JPH11284788A - Control method of network facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly transmit picture information transmitted through the use of plural electronic mails to the facsimile equipment at a destination by collectively transmitting the plural picture information by the same transmitting operation in a case when plural received electronic mails include picture information to transmit to the same destination. SOLUTION: A network facsimile equipment FX is provided with an electronic mail transmitting and receiving function at LAN, the function, etc., of prescribed information communication by a prescribed point-to-point transmitting procedure between with work station equipments WS1 to WSn connected to LAN. In addition facsimile picture information is transmitted (delivered) to the equipments WS1 to WSn from the equipment FX through the use of an electronic mail. In a case when the received plural electronic mails include picture information to transmit the same destination in the controlling method of the equipment FX like this, the plural picture information is collectively transmitted by the same transmitting operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a function of exchanging e-mail on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network, and also provides a function of exchanging facsimile data through a local area network. The present invention relates to a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus which transmits image information included in body text information of an e-mail received to a destination facsimile apparatus designated by the e-mail via a public network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a function of exchanging e-mail on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network have been provided. A network facsimile apparatus that transmits image information included in body text information of an e-mail to a destination facsimile apparatus specified by the e-mail via a public network is actually required.

[0003] When such a network facsimile machine is used, a workstation device connected to a local area network or the Internet can be used.
Since image information can be delivered to a facsimile apparatus connected to a public network, the usability of the facsimile network can be greatly expanded, which is very convenient.

[0004]

However, such a conventional apparatus has the following inconveniences.

[0005] That is, on the Internet,
The e-mail is sequentially transferred through a plurality of mail server devices, and arrives at the mail server device where the intended destination terminal receives the service.

Therefore, the transfer route of the e-mail includes:
There is a possibility that a large number of mail server devices intervene, and among them, a mail server device that limits the data amount of the body information of the electronic mail may exist. For example, 64 KB (kilobyte; 1K = 1024B, 1B = 8 bits) is often applied as the limit value of the data amount of the text information.

[0007] By the way, there is a restriction that the body information of an electronic mail must be basically readable information of a 7-bit code. In this case, the image information to be transmitted by the network facsimile apparatus is binary data. And cannot be sent directly.

Therefore, usually, the image information is 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.

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 data amount limit of the body information in the mail server device. In such a case, the mail server apparatus discards the e-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.

Therefore, when image information having a large data amount is transmitted by e-mail, the data amount of the e-mail is limited, or the image information is divided into a plurality of pieces within the data limit amount, and one It is conceivable to transmit image information using a plurality of e-mails.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus capable of appropriately transmitting image information transmitted using a plurality of electronic mails to a destination facsimile apparatus. It is intended to provide.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an electronic mail exchange function on a local area network,
It has a function of exchanging facsimile data according to a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network, and also transmits the image information included in the body information of the e-mail received via the local area network to a destination facsimile device designated by the e-mail. In a method of controlling a network facsimile apparatus that transmits via a public network, if a plurality of received e-mails include image information to be transmitted to the same destination, a plurality of image information included in the plurality of e-mails Are transmitted together in the same transmission operation. Further, when the plurality of e-mails carry the divided image information, the original image information is created by connecting the divided image information, and then the original image information is transmitted to a designated destination. It is something to do. Also,
When transmitting the image information of the plurality of e-mails to a designated destination, identification information for identifying each of the image information is transmitted using a sub-address signal SUB.

[0013]

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

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

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

Here, the mail server device SM collects and sends e-mails (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. It provides distribution services.

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

Further, a network facsimile machine FX
Is an e-mail transmission / reception function in a local area network LAN, a local area network LAN
A predetermined information communication function according to a predetermined point-to-point transmission procedure between the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the public network and a public network (PSTN), and using the public network as a transmission path. It has various transmission (communication) functions such as a transmission function for transmitting image information according to a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure. 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.

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

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

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

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

Further, for an e-mail received to its own terminal, image information arranged in the body information is extracted, recorded and output.

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

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

In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each unit of the network facsimile apparatus and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The control facsimile apparatus stores a control processing program to be executed, various data necessary for executing the processing program, and the like, and forms a work area of the system control unit 1. The parameter memory 3 is provided in the network facsimile apparatus. The clock circuit 4 is for storing various kinds of unique information, 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 unit 7 is a network facsimile apparatus. , And comprises various operation keys and various display devices.

