As shown in FIG. 9 (b), the specific contents of the information contents of the two types of parameters, "calling telephone number" and "ID non-notification reason" are as follows. This is a number expressed within 20 numeric characters, and "ID non-notification reason" is one character indicating the reason for non-notification.

In the case of “ID non-notification reason”, the reason for notifying the caller ID, which is indicated by one character, is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 9C, the call is classified into "rejection by caller", "outside service area call" of outgoing telephone number notification service, or "public telephone call".

The reason why the ID is not notified is "rejection by the caller" when the dialing is performed by adding "184 (Iyo)" before the telephone number to be dialed to specify the receiving terminal on the transmitting terminal side. And a case in which the calling terminal side sets a non-notifying source number in a line contract with the public line network 50. However, in the present embodiment, when calling the facsimile machine 10 to the ISP server device 50, the user's facsimile device 10 adds “184 (early)” before the subscriber number in the public network 50. It is assumed that a line contract for setting the caller number to non-notification has not been made with the public line network 50.

Returning to FIG. 7, upon receiving the calling ID in phase F6, the ID receiving terminal returns a reception completion signal to the exchange by releasing and cutting off the DC loop of the line (phase F7).

Upon receiving the reception completion signal in phase F7, the exchange sends a normal calling signal to the receiving terminal,
The receiving terminal receives (phase F8). Note that the exchange sends a ringback tone to the calling terminal at the same time as sending a calling signal to the called terminal (phase F).
9).

The receiving terminal that has received the calling signal from the exchange in phase F8 is automatically a terminal that performs data communication such as a facsimile apparatus, and is a terminal that performs conversational communication such as a telephone set. By closing the line DC by off-hook, a secondary response signal is returned to the exchange (phase F10). Then, a line is established between the calling terminal and the called terminal by the exchange receiving the secondary response signal, and thereafter, communication (call) by conversation or G
Communication such as facsimile communication is performed according to a predetermined protocol such as 3 facsimile protocol (phase F
11). After the call or communication is completed, the line is disconnected in the same manner as a general communication terminal device accommodated in a telephone line by releasing the DC loop of the line by on-hook of the handset or automatically. In this case, the originating terminal is charged for the communication fee from the public line network 50 because the receiving terminal performs a secondary response in the fuse F10 and the fuse F11.
After the start of the call or communication.

Next, the configuration of the ISP server device 30 as a facsimile server device according to the present invention, which has a function corresponding to the calling telephone number notification service as described above, will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the network I / F 38
Is a physical layer / data link layer interface with the Internet 60. The network adapter driver 37 controls the network layer / transport layer, supports the TCP / IP protocol, and controls transmission and reception of data to and from the Internet 60 via the network I / F 38. The mail control unit 36 controls transmission and reception of e-mail by SMTP via the network 60 via the network adapter driver 37 and the network I / F 38. The clock circuit 40 measures the current time, and the mail control unit 36 reads the clock circuit 40 at any time,
You can know the current time.

The network controllers 35a and 35b respectively
Interfaces to the public line network 50 for two channels connected to the public line network 50, for closing and releasing the DC loop of the line, detecting the polarity reversal of the line, detecting the line release, and generating a dial tone, respectively. It controls connection with a line, such as detection, detection of a tone signal such as a busy tone (busy), detection of a call signal, and generation of a dial pulse.

The modems 34a and 34b are connected to a public network 50 via network controllers 35a and 35b, respectively. 32, V.I. 32ter, V.I. 34, and modulates data to be transmitted to the public line network 50 via the network control units 35a and 35b, while modulating data to be transmitted to the public line network 50 via the network control units 35a and 35b.
And demodulates the data received from. The modems 34a and 34b also transmit a DTMF signal corresponding to the input dial number. In addition, the modems 34a and 34b transmit the calling ID transmitted as a modem signal from the public line network 50 based on the calling telephone number notification service.
It has a function of receiving a signal and detecting a source number included as information content of the calling ID signal.

The communication port 33 accommodating the modems 34a and 34b is connected to a communication port driver 32. The communication port driver 32 controls a dial-up IP connection by PPP or the like in a data link layer on the communication port as a physical layer. Which controls the network layer / transport layer on the data link layer
It corresponds to the P / IP protocol. Communication control unit 31
Is a POP server function on the TCP / IP protocol. The e-mail passed from the mail control unit 36 is transmitted to the network control unit 35a or the network control unit 35b by a line-attached facsimile apparatus. 10 to control the distribution. In addition, the communication control unit 31
The overall control of each unit of the server device 30 is also performed.

The mail control unit 36 is connected to the Internet 60
In order to accumulate the message data received as an e-mail via the facsimile machine 10 of the distribution destination until the facsimile apparatus 10 of the distribution destination makes a dial-up IP connection and requests the distribution of the e-mail, the facsimile apparatus 10 of each distribution destination is supported. The mailbox group 39a is secured in the storage device 39. Each mailbox constituting the mailbox group 39a is associated one-to-one with each record of the mail management database 39b stored in the storage device 39, and is managed by the mail management database 39b. .

FIG. 11 shows a mail management database 39b.
Is shown.

In the figure, each record of the database includes “source number”, “mailbox name”, “distributable data format”, “distribution time setting table”,
It consists of each field of "reception flag".

The field "source number" is a subscriber number in the public line network 50 of the facsimile apparatus 10 to which the ISP server device 30 provides a message data transmission / reception service, and is transmitted from the public line network 50 as described later. This is for specifying the corresponding mailbox by comparing with the source number notified by the telephone number notification service.

The field "mailbox name" is a name given to each mailbox in the mailbox group 39a to distinguish each mailbox, and the facsimile apparatus 10 corresponding to each mailbox.
E-mail address of the Internet 60 itself.

The field “distributable data format” is used to register the data format of message data that can be received and processed by the facsimile machine 10 corresponding to each mailbox name, and the text data itself “text” and the image data A general format “tiff” and a general format “dcx” for image data in e-mail
And the like, in which fields that can be received and processed by each facsimile machine 10 are registered in advance.

The fields of the distribution time setting table are for setting the distribution time for each received electronic mail for each mailbox.

FIG. 12 shows a first example of a distribution time setting table for one mailbox.

In the figure, the distribution time is set in a plurality of stages. In other words, two delivery times are set: a late-night time zone “AM 1:00 to AM 3:00” where communication costs are cheap, and “immediate” indicating that delivery is made as soon as possible upon reception.

At each distribution time, a source mail address is registered, and a mail is received from the source mail address registered at each distribution time to the corresponding mailbox (the facsimile machine 10 corresponding thereto). Regardless of the reception time, the e-mail is distributed to the facsimile machine 10 that has dial-up IP-connected to receive the distribution of the e-mail addressed to the own device at the distribution time to which the source mail address belongs. Become.

As a result, the user of the facsimile machine 10 corresponding to each mail address registers the sender's mail address of the destination that he / she wants to receive immediately, as “immediately”. By registering the sender's e-mail address of the destination that you want to be delivered in a cheap time zone in "AM 1:00 to 3:00",
Immediate delivery of e-mail and reduction of communication cost can both be achieved.

In the distribution time setting table shown in FIG. 12, the distribution time is explicitly registered in the distribution time setting table in preparation for receiving an e-mail from another unknown mail address for which the distribution time cannot be explicitly set. Source email addresses other than the source email address are registered at the delivery time “immediately”.

FIG. 13 shows a second example of the distribution time setting table for one mailbox.

Also in the figure, the distribution time is set in a plurality of stages. In other words, two delivery times are set: a late-night time zone “AM 1:00 to AM 3:00” where communication costs are cheap, and “immediate” indicating that delivery is made as soon as possible upon reception.

Each delivery time is associated with a search target header and a search matching character string. Specifically, as a search target header, RFC822 or RFC15
"Subject" indicating the title of the e-mail is designated from among the various fields of the header specified in "21", and "normal" indicating that it is an ordinary e-mail which does not require urgency as a search matching character string. And "immediately" indicating that the content should be delivered immediately.

[0091] The user of the transmission source checks "Su" in the mail header.
object "in the" bject "field.
By including a character string indicating the degree of urgency of the distribution of the transmitted e-mail such as “mediately”, the degree of urgency of the transmitted e-mail is determined by the ISP server device 3 on the receiving side.
0 can be notified.

Note that the search target header is “Subject
The field is not limited to “t” and may be another field of the mail header, or the inside of the mail body may be searched. Also, the search target character string can be set arbitrarily.

In the distribution time setting tables shown in FIG. 12 and FIG.
You may set more than a stage.

Returning to FIG. 11, the field "delivery time setting table" of the record corresponding to each mailbox in the mail management database 39b contains the distribution time setting tables shown in FIGS. Is registered according to the user's request of the facsimile machine 10 corresponding to the mailbox of the facsimile machine.

The field “reception flag” is set to “ON” when one or more electronic mails are stored in the corresponding mailbox, and no electronic mail is stored in the corresponding mailbox. Sometimes "O
FF ".

Next, a mail reception processing procedure in the ISP server device 30b configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, the mail control unit 36 monitors the reception of an e-mail via the Internet 60 (No loop in decision 401), and when the e-mail is received (Yes in decision 401), the received e-mail The destination mailbox, that is, the mailbox name is specified by the “To:” field of the header section of “.”, And the deliverable data format corresponding to the mailbox name is confirmed by referring to the mail management database 39b (processing 402).

Then, the data format of the e-mail received in judgment 401 is changed to “Content-Type” in the header part.
e: "field or the like (step 403). If the data format confirmed in the process 403 is included in the distributable data format confirmed in the process 402 and can be distributed (Yes in decision 404), the e-mail received in decision 401 is sent to the destination It is stored in the mailbox of the mailbox name (process 405). Further, the reception flag corresponding to the mailbox name in the mail management database 39b is turned ON (process 406), and the process returns to the judgment 401. If one or more electronic mails have already been stored in the mailbox corresponding to the mailbox name at the time of the process 406, the process 406
In, the reception flag is merely kept ON.

In the case where the distribution is impossible in the judgment 404 (No in the judgment 404), even if the e-mail which is known to be undeliverable is stored, the storage capacity of the storage device 39 is only wasted. The received e-mail is discarded (processing 407), and the transmitted e-mail is not delivered to the delivery destination to the source mail address specified by the “From:” field of the header of the e-mail received in decision 401. The e-mail of the non-delivery report is returned with the content indicating that the transmitted e-mail was in an undeliverable data format or the cause (step 408). Return.

As a result, the mailbox corresponding to each facsimile machine 10b has its own mailbox.
Only the e-mails of the data format that can be delivered to b are stored. In response to the fact that the e-mail of the non-delivery report has been returned to the source mailbox in the process 408, the facsimile machine of the distribution destination, which has been calling to receive the e-mail addressed to the own apparatus, has been subsequently transmitted. It is also possible to send an error report e-mail to the user.

Next, an incoming call processing procedure via the public line network 50 in the ISP server device 30b will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 15 and FIG.
Is a process corresponding to the receiving process procedure in the facsimile machine 10b shown in FIG.

Now, in FIGS. 15 and 16, the ISP
The communication control unit 31 of the server device 30b includes a network control unit 35a
And 35b to monitor whether there is an incoming call, that is, whether the line polarity is inverted corresponding to the phase F3 in the sequence of FIG. 7 (No loop of the judgment 501).

If there is an incoming call (line polarity inversion) (decision 50)
1), the reception of the ID receiving terminal activation signal is monitored in response to the phase F4 (No loop in the decision 502), and when it is received, the DC response of the line is closed in response to the phase F5 to temporarily respond. The signal is transmitted (process 50).
3) Monitoring the reception of the calling ID signal corresponding to the phase F6 (No loop of the judgment 504), and receiving the signal (judgment 50)
4), a reception completion signal due to the break of the DC loop is transmitted corresponding to the phase F7 (process 505).

Then, the communication control unit 31 passes the source number obtained from the calling ID signal received in the judgment 504 to the mail control unit 36, and the mail control unit 36 searches the mail management database 39b for a corresponding record. (Step 506). Then, it is determined whether the reception flag of the searched record is ON, that is, whether one or more e-mails are stored in the mailbox corresponding to the source number (decision 507), and when the reception flag is OFF. (No in decision 507), the process ends.

That is, the ISP server device 30b stores the ID
The receiving terminal performs only up to phase F7 of the sequence of FIG. 7, ignores the call signal transmitted from the exchange of the public line network 50 in phase F8, and performs the secondary operation by closing the DC loop of phase 10 as the receiving terminal. No response signal is sent to the exchange.

Thus, if no e-mail to be delivered to facsimile machine 10b, which has arrived to receive the e-mail addressed to own apparatus, is accumulated, the communication fee is charged. No transition to 11. Therefore, the facsimile device 10b frequently switches the ISP server device 3 to receive the e-mail quickly.
0b, if no e-mail addressed to the own device is stored in the ISP server device 30b, the determination 305 in the receiving procedure shown in FIG.
Since the processing from the determination 301 is repeated, unnecessary communication costs are not charged to the facsimile machine 10b.

If the reception flag is ON in the judgment 507 (Yes in the judgment 507), the clock circuit 40 is further read to check the current time (processing 5).
08) Then, with reference to the distribution time setting table, the electronic mail stored in the corresponding mailbox is searched (decision 509).

As a result of the search, the current time confirmed in process 508 corresponds to any of the distribution times set in the distribution time setting table (if the distribution time is “immediate”, it always corresponds), and In the electronic mail stored in the mailbox, whether there is an electronic mail to be delivered having supplementary information (source mailbox or search matching character string) corresponding to the delivery time, that is, FIG.
In the distribution time setting table illustrated in FIG. 13, whether there is an e-mail from the source mail address corresponding to the distribution time, or in the distribution time setting table illustrated in FIG. It is determined whether or not there is an e-mail containing a search matching character string in the search target header (determination 510).

As a result, if there is no e-mail to be delivered (No in decision 510), the process is terminated as in the case of No in decision 507. As a result, FIG.
The e-mail addressed to each facsimile device 10b is distributed according to the distribution time condition set for each facsimile device 10b by the distribution time setting table illustrated in FIG. As a result, it is possible to distribute urgent e-mails at a time when the late-night communication fee is cheap.

If it is determined in decision 510 that there is an e-mail to be delivered (Yes in decision 510), phase F
The secondary response signal is transmitted to the exchange by closing the DC loop corresponding to 10 (process 511), and the communication state shifts to the phase F11.

By shifting to the phase F11, the communication fee is charged to the facsimile machine 10b of the transmission source, which is necessary and significant for the distribution of the electronic mail.

When the call between the facsimile device 10b and the ISP server device 30b is connected by the process 511, the P
A dial-up IP connection using PP is performed (processing 51).
2) The ISP server device 30b, as a POP server, transfers the incoming e-mail addressed to the facsimile device 10b to the facsimile device 10b (process 51).
3). In this case, the e-mail to be transferred is the e-mail stored in the mailbox corresponding to the facsimile machine 10b, and as a result of the search in the process 509, the e-mail determined to be delivered in the judgment 510. It is.

After transferring the e-mail in process 513,
The electronic mail transferred in the process 513 is deleted from the mailbox corresponding to the received facsimile machine 10b (process 514). And in the mailbox,
Judge whether there is one or more unforwarded e-mails (Judgment 5
15) If there is (Yes in decision 515), the process ends. If not (No in decision 515), the reception flag corresponding to the mailbox is turned off (process 516), and the process ends. In addition, Ye of the judgment 515
s, emails left in the mailbox,
Thereafter, the e-mail accumulated by the mail receiving process of FIG. 14 is processed by the incoming process shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 every time there is an incoming from the facsimile apparatus 10b by the receiving process shown in FIG. Eventually, it will be delivered to the facsimile machine 10b of the delivery destination.

In the above-described embodiment, the facsimile apparatus 10 makes a call to the ISP server apparatus 30 as a mode in which the facsimile apparatus 10 receives the message data stored in the ISP server apparatus 30 and addressed to the own apparatus. In the above description, a call connection and a dial-up IP connection to receive message data addressed to the own device as an e-mail have been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the facsimile device 10 Make a call and make a call connection, and send the message data addressed to
Polling reception as a facsimile message by the 3 facsimile protocol or BFT (Binar) which is an extended function of the G3 facsimile protocol
y File Transfer), the present invention can be similarly applied to a distribution form such as polling reception as a binary file.

In the embodiment described above, the present invention is applied to the case where the ISP server device 30 transmits and receives e-mail of message data via the Internet 60 which is the most extensive network. The present invention is not limited by the size of the network or the data transfer protocol in the network, and can be similarly applied to a case where the communication is performed via another network.

[0116]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the subscriber number of the facsimile apparatus to which message data is to be distributed in the public line network is set as the source number in the mail management database. The source number detection means is stored in advance in association with a corresponding mailbox, and when the call is received via the public line network, the source number is detected based on the calling telephone number notification service provided by the public line network. Upon receiving the calling telephone number notification signal sent from the network and detecting the calling number, the distribution control means checks the calling number detected by the calling number detecting means against the mail management database. Responds to an incoming call from the originating facsimile machine only when the message data is stored in the corresponding mailbox. And then call connection, in order to deliver the message data stored in the mail box corresponding to the facsimile apparatus, need to communicate for the message data distribution, only if the required minimum,
The communication fee is not charged to the source facsimile machine. Accordingly, the communication fee charged for the source facsimile apparatus to receive the message data addressed to the own apparatus can be minimized. Further, even if the source facsimile apparatus frequently calls the facsimile server apparatus according to the present invention, the call is made only when message data addressed to the own apparatus is stored in the facsimile server apparatus according to the present invention. Since the connection is not made, the source facsimile apparatus can call the facsimile server apparatus according to the present invention at a much shorter time interval than before in order to receive message data addressed to itself, If the facsimile server device according to the present invention stores the message data addressed to the own device, the effect of being able to quickly receive the message data is obtained. In addition, since the mailbox corresponding to the source facsimile machine can be specified before the call connection, it is much faster than the conventional case in which the search for the mailbox corresponding to the source facsimile apparatus is started after the call connection. A secondary effect that enables the search of the mailbox can be expected.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the mail management database corresponds to each facsimile apparatus with the subscriber number of the facsimile apparatus to which message data is to be distributed in the public line network as a source number. The distribution time setting table in which the distribution time is set for each additional information of the stored message data in the mail management database is stored in advance in association with the mailbox, and the mail management database stores the distribution time setting table corresponding to each facsimile apparatus. The source number detecting means is transmitted in advance from the public line network based on a calling telephone number notification service provided by the public line network when the call is received via the public line network. When the incoming caller ID notification signal is received and the caller ID is detected,
The delivery control means, when the message number is stored in a corresponding mailbox by comparing the sender number detected by the sender number detection means with the mail management database, and The received time almost matches any of the delivery times set in the delivery time setting table corresponding to the mailbox in the mail management database, and stores each message stored in the mailbox. Only when the supplementary information of the data corresponds to the matched delivery time, a call connection is made in response to an incoming call from the source facsimile apparatus, and the mail corresponding to the facsimile apparatus is connected. The message data stored in the box, and the accompanying information corresponds to the matching delivery time. In order to deliver the message data, the delivery time of the message data stored in the mailbox of each facsimile machine to which the message data is to be delivered is added to the operation and effect of the message data. It can be set for each information, for example, a source mail address, a character string indicating the speed of distribution, and the like. Therefore, message data that does not require urgency can be delivered at a time when communication charges in the middle of the night are inexpensive, so that the facsimile machine at the source can save communication charges, and message data that needs urgently can be delivered immediately. There is an advantage that it is possible to flexibly deal with the problem.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the mail management database also associates a deliverable data format of each facsimile apparatus to which message data is to be distributed with a mailbox corresponding to each facsimile apparatus. While storing in advance, when storing the message data received via the network in the mailbox of the distribution destination, the mail management database stores the data format of the received message data and the corresponding mailbox. A storage control unit for storing the received message data in the mailbox only if the data format that can be delivered matches is provided, so that even if the data is delivered to the facsimile machine of the delivery destination, the data cannot be processed. Unnecessarily accumulated message data in mailbox , That there is no or to delivery. Therefore, there is an advantage that the storage capacity of the mailbox can be effectively used, and a useless communication fee is not charged to the facsimile machine of the distribution destination.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when storing the message data received via the network in the mailbox of the distribution destination, the message data corresponding to the data format of the received message data and the mailbox are stored. If the format of the deliverable data stored in the mail management database does not match, an e-mail containing the message that the received message data was not delivered to the delivery destination is sent to the source mail address of the message data. The non-delivery notification means for transmitting the message data in a data format that cannot be delivered can be notified that the transmitted message data has not been delivered to the desired delivery destination. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system including an ISP server device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation display unit of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a transmission processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an incoming call processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a reception processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a line connection operation sequence corresponding to a calling telephone number notification service.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data format of a calling ID.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a data format of a calling ID.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a block configuration of an ISP server device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a mail management database.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a distribution time setting table.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a distribution time setting table.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a mail reception processing procedure in the ISP server device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an incoming call processing procedure in the ISP server device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an illustration of an IS according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the incoming call processing procedure in a P server apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10a, 10b Facsimile machine 11 System control unit 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 Scanner unit 15 Plotter unit 16 Clock circuit 17 Operation display unit 17a Display 17b Keyboard 17c Numeric keypad 17d Start key 17e Stop key 17f Scroll key 17g Manual reception key 17h Periodical reception key 17i Indicator LED 18 Encoding / decoding unit 19 Network control unit 20 Fax / data modem 21 Communication control unit 22 System bus 30a, 30b ISP server device 31 Communication control unit 32 Communication port driver 33 Communication port 34a, 34b Modem 35a, 35b Network Control unit 36 Mail control unit 37 Network adapter driver 38 Network interface 39 Storage device 39a Mailbox group 39b For mail management Database 40 Clock circuit 50 Public line network 60 Internet

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/32 H04L 11/20 101C // H04N 1/34

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Connected to a network and connected to a public line network, message data received via the network is stored in a mailbox for each delivery destination, and a call connection is made via the public line network. A facsimile server device that distributes the stored message data to a facsimile device in which message data is stored in a mailbox corresponding to the facsimile device. A mail management database pre-stored in association with a mailbox corresponding to each facsimile device as a subscriber number in the public line network of each facsimile device as a source number, and at the time of an incoming call via the public line network, Outgoing calls provided by the public network Source number detecting means for receiving a source telephone number notification signal transmitted from the public line network based on a number notification service to detect a source number, and a source number detected by the source number detecting means Is compared with the mail management database, and only when the message data is stored in the corresponding mailbox, a call connection is made in response to an incoming call from the source facsimile apparatus, and the mailbox corresponding to the facsimile apparatus is connected. A delivery control means for delivering the message data stored in the facsimile server. 2. While being connected to a network and connected to a public line network, message data received via the network is stored in a mailbox for each delivery destination, and a call connection is made via the public line network. A facsimile server device that distributes the stored message data to a facsimile device in which message data is stored in a mailbox corresponding to the facsimile device. Distribution in which subscriber numbers of the respective facsimile apparatuses in the public line network are previously stored as source numbers in association with mailboxes corresponding to the respective facsimile apparatuses, and a distribution time is set for each additional information of accumulated message data. Time setting table A mail management database pre-stored in association with a mailbox corresponding to the millimeter device, and, upon receiving an incoming call via the public line network, the public line network based on a calling telephone number notification service provided by the public line network. Source number detecting means for receiving the calling telephone number notifying signal sent from the telephone number and detecting the source number; incoming time detecting means for detecting the current time when receiving an incoming call via the public network; In the case where message data is stored in the corresponding mailbox by comparing the source number detected by the source number detecting means with the mail management database, the incoming time detected by the incoming time detecting means is One of the distributions set in the distribution time setting table corresponding to the mailbox in the mail management database. Only when there is a message that almost coincides with the transmission time and the supplementary information of each message data stored in the mailbox corresponds to the coincident distribution time, the facsimile of the transmission source Call connection in response to an incoming call from the device,
Message control means for distributing message data stored in a mailbox corresponding to the facsimile apparatus, the supplementary information of which corresponds to the coincident delivery time. Facsimile server device. 3. The mail management database also stores in advance a deliverable data format for each facsimile apparatus to which message data is to be distributed, in association with a mailbox corresponding to each facsimile apparatus, and stores the network in advance. When storing the message data received via the distribution destination mailbox, the data format of the received message data matches the distributable data format stored in the mail management database corresponding to the mailbox. 3. The facsimile server device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage control unit that stores the received message data in the mailbox only in the case. 4. When storing message data received via the network in a mailbox of a distribution destination, the mail management database stores the data format of the received message data and the mailbox. If the delivery data format does not match, a non-delivery notification means for sending an e-mail to the source mail address of the message data to the effect that the received message data has not been delivered to the delivery destination. 4. The facsimile server device according to claim 3, further comprising: