JP3573251B2 - Control method of network facsimile system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a plurality of workstation devices connected to a local area network and having at least a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a function of exchanging data on the local area network, and a public network A function of exchanging facsimile data according to a facsimile transmission procedure performed through the facsimile transmission procedure, a sub-address information received by the facsimile transmission procedure, and an address conversion table storing a network address corresponding to the sub-address information in association with the public network, The image information received via the local area network is transmitted to the destination terminal of the network address stored in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received. A control method of a network facsimile system and a network facsimile device that delivers over.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a plurality of workstation devices connected to a local area network and having at least a function of exchanging e-mails via the local area network, a function of exchanging data on the local area network, and a public network A function of exchanging facsimile data according to the facsimile transmission procedure, and a sub-address information received by the facsimile transmission procedure, and an address conversion table storing the network address corresponding to the sub-address information in association with the sub-address information. The received image information is transmitted via the local area network to the destination terminal of the network address stored in the address conversion table corresponding to the subaddress information notified from the partner terminal at the time of receiving the image information. Network facsimile system including a network facsimile device that delivers Te are proposed.
[0003]
Usually, the distribution of image information from the network facsimile apparatus to the destination terminal is performed using a so-called Internet-type electronic mail.
[0004]
By using such a network facsimile machine, image information from a facsimile machine connected to a public network can be distributed to a workstation device connected to a local area network, greatly increasing the usability of the facsimile network. It can be expanded to be very convenient.
[0005]
Further, when the connected local area network is connected to the Internet, the image information transmission operation can be performed also to a terminal device connected to another local area network via the Internet. .
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a network facsimile system using such a network facsimile apparatus, the following inconvenience has occurred.
[0007]
That is, on the Internet, electronic mail is sequentially transferred to a plurality of mail server devices, and arrives at a mail server device whose intended destination terminal receives the service.
[0008]
Therefore, a large number of mail server devices are interposed in the transfer route of the electronic mail, and there is a possibility that a mail server device that limits the data amount of the body information of the electronic mail is present. For example, 64 KB (kilobytes; 1 KB = 1024 B, 1 B = 8 bits) is often applied as the limit value of the data amount of the body information.
[0009]
By the way, there is a restriction that the text information of an electronic mail must be basically readable information of a 7-bit code. In this case, since the image information to be transmitted by the network facsimile apparatus is binary data, Cannot send directly.
[0010]
Therefore, the image information is usually converted into MIME (described later) format information, and the image information of the MIME information is arranged in the body information of the electronic mail.
[0011]
On the other hand, the data amount of the image information is relatively large, and in some cases, the data amount of the converted MIME information may exceed the limit value of the data amount of the body information in the mail server device. The mail server device discards the electronic mail for distributing the image information, and as a result, a situation may occur in which the image information cannot be distributed to the user of the target destination terminal.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a method of controlling a network facsimile system that can reliably deliver image information to a user of a target destination terminal.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a plurality of workstation devices connected to a local area network and having at least a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a function of exchanging data on the local area network, and a public network A function of exchanging facsimile data according to a facsimile transmission procedure performed through the facsimile transmission procedure, a sub-address information received by the facsimile transmission procedure, and an address conversion table storing a network address corresponding to the sub-address information in association with the public network, The image information received via the local area network is transmitted to the destination terminal of the network address stored in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received. In the method for controlling a network facsimile system provided with a network facsimile apparatus for distributing image data via the public facsimile apparatus, the network facsimile apparatus stores image information received via the public network, and a data amount of the image information is smaller than a predetermined value. When the image information is larger, the image information is divided within the predetermined value and in units of pages of the received image information to form two or more divided parts and corresponds to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received. Then, a plurality of e-mails each having the image information divided into the two or more divided parts as the body information are transmitted to the destination terminal of the network address stored in the address conversion table. is there.
[0016]
Further, when receiving a plurality of e-mails in which the image information of the divided parts is arranged in the body information, the workstation device creates the received image information by connecting the image information of all the divided parts in the order of division. It was made.
[0017]
Further, the network facsimile apparatus arranges information indicating the order of division in a “Subject” field of a plurality of e-mails in which image information of a divided part is arranged in body information. When a plurality of e-mails in which the image information of the part is arranged in the body information is received, the image information of all the divided parts is linked in the order of division by referring to the information indicating the division order arranged in the “Subject” field. Then, the received image information is created.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
In FIG. 1, a plurality of workstations WS1 to WSn, a mail server SM, and a network facsimile machine FX are connected to a local area network LAN. The local area network LAN is connected to the Internet via a router RT, and can exchange various data with a host device or the like connected to another local area network or the like.
[0021]
Here, the mail server device SM provides a service for collecting and distributing electronic mail (described later) to users using the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and to the network facsimile device FX. Is provided.
[0022]
The workstation devices WS1 to WSn include application software (e-mail transmission / reception processing, etc.) for exchanging various data via the local area network LAN, and images included in e-mail received from the network facsimile device FX. Various programs such as application software for processing information have been introduced, and are used by specific users. Here, the specific user may be one or more users.
[0023]
The network facsimile machine FX has a function of transmitting and receiving an e-mail in the local area network LAN, a predetermined information according to a predetermined point-to-point transmission procedure between the workstations WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN. It has various communication (communication) functions such as a communication function and a transmission function for connecting to a public network (PSTN) and transmitting image information according to a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure using the public network as a transmission path. . Further, transmission (distribution) of facsimile image information from the network facsimile machine FX to (the user of) the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn is performed using electronic mail.
[0024]
In this embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is performed by a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called so-called TCP / IP and a higher-order protocol. This is performed by applying a combination with a communication protocol of a layer (a so-called protocol suite). For example, when exchanging e-mail data, a communication protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied as a communication protocol of an upper layer.
[0025]
Further, as a protocol applied by each terminal to the mail server apparatus SM for confirming reception of an e-mail addressed to the user or for requesting transmission, a so-called POP (Post Office Protocol) or the like can be applied.
[0026]
Communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, and POP, and data formats and data structures of e-mails are issued by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), an organization that collects technical contents related to the Internet. It is defined by an RFC (Request For Comments) document. For example, TCP is RFC 793, IP is RFC 793, SMTP is RFC 821, and the e-mail format is RFC 822, RFC 1521, RFC 1522 (MIME (Multi-Pose Mail Extension) format).
[0027]
Then, the network facsimile machine FX sends the read document image to another group 3 facsimile machine via the public network PSTN or a user of the workstation device WS1 to WSn via the local area network LAN (furthermore, the Internet). And transmits the image information received from another group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network PSTN to the user corresponding to the sub-address specified at that time using an electronic mail, or It has a transfer service function for transferring the image information received from the workstation WS of the local area network LAN to the group 3 facsimile apparatus of the public network PSTN corresponding to the designated speed dial.
[0028]
Further, with respect to the electronic mail received to the own terminal, the image information arranged in the body information is extracted, recorded and output.
[0029]
Here, the facsimile image information is binary data, and the electronic mail cannot directly include the binary data. Therefore, a predetermined conversion method (for example, a Base64 encoding method) is applied to the readable information (7-bit data). It is included in the e-mail after being converted to a character code. Such a format of the body information of the electronic mail is called a MIME format.
[0030]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the network facsimile machine FX.
[0031]
In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each unit of the network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile transmission control procedure process, and a system memory 2 is executed by the system control unit 1. The control processing program and various data required when executing the processing program are stored, and a work area of the system control unit 1 is configured. The parameter memory 3 stores various types of data unique to the network facsimile apparatus. The clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.
[0032]
The scanner 5 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 7 operates this network facsimile apparatus. It consists of various operation keys and various indicators.
[0033]
The encoding / decoding unit 8 encodes and compresses the image signal and decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. The image storage device 9 encodes and compresses the image signal. This is for storing a large number of image information in the closed state.
[0034]
The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing the modem function of the group 3 facsimile, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging a transmission procedure signal, and mainly for exchanging image information. It has a high-speed modem function (V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27ter modem, etc.).
[0035]
The network control device 11 is for connecting the facsimile machine to a public network (PSTN) and has an automatic transmission / reception function.
[0036]
The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the Internet facsimile apparatus to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 13 communicates with other data terminal devices via the local area network LAN. It is for executing communication control processing (e-mail transmission / reception processing, point-to-point communication processing, and the like) of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data between them.
[0037]
These are a system control unit 1, a system memory 2, a parameter memory 3, a clock circuit 4, a scanner 5, a plotter 6, an operation display unit 7, an encoding / decoding unit 8, an image storage device 9, a group 3 facsimile modem 10, a network The control device 11 and the local area network transmission control unit 13 are connected to an internal bus 14, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed through the internal bus 14.
[0038]
Data exchange between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is directly performed.
[0039]
Further, the network facsimile machine FX stores an address conversion table in which the mail address of the user of the distribution destination is registered with respect to the subaddress notified from the transmission side when receiving image information from the public network. 3 is shown.
[0040]
This address conversion table stores, for each subaddress, an ID for identifying each distribution destination, a subaddress, and a mail address of the user of the distribution destination.
[0041]
Further, in this embodiment, image information received from another group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network is converted into image data of DCX format which is a standard image data format in a facsimile application of Microsoft Corporation. Of the image data is transmitted to the distribution destination user by e-mail.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 4, the DCX information is composed of header information and image data of one or more pages. Each of the image data is image data in the format of PCX (a standard image data format in a facsimile application of Microsoft Corporation). Is applied.
[0043]
The header information stores index information (position information of the first data, etc.) for each page included in the DCX information. Although not shown, the PCX information also includes header information and image data as a main body, and the header information stores attribute values such as resolution and size of the image data. The image data of the PCX information may be encoded and compressed by a predetermined method.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, when image information received from another group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network is converted into DCX information, when the data amount exceeds a predetermined value, for example, 64 KB, the DCX information is transmitted. The data is divided at 64 KB, and each divided part (hereinafter, referred to as a "divided part") is distributed by different e-mail.
[0045]
In the “Subject” field in the header information of the electronic mail carrying the divided part, the identification information of the image information carried by the electronic mail and the division number of the divided part are arranged, and the original DCX information is reproduced on the receiving side. Configurable.
[0046]
For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, consider DCX information including image data of three pages. In this case, the data length of the header information and the image data for three pages is 128 KB, and when this is divided by 64 KB, two divided parts are formed as shown in FIG.
[0047]
Then, the data of the divided parts are converted into MIME information and set in the body information of the e-mail, and as shown in FIG. 6, the “Subject” field in the header information of the e-mail carrying the first divided part is stored in the “Subject” field. Arranges the content of “FAX Message 810355555-1234 (1/2)”, and the “Subject” field in the header information of the electronic mail carrying the second divided part includes “FAX Message 810355555-1234 ( 2/2) ".
[0048]
Here, among the information to be arranged in the “Subject” field in the header information of the electronic mail carrying the first divided part, “FAX Message” indicates that the content of the body information of the electronic mail is a facsimile message (facsimile document; image information). The following "81035555-1234" indicates the identification name of the facsimile message, and the next "(1/2)" indicates the first of the two divided parts. That is, the last "(1/2)" is a division number representing the division order.
[0049]
If the division is not performed, the content of the “Subject” field is “FAX Message 810355555-1234” or the like, and the division number is not added.
[0050]
On the other hand, in the workstation devices WS1 to WSn, when an e-mail is received, if “FAX Message” is arranged in the “Subject” field of the header information of the e-mail, the contents of the body information of the e-mail are displayed. Recognize the message as a facsimile message.
[0051]
Further, based on the next “81035555-1234”, the identification name of the facsimile message is recognized, and if a division number is added subsequently, it is recognized as an electronic mail of the divided part. In this case, the process waits until all the e-mails with the same identifier and to which the continuous division numbers are added are received. When all e-mails with the same identifier and to which a continuous division number is added are received, they are arranged in the order of the division number, the body information is converted into the data of the original divided part, and they are arranged in the order of the division number. Then, the original DCX information is restored.
[0052]
In this manner, when transmitting DCX information having a large data amount, the DCX information is divided by a predetermined value (for example, 64 KB) which is assumed to be the data length limit value of the body information of the electronic mail in the mail server device. , A plurality of e-mails, such a facsimile document can be appropriately distributed to the destination user.
[0053]
FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show an example of processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX when an incoming call is detected from the public network.
[0054]
First, when an incoming call is detected (the result of the determination 101 is YES), an incoming call is answered (process 102), a pre-transmission procedure of a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is executed (process 103), and a transmission function used at that time is performed. Are set, a modem training procedure is executed, a modem speed to be used at that time is determined (step 104), an image information receiving procedure is executed, image information is received, and the received image information is stored in an image storage device. 9 (process 105).
[0055]
When the image information receiving operation is completed, a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (process 106), and the line is restored (process 107).
[0056]
Next, it is checked whether or not the sub address signal SUB indicating the distribution destination is received at that time (decision 108). If the sub address signal SUB is not received and the result of the decision 108 is NO, the reception The image information is read and decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 8 to obtain the original image data (process 109), the image data is transferred to the plotter 6, and the received document is recorded and output (process 110). Then, the received image information for which recording has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 111), and this operation ends.
[0057]
When the sub address signal SUB is received and the result of the determination 108 is YES, the received image information stored in the image storage device 9 is converted into the above-described DCX information (process 112), and the DCX information is converted. The amount of data is checked (step 113).
[0058]
When the data length of the DCX information exceeds the predetermined value and the result of the determination 114 is YES, the DCX information is divided by the specified data length (process 115), and each division including the above-mentioned “Subject” field is performed. The header information of the part is created (step 116), the data of each divided part is converted to MIME information to create body information (step 117), and the distribution e-mail of each divided part consisting of the header information and the body information is sent by mail. The data is transmitted to the server device SM (process 118). Further, the mail address registered in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub address signal SUB is set as the destination address of the header information.
[0059]
Next, the received image information and the DCX information that have been transmitted are deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 119), and this operation ends.
[0060]
If the data length of the DCX information does not exceed the predetermined value and the result of the determination 114 is NO, the header information including the above-mentioned “Subject” field is created (processing 120), and the DCX information is stored in the MIME information. Then, the body information is created (step 121), and the distribution electronic mail including the header information and the body information is transmitted to the mail server SM (step 122). Further, the mail address registered in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub address signal SUB is set as the destination address of the header information.
[0061]
Next, the received image information and the DCX information that have been transmitted are deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 123), and this operation ends.
[0062]
FIG. 9 shows an example of a process executed when an email is received by the workstation devices WS1 to WSn. This process is part of the operation of a so-called MUA (Mail User Agent; e-mail software).
[0063]
When the e-mail is received (the result of the determination 201 is YES), the e-mail is received and stored (step 202), the “Subject” field of the header information is checked (step 203), and the received e-mail is a facsimile message. It is checked whether there is (step 204).
[0064]
If the received e-mail is not a facsimile message and the result of determination 204 is NO, a predetermined e-mail reception process is executed (process 205), and this operation ends.
[0065]
If the received electronic mail is a facsimile message and the result of determination 204 is YES, it is checked whether the received e-mail is a divided facsimile message (determination 206).
[0066]
If it is not a divided facsimile message and the result of determination 206 is NO, the body information of the received e-mail is converted into original image data (DCX information) and saved (process 207), and the saved For the DCX information, storage history information as shown in FIG. 10 is created and stored (process 208), and this operation ends.
[0067]
Also, in the case of a divided facsimile message, if the result of determination 206 is YES, the electronic mail received so far is checked to determine whether all the divided parts have been received (determination 209). If all the divided parts have not been received and the result of determination 209 is NO, this operation ends at that time.
[0068]
If all the divided parts have been received and the result of determination 209 is YES, the e-mail of each divided part is arranged in order of the division number (process 210), and the body information of the e-mail of each divided part is The original DCX information is converted by converting the image data into the original divided image data (processing 211), the image data of each divided part is connected in the order of the division number, and the original DCX information is stored (processing 212). The storage history information is created and stored for the DCX information (process 213), and this operation ends.
[0069]
The storage history information is for managing the storage history of facsimile messages, and includes a mail number, the number of divisions, a message ID of an e-mail carrying a divided part or a non-partitioned part, transmission source information, and storage. DCX information file name.
[0070]
Therefore, the user can specify the image information distributed from the network facsimile machine FX from the file name and display the image information based on the storage history information.
[0071]
When the facsimile message is received as described above, the fact may be notified to the user, and the stored DCX information may be displayed on the screen for the user.
[0072]
As described above, in this embodiment, when transmitting DCX information having a large data amount, the mail server device uses a predetermined value (for example, 64 KB) which is assumed to be the data length limit value of the body information of the electronic mail in the mail server device. Since the DCX information is divided and transmitted by a plurality of electronic mails, such a facsimile document can be appropriately distributed to the destination user.
[0073]
FIGS. 11A and 11B show another example of how DCX information is divided.
[0074]
In this case, the data length obtained by combining the header information and the image data for three pages is 128 KB. When this data is divided by 64 KB and at the page boundary, first, as shown in FIG. The image data of the first page and the second page fit into one divided part. Here, since the image data of the third page is larger than 64 KB, the image data of the third page is further divided into two by 64 KB. Therefore, in this case, three divided parts are formed.
[0075]
Then, as shown in FIG. 12, “Fax Message 810355555-1234: F1” and “FAX Message 810355555-1234: F2 (F2) are included in the“ Subject ”field in the header information of the electronic mail that carries the data of the divided parts, respectively. １ ／) ”and“ FAX Message 810355555-1234: F2 (１ ／) ”.
[0076]
Here, among the information to be arranged in the “Subject” field in the header information of the electronic mail carrying the first divided part, “FAX Message” indicates that the content of the body information of the electronic mail is a facsimile message (facsimile document; image information). The next "81035555-1234" indicates the identification name of the facsimile message, and the next ": F1 / 2" is the first of the two divided parts having the same identification name. It represents things.
[0077]
In the information arranged in the “Subject” field in the header information of the e-mail carrying the second divided part, “: F2 / 2 (1/2)” is the information of the two divided parts having the same identifier. The second part is the second part, and the second divided part is divided into two parts, which is the first divided part.
[0078]
Further, among the information arranged in the “Subject” field in the header information of the e-mail carrying the third divided part, “: F2 / 2 (2/2)” is the information of the two divided parts having the same identifier. The second part is the second one, and the second divided part is divided into two parts, which is the second divided part.
[0079]
Therefore, in this case, among the information arranged in the “Subject” field, “: F1 / 2”, “: F2 / 2 (1/2)”, and “: F2 / 2 (2/2)” are divided. This is a division number indicating the order.
[0080]
FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show an example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when an incoming call is detected from the public network in this case.
[0081]
First, when an incoming call is detected (the result of determination 301 is YES), an incoming call is answered (process 302), a pre-transmission procedure of a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is executed (process 303), and a transmission function used at that time is performed. Are set, a modem training procedure is executed, a modem speed to be used at that time is determined (process 304), an image information receiving procedure is executed, image information is received, and the received image information is stored in an image storage device. 9 (process 305).
[0082]
When the image information receiving operation is completed, a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (step 306), and the line is restored (step 307).
[0083]
Next, it is checked whether or not the sub address signal SUB indicating the distribution destination is received at that time (decision 308). If the sub address signal SUB is not received, and if the result of the decision 308 is NO, the reception from the image storage device 9 is performed. The image information is read and decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 8 to obtain the original image data (process 309), the image data is transferred to the plotter 6, and the received document is recorded and output (process 310). Then, the received image information for which recording has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 311), and this operation ends.
[0084]
When the sub address signal SUB is received and the result of determination 308 is YES, the received image information stored in the image storage device 9 is converted into the above-described DCX information (processing 312), and the DCX information is converted. It is determined whether or not includes image data of a plurality of pages (determination 313).
[0085]
If the DCX information includes a plurality of pages of image data and the result of determination 313 is YES, the DCX information is divided into specified data lengths and in units of pages (processing 314), and the specified data length is added to the divided pages. It is determined whether or not there is a value exceeding (step 315). In the case where some of the divided pages exceed the specified data length and the result of determination 315 is YES, the DCX information of the page is further divided.
[0086]
Next, for each of the divided parts, header information of each of the divided parts including the above-mentioned “Subject” field is created (process 317), and data of each of the divided parts is converted into MIME information to create body information (process 318). Then, the distribution e-mail of each divided part including the header information and the body information is transmitted to the mail server device SM (process 319). Further, the mail address registered in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub address signal SUB is set as the destination address of the header information.
[0087]
Next, the received image information and DCX information whose transmission has been completed are deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 320), and this operation is terminated.
[0088]
If the DCX information does not include image data of a plurality of pages and the result of determination 313 is NO, it is checked whether the data amount of the DCX information exceeds a prescribed data length (determination 321).
[0089]
When the data length of the DCX information exceeds the predetermined value and the result of the determination 321 is YES, the DCX information is divided by the specified data length (process 322), and each division including the above-mentioned “Subject” field is performed. The header information of the part is created (process 323), the data of each divided part is converted to MIME information to create body information (process 324), and the distribution e-mail of each divided part consisting of the header information and the body information is sent to a mail The data is transmitted to the server device SM (process 325). Further, the mail address registered in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub address signal SUB is set as the destination address of the header information.
[0090]
Next, the received image information and the DCX information whose transmission has been completed are deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 326), and this operation ends.
[0091]
If the data length of the DCX information does not exceed the predetermined value and the result of the determination 321 is NO, the header information including the above-mentioned “Subject” field is created (processing 327), and the DCX information is converted to the MIME information. To create text information (process 328), and transmit a delivery e-mail composed of header information and text information to the mail server SM (process 329). Further, the mail address registered in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub address signal SUB is set as the destination address of the header information.
[0092]
Next, the received image information and the DCX information that have been transmitted are deleted from the image storage device 9 (step 330), and this operation ends.
[0093]
Note that, in this case, the processing executed when the workstation apparatus WS1 to WSn receives the e-mail is the same as that in FIG. 9, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0094]
As described above, in this embodiment, when transmitting DCX information having a large data amount, the mail server device uses a predetermined value (for example, 64 KB) which is assumed to be the data length limit value of the body information of the electronic mail in the mail server device. In addition, since the DCX information is divided for each page and transmitted by a plurality of e-mails, such facsimile documents can be appropriately distributed to the destination user.
[0095]
FIGS. 16A and 16B show still another example of how DCX information is divided.
[0096]
In this case, the data length obtained by combining the header information and the image data for three pages is 128 KB. When this data is divided by 64 KB and at the page boundary, first, as shown in FIG. The image data of the first page and the second page fit in one divided part, and the image data of the third page belongs to another divided part.
[0097]
Therefore, in this case, in order to allow each divided part to be displayed independently, header information of DCX information representing only image data included in the divided part is created for each divided part. , Add.
[0098]
However, the image data of the third page in this case becomes larger than 64 KB including the newly added header information. The image data of the third page is further divided into two by 64 KB. Therefore, in this case, three divided parts are formed.
[0099]
In this case, the contents of the “Subject” field in the header information of the e-mail carrying the data of the divided parts can be the same as those shown in FIG.
[0100]
FIG. 17, FIG. 18, and FIG. 19 show an example of processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX when an incoming call is detected from the public network in this case.
[0101]
First, when an incoming call is detected (the result of the determination 401 is YES), an incoming call is answered (process 402), a pre-transmission procedure of a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is executed (process 403), and a transmission function used at that time is performed. And the like, execute a modem training procedure, determine a modem speed to be used at that time (process 404), execute an image information receiving procedure, receive image information, and store the received image information in an image storage device. 9 (process 405).
[0102]
When the image information receiving operation is completed, a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (step 4306), and the line is restored (step 407).
[0103]
Next, it is checked whether or not the sub address signal SUB indicating the distribution destination is received at that time (decision 408). When the sub address signal SUB is not received and the result of the decision 408 is NO, the reception from the image storage device 9 is performed. The image information is read out and decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 8 to obtain the original image data (process 409), the image data is transferred to the plotter 6, and the received document is recorded and output (process 410). Then, the received image information for which recording has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 411), and this operation ends.
[0104]
When the sub address signal SUB is received and the result of the determination 408 is YES, the received image information stored in the image storage device 9 is converted into the above-described DCX information (process 412), and the DCX information is converted. It is determined whether or not includes image data of a plurality of pages (decision 413).
[0105]
If the DCX information includes a plurality of pages of image data and the result of determination 413 is YES, the DCX information is divided into specified data lengths and in page units (processing 414), and the specified data length is added to the divided pages. It is determined whether or not there is a value exceeding (step 415). If there is a page that exceeds the specified data length and the result of determination 415 is YES, the DCX information of that page is further divided.
[0106]
Next, for each divided part, header information of DCX information is newly created and added (process 417), and header information of each divided part including the above-described “Subject” field is created (process 418). Is converted into MIME information to create body information (step 419), and the distribution electronic mail of each divided part including the header information and the body information is transmitted to the mail server SM (step 420). Further, the mail address registered in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub address signal SUB is set as the destination address of the header information.
[0107]
Next, the received image information and the DCX information that have been transmitted are deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 421), and this operation ends.
[0108]
When the DCX information does not include image data of a plurality of pages and the result of determination 413 is NO, it is checked whether the data amount of the DCX information exceeds a specified data length (determination 422).
[0109]
If the data length of the DCX information exceeds the predetermined value and the result of determination 422 is YES, the DCX information is divided by the specified data length (process 423), and each division including the above-mentioned “Subject” field is performed. The header information of the part is created (process 424), the data of each divided part is converted to MIME information to create body information (process 425), and the distribution e-mail of each divided part consisting of the header information and the body information is sent by mail. The data is transmitted to the server device SM (process 426). Further, the mail address registered in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub address signal SUB is set as the destination address of the header information.
[0110]
Next, the received image information and the DCX information that have been transmitted are deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 427), and this operation ends.
[0111]
If the data length of the DCX information does not exceed the predetermined value and the result of the determination 422 is NO, the header information including the above-mentioned “Subject” field is created (processing 428), and the DCX information is converted to the MIME information. Then, the body information is created (step 429), and the delivery electronic mail including the header information and the body information is transmitted to the mail server SM (step 430). Further, the mail address registered in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub address signal SUB is set as the destination address of the header information.
[0112]
Next, the received image information and DCX information that have been transmitted are deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 431), and this operation ends.
[0113]
Note that, in this case, the processing executed when the workstation apparatus WS1 to WSn receives the e-mail is the same as that in FIG. 9, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0114]
As described above, in this embodiment, when transmitting DCX information having a large data amount, the mail server device uses a predetermined value (for example, 64 KB) which is assumed to be the data length limit value of the body information of the electronic mail in the mail server device. In addition, since the DCX information is divided for each page, new header information is added to each divided part, and the divided parts are transmitted by a plurality of e-mails, such a facsimile document is appropriately distributed to the destination user. Can be.
[0115]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where DCX information is applied as the image data to be transmitted to the workstation device has been described. However, the present invention is similarly applied to the case where image data of other data formats is applied. can do. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 20A, when a format of image data in which header information indicating the attribute of the image data is added to the head of each page is applied, FIG. As shown in (1), when the data length is divided into page units and the data length of one page exceeds a prescribed value, the page can be further divided into division modes. .
[0116]
Further, the specified data length applied for dividing the image data is not limited to 64 KB in the above-described embodiment.
[0117]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when DCX information having a large data amount is transmitted, the predetermined value (for example, 64 KB) assumed to be the data length limit value of the body information of the e-mail in the mail server device ), The DCX information is divided and transmitted by a plurality of e-mails, so that such a facsimile document can be appropriately distributed to the destination user.
[0118]
Also, when transmitting DCX information having a large data amount, the DCX information is a predetermined value (for example, 64 KB) which is assumed to be a data length limit value of the body information of the e-mail in the mail server device, and is transmitted in page units. Is divided and transmitted by a plurality of e-mails, so that such a facsimile document can be appropriately distributed to the destination user.
[0119]
Also, when transmitting DCX information having a large data amount, the DCX information is a predetermined value (for example, 64 KB) which is assumed to be a data length limit value of the body information of the e-mail in the mail server device, and is transmitted in page units. Is divided, new header information is added to each divided part, and the divided parts are transmitted by a plurality of e-mails. Therefore, such a facsimile document can be appropriately distributed to the destination user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network facsimile machine FX.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an address conversion table.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of DCX information.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a division mode of image data.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of the content of a “Subject” field in the header information of an electronic mail.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of an example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when an incoming call is detected from the public network.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of an example of processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX when an incoming call is detected from the public network.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed when an email is received by the workstation devices WS1 to WSn.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of storage history information.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining another example of a mode of dividing image data.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining another example of the content of the “Subject” field in the header information of the electronic mail.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a part of another example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when an incoming call is detected from the public network.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing another part of another example of the processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX when an incoming call is detected from the public network.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of another example of the processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX when an incoming call is detected from the public network.
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining still another example of a division mode of image data.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a part of still another example of the processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX when an incoming call is detected from the public network.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing another part of still another example of the processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX when an incoming call is detected from the public network.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of another example of the processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX when an incoming call is detected from the public network.
FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining another example of a mode of dividing image data.

Claims (4)

A plurality of workstation devices connected to a local area network and having at least a function of exchanging e-mail via the local area network, a function of exchanging data on the local area network, and a public network It has a function of exchanging facsimile data according to the facsimile transmission procedure, and has an address conversion table storing the sub-address information received by the facsimile transmission procedure and the network address corresponding to the sub-address information in association with the sub-address information. The image information is distributed via the local area network to the destination terminal of the network address stored in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub address information notified from the partner terminal at the time of receiving the image information. A method for controlling a network facsimile system including a network facsimile apparatus,
The network facsimile apparatus accumulates image information received via the public network, and when the data amount of the image information is larger than a predetermined value, the network facsimile apparatus is within the predetermined value, and receives the image information in page units. Divides image information into two or more divided parts,
For the destination terminal of the network address stored in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub address information notified from the partner terminal at the time of receiving the image information, the image information divided into the two or more divided parts is sent to the body information, respectively. A method for controlling a network facsimile system, wherein a plurality of electronic mails are transmitted. 2. The control of the network facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein when the data amount of one page of the divided image information is larger than the predetermined value, the image information of the page is further divided by the predetermined value. Method. Upon receiving a plurality of e-mails in which the image information of the divided parts is arranged in the body information, the workstation device creates received image information by connecting the image information of all the divided parts in the order of division. 3. The control method for a network facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein: The network facsimile apparatus arranges information indicating the order of division in a “Subject” field of a plurality of e-mails in which image information of the divided part is arranged in the body information, and the workstation apparatus has a function of the divided part. When receiving a plurality of e-mails in which the image information is arranged in the body information, the image information of all the divided parts is connected in the order of division by referring to the information indicating the division order arranged in the "Subject" field. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the received image information is created.

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