JP2000004252A - Controlling method for network communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the load of a mail server by notifying the user of a distribution destination to the effect that image information is received and also transmitting an incoming notification mail that notifies the file name of the content page of the received image information. SOLUTION: A network facsimile machine FX receives picture information from any group 3 facsimile machine and when a distribution destination is designated, it notifies the user of the distribution destination to the effect that the picture information is received. It transmits e-mail (incoming notification mail) of receiving notification that notifies a URL which is for designating a file name of a content page representing a list of received picture information together with it. A user who receives the mail starts an HTTP client of workstation devices WS1 to WSn which are used by the user himself, requests an HTTP server of the machine FX to receive the file name of the content page which is notified by the received incoming notification mail and acquires content page information from the network facsimile machine FX.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network, and receives data by a facsimile transmission procedure. It has an address conversion table in which sub-address information and a network address corresponding to the sub-address information are stored in association with each other, and the image information received via the public network is corresponded to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal at the time of receiving the image information. A network facsimile machine that delivers to the destination terminal of the network address stored in the address conversion table via the local area network, and an image facsimile apparatus connected to the local area network and via the local area network. Broadcast a control method of a receivable network communication system comprising one or more workstations apparatus that can be the above destination terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has a function of exchanging data on a local area network, a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed over a public network, and sub-address information received by a facsimile transmission procedure. It has an address conversion table that stores a network address such as a mail address corresponding to the sub-address information in association with the sub-address information. The image information received via the public network corresponds to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received. There has been proposed a network facsimile apparatus for transmitting a network address (mail address) stored in the address conversion table to a destination terminal via a local area network.

When such a network facsimile apparatus is used, image information from a facsimile apparatus connected to a public network can be delivered to a work station apparatus connected to a local area network. It can be greatly expanded, and is very convenient.

[0004] When the connected local area network is connected to the Internet, it is also possible to perform an image information transmitting operation to a terminal device connected to another local area network via the Internet. You can do it.

[0005]

By the way, conventionally,
Distribution of received image information from a network facsimile apparatus to a distribution destination user is performed using an e-mail function of a local area network.

Therefore, especially when one subaddress corresponds to a plurality of users, a plurality of e-mails carrying image information having a large data amount are transmitted via the local area network. The burden on the mail server sharing the e-mail function for distribution increases, which may affect other e-mail distribution services.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a control method for a network communication system that can reduce the load on a mail server.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a function of exchanging data on a local area network, a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public network, and a facsimile transmission procedure. It has an address conversion table that stores the received sub-address information and the network address corresponding to the sub-address information in association with each other, and converts the image information received via the public network into the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal at the time of receiving the image information. A network facsimile machine that distributes via the local area network to the destination terminal of the network address stored in the address conversion table in correspondence thereto; and a network facsimile apparatus connected to the local area network and via the local area network. In a method for controlling a network communication system including one or more workstation devices capable of receiving image information and being the destination terminal, the network facsimile device stores the image information received via the public network, HT
In addition to providing an HTTP server function for distributing according to the TP transmission procedure, the workstation device is provided with an HTTP server
The network facsimile apparatus has a P client function, and the network facsimile apparatus transmits a facsimile document to the workstation apparatus having 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. Notifying that it has been received, and changing the table of contents information of the stored image information to H
The workstation device that has transmitted the incoming notification mail for notifying the file name to be obtained by the HTTP client function and received the incoming notification mail activates the HTTP client function by a user operation and receives the notification. The network facsimile machine issues a request for acquiring the table of contents information to the network facsimile apparatus. When the acquisition of the table of contents information is requested, the network facsimile apparatus obtains the image information stored in correspondence with the requesting workstation apparatus. A table of contents information representing a list of names is created, the table of contents information is transmitted to the request source by an HTTP server function, and the workstation device receives the table of contents information, and operates the user to operate the image information of the acquisition purpose by a user operation. A document name is selected, and the selected document name is displayed on the terminal. Image data type information representing a type of image data format described above, and notifies to said network facsimile device by the HTTP client function,
Upon receiving the acquired document name and the image data type information from the workstation device, the network facsimile apparatus converts the image information corresponding to the received acquired document name into one of the image data formats of the received image data type information. The image data is converted into image data, and the converted image data is transmitted as received image data to the workstation device.

In addition, a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure through a public network are provided, and subaddress information received by the facsimile transmission procedure and its subaddress An address conversion table storing network addresses corresponding to the information in association with each other, and storing the image information received via the public network in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received; A network facsimile apparatus for delivering to a destination terminal of a stored network address via a local area network, and being connected to the local area network, capable of receiving image information via the local area network. In a control method of a network communication system including one or more workstation devices that can be a destination terminal, the network facsimile device stores image information received via the public network, and stores the stored image information in HTTP. In addition to having an HTTP server function for distributing according to a transmission procedure, the workstation device has an HTTP client function, and the network facsimile device has an address conversion table corresponding to the subaddress information notified from the partner terminal when receiving image information. For the above workstation device of the network address stored in
A file for notifying that a facsimile document has been received and a list of document names of image information stored corresponding to the workstation device, and obtaining the table of contents information of the stored image information by an HTTP client function. The workstation device that has transmitted the incoming notification mail notifying the name and receiving the incoming notification mail activates the HTTP client function by the operation of the user and causes the user to select the document name of the image information for the purpose of income. The selected acquired document name and a request to acquire the table of contents information of the acquired document name are issued to the network facsimile apparatus, and the network facsimile apparatus is requested to acquire the table of contents information of the acquired document name. Creates table of contents information that indicates a list of specified acquired document names, and uses an HTTP server When the table of contents information is transmitted to the request source by the function, the workstation device, upon receiving the table of contents information, indicates the acquired document name and the type of one or more image data formats that can be displayed on its own terminal. The image facsimile apparatus notifies the network facsimile apparatus of the image data type information by the HTTP client function. When the network facsimile apparatus receives the acquired document name and the image data type information from the workstation apparatus, the network facsimile apparatus corresponds to the received acquired document name. The image information is converted into image data of any image data format of the received image data type information, and the converted image data is transmitted to the workstation as received image data.

[0010] The present invention also has a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed through a public network, and sub-address information received by the facsimile transmission procedure and its sub-address. An address conversion table storing network addresses corresponding to the information in association with each other, and storing the image information received via the public network in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received; A network facsimile apparatus for delivering to a destination terminal of a stored network address via a local area network, and being connected to the local area network, capable of receiving image information via the local area network. In a control method of a network communication system including one or more workstation devices that can be a destination terminal, the network facsimile device stores image information received via the public network, and stores the stored image information in HTTP. In addition to having an HTTP server function for distributing according to a transmission procedure, the workstation device has an HTTP client function, and the network facsimile device has an address conversion table corresponding to the subaddress information notified from the partner terminal when receiving image information. For the above workstation device of the network address stored in
While notifying that the facsimile document has been received, transmitting the incoming notification mail for distributing the table of contents information of the stored image information corresponding to the workstation device, the workstation device receiving the incoming notification mail, By the user's operation, the HTTP client function is activated, and the document name of the image information to be obtained is selected,
The network facsimile apparatus notifies the selected facsimile apparatus of the selected document name and image data type information indicating one or more types of image data formats that can be displayed on the terminal by an HTTP client function. Upon receiving the acquired document name and the image data type information from the workstation device, the image information corresponding to the received acquired document name is converted into image data of any image data format of the received image data type information. The converted image data is used as the received image data.
The data is transmitted to the workstation device.

The workstation device may further include a processing system for a predetermined script language, and the table of contents information may include one or more types of image data formats that can be displayed on the terminal device on the workstation device side. And the program source document of the script language for creating information to be transmitted is included, and the workstation device includes:
It is preferable that the processing system of the script language is activated from an HTTP client function to execute the program source document to create the image data type information. The one or more types of image data formats that can be displayed on the own terminal are the types of image data formats that can be displayed by the HTTP client function.

[0012]

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

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

In FIG. 1, a local area network LAN includes a plurality of workstations WS1 to WS1.
WSn, the mail server device SM, and the network facsimile device FX are connected. The local area network LAN is connected to the Internet via 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-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. It provides distribution services.

The workstation devices WS1 to WSW
Sn includes application software (e-mail transmission / reception processing, etc.) for exchanging various data via the local area network LAN, HTML (H
hyper Text Markup Languag
e) interprets the content of the e-mail described in accordance with e), displays the content, and displays HTTP (Hyper T)
Various programs such as e-mail browsing software having a function of acquiring necessary information are introduced according to a communication protocol called ext Transfer Protocol (ext Transfer Protocol) transmission procedure, and are used by a specific user. Here, the specific user may be one or more users.

The e-mail browsing software function is almost equivalent to WWW (World Wide Web) browsing software (so-called WWW browser software (for example,
Netscape Nav from Netscape, USA
igator "))). In addition, this "Netscape Navigato
"r" has a function of interpreting and displaying an HTML-formatted e-mail and, if necessary, acquiring any information indicated by link information in accordance with the HTTP transmission procedure. This WWW browsing software can be used as it is as the software.

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

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 facsimile apparatus. To operate,
It consists of various operation keys and various indicators.

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, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals and mainly exchanging image information. High-speed modem function (V.17 modem,
V. 34 modem, V.34. 29 modem, V.29. 27ter modem etc.).

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

The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the Internet facsimile apparatus to a 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.) and to execute HTTP server function processing.

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

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

Now, the network facsimile machine FX
Has an address conversion table that stores sub-address information received by a facsimile transmission procedure and a mail address corresponding to the sub-address information,
The image information received via the public network is transmitted via the local area network LAN to the destination terminal of the mail address stored in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the terminal at the time of receiving the image information. To deliver.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an address conversion table for distributing such facsimile image information.

This address conversion table stores, for each sub-address, an ID for identifying each distribution destination, a sub-address, and a mail address of the user of the distribution destination.

The sub-address can be generated by various methods (for example, a generation method using a hash function, etc.), as long as the destination can be uniquely defined.

In the present 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.

The protocol applied by each terminal to the mail server device SM for confirming the 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.

Further, regarding communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP and POP, and data formats and data structures of electronic mails, 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 (basic specification), RFC1521,
RFC1522 (MIME (Multi Purpos)
e Mail Extension format).

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the network facsimile machine FX sends the information to the workstation devices WS1 to WSW.
The HTTP transmission procedure is applied for the distribution of the received image information to each user of Sn.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the HTTP transmission procedure.

The HTTP client (software executed on the workstations WS1 to WSn) is
HTTP server (network facsimile machine FX
Issue a “session establishment request” to the software executed on the side, and when the “session establishment request” is received, the HTTP server issues a “session establishment response”.
To respond. This allows the HTTP client and the
A session for HTTP transmission is established with the TP server.

Next, the HTTP client sends a “document request” for requesting a document to be received (for example, image data, etc.), a “request header” for designating the document, a “blank line” for delimiting commands, And, if necessary, "additional data (optional)" is sequentially transmitted.

Here, the “request header” includes an “Accept:” field for notifying the receivable data type and its format. The content of the “Accept:” field is, for example, “i
image / tiff, image / gif, image
/ Xxbitmap, image / jpeg, * /
*"become that way. The notation of this data type and format is the same as that of MIME format email.
"Content-Type:" indicating the content of information
It has the same format as the field.

As a result, the HTTP server sets “status”, “request data header information”, “blank line”,
And sequentially sends out "request data",
Transfers the specified document from the HTTP client.

As described above, the file transfer in the HTTP transmission procedure includes the request (request) and the response (response), and is independent in this unit, and the connection is disconnected each time.

Therefore, when the received image information is distributed using the HTTP transmission procedure, the traffic of the transmission information exchanged via the local area network LAN can be reduced, and the local area network L
The use efficiency of AN is improved. At the same time, in this case, since the function of the mail server device SM is not used, there is no influence on the distribution of the e-mail.

With the above configuration, the network facsimile machine FX receives the image information from any one of the group 3 facsimile machines, and when the distribution destination is designated, the network facsimile machine FX shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a URL (Unif) for notifying the user of the distribution destination that image information has been received and specifying a file name of a table of contents page representing a list of received image information is provided.
An e-mail (hereinafter, referred to as “incoming notification mail”) of a reception notification for notifying an orm Resource Locator is transmitted. In FIG. 5, "server" corresponds to the network facsimile machine FX, and "client" corresponds to the workstation WS1.
~ WSn.

Here, as the file name of the table of contents page, for example, ““ date ”+“ serial number ”” (for example, June 1998)
Represents the first of March 11. ) Can be applied.

Therefore, the URL of the table of contents page notified by the incoming call notification mail is, for example, “http: ///
fax. domain. co. jp / index-pa
ge / 1998066111 ".

The user who has received the incoming notification mail is
Workstation devices WS1 to WSn used by oneself
, An HTTP client (usually, WWW browser software) is started, and the file name of the table of contents page notified by the received incoming notification mail is requested to be received from the HTTP server of the network facsimile machine FX. Get page information.

Thus, the workstation device WS
In 1 to WSn, the contents of the received contents page are displayed and provided to the user, and the user designates the document name of the desired image information by referring to the contents of the contents page.

Thus, the workstation device WS
1 to WSn, the document name of the designated image information is notified to the network facsimile machine FX as the target image document. At this time, the workstation devices WS1 to WS1
In n, a list of image data formats (formats) that can be displayed on the own terminal is created, and the list information is added to the notification information of the target image document.

Thus, the network facsimile machine FX selects the image data format of the conversion destination from the notified list information of the image data format in accordance with the predetermined priority, and converts the selected image data format into the image data of the selected image data format.
The image data having the document name designated as the target image document is converted, and the converted image data is transmitted to the workstation devices WS1 to WSn as the target image document.

As a result, the workstation device WS1
In WSn, the received image data of the target image document is displayed and presented to the user. As a result, the user can check the contents of the facsimile document addressed to the user.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the contents of the table of contents page.

This table of contents page is an HTML document.
A source script that can be processed by a script language processing system called “JavaScript” is included. This source script is "MI code that can be processed by WWW browser.
A function for "acquiring a list of ME types" is realized. If the WWW browser has a Javascript processing function, it can be processed by the WWW browser itself or plug-in software installed in the WWW browser. A list of various MIME types is obtained and created.

The table of contents also includes a list of file numbers of facsimile image information specified by the user at that time as the distribution destination. The list form of the file numbers is set to the “radio button”, and only one of the list numbers can be selected.

When the user selects one of the file numbers and turns on the “submit” button, the file number selected by the user and the list information of the created MIME type are displayed in the target image. The document is transmitted (POST) to the network facsimile machine FX (HTTP server).

FIG. 7 shows an example of processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX when a call is received from the public network.

First, when an incoming call is detected (the result of determination 101 is YES), the incoming call is answered (process 102), and a pre-transmission procedure of a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is executed, and a transmission function used at that time is executed. Set (Process 10
3) Execute the modem training procedure, determine the modem speed to be used at that time (step 104), execute the image information receiving procedure, receive the image information, and give the received image information a save file name. Then, the image data is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 105).

When the image information receiving operation is completed, a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (step 106), and the line is restored (step 107).

Next, the mail address of the destination user is obtained by referring to the address conversion table based on the contents of the sub-address signal SUB received in the pre-transmission procedure from the partner terminal at that time (process 108), and An incoming notification mail for notifying the table of contents page is created (step 109), and the created incoming notification mail is transmitted (step 110).

FIG. 8 shows a network facsimile apparatus F
7 shows an example of processing executed by the workstation devices WS1 to WSn when an incoming notification mail is received from X.

First, the server (network facsimile machine FX) is requested to receive a table of contents page (step 201), and receives a table of contents page from the server (step 2).
02). Then, the content of the received table of contents page is displayed, and the user is caused to select a target image document to be acquired (process 203).

Next, list information (displayable image format list information) of image data formats that can be displayed on the own terminal is created (process 204), and the target image document name and displayable format list information are notified to the server. (Step 205).

Then, the image document is received from the server (process 206), and the contents of the received image document are displayed (process 207).

FIG. 9 shows a network facsimile apparatus F when a table of contents page reception request is received from any of the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn (client).
The example of the process which X (server) performs is shown.

Upon receiving a request to receive a table of contents page, a table of contents page is created and transmitted (step 301), and the target image document name and displayable image format list information are received from the client (step 302).

Next, among the image formats included in the displayable image format list information, the image format that can be processed and has the highest priority is determined (process 303). For the priority order serving as the determination criterion, for example, the order of small data amount of image data to be created can be applied in consideration of traffic in the local area network LAN.

Then, the image data of the target image document name is read out and converted into the image data of the image format determined in the process 303 (process 304), and the converted image data is transmitted to the client as the target image document. (Process 30
5).

As described above, in this embodiment, the network facsimile machine FX notifies the user of the distribution destination that the image information has been received, and the file name of the table of contents page of the received image information. Since the e-mail is transmitted, the user who has received the e-mail is notified of the WW of the workstation device WS1 to WSn used by the user.
With the function of the W browser software, necessary image information can be acquired from the network facsimile machine FX and the contents can be displayed on the screen, so that the user can confirm the contents of the facsimile document addressed to him / her. Can be.

On the WWW browser software side, list information of image formats that can be processed is transmitted to the network facsimile machine FX, and the network facsimile machine FX
Then, since the image format is selected from the list information and the image format of the received image information is converted, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the image data received from the network facsimile machine FX cannot be displayed on the user side. And efficient image information distribution becomes possible.

In the above-described embodiment, since only the file name of the table of contents is arranged in the incoming notification mail, the table of contents needs to include the arrangement information of all the received image information.

Therefore, the list of the received image information is included in the incoming notification mail, and the target image document name is notified to the server when requesting the table of contents, so that the data size of the table of contents transmitted from the server Can be reduced, and efficient communication can be performed.

That is, in this case, the network facsimile machine FX receives the image information from any one of the group 3 facsimile machines, and when the distribution destination is designated, the network facsimile machine FX shown in FIG.
0, the user of the distribution destination is notified that the image information has been received, the URL for specifying the file name of the table of contents page representing the list of received image information, and the list of file names of the received image information. Send an incoming notification email. In FIG. 10, the “server” corresponds to the network facsimile machine FX, and the “client”
Correspond to the workstation devices WS1 to WSn.

The user who has received the incoming notification mail is
Workstation devices WS1 to WSn used by oneself
Of the received WWW browser software (HTTP client), select the one to be obtained from the received image information notified by the received incoming notification mail, and enter the document name of the selected received image information and the file name of the table of contents page A reception request is made to the HTTP server of the network facsimile machine FX, and the table of contents page information of only the document name of the received image information specified by the network facsimile machine is obtained. The contents of the table of contents page in this case are the same as those in FIG. 6, but instead of the list of file numbers of the facsimile image information designated by the corresponding user as the distribution destination,
Includes only the document name of the specified target image document.

Thus, the workstation device WS
1 to WSn, the contents of the received table of contents page are displayed and provided to the user, and the user specifies the document name of the desired image information by referring to the contents of the table of contents page.

Thus, the workstation device WS
1 to WSn, the document name of the designated image information is notified to the network facsimile machine FX as the target image document. At this time, the workstation devices WS1 to WS1
In n, a list of image data formats (formats) that can be displayed on the own terminal is created, and the list information is added to the notification information of the target image document.

Thus, the network facsimile machine FX selects the image data format of the conversion destination from the notified list information of the image data format in accordance with the predetermined priority, and converts the image data of the selected image data format into the selected image data format.
The image data having the document name designated as the target image document is converted, and the converted image data is transmitted to the workstation devices WS1 to WSn as the target image document.

As a result, the workstation device WS1
In WSn, the received image data of the target image document is displayed and presented to the user. As a result, the user can check the contents of the facsimile document addressed to the user.

FIG. 11 shows an example of processing executed by the workstations WS1 to WSn when an incoming notification mail is received from the network facsimile machine FX.

First, the user is allowed to select a target image document from the list of received documents included in the incoming notification mail (step 40).
1), server (network facsimile machine FX)
In response to the request, a table of contents page is requested with the target image document name specified (process 402), and a table of contents page relating to the target image document is received from the server (process 403).

Next, list information (displayable image format list information) of image data formats that can be displayed on the own terminal is created (process 404), and the target image document name and displayable format list information are notified to the server. (Step 405).

Then, the image document is received from the server (step 406), and the contents of the received image document are displayed (step 407).

FIG. 12 shows a case where a request for receiving a table of contents page in which a target image document name is specified is received from any of the workstation devices WS1 to WSn (client).
3 shows an example of processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX (server).

When a request for receiving a table of contents page with a designated target image document name is received, a table of contents with the designated target image document name is created and transmitted (process 501), and the client can display the target image document name and the target image document name. The image format list information is received (process 502).

Next, of the image formats included in the displayable image format list information, the image format that can be processed and has the highest priority is determined (process 503). Then, the image data of the target image document name is read and converted into the image data of the image format determined in the process 503 (process 50).
4), using the converted image data as a target image document,
The data is transmitted to the client (process 505).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the network facsimile machine FX notifies the distribution destination user that the image information has been received, the file name of the table of contents page of the received image information,
In addition, since the incoming notification mail for notifying the list of the received image information is transmitted, the user who has received the incoming notification mail can use the workstation device WS1-W
With the function of Sn's WWW browser software, necessary image information can be obtained from the network facsimile machine FX and the contents can be displayed on the screen, so that the user can check the contents of the facsimile document addressed to him / her. can do.

On the WWW browser software side, list information of image formats that can be processed is transmitted to the network facsimile machine FX, and the network facsimile machine FX
Then, since the image format is selected from the list information and the image format of the received image information is converted, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the image data received from the network facsimile machine FX cannot be displayed on the user side. And efficient image information distribution becomes possible.

If the table of contents is included in the incoming notification mail to be transmitted to the destination user when receiving the image information, the operation of the user is simplified and the communication between the workstations WS1 to WSn and the network facsimile machine FX is performed. The number of data exchanges can be reduced, which is advantageous for traffic of the local area network LAN.

In this case, the network facsimile machine FX receives the image information from any one of the group 3 facsimile machines and, when the distribution destination is designated, as shown in FIG. In addition to notifying that the information has been received, an incoming notification mail for notifying a table of contents page showing a list of received image information is transmitted. FIG.
In 3, the "server" corresponds to the network facsimile machine FX, and the "client" corresponds to the workstation devices WS1 to WSn.

The user who has received the incoming notification mail is
Workstation devices WS1 to WSn used by oneself
The HTTP client (usually, WWW browser software) is started, and the document name of the desired image information is designated by referring to the contents of the contents page included in the received incoming notification mail.

Thus, the workstation device WS
1 to WSn, the document name of the designated image information is notified to the network facsimile machine FX as the target image document. At this time, the workstation devices WS1 to WS1
In n, a list of image data formats (formats) that can be displayed on the own terminal is created, and the list information is added to the notification information of the target image document.

Thus, the network facsimile machine FX selects the image data format of the conversion destination from the notified list information of the image data format in accordance with the predetermined priority, and converts the image data of the selected image data format into image data of the selected image data format.
The image data having the document name designated as the target image document is converted, and the converted image data is transmitted to the workstation devices WS1 to WSn as the target image document.

As a result, the workstation device WS1
In WSn, the received image data of the target image document is displayed and presented to the user. As a result, the user can check the contents of the facsimile document addressed to the user.

FIG. 14 shows an example of an incoming notification mail. This incoming notification mail includes the contents of the contents page similar to FIG.

FIG. 15 shows an example of processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX when a call is received from the public network.

First, when an incoming call is detected (result of determination 601 is YES), an incoming call is answered (process 602), a pre-transmission procedure of a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is executed, and a transmission function used at that time is executed. Set (Process 60
3) Execute the modem training procedure, determine the modem speed to be used at that time (process 604), execute the image information receiving procedure, receive the image information, and give the received image information a save file name. Then, the image data is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 605).

When the image information receiving operation is completed, a predetermined post-transmission procedure is executed (process 606), and the line is restored (process 607).

Next, based on the contents of the sub-address signal SUB received in the pre-transmission procedure from the partner terminal at that time, the e-mail address of the destination user is acquired by referring to the address conversion table (process 608).

Next, the above-mentioned table of contents information is created (step 609), an incoming notification mail including the table of contents is created (step 610), and the created incoming notification mail is transmitted (step 610). Process 611).

FIG. 16 shows an example of processing executed by the workstations WS1 to WSn when an incoming notification mail is received from the network facsimile machine FX.

First, a table of contents page is displayed to allow the user to select a target image document (process 701), and then list information of image data formats (displayable image format list information) that can be displayed on the terminal is prepared ( Process 702), and notifies the target image document name and displayable image format list information to the server (Process 703).

Then, the image document is received from the server (step 704), and the content of the received image document is displayed (step 705).

FIG. 17 shows a network facsimile apparatus F when a notification of a target image document is received from any of the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn (client).
The example of the process which X (server) performs is shown.

When the target image document and the displayable image format list information are received (process 801), among the image formats included in the displayable image format list information notified together therewith,
The image format that can be processed and has the highest priority is determined (process 802).

Then, the image data of the target image document name is read out, converted into the image data of the image format determined in the process 802 (process 803), and the converted image data is transmitted to the client as the target image document. (Process 80
4).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the network facsimile machine FX notifies the user of the distribution destination that the image information has been received and transmits the incoming notification mail notifying the table of contents page of the received image information. Therefore, the user who has received the incoming notification mail obtains necessary image information from the network facsimile machine FX by the function of the WWW browser software of the workstation device WS1 to WSn used by the user, and displays the contents on the screen. Since it can be displayed, the user can confirm the contents of the facsimile document addressed to him / her.

The WWW browser software transmits list information of image formats that can be processed to the network facsimile machine FX, and sends the list information to the network facsimile machine FX.
Then, since the image format is selected from the list information and the image format of the received image information is converted, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the image data received from the network facsimile machine FX cannot be displayed on the user side. And efficient image information distribution becomes possible.

[0106]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The network facsimile machine provides the destination user with
In addition to notifying that the image information has been received and transmitting an incoming notification mail notifying the file name of the table of contents page of the received image information, the user receiving the incoming notification mail
With the function of the WWW browser software of the workstation device used by the user, necessary image information can be obtained from the network facsimile device and the content can be displayed on the screen. The effect is obtained that the contents of the document can be confirmed. In addition, since the electronic mail is not used for distributing the image information, the effect that the load on the mail server can be greatly reduced can be obtained.

Further, the WWW browser software transmits list information of image formats that can be processed to the network facsimile device, and the network facsimile device selects an image format from the list information and changes the image format of the received image information. Since the conversion is performed, a situation where the image data received from the network facsimile apparatus cannot be displayed on the user side can be prevented beforehand, and an effect that efficient image information distribution can be obtained is obtained.

Further, the network facsimile apparatus
An incoming notification mail is sent to the user of the distribution destination to notify that the image information has been received, the file name of the table of contents page of the received image information, and a list of the received image information. The user can obtain necessary image information from the network facsimile apparatus and display the contents on the screen by using the function of the WWW browser software of the workstation apparatus used by the user. There is also an effect that the contents of the facsimile document can be confirmed.

Further, the network facsimile apparatus
Notifying the user of the distribution destination that the image information has been received, and sending an incoming notification mail notifying the table of contents page of the received image information, the user receiving the incoming notification mail can use the workstation used by the user. Equipment WWW
With the function of the browser software, necessary image information can be acquired from the network facsimile apparatus and the contents can be displayed on the screen, so that the user can confirm the contents of the facsimile document addressed to the user. The effect is also 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 schematic diagram showing an example of an address conversion table.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing an example of an HTTP transmission procedure.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of a transmission procedure of image information distribution in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a table of contents page.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX when a call is received from a public network.

FIG. 8 shows a workstation WS when receiving an incoming notification mail from the network facsimile machine FX.
6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed in 1 to WSn.

FIG. 9 shows one of workstation devices WS1 to WS
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX (server) when a table of contents page reception request is received from the Sn (client).

FIG. 10 is a time chart showing another example of a transmission procedure of image information distribