JP2000069076A - Control method for network facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control method for network facsimile equipment with which the load to network resources at the time of multi-address communication can be reduced. SOLUTION: Since facsimile image information, to which the individual images of transmission statements or the like are added, can be respectively transmitted to the plural destinations while using one piece of electronic mail, the condition of pressing the disk resources of a mail server device SM can be avoided and the effect capable of avoiding the condition of uselessly increasing the traffic volume of entire network is provided. Besides, when connecting network facsimile equipment FX through a dial-up connection to an internet, the effect of reducing communication charges can be provided as well.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of connecting to the Internet or a local area network and exchanging image information via the Internet or a local area network using electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a network facsimile apparatus having a function of connecting to the Internet or a local area network and exchanging image information via the Internet or a local area network using electronic mail has been put to practical use.

[0003] RFC (described later) is a standard for exchanging facsimile image information on the Internet.
2305 are created, and facsimile image information is exchanged using the RFC 2305 via the Internet or a local area network.

[0004]

In the case of performing a so-called broadcast communication in which the same image information is transmitted to a plurality of destinations in a network facsimile apparatus, text information in which transmission image information is arranged is created. Header information in which all the destination mail addresses are set in the TO field is created, and one electronic mail including the header information and the body information is transmitted.

[0005] However, when individual image information such as a cover page is added to each destination to be broadcast, a text composed of individual image information to be transmitted individually and common image information to be transmitted in common to each destination. It is necessary to create information for each destination, and as a result, the hard disk resources of the mail server are squeezed, and in the case of dial-up connection, communication charges increase.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus that can reduce the load on network resources during broadcast communication.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of connecting to the Internet or a local area network and exchanging image information via the Internet or a local area network using electronic mail. At the time of image information transmission, one or more individual image information individually corresponding to a plurality of destinations and text information in which common image information to be transmitted in common to the plurality of destinations are created, By creating one header information and sending an e-mail composed of the header information and the body information, the image information is transmitted to the plurality of destinations using one e-mail. If individual image information and common image information addressed to the own terminal are included, the individual image information and common image information If the received e-mail does not include the individual image information addressed to the terminal, only the common image information included in the e-mail is processed as the image information addressed to the terminal. Is obtained and processed.

Further, in a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of connecting to the Internet or a local area network and exchanging image information via the Internet or a local area network by using an electronic mail, a method for transmitting a plurality of At least one piece of individual image information individually corresponding to a destination and common image information to be transmitted in common to a plurality of destinations are arranged in different parts, and each part has individual image information or common image information identification. By creating multi-part MIME format body information including information, creating header information in which all of the mail addresses of the plurality of destinations are arranged in the TO field, and transmitting an e-mail composed of the header information and body information. , Using one e-mail to the above destinations When transmitting image information and receiving the image information, if the received e-mail is in a multi-part MIME format, and there is a part containing identification information of individual information corresponding to its own terminal, The individual image information included and the common image information included in the e-mail are acquired and processed as image information addressed to the terminal, and the identification information of the individual information corresponding to the terminal is included in the received e-mail part. If not, only the common image information included in the e-mail is acquired as image information addressed to the terminal itself and processed.

Also, in a method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of connecting to the Internet or a local area network and exchanging image information via the Internet or a local area network using electronic mail, a one-touch method used when selecting a destination. A dial or abbreviated dial is provided with a dial registration table for registering type information indicating a destination mail address and a type of a destination. When image information is transmitted, a plurality of selected destinations are registered in the dial registration table. The same information is extracted as that of the own terminal, and for one or more destinations of the extracted first group, one or more individual image information individually corresponding to each destination, and the first Common image information to be sent in common to the group destination By creating one piece of header information corresponding to the destination of the first group, and sending an e-mail including the header information and the body information to the destination of the first group. The image information is transmitted using one e-mail, and the destinations other than the first group of the selected plural destinations are
By creating body information in which the common image information is arranged, creating one or more header information corresponding to each destination, and transmitting one or more emails including the header information and the body information, The image information is transmitted to each of the selected destinations other than the first group by using an e-mail for each destination, and upon receiving the image information, the received e-mail is shared with the individual image information addressed to the own terminal. When the image information is included, the individual image information and the common image information are respectively obtained and processed as the image information addressed to the own terminal, and the received e-mail does not include the individual image information addressed to the own terminal. In this case, only the common image information included in the e-mail is acquired as the image information addressed to the own terminal and processed.

Also, in a method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of connecting to the Internet or a local area network and exchanging image information via the Internet or a local area network using electronic mail, a one-touch method used when selecting a destination. A dial or abbreviated dial is provided with a dial registration table for registering type information indicating a destination mail address and a type of a destination. When image information is transmitted, a plurality of selected destinations are registered in the dial registration table. The same information is extracted as that of the own terminal, and one or more destinations of the extracted first group are shared with one or more individual image information individually corresponding to each destination and a plurality of destinations. The common image information sent to In each part, multi-part MIME format body information including individual image information or identification information of common image information is created for each part, and all the mail addresses of the destinations of the first group are set in the TO field. The header information arranged in the first group is created, and the e-mail including the header information and the body information is transmitted, so that the image information is transmitted to the destination of the first group using one e-mail, and the selected plural For destinations other than the first group of destinations, create body information in which the common image information is arranged, and create one or more header information in which the mail addresses of the respective destinations are arranged in the TO field. By transmitting one or more e-mails composed of header information and body information, a plurality of selected destinations other than the first group can be While the image information is transmitted by e-mail for each destination, when the image information is received, if the received e-mail is in a multi-part MIME format, the part includes the identification information of the individual information corresponding to the own terminal. If there is any, the individual image information included in the part and the common image information included in the e-mail are obtained and processed as image information addressed to the own terminal, and the received e-mail part is When the identification information of the corresponding individual information is not included, only the common image information included in the e-mail is acquired as the image information addressed to the own terminal and processed.

[0011] Further, when sending an e-mail, the type information of the terminal itself is included in a predetermined field and transmitted. When receiving the e-mail, the type information included in the predetermined field of the received e-mail is transmitted. It is preferable to register in the dial registration table corresponding to the original mail address. The acquired individual image information or common image information may be recorded and output.

[0012]

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

FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a local area network LAN includes a plurality of workstations WS1 to WS1.
WSn, the mail server device SM, and the network facsimile device FX are connected. The local area network LAN is connected to the Internet via the router device RT, whereby the workstation devices WS1 to WSn and the mail server device S
The M and the network facsimile machine FX can exchange various data with a host device or the like connected to another local area network or the like.

Here, the mail server device SM collects and sends e-mail (described later) to users using the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and to the network facsimile device FX. Provide distribution services

The workstation devices WS1 to WSW
Sn includes application software for exchanging various data via the local area network LAN (e-mail transmission / reception processing, etc.), application software for processing image information included in e-mail received from the network facsimile machine FX, and the like. Have been introduced and used by specific users. Here, the specific user may be one or more users.

Further, the network facsimile machine FX
Is an e-mail transmission / reception function in a local area network LAN, a local area network LAN
A predetermined information communication function according to a predetermined point-to-point transmission procedure between the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the public network PSTN and a public network PSTN are connected, and the public network PSTN is used as a transmission path. It has various transmission (communication) functions such as a transmission function of transmitting image information according to a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure. Also,
The transmission and reception (distribution) of facsimile image information between the network facsimile machine FX and the workstations WS1 to WSn (user thereof) are basically performed according to RFC23.
This is performed using an e-mail according to the method specified in FIG.

In this embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is based on TCP / IP.
This is performed by applying a combination (a so-called protocol suite) of a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called a transport layer and a communication protocol of a higher layer than that. For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, SMTP (Simple) is used as the upper layer communication protocol.
A communication protocol called Mail Transfer Protocol is applied.

A protocol that each terminal applies to the mail server device SM for confirming reception of an electronic mail addressed to the user and for requesting transmission is a so-called POP.
(Post Office Protocol) or the like can be applied.

Communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, and POP, and data formats and data structures of e-mails are described in IETF (In).
ternet Engineering Task F
orce), an RFC (Request) issued by an organization that summarizes technical content related to the Internet.
st For Comments) document. For example, TCP is RFC793, IP is RFC
793, SMTP is RFC821, E-mail format is RFC822, RFC1521, RFC1522
(MIME (Multi Purpose Mail
Extension)), the protocol for exchanging facsimile image information using e-mail is RFC
2305 and the like.

Then, the network facsimile apparatus F
X transmits the read document image to another group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network PSTN, or a local area network LAN (further, the Internet)
To the users of the workstation devices WS1 to WSn via the public network PSTN, and the image information received from another group 3 facsimile device via the public network PSTN to the user corresponding to the sub-address specified at that time. Transfer using e-mail, or workstation WS of local area network LAN
It has a transfer service function for transferring the received image information to a group 3 facsimile apparatus of the public network PSTN corresponding to the designated speed dial.

[0022] With respect to an e-mail received to the own terminal, image information arranged in the body information is extracted and recorded and output.

Here, the facsimile image information is binary data, and the electronic mail cannot directly include the binary data. Therefore, a predetermined conversion method (for example,
After being converted into readable information (7-bit character code) by applying the Base64 encoding method, it is included in the electronic mail. Such a format of the body information of the electronic mail is called a MIME format.

FIG. 2 shows a network facsimile apparatus F
3 shows an example of the configuration of X.

In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 controls each unit of the network facsimile machine FX.
The system memory 2 performs various control processes such as a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The system memory 2 includes a control processing program executed by the system control unit 1, various data necessary for executing the processing program, and an operation manual. Alternatively, a distribution file such as service program data for setting and operating the network facsimile machine FX via the local area network LAN is stored, and a work area of the system control unit 1 is configured. For storing various information (for example, registration information of a one-touch dial function, a terminal connection information table, and the like) unique to the network facsimile apparatus FX,
The clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.

The scanner 5 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 7 is a network facsimile apparatus. It is used to operate the FX, and includes various operation keys and various display devices.

The encoding / decoding unit 8 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal.
This is for storing a large number of image information in a coded and compressed state.

The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing a group 3 facsimile modem function. The group 3 facsimile modem 10 has a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals and mainly exchanges image information. High-speed modem function (V.17 modem,
V. 34 modem, V.34. 29 modem, V.29. 27ter modem etc.).

The network control device 11 is for connecting the network facsimile machine FX to a public network (PSTN) and has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The local area network interface circuit 12 is connected to the network facsimile machine F
X is connected to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 13
For executing communication control processing (e-mail transmission / reception processing, point-to-point communication processing, etc.) of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with other data terminal devices. is there.

The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, image storage device 9, group 3 facsimile modem The network controller 10, the network controller 11, and the local area network transmission controller 13 are connected to an internal bus 14. Data exchange between these elements is mainly performed via the internal bus 14. I have.

Data exchange between the network controller 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is directly performed.

The network facsimile machine FX is provided with a one-touch dial function for selecting a destination by one key operation. A one-touch key group (not shown) for performing the operation is provided on the operation display unit 7. Can be

The contents registered in the one-touch dial have a data format as shown in FIG. That is, one piece of one-touch dial registration information includes a one-touch number, attribute information indicating the attribute of the registered information, and registration information indicating the content of the registered information itself.

Information that can be registered includes a telephone number, a mail address, a document bank, and
Document Bank / Cover Page. Here, the document bank is a fixed image, and the document bank / cover page refers to a fixed image that is handled as a cover page.

In the one-touch dial registration information, the one in which the telephone number is registered, as shown in FIG. 6B, indicates the registered one-touch dial number [one-touch number] and the attribute value is Attribute information (telephone number) set in the telephone number and [telephone number] representing the value of the registered telephone number are set.

In the one-touch dial registration information, the one in which the mail address is registered has the [one-touch number] representing the registered one-touch dial number and the attribute value as shown in FIG. Attribute information (telephone number) set in the mail address and [mail address] representing the value of the registered mail address are set.

In the one-touch dial registration information, the one in which the document bank is registered has the [one-touch number] representing the registered one-touch dial number and the attribute value as shown in FIG. Attribute information (document bank) set in the document bank and [image information file number] representing the value of the image information file number of the registered image data are set.

In the one-touch dial registration information, the one in which the document bank is registered has a registered one-touch dial number [one-touch number] as shown in FIG. Attribute information (document bank / cover page) set in the document bank / cover page and [image information file number] representing the value of the image information file number of the registered image data are set.

Here, the image data registered as a document bank or a document bank / cover page is:
Each image information file number is stored in the image storage device 9 as image information, and is a number assigned to each image information file data for identification when stored in the image storage device 9.

When the image information file data is stored in the image storage device 9, the storage management information as shown in FIG.
Etc.).

In the storage management information, a file number for identifying each image information file data, paper size and resolution information of the image information file data, and image information file data are actually stored in the image storage device 9. It is composed of image information data map information representing a mode.

Therefore, when the document bank is selected, the system control unit 1 extracts the image information file number corresponding to the selected document bank, refers to the image information file number, and reads the image information file number from the image storage device 9. Information file data can be extracted.

With the above configuration, when transmitting image information to another network facsimile machine FX using this network facsimile machine FX, the user sets a document to be transmitted on the scanner 5 and then operates the operation display section 7. Is appropriately operated to select one or more transmission destinations.

At this time, the destination is selected using a one-touch dial, and after the selection of the destination,
A document bank to be a cover sheet is selected and input. However, the user does not perform a document bank selection operation for a destination to which no cover page is added because, for example, the corresponding cover page is not registered in the document bank.

When selection of all destinations and selection of a cover sheet to be added to each destination are completed, the user operates a start key (not shown) of the operation display section 7 to instruct the start of image information transmission. I do.

Thus, in the network facsimile machine FX, the image information of the designated document bank is extracted for each of the selected destinations, and the extracted image information of the document bank is used as individual image information to form one body part. When the creation of the text part is completed for all the destinations, the transmission original set on the scanner 5 is read, and the image data obtained thereby is coded and compressed by the coding / decoding unit 8 and obtained. Using the image information as the common image information, the final body part is configured to configure the body information of the e-mail.

Further, information for identifying the destination is added as identification information to the body part of each individual image information.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the electronic mail in this case.

In this case, the mail address of the transmission source network facsimile machine FX is “icfax1 @ ab
c. co. jpx ”and the destination is“ icfax2
{Abc. co. jp "," ifax3@abc.c
o. jp "and" icfax4@abc.co.
jp "is specified, and" icfax2 @ ab
c. co. jp "and" ifax3@abc.co.j
For "p", a cover sheet (document bank) is specified. That is, in this case, no cover page was specified in the third “icfax4@abc.co.jp”.

Therefore, in the first part of the text information, the first destination “icfax2@abc.c”
o. jp ”is set.
Also, “Content-T” in the header of this part
In the “ype” field, the destination is “icfax2 @ a
bc. co. jp "
= “Icfax2@abc.co.jp” is set.

The second part of the text information includes 2
The second destination, "icfax3@abc.co.j
The individual image information to be sent to “p” is set. Also,
"Content-Type" in the header of this part
e "field, the destination is" icfax3 @ ab
c. co. jp "
= "Icfax3@abc.co.jp" is set.

The common image information is set in the third (last) part of the text information. In the “Content-Type” field portion of the header of this part, “to” indicating that the part is to be sent to all destinations is included.
= "Common""subfield value (identification information) is set.

Next, the network facsimile machine F
X transmits an e-mail including the text information and the header information configured in this manner to the mail server device SM to perform broadcast communication.

On the other hand, the network facsimile machine FX
When receiving an e-mail, first, it is checked whether or not a plurality of destinations are set, and if so, it is checked whether or not the body information includes a part addressed to the own terminal.

Here, when a part addressed to the own terminal is included, the individual image information and the common image information of the part are taken out, and the individual image information and the common image information are respectively converted into the original image information. The image information is converted into the original image data by the encoding / decoding section 8, and the image data is recorded and output from the plotter 6, and the facsimile-received original with the cover sheet is recorded and output.

If no part addressed to the terminal is included, only the common image information is extracted, the common image information is converted into the original image information, and the image information is encoded and decoded by the coding / decoding section 8.
To convert the image data into original image data, record and output the image data from the plotter 6, and record and output the facsimile reception original.

As described above, in this embodiment, facsimile image information to which individual images such as cover pages are added can be transmitted to a plurality of destinations using one e-mail. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the SM disk resources are squeezed and to avoid a situation in which the traffic volume of the entire network is unnecessarily increased. Further, when the network facsimile machine FX is connected to the Internet through a dial-up connection, the communication fee can be reduced.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when transmitting image information in this case.

First, the user performs an operation input operation of selecting a destination and selecting / non-selecting a document bank (Process 1).
01), if the start key is pressed (the result of decision 102 is YES), at that time, one or more document banks are selected and it is checked whether or not there is additional information (decision 103).

When the result of the determination 103 is YES, the mail addresses of all the selected destinations are set in the TO field, and the header information of the electronic mail as shown in FIG. 5 is created (process 104).

Next, one destination is selected (process 10).
5) When the document bank is selected for the selected destination, the image information file data corresponding to the document bank is read from the image storage device 9 and the contents of the image information file data are converted into the TIFF-F format. , Converts the converted data to MIME to create individual image information corresponding to the selected destination,
The above-described identification information is added to the header of the individual image information to create a unique part corresponding to the selected destination (process 106).

Next, it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all the destinations (judgment 107).
, The process returns to step 105, where 1
Select one and create a unique part corresponding to that destination.

When the result of the determination 107 is YES, the creation of the part for each destination is completed, and the transmission original set on the scanner 5 is read (processing 1).
08), the image data obtained thereby is subjected to MH coding and compression by the coding / decoding unit 8, and the obtained image information is
The format is converted into FF-F format data (process 109), and the format-converted image data is MIME-converted, and necessary header information is formed to create a common part (part of common image information) ( (Process 110), text information is created from the unique part and the common part (Process 111), and an e-mail including the header information created in Process 104 and the text information created in Process 111 is transmitted to the mail server SM (Process 110). 112),
This processing ends.

When the result of the determination 103 is NO, it means that only the common information is transmitted for all the destinations. Therefore, in this case, header information in which the mail addresses of all the selected destinations are set in the TO field is created (step 113), and the transmission original set on the scanner 5 is read (step 114). The obtained image data is MH-coded and compressed by the coding / decoding unit 8, and the obtained image information is format-converted into TIFF-F format data (processing 11).
5) Further, the image data after format conversion is
ME conversion to create text information (process 116), process 1
An e-mail composed of the header information created in step 13 and the body information created in step 116 is transmitted to the mail server SM (step 117), and the process ends.

FIG. 7 shows a network facsimile apparatus F
X shows an example of a process executed when an e-mail is received.

First, an inquiry is made to the mail server device SM as to whether an e-mail addressed to the terminal itself has been received (process 201).
02 is YES), an e-mail is acquired from the mail server SM (process 203).

Next, the body part is inspected (processing 20).
4) It is checked whether or not unique parts of a plurality of destinations are arranged (determination 205).

When the result of the judgment 205 is YES, it is checked whether or not there is a unique part addressed to the own terminal by referring to the value of the "to =" subfield of the header part of each part (decision 206). Is YES, the MIME information of the unique part addressed to the terminal is extracted (process 207), the MIME information is inversely converted to form TIFF-F image data, and the TIFF-F
The facsimile image information is converted from the facsimile image information, and the facsimile image information is decoded into the original image data by the encoding / decoding section 8 (process 208). Then, the image data is transferred to the plotter 6, and the received original document of the unique part is recorded and output (process 209). Note that the result of judgment 206 is N
When it becomes O, the processes 207 to 209 are not executed.

Next, the MIME information of the common part is extracted (step 210), and the MIME information is inversely transformed to obtain the TIF.
FF image data is formed, facsimile image information is converted from the TIFF-F image data, and the facsimile image information is decoded into the original image data by the encoding / decoding unit 8 (process 211). . Then, the image data is transferred to the plotter 6, and the received original of the common part is recorded and output (process 212).

When the result of determination 205 is NO, MIME information of the text information is extracted (step 21).
3), the MIME information is inversely converted to form TIFF-F image data, facsimile image information is converted from the TIFF-F image data, and the facsimile image information is (Step 214). Then, the image data is transferred to the plotter 6, and the received original of the common part is recorded and output (Process 2).
15).

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, since all the individual image information is arranged in one part of the multi-part, the destination without the processing function of FIG.
Unnecessary information may be received, and as a result, a received document in a form not intended by the transmitting user may be recorded and output.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3 (f), a destination part function flag indicating whether or not the one-touch registration information has the same function is added to the information registered with the mail address. When the user registers a mail address on the one-touch dial, the user also sets / resets the destination part function flag. Here, the “part-by-destination part function” means a function of transmitting and receiving an e-mail in which individual image information corresponding to each destination is arranged in one part of a multi-part, as in the above-described embodiment.

At the time of image information transmission, of the selected destinations, those having the destination-specific part function flag set and those having not been set are divided into groups, and those set are described above. It is preferable to create and send an e-mail similar to that described above, and to individually set and send e-mails that are not set.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show an example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when transmitting image information in this case.

First, the user performs an operation input operation of selecting a destination and selecting / non-selecting a document bank (process 3).
01), when the start key is pressed (the result of the determination 302 is YES), at that time, one or more document banks are selected and it is checked whether or not there is additional information (determination 303).

If the result of determination 303 is YES, the contents of the destination part function flag of each selected destination are checked (step 304), and only destinations having destination part functions are extracted (step 305). Then, the mail addresses of all the extracted destinations are set in the TO field, and the header information of the electronic mail as shown in FIG. 5 is created (process 30).
6).

Next, one destination is selected from the extracted destinations (step 307). When a document bank is selected for the selected destination, image information file data corresponding to the selected document bank is stored in the image storage device 9. Read out the contents of the image information file data to T
The image data is converted to the IFF-F format, the converted data is MIME-converted to create individual image information corresponding to the selected destination, and the identification information described above is added to the header of the individual image information. Then, a unique part corresponding to the selected destination is created (process 308).

Next, it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all the extraction destinations (judgment 309). If the result of the judgment 309 is NO, the process returns to the processing 307, and one of the remaining extraction destinations is selected. Create a unique part corresponding to the destination.

When the result of the determination 309 is YES, the creation of the part for each destination is completed, and the transmission original set on the scanner 5 is read (Step 3).
10) The image data obtained thereby is subjected to MH coding and compression in the coding / decoding unit 8, and the obtained image information is
The format is converted to FF-F format data and stored (process 311). Further, the format-converted image data is subjected to MIME conversion, and necessary header information is formed to form a common part (part of common image information). It creates (process 312), creates body information from the unique part and the common part (process 313), and sends an e-mail including the header information created in process 306 and the body information created in process 313 to the mail server SM. (Process 31
4).

Next, one destination is selected from the remaining destinations (step 315), and it is checked whether a document bank is selected for the selected destination (decision 31).
6) When the result of the determination 316 is YES, header information for the destination is created (process 317), and then image information file data corresponding to the document bank is read from the image storage device 9, and the image information is read. The contents of the file data are converted to the TIFF-F format, the converted data is converted to MIME, and a part of the additional image information corresponding to the selected destination is created (Process 3).
18).

Next, the TIFF-F stored in process 311
The image data is converted to MIME to create a read image information part (step 319), and text information is created from the additional image information part created in step 318 and the read image information part created in step 319 (step 319). Process 320), an e-mail composed of the header information created in process 317 and the body information created in process 320 is transmitted to mail server device SM (process 321).

Next, it is checked whether or not the processing for all the remaining destinations has been completed (decision 322). If the result of the decision 322 is NO, the process returns to the step 315 to execute the processing for the remaining destinations. Also, if the result of decision 322 is Y
When it becomes ES, this processing ends.

If the result of determination 316 is NO, header information for the destination is created (step 3
23), the TIFF-F image data saved in the process 311 is MIME-converted to create text information (process 32)
4), an e-mail including the header information created in the process 323 and the body information created in the process 324 is transmitted to the mail server device SM (process 325), and the process proceeds to the judgment 322.
Execute the subsequent processing.

When the result of the determination 303 is NO, it is the case that only common information is transmitted for all destinations. Therefore, in this case, header information in which the mail addresses of all the selected destinations are set in the TO field is created (step 326), and the transmission original set on the scanner 5 is read (step 327). The obtained image data is MH-coded and compressed by the coding / decoding unit 8, and the obtained image information is format-converted into TIFF-F format data (processing 32).
8) Further, the image data after the format conversion is
The main body information is created by ME conversion (processing 329), and processing 3
An e-mail including the header information created in step S26 and the body information created in step S329 is transmitted to the mail server device SM (step S330), and the process ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, at the time of transmitting image information, of the selected destinations, those having the destination part function flag set and those having the destination part function flag not set are divided into groups. For those that have been set, create and send an e-mail with all individual image information arranged in one part of the multipart, and for those that are not set, create and send an e-mail individually Therefore, for a destination having a destination-specific part function, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the disk resources of the mail server device SM are squeezed, and to increase the traffic volume of the entire network unnecessarily. Can be avoided. Further, when the network facsimile machine FX is connected to the Internet through a dial-up connection, the communication fee can be reduced. In addition, destinations that do not have a destination-specific part function are individually transmitted by e-mail, so that appropriate image information transmission can be realized.

In the above-described embodiment, since the user needs to set the presence / absence of the destination-specific part function in the one-touch dial registration information, the user is troublesome and inconvenient. In particular, when the model of the destination network facsimile machine FX is changed, it is necessary to change the model each time, which is complicated.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, the following may be performed.

First, when transmitting image information, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, "X-Mail"
In the "er" field, a version number indicating the device function of the terminal is set and transmitted.

On the other hand, when an electronic mail is received, the "X-Mailer" field of the header information is checked. If the destination-specific part function flag of the dial registration information is set and the header information does not include the “X-Mailer” field, or if the value is not the same as the version number indicating the device function of the terminal itself,
The destination part function flag of the one-touch dial registration information may be reset for the source mail address.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show an example of processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX in transmitting image information in this case.

First, the user performs an operation input operation of selecting a destination and selecting / non-selecting a document bank (process 4).
01), when the start key is pressed (the result of decision 402 is YES), at that time, one or more document banks are selected and it is checked whether or not there is additional information (decision 403).

If the result of determination 403 is YES, the contents of the destination part function flag of each selected destination are checked (step 404), and only destinations having destination part functions are extracted (step 405). Then, the mail addresses of all the extracted destinations are set in the TO field, and the header information of the electronic mail with the version number as shown in FIG. 10 is created (process 406).

Next, one destination is selected from the extracted destinations (step 407). When a document bank is selected for the selected destination, the image information file data corresponding to the selected document bank is transmitted from the image storage device 9. Read out the contents of the image information file data to T
The image data is converted to the IFF-F format, the converted data is MIME-converted to create individual image information corresponding to the selected destination, and the identification information described above is added to the header of the individual image information. Then, a unique part corresponding to the selected destination is created (process 408).

Next, it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all the extraction destinations (decision 409). If the result of the judgment 409 is NO, the process returns to the processing 407, and one of the remaining extraction destinations is selected. Create a unique part corresponding to the destination.

If the result of determination 409 is YES, the creation of the part for each destination has been completed, and the transmission original set on the scanner 5 is read (step 4).
10) The image data obtained thereby is subjected to MH coding and compression in the coding / decoding unit 8, and the obtained image information is
The format is converted to FF-F format data and stored (process 411). Further, the image data after the format conversion is MIME-converted, and necessary header information is formed to form a common part (part of common image information). (Step 412), body information is created from the unique part and the common part (Step 413), and an e-mail including the header information created at Step 406 and the body information created at Step 413 is transmitted to the mail server SM. (Process 41
4).

Next, one destination is selected from the remaining destinations (process 415), and it is checked whether a document bank is selected for the selected destination (decision 41).
6) If the result of determination 416 is YES, create header information with a version number for the destination (process 417), and then read out image information file data corresponding to the document bank from the image storage device 9. , The contents of the image information file data
F format, and convert the converted data to MIM
E conversion is performed to create a part of the additional image information corresponding to the selected destination (process 418).

Next, the TIFF-F stored in the process 411
The image data is converted to a MIME to create a read image information part (step 419), and text information is created from the additional image information part created in step 418 and the read image information part created in step 419 (step 419). An e-mail composed of the header information created in the process 417 and the body information created in the process 420 is transmitted to the mail server SM (process 421).

Next, it is checked whether or not the processing for all the remaining destinations has been completed (judgment 422). If the result of the judgment 422 is NO, the process returns to the step 415 to execute the processing for the remaining destinations. Also, the result of decision 422 is Y
When it becomes ES, this processing ends.

If the result of determination 416 is NO, header information with a version number is created for the destination (step 423), and the T information stored in step 411 is stored.
The IFF-F image data is MIME-converted to create body information (step 424), and an e-mail including the header information created in step 423 and the body information created in step 424 is transmitted to the mail server SM (step 424). 425), proceed to a decision 422 to execute the subsequent processing.

When the result of the determination 403 is NO, it means that only the common information is transmitted for all the destinations. Therefore, in this case, the header information with the version number in which the mail addresses of all the selected destinations are set in the TO field is created (processing 42).
6), the transmission original set on the scanner 5 is read (process 427), and the image data obtained thereby is MH-coded and compressed by the coding / decoding unit 8, and the image information obtained thereby is converted to TIFF-F. The format is converted into format data (process 428), and the format-converted image data is MIME-converted to create body information (process 429). The header information created in process 426 and the process 4
The e-mail composed of the body information created in 29 is transmitted to the mail server SM (process 340), and this process ends.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show an example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when receiving an electronic mail in this case.

First, the mail server device SM is inquired as to whether an e-mail addressed to the terminal itself has been received (process 501).
02 is YES), an e-mail is obtained from the mail server SM (process 503).

Next, "X-Maile" is added to the header information.
It is checked whether or not the version number of the "r" field is included (decision 504). If the result of decision 504 is YES, it is checked whether or not the version number is the same as that of the terminal itself (decision 505).

If the result of determination 505 is YES, the value of the destination-specific part function flag is set for the one-touch dial registration information in which the source mail address set in the “From” field of the header information at that time is registered. Is set (process 506).

When the result of judgment 505 is NO, or when the result of judgment 504 is NO,
The value of the destination-specific part function flag is reset for the one-touch dial registration information in which the source mail address set in the “From” field of the header information at that time is registered (process 507).

When the setting / reset processing of the destination part function flag value for the source mail address of the electronic mail at that time is completed, the body part is inspected, and a unique part having a plurality of destinations is arranged. A check is made to determine whether or not it has been performed (determination 508).

If the result of decision 508 is YES, it is checked whether or not there is a unique part addressed to the own terminal by referring to the value of the “to =” subfield of the header part of each part (decision 509), and decision 509 is made. Is YES, the MIME information of the unique part addressed to the terminal is extracted (process 510), the MIME information is inversely transformed to form TIFF-F image data, and the TIFF-F
The facsimile image information is converted from the image data, and the facsimile image information is decoded into the original image data by the encoding / decoding section 8 (process 511).

Then, the image data is transferred to the plotter 6, and the received original document of the unique part is recorded and output (processing 5).
12). When the result of the determination 509 is NO, the processes 510 to 512 are not executed.

Next, the MIME information of the common part is extracted (step 513), and the MIME information is inversely transformed to obtain a TIF.
FF image data is formed, facsimile image information is converted from the TIFF-F image data, and the facsimile image information is decoded into the original image data by the encoding / decoding unit 8 (processing 514). . Then, the image data is transferred to the plotter 6, and the received original of the common part is recorded and output (process 515).

When the result of determination 508 is NO, MIME information of the text information is extracted (step 51).
6), the MIME information is inversely converted to form TIFF-F image data, facsimile image information is converted from the TIFF-F image data, and the facsimile image information is (Step 517). Then, the image data is transferred to the plotter 6, and the received original of the common part is recorded and output (processing 5).
18).

In each of the above-described embodiments, when image information is acquired from a received e-mail, the image is recorded and output.
Others can be applied. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the mail address and the document bank are registered in the one-touch dial function has been described. However, the shortened dial function may be used.

[0113]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since facsimile image information to which individual images such as cover pages have been added can be transmitted to a plurality of destinations using one e-mail, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the disk resources of the mail server device are squeezed. This has the effect of avoiding a situation in which the traffic volume of the entire network is unnecessarily increased. Further, when the network facsimile apparatus is connected to the Internet through a dial-up connection, there is an effect that the communication fee can be reduced.

At the time of image information transmission, of the selected destinations, those having the destination part function flag set and those having not been set are divided into groups, and all of the selected destinations are set. Since the individual image information of each part is created and transmitted in one part of the multi-part, and for those not set, an individual e-mail is created and transmitted individually. For destinations with features,
It is possible to avoid a situation in which the disk resources of the mail server device are squeezed and to avoid a situation in which the traffic volume of the entire network is unnecessarily increased. Further, when the network facsimile apparatus is connected to the Internet through a dial-up connection, there is an effect that the communication fee can be reduced. Also, for destinations that do not have a destination-specific part function, they will be sent individually by e-mail,
There is also obtained an effect that an appropriate image information transmission can be realized.

The setting of the presence / absence of the destination-specific part function is performed by
Since it can be performed automatically, there is also an effect that the labor of the user can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network facsimile machine FX.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of one-touch dial registration information.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of storage management information.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an electronic mail.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when transmitting image information.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when receiving an electronic mail.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of another example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when transmitting image information.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of another example of the processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX when transmitting image information.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing another example of an electronic mail.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a part of still another example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when transmitting image information.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of still another example of the process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when transmitting image information.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a part of another example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when receiving an e-mail.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of another example of the processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX when receiving an electronic mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 FX network facsimile machine

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of connecting to the Internet or a local area network and exchanging image information via the Internet or a local area network using electronic mail. One or more pieces of individual image information individually corresponding to the destinations and text information in which common image information to be transmitted in common to a plurality of destinations are created, and one piece of header information corresponding to the plurality of destinations is created. By transmitting an e-mail composed of header information and body information, image information is transmitted to the plurality of destinations using one e-mail. When receiving the image information, the received e-mail includes the individual image information addressed to its own terminal. When the common image information is included, the individual image information and the common image information are respectively obtained as the image information addressed to the own terminal. In addition, if the received e-mail does not include the individual image information addressed to the own terminal, it is necessary to acquire and process only the common image information included in the e-mail as the image information addressed to the own terminal. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus. 2. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of connecting to the Internet or a local area network and exchanging image information via the Internet or a local area network using electronic mail. At least one piece of individual image information individually corresponding to a destination and common image information to be transmitted in common to a plurality of destinations are arranged in different parts, and each part has individual image information or common image information identification. By creating the body information in the multi-part MIME format including the information, creating the header information in which the mail addresses of the plurality of destinations are all arranged in the TO field, and transmitting an e-mail including the header information and the body information. , Using a single e-mail to Sends a broadcast, when receiving image information, received e-mail is a multi-part MI
In the case of the ME format, when there is a part including identification information of individual information corresponding to the own terminal,
The individual image information included in the part and the common image information included in the e-mail are obtained and processed as image information addressed to the own terminal, and the individual information corresponding to the own terminal is identified in the received e-mail part. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus, characterized in that when no information is included, only common image information included in the e-mail is acquired as image information addressed to the own terminal and processed. 3. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of connecting to the Internet or a local area network and exchanging image information via the Internet or a local area network by using an electronic mail. A dial or abbreviated dial is provided with a dial registration table for registering type information indicating the destination e-mail address and the type of the other party. The same information is extracted as that of the own terminal, and for one or more destinations of the extracted first group, one or more individual image information individually corresponding to each destination, and the first Arrange common image information to be transmitted in common to group destinations The main body information is created, one piece of header information corresponding to the destination of the first group is created, and an e-mail composed of the header information and the body information is transmitted, so that one e-mail is sent to the destination of the first group. The image information is transmitted using two e-mails, and for the destinations other than the first group of the selected plurality of destinations, the body information in which the common image information is arranged is created, and one corresponding to each destination is created. By creating one or more pieces of header information and sending one or more emails including the header information and the body information, a plurality of selected destinations other than the first group can be assigned to each destination. When image information is sent using e-mail, and when the received e-mail contains individual image information and common image information addressed to the terminal, the individual image information and common image information are Acquires and processes it as image information addressed to the terminal itself, and if the received e-mail does not include individual image information addressed to the terminal, only the common image information included in the e-mail is sent to the terminal. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus, wherein the method is acquired as image information and processed. 4. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of connecting to the Internet or a local area network and exchanging image information via the Internet or a local area network by using an electronic mail. A dial or abbreviated dial is provided with a dial registration table for registering type information indicating the destination e-mail address and the type of the other party. The same information is extracted as that of the own terminal, and one or more destinations of the extracted first group are shared with one or more individual image information individually corresponding to each destination and a plurality of destinations. The common image information to be sent to In each part, multi-part MIME format body information including individual image information or identification information of common image information is created, and all the mail addresses of the destinations of the first group are arranged in the TO field. By creating the header information and sending an e-mail composed of the header information and the body information, the image information is transmitted to the destination of the first group by using one e-mail, and the selected plural destinations are transmitted. For destinations other than the first group, create body information in which the common image information is arranged, create one or more header information in which the mail address of each destination is arranged in the TO field, and create the header information. By sending one or more e-mails consisting of a message and body information, the destinations other than the first group of the selected plural destinations To one to send the image information by using the e-mail, when receiving image information, received e-mail is a multi-part MI
In the case of the ME format, when there is a part including identification information of individual information corresponding to the own terminal,
The individual image information included in the part and the common image information included in the e-mail are obtained and processed as image information addressed to the own terminal, and the individual information corresponding to the own terminal is identified in the received e-mail part. A method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus, characterized in that when no information is included, only common image information included in the e-mail is acquired as image information addressed to the own terminal and processed. 5. When transmitting an e-mail, the type information of the own terminal is included in a predetermined field and transmitted. When receiving the e-mail, the type information included in the predetermined field of the received e-mail is transmitted. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein registration is made in the dial registration table in correspondence with an original mail address. 6. The control of a network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquired individual image information or common image information is recorded and output. Method.