JP2002118713A - Network facsimile broadcast system, network facsimile terminal and control method for the network facsimile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network facsimile broadcast system that can be realized through the use of network facsimile machines at a low cost, and to provide the network facsimile machine, and to provide a control method for the network facsimile terminals. SOLUTION: This network facsimile broadcast system can be built up by using conventional network facsimile machines, so as to reduce the cost as a whole.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network facsimile broadcasting system, a network facsimile apparatus, and a method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a function of performing image information communication using electronic mail connected to a local area network or the Internet, and a predetermined facsimile transmission between a facsimile apparatus connected to a public network and a public network. A network facsimile apparatus having a function of exchanging facsimile data using a procedure has been put into practical use, and a facsimile communication system using this network facsimile apparatus has also been put into practical use. Further, in such a network facsimile apparatus, a technical standard regarding an electronic mail communication function for communicating image information using electronic mail is described in ITU-T Recommendation T.40. 37 applies.

[0003] Facsimile communication using such a network facsimile apparatus is performed, for example, when image information is transmitted from a facsimile apparatus connected to a public network to a facsimile apparatus connected to a public network installed in a remote place. Used for relay transmission.

In this case, the transmission-side facsimile apparatus performs a transmission operation in a relay request mode to a network facsimile apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a "reception-side network facsimile apparatus") installed in an area near the terminal, and performs a reception-side network operation. The facsimile device transmits image information in a relay request mode to a network facsimile device (hereinafter, referred to as a “delivery-side network facsimile device”) installed near a relay destination using electronic mail.

[0005] The delivery-side network facsimile apparatus that has received the relay request e-mail transmits the image information included in the e-mail to the designated destination via the public network.

[0006] Further, transmission of an electronic mail from a reception side network facsimile apparatus to a delivery side network facsimile apparatus is usually performed via one or more mail servers arranged on the Internet.

[0007]

There is a demand for performing facsimile broadcast communication using such a network facsimile apparatus. In this case, for example, the network facsimile apparatus on the receiving side of the broadcast communication recognizes the broadcast destination, and transmits an e-mail of the relay request to the network facsimile apparatus on the delivery side corresponding to each of the facsimile apparatuses of the broadcast destination. There is a method of doing it.

However, when such a method is adopted, all the network facsimile apparatuses need a function for broadcasting, which increases the apparatus cost, thereby increasing the system cost of the network facsimile communication system. Things happen.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a network facsimile broadcasting system, a network facsimile apparatus, and a control method for a network facsimile apparatus capable of realizing an inexpensive facsimile broadcasting system using a network facsimile apparatus. It is intended to provide.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, connecting to a local area network, and connecting to the local area network via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, and a public network With a function of communicating image information with a facsimile machine via
One or more output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network, and the input-side network facsimile apparatus transmits a transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via a public network. When the image information is received, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information are transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail. When receiving the first electronic mail from the input-side network facsimile apparatus, the mail server device converts the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail into information. The corresponding destination information and the image information contained in the first e-mail are sent to the output side network facsimile When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction, the output-side network facsimile apparatus transmits the destination address included in the second e-mail. A call is made to the information using a public network, and the image information contained in the second electronic mail is transmitted.

A transfer request from the facsimile apparatus to the input-side network facsimile apparatus and transmission of transfer destination information are performed using a push button signal.

Further, the mail server device has a transfer destination table in which one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are registered, and indicates the received transfer destination by referring to the transfer destination table. The transfer destination corresponding to the information is obtained.

In the transfer destination table, the output network facsimile apparatus to be used corresponding to the destination information is registered, and the mail server apparatus is registered corresponding to the destination information. Information for instructing the output-side network facsimile apparatus to transfer image information and image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted using the second e-mail. .

Further, the mail server device includes a transfer destination table in which one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are registered, and indicates the received transfer destination by referring to the transfer destination table. A transfer destination corresponding to the information is obtained, and for each of the obtained transfer destinations, the output-side network facsimile apparatus is sequentially assigned, and the output-side network facsimile apparatus according to the assignment is instructed to transfer image information. The image information contained in the first electronic mail is transmitted using the second electronic mail.

[0015] Further, the mail server device checks the operation status of each output side network facsimile device on the local area network before transmitting the second electronic mail to the output side network facsimile device. The transfer destination is assigned only to the output-side network facsimile apparatus operating on the local area network that has been acquired and determined in accordance with the acquired information.

[0016] Further, the apparatus has a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating used image information, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network At least one of the following: a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via a LAN, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. Output side group 3 network When the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the transfer destination notified at that time. And the received image information are transmitted to the mail server device using a first electronic mail, and the mail server device receives the first electronic mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile device. Then, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, and the image information included in the first electronic mail are stored in the output side group. 3 is transmitted to the network facsimile apparatus by using the second e-mail, and the output side group 3 is transmitted.
When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction, the network facsimile apparatus calls the destination information included in the second e-mail using the analog public network, The image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted.

A transfer request from the group 3 facsimile apparatus to the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus and transmission of transfer destination information are performed using a push button signal.

Further, the mail server device has a transfer destination table in which one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are registered, and indicates the received transfer destination by referring to the transfer destination table. The transfer destination corresponding to the information is obtained.

In the transfer destination table, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus to be used corresponding to the destination information is registered, and the mail server apparatus is registered corresponding to the destination information. And transmitting the image information included in the first e-mail to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus using the second e-mail. It was done.

Further, the mail server device includes a transfer destination table in which one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are registered, and indicates the received transfer destination by referring to the transfer destination table. A transfer destination corresponding to the information is acquired, and the output group 3 network facsimile apparatus is sequentially assigned to each of the acquired transfer destinations, and the image information is transferred to the output group 3 network facsimile apparatus according to the assignment. The information to be instructed and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted using the second e-mail.

Further, the mail server device sends the second group to the output side group 3 network facsimile device.
At the stage before transmitting the e-mail, the operation status of each output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus on the local area network is obtained, The transfer destination is assigned only to the active output side group 3 network facsimile machine.

[0022] Further, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and also has a function of connecting to a local area network and transmitting image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a group 3 facsimile connected to an analog public network, and connected to the analog public network. One or more output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information with the apparatus, and a function of connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. And connect with the digital public network, Group through the digital public network 4
One or more output side group 4 networks having a function of communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus and having a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. The input-side network facsimile device includes a facsimile device, and when receiving the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile device via the public network, the input-side network facsimile device indicates the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the transfer destination notified at that time. Information and the received image information are transmitted to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and the mail server device transmits one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination, and The transfer destination in which the type of the group 3 / group 4 function of the destination facsimile machine corresponding to the destination information is registered. A table for receiving the first electronic mail from the input side network facsimile apparatus, receiving one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, and each destination information. For the destination information in which the group 3 / group 4 function is acquired and the group 3 function is registered, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus is selected, and image information is transmitted to the selected output side group 3 facsimile apparatus. , The destination information, and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted using the second e-mail, and the destination information in which the group 4 function is registered is transmitted. Select the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus, and select the selected output side group 4 facsimile apparatus. Then, the information for instructing the transfer of the image information, the destination information, and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted using a third e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus If the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using an analog public network, and the second e-mail is called. The image information included in the e-mail is transmitted. When the received e-mail is the third e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction, the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus transmits the third e-mail. Is called using the digital public network to the destination information included in the third electronic mail, and the image information included in the third electronic mail is transmitted. A transfer request from the facsimile apparatus to the input side network facsimile apparatus and transmission of transfer destination information are performed using a push button signal.

In the transfer destination table, the group 3 output side network facsimile apparatus or the group 4 facsimile apparatus to be used corresponding to the destination information is registered.
Information for instructing the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus or the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus registered in correspondence with the destination information to transfer image information, and information included in the first electronic mail. The image information to be transmitted is transmitted using the second electronic mail or the third electronic mail.

[0024] The mail server device may include the second server.
When selecting the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus for transmitting the e-mail, or when selecting the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus for transmitting the third e-mail, each of the output side groups 3 The mode is selected so that the loads of the network facsimile apparatus and the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus are distributed.

The mail server apparatus may be configured to transmit the e-mail to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus or the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus before transmitting the electronic mail to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus and the group. An output group 3 network facsimile apparatus and a group 4 network facsimile apparatus operating on the local area network determined based on the obtained information on the operation status of the 4 network facsimile apparatus on the local area network. The transfer destination is assigned only to the device.

[0026] Further, the apparatus has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and connecting to a local area network to transmit image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. One or more output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating with the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network; and Connect to the network,
In addition to having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a monitoring workstation device for managing the system is provided, and the input network facsimile device transmits a transfer request from the facsimile device via the public network. When image information is received,
The information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information are transmitted to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and the mail server device Receiving the first e-mail from the input-side network facsimile machine, receiving information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first e-mail, The mail address of the monitoring workstation device and the image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted to the output side network facsimile device using the second electronic mail, and the output side network facsimile device includes:
When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using a public network, and the second e-mail is transmitted. And transmits a report representing the transmission result, and transmits the generated report to an e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the second e-mail using an e-mail. It is something to do.

[0027] Further, the apparatus is provided with a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit electronic mail through the local area network. An input group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network At least one of the following: a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via a LAN, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. Output side group 3 network The input side group 3 network facsimile machine, which has a function of connecting to the local area network and exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, and a monitoring workstation for managing the system; When the apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, the apparatus transmits the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information. Sending the first electronic mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus to the mail server apparatus by using the first electronic mail, the mail server apparatus transmits information to instruct transfer of image information, Destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail , And email address of the monitoring workstation device, the first
The image information included in the e-mail is transmitted to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus using the second e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the information of the transfer instruction in the received e-mail. If the second e-mail contains the second e-mail,
A call is made to the destination information included in the e-mail using the analog public network, the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted, a report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is An electronic mail is transmitted to the mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the second electronic mail.

[0028] Further, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit image information using e-mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a group 3 facsimile connected to an analog public network, and connected to an analog public network. One or more output side group 3 network facsimile machines having a function of communicating image information with the apparatus and having a function of connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. And connect with the digital public network, Group through the digital public network 4
One or more output side group 4 networks having a function of communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus and having a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. A facsimile device, connected to the local area network, having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a monitoring workstation device for managing the system, the input side network facsimile device When receiving the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information are stored in the first area. Send to the above mail server using e-mail The mail server device stores one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination and a transfer destination table in which the type of the group 3 / group 4 function of the destination facsimile apparatus corresponding to each piece of the destination information is registered. Receiving the first electronic mail from the input-side network facsimile apparatus, the first electronic mail corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail.
Group of three or more destination information and each destination information
For the destination information in which the group 4 function is acquired and the group 3 function is registered, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus is selected, and the image information is transferred to the selected output side group 3 facsimile apparatus. The instruction information, the destination information, the mail address of the monitoring workstation device, and the image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted using a second electronic mail. As for the registered destination information, the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus is selected, information for instructing the selected output side group 4 facsimile apparatus to transfer image information, the destination information, and the The e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device and the image information contained in the first e-mail are stored in a third e-mail. When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the destination included in the second e-mail. Making a call to the information using an analog public network, transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, creating a report representing the transmission result, and creating the report,
An e-mail is sent to the e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the second e-mail, and the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus sends the received e-mail including the transfer instruction information. In the case of the third e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the third e-mail using the digital public network, and the image information included in the third e-mail is transmitted.
A report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is transmitted to the e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the third e-mail using an e-mail.

[0029] Further, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. One or more output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating with the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network; and Connect to the network,
In addition to having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a monitoring workstation device for managing the system is provided, and the input network facsimile device transmits a transfer request from the facsimile device via the public network. When image information is received,
The information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the transmission result notification destination information indicating the destination of the transmission result notified at that time, and the received image information are The first e-mail is transmitted to the mail server device, and the mail server device, upon receiving the first e-mail from the input side network facsimile device, transmits information for instructing transfer of image information, Destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, transmission result notification destination information included in the first electronic mail, a mail address of the monitoring workstation device, The image information contained in the e-mail is transmitted to the output side network facsimile apparatus using the second e-mail, and the output side network facsimile is transmitted. Location, when the received electronic mail is the second e-mail containing the information of the transfer instruction,
A call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the public network, the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted, a report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is created. To an e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the second e-mail, and transmits the image of the report to the transmission result notification destination information included in the second e-mail. To be transmitted to.

[0030] Further, it has a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating used image information, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network At least one of the following: a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via a LAN, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. Output side group 3 network The input side group 3 network facsimile machine, which has a function of connecting to the local area network and exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, and a monitoring workstation for managing the system; When the apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, the apparatus instructs the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the transmission notified at that time. The transmission result notification destination information indicating the destination of the result and the received image information are transmitted to the mail server device using a first electronic mail, and the mail server device transmits the information from the input side group 3 network facsimile device. When receiving the first e-mail, information for instructing transfer of image information Address information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, transmission result notification destination information included in the first electronic mail, a mail address of the monitoring workstation device, The image information included in the first e-mail is transmitted to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus using the second e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the received e-mail as a transfer instruction. In the case of the second electronic mail including information, a call is made to the destination information included in the second electronic mail using an analog public network, and the image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. Then, a report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is sent to the monitoring server by using an e-mail, which is included in the second e-mail. In addition to the transmission to the mail address of the workstation device, the image of the report is transmitted to the transmission result notification destination information included in the second electronic mail.

[0031] Further, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and also has a function of connecting to a local area network and transmitting image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a group 3 facsimile connected to an analog public network, and connected to the analog public network. One or more output side group 3 network facsimile machines having a function of communicating image information with the apparatus and having a function of connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. And connect to the digital public network, Group through the digital public network 4
One or more output side group 4 networks having a function of communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus and having a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. A facsimile device, connected to the local area network, having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a monitoring workstation device for managing the system, the input side network facsimile device When receiving the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile machine via the public network, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the transmission result notified at that time are displayed. The transmission result notification destination information indicating the destination The received image information is transmitted to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and the mail server device transmits one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination and each destination information. A transfer destination table in which the types of the group 3 / group 4 functions of the corresponding destination facsimile apparatuses are registered, and when the first electronic mail is received from the input side network facsimile apparatus, the transfer included in the first electronic mail is performed. One or more pieces of destination information corresponding to information indicating a destination and a group 3 / group 4 function of each destination information are acquired, and for the destination information in which the group 3 function is registered, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus is used. And instructs the selected output side group 3 facsimile apparatus to transfer image information. The destination information, the transmission result notification destination information included in the first electronic mail, the mail address of the monitoring workstation device, and the image information included in the first electronic mail as a second electronic mail. , And for the destination information in which the group 4 function is registered,
An output side network facsimile apparatus is selected, information for instructing the selected output side group 4 facsimile apparatus to transfer image information, the destination information, and a transmission result notification destination included in the first electronic mail. Information, the email address of the monitoring workstation device,
The image information included in the first e-mail is transmitted using a third e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information in the received e-mail. In this case, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the analog public network, the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted, and a report indicating the transmission result is transmitted. The e-mail is used to send the created report to the e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the second e-mail, and the image of the report is sent to the second e-mail. The group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus transmits to the included transmission result notification destination information, and the received electronic mail includes information of the transfer instruction. In the case of the third e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the third e-mail using the digital public network, and the image information included in the third e-mail is transmitted. A report representing a transmission result is created, and the created report is transmitted to the e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the third e-mail using an e-mail, and the image of the report is transmitted to the e-mail. The transmission is performed to the transmission result notification destination information included in the third electronic mail.

In the first electronic mail, the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the information indicating the transfer destination are arranged in a comment in the destination address field or in the body information. In the second and third e-mails, the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are arranged in a comment in the destination address field or in the body information. You.

In addition to the function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, the apparatus is connected to a local area network and communicates image information using electronic mail via the local area network. When the image information of the transfer request is received from the facsimile machine via the public network, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information Is transmitted to the mail server device on the local area network using an electronic mail.

In addition, a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network is provided, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. If the received e-mail includes the information of the transfer instruction, a call is made to the destination information included in the e-mail using the public network, and the image information included in the e-mail is transmitted. It was made.

In addition, the apparatus has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. If the received e-mail includes the transfer instruction information and the destination e-mail address of the transmission result, a call is made to the destination information included in the e-mail using the public network, and the e-mail Send the image information included in the
A report representing the result of the transmission is created, and the created report is transmitted to the above-mentioned notification destination e-mail address by electronic mail.

In addition to the function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, the apparatus is connected to a local area network and communicates image information using electronic mail via the local area network. If the received e-mail includes the information of the transfer instruction, the destination e-mail address of the transmission result, and the destination information of the transmission result, the public network is added to the destination information included in the e-mail. Send a call using, send the image information included in the e-mail, create a report representing the transmission result, and send the created report to the notification destination e-mail address using e-mail, The image of the report is transmitted to the notification destination information.

In addition, the apparatus has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. In a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of performing, when image information of a transfer request is received from a facsimile apparatus via a public network, information indicating a transfer of the image information and a transfer destination notified at that time are displayed. Information and
The received image information is transmitted to a mail server device on the local area network using electronic mail.

[0038] In addition to having a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. In a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of performing, when a received e-mail includes information of a transfer instruction, a call is made to destination information included in the e-mail using a public network, and the e-mail The included image information is transmitted.

A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network is provided, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. In the control method of the network facsimile apparatus having the function of performing
A call is made to the destination information included in the e-mail using the public network, the image information included in the e-mail is transmitted, a report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is transmitted using the e-mail. , To the above-mentioned notification destination e-mail address.

[0040] Further, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. In the method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of performing the following, when the received e-mail includes information of a transfer instruction, a destination e-mail address of a transmission result, and destination information of a transmission result, the received e-mail A call is made to the included destination information using a public network, the image information included in the e-mail is transmitted, a report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is transmitted to the notification destination using an e-mail. Send to your email address,
The image of the report is transmitted to the notification destination information.

[0041] Further, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. A plurality of output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network, and a function of communicating with the local area network. Facsimile machine is connected via public network Upon receiving the information indicating the priority of the image information and the communication transfer request from Akushimiri device,
The information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the priority of the communication are transmitted to the mail server device using the first electronic mail. When the mail server device receives the first electronic mail from the input side network facsimile device, the mail server device transmits information instructing transfer of image information and information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail. And the image information included in the first electronic mail to the output-side network facsimile apparatus selected based on the information indicating the priority included in the first electronic mail. The e-mail is transmitted by using the e-mail, and the output side network facsimile apparatus transmits the e-mail when the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction. Is a call using a public network to the destination information contained in the second e-mail, in which so as to transmit the image information included in the second electronic mail.

Also, the apparatus has a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit e-mail via the local area network. An input group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus through the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Fax Comprising a Li device, the input-side group 3 network facsimile device receives the information indicating the priority of the image information and the communication transfer request from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via an analog public network,
The information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the priority of communication are transmitted to the mail server device using the first electronic mail. When the mail server apparatus receives the first electronic mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus, the mail server apparatus transmits information instructing transfer of image information and a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail. The destination information corresponding to the information to be displayed and the image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus selected based on the priority information included in the first electronic mail. The output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the received e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction. In the case of the second e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using an analog public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. It was done.

Also, it has a function of connecting to a digital public network and communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and is connected to a local area network to send e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, and a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Fax Comprising a Li device, the input-side group 4 network facsimile device receives the information representing the image information and communication priority of the transfer request from the Group 4 facsimile apparatus via a digital public network,
The information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the priority of communication are transmitted to the mail server device using the first electronic mail. Upon transmitting, the mail server device, upon receiving the first electronic mail from the input side group 4 network facsimile device, transmits information instructing transfer of image information and a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail. The destination information corresponding to the indicated information and the image information included in the first electronic mail are sent to the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus selected based on the information indicating the priority included in the first electronic mail. The output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus transmits the electronic mail using the second electronic mail, and the received electronic mail includes the information of the transfer instruction. In the case of the second e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the digital public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. It was done.

[0044] Further, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and is connected to a local area network and transmits image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. A plurality of output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network, and a function of communicating with the local area network. Facsimile machine is connected via public network Upon receiving the information representing the image information and transmission designated time transfer request from Akushimiri device,
Using the first e-mail, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the designated transmission time are transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail. When receiving the first electronic mail from the input-side network facsimile apparatus, the mail server device converts the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail into information. The corresponding destination information and the image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted to any one of the output side network facsimile apparatuses at a time corresponding to the information indicating the designated transmission time included in the first electronic mail. The output side network facsimile apparatus transmits the second electronic mail using the second electronic mail including the transfer instruction information. If it is Lumpur, a call using a public network to the destination information contained in the second e-mail, in which so as to transmit the image information included in the second electronic mail.

[0045] In addition, the apparatus has a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit e-mail via the local area network. An input group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus through the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Fax Comprising a Li device, the input-side group 3 network facsimile device receives the information representing the image information and transmission designated time transfer request from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via an analog public network,
Using the first e-mail, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the designated transmission time are transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail. When receiving the first electronic mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus, the mail server device indicates information instructing transfer of image information and a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail. The destination information corresponding to the information and the image information included in the first e-mail are converted into one of the output side groups 3 at a time corresponding to the information indicating the designated transmission time included in the first e-mail. The e-mail is transmitted to the network facsimile device using the second e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile device forwards the received e-mail. In the case of the second e-mail including the information of the second e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using an analog public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. Is transmitted.

Also, it has a function of connecting to a digital public network and communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and is connected to a local area network to send e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, and a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Fax Comprising a Li device, the input-side group 4 network facsimile device receives the information representing the image information and transmission designated time transfer request from Group 4 facsimile apparatus via a digital public network,
Using the first e-mail, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the designated transmission time are transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail. When receiving the first electronic mail from the input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus, the mail server device indicates information instructing transfer of image information and a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail. The destination information corresponding to the information and the image information included in the first e-mail are converted into a time corresponding to the information indicating the designated transmission time included in the first e-mail, by any of the output side groups 4. A second e-mail is transmitted to the network facsimile apparatus, and the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus transfers the received e-mail. In the case of the second e-mail including the information of the second e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the digital public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. Is transmitted.

[0047] Further, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. A plurality of output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network, and a function of communicating with the local area network. Facsimile machine is connected via public network When receiving the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the transmission time zone from the facsimile apparatus, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the transmission time The information representing the band is transmitted to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and the mail server device instructs transfer of image information when receiving the first e-mail from the input side network facsimile device. And the destination information corresponding to the transfer destination information included in the first e-mail and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted to the transmission time zone included in the first e-mail. Is transmitted to any one of the output side network facsimile devices using a second e-mail at a time corresponding to the information indicating If the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, the facsimile apparatus calls the destination information included in the second e-mail using the public network, and In this case, the image information included in the e-mail is transmitted.

[0048] In addition to having a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, it is also connected to a local area network and transmits e-mail via the local area network. An input group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus through the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Fax The input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the transmission time zone from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and instructs the transfer of the image information. And transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the transmission time zone to the mail server device using the first electronic mail, and the mail server device Upon receiving the first e-mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus, information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first e-mail, When the image information included in the first e-mail corresponds to the information indicating the transmission time zone included in the first e-mail Then, the data is transmitted to any one of the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses by using a second e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information. In the case of the e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the analog public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. is there.

Further, it has a function of connecting to a digital public network and communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and a digital public network connected to a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Fax The input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the transmission time zone from the group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and instructs the transfer of the image information. And transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the transmission time zone to the mail server device using the first electronic mail, and the mail server device Upon receiving the first electronic mail from the input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus, information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, When the image information included in the first e-mail corresponds to the information indicating the transmission time zone included in the first e-mail The second group-based facsimile apparatus transmits the data to any one of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses by using the second electronic mail. In the case of the e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the digital public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. is there.

[0050] Further, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit image information using e-mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. A plurality of output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network, and having a function of communicating with the local area network. Facsimile machine is connected via public network Upon receiving the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the delivery date designation from the facsimile apparatus, the information indicating the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information and the delivery date designation are displayed. The information is transmitted to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and when the first e-mail is received from the input side network facsimile device, the mail server device receives information instructing transfer of image information. The destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail and the image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted to any one of the output side network facsimile apparatuses. The output-side network facsimile apparatus transmits the received electronic mail by using the second electronic mail including the transfer instruction information. In the case of an e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the public network, and after transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, a transmission indicating the transmission result is performed. The result information is transmitted to the mail server device using a third e-mail, and the mail server device checks the transmission result information included in the third e-mail when receiving the third e-mail. If the transmission has failed, if the time is within a predetermined time after receiving the transfer request from the facsimile machine, the second e-mail is transmitted to any one of the output side network facsimile machines. On the other hand, if the time exceeds a predetermined time after receiving the transfer request from the facsimile machine, it is notified that the requested image information transfer operation has failed. Create a non-delivery report, and send destination information indicating the destination of the non-delivery report and image information of the non-delivery report
A fourth e-mail is used to transmit to any one of the output side network facsimile apparatuses, and the output side network facsimile apparatus transmits the fourth e-mail if the received e-mail is the fourth e-mail. A call is made to the destination information contained in the e-mail using the public network, and the fourth
The image information of the non-delivery report included in the e-mail is transmitted.

Further, the apparatus is connected to an analog public network, and has a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit e-mail via the local area network. An input group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus through the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Fax The input-side network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the delivery date designation from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, The information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information and the information indicating the delivery date designation are transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail, and the mail server device transmits the input side group 3
When the first electronic mail is received from the network facsimile apparatus, information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, and the first electronic mail, Transmitting the image information included in the mail to any one of the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses using a second electronic mail,
When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus uses the analog public network for the destination information included in the second e-mail. Call
After transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, transmission result information representing the transmission result is transmitted to the mail server device using a third e-mail, and the mail server device When the third e-mail is received, the transmission result information included in the third e-mail is checked, and if the transmission fails, the time is set to a predetermined time after the transfer request from the group 3 facsimile apparatus is received. When the time is within, the second electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 3 facsimile machines, and the time exceeds a predetermined time after receiving the transfer request from the group 3 facsimile machine. A non-delivery report indicating that the requested image information transfer operation has failed, and specify the destination of the non-delivery report. The destination information and the image information of the non-delivery report are transmitted to any one of the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses using a fourth e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus receives the received electronic information. If the mail is the fourth e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the fourth e-mail using an analog public network, and an image of a non-delivery report included in the fourth e-mail is sent. Information is transmitted.

[0052] Further, it has a function of connecting to a digital public network and communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and is connected to a local area network to send e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, and a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Fax The input-side network facsimile apparatus, when receiving the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the delivery date designation from the group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, information instructing the transfer of the image information, The information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information and the information indicating the delivery date designation are transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail, and the mail server device transmits the input group 4
When the first electronic mail is received from the network facsimile apparatus, information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, and the first electronic mail, Transmitting the image information included in the mail to any one of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses using a second electronic mail,
The output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus uses the digital public network for the destination information included in the second electronic mail when the received electronic mail is the second electronic mail including the information of the transfer instruction. Call
After transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, transmission result information representing the transmission result is transmitted to the mail server device using a third e-mail, and the mail server device When the third e-mail is received, the transmission result information included in the third e-mail is checked. If the transmission fails, the time is set to a predetermined time after the transfer request from the group 4 facsimile apparatus is received. When the time is within, the second electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 4 facsimile machines, and the time exceeds a predetermined time after receiving the transfer request from the group 4 facsimile machine. A non-delivery report indicating that the requested image information transfer operation has failed, and specify the destination of the non-delivery report. The destination information and the image information of the non-delivery report are transmitted to any one of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses using a fourth e-mail, and the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus receives the received electronic information. If the mail is the fourth e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the fourth e-mail using the digital public network, and the image of the non-delivery report included in the fourth e-mail is sent. Information is transmitted.

[0053]

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

FIG. 1 shows a facsimile network system (facsimile broadcasting system) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, an input network facsimile machine FXi is connected to an analog public network PSTN, and performs a group 3 facsimile communication (not shown) with a group 3 facsimile apparatus (not shown) via the analog public network PSTN. Connect to network LAN, use e-mail, local area network L
It has a function of exchanging image information via the AN. Further, as the facsimile machine function, a group 3 facsimile machine function is provided.

The output network facsimile apparatuses FXo1 and FXo2 are connected to the analog public network PSTN, and perform a group 3 facsimile communication with a group 3 facsimile apparatus (not shown) via the analog public network PSTN. It is connected to a network LAN and has a function of exchanging image information via a local area network LAN using e-mail. Further, as the facsimile machine function, a group 3 facsimile machine function is provided.

The output network facsimile apparatuses FXo3 and FXo4 are connected to the digital public network ISDN, and perform group 4 facsimile communication with a group 4 facsimile apparatus (not shown) via the digital public network ISDN. It is connected to a network LAN and has a function of exchanging image information via a local area network LAN using e-mail. Further, as the facsimile machine function, a group 4 facsimile machine function is provided.

Monitoring personal computer device AD
Is a terminal for the administrator of the facsimile network system, and has a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network LAN and other communication functions.

The mail server MS includes an input network facsimile machine FXi, an output network facsimile machine FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, FXo4 connected to the local area network LAN.
In addition, this is to provide the monitoring personal computer device AD with a function of collecting and delivering electronic mail.

The router RT connects the local area network LAN to the Internet INET. Therefore, the mail server device M
The S and the monitoring personal computer device AD can perform appropriate communication with other terminal devices on the Internet INET.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the input network facsimile machine FXi and the output network facsimile machines FXo1 and FXo2.

In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each unit of the input network facsimile machine FXi and the output network facsimile machines FXo1 and FXo2 and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The system memory 2 stores a control processing program executed by the system control unit 1 and various data necessary for executing the processing program, and constitutes a work area of the system control unit 1. The parameter memory 3 includes an input network facsimile machine FXi and an output network facsimile machine FXo1,
The clock circuit 4 is for storing various information unique to the FXo2, and outputs current time information.

The scanner 5 is for reading an original image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display section 7 is for input network facsimile Device FXi and output network facsimile device FXo1,
This is for operating the FXo2, and includes various operation keys and various display devices.

The encoding / decoding section 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 implements a group 3 facsimile modem function, and exchanges transmission procedure signals (a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem)) 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 connects the input network facsimile machine FXi and the output network facsimile machines FXo1 and FXo2 to the analog public network P
It is for connecting to the STN and has an automatic calling / receiving function.

The local area network interface circuit 12 connects the input network facsimile machine FXi and the output network facsimile machines FXo1 and FXo2 to the local area network LA.
N, and a local area network transmission control unit 13 includes various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with other data terminal devices via the local area network LAN. This is for executing communication control processing.

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 unit 9, group 3 facsimile modem The network control device 11, the local area network transmission control unit 13, and the network control device 11 are connected to an internal bus 14. Data exchange between these components is mainly performed through the internal bus 14. I have.

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

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the output network facsimile apparatuses FXo3 and FXo4.

In the figure, the control unit 21 is mainly composed of an output network facsimile machine FXo3, FXo4
Control processing of each part of the system memory 2
2 stores a control processing program to be executed by the control unit 21 and various data necessary for executing the processing program, and configures a work area of the control unit 21. The clock circuit 24 is for storing various types of information unique to the output network facsimile machines FXo3 and FXo4, and outputs current time information.

The scanner 25 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 26 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 27 is for outputting an output network facsimile. Device FX
o3 and FXo4, and is composed of various operation keys and various indicators.

The encoding / decoding section 28 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal.
Is for storing a large number of image information in a coded and compressed state.

The ISDN interface circuit 30 connects the output network facsimile machines FXo3 and FXo4 to the digital public network ISDN and
Signal processing function and integration of D channel (signal channel) signal and two B channel (information channel) signals /
A D-channel transmission control unit 3
1 is for executing signal processing on the D channel of ISDN such as call setup / call release procedure processing, and the B channel transmission control units 32 and 33 perform a group 4 facsimile transmission procedure function performed on the B channel. It is for realizing.

The local area network interface circuit 34 connects the output network facsimile machines FXo3 and FXo4 to the local area network LA.
N, and the local area network transmission control unit 35 includes various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with other data terminal devices via the local area network LAN. This is for executing communication control processing.

The control unit 21 and the system memory 2
2, parameter memory 23, clock circuit 24, scanner 2
5, plotter 26, operation display unit 27, encoding / decoding unit 2
8, image storage device 29, D channel transmission control unit 31, B
The channel transmission control units 32 and 33 and the local area network transmission control unit 35 are connected to a system bus 36, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed through the system bus 36. .

Here, in this embodiment, basically,
Data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is a so-called TCP / I
This is performed by applying a combination (a so-called protocol suite) of a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called P and a communication protocol of a higher layer than that. For example, as a communication protocol of an upper layer for each terminal to send an e-mail to the mail server device MS, SMTP (Simple Mail Tr) is used.
A communication protocol called an answer protocol is applied.

As a protocol applied by each terminal to the mail server apparatus MS for confirming reception of an electronic mail addressed to the terminal (user) and for requesting acquisition, etc., a so-called POP (Post Office Protocol) is used.
l) and the like can be applied.

Communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, and POP, and data formats and data structures of electronic mails are stipulated by RFC documents issued by the IETF. For example, TCP is RFC793, IP is RFC793, SM
TP is RFC821, E-mail format is RFC82
2, RFC1521, RFC1522 (MIME (Mu
lti PurposeMail Extension
n) format).

In this embodiment, the facsimile image information to be exchanged by e-mail via the local area network LAN is binary data. On the other hand, since it is impossible to directly include binary data in an electronic mail, a predetermined conversion method (for example, a Base64 encoding method) is applied to the readable information (7).
(E.g., bit character code) is included in the e-mail. Such a format of the body information of the electronic mail is called a MIME format.

The facsimile network system according to the present embodiment functions as a facsimile broadcasting system as a whole, and the input network facsimile machine FXi is connected to another group 3 facsimile machine connected to the analog public network PSTN. A relay request request (broadcast request request) is accepted.

However, identification information (ID) for accepting the relay request is set, and the mail server M
S, input network facsimile machine FXi, and output network facsimile machine FXo1, F
As shown in FIG. 4, Xo2, FXo3, and FXo4 store reception ID tables in which receivable IDs are registered.

The relay request operation received by the input network facsimile machine FXi is performed by the mail server apparatus by the output network facsimile machine FXo.
1, FXo2, FXo3, and FXo4. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, the mail server MS stores an output network facsimile information table in which information of the output network facsimile machines FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, and FXo4 is registered.

The output network facsimile information table includes an output network facsimile number (IP) for identifying each output network facsimile machine FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, FXo4.
Address), and a communication attribute that registers whether to have a group 3 facsimile function or a group 4 facsimile function.

Further, a destination management table as shown in FIG. 6 is registered in the mail server device MS. This destination management table stores the destination facsimile number (the final destination facsimile number) for the broadcast facsimile number.
And the communication attribute (G3 / G4 type) of the facsimile machine having the destination facsimile number, and output network facsimile machines FXo1, FXo2, F0
Xo3 and FXo4 assignment information (output network facsimile number) is registered.

Now, a relay request request from another group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to the analog public network PSTN to the input network facsimile apparatus FXi is made using a push button signal. For example,
Relay request information in the format of “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <broadcast facsimile number>”.

Here, "ID" is identification information given to each group 3 facsimile apparatus as described above, and "relay request identifier" indicates that the information is for a relay request. The "result report return destination number" is the telephone number of the facsimile machine that wants to receive the transmission result report,
The “broadcast facsimile number” is information for designating a relay destination (broadcast destination), and is information registered in the mail server MS as described above. Also, a plurality of “broadcast facsimile numbers” can be set.

Network facsimile machine FX for input
When i receives the relay request from the group 3 facsimile machine, it converts the image information received at that time into an electronic mail and transmits it to the mail server MS.

The e-mail includes information indicating that the e-mail is for a relay request, and relay request information notified from the group 3 facsimile apparatus that issued the transfer request. . For example,
This is character string (text) information in the format of “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <broadcast facsimile number>”.

As described above, since image information and text are transmitted by one e-mail, the format of the e-mail at this time is a multi-part MIME format that can transmit a plurality of information by one e-mail. Adopted. Then, for example, the image information is stored in the binary part, and the text information is stored in the text part.

When the electronic mail received from the input network facsimile machine FXi includes the relay request information, the mail server MS extracts the “broadcast facsimile number” of the relay request information and sends it to the destination management table. See all destination facsimile numbers and
Get the output network facsimile number. When a plurality of "broadcast facsimile numbers" are designated, a destination facsimile number and an output network facsimile number are acquired for each "broadcast facsimile number".

The mail server device MS carries the image information received from the input network facsimile device FXi and the electronic mail carrying the relay request information including all the destination facsimile numbers acquired corresponding to the broadcast facsimile numbers. Create The e-mail is sent by the SMTP server of the mail server MS to the output network facsimile machine FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, F corresponding to the output network facsimile number.
It is distributed to Xo4.

Here, as the relay request information, for example,
Character string (text) information in the format of "<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <destination facsimile number # 1> + <destination facsimile number # 2> + ..." . Also in this case, since the image information and the text information are transmitted by one e-mail, the format of the e-mail is the multi-part MIME format.

On the other hand, the output network facsimile machines FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, and FXo4 inquire the POP server of the mail server MS at predetermined time intervals to receive an e-mail addressed to the terminal itself.

Then, the SMTP of the mail server device MS
If the e-mail distributed from the server is received, the output network facsimile machines FXo1, FXo2, F02 inquired from the POP server to that effect.
Xo3, FXo4, so that the output network facsimile machine FXo1, FXo2,
FXo3 and FXo4 acquire the received e-mail.

Next, when the obtained electronic mail includes the relay request information, the output network facsimile machine FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, FXo4 selects one destination facsimile number included in the relay request information,
A call is made to the destination facsimile number, and the image information created from the e-mail is transmitted to the destination. Also, the transmission result at that time is stored.

Then, this transmitting operation is executed for all the destination facsimile numbers, and the communication results of each are stored. When all transmission operations are completed, a communication result report in a predetermined format representing the transmission result at that time is created,
A call is made to the result report return destination number, and the image information of the communication result report is transmitted.

Further, the content of the communication result report is transmitted to the management personal computer device AD using an electronic mail. The management personal computer A
The mail address of D is previously stored in each output network facsimile machine FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, F
It is registered in Xo4. In a specific field of the e-mail carrying the communication result report (for example, “Subject” field), a predetermined character string indicating that the communication result report is used is arranged.

Personal computer device AD for management
Makes an inquiry to the POP server of the mail server device MS at predetermined time intervals to receive an e-mail addressed to the own terminal, and if an e-mail addressed to the own terminal is received, acquires it.

Then, the content of a specific field of the received e-mail is checked, and if the content is a communication result report, the body information is analyzed and added to the communication history information stored in the terminal itself. I do.

The communication history information accumulated in the management personal computer device AD in this manner is compiled into a report as shown in FIG. Is output.
When a printer is connected to the management personal computer device AD, the report is recorded and output from the printer.

As described above, in this embodiment, the relay request from another group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to the analog public network PSTN is received and transmitted to one or more relay destinations. Information system can be realized.

The input network facsimile machine FXi and the output network facsimile machines FXo1 and FXo used in the present embodiment.
The FXo2, FXo3, and FXo4 can use general-purpose network facsimile devices, so that the cost of the entire system can be reduced.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the processing of the group 3 facsimile apparatus when making a relay request to the input network facsimile apparatus FXi.

First, the user sets a transmission original on a scanner (not shown), designates the input network facsimile machine FXi as a destination (process 101), and designates a relay destination by a broadcast facsimile number (process 102). When a start key (not shown) is turned on (the result of judgment 103 is Y
ES), the transmission original set on the scanner is read (process 104), the image data obtained thereby is encoded and compressed (process 105), and the image information obtained thereby is stored (process 106).

Next, a call is made to the input network facsimile machine FXi designated as the destination at that time (process 107), and the above-mentioned “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + The relay request information in the format of <result report return destination number> + <broadcast facsimile number> is transmitted (process 108).

Next, the transmission function to be used is negotiated by executing the pre-transmission procedure of the predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure (step 109), and the modem speed is determined by executing the modem training procedure (step 109). Processing 11
0), and transmits the image information accumulated by executing the image information transmitting procedure (process 111).

Next, a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (process 112), and the line is restored (process 113).

FIG. 9 shows an example of the processing of the input network facsimile machine FXi.

When an incoming call is detected (the result of judgment 201 is YE
S), respond to the incoming call (process 202), and check whether a push button signal is received from the partner terminal (decision 20).
3). When the result of the determination 203 is NO, a normal incoming call process is executed (process 204).

If the result of determination 203 is YES, a push button signal is received (step 20).
5) Analyze the contents (process 206),
It is checked whether or not it is registered in the reception ID table (decision 207). If the result of decision 207 is NO,
The line is forcibly restored (process 208), and the receiving operation at that time is rejected.

When the result of the judgment 207 is YES, it is checked whether the information is relay request information (decision 209). When the result of the determination 209 is NO, a process corresponding to the request content at that time is executed (process 21).
0).

When the result of decision 209 is YES, a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is executed,
An image information receiving operation is performed, and the received image information is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 211).

Next, the stored received image information is subjected to MIME conversion (step 212), and information of a text part corresponding to the relay request information is created (step 213). Text information in a multi-part MIME format composed of the extracted text parts (process 214), and then header information with the destination set to the mail server device MS (process 21).
5) The e-mail created in processing 214 and processing 215 is transmitted to the mail server MS (processing 216), and this operation ends.

FIG. 10 shows an example of an electronic mail distribution process of the mail server device MS.

First, when an e-mail is received (decision 30)
1 is YES), the body information is analyzed (process 30).
2) Check whether the text part is included (decision 3)
03). When the result of determination 303 is NO, a normal distribution operation is performed (process 304).

If the result of determination 303 is YES when the text part is included, the contents of the text part are analyzed (process 305), and it is determined whether or not “ID” is registered in the reception ID table. Investigation (decision 3
06), when the result of determination 306 is NO, the electronic mail received at that time is discarded (process 307).

When the result of the judgment 306 is YES, it is checked whether the information is relay request information (decision 308). If the result of determination 308 is NO, a distribution process corresponding to the request content at that time is executed (process 309).

If the result of determination 308 is YES, one broadcast facsimile number of the text part is selected (process 310), and one or more destination facsimile numbers are obtained by referring to the destination management table (process). 31
1).

Then, “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <destination facsimile number # 1> + <destination facsimile number # 2> +... Including the acquired destination facsimile number” Is created as text part information (process 31).
2) The contents of the binary part of the body information of the electronic mail being processed at that time are defined as the binary part, and
2. Create multi-part MIME text information using the text part information created in step 2 as a text part (process 313) and, as a destination, an output network facsimile number registered in the broadcast facsimile number selected at that time. Of the output network facsimile machines FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, and FXo4 corresponding to the header information (process 31)
4) The electronic mail including the body information created in the process 313 and the header information created in the process 314 is delivered to the destination (process 315).

Here, it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all the broadcast facsimile numbers (decision 316). Execute the processing of When the result of determination 316 is YES, the distribution process at this time is ended.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show output network facsimile machines FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, F
13 shows an example of Xo4 processing.

First, an inquiry is made to the POP server of the mail server device MS as to whether an e-mail addressed to the terminal itself has been received (step 401). After waiting for a predetermined time (process 403), the process returns to process 401, and an inquiry for receiving an e-mail is made again.

If the result of determination 402 is YES, all e-mails addressed to the own terminal are acquired and stored (process 404).

Next, one of the acquired e-mails is selected (step 405), and the body information is analyzed (step 406).
Check whether a text part is included (decision 40)
7). When the result of determination 407 is NO, the text information is subjected to inverse MIME conversion and image information is taken out (process 4).
08), the image information is decoded by the encoding / decoding sections 8 and 28 (process 409), and the resulting image data is transferred to the plotters 6 and 26 to record and output the received image (process 4).
10). Next, the process proceeds to decision 430, where it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all e-mails. If the result of decision 430 is YES, this operation is terminated,
When the result of 0 is NO, the process returns to the process 405 to select the next e-mail.

If the result of judgment 407 is YES in the case where the text part is included, the contents of the text part are analyzed to determine whether or not “ID” is registered in the reception ID table (judgment 411). ), Judgment 4
When the result of step 11 is NO, the electronic mail selected at that time is discarded (step 412). Then, judgment 4
Proceed to 30.

When the result of the judgment 411 is YES, it is checked whether the information is relay request information (decision 413). When the result of the determination 413 is NO, a process corresponding to the request content at that time is executed (process 41).
4), proceed to decision 430;

When the result of the judgment 413 is YES, the destination information is extracted and stored (process 415).
Inverse MIME conversion is performed on the binary part of the text information to extract and store the image information (step 416).

Next, one piece of destination information is selected (Step 42).
0), a call is made to the destination, the stored image information is transmitted by facsimile communication (process 421), and transmission result information at that time is created and stored (process 422). here,
Check whether transmission to all destinations is completed (decision 4
23), when the result of the determination 423 is NO, the process returns to the process 420 to perform the operation of transmitting the image information to the remaining destinations.

When the transmission to all the destinations is completed and the result of determination 423 is YES, a transmission result report for notifying the generated transmission result information is created (processing 424), and the transmission is performed. The image information of the result report is created (process 425), a call is made to the “result report return destination number” included in the relay request information of the text part, and the created image information is transmitted (process 426).

Next, the body information of the e-mail is created based on the contents of the transmission result report (step 427), and the contents are displayed with the personal computer device AD for monitoring as the destination and the transmission result report displayed in the “Subject” field. (Step 42)
8).

Then, an e-mail including the body information created in step 427 and the header information created in step 428 is transmitted to mail server MS (step 429).

Here, it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all e-mails (decision 430). If the result of decision 430 is YES, this operation is terminated and decision 43 is made.
When the result of 0 is NO, the process returns to the process 405 to select the next e-mail.

FIG. 13 shows an example of processing when the monitoring personal computer AD receives a transmission result report.

First, an inquiry is made to the POP server of the mail server device MS as to whether an e-mail addressed to the terminal is received (process 501). If an e-mail is not received (the result of determination 502 is NO) After waiting for a predetermined time (process 503), the process returns to process 501, and an e-mail reception inquiry is made again.

If the result of determination 502 is YES, all e-mails addressed to the terminal are acquired and stored (process 504).

Next, one of the obtained e-mails is selected (step 505), and the body information is analyzed (step 506).
Check whether the report is a transmission result report (decision 50)
7). If the result of determination 507 is YES, the content of the text information is added to communication history information (not shown) to update the communication history information (process 508).

Here, it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all the acquired e-mails (decision 509). If the result of the decision 509 is NO, the flow returns to the processing 505 to perform the processing of the next e-mail. . When the result of determination 509 is YES, this operation ends. If the result of the determination 505 is NO, the determination 50
Go to 9.

FIG. 14 shows an example of processing of the monitoring personal computer AD when outputting a communication result report.

First, it is checked whether or not the recording / output time of the communication result report has come (NO loop of decision 601).
When the result of 01 is YES, the communication result report as described above is created based on the communication history information stored at that time (process 602), and the contents are displayed and output (process 603). When a printer is connected, a communication result report is recorded and output from the printer.

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the output network facsimile apparatuses FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, which perform the communication operation for the broadcast facsimile number.
Since the FXo4 is fixed, if relay requests concentrate on the same broadcast facsimile number, the output network facsimile machine FXo1, FXo2, FXo
3, the load of FXo4 increases.

Therefore, the output network facsimile machines FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, and FXo4 for performing the communication operation are stopped for such a broadcast facsimile number, and the output facsimile number is appropriately selected for rotation. Network facsimile machine FXo1, F
The load distribution of Xo2, FXo3, and FXo4 can be measured.

In this case, first, as shown in FIG. 15, the destination management table is obtained by removing the output network facsimile number from the one shown in FIG.

In this case, the mail server MS
FIG. 16 and FIG.
Shown in

First, when an e-mail is received (decision 70)
1 is YES), the body information is analyzed (processing 70).
2) Check whether the text part is included (decision 7)
03). When the result of the determination 703 is NO, a normal distribution operation is performed (process 704).

In the case where the text part is included, if the result of determination 703 is YES, the contents of the text part are analyzed (processing 705), and it is determined whether or not “ID” is registered in the reception ID table. Investigation (judgment 7
06), when the result of determination 706 is NO, the electronic mail received at that time is discarded (process 707).

When the result of the judgment 706 is YES, it is checked whether the information is relay request information (decision 708). If the result of determination 708 is NO, distribution processing corresponding to the request content at that time is executed (processing 709).

If the result of decision 708 is YES, one broadcast facsimile number of the text part is selected (process 710), and one or more destination facsimile numbers are obtained by referring to the destination management table (process). 71
1). The processes 710 and 711 are executed for all the broadcast facsimile numbers (NO loop of decision 712), and all the destination facsimile numbers are obtained for all the specified broadcast facsimile numbers.

Next, the operation status on the network is inquired to each output network facsimile machine FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, FXo4 (process 71).
3). For this inquiry, ICMP (Interne
t Control Message Protocol
l) The ping command can be used. Then, each output network facsimile machine FXo1,
For FXo2, FXo3, and FXo4, status information representing the operating status on the network is created (processing 71).
4). This status information is created for the group 3 facsimile function and for the group 4 facsimile function.

Next, one of the destination facsimile numbers obtained in the process 711 is selected (process 715), the status information is referred to according to the G3 / G4 type of the destination facsimile number, and the output network facsimile machine to be used is used. FX
o1, FXo2, FXo3, and FXo4 are selected (processing 717).

Next, relay request information “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <destination facsimile number>” including the selected destination facsimile number is created as text part information. (Process 717) Creates multi-part MIME text information in which the contents of the binary part of the text information of the e-mail being processed at that time are the binary part and the text part information created in the process 717 is the text part (Step 718), and the output network facsimile machine FXo1, FXo selected in step 717 as the destination.
2, header information in which the mail addresses of FXo3, FXo4 are set (step 719), and an e-mail composed of the body information created in step 718 and the header information created in step 719 is delivered to the destination (step 720). .

Here, it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all destination facsimile numbers (decision 721). If the result of decision 721 is NO, the process returns to step 715, and the same processing is performed for the remaining destination facsimile numbers. Execute When the result of the determination 721 is YES, the distribution process at this time is ended.

In the above-described embodiment, the output network facsimile apparatuses FXo1, FXo2, and FX
o3 and FXo4 have been described as having only a group 3 facsimile function or a group 4 facsimile function. The present invention can be similarly applied to a case in which

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when sending an electronic mail, the relay request information is configured as a text part of the body information. However, the relay request information is stored in the “TO” field describing the destination mail address. It can also be described as a comment sentence. In that case, the analysis processing of the relay request information and the like can be executed when the header information is received. For example, the e-mail referring to the ID can be discarded at an early stage, and as a result, for example, ,
The effect of reducing traffic in the local area network LAN can be expected.

FIG. 18 shows a facsimile network system (facsimile broadcasting system) according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 and corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, an input network facsimile apparatus FXi is connected to an analog public network PSTN, and performs a group 3 facsimile communication with a group 3 facsimile apparatus (not shown) via the analog public network PSTN. Connect to network LAN, use e-mail, local area network L
It has a function of exchanging image information via the AN. Further, as the facsimile machine function, a group 3 facsimile machine function is provided.

The output network facsimile machines FXo11, FXo12, FXo13, FXo14
Is connected to an analog public network PSTN, has a function of performing group 3 facsimile communication with a group 3 facsimile apparatus (not shown) via the analog public network PSTN, and is connected to a local area network LAN, and uses e-mail to send e-mail to a local area. It has a function of exchanging image information via a network LAN. Further, as a facsimile machine function, a group 3 facsimile machine function is provided.
A (Mail Transfer Agent) function, and a SM for realizing the MTA function.
It also has a TP server function.

Monitoring personal computer device AD
Is a terminal for the administrator of the facsimile network system, and has a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network LAN and other communication functions.

The mail server device MS includes an input network facsimile device FXi and an output network facsimile device FXo11, FXo12, FXo13, FX connected to the local area network LAN.
o14 and monitoring personal computer device A
D for providing the function of collecting and distributing e-mail, controlling the distribution processing of the facsimile broadcasting system, and further performing processing for communication management of the facsimile broadcasting system. It is.

The router RT connects the local area network LAN to the Internet INET. Therefore, the mail server device M
S, input network facsimile machine FXi, output network facsimile machine FXo11, FXo1
2, FXo13, FXo14, and the monitoring personal computer device AD can perform appropriate communication with other terminal devices on the Internet INET via the router device RT and the local area network LAN.

FIG. 19 shows an output network facsimile machine FXo (input network facsimile machine F).
Xi and output network facsimile apparatus F
Xo11, FXo12, FXo13, FXo14). Note that the same configuration as that of FIG. 2 can be applied to the configuration of the input-side network facsimile machine FXi. Also, in this figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 and corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each unit of the output-side network facsimile machine FXo and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. A control processing program executed by the unit 1, and
It stores various data required when executing the processing program and constitutes a work area of the system control unit 1. The parameter memory 3 stores various information unique to the output side network facsimile machine FXo. The clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.

The scanner 5 is for reading an original 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 for outputting an output network facsimile. It is used to operate the device FXo, and includes various operation keys and various display devices.

The encoding / decoding section 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 output network facsimile machine FXo to the analog public network PSTN, and has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the output network facsimile machine FXo to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control section 16 is connected to another local area network LAN via the local area network LAN. It is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with the data terminal device. The SMTP server function is realized by the local area network transmission control unit 16.

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 unit 9, group 3 facsimile modem The network controller 10, the network controller 11, and the local area network transmission controller 16 are connected to an internal bus 14, and 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.

Also, in this embodiment, as in the above-described embodiment, identification information (ID) for receiving a relay request is set, and the mail server MS, the input network facsimile machine FXi, , Output network facsimile machine FXo11, FXo1
2, FXo13 and FXo14 store the same reception ID table as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the output side network facsimile machines FXo11, FXo12, FXo
Communication priority is set in o13 and FXo14, and the mail server device MS performs a distribution operation according to the priority (described later). For this purpose, an output IFAX priority information table as shown in FIG. 21A is stored in the mail server device MS.

This output IFAX priority information table is stored in each output network facsimile machine F.
Output IFAX priority information # 1, # 2, # 3, # 4 corresponding to Xo11, FXo12, FXo13, FXo14
Is stored, and the output IFAX priority information is stored in each of the output network facsimile apparatuses FXo11, FXo12, and FXo12, as shown in FIG.
An output IFAX number representing Xo13, FXo14,
And network facsimile machine FX for outputting the same
o11, FXo12, FXo13, and FXo14.

In this embodiment, the analog public network PS
A relay request request from another group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to the TN to the input network facsimile apparatus FXi is made using a push button signal. For example, “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <broadcast facsimile number> +
<Priority>"in the relay request information.

Here, "ID" is identification information given to each group 3 facsimile apparatus as described above, and "relay request identifier" indicates that the information is for a relay request. The "result report return number" is the telephone number of the facsimile machine that wants to receive the transmission result report,
The “broadcast facsimile number” is information for designating a relay destination (broadcast destination), and is information registered in the mail server MS as described above. Also, a plurality of “broadcast facsimile numbers” can be set. Also,
The “priority” is information for designating the priority of image information transmission related to the relay request at this time. For example, “1” indicates “normal” and “1” indicates “urgent”. 2 "is set.

Input Network Facsimile Machine FX
When i receives the relay request from the group 3 facsimile machine, it converts the image information received at that time into an electronic mail and transmits it to the mail server MS.

Further, the electronic mail includes information indicating that the electronic mail is for a relay request, and relay request information notified from the group 3 facsimile apparatus which issued the transfer request. . For example,
This is character string (text) information in the format of “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <broadcast facsimile number> + <priority>”.

As described above, since image information and text are transmitted by one e-mail, the format of the e-mail at this time is a multi-part MIME format that can transmit a plurality of information by one e-mail. Adopted. Then, for example, the image information is stored in the binary part, and the text information is stored in the text part.

When the e-mail received from the input network facsimile machine FXi includes the relay request information, the mail server MS extracts the “broadcast facsimile number” of the relay request information and sends it to the destination management table. See all destination facsimile numbers and
Get the output network facsimile number. When a plurality of "broadcast facsimile numbers" are designated, a destination facsimile number and an output network facsimile number are acquired for each "broadcast facsimile number".

The mail server MS checks the value set in the “priority” of the relay request information, and
Output network facsimile apparatuses FXo11 and FXo1 applied to the relay request communication (broadcast communication) at that time
2, FXo13 and FXo14 are selected. For example, when "normal", "normal", "urgent", and "urgent" are set in the priority information of the output IFAX priority information # 1, # 2, # 3, and # 4, respectively, "urgent" In the case of the relay request communication having the priority of, the output network facsimile apparatuses FXo13 and FXo14 are selected.

The mail server device MS carries the image information received from the input network facsimile device FXi and the electronic mail carrying the relay request information including all the destination facsimile numbers acquired corresponding to the broadcast facsimile numbers. Create This e-mail is sent by the SMTP server of the mail server MS to the output network facsimile machine FXo selected at that time.
13 (or output network facsimile machine FX)
o14).

Here, as the relay request information, for example,
"<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <management number> + <destination facsimile number # 1
> + <Destination facsimile number # 2> +... ". Also in this case, since the image information and the text information are transmitted by one e-mail, the format of the e-mail is multipart M
It will be in IME format. The “management number” is reference information applied at the time of communication management in the mail server device MS.

As described above, the output network facsimile apparatuses FXo11, FXo12, FXo13, F
Since Xo14 has an SMTP server function, in this case, output network facsimile apparatus FXo1
3 (or network facsimile machine FXo for output)
14) directly receives an e-mail transmitted from the mail server MS.

Next, when the obtained electronic mail includes the relay request information, the output network facsimile machine FXo13 (or the output network facsimile machine FXo14) selects one destination facsimile number included in the relay request information. A call is made to the destination facsimile number, and the image information created from the e-mail is transmitted to the destination. Also, the transmission result at that time is stored.

Then, this transmission operation is executed for all the destination facsimile numbers, and each communication result is stored. When all transmission operations are completed, a communication result report in a predetermined format representing the transmission result at that time is created,
A call is made to the result report return destination number, and the image information of the communication result report is transmitted.

Also, transmission result notification information for notifying the transmission result at that time as shown in FIG. 22A is transmitted to the mail server device MS by using an electronic mail. Here, the transmission result notification information includes a management number related to the executed relay request transmission, and transmission result information # 1 to #n for a plurality of destinations. Each transmission result information includes a destination number (destination facsimile number), a communication time indicating a time when the image information transmission operation for the destination is completed, and a communication result, as shown in FIG. .

The mail server MS checks the content of the received e-mail, and if it carries the transmission result notification information, extracts the transmission result notification information and sends it to its own terminal. It is additionally stored in the stored communication history information.

The communication history information thus accumulated in the mail server device MS is compiled into a report as shown in FIG. 23 at a predetermined output timing (for example, at a regular time every day), and is displayed and output on a screen. You. When a printer is connected to the mail server MS, the report is recorded and output from the printer.

As described above, in this embodiment, a relay request from another group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to the analog public network PSTN is received with a priority order, and a relay request transmission with a high priority is performed using a dedicated relay request. Since the output side network facsimile device is applied,
For example, relay request transmission with high urgency can be realized.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show an example of an electronic mail distribution process of the mail server device MS in this case.

First, when an e-mail is received (decision 80)
1 is YES), the body information is analyzed (step 80).
2) Check whether the text part is included (decision 8)
03). When the result of the determination 803 is NO, a normal distribution operation is performed (process 804).

If the text part is included and the result of determination 803 is YES, the contents of the text part are analyzed (processing 805), and it is checked whether or not the text part carries the transmission result notification information (determination). 806). When the result of determination 806 is YES, the received transmission result notification information is additionally stored as communication history information (process 807), and this process ends.

If the received electronic mail does not carry the transmission result notification information and the result of determination 806 is NO, it is determined whether the “ID” included in the text part is registered in the reception ID table. If the result of the check (judgment 808) is NO, the e-mail received at that time is discarded (process 80).
9).

If the result of decision 808 is YES, it is checked whether the information is relay request information (decision 810). When the result of determination 810 is NO, distribution processing corresponding to the request content at that time is executed (processing 811).

If the result of decision 810 is YES, the priority information contained in the text part is checked to see if it is for specifying emergency communication (decision 815).

If the result of determination 815 is YES, one broadcast facsimile number of the text part is selected (step 816), and one or more destination facsimile numbers are obtained by referring to the destination management table (step 816). 817),
With reference to the output IFAX priority information table, one of the output network facsimile apparatuses to be used at that time is selected from those used at the time of emergency communication (process 818).

Next, “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <management information> + <destination facsimile number # 1” including the obtained destination facsimile number + <destination facsimile number # 2 > +... ”Is created as text part information (processing 819), and the contents of the binary part of the body information of the electronic mail being processed at that time are defined as binary parts, and are created in processing 820. Text information in the multi-part MIME format using the information of the text part as the text part (process 820), and as the destination, the output network facsimile machine FXo1 selected in process 818
1, header information in which the mail addresses of FXo12, FXo13, and FXo14 are set (process 821);
The e-mail including the body information created in step 820 and the header information created in step 821 is delivered to the destination (step 822).

Here, it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all broadcast facsimile numbers (decision 823). If the result of decision 823 is NO, the process returns to step 816, and the same applies to the remaining broadcast facsimile numbers. Execute the processing of When the result of the determination 823 is YES, the distribution process at this time is ended.

If emergency communication is not specified and the result of determination 815 is NO, one broadcast facsimile number of the text part is selected (step 82).
5) With reference to the destination management table, one or more destination facsimile numbers are acquired (process 826), and the IFA for output is obtained.
By referring to the X priority information table, one of the output network facsimile apparatuses to be used at that time is selected from those used during normal communication (step 827).

Next, “<ID> + <Relay Request Identifier> + <Result Report Return Destination Number> + <Management Information> + <Destination Facsimile Number # 1> + <Destination Facsimile Number # 2” including the acquired destination facsimile number > + ... ”is created as text part information (processing 828), and the contents of the binary part of the body information of the e-mail being processed at that time are defined as binary parts, and are created in processing 828. Text information in a multi-part MIME format is created with the information of the text part as a text part (process 829), and the destination network facsimile machine FXo1 selected in process 827 is set as the destination.
1, header information in which the mail addresses of FXo12, FXo13, and FXo14 are set is created (step 830).
The e-mail including the body information created in step 829 and the header information created in step 830 is delivered to the destination (step 831).

Here, it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all broadcast facsimile numbers (decision 832). If the result of decision 832 is NO, the process returns to step 825, and the same applies to the remaining broadcast facsimile numbers. Execute the processing of When the result of determination 832 is YES, the distribution process at this time is ended.

FIG. 26 shows an example of the processing of the mail server apparatus MS when outputting a communication result report.

First, it is checked whether or not the recording / output time of the communication result report has come (NO loop of decision 901).
When the result of 01 is YES, a communication result report as described above is created based on the communication history information stored at that time (process 902), and the contents are displayed and output (process 903). When a printer is connected, a communication result report is recorded and output from the printer.

FIGS. 27 and 28 show output network facsimile machines FXo11, FXo12 and FXo1.
3 shows an example of the processing of FXo14.

First, when an e-mail is received (judgment 10
01 is YES), the text information is analyzed (processing 100
2) Check whether the text part is included (decision 1)
003). When the result of the judgment 1003 is NO,
The text information is subjected to inverse MIME conversion to extract image information (process 1004), the image information is decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 8 (process 1005), and the resulting image data is transferred to the plotter 6. Record and output the received image (Process 1
006), and this process ends.

If the result of judgment 1003 is YES in the case where a text part is included, the contents of the text part are analyzed to determine whether or not “ID” is registered in the reception ID table (judgment 1008). If the result of determination 1008 is NO, the electronic mail selected at that time is discarded (process 1009), and this process ends.

If the result of the judgment 1008 is YES, it is checked whether the information is relay request information (decision 1010). If the result of determination 1010 is NO, a process corresponding to the request content at that time is executed (process 1011), and this process ends.

When the result of the judgment 1010 is YES, the destination information is extracted and stored (processing 1012), and the binary part of the text information is subjected to inverse MIME conversion to extract and store the image information (processing 1013). .

Next, one piece of destination information is selected (Step 10).
14), a call is made to the destination, the stored image information is transmitted by facsimile communication (process 1015), and transmission result information at that time is created and stored (process 1016). Here, it is checked whether or not transmission to all destinations has been completed (decision 1017). If the result of decision 1017 is NO, the process returns to step 1014 to perform the operation of transmitting image information to the remaining destinations.

If transmission to all destinations is completed and the result of determination 1017 is YES, a transmission result report for notifying the generated transmission result information is created (processing 1018), and the transmission is performed. The image information of the result report is created (process 1019), a call is made to the “result report return destination number” included in the relay request information of the text part, and the created image information is transmitted (process 1020).

Next, the above-mentioned transmission result notification information representing the result of the relay request transmission at that time is created (step 1021), and the body information of the multi-part MIME format electronic mail carrying the created transmission result communication information is prepared. (Step 1022), and header information destined for the mail server MS is created (step 1023).

Then, an e-mail including the body information created in step 1022 and the header information created in step 1023 is transmitted to mail server MS (step 102).
4).

[0212] One of the services of facsimile communication is a time designation transmission service for designating a transmission time.
Next, a case where this time designation transmission service is realized by the above-described facsimile broadcasting system will be described.

In this case, a relay request request from another group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to the analog public network PSTN to the input network facsimile apparatus FXi is made using a push button signal. For example, the relay request information has a format of “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <broadcast facsimile number> + <designated transmission time>”.

Here, "ID" is identification information given to each group 3 facsimile apparatus as described above, and "relay request identifier" indicates that the information is for a relay request. The "result report return number" is the telephone number of the facsimile machine that wants to receive the transmission result report,
The “broadcast facsimile number” is information for designating a relay destination (broadcast destination), and is information registered in the mail server MS as described above. Also, a plurality of “broadcast facsimile numbers” can be set. Also,
The “designated transmission time” is information for designating a time at which to start the relay request at this time.

Input Network Facsimile Machine FX
When i receives the relay request from the group 3 facsimile machine, it converts the image information received at that time into an electronic mail and transmits it to the mail server MS.

Further, the electronic mail includes information indicating that the electronic mail is for a relay request, and relay request information notified from the group 3 facsimile apparatus which issued the transfer request. . For example,
This is character string (text) information in the format of “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <broadcast facsimile number> + <designated transmission time>”.

As described above, since image information and text are transmitted by one e-mail, the format of the e-mail at this time is a multi-part MIME format in which a plurality of information can be transmitted by one e-mail. Adopted. Then, for example, the image information is stored in the binary part, and the text information is stored in the text part.

When the e-mail received from the input network facsimile machine FXi includes the relay request information, the mail server MS extracts the “broadcast facsimile number” of the relay request information and sends it to the destination management table. See all destination facsimile numbers and
Get the output network facsimile number. When a plurality of "broadcast facsimile numbers" are designated, a destination facsimile number and an output network facsimile number are acquired for each "broadcast facsimile number".

[0219] The mail server MS waits until the time specified by the "transmission specified time" in the relay request information. Here, if the designated time is later than the current time, the designated time of the day is recognized as the designated transmission time. If the designated time is earlier than the current time, the designated time on the next day is recognized as the designated transmission time.

At the designated transmission time, the mail server MS carries the image information received from the input network facsimile machine FXi, and relays all destination facsimile numbers acquired corresponding to the broadcast facsimile numbers. Create an email carrying the request information.
This e-mail is sent by the SMTP server of the mail server MS to any of the output network facsimile machines FXo11, FXo12, FXo13, FXo1.
4 is delivered.

Subsequent output side network facsimile machines FXo11, FXo12, FXo13, FXo1
The operation of No. 4 and the operation of the mail server device MS are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and thus the details are omitted.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the relay request for specifying the transmission time from another group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to the analog public network PSTN is accepted, the above-described facsimile broadcasting system is used. Thus, the time designation transmission service can be realized.

FIGS. 29 and 30 show an example of an electronic mail distribution process of the mail server device MS in this case.

First, when an e-mail is received (judgment 11
01 is YES), the body information is analyzed (step 110).
2) Check whether the text part is included (decision 1)
103). When the result of the determination 1103 is NO,
A normal distribution operation is performed (process 1104).

If the text part is included and the result of determination 1103 is YES, the contents of the text part are analyzed (processing 1105), and it is checked whether the text part carries the transmission result notification information (determination). 110
6). If the result of determination 1106 is YES, the received transmission result notification information is additionally stored as communication history information (process 1107), and this process ends.

When the received e-mail does not carry the transmission result notification information and the result of determination 1106 is NO, the “ID” included in the text part is
It is checked whether or not it is registered in the reception ID table (decision 1108). If the result of decision 1108 is NO, the e-mail received at that time is discarded (process 1).
109).

When the result of determination 1108 is YES, it is checked whether the information is relay request information (determination 1110). If the result of determination 1110 is NO, distribution processing corresponding to the request content at that time is executed (processing 1111).

When the result of determination 1110 is YES, it is determined whether or not the time designation information is included in the text part (determination 1115).

[0229] If the result of determination 1115 is YES, one broadcast facsimile number of the text part is selected (processing 1116), and 1 is referred to by referring to the destination management table.
One or more destination facsimile numbers are obtained (step 111
7), select one of the output side network facsimile machines to be used at that time (process 1118).

Then, “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <management information> + <destination facsimile number # 1> + <destination facsimile number # 2” including the obtained destination facsimile number > + ... ”is created as text part information (processing 1119), and the contents of the binary part of the body information of the e-mail being processed at that time are defined as binary parts, and are created in processing 1120. Creates multi-part MIME text information using the text part information as a text part (processing 1120), and uses processing 111 as a destination.
8 creates header information in which the mail address of the output network facsimile apparatus selected in step 8 is set.
121), text information created in processing 1120 and processing 11
The e-mail including the header information created in step 21 is stored (step 1122).

Here, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all broadcast facsimile numbers (decision 1123).
If the result of the determination 1123 is NO, the process 111
6, the same process is executed for the remaining broadcast facsimile numbers. In addition, the result of determination 1123 is YES
, The process waits until the time designated by the transmission designated time information at that time (process 1124), and distributes all the e-mails saved in process 1122 (process 112).
5), the distribution process at this time ends.

If emergency communication is not specified and the result of determination 1115 is NO, one broadcast facsimile number of the text part is selected (process 1).
127), referring to the destination management table, obtains one or more destination facsimile numbers (step 1128), and selects an output side network facsimile apparatus to be used at that time (step 1129).

Next, “<ID> + <Relay Request Identifier> + <Result Report Return Destination Number> + <Management Information> + <Destination Facsimile Number # 1> + <Destination Facsimile Number # 2” including the acquired destination facsimile number > + ... ”is created as text part information (processing 1130), and the contents of the binary part of the body information of the e-mail being processed at that time are defined as binary parts, and are created in processing 1130. Text information in a multi-part MIME format using the information of the text part as a text part (process 1131), and as a destination, process 112
9. Create header information in which the mail address of the output network facsimile apparatus selected in step 9 is set (processing 1).
132), the text information created in process 1131 and process 11
The e-mail including the header information created in step S32 is delivered to the destination (step 1133).

Here, it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all broadcast facsimile numbers (decision 1134).
If the result of determination 1134 is NO, process 112
7, the same process is executed for the remaining broadcast facsimile numbers. In addition, the result of determination 1134 is YES
, The distribution process at this time ends.

By the way, there is a case where an inexpensive time zone is set for the communication fee of the analog public network PSTN.
For example, it is a midnight time zone.

In general, the data amount of a facsimile document is relatively large, so that the time required for communication becomes long.
In a facsimile broadcasting system according to the present invention, the same document is sequentially broadcast to a plurality of destinations.

[0237] Therefore, there is a time zone designation transmission service in which an inexpensive time zone is designated as the transmission time so that the communication fee can be reduced. Next, a case where this time designation transmission service is realized by the above-described facsimile broadcasting system will be described.

In this case, a relay request request from another group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to the analog public network PSTN to the input network facsimile apparatus FXi is made using a push button signal. For example, the relay request information has a format of “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <broadcast facsimile number> + <low-cost time zone setting>”.

Here, "ID" is identification information given to each group 3 facsimile apparatus as described above, and "relay request identifier" indicates that the information is for a relay request. The "result report return number" is the telephone number of the facsimile machine that wants to receive the transmission result report,
The “broadcast facsimile number” is information for designating a relay destination (broadcast destination), and is information registered in the mail server MS as described above. Also, a plurality of “broadcast facsimile numbers” can be set. Also,
“Low-priced time zone setting” is information for instructing a time zone in which the communication fee is low as described above as the time at which the relay request is started at this time.

Input Network Facsimile Machine FX
When i receives the relay request from the group 3 facsimile machine, it converts the image information received at that time into an electronic mail and transmits it to the mail server MS.

The electronic mail includes information indicating that the electronic mail is for a relay request, and relay request information notified from the group 3 facsimile apparatus that issued the transfer request. . For example,
This is character string (text) information in the format of “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <broadcast facsimile number> + <low-cost time zone setting>”.

As described above, since the image information and the text are transmitted by one e-mail, the format of the e-mail at this time is a multi-part MIME format in which a plurality of information can be transmitted by one e-mail. Adopted. Then, for example, the image information is stored in the binary part, and the text information is stored in the text part.

When the e-mail received from the input network facsimile machine FXi includes the relay request information, the mail server MS extracts the “broadcast facsimile number” of the relay request information and sends it to the destination management table. See all destination facsimile numbers and
Get the output network facsimile number. When a plurality of "broadcast facsimile numbers" are designated, a destination facsimile number and an output network facsimile number are acquired for each "broadcast facsimile number".

[0244] If the mail server apparatus MS specifies that transmission is to be performed during the low-cost time zone in the "low-cost time zone setting" of the relay request information, the mail server apparatus MS waits until the time when the low-cost time zone starts. I do.

At the designated transmission time, the mail server MS carries the image information received from the input network facsimile machine FXi, and relays all destination facsimile numbers acquired corresponding to the broadcast facsimile numbers. Create an email carrying the request information.
This e-mail is sent by the SMTP server of the mail server MS to any of the output network facsimile machines FXo11, FXo12, FXo13, FXo1.
4 is delivered.

Subsequent output side network facsimile machines FXo11, FXo12, FXo13, FXo1
The operation of No. 4 and the operation of the mail server device MS are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and thus the details are omitted.

As described above, in this embodiment, the relay request for specifying the transmission time from another group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to the analog public network PSTN is received. Thus, the time designation transmission service can be realized.

FIGS. 31 and 32 show an example of electronic mail distribution processing of the mail server device MS in this case.

First, when an e-mail is received (decision 12
01 is YES), the body information is analyzed (processing 120).
2) Check whether the text part is included (decision 1)
203). When the result of the judgment 1203 is NO,
A normal distribution operation is performed (process 1204).

When the text part is included and the result of the judgment 1203 is YES, the contents of the text part are analyzed (processing 1205), and it is checked whether the text part carries the transmission result notification information (decision). 120
6). When the result of the determination 1206 is YES, the received transmission result notification information is additionally stored as communication history information (process 1207), and this process ends.

When the received e-mail does not carry transmission result notification information and the result of determination 1206 is NO, the “ID” included in the text part is
It is checked whether or not it is registered in the reception ID table (decision 1208). If the result of decision 1208 is NO, the e-mail received at that time is discarded (process 1).
209).

If the result of decision 1208 is YES, it is checked whether the information is relay request information (decision 1210). When the result of determination 1210 is NO, distribution processing corresponding to the request content at that time is executed (processing 1211).

When the result of judgment 1210 is YES, it is checked whether or not a cheap time zone is indicated by the cheap time zone setting information of the text part (judgment 121).
5).

If the result of the determination 1215 is YES, one broadcast facsimile number of the text part is selected (processing 1216), and one is selected by referring to the destination management table.
One or more destination facsimile numbers are obtained (step 121).
7), select one of the output side network facsimile machines to be used at that time (process 1218).

Then, “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <management information> + <destination facsimile number # 1> + <destination facsimile number # 2” including the obtained destination facsimile number > + ... ”is created as text part information (processing 1219), and the contents of the binary part of the body information of the e-mail being processed at that time are defined as binary parts, and are created in processing 1220. Creates multi-part MIME format text information using the text part information as a text part (processing 1220), and uses processing 121 as a destination.
8 creates header information in which the mail address of the output network facsimile apparatus selected in step 8 is set.
221), the text information created in process 1220 and process 12
The e-mail including the header information created in step 21 is stored (step 1222).

Here, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all broadcast facsimile numbers (decision 1223).
If the result of determination 1223 is NO, process 121
6, the same process is executed for the remaining broadcast facsimile numbers. In addition, the result of determination 1223 is YES
, The process waits until the start time of the time zone set as the cheap time zone (process 1224), and the process 122
All e-mails saved in step 2 are delivered (step 122
5), the distribution process at this time ends.

If no emergency communication is specified and the result of determination 1215 is NO, one broadcast facsimile number of the text part is selected (processing 1).
227), referring to the destination management table, obtains one or more destination facsimile numbers (step 1228), and selects an output side network facsimile apparatus to be used at that time (step 1229).

Next, “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <management information> + <destination facsimile number # 1> + <destination facsimile number # 2” including the obtained destination facsimile number > +... ”Is created as text part information (processing 1230), and the contents of the binary part of the body information of the e-mail being processed at that time are defined as binary parts, and are created in processing 1230. Text information in a multi-part MIME format using the information of the text part as a text part (process 1231), and as a destination, process 122
9. Create header information in which the mail address of the output network facsimile apparatus selected in step 9 is set (processing 1).
232), the text information created in process 1231 and process 12
The e-mail including the header information created in step S32 is delivered to the destination (step 1233).

Here, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all broadcast facsimile numbers (decision 1234).
If the result of decision 1234 is NO, process 122
7, the same process is executed for the remaining broadcast facsimile numbers. In addition, the result of determination 1234 is YES
, The distribution process at this time ends.

Incidentally, one of the communication functions of the group 3 facsimile apparatus has a delivery date designation function. In this delivery date specification function, if the relay transmission fails, the relay transmission operation is repeatedly performed to the failed destination within a certain time after receiving the relay request, and if the transmission is not completed within that time, the The report is sent to the relay request source. The case where this delivery date designation function is realized by the above-described facsimile broadcasting system will be described below.

In this case, a relay request request from another group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to the analog public network PSTN to the input network facsimile apparatus FXi is made using a push button signal. For example, the relay request information has a format of “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <broadcast facsimile number> + <delivery date designation setting>”.

Here, “ID” is identification information given to each group 3 facsimile apparatus as described above, and “relay request identifier” indicates that the information is for a relay request. The "result report return destination number" is the telephone number of the facsimile machine that wants to receive the transmission result report,
The “broadcast facsimile number” is information for designating a relay destination (broadcast destination), and is information registered in the mail server MS as described above. Also, a plurality of “broadcast facsimile numbers” can be set. Also,
“Delivery date designation setting” is information for instructing whether to use the above-mentioned delivery date designation function.

Input Network Facsimile Machine FX
When i receives the relay request from the group 3 facsimile machine, it converts the image information received at that time into an electronic mail and transmits it to the mail server MS.

Further, the electronic mail includes information indicating that the electronic mail is for a relay request, and relay request information notified from the group 3 facsimile apparatus which issued the transfer request. . For example,
This is character string (text) information in the format of “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <broadcast facsimile number> + <delivery date designation setting>”.

As described above, since image information and text are transmitted by one e-mail, the format of the e-mail at this time is a multi-part MIME format in which a plurality of information can be transmitted by one e-mail. Adopted. Then, for example, the image information is stored in the binary part, and the text information is stored in the text part.

When the e-mail received from the input network facsimile machine FXi includes the relay request information, the mail server MS extracts the “broadcast facsimile number” of the relay request information and sends it to the destination management table. See all destination facsimile numbers and
Get the output network facsimile number. When a plurality of "broadcast facsimile numbers" are designated, a destination facsimile number and an output network facsimile number are obtained for each "broadcast facsimile number" and received from the input network facsimile machine FXi. An e-mail is created that carries the image information and also carries the relay request information including all the destination facsimile numbers acquired corresponding to the broadcast facsimile numbers.
This e-mail is sent by the SMTP server of the mail server MS to any of the output network facsimile machines FXo11, FXo12, FXo13, FXo1.
4 is delivered.

Output Network Facsimile Machine FX
When the electronic mail received from the mail server apparatus MS includes the relay request information, the o11, FXo12, FXo13, and FXo14 select one destination facsimile number included in the relay request information and call the destination facsimile number. The image information created from the e-mail is transmitted to the destination. Also, the transmission result at that time is stored.

Then, this transmission operation is executed for all the destination facsimile numbers, and each communication result is stored. When all transmission operations are completed, a communication result report in a predetermined format representing the transmission result at that time is created,
A call is made to the result report return destination number, and the image information of the communication result report is transmitted. At the same time, the transmission result notification information for notifying the transmission result at that time as described above is transmitted to the mail server device MS by using an electronic mail.

On the other hand, the mail server device MS checks the content of the received e-mail, and if it carries the transmission result notification information, extracts the transmission result notification information and sends it to its own terminal. Add and save to the accumulated communication history information.

The mail server apparatus MS checks the received transmission result notification information. If there is a destination for which transmission has failed, the mail server apparatus MS checks whether or not a delivery date has been specified for the relay transmission by the relay request source. If the delivery date is specified, check whether the time at that time is included within the specified delivery date period, and if it is, the same image information is sent to the destination for which transmission failed. An e-mail to be transmitted is created, and output network facsimile machines FXo11, FXo12, FXo13, FXo14
Send to

If the time exceeds the designated delivery date period, a non-delivery report is created for the destination for which transmission failed, and an e-mail carrying image information of the non-delivery report is generated. And output network facsimile machines FXo11, FXo12, FXo13, FXo
14 to be transmitted.

Here, the e-mail carrying the image information of the non-delivery report includes a message indicating that the e-mail carries the image information of the non-delivery report, a text part for notifying the destination of the non-delivery report, and a non-delivery report. A multi-part MI consisting of two binary parts where the image information of the report is placed
The ME type is used.

The destination of the non-delivery report is obtained by referring to the reception ID conversion table and extracting the facsimile number stored corresponding to the ID included in the original electronic mail.

When an e-mail carrying such a non-delivery report is received, the output network facsimile apparatus F
Xo11, FXo12, FXo13, and FXo14 make a call to the designated destination and transmit the image information of the non-delivery report.

As described above, in this embodiment, a relay request to which the delivery date designation function is applied from another group 3 facsimile apparatus connected to the analog public network PSTN is accepted. The information delivery system can realize the delivery date designation function.

FIGS. 33 and 34 show an example of an electronic mail distribution process of the mail server device MS in this case.

First, when an e-mail is received (decision 13
01 is YES), the body information is analyzed (step 130).
2) Check whether the text part is included (decision 1)
303). When the result of the decision 1303 is NO,
A normal distribution operation is performed (process 1304).

When the text part is included and the result of the judgment 1303 is YES, the contents of the text part are analyzed (processing 1305), and it is checked whether the text part carries the transmission result notification information (judgment). 130
6).

When the received e-mail does not carry the transmission result notification information and the result of determination 1306 is NO, the “ID” included in the text part is
It is checked whether or not it is registered in the reception ID table (decision 1307). If the result of the decision 1307 is NO, the e-mail received at that time is discarded (process 1).
308).

If the result of decision 1307 is YES, it is checked whether the information is relay request information (decision 1309). When the result of determination 1309 is NO, distribution processing corresponding to the request content at that time is executed (processing 1310).

When the result of determination 1309 is YES, the broadcast facsimile number of the text part is set to 1
(Step 1311), and obtains one or more destination facsimile numbers with reference to the destination management table (step 1).
312), select one of the output side network facsimile machines to be used at that time (process 1313).

Then, “<ID> + <relay request identifier> + <result report return destination number> + <management information> + <destination facsimile number # 1> + <destination facsimile number # 2” including the obtained destination facsimile number > +... ”Is created as text part information (processing 1314), and the contents of the binary part of the body information of the e-mail being processed at that time are defined as binary parts, and are created in processing 1314. Text information in a multi-part MIME format using the information of the text part as a text part (process 1315), and as a destination, process 131
Creates header information in which the mail address of the output network facsimile apparatus selected in step 3 is set.
316), the text information created in process 1315 and process 13
The e-mail including the header information created in step 16 is delivered (step 1317).

Here, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all broadcast facsimile numbers (decision 1318).
If the result of the decision 1318 is NO, the process 131
Returning to step 1, the same process is executed for the remaining broadcast facsimile numbers. In addition, the result of decision 1318 is YES
, The distribution process at this time ends.

The received e-mail carries transmission result notification information, and the result of determination 1306 is YES
, The content of the received transmission result notification information is checked to determine whether or not the transmission has failed (decision 132
0).

When the transmission has failed, the relay transmission operation on which the transmission result is based is recognized based on the management number of the transmission result notification information. Is checked (decision 132
1).

When the result of the determination 1321 is YES, it is checked whether or not the time at that time has exceeded a predetermined delivery date designation period after receiving the e-mail related to the relay transmission (determination 1322).

When the result of the determination 1322 is NO, since it is within the delivery date designation period, only the destination of which transmission has failed is specified as the destination facsimile number of the relay request information, and an electronic mail carrying the same image information is created. Then, one of the output network facsimile machines FXo11,
It is transmitted to FXo12, FXo13, and FXo14 (process 1323).

If the delivery period has expired and the result of determination 1322 is YES, the above-described non-delivery report is created (processing 1324), and the e-mail is sent to the image information of the non-delivery report. And a text part for notifying the destination of the non-delivery report and a binary part in which the image information of the non-delivery report is arranged are created in the multi-part MIME format. 1325), any of the output network facsimile machines FXo11, FXo12, FXo
13, FXo 14 is created as the destination (step 1326), an e-mail composed of the body information created in step 1325 and the header information created in step 1326 is sent (step 1327), and the transmission received at that time is sent. The result notification information is additionally stored as communication history information (processing 132
8), this process ends.

If the content of the transmission result notification information indicates that transmission has been successfully performed for all destinations, and if the result of determination 1320 is NO and if the delivery date has not been specified, 1321 results in N
When it becomes O, the transmission result notification information received at that time is additionally stored as communication history information (step 132
9), end this processing.

FIGS. 36 and 37 show output network facsimile apparatuses FXo11 and FXo1 in this case.
2, FXo13 and FXo14.

First, when an e-mail is received (decision 14
01 is YES, and the body information is analyzed (step 140).
2) Check whether the text part is included (decision 1)
403). When the result of the judgment 1403 is NO,
The text information is subjected to inverse MIME conversion to extract image information (processing 1404), the image information is decoded by the encoding / decoding section 8 (processing 1405), and the resulting image data is transferred to the plotter 6. Record and output the received image (Process 1
406), this process ends.

If the result of judgment 1403 is YES in the case where the text part is included, the contents of the text part are analyzed to determine whether or not it is an e-mail for delivery of a non-delivery report (judgment 1408). .

If the result of the determination 1408 is YES, the facsimile number of the delivery destination is extracted from the text part and stored (processing 1409), and the contents of the binary part are inverse-MIME-converted and the image information of the original non-delivery report is obtained. Is created and stored (process 1410), and the image information stored in process 1410 is transmitted to the destination acquired in process 1409 (process 1411).

If the received e-mail is not an e-mail for delivery of a non-delivery report and the result of determination 1408 is NO, the contents of the text part are analyzed and "ID" is entered in the reception ID table. (Step 1412). If the result of the step 1412 is NO, the electronic mail selected at that time is discarded (step 1413), and this process is terminated.

When the result of determination 1412 is YES, it is checked whether the information is relay request information (determination 1414). When the result of the determination 1414 is NO, a process corresponding to the request content at that time is executed (process 1415), and this process ends.

When the result of determination 1414 is YES, destination information is extracted and stored (step 1416), and image information is extracted and stored by inverse MIME conversion of the binary part of the body information (step 1417). .

Next, one piece of destination information is selected (Step 14).
20), a call is made to the destination, the stored image information is transmitted by facsimile communication (process 1421), and the transmission result information at that time is created and stored (process 1421). Here, it is checked whether transmission to all destinations has been completed (including transmission failure after retransmission for a predetermined number of times) (determination 1423),
When the result of the judgment 1423 is NO, the processing 142
Returning to 0, the image information is transmitted to the remaining destinations.

If transmission to all destinations is completed and the result of determination 1423 is YES, a transmission result report for notifying the generated transmission result information is created (processing 1424), and the transmission is performed. The image information of the result report is created (process 1425), a call is made to the “result report return destination number” included in the relay request information of the text part, and the created image information is transmitted (process 1426).

Next, the above-described transmission result notification information representing the result of the relay request transmission at that time is created (step 1427), and the body information of the multi-part MIME format electronic mail carrying the created transmission result communication information is prepared. Is created (step 1428), and header information addressed to the mail server MS is created (step 1429).

Then, an e-mail including the body information created in step 1428 and the header information created in step 1429 is transmitted to mail server MS (step 143).
0).

In the above-described embodiment, the output network facsimile apparatuses FXo11, FXo12,
The case where the FXo13 and FXo14 are connected to the analog public network PSTN and have a group 3 facsimile function has been described, but the output network facsimile apparatuses FXo11, FXo12, FXo13 and FXo1 are provided.
4 is connected to the digital public network ISDN and
A facsimile function, and output network facsimile apparatuses FXo11, FXo12,
The present invention can be similarly applied to a case where the FXo 13 and FXo 14 have both the group 3 facsimile function and the group 4 facsimile function.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, when sending an electronic mail, the relay request information is configured as a text part of the body information. However, the relay request information is stored in the “TO” field describing the destination mail address. It can also be described as a comment statement. In that case, the analysis processing of the relay request information and the like can be executed when the header information is received. For example, the e-mail referring to the ID can be discarded at an early stage, and as a result, for example, ,
The effect of reducing traffic in the local area network LAN can be expected.

[0303]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and a function of connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile apparatus, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with the facsimile apparatus via the public network. 1 that has a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network.
With more than one output network facsimile machine,
Upon receiving the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile device via the public network, the input-side network facsimile device receives the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received information. Image information
To the above mail server device using the e-mail of
The mail server device receives the first electronic mail from the input side network facsimile device,
Information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail,
The image information included in the first e-mail is transmitted to the output side network facsimile device using the second e-mail, and the output side network facsimile device receives the e-mail including information of a transfer instruction. In the case of the second e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using a public network, and the second e-mail is sent.
Since the image information included in the electronic mail is transmitted, a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed using a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus, and the effect of reducing the cost of the entire system can be obtained.

Further, since the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus to the input-side network facsimile apparatus and the transmission of the transfer destination information are performed using the push button signal, the effect that the existing facsimile apparatus can be applied is obtained. .

Further, the mail server device has a transfer destination table in which one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are registered, and indicates the received transfer destination by referring to the transfer destination table. Since the transfer destination corresponding to the information is obtained, a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus can be used as the input-side network facsimile apparatus and the output-side network facsimile apparatus. As a result, a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at low cost. The effect is obtained.

In the transfer destination table, the output side network facsimile apparatus used in correspondence with the destination information is registered, and the mail server apparatus is registered in correspondence with the destination information. Since the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted to the output side network facsimile apparatus using the second e-mail, the input is performed. A general-purpose network facsimile apparatus can be used as the side network facsimile apparatus and the output side network facsimile apparatus. As a result, an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at low cost is obtained.

The mail server device has a transfer destination table in which one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are registered, and refers to the transfer destination table to indicate the received transfer destination. A transfer destination corresponding to the information is obtained, and for each of the obtained transfer destinations, the output-side network facsimile apparatus is sequentially assigned, and the output-side network facsimile apparatus according to the assignment is instructed to transfer image information. Since the image information included in the first e-mail is transmitted using the second e-mail, a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus is used as the input-side network facsimile apparatus and the output-side network facsimile apparatus. As a result, the facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed inexpensively. Such an effect that can be.

[0308] Also, before transmitting the second electronic mail to the output side network facsimile apparatus, the mail server apparatus checks the operation status of each output side network facsimile apparatus on the local area network. The transfer destination is allocated only to the output network facsimile device operating on the local area network determined in accordance with the obtained information, so that the input network facsimile device and the output network A general-purpose network facsimile apparatus can be used as the facsimile apparatus, and as a result, an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at low cost is obtained.

Also, it has a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating used image information, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network At least one of the following: a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via a LAN, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. Output side group 3 network When the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the transfer destination notified at that time. And the received image information are transmitted to the mail server device using a first electronic mail, and the mail server device receives the first electronic mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile device. Then, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, and the image information included in the first electronic mail are stored in the output side group. 3 is transmitted to the network facsimile apparatus by using the second e-mail, and the output side group 3 is transmitted.
When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction, the network facsimile apparatus calls the destination information included in the second e-mail using the analog public network, Since the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted, a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed using a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus, and the effect of reducing the cost of the entire system can be obtained. .

Further, since the transfer request from the group 3 facsimile apparatus to the input group 3 network facsimile apparatus and the transmission of the transfer destination information are performed using the push button signal, the existing facsimile apparatus can be applied. The effect is also obtained.

The mail server device has a transfer destination table in which one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are registered, and indicates the received transfer destination by referring to the transfer destination table. Since the transfer destination corresponding to the information is obtained, a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus can be used as the input-side network facsimile apparatus and the output-side network facsimile apparatus. As a result, a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at low cost. The effect is obtained.

[0312] In the transfer destination table, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus to be used corresponding to the destination information is registered, and the mail server apparatus is registered corresponding to the destination information. And transmitting the image information included in the first e-mail to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus using the second e-mail. Therefore, a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus can be used as the input-side network facsimile apparatus and the output-side network facsimile apparatus, and as a result, there is an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at low cost.

Further, the mail server device has a transfer destination table in which one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are registered, and indicates the received transfer destination by referring to the transfer destination table. A transfer destination corresponding to the information is acquired, and the output group 3 network facsimile apparatus is sequentially assigned to each of the acquired transfer destinations, and the image information is transferred to the output group 3 network facsimile apparatus according to the assignment. Since the instructing information and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted using the second e-mail, a general-purpose network is used as the input-side network facsimile apparatus and the output-side network facsimile apparatus A facsimile machine can be used, and as a result, Such an effect that the system can be constructed at low cost.

[0314] Further, the mail server device sends the second group to the output side group 3 network facsimile device.
At the stage before transmitting the e-mail, the operation status of each output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus on the local area network is obtained, Since the transfer destination is assigned only to the active output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus, a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus can be used as the input side network facsimile apparatus and the output side network facsimile apparatus,
As a result, there is an effect that the facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at a low cost.

[0315] In addition to having a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, the image processing apparatus is connected to a local area network and transmits image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a group 3 facsimile connected to an analog public network, and connected to the analog public network. One or more output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information with the apparatus, and a function of connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. And connect with the digital public network, Group through the digital public network 4
One or more output side group 4 networks having a function of communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus and having a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. The input-side network facsimile device includes a facsimile device, and when receiving the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile device via the public network, the input-side network facsimile device indicates the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the transfer destination notified at that time. Information and the received image information are transmitted to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and the mail server device transmits one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination, and The transfer destination in which the type of the group 3 / group 4 function of the destination facsimile machine corresponding to the destination information is registered. A table for receiving the first electronic mail from the input side network facsimile apparatus, receiving one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, and each destination information. For the destination information in which the group 3 / group 4 function is acquired and the group 3 function is registered, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus is selected, and image information is transmitted to the selected output side group 3 facsimile apparatus. , The destination information, and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted using the second e-mail, and the destination information in which the group 4 function is registered is transmitted. Select the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus, and select the selected output side group 4 facsimile apparatus. Then, the information for instructing the transfer of the image information, the destination information, and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted using a third e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus If the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using an analog public network, and the second e-mail is called. The image information included in the e-mail is transmitted. When the received e-mail is the third e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction, the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus transmits the third e-mail. Using a digital public network to send a call to the destination information contained in the third e-mail, and transmitting the image information contained in the third electronic mail using a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus. The effect of being able to construct a x-broadcast system and to reduce the cost of the entire system is obtained. Further, since the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus to the input-side network facsimile apparatus and the transmission of the transfer destination information are performed using the push button signal, an effect that an existing facsimile apparatus can be applied is obtained.

In the forwarding destination table, the group 3 output side network facsimile apparatus or the group 4 facsimile apparatus to be used corresponding to the destination information is registered.
Information for instructing the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus or the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus registered in correspondence with the destination information to transfer image information, and information included in the first electronic mail. Since the image information to be transmitted is transmitted using the second e-mail or the third e-mail, a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus may be used as the input-side network facsimile apparatus and the output-side network facsimile apparatus. As a result, the facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at a low cost.

[0317] Further, the mail server device may be configured to use the second server.
When selecting the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus for transmitting the e-mail, or when selecting the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus for transmitting the third e-mail, each of the output side groups 3 Since the load of the network facsimile apparatus and the load of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus are selected, a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus can be used as the input side network facsimile apparatus and the output side network facsimile apparatus. As a result, there is an effect that the facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at low cost.

[0318] Further, before transmitting the e-mail to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus or the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus, the mail server apparatus outputs each output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus and group. An output group 3 network facsimile apparatus and a group 4 network facsimile apparatus operating on the local area network determined based on the obtained information on the operation status of the 4 network facsimile apparatus on the local area network. Since the transfer destination is assigned only to the device, a general-purpose network facsimile device is used as the input-side network facsimile device and the output-side network facsimile device. Rukoto can, as a result, such an effect that the facsimile broadcast system can be constructed inexpensively.

[0319] In addition to being provided with a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, it is also connected to a local area network and is capable of transmitting image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. One or more output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating with the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network; and Connect to the network,
In addition to having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a monitoring workstation device for managing the system is provided, and the input network facsimile device transmits a transfer request from the facsimile device via the public network. When image information is received,
The information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information are transmitted to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and the mail server device Receiving the first e-mail from the input-side network facsimile machine, receiving information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first e-mail, The mail address of the monitoring workstation device and the image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted to the output side network facsimile device using the second electronic mail, and the output side network facsimile device includes:
When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using a public network, and the second e-mail is transmitted. And transmits a report representing the transmission result, and transmits the generated report to an e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the second e-mail using an e-mail. Therefore, a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed using a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus and a workstation apparatus, and the effect of reducing the cost of the entire system can be obtained.

Further, it has a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is connected to a local area network to send e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating used image information, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network At least one of the following: a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via a LAN, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. Output side group 3 network The input side group 3 network facsimile machine, which has a function of connecting to the local area network and exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, and a monitoring workstation for managing the system; When the apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, the apparatus transmits the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information. Sending the first electronic mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus to the mail server apparatus by using the first electronic mail, the mail server apparatus transmits information to instruct transfer of image information, Destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail , And email address of the monitoring workstation device, the first
The image information included in the e-mail is transmitted to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus using the second e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the information of the transfer instruction in the received e-mail. If the second e-mail contains the second e-mail,
A call is made to the destination information included in the e-mail using the analog public network, the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted, a report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is Since the e-mail is used to send the e-mail to the e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the second e-mail, a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed using a general-purpose network facsimile device and a workstation device. ,
The effect that the cost as the whole system can be reduced is obtained.

[0321] In addition, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit image information using e-mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a group 3 facsimile connected to an analog public network, and connected to the analog public network. One or more output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information with the apparatus, and a function of connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. And connect with the digital public network, Group through the digital public network 4
One or more output side group 4 networks having a function of communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus and having a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. A facsimile device, connected to the local area network, having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a monitoring workstation device for managing the system, the input side network facsimile device When receiving the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information are stored in the first area. Send to the above mail server using e-mail The mail server device stores one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination and a transfer destination table in which the type of the group 3 / group 4 function of the destination facsimile apparatus corresponding to each piece of the destination information is registered. Receiving the first electronic mail from the input-side network facsimile apparatus, the first electronic mail corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail.
Group of three or more destination information and each destination information
For the destination information in which the group 4 function is acquired and the group 3 function is registered, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus is selected, and the image information is transferred to the selected output side group 3 facsimile apparatus. The instruction information, the destination information, the mail address of the monitoring workstation device, and the image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted using a second electronic mail. As for the registered destination information, the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus is selected, information for instructing the selected output side group 4 facsimile apparatus to transfer image information, the destination information, and the The e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device and the image information contained in the first e-mail are stored in a third e-mail. When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the destination included in the second e-mail. Making a call to the information using an analog public network, transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, creating a report representing the transmission result, and creating the report,
An e-mail is sent to the e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the second e-mail, and the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus sends the received e-mail including the transfer instruction information. In the case of the third e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the third e-mail using the digital public network, and the image information included in the third e-mail is transmitted.
A report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is transmitted to the mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the third e-mail by e-mail. A facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed using the facsimile machine and the workstation device, and the effect of reducing the cost of the entire system can be obtained.

[0322] Also, the apparatus has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. One or more output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating with the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network; and Connect to the network,
In addition to having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a monitoring workstation device for managing the system is provided, and the input network facsimile device transmits a transfer request from the facsimile device via the public network. When image information is received,
The information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the transmission result notification destination information indicating the destination of the transmission result notified at that time, and the received image information are The first e-mail is transmitted to the mail server device, and the mail server device, upon receiving the first e-mail from the input side network facsimile device, transmits information for instructing transfer of image information, Destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, transmission result notification destination information included in the first electronic mail, a mail address of the monitoring workstation device, The image information contained in the e-mail is transmitted to the output side network facsimile apparatus using the second e-mail, and the output side network facsimile is transmitted. Location, when the received electronic mail is the second e-mail containing the information of the transfer instruction,
A call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the public network, the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted, a report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is created. Is transmitted to the e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the second e-mail, and the image of the report is transmitted to the transmission result notification destination information included in the second e-mail. The facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed using a general-purpose network facsimile device and a workstation device, and the cost of the entire system can be reduced.

[0323] Also, it has a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating used image information, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network At least one of the following: a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via a LAN, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. Output side group 3 network The input side group 3 network facsimile machine, which has a function of connecting to the local area network and exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, and a monitoring workstation for managing the system; When the apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, the apparatus instructs the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the transmission notified at that time. The transmission result notification destination information indicating the destination of the result and the received image information are transmitted to the mail server device using a first electronic mail, and the mail server device transmits the information from the input side group 3 network facsimile device. When receiving the first e-mail, information for instructing transfer of image information Address information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, transmission result notification destination information included in the first electronic mail, a mail address of the monitoring workstation device, The image information included in the first e-mail is transmitted to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus using the second e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the received e-mail as a transfer instruction. In the case of the second electronic mail including information, a call is made to the destination information included in the second electronic mail using an analog public network, and the image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. Then, a report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is sent to the monitoring server by using an e-mail, which is included in the second e-mail. The image of the report is transmitted to the mail address of the workstation device, and the image of the report is transmitted to the transmission result notification destination information included in the second e-mail. Therefore, a general-purpose network facsimile device and a workstation device are used. This makes it possible to construct a facsimile broadcasting system, thereby reducing the cost of the entire system.

[0324] In addition to the function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, the apparatus is connected to a local area network and transmits image information using e-mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, and a group 3 facsimile connected to an analog public network and connected to the analog public network. One or more output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information with the apparatus, and a function of connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. And connect to the digital public network, Group through the digital public network 4
One or more output side group 4 networks having a function of communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus and having a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. A facsimile device, connected to the local area network, having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a monitoring workstation device for managing the system, the input side network facsimile device When receiving the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile machine via the public network, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the transmission result notified at that time are displayed. The transmission result notification destination information indicating the destination The received image information is transmitted to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and the mail server device transmits one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination and each destination information. A transfer destination table in which the types of the group 3 / group 4 functions of the corresponding destination facsimile apparatuses are registered, and when the first electronic mail is received from the input side network facsimile apparatus, the transfer included in the first electronic mail is performed. One or more pieces of destination information corresponding to information indicating a destination and a group 3 / group 4 function of each destination information are acquired, and for the destination information in which the group 3 function is registered, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus is used. And instructs the selected output side group 3 facsimile apparatus to transfer image information. The destination information, the transmission result notification destination information included in the first electronic mail, the mail address of the monitoring workstation device, and the image information included in the first electronic mail as a second electronic mail. , And for the destination information in which the group 4 function is registered,
An output side network facsimile apparatus is selected, information for instructing the selected output side group 4 facsimile apparatus to transfer image information, the destination information, and a transmission result notification destination included in the first electronic mail. Information, the email address of the monitoring workstation device,
The image information included in the first e-mail is transmitted using a third e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information in the received e-mail. In this case, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the analog public network, the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted, and a report indicating the transmission result is transmitted. The e-mail is used to send the created report to the e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the second e-mail, and the image of the report is sent to the second e-mail. The group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus transmits to the included transmission result notification destination information, and the received electronic mail includes information of the transfer instruction. In the case of the third e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the third e-mail using the digital public network, and the image information included in the third e-mail is transmitted. A report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is transmitted to the e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the third e-mail using an e-mail, and the image of the report is transmitted to the e-mail. Since transmission is performed to the transmission result notification destination information included in the third e-mail, a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed using a general-purpose network facsimile apparatus and a work station apparatus, and the cost of the entire system can be reduced. The effect that can be obtained.

In the first electronic mail, the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the information indicating the transfer destination are arranged in a comment in the destination address field or in the body information. In the second and third e-mails, the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are arranged in a comment in the destination address field or in the body information. Therefore, a general-purpose e-mail system can be appropriately adopted, and the effect of reducing the system cost can be obtained.

In addition, a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network is provided, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. When the image information of the transfer request is received from the facsimile machine via the public network, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information Is transmitted to the mail server device on the local area network using an e-mail, so that the facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at a low cost.

[0327] In addition to having a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. If the received e-mail includes the information of the transfer instruction, a call is made to the destination information included in the e-mail using the public network, and the image information included in the e-mail is transmitted. Therefore, the facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at a low cost.

In addition, a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network is provided, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. If the received e-mail includes the transfer instruction information and the destination e-mail address of the transmission result, a call is made to the destination information included in the e-mail using the public network, and the e-mail Send the image information included in the
A report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is transmitted to the above-mentioned notification destination e-mail address by e-mail. Therefore, an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at a low cost can be obtained.

In addition, a function is provided for connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. If the received e-mail includes the information of the transfer instruction, the notification destination mail address of the transmission result, and the notification destination address information of the transmission result, the public network is added to the destination information included in the e-mail. Send a call, send the image information contained in the e-mail, create a report representing the transmission result, and send the created report to the notification destination e-mail address by e-mail, Since the report image is transmitted to the above-mentioned notification destination information, a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at low cost. Results also obtained.

[0330] In addition to having a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, the apparatus is connected to a local area network and communicates image information using e-mail via the local area network. In a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of performing, when image information of a transfer request is received from a facsimile apparatus via a public network, information indicating a transfer of the image information and a transfer destination notified at that time are displayed. Information and
Since the received image information and the e-mail are transmitted to the mail server device on the local area network, a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at a low cost.

[0331] In addition, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. In a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of performing, when a received e-mail includes information of a transfer instruction, a call is made to destination information included in the e-mail using a public network, and Since the included image information is transmitted, there is also obtained an effect that the facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at low cost.

[0332] In addition to being provided with a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, it is connected to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. In the control method of the network facsimile apparatus having the function of performing, when the received e-mail includes the information of the transfer instruction and the notification destination e-mail address of the transmission result,
A call is made to the destination information included in the e-mail using the public network, the image information included in the e-mail is transmitted, a report representing the transmission result is created, and the created report is transmitted using the e-mail. Since the transmission is made to the notification destination e-mail address, the facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed inexpensively.

[0333] Also, a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network is provided, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. In the control method of the network facsimile apparatus having the function of performing the following, when the received e-mail includes the information of the transfer instruction, the notification destination mail address of the transmission result, and the notification destination destination information of the transmission result, the e-mail Make a call to the included destination information using a public network, transmit the image information included in the e-mail, create a report showing the transmission result, and send the created report to the e-mail Send to your email address,
Since the image of the report is transmitted to the notification destination information, an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system can be constructed at low cost is also obtained.

[0334] In addition, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit image information using e-mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. A plurality of output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network, and a function of communicating with the local area network. Facsimile machine is connected via public network Upon receiving the information indicating the priority of the image information and the communication transfer request from Akushimiri device,
The information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the priority of the communication are transmitted to the mail server device using the first electronic mail. When the mail server device receives the first electronic mail from the input side network facsimile device, the mail server device transmits information instructing transfer of image information and information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail. And the image information included in the first electronic mail to the output-side network facsimile apparatus selected based on the information indicating the priority included in the first electronic mail. The e-mail is transmitted by using the e-mail, and the output side network facsimile apparatus transmits the e-mail when the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction. Makes a call to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the public network and transmits the image information included in the second e-mail. Another advantage is that the system can be constructed at low cost.

[0335] Further, it has a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is also connected to a local area network to send e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating used image information, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network And a plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Fax Comprising a Li device, the input-side group 3 network facsimile device receives the information indicating the priority of the image information and the communication transfer request from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via an analog public network,
The information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the priority of communication are transmitted to the mail server device using the first electronic mail. When the mail server apparatus receives the first electronic mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus, the mail server apparatus transmits information instructing transfer of image information and a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail. The destination information corresponding to the information to be displayed and the image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus selected based on the priority information included in the first electronic mail. The output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the received e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction. In the case of the second e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using an analog public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. Therefore, there is also obtained an advantage that a facsimile broadcasting system capable of setting priorities can be constructed at a low cost.

[0336] The digital still camera is connected to a digital public network and has a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and a digital public network connected to a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Fax Comprising a Li device, the input-side group 4 network facsimile device receives the information representing the image information and communication priority of the transfer request from the Group 4 facsimile apparatus via a digital public network,
The information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the priority of communication are transmitted to the mail server device using the first electronic mail. Upon transmitting, the mail server device, upon receiving the first electronic mail from the input side group 4 network facsimile device, transmits information instructing transfer of image information and a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail. The destination information corresponding to the indicated information and the image information included in the first electronic mail are sent to the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus selected based on the information indicating the priority included in the first electronic mail. The output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus transmits the electronic mail using the second electronic mail, and the received electronic mail includes the information of the transfer instruction. In the case of the second e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the digital public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. Therefore, there is also obtained an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system capable of setting priorities can be constructed at a low cost.

[0337] In addition, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. A plurality of output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network, and a function of communicating with the local area network. Facsimile machine is connected via public network Upon receiving the information representing the image information and transmission designated time transfer request from Akushimiri device,
Using the first e-mail, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the designated transmission time are transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail. When receiving the first electronic mail from the input-side network facsimile apparatus, the mail server device converts the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail into information. The corresponding destination information and the image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted to any one of the output side network facsimile apparatuses at a time corresponding to the information indicating the designated transmission time included in the first electronic mail. The output side network facsimile apparatus transmits the second electronic mail using the second electronic mail including the transfer instruction information. In this case, the call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. The facsimile broadcasting system which can specify the address can be constructed at a low cost.

[0338] Also, it has a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is connected to a local area network to send e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating used image information, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network And a plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Fax Comprising a Li device, the input-side group 3 network facsimile device receives the information representing the image information and transmission designated time transfer request from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via an analog public network,
Using the first e-mail, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the designated transmission time are transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail. When receiving the first electronic mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus, the mail server device indicates information instructing transfer of image information and a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail. The destination information corresponding to the information and the image information included in the first e-mail are converted into one of the output side groups 3 at a time corresponding to the information indicating the designated transmission time included in the first e-mail. The e-mail is transmitted to the network facsimile device using the second e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile device forwards the received e-mail. In the case of the second e-mail including the information of the second e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using an analog public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. Is sent.
There is also obtained an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system capable of designating a transmission time can be constructed at low cost.

[0339] In addition, a function is provided for connecting to a digital public network and communicating image information with the group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and connecting to a local area network to send e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and a digital public network connected to a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Fax Comprising a Li device, the input-side group 4 network facsimile device receives the information representing the image information and transmission designated time transfer request from Group 4 facsimile apparatus via a digital public network,
Using the first e-mail, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the designated transmission time are transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail. When receiving the first electronic mail from the input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus, the mail server device indicates information instructing transfer of image information and a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail. The destination information corresponding to the information and the image information included in the first e-mail are converted into a time corresponding to the information indicating the designated transmission time included in the first e-mail, by any of the output side groups 4. A second e-mail is transmitted to the network facsimile apparatus, and the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus transfers the received e-mail. In the case of the above-mentioned second e-mail including the information of the second e-mail, a call is made to the destination information contained in the second e-mail using the digital public network, and the image information contained in the second e-mail is transmitted. Is sent.
There is also obtained an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system capable of designating a transmission time can be constructed at low cost.

[0340] In addition to having a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, the image processing apparatus is connected to a local area network and transmits image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. A plurality of output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network, and a function of communicating with the local area network. Facsimile machine is connected via public network When receiving the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the transmission time zone from the facsimile apparatus, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the transmission time The information representing the band is transmitted to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and the mail server device instructs transfer of image information when receiving the first e-mail from the input side network facsimile device. And the destination information corresponding to the transfer destination information included in the first e-mail and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted to the transmission time zone included in the first e-mail. Is transmitted to any one of the output side network facsimile devices using a second e-mail at a time corresponding to the information indicating If the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, the facsimile apparatus calls the destination information included in the second e-mail using the public network, and Since the image information contained in the second e-mail is transmitted, there is also obtained an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system capable of designating a transmission time zone can be constructed at low cost.

Further, it has a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and is connected to a local area network to send e-mail via the local area network. An input group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus through the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Fax The input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the transmission time zone from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and instructs the transfer of the image information. And transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the transmission time zone to the mail server device using the first electronic mail, and the mail server device Upon receiving the first e-mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus, information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first e-mail, When the image information included in the first e-mail corresponds to the information indicating the transmission time zone included in the first e-mail Then, the data is transmitted to any one of the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses by using a second e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information. In the case of the e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the analog public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. Another advantage is that a facsimile broadcasting system capable of designating a transmission time zone can be constructed at low cost.

[0342] Further, it has a function of connecting to a digital public network and communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and is connected to a local area network to transmit e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, and a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Fax The input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the transmission time zone from the group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and instructs the transfer of the image information. And transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the transmission time zone to the mail server device using the first electronic mail, and the mail server device Upon receiving the first electronic mail from the input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus, information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, When the image information included in the first e-mail corresponds to the information indicating the transmission time zone included in the first e-mail Then, the second e-mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses, and the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus transmits the second e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction. In the case of the e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the digital public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. Another advantage is that a facsimile broadcasting system capable of designating a transmission time zone can be constructed at low cost.

[0343] In addition, it has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and is connected to a local area network and transmits image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to a public network. A plurality of output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network, and a function of communicating with the local area network. Facsimile machine is connected via public network Upon receiving the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the delivery date designation from the facsimile apparatus, the information indicating the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information and the delivery date designation are displayed. The information is transmitted to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and when the first e-mail is received from the input side network facsimile device, the mail server device receives information instructing transfer of image information. The destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail and the image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted to any one of the output side network facsimile apparatuses. The output-side network facsimile apparatus transmits the received electronic mail by using the second electronic mail including the transfer instruction information. In the case of an e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the public network, and after transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, a transmission indicating the transmission result is performed. The result information is transmitted to the mail server device using a third e-mail, and the mail server device checks the transmission result information included in the third e-mail when receiving the third e-mail. If the transmission has failed, if the time is within a predetermined time after receiving the transfer request from the facsimile machine, the second e-mail is transmitted to any one of the output side network facsimile machines. On the other hand, if the time exceeds a predetermined time after receiving the transfer request from the facsimile machine, it is notified that the requested image information transfer operation has failed. Create a non-delivery report, and send destination information indicating the destination of the non-delivery report and image information of the non-delivery report
A fourth e-mail is used to transmit to any one of the output side network facsimile apparatuses, and the output side network facsimile apparatus transmits the fourth e-mail if the received e-mail is the fourth e-mail. A call is made to the destination information contained in the e-mail using the public network, and the fourth
Since the image information of the non-delivery report included in the e-mail is transmitted, there is an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system capable of specifying a delivery date can be constructed at a low cost.

[0344] In addition to being provided with a function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, it is also connected to a local area network to transmit e-mail via the local area network. An input group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus through the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Fax The input-side network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the delivery date designation from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, The information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information and the information indicating the delivery date designation are transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail, and the mail server device transmits the input side group 3
When the first electronic mail is received from the network facsimile apparatus, information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, and the first electronic mail, Transmitting the image information included in the mail to any one of the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses using a second electronic mail,
When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus uses the analog public network for the destination information included in the second e-mail. Call
After transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, transmission result information representing the transmission result is transmitted to the mail server device using a third e-mail, and the mail server device When the third e-mail is received, the transmission result information included in the third e-mail is checked, and if the transmission fails, the time is set to a predetermined time after the transfer request from the group 3 facsimile apparatus is received. When the time is within, the second electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 3 facsimile machines, and the time exceeds a predetermined time after receiving the transfer request from the group 3 facsimile machine. A non-delivery report indicating that the requested image information transfer operation has failed, and specify the destination of the non-delivery report. The destination information and the image information of the non-delivery report are transmitted to any one of the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses using a fourth e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus receives the received electronic information. If the mail is the fourth e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the fourth e-mail using an analog public network, and an image of a non-delivery report included in the fourth e-mail is sent. Since the information is transmitted, there is also obtained an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system capable of specifying a delivery date can be constructed at a low cost.

[0345] In addition, a function is provided for connecting to a digital public network and communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and connecting to a local area network to send e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and a digital public network connected to a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Fax The input-side network facsimile apparatus, when receiving the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the delivery date designation from the group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, information instructing the transfer of the image information, The information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information and the information indicating the delivery date designation are transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail, and the mail server device transmits the input group 4
When the first electronic mail is received from the network facsimile apparatus, information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, and the first electronic mail, Transmitting the image information included in the mail to any one of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses using a second electronic mail,
The output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus uses the digital public network for the destination information included in the second electronic mail when the received electronic mail is the second electronic mail including the information of the transfer instruction. Call
After transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, transmission result information representing the transmission result is transmitted to the mail server device using a third e-mail, and the mail server device When the third e-mail is received, the transmission result information included in the third e-mail is checked. If the transmission fails, the time is set to a predetermined time after the transfer request from the group 4 facsimile apparatus is received. When the time is within, the second electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 4 facsimile machines, and the time exceeds a predetermined time after receiving the transfer request from the group 4 facsimile machine. A non-delivery report indicating that the requested image information transfer operation has failed, and specify the destination of the non-delivery report. The destination information and the image information of the non-delivery report are transmitted to any one of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses using a fourth e-mail, and the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus receives the received electronic information. If the mail is the fourth e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the fourth e-mail using the digital public network, and the image of the non-delivery report included in the fourth e-mail is sent. Since the information is transmitted, there is also obtained an effect that a facsimile broadcasting system capable of specifying a delivery date can be constructed at a low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 shows an input network facsimile machine FXi,
And output network facsimile machine FXo
1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of FXo2.

FIG. 3 is an output network facsimile machine FXo
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of FXo4.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a reception ID table.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an output network facsimile information table.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a destination management table.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a communication management report.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed by a group 3 facsimile apparatus when a relay request is issued to the input network facsimile apparatus FXi.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the input network facsimile machine FXi.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an e-mail distribution process of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 11 is an output network facsimile machine FXo.
1, a flowchart showing an example of processing of FXo2, FXo3, and FXo4.

FIG. 12 is an output network facsimile machine FXo
1 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing of FXo2, FXo3, and FXo4 (continued).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when the monitoring personal computer AD receives a transmission result report.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the monitoring personal computer AD when outputting a communication result report.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the destination management table.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing another example of the e-mail distribution process of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart (continued) showing another example of the e-mail distribution processing of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a facsimile network system (facsimile broadcasting system) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an output network facsimile machine FXo.
11 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of FXo12, FXo13, and FXo14.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a reception ID conversion table.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an output IFAX priority information table.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing an example of transmission result notification information.

FIG. 23 is a schematic view showing another example of the transmission result report.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing still another example of the electronic mail distribution process of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart (continuation of FIG. 24) showing still another example of the e-mail distribution process of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating an example of output processing of a transmission result report of the mail server apparatus MS.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing still another example of the e-mail distribution process of the mail server device MS.

28 is a flowchart showing yet another example of the e-mail distribution process of the mail server device MS (FIG. 27)
Continued).

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing still another example of the e-mail distribution process of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart (continuation of FIG. 29) showing still another example of the e-mail distribution processing of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing still another example of the e-mail distribution process of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart (continuation of FIG. 31) showing still another example of the e-mail distribution process of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing yet another example of the e-mail distribution process of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart (continuation of FIG. 33) showing still another example of the e-mail distribution process of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart (continuation of FIG. 34) showing still another example of the e-mail distribution processing of the mail server device MS.

FIG. 36 is an output network facsimile machine FXo
11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of FXo12, FXo13, and FXo14.

FIG. 37 is an output network facsimile machine FXo
37 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing of FXo12, FXo13, and FXo14 (continuation of FIG. 36).

[Explanation of symbols]

FXi input network facsimile machine FXo1, FXo2, FXo3, FXo4, FXo1
1, FXo12, FXo13, FXo14 Output network facsimile device MS mail server device AD monitoring personal computer device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04L 12/58 H04L 11/00 310C H04M 11/00 303 11/20 101B H04N 1/32 F term (reference) 5C062 AA01 AA02 AA13 AA30 AA33 AA35 AB38 AB42 AB53 AC28 AC29 AC40 AC43 AE14 AF02 BC01 5C075 AA05 AA90 AB90 CA14 CF01 DD04 5K030 HA06 HA07 HB04 HC01 HC14 HD06 JT05 KA01 KA05 KA06 KA01 LB01 DB13 CB01 DB02 5K03

Claims (49)

[Claims] A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network;
An input-side network facsimile device having a function of connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network, and a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network A mail server device, connected to a public network, and provided with a function of communicating image information with a facsimile device via the public network, and connected to the local area network, and using an electronic mail via the local area network to send image information. One or more output-side network facsimile apparatuses having a function of communicating the image information. When the input-side network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, it instructs the transfer of the image information. Information to be notified at that time And information indicating the forwarding destination, and the received image information first
The e-mail is transmitted to the mail server device, and the mail server device receives the first e-mail from the input side network facsimile device,
Information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail,
The image information included in the first e-mail is transmitted to the output-side network facsimile device using a second e-mail, and the output-side network facsimile device receives the e-mail including information of a transfer instruction. In the case of the second e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using the public network, and the image information included in the second e-mail is transmitted. A network facsimile broadcasting system, characterized in that: 2. The network facsimile broadcast according to claim 1, wherein the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus to the input side network facsimile apparatus and transmission of transfer destination information are performed using a push button signal. system. 3. The mail server device includes a transfer destination table in which one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are registered, and indicates the received transfer destination by referring to the transfer destination table. 3. The network facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein a transfer destination corresponding to the information is acquired. 4. The output destination network facsimile apparatus used in correspondence with the destination information is registered in the transfer destination table.
The information that instructs the output side network facsimile apparatus corresponding to the destination information to transfer image information and the image information included in the first electronic mail are stored in the second electronic mail. 4. The network facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 3, wherein the transmission is performed by using. 5. The mail server device includes a transfer destination table in which one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are registered, and indicates the received transfer destination by referring to the transfer destination table. A transfer destination corresponding to the information is obtained, and for each of the obtained transfer destinations, the output-side network facsimile apparatus is sequentially allocated, and information for instructing the output-side network facsimile apparatus according to the allocation to transfer image information. , The first
3. The network facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the image information included in the electronic mail is transmitted using the second electronic mail. 6. The mail server device, before transmitting the second electronic mail to the output side network facsimile device, checks the operation status of each output side network facsimile device on the local area network. 6. The network facsimile broadcast according to claim 5, wherein the transfer destination is assigned only to the output-side network facsimile apparatus operating on the local area network determined according to the acquired information. system. 7. A connection to an analog public network, a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and a connection to a local area network, via the local area network,
An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, and an analog public network, A function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via an analog public network, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. And at least one output group 3 network facsimile apparatus, wherein the input group 3 network facsimile apparatus receives image information of a transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, and instructs transfer of image information; Information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time And transmitting the received image information to the mail server device using a first e-mail. The mail server device receives the first e-mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile device, and The information instructing the transfer of the information, the destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, and the image information included in the first electronic mail are
The output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the received e-mail to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus using the second electronic mail. Calls a destination information included in the second e-mail using an analog public network,
A network facsimile broadcasting system, wherein image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the transfer request from the group 3 facsimile apparatus to the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus and the transmission of the transfer destination information are performed using a push button signal. Network facsimile broadcasting system. 9. The mail server device includes a transfer destination table in which one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are registered, and indicates the received transfer destination by referring to the transfer destination table. 9. The network facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 7, wherein a transfer destination corresponding to the information is acquired. 10. The output destination table, wherein the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus to be used corresponding to the destination information is registered, and the mail server apparatus is registered corresponding to the destination information. And transmitting the image information included in the first electronic mail to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus using the second electronic mail. The network facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 9, wherein: 11. The mail server device includes a transfer destination table in which at least one piece of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination is registered, and indicates the received transfer destination by referring to the transfer destination table. The transfer destination corresponding to the information is obtained, and for each of the obtained transfer destinations,
The output side group 3 network facsimile machines are sequentially allocated, and the output side group 3 according to the allocation is assigned.
7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein information for instructing transfer of image information and image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted to the network facsimile apparatus using the second electronic mail. 8. A network facsimile broadcasting system according to item 8. 12. The mail server apparatus, on a stage before transmitting the second electronic mail to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus, on the local area network of each output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus. 12. The transfer destination is assigned only to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus operating on the local area network determined according to the acquired information, and The described network facsimile broadcasting system. 13. A device connected to a public network and having a function of communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and connected to a local area network to transmit image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a group 3 facsimile connected to an analog public network, and connected to the analog public network. One or more output side group 3 network facsimile machines having a function of communicating image information with the apparatus and having a function of connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. Connected to the digital public network and A function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via a digital public network, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. The input-side network facsimile apparatus includes one or more output-side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses. When the input-side network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, the information instructs the transfer of the image information. The information indicating the transfer destination notified to the user and the received image information
The e-mail is transmitted to the mail server device, the mail server device transmits one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination, and a group 3 of destination facsimile devices corresponding to the respective destination information. / Group 4
When the first electronic mail is received from the input side network facsimile apparatus, a transfer destination table in which the type of the function is registered is provided, and when the first electronic mail is received, one or more corresponding to information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail. The group 3 / group 4 functions of the destination information and the respective destination information are acquired, and for the destination information in which the group 3 function is registered, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus is selected, and the selected output side group 3 is selected. The information for instructing the transfer of the image information, the destination information, and the image information included in the first electronic mail are transmitted to the facsimile apparatus using the second electronic mail. For the registered destination information, select the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus, and select the selected output side group facsimile apparatus. Against over-flop 4 facsimile apparatus,
The information instructing the transfer of the image information, the destination information, and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted using a third e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus receives the information. When the electronic mail is the second electronic mail including the information of the transfer instruction, a call is made to the destination information included in the second electronic mail using the analog public network,
The image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. If the received electronic mail is the third electronic mail including transfer instruction information, the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus transmits the image information. Calling out to the destination information contained in the e-mail using the digital public network,
A network facsimile broadcasting system, wherein image information included in the third electronic mail is transmitted. 14. A transfer request from the facsimile machine to the input side network facsimile machine, and
14. The network facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 13, wherein the transmission of the transfer destination information is performed using a push button signal. 15. The group 3 output side network facsimile apparatus or the group 4 facsimile apparatus to be used corresponding to the destination information is registered in the transfer destination table, and the mail server apparatus stores the destination information. And information for instructing the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus or the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus to transfer image information, and image information included in the first electronic mail. With the second email or the third email
The network facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the transmission is performed by using the electronic mail of (1). 16. The method according to claim 16, wherein the mail server device selects the output side group 3 network facsimile device to which the second electronic mail is transmitted, or
When selecting the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus which transmits the e-mail of the above, it is preferable to select the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus and the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus in such a manner that the load of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus is distributed. 16. The network facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 15, wherein: 17. The method according to claim 17, wherein the mail server device transmits the e-mail to the output side group-3 network facsimile device or the output side group-4 network facsimile device, respectively. An operation status of the 4 network facsimile apparatus on the local area network is acquired, and an output group 3 network facsimile apparatus and a group 4 network facsimile apparatus operating on the local area network determined according to the acquired information. 17. The network facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 16, wherein the transfer destination is assigned only to the device. 18. A device connected to a public network and having a function of communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and connected to a local area network to transmit image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to the public network At least one output side network facsimile device having a function of communicating with the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network; and Connect to the network and the above local area In addition to having a function of exchanging e-mails via a network, a monitoring workstation device for managing the system is provided, and the input side network facsimile device transmits image information of a transfer request from the facsimile device via a public network. Upon reception, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information
The e-mail is transmitted to the mail server device, and the mail server device receives the first e-mail from the input side network facsimile device,
Information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail,
A mail address of the monitoring workstation device and image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted to the output network facsimile device using a second e-mail, and the output network facsimile device includes: When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using a public network, and the second e-mail is transmitted. And transmits a report representing the transmission result, and transmits the generated report to an e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the second e-mail using an e-mail. A network facsimile broadcasting system, characterized in that: 19. A connection to an analog public network, a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and a connection to a local area network to transmit an e-mail through the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network At least one of the following: a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via a LAN, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. Output Group 3 Network Fac A facsimile machine connected to the local area network and having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network; a monitoring workstation for managing the system; When the apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, the apparatus transmits the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information. The first e-mail is transmitted to the mail server device using the first e-mail, and the mail server device receives the first e-mail from the input side group 3 network facsimile device, and instructs transfer of image information; Destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination included in the first electronic mail Transmitting the e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device and the image information included in the first e-mail to the output side group 3 network facsimile device using a second e-mail; When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, the network facsimile apparatus calls the destination information included in the second e-mail using the analog public network,
Transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, creating a report representing the transmission result, and using the e-mail to send the created report to the monitoring workstation included in the second e-mail A network facsimile broadcasting system characterized by transmitting to a mail address of a device. 20. A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and transmitting image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a group 3 facsimile connected to an analog public network, and connected to the analog public network. One or more output side group 3 network facsimile machines having a function of communicating image information with the apparatus and having a function of connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. Connected to the digital public network and A function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via a digital public network, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. One or more output side group 4 network facsimile machines, and a function for connecting to the local area network and exchanging e-mails via the local area network, and a monitoring workstation for managing the system. Upon receiving the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile device via the public network, the input-side network facsimile device receives the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and Image information and
The e-mail is transmitted to the mail server device, the mail server device transmits one or more pieces of destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination, and a group 3 of destination facsimile devices corresponding to the respective destination information. / Group 4
When the first electronic mail is received from the input side network facsimile apparatus, a transfer destination table in which the type of the function is registered is provided. The group 3 / group 4 functions of the destination information and the respective destination information are acquired, and for the destination information in which the group 3 function is registered, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus is selected, and the selected output side group 3 is selected. The information instructing the facsimile apparatus to transfer the image information, the destination information, the mail address of the monitoring workstation device, and the image information included in the first electronic mail are stored in a second electronic mail. Send using and group 4
As for the destination information in which the function is registered, the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus is selected, information for instructing the selected output side group 4 facsimile apparatus to transfer image information, and the destination information ,
The e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted using a third e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile device transfers the received e-mail. In the case of the second e-mail including the instruction information, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using an analog public network,
Transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, creating a report representing the transmission result, and using the e-mail to send the created report to the monitoring workstation included in the second e-mail When the received e-mail is the third e-mail including the transfer instruction information, the group 4 output-side network facsimile apparatus is included in the third e-mail. Make a call to the destination information using the digital public network,
Transmitting the image information included in the third e-mail, creating a report representing the transmission result, and using the e-mail to send the created report to the monitoring workstation included in the third e-mail A network facsimile broadcasting system characterized by transmitting to a mail address of a device. 21. A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and transmitting the image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to the public network At least one output side network facsimile device having a function of communicating with the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network; and Connect to the network and the above local area In addition to having a function of exchanging e-mails via a network, a monitoring workstation device for managing the system is provided, and the input side network facsimile device transmits image information of a transfer request from the facsimile device via a public network. Upon receipt, information instructing transfer of image information, information indicating a transfer destination notified at that time, transmission result notification destination information indicating a destination of a transmission result notified at that time, and received image information Is transmitted to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and the mail server device receives the first e-mail from the input side network facsimile device,
Information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail,
The transmission result notification destination information included in the first e-mail, the mail address of the monitoring workstation device, and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted to the output side network facsimile device in a second form. When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, the output side network facsimile apparatus transmits the destination information included in the second e-mail. Call using the public network to transmit the image information included in the second e-mail, create a report representing the transmission result, and send the created report to the second e-mail using the e-mail. The electronic mail is transmitted to the e-mail address of the monitoring workstation device included in the e-mail, and the image of the report is transmitted to the second e-mail. A network facsimile broadcasting system, wherein the transmission is performed to the transmission result notification destination information included in the information. 22. A connection to an analog public network, a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and a connection to a local area network to transmit an e-mail through the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network At least one of the following: a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via a LAN, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. Output Group 3 Network Fac A facsimile machine connected to the local area network and having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network; a monitoring workstation for managing the system; When the apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus via the public network, the apparatus instructs the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the transmission notified at that time. The transmission result notification destination information indicating the destination of the result and the received image information are transmitted to the mail server device using the first electronic mail, and the mail server device transmits the information from the input side group 3 network facsimile device. When receiving the first e-mail, information for instructing transfer of image information Address information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, transmission result notification destination information included in the first electronic mail, a mail address of the monitoring workstation device, The image information included in the first e-mail is transmitted to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus using the second e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus transmits the received e-mail as a transfer instruction. In the case of the second electronic mail including information, a call is made to destination information included in the second electronic mail using an analog public network,
Transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, creating a report representing the transmission result, and using the e-mail to send the created report to the monitoring workstation included in the second e-mail A network facsimile broadcasting system, wherein an image of the report is transmitted to a transmission result notification destination information included in the second electronic mail, while being transmitted to a mail address of the apparatus. 23. A connection to a public network, a function of communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and a function of connecting to a local area network and transmitting image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging electronic mail via the local area network, a group 3 facsimile connected to an analog public network, and connected to the analog public network. One or more output side group 3 network facsimile machines having a function of communicating image information with the apparatus and having a function of connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. Connected to the digital public network and A function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via a digital public network, and a function of connecting to the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. One or more output side group 4 network facsimile machines, and a function for connecting to the local area network and exchanging e-mails via the local area network, and a monitoring workstation for managing the system. Upon receiving the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile device via the public network, the input-side network facsimile device receives the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the The destination of the transmission result notified when The transmission result notification destination information and the received image information are transmitted to the mail server device using a first electronic mail, and the mail server device transmits one or more destinations corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination. Information and group 3 / group 4 of destination facsimile machines corresponding to the respective destination information
When the first electronic mail is received from the input side network facsimile apparatus, a transfer destination table in which the type of the function is registered is provided. The group 3 / group 4 functions of the destination information and the respective destination information are acquired, and for the destination information in which the group 3 function is registered, the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus is selected, and the selected output side group 3 is selected. Information instructing the facsimile apparatus to transfer image information, the destination information, transmission result notification destination information included in the first electronic mail, a mail address of the monitoring workstation device, The image information included in the first e-mail is transmitted using the second e-mail, and the group 4 function is registered. For the destination information, the group 4 output side network facsimile apparatus is selected, information for instructing the selected output side group 4 facsimile apparatus to transfer image information, the destination information, and the first The transmission result notification destination information included in the e-mail, the mail address of the monitoring workstation device, and the image information included in the first e-mail are transmitted using a third e-mail. When the received electronic mail is the above-mentioned second electronic mail including the information of the transfer instruction, the group 3 network facsimile apparatus calls the destination information included in the second electronic mail using the analog public network. And
Transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, creating a report representing the transmission result, and using the e-mail to send the created report to the monitoring workstation included in the second e-mail The e-mail is transmitted to the e-mail address of the apparatus, and the image of the report is transmitted to the transmission result notification destination information included in the second e-mail. In the case of the third electronic mail including the information of the third electronic mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the third electronic mail using the digital public network,
Transmitting the image information included in the third e-mail, creating a report representing the transmission result, and using the e-mail to send the created report to the monitoring workstation included in the third e-mail A network facsimile broadcasting system wherein the image of the report is transmitted to a transmission result notification destination information included in the third electronic mail, while being transmitted to a mail address of the apparatus. 24. In the first electronic mail, the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the information indicating the transfer destination are arranged in a comment in a destination address field or text information. Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4 or Claim 5 or Claim 6 or Claim 7 or Claim 8 or Claim 9 or Claim 10 or Claim 11 or Claim 12
Or a network facsimile broadcast according to claim 13 or claim 14 or claim 15 or claim 16 or claim 17 or claim 18 or claim 19 or claim 20 or claim 21 or claim 22 or claim 23. system. 25. In the second e-mail, the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are arranged in a comment or text information of a destination address field. Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4 or Claim 5 or Claim 6 or Claim 7 or Claim 8 or Claim 9 or Claim 10 or Claim 11 or Claim 11
Or claim 12 or claim 13 or claim 14 or claim 15 or claim 16 or claim 17 or claim 18 or claim 19 or claim 20 or claim 21 or claim 22 or claim 23 or claim 23. Network facsimile broadcasting system. 26. In the third e-mail, the information instructing the transfer of the image information and the destination information corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination are arranged in a comment in the destination address field or in the body information. 23. The network facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 13, wherein the network facsimile is broadcast. 27. A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. When receiving the image information of the transfer request from the facsimile machine via the public network, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information Is transmitted to a mail server device on the local area network using an electronic mail. 28. A connection to a public network, a function of communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and a connection to a local area network, and communication of image information using electronic mail via the local area network. If the received e-mail contains the information of the transfer instruction,
A network facsimile machine wherein a call is made to destination information included in the electronic mail using a public network, and image information included in the electronic mail is transmitted. 29. A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. If the received e-mail includes the transfer instruction information and the transmission destination notification e-mail address, a call is made to the destination information included in the e-mail using the public network, and the e-mail A network facsimile apparatus, which transmits image information included in the information, generates a report representing the transmission result, and transmits the generated report to the notification destination e-mail address by e-mail. 30. A connection to a public network, a function of communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and a connection to a local area network, and communication of image information using electronic mail via the local area network. If the received e-mail includes the information of the transfer instruction, the destination e-mail address of the transmission result, and the destination information of the transmission result, the public network is added to the destination information included in the e-mail. Send a call, send the image information contained in the e-mail, create a report representing the transmission result, and send the created report to the notification destination e-mail address by e-mail, A network facsimile apparatus, wherein an image of a report is transmitted to the notification destination information. 31. A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. In a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of performing, when image information of a transfer request is received from a facsimile apparatus via a public network, information indicating an instruction to transfer image information and a transfer destination notified at that time are displayed. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus, wherein information and received image information are transmitted to a mail server apparatus on the local area network by using an electronic mail. 32. A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. In a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of performing
A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus, wherein a call is made to destination information included in the electronic mail using a public network, and image information included in the electronic mail is transmitted. 33. A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. In the control method of the network facsimile apparatus having the function of performing the above, when the received e-mail includes the information of the transfer instruction and the destination e-mail address of the transmission result, the public network is used Call, send the image information contained in the e-mail, create a report showing the transmission result, and send the created report to the notification destination e-mail address by e-mail. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus, characterized in that: 34. A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network. In a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus having a function of performing the following, when the received e-mail includes information of a transfer instruction, a destination e-mail address of a transmission result, and destination information of a transmission result, the e-mail Make a call to the included destination information using a public network, transmit the image information included in the e-mail, create a report showing the transmission result, and send the created report to the e-mail In addition to sending the report image to the e-mail address, the image of the report is sent to the notification destination address information. The method of the network facsimile apparatus according to. 35. A computer which is connected to a public network and has a function of communicating image information with a facsimile apparatus via the public network, and which is connected to a local area network and transmits image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to the public network A plurality of output side network facsimile devices having a function of communicating with the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. The facsimile machine can be accessed via a public network. When receiving the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the priority of communication from the facsimile apparatus, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, Transmitting the information indicating the priority of the first e-mail to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and receiving the first e-mail from the input side network facsimile device,
Information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail,
The image information included in the first electronic mail is sent to the output side network facsimile apparatus selected based on the information indicating the priority included in the first electronic mail.
When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction, the output-side network facsimile apparatus transmits the received e-mail using the second e-mail. A network facsimile broadcasting system, wherein a call is made to destination information to be transmitted using a public network, and image information contained in the second electronic mail is transmitted. 36. A connection to an analog public network, a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and a connection to a local area network to transmit an e-mail through the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus through the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Facsimile The input-side group 3 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the priority of communication from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and instructs the transfer of the image information. And transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the priority of communication to the mail server device using a first electronic mail. When the first electronic mail is received from the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus, information for instructing transfer of image information and destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail are provided. , The image information included in the first e-mail,
A second e-mail is used to transmit to the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus selected based on the information indicating the priority included in the first e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus includes: When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using an analog public network,
A network facsimile broadcasting system, wherein image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. 37. A connection to a digital public network, a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and a connection to a local area network to transmit an e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and a digital public network connected to a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Facsimile The input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the priority of communication from the group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and instructs the image information to be transferred. And transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the priority of communication to the mail server device using a first electronic mail. When receiving the first electronic mail from the input side group 4 network facsimile machine, information for instructing transfer of image information and destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail are provided. , The image information included in the first e-mail,
A second e-mail is used to transmit to the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus selected based on the information indicating the priority included in the first e-mail, and the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus includes: If the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using a digital public network,
A network facsimile broadcasting system, wherein image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. 38. A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and transmitting the image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to the public network A plurality of output side network facsimile devices having a function of communicating with the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. The facsimile machine can be accessed via a public network. When receiving the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the designated transmission time from the facsimile apparatus, information instructing the transfer of the image information, information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the transmission designation Transmitting the information indicating the time to the mail server device using a first electronic mail, the mail server device receiving the first electronic mail from the input side network facsimile device,
Information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail,
The image information included in the first electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side network facsimile apparatuses at the time corresponding to the information indicating the designated transmission time included in the first electronic mail. When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, the output-side network facsimile apparatus sends the public information to the destination information included in the second e-mail. A network facsimile broadcasting system wherein a call is made using a network and image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. 39. A connection to an analog public network, a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and a connection to a local area network to transmit an e-mail through the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus through the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Facsimile The input-side group 3 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the designated transmission time from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and receives the information for instructing the transfer of the image information. Transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the designated transmission time to the mail server device using a first e-mail; When the first electronic mail is received from the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus, information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, and The image information included in the first e-mail is
A second electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses at a time corresponding to the information indicating the designated transmission time included in the first electronic mail, using the second electronic mail. When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, the network facsimile apparatus calls the destination information included in the second e-mail using the analog public network,
A network facsimile broadcasting system, wherein image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. 40. It has a function of connecting to a digital public network and communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and is connected to a local area network to send an e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and a digital public network connected to a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Facsimile The input-side Group 4 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the designated transmission time from the Group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and receives the information for instructing the transfer of the image information. Transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the designated transmission time to the mail server device using a first e-mail; When the first electronic mail is received from the input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus, information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, The image information included in the first e-mail is
A second electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses at a time corresponding to the information indicating the designated transmission time included in the first electronic mail, using the second electronic mail. When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction, the network facsimile apparatus calls the destination information included in the second e-mail using the digital public network,
A network facsimile broadcasting system, wherein image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. 41. It has a function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and transmitting image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to the public network A plurality of output side network facsimile devices having a function of communicating with the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. The facsimile machine can be accessed via a public network. When receiving the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the transmission time zone from the facsimile apparatus, the information instructing the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the transmission time Transmitting the information representing the band to the mail server device using a first e-mail, the mail server device receiving the first e-mail from the input side network facsimile device,
Information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail,
The image information included in the first electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side network facsimile apparatuses at a time corresponding to the information indicating the transmission time zone included in the first electronic mail. When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, the output-side network facsimile apparatus sends the public information to the destination information included in the second e-mail. A network facsimile broadcasting system wherein a call is made using a network and image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. 42. A function of connecting to an analog public network and communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and connecting to a local area network to transmit an e-mail through the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus through the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Facsimile The input-side group 3 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the transmission time zone from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and receives the information for instructing the transfer of the image information. Transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the transmission time zone to the mail server device using a first e-mail; When the first electronic mail is received from the input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus, information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, and The image information included in the first e-mail is
A second electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses at a time corresponding to the information indicating the transmission time zone included in the first electronic mail, using the second electronic mail. When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the transfer instruction information, the network facsimile apparatus calls the destination information included in the second e-mail using the analog public network,
A network facsimile broadcasting system, wherein image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. 43. It has a function of connecting to a digital public network and communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and is connected to a local area network to send an e-mail via the local area network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and a digital public network connected to a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Facsimile The input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the transmission time zone from the group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and receives the information for instructing the transfer of the image information. Transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, the received image information, and the information indicating the transmission time zone to the mail server device using a first e-mail; When the first electronic mail is received from the input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus, information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail, The image information included in the first e-mail is
A second electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses at a time corresponding to the information indicating the transmission time zone included in the first electronic mail, using the second electronic mail. When the received e-mail is the second e-mail including the information of the transfer instruction, the network facsimile apparatus calls the destination information included in the second e-mail using the digital public network,
A network facsimile broadcasting system, wherein image information included in the second electronic mail is transmitted. 44. The output-side network facsimile machine creates a transmission result report representing the transmission result of the image information, notifies the transmission result report to the mail server device by using an electronic mail, The server device manages the communication history information based on the transmission result report included in the e-mail received from the output side network facsimile device, and creates a communication report representing a list of the communication history information as necessary. 43. The facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 35, wherein the output is performed. 45. The output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus creates a transmission result report representing a transmission result of the image information, and notifies the transmission result report to the mail server device by using an electronic mail; The mail server device manages communication history information based on a transmission result report included in an e-mail received from the output side group 3 network facsimile device, and displays a list of the communication history information as necessary. 43. The facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 36, wherein the facsimile broadcasting system generates and outputs the facsimile. 46. The output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus creates a transmission result report representing the transmission result of the image information, and notifies the transmission result report to the mail server device by using an electronic mail. The mail server device manages communication history information based on a transmission result report included in an e-mail received from the output side group 4 network facsimile device, and displays a list of the communication history information as necessary. 44. A facsimile broadcasting system according to claim 37, wherein said facsimile broadcasting system creates and outputs the facsimile. 47. A function of connecting to a public network and communicating image information with a facsimile machine via the public network, and connecting to a local area network and transmitting the image information using electronic mail via the local area network. An input-side network facsimile device having a function of communicating, a mail server device having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a facsimile device connected to a public network, and image information connected to the public network A plurality of output side network facsimile devices having a function of communicating with the local area network and communicating image information using e-mail via the local area network. The facsimile machine can be accessed via a public network. Upon receiving the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the delivery date designation from the facsimile apparatus, the information indicating the transfer of the image information, the information indicating the transfer destination notified at that time, and the received image information and the delivery date designation are displayed. Transmitting information to the mail server device using a first e-mail, the mail server device receiving the first e-mail from the input side network facsimile device,
Information instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first electronic mail,
The image information included in the first e-mail is transmitted to any one of the output side network facsimile devices using a second e-mail, and the output side network facsimile device transmits the received e-mail with a transfer instruction. In the case of the above-mentioned second e-mail including the above information, a call is made to the destination information contained in the second e-mail using the public network, and the image information contained in the second e-mail is transmitted. Then, transmission result information representing the transmission result is transmitted to the mail server device using a third e-mail, and the mail server device receives the third e-mail, The transmission result information included in the e-mail is checked, and if the transmission fails, the time is within a predetermined time after receiving the transfer request from the facsimile machine. Transmitting the second e-mail to any one of the output side network facsimile apparatuses, and when the time exceeds a predetermined time after receiving the transfer request from the facsimile apparatus, A non-delivery report indicating that the transfer operation has failed is created, and destination information indicating the transmission destination of the non-delivery report and image information of the non-delivery report are output to any one of the above-described output terminals by using a fourth e-mail. When the received electronic mail is the fourth electronic mail, the output side network facsimile transmits to the destination information included in the fourth electronic mail using a public network. A network facsimile apparatus for calling and transmitting image information of the non-delivery report included in the fourth e-mail. Miri broadcast system. 48. A connection to an analog public network, a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile machine via the analog public network, and a connection to a local area network to transmit an e-mail through the local area network. An input side group 3 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and an analog public network connected to an analog public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 3 facsimile apparatus through the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 3 Network Facsimile The input-side network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the delivery date designation from the group 3 facsimile apparatus via the analog public network, and instructs the transfer of the image information; Transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified to the mail server, the received image information and the information indicating the delivery date designation to the mail server device using a first e-mail, and the mail server device transmits the input group 3 network Upon receiving the first e-mail from the facsimile apparatus, information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first e-mail, and the first e-mail Image information included in
A second electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 3 network facsimile devices, and the output side group 3 network facsimile device transmits the second electronic mail including information of a transfer instruction to the received electronic mail. If it is an e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the second e-mail using an analog public network,
After transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, transmission result information representing the transmission result is transmitted to the mail server device using a third e-mail, and the mail server device When the third e-mail is received, the transmission result information included in the third e-mail is checked, and if the transmission fails, the time is set to a predetermined time after the transfer request from the group 3 facsimile apparatus is received. When the second electronic mail is sent to any one of the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses,
If a predetermined time has elapsed since the transfer request was received from the facsimile machine, a non-delivery report indicating that the requested image information transfer operation has failed is created, and destination information indicating the transmission destination of the non-delivery report. And transmitting the image information of the non-delivery report to any one of the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatuses using a fourth e-mail, and the output side group 3 network facsimile apparatus In the case of the fourth e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the fourth e-mail using the analog public network, and the image information of the non-delivery report included in the fourth e-mail is transmitted. A network facsimile broadcasting system, characterized in that: 49. It has a function of connecting to a digital public network and communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and connecting to a local area network to send an e-mail through the local area network. An input side group 4 network facsimile apparatus having a function of communicating image information to be used, a mail server apparatus having a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, and a digital public network connected to a digital public network A plurality of output terminals having a function of communicating image information with a group 4 facsimile apparatus via the local area network, and having a function of communicating image information using electronic mail via the local area network via the local area network. Group 4 Network Facsimile The input-side network facsimile apparatus receives the image information of the transfer request and the information indicating the delivery date designation from the group 4 facsimile apparatus via the digital public network, and receives the information instructing the transfer of the image information. Transmitting the information indicating the transfer destination notified to the mail server device and the information representing the received image information and the delivery date designation to the mail server device using a first e-mail; Upon receiving the first e-mail from the facsimile apparatus, information for instructing transfer of image information, destination information corresponding to information indicating a transfer destination included in the first e-mail, and the first e-mail Image information included in
A second electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses, and the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus transmits the second electronic mail including a transfer instruction information to the received electronic mail. If it is a mail, a call is made to the destination information contained in the second e-mail using a digital public network,
After transmitting the image information included in the second e-mail, transmission result information representing the transmission result is transmitted to the mail server device using a third e-mail, and the mail server device When the third e-mail is received, the transmission result information included in the third e-mail is checked. If the transmission fails, the time is set to a predetermined time after the transfer request from the group 4 facsimile apparatus is received. When the second electronic mail is transmitted to any one of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses,
If a predetermined time has elapsed since the transfer request was received from the facsimile machine, a non-delivery report indicating that the requested image information transfer operation has failed is created, and destination information indicating the transmission destination of the non-delivery report. And transmitting the image information of the non-delivery report to any one of the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatuses using a fourth e-mail, and the output side group 4 network facsimile apparatus In the case of the fourth e-mail, a call is made to the destination information included in the fourth e-mail using the digital public network, and the image information of the non-delivery report included in the fourth e-mail is transmitted. A network facsimile broadcasting system, characterized in that: