JP2003250026A - Information communication apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information communication apparatus capable of controlling execution of print processing depending on a time zone and reducing the apparatus cost while ensuring the maintainability of received image data. <P>SOLUTION: Whether or not a facsimile reception event is caused is judged at a preset print inhibit time zone (S4), when it is judged that the reception event is caused in the time zone, received data are transmitted to a mail server by electronic mail (S6), when it is judged that the reception even is caused at a time zone other than the time zone, the reception data are supplied to a print section and a printout is executed (S8). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information communication apparatus having a facsimile communication function and a data communication function such as electronic mail, and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art During a time period (for example, at night) when it is considered that no one is processing the facsimile output paper, the received image data is not printed out immediately but stored in a built-in memory. Every now and then, there has been proposed a facsimile apparatus that prints all at once at a predetermined time. According to such a device, it is possible to prevent the output paper from being scattered and lost due to the printout during a time when a person is not in use for a long time.

[0003]

The above-mentioned facsimile apparatus has a problem that the apparatus cost increases. The cause is mainly due to the following circumstances.

First, in order to implement the above function without error, it is necessary to provide a large-capacity memory in consideration of the possibility of receiving a large amount of image data during the time when print output is not performed. thing.

Secondly, a volatile dynamic RAM is generally used as the memory. Therefore, it is necessary to have a backup power supply circuit with a secondary battery that automatically recharges the received image data so that it will not be lost due to an accident such as an unexpected power failure.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the cost of an information communication device capable of controlling the execution of a printing process depending on the time zone while ensuring the integrity of received image data.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, for example, an information communication device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an information communication device having a facsimile communication means for performing facsimile communication and a data communication means for transmitting / receiving electronic mail data via a predetermined external device, and performs printing on a recording medium based on the supplied data. Printing means, judging means for judging whether a reception event by the facsimile communication means has occurred in a first time zone, and if it is judged that the reception event has occurred in the first time zone, the reception When data is transmitted to the external device by the data communication unit and it is determined that the reception event has occurred in the second time zone other than the first time zone, the reception data is supplied to the printing unit. And a control means.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The information communication apparatus according to the present invention has an electronic mail communication function realized via a network in addition to a facsimile communication function realized via a telephone line. A system for exchanging electronic mails is composed of a mail server for delivering mails and a client for sending and receiving mails such as this machine. Generally, received mails are temporarily stored in the mail server, The client inquires whether there is an incoming mail,
It is configured to receive incoming mail.

The present invention intends to use the storage area for a received mail built in the mail server instead of the image storage memory of the own apparatus.

As a mode of using electronic mail via the Internet, generally, (1) a private LAN environment, a mail server, and a gateway are provided, and (2) an Internet service provider (hereinafter referred to as ISP) is dialed. There is one that connects up and accesses the mail server of the ISP.

When a private LAN and mail server are provided, it does not cost to send and receive e-mail between the mail server and the client, but with dial-up connection, whether or not there is a received mail is of course required when sending mail. Just by checking, just like a normal phone, the call charge was charged each time, which was very uneconomical.

However, in recent years, cable Internet using CATV cables and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line: Digital Subscriber) using the high frequency band of telephone lines are used.
Line) communication is becoming popular as a constant and flat-rate connection environment to the Internet. In this constant flat-rate connection, there is an advantage that the usage fee is a flat-rate system and that it can be used simultaneously with facsimile communication via a telephone line.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to set a time zone during which image data is not printed out immediately even when received by facsimile, and a built-in clock function is used to determine whether or not the time zone is during which printout is not performed. During the time period when the image is not printed out, the received image data is electronically transmitted as an electronic mail addressed to the own device. Also, during this time,
It is preferable to stop the confirmation processing of the received mail to the mail server. On the other hand, in the time zone other than the set time zone, the image data is printed out as it is received by facsimile. Further, during this time period, it is preferable that the mail receiving process is also periodically executed and the received mail is printed out.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a network facsimile 10 as an information communication apparatus in the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an arithmetic control unit (CPU) for controlling the operation of each unit of the apparatus through a system bus A, which stores a ROM for storing instruction codes and a RAM for storing control data. To include. Reference numeral 2 is a clock for measuring the current time. Reference numeral 3 is a facsimile communication unit that performs facsimile transmission / reception via the telephone line B, and includes a modem and a telephone network control function.

4 is connected to a network (LAN) C,
A LAN interface unit for sending and receiving electronic mail and for receiving print data as a network printer. Reference numeral 5 is an operation unit for inputting operation instructions to the apparatus, displaying the state of the apparatus, and the like.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a document reading section which reads a document image and converts it into an electric signal. 7 is a facsimile communication unit 3
The printing unit prints out the image data received in step 2, print data input via the LAN interface 4, received electronic mail, and the like on paper.

A memory 8 stores image data from the facsimile communication unit 3, electronic mail data from the LAN interface unit 4, image data read by the reading unit 6, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a LAN (C) including the network facsimile machine 10 having the configuration shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, the LAN (C) includes a gateway 11 for connecting to the Internet and enabling data transmission / reception, a mail server 12 for providing an electronic mail service to each client in the LAN, Network facsimile 1 as a client
0, personal computers (PC) 13a, 13b are connected.

The operation of the network facsimile 10 in the above-mentioned "non-printing time zone" will be described with reference to FIG.

First, it is assumed that an incoming call is made to the network facsimile machine 10 via the telephone line B (route s). The network facsimile 10 responds to it,
It executes a communication protocol that determines whether the call destination is a facsimile.

When it is determined that the call destination requests facsimile transmission, the network facsimile 10 refers to the current time, determines whether or not it is a time zone during which printing is not performed, and affirms (that is, prints). In the case of a time zone in which the image is not output), the facsimile reception is executed, but instead of the print output operation, the image data received by the facsimile is sent to the mail server 12 as an electronic mail whose destination is the mail account of the own device 10. Send (route t).

When it is judged by the built-in clock 2 that it is time to print out, the mail server 12 is inquired about whether there is an incoming mail, and if there is an incoming mail, it is acquired and printed by the printing section 7 of the network facsimile 10. Execute the output. This received mail includes the electronic mail sent by itself related to the image data received by the facsimile during the time period when it is not printed (route u).

FIG. 3 shows a network facsimile 10.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a network configuration in the case of connecting to the ISP via DSL.

In the figure, reference numeral 20 is a facsimile transmission source facsimile connected to a telephone network, and 21 is a telephone line exchange installed in a telephone office building. Reference numeral 22 is a splitter for separating an electric signal on a telephone line connecting the telephone station building and the subscriber's house into a band signal for telephone service and a band signal for DSL communication, which is installed on the station side.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a DSLAM (Digita) which accommodates a plurality of DSL modems and has a function of multiplexing to the backbone.
Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer). 24
Is a mail server installed in the network of the ISP, and 25 is a gateway for connecting the network of the ISP to the Internet. Mail server 2
4 is a mail for the network facsimile 10.
Manage your account.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a splitter which is paired with the splitter 22 in the station building and is installed in the subscriber's premises which functions in the same manner. 27 is a DSL modem. 28 is a plurality of Ethernet (registered trademark) connecting devices in the subscriber's premises. Is a router for electrically connecting to the DSL modem 27.

The router 28 is connected to the PC in the subscriber's home.
29a, 29b and network facsimile 10
Are connected. Further, a telephone 30 in the subscriber's home for making a call via the circuit switched telephone network is connected to the network facsimile 10.

Facsimile reception from the source facsimile 20 is performed through the following route.

A call is received from the telephone network to the network facsimile machine 10 via the exchange 21, the station side splitter 22, the telephone line, and the subscriber side splitter 26. In response to this, the network facsimile 10 carries out facsimile communication with the source facsimile 20 (path p).

Here, when the network facsimile machine 10 judges by the clock 2 that it is the time zone for the proxy reception, the facsimile image just received is sent to the mail server 24 via the LAN interface section 4 through the following route. Send as email.

The electronic mail data is the router 28, DSL.
Converted to DSL signal via modem 27,
Using the telephone line, station side splitter 22, DSLAM2
Connect to 3. Further, it logs in to the network of the ISP trader and sends an e-mail to the mail server 24 of the trader (path q).

Then, the network facsimile 10
When the clock 2 determines that the predetermined time has come,
The mail server 24 is queried for the presence or absence of incoming mail, and if there is an incoming mail, it is acquired and the printing unit 7 prints out.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the network facsimile 10 in the network configuration of FIG. 3 when receiving a facsimile.

First, in step S1, a call signal is detected and a line is captured to respond to an incoming call.

Next, in step S2, it is determined according to a facsimile communication procedure whether or not the incoming call is a facsimile transmission request. Step S when receiving a facsimile
4. If not, proceed to step S3. When the process proceeds to step S3, the telephone line is opened and the process ends.

In step S4, the time is referred to from the clock 2 and it is determined whether or not the time is a "reception printing prohibited time zone" in which only image data is received and no image is printed out at that time. To do. If it is the time zone, step S
5. If not, proceed to step S7.

In step S5, facsimile reception is executed and the received image data is stored in the memory 8. Next, in step S6, the facsimile reception image received in step S5 is transmitted to the mail server 24 as an electronic mail addressed to the mail account of the own device 10. When mail is sent normally, memory 8
Then, the facsimile received image data stored in is erased, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that it is not the "reception print prohibited time zone", step S7
Then, the facsimile reception is executed and the received image data is temporarily stored in the memory 8. Then, in step S8, the print unit 7 prints out the received image on the paper, and the process ends.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a process of extracting a received mail from the mail server 24 of the network facsimile 10 in the network configuration of FIG. It is assumed that this processing is automatically executed every time a predetermined time elapses.

First, in step S10, when the mail reception process is started, it is determined whether or not the current time is a "reception print prohibited time zone" by referring to the time from the clock 2. If it is determined that it is the time zone, the process is terminated, and if not, the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S11, access authentication processing is performed on the mail server 24. Next, step S12
Then, the mail server 24 is inquired whether or not there is a mail addressed to the mail account of the own device 10. If there is a received mail, go to step S13,
If not, the process ends.

In step S13, it is determined whether the printing unit 7 is ready for printing. If it is in a printable state, the process proceeds to step S14, and if not, the process ends.

In step S14, one received mail is received from the mail server 24. Next, step S15
Then, the printing unit 7 prints out the received mail. Next, in step S16, the mail server 24 is inquired whether or not there is another received mail. If it exists, the process returns to step S13, and if it does not exist, the process ends.

As described above, according to the embodiment,
In a network facsimile as an information communication device capable of setting a time period during which printing of received image data is prohibited, image data received during the time period is moved to a mail server, which is an external device, by e-mail. Since the network facsimile itself does not need to store a large amount of image data, the memory capacity can be reduced. As a result, the device cost can be reduced.

Further, according to the embodiment, the image data received by facsimile as described above is stored in an external mail server instead of being stored in the own device, so that the own device can cope with an unexpected power failure. It is not necessary to provide a circuit for memory backup. As a result, the cost of the device can be reduced while ensuring the integrity of the received data. In particular, when an ISP mail server is used, it is geographically distant from its own device, and therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to maintain safety against disasters, fires, etc., in addition to dealing with power outages.

The present invention is a software program (FIGS. 4 and 5) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments.
The program corresponding to the flowchart shown in 1) is directly or remotely supplied to the device, and the device reads and executes the supplied program.

Therefore, the program code itself supplied to the apparatus for implementing the functional processing of the present invention also implements the present invention. That is, the claims of the present invention include the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the information communication apparatus capable of controlling the execution of the printing process depending on the time zone, it is possible to reduce the apparatus cost while ensuring the integrity of the received image data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network facsimile according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a LAN including a network facsimile in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a network configuration when the network facsimile in the embodiment is connected to an ISP via DSL.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a network facsimile in the network configuration of FIG. 3 when receiving a facsimile.

5 is a flowchart showing a process of extracting a received mail from a mail server of the network facsimile in the network configuration of FIG.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An information communication apparatus having a facsimile communication means for performing facsimile communication and a data communication means for transmitting and receiving electronic mail data via a predetermined external device, wherein a recording medium is recorded on a recording medium based on the supplied data. Printing means for printing, judgment means for judging whether or not a reception event by the facsimile communication means has occurred in a first time zone, and when it is judged that the reception event has occurred in the first time zone , The received data is transmitted to the external device by the data communication unit, and the received event is the first event.
An information communication device, comprising: a control unit that supplies the received data to the printing unit when it is determined that the data has occurred in a second time period other than the time period. 2. The information communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes an acquisition unit that acquires the received data from the external device only in the second time zone. 3. The information communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting the first time zone. 4. A facsimile communication means for performing facsimile communication, a data communication means for transmitting and receiving electronic mail data via a predetermined external device, and a printing means for printing on a recording medium based on the supplied data. A method of controlling an information communication device, comprising: determining whether a reception event by the facsimile communication unit has occurred in a first time period; and determining that the reception event has occurred in the first time period. And a step of transmitting the received data to the external device by the data communication means, and the received data when the reception event is determined to have occurred in a second time zone other than the first time zone. And a step of supplying the printing means to the printing means. 5. The control method of the information communication device according to claim 4, further comprising a step of acquiring the received data from the external device only in the second time zone. 6. A facsimile communication means for performing facsimile communication, a data communication means for transmitting and receiving electronic mail data via a predetermined external device, and a printing means for printing on a recording medium based on the supplied data. A program for controlling an information communication device, the step of determining whether or not a reception event by the facsimile communication means has occurred in a first time period, and determining that the reception event has occurred in the first time period The step of transmitting the received data to the external device by the data communication means, when the reception event is determined to have occurred in a second time zone other than the first time zone, A program for executing the step of supplying data to the printing means.