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

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

The network controller 11 is for connecting the facsimile apparatus to the public network (PSTN) and has an automatic transmission / reception function.

The local area network interface circuit 12 is used to connect the Internet facsimile apparatus to the local area network LAN.
3 is a communication control process (e-mail transmission / reception process or point-to-point communication process) of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with other data terminal devices via the local area network LAN. Etc.).

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

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

Now, the local area network LAN
The workstation device WS executes a process as shown in FIG. 3 when instructing the network facsimile device FX to transfer image information to the group 3 facsimile device connected to the public network PSTN.

That is, first, destination information (for example, a one-touch dial number registered in the network facsimile machine FX) is input (process 101), and transmission image information designated at that time is read (process 10).
2).

Next, the read transmission image information is stored in the MIM.
The E-converter obtains the data amount MP (process 103), and checks whether the data amount MP is larger than a predetermined value KA (for example, 64 KB) (decision 104).

If the result of the determination 104 is YES, the transmission image information converted into MIME information is divided into a plurality of units of a predetermined value KA to create divided transmission image information (Process 10).
5). Next, one divided file is selected (Process 10
6), “Subject:” in the header information of the e-mail
Generate a character string to be placed in the field (Process 10
7). For example, the article name given to the original transmitted image information is "Send important manuscript" and the original transmitted image information is 3
When processing an e-mail carrying the first divided transmission image information this time, as the character string to be placed in the “Subject:” field, “Send important document [1/3 ]]. Similarly, when processing an e-mail carrying the second divided transmission image information,
And when processing e-mail carrying the third split image information, "Send important document [2 /
3] "and" Send important manuscript [3/3] ".

Therefore, the network facsimile machine FX which has received this e-mail receives a plurality of e-mails having the same destination designated as the transmission destination, and receives the "Su"
If the value of the “bject:” field is composed of a combination of “common character string” and a sequence number, it is recognized that the plurality of e-mails carry the divided transmission image information,
The original transmission image information can be created by linking according to the sequence numbers.

Next, predetermined header information is created (step 108), body information in which divided transmission image information and the like are arranged is created (step 109), and the created e-mail is transmitted (step 110). The abbreviated dial number or the like representing the destination can be arranged in an appropriate field of the header information, or can be arranged as one part information of the body information. However, in the latter case, the body information needs to be in a multi-part MIME format.

Then, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all the divided files (decision 111).
When the result of step 11 is NO, the process returns to step 106,
The processing for the next divided file is performed. Also, judgment 1
When the result of step 11 is YES, this operation ends.

If the result of determination 104 is NO, predetermined header information is created (step 112), and text information in which transmission image information and the like are arranged is created (step 11).
3) Send the created e-mail (Process 11)
4), end this operation. The abbreviated dial number or the like representing the destination can be arranged in an appropriate field of the header information, or can be arranged as one part information of the multi-part MIME text information.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX when receiving an electronic mail.

First, an inquiry is made to the mail server device SM as to whether an e-mail addressed to its own terminal has been received (process 201).
If the result of the determination 202 is YE
S), all received mails are obtained from the mail server device SM and stored in the image storage device 9 (process 203).

Next, one received mail to be processed is selected (process 204), and it is checked whether or not another facsimile machine is designated as the destination (decision 20).
5). If the result of the determination 205 is NO, which is the case of image information addressed to the terminal itself, the body information of the e-mail is MIME-decoded to create image information (processing 20).
6), the image information is decoded into the original image signal by the encoding / decoding unit 8, the image signal is transferred to the plotter 6, and the received image is recorded and output (process 207).

Then, the electronic mail processed at that time is deleted (processing 208), and it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all the received mails (determination 209).
If the result is NO, the process returns to step 204 to execute the same processing for the next processing mail. When the result of the determination 209 is YES, the process returns to the process 201 to execute the inquiry operation of the received mail.

In the case where the selected received mail contains the destination information for specifying another facsimile machine, and the result of determination 205 is YES, the “Subject:” field of the header information of the received mail is set. By checking the value, it is determined whether or not the received mail is a divided mail (refers to an electronic mail carrying divided transmission image information) (decision 21).
0).

When the result of the judgment 210 is YES, it is checked whether or not all the divided mails relating to the received mail have been received at that time (process 211).
That is, there are a plurality of e-mails in which the same “common character string” is arranged in the “Subject:” field, the order numbers assigned to the “Subject:” fields are different, and the order numbers of those order numbers are different. When the connection is completed, it can be determined that all the divided mails have been received.

If it is determined that all the divided mails have not been received, and if the result of the determination 212 is NO, it is not possible to perform processing on the transmission image information relating to the divided mail selected at that time. It is checked whether the processing for all received mails has been completed (decision 21).
3) If the result of determination 213 is NO, process 2
Returning to step 04, the same processing is executed for the next processing mail. Further, when the result of the determination 213 is YES, the process returns to the process 201, and the inquiry operation of the received mail is executed.

If it is determined that all the divided mails have been received and the result of determination 212 is YES, the body information of each divided mail is MIME-decoded to create divided image information (processing 214), the divided image information is concatenated in order of the order number to create original transmission image information (process 215). The temporary storage area for these division image information and the storage area for transmission image information are image storage. Device 9
Formed.

Then, a call is made to the destination at that time (process 2).
16), set a transmission function to be used by executing a predetermined pre-transmission procedure (process 217), determine a modem speed by executing a predetermined modem training procedure (process 218),
The transmission image information at that time is transmitted (step 219), a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (step 220), the line is restored (step 221), and a series of transmission operations is terminated.

Next, the transmitted image information and the e-mail are deleted from the image storage device 9 (step 222), and it is checked whether or not the processing for all the received mails has been completed (decision 223). When the result of the determination 223 is NO, the process returns to the process 204, and the same process is executed for the next process mail. When the result of the determination 223 is YES, the process returns to the step 201 to execute the operation of inquiring of the received mail.

Also, the processed mail is not a divided mail,
When the result of determination 210 is NO, the text information is MIME-decoded to create transmission image information (step 22).
4) The process proceeds to step 216, where the transmission image information created at that time is transmitted to the designated destination.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the divided mail is received, the divided image information is extracted from the body information of the divided mails, and the divided image information is sequentially connected to create the transmission image information. Since the image is transmitted to the destination facsimile machine, the image information carried by the divided mail can be appropriately transmitted.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation of receiving an e-mail and the operation of transmitting image information are linked.
For example, transmission of image information can be set to be executed when a specified column communication condition is satisfied.

Here, the string transmission condition is a condition for executing a string transmission operation of continuously transmitting a plurality of transmission files to which the same destination is designated in one transmission operation. The conditions include, for example, "reception operation after a specified time has elapsed", "reception operation when the specified number of storages is reached", "specified storage size (consumption of image storage device 9)". (Data size or free data size)
When it reaches, it operates in line. Or "Is the destination the same as the one currently being sent?"

FIG. 6 shows an example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when receiving an electronic mail in this case.

First, the mail server SM is inquired as to whether an e-mail addressed to its own terminal has been received (process 301).
If the result of the determination 302 is YE
S), all the received e-mails are acquired from the mail server SM and stored in the image storage device 9 (process 303).

Next, one received mail to be processed is selected (step 304), and it is checked whether or not another facsimile apparatus is designated as its destination (decision 30).
5). If the result of the determination 305 is NO, it means that the image information is addressed to the terminal itself, so that the body information of the electronic mail is MIME-decoded to create the image information (process 30).
6) The image information is decoded into the original image signal by the encoding / decoding unit 8, and the image signal is transferred to the plotter 6 to record and output the received image (process 307).

Then, the electronic mail processed at that time is deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 308), and it is checked whether or not the processing has been completed for all the received mails (decision 3).
09), when the result of the determination 309 is NO, the process returns to the step 304, and the same processing is executed for the next processing mail. When the result of the determination 309 is YES, the process returns to the step 301 to execute the operation of inquiring of the received mail.

In the case where the selected received mail contains destination information for designating another facsimile machine, and the result of determination 305 is YES, the “Subject:” field of the header information of the received mail is returned. By examining the value, it is determined whether or not the received mail is a divided mail (refers to an electronic mail carrying divided transmission image information) (decision 31).
0).

If the result of decision 310 is YES, it is checked at that time whether all the divided mails of the received mail have been received by the same method as described above (process 311).

If it is determined that all the divided mails have been received, and if the result of determination 312 is YES, the body information of each divided mail is MIME-decoded to create divided image information (step 313). Then, the divided image information is concatenated in order of the order number to create the original transmission image information, and the transmission job information relating to the transmission operation is created (process 314).
The temporary storage area for the divided image information and the storage area for the transmission image information are formed in the image storage device 9 as in the above-described embodiment.

Next, it is checked whether or not the processing for all received mails has been completed (decision 315). When the result of the determination 315 is NO, the process returns to the process 304, and the same process is executed for the next process mail. Decision 31
When the result of step 5 is YES, the process returns to step 301,
Executes the inquiry operation of the received mail.

Also, the processed mail is not a divided mail,
If the result of determination 310 is NO, the body information is MIME-decoded to create transmission image information, and transmission job information relating to the transmission operation is created (processing 31).
7) The process moves to decision 316 to check whether or not the processing for all the received mails has been completed, and executes the subsequent operations.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example of the column communication process.

First, it is determined whether or not the specified column communication condition is satisfied (decision 401).
When it becomes ES, one transmission job stored at that time is selected (process 402), and it is checked whether there is at least one other transmission job specifying the same destination as the destination of the transmission job. (Decision 403).

If the result of decision 403 is YES, a call is made to the destination of the transmission job at that time (step 40).
4) Set a transmission function to be used by executing a predetermined pre-transmission procedure (processing 405), determine a modem speed by executing a predetermined modem training procedure (processing 406), and select a transmission file. (Process 407), image information of one page of the selected transmission file is transmitted (Process 4)
08).

Then, for the selected transmission file, it is checked whether or not there is a subsequent page (decision 409).
When the result of decision 409 is YES, a multi-page signal MPS is transmitted as a command after the message (process 4).
10) When a response signal is received from the partner terminal (step 41)
1) Returning to the process 408 (phase C), the image information of the next page is transmitted.

If transmission of all pages has been completed for the selected transmission file and the result of determination 409 is NO, among the plurality of transmission files extracted at that time, there is an untransmitted file. It is checked whether or not it is (decision 412). If the result of decision 412 is YES, a message end signal EO is issued as an instruction after the message.
When M is sent (process 413) and a response signal is received from the partner terminal (process 414), the process returns to process 405 (phase B), and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed to execute the transmission operation of the next transmission file. I do.

When the transmission operation of all transmission files has been completed and the result of determination 412 is NO, a procedure end signal EOP is sent as a command after the message (process 415), and a response signal is received from the partner terminal. (Process 4
16) After transmitting the disconnection command signal DCN, the line is restored (process 417), and a series of transmission operations is terminated. Then, the transmission file of the transmission job whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (processing 418), and it is checked whether or not another transmission job is stored (determination 419).
When the result of step 19 is YES, the process returns to step 402, where the next transmission job is selected, and the subsequent processing is executed. When the result of the judgment 419 is NO,
Returning to the process 401, it waits until the communication condition is satisfied.

If the result of determination 403 is NO, a call is made to the destination of the selected transmission job (process 4).
20) Set a transmission function to be used by executing a predetermined pre-transmission procedure (process 421), determine a modem speed by executing a predetermined modem training procedure (process 422),
The transmission image information at that time is transmitted (process 423), a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (process 424), the line is restored (process 425), and a series of transmission operations is terminated.

Next, the transmission file of the transmission job whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 426), and it is checked whether another transmission job is stored (decision 42).
7) When the result of the determination 427 is YES, the process returns to the process 402, selects the next transmission job, and executes the subsequent processes. On the other hand, when the result of the determination 427 is NO, the process returns to the step 401 and waits until the communication condition is satisfied.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the e-mail receiving operation and the image information transmitting operation are executed by independent processes, so that an efficient image information transmitting operation can be performed. Further, since the image information transmission operation is performed under the transmission conditions (sequence transmission conditions) desired by the user, the communication cost can be reduced.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another example of the column communication process.

First, it is checked whether or not the designated column communication condition is satisfied (decision 501), and the result of the decision 501 is Y
When it becomes ES, one transmission job stored at that time is selected (process 502), and it is checked whether there is at least one other transmission job specifying the same destination as the destination of the transmission job. (Decision 503).

If the result of decision 503 is YES, a call is made to the destination of the transmission job at that time (step 50).
4), by setting a transmission function to be used by executing a predetermined pre-transmission procedure, and by using the sub-address signal SUB, the document information (contents of the “Subject:” field) attached to the transmission file of the transmission job at that time Etc.) (process 505), and a predetermined modem training procedure is executed to determine the modem speed (process 506).
A transmission file is selected (processing 507), and image information of one page of the selected transmission file is transmitted (processing 508).

Then, for the selected transmission file, it is checked whether or not there is a subsequent page (determination 509).
When the result of decision 509 is YES, a multi-page signal MPS is transmitted as a command after the message (process 5).
10) When a response signal is received from the partner terminal (step 51)
1), return to the process 508 (phase C), and perform the operation of transmitting the image information of the next page.

When the transmission of all the pages has been completed for the selected transmission file and the result of determination 509 is NO, among the plurality of transmission files extracted at that time, there are untransmitted files. It is checked whether or not the judgment is made (decision 512).
When M is transmitted (process 513) and a response signal is received from the partner terminal (process 514), the process returns to process 505 (phase B), and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed to execute the transmission operation of the next transmission file. I do.

If the transmission operation of all transmission files has been completed and the result of determination 512 is NO, a procedure end signal EOP is sent as a command after the message (process 515), and a response signal is received from the partner terminal. (Process 5
16) After transmitting the disconnection command signal DCN, the line is restored (process 517), and a series of transmission operations ends. Then, the transmission file of the transmission job whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (processing 518), and it is checked whether another transmission job is stored (determination 519).
When the result of step 19 is YES, the process returns to step 502, where the next transmission job is selected, and the subsequent processing is executed. When the result of the determination 519 is NO,
Returning to the process 501, the process waits until the communication condition is satisfied.

If the result of determination 503 is NO, a call is made to the destination of the selected transmission job (processing 5).
20), by setting a transmission function to be used by executing a predetermined pre-transmission procedure and notifying the document information attached to the transmission file of the transmission job at that time using the sub-address signal SUB (processing 521); A predetermined modem training procedure is executed to determine the modem speed (step 52).
2), transmitting the transmission image information at that time (processing 523),
A predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (process 524), the line is restored (process 525), and a series of transmission operations ends.

Next, the transmission file of the transmission job whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (step 526), and it is checked whether another transmission job is stored (decision 52).
7) When the result of determination 527 is YES, the process returns to step 502, where the next transmission job is selected, and the subsequent processing is executed. On the other hand, when the result of determination 527 is NO, the process returns to step 501 and waits until the communication condition is satisfied.

As described above, in this embodiment, the document information is notified to the partner terminal by using the sub-address signal SUB during the facsimile transmission procedure, so that the partner terminal displays the contents of the sub-address signal SUB or By recording and outputting the image information in addition to the received image information, or by storing the image information in association with the received image information, it is possible to identify a plurality of image information files transmitted by the transmission side in the serial communication operation.

This operation can be applied to a case where one image information file and a transmission job are formed for each divided mail. Naturally, this embodiment can be applied only when the destination terminal has the capability of receiving the sub-address signal SUB.

FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 show still another example of the queue communication process.

First, it is checked whether or not the specified column communication condition is satisfied (judgment 601), and the result of the judgment 601 is Y
When it becomes ES, one transmission job stored at that time is selected (process 602), and it is checked whether there is at least one other transmission job specifying the same destination as the destination of the transmission job. (Decision 603).

If the result of decision 603 is YES, a call is made to the destination of the transmission job at that time (step 60).
4), a predetermined pre-transmission procedure is executed to execute BFT (Binar
y File Transfer mode is set (step 605), a predetermined modem training procedure is executed to determine the modem speed (step 606), a transmission file is selected (step 607), and the document of the selected transmission file is selected. The number is transmitted using the BFT mode (process 60).
8).

Next, a message end signal EOM is sent as a post-message command (process 609), and when a response signal is received from the partner terminal (process 610), a transmission function to be used by executing a predetermined pre-transmission procedure is set. (Process 6
11) A predetermined modem training procedure is executed to determine the modem speed (process 612), and image information of one page of the transmission file selected at that time is transmitted (process 6).
13).

Then, for the selected transmission file, it is checked whether or not there is a subsequent page (determination 614).
If the result of decision 614 is YES, a multi-page signal MPS is transmitted as a post-message command (process 6).
15) Upon receiving a response signal from the partner terminal (step 61)
6) Returning to the process 613 (phase C), the image information of the next page is transmitted.

If transmission of all pages has been completed for the selected transmission file and the result of determination 614 is NO, among the plurality of transmission files extracted at that time, there is an untransmitted file. It is checked whether or not the message end signal EO is issued as a post-message instruction (step 617).
M (Step 618), and upon receiving a response signal from the partner terminal (Step 619), returns to Step 605 (Phase B), and repeats the subsequent processing to execute the next transmission file in the BFT mode. The document number is notified and the image information is transmitted.

If the transmission operation of all transmission files has been completed and the result of determination 617 is NO, a procedure end signal EOP is sent as a command after message (process 620), and a response signal is received from the partner terminal. (Process 6
21) After transmitting the disconnection command signal DCN, the line is restored (process 622), and a series of transmission operations ends. Then, the transmission file of the transmission job whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 623), and it is checked whether or not another transmission job is stored (determination 624).
When the result of step 24 is YES, the process returns to step 602, where the next transmission job is selected and the subsequent processing is executed. When the result of the determination 624 is NO,
The process returns to step 601 and waits until the communication condition is satisfied.

If the result of decision 603 is NO, a call is made to the destination of the selected transmission job (process 6).
25), executing a predetermined pre-transmission procedure to set a transmission function to be used (step 626), and executing a predetermined modem training procedure to determine a modem speed (step 627);
The transmission image information at that time is transmitted (step 628), a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (step 629), the line is restored (step 630), and a series of transmission operations ends.

Next, the transmission file of the transmission job whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (step 631), and it is checked whether another transmission job is stored (determination 63).
2) If the result of determination 632 is YES, the process returns to step 602, where the next transmission job is selected, and the subsequent processing is executed. On the other hand, when the result of the determination 632 is NO, the process returns to the step 601 and waits until the communication condition is satisfied.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the document information is notified to the partner terminal using the BFT mode during the facsimile transmission procedure, so that the partner terminal displays the notified document number or By recording and outputting the image data in addition to the received image information, or by storing the image information in association with the received image information, it is possible to identify a plurality of image information files transmitted by the transmission side in the serial communication operation.

This operation can be applied to the case where one image information file and one transmission job are formed for each divided mail. Also, needless to say, this embodiment can be applied only when the destination terminal has the reception capability of the BFT mode.

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 show still another example of the queue communication process.

First, it is checked whether or not the specified column communication condition is satisfied (judgment 701).
When it becomes ES, one transmission job stored at that time is selected (process 702), and it is checked whether there is one or more transmission jobs specifying the same destination as the destination of the transmission job. (Decision 703).

If the result of decision 703 is YES, a call is made to the destination of the transmission job at that time (step 70).
4), a predetermined pre-transmission procedure is executed to execute BTM (Basic
Transfer mode) is set (processing 705), a predetermined modem training procedure is executed to determine the modem speed (processing 706), a transmission file is selected (processing 707), and the document number of the selected transmission file is set. Is transmitted using the BTM mode (process 70).
8).

Next, a message end signal EOM is sent as a post-message command (process 709), and when a response signal is received from the partner terminal (process 710), a transmission function to be used by executing a predetermined pre-transmission procedure is set. (Process 7
11) A predetermined modem training procedure is executed to determine the modem speed (process 712), and image information of one page of the transmission file selected at that time is transmitted (process 7).
13).

Then, it is checked whether or not there is a subsequent page for the selected transmission file (decision 714).
When the result of decision 714 is YES, a multi-page signal MPS is sent out as a command after the message (processing 7).
15) When a response signal is received from the partner terminal (step 71)
6) Returning to the process 713 (phase C), the image information of the next page is transmitted.

If transmission of all pages has been completed for the selected transmission file and the result of determination 714 is NO, among the plurality of transmission files extracted at that time, there are untransmitted files. It is checked whether or not the judgment is affirmative (decision 717).
M (Step 718), and when a response signal is received from the partner terminal (Step 719), the process returns to Step 705 (Phase B), and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed to execute the next transmission file in the BTM mode. The document number is notified and the image information is transmitted.

If the transmission operation of all transmission files has been completed and the result of determination 717 is NO, a procedure end signal EOP is sent as a command after message (process 720), and a response signal is received from the partner terminal. (Process 7
21) After transmitting the disconnection command signal DCN, the line is restored (process 722), and a series of transmission operations is terminated. Then, the transmission file of the transmission job whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 723), and it is checked whether or not another transmission job is stored (determination 724).
When the result of step 24 is YES, the process returns to step 702, where the next transmission job is selected, and the subsequent processing is executed. When the result of determination 724 is NO,
The process returns to step 701 and waits until the communication condition is satisfied.

If the result of determination 703 is NO, a call is made to the destination of the selected transmission job (processing 7).
25), set a transmission function to be used by executing a predetermined pre-transmission procedure (processing 726), determine a modem speed by executing a predetermined modem training procedure (processing 727),
The transmission image information at that time is transmitted (step 728), a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (step 729), the line is restored (step 730), and a series of transmission operations ends.

Next, the transmission file of the transmission job whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (processing 731), and it is checked whether another transmission job is stored (decision 73).
2) If the result of determination 732 is YES, the process returns to step 702, where the next transmission job is selected, and the subsequent processing is executed. On the other hand, when the result of the determination 732 is NO, the process returns to the process 701 and waits until the communication condition is satisfied.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the document information is notified to the other terminal using the BTM mode during the facsimile transmission procedure, so that the other terminal displays the notified document number, or By recording and outputting the image data in addition to the received image information, or by storing the image information in association with the received image information, it is possible to identify a plurality of image information files transmitted by the transmission side in the serial communication operation.

This operation can be applied to a case where one image information file and a transmission job are formed for each divided mail. Also, needless to say, this embodiment can be applied only when the destination terminal has the receiving capability of the BTM mode.

FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 show still another example of the queue communication process.

First, it is checked whether or not the specified column communication condition is satisfied (judgment 801), and the result of the judgment 801 is Y
When it becomes ES, one transmission job stored at that time is selected (step 802), and it is checked whether there is at least one other transmission job specifying the same destination as the destination of the transmission job. (Decision 803).

If the result of decision 803 is YES, a call is made to the destination of the transmission job at that time (step 80).
4), a predetermined pre-transmission procedure is executed to execute DTM (Docum).
entTransfer Mode) is set (process 805), a predetermined modem training procedure is executed to determine the modem speed (process 806), a transmission file is selected (process 807), and the document number of the selected transmission file is set. Is transmitted using the DTM mode (process 808).

Next, a message end signal EOM is sent as a post-message command (process 809), and when a response signal is received from the partner terminal (process 810), a transmission function to be used by executing a predetermined pre-transmission procedure is set. (Process 8
11) A predetermined modem training procedure is executed to determine the modem speed (process 812), and image information of one page of the transmission file selected at that time is transmitted (process 8).
13).

Then, for the selected transmission file, it is checked whether or not there is a subsequent page (decision 814).
When the result of decision 814 is YES, a multi-page signal MPS is sent out as a post-message command (Process 8).
15) When a response signal is received from the partner terminal (step 81)
6) Returning to the process 813 (phase C), the image information of the next page is transmitted.

If transmission of all pages has been completed for the selected transmission file and the result of determination 814 is NO, among the plurality of transmission files extracted at that time, there are untransmitted files. It is checked whether or not the judgment is affirmative (decision 817).
M (Step 818), and upon receiving a response signal from the partner terminal (Step 819), returns to Step 805 (Phase B) and repeats the subsequent steps to execute the next transmission file in the BTM mode. The document number is notified and the image information is transmitted.

If the transmission operation of all transmission files has been completed and the result of determination 817 is NO, a procedure end signal EOP is sent as a command after message (process 820), and a response signal is received from the partner terminal. (Process 8
21) After transmitting the disconnection command signal DCN, the line is restored (process 822), and a series of transmission operations ends. Then, the transmission file of the transmission job whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (process 823), and it is checked whether or not another transmission job is stored (determination 824).
When the result of step 24 is YES, the process returns to step 802, where the next transmission job is selected, and the subsequent processing is executed. When the result of the determination 824 is NO,
The process returns to the step 801 and waits until the communication condition is satisfied.

When the result of determination 803 is NO, a call is made to the destination of the selected transmission job (step 8).
25), set a transmission function to be used by executing a predetermined pre-transmission procedure (processing 826), determine a modem speed by executing a predetermined modem training procedure (processing 827),
The transmission image information at that time is transmitted (step 828), a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (step 829), the line is restored (step 830), and a series of transmission operations ends.

Next, the transmission file of the transmission job whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the image storage device 9 (step 831), and it is checked whether another transmission job is stored (decision 83).
2) When the result of determination 832 is YES, the process returns to step 802, where the next transmission job is selected, and the subsequent processing is executed. On the other hand, when the result of the determination 832 is NO, the process returns to the step 801 and waits until the communication condition is satisfied.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the document information is notified to the partner terminal by using the DTM mode during the facsimile transmission procedure, so that the partner terminal displays the notified document number, or By recording and outputting the image information in addition to the received image information, or by storing the image information in association with the received image information, it is possible to identify a plurality of image information files transmitted by the transmission side in the serial communication operation.

This operation can be applied to the case where one image information file and one transmission job are formed for each of the divided mails. Also, needless to say, this embodiment can be applied only when the destination terminal has the DTM mode reception capability.

By the way, the format of the image information transmitted by e-mail from the workstation device to the network facsimile device may be different from the facsimile image information. In this case, it is necessary for the network facsimile apparatus to format-convert the received e-mail after the body information of the e-mail is MIME-decoded. In each of the embodiments described above, the case of the non-ECM mode has been described for simplicity. However, the present invention can be applied to the case of using the ECM mode. When notifying the document information about the first document, the message end signal EOM may not be sent in some cases.

[0118]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When a divided mail is received, the divided image information is extracted from the body information, and the divided image information is sequentially connected to create transmission image information, which is transmitted to a designated facsimile machine. There is an effect that the image information to be transmitted can be appropriately transmitted.

Further, since the e-mail receiving operation and the image information transmitting operation are executed by independent processes, an efficient image information transmitting operation can be performed. Further, since the image information transmission operation is performed under the transmission conditions (sequence communication conditions) desired by the user, the effect that the communication cost can be reduced can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing when the workstation WS of the local area network LAN instructs the network facsimile machine FX to transfer image information to the group 3 facsimile machine connected to the public network PSTN. .

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a part of an example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when receiving an e-mail.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another part of an example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when receiving an electronic mail.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a process executed by the network facsimile machine FX when receiving an electronic mail.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of an example of a queue communication process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another part of the example of the queue communication process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a part of another example of the queue communication process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another part of another example of the queue communication process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a part of still another example of the queue communication process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another part of still another example of the queue communication process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of still another example of the queue communication process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a part of still another example of the queue communication process.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing another part of still another example of the queue communication process.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the remaining portion of still another example of the queue communication process.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a part of still another example of the queue communication process.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing another part of still another example of the queue communication process.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of still another example of the queue communication process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 FX network facsimile machine

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/387

Claims (3)

[Claims] An electronic mail exchange function on a local area network, a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network, and a function of exchanging e-mail received through a local area network. In a control method of a network facsimile apparatus for transmitting image information included in body information to a destination facsimile apparatus specified by the e-mail via a public network, a method for transmitting a plurality of received e-mails to the same destination A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus, wherein when information is included, a plurality of pieces of image information included in the plurality of electronic mails are collectively transmitted by the same transmission operation. 2. When the plurality of e-mails carry divided image information, the original image information is created by concatenating the divided image information, and then the original image is sent to a designated destination. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein when transmitting the image information of the plurality of e-mails to a designated destination, identification information for identifying each of the image information is transmitted using a sub-address signal SUB. 2. A method for controlling a network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1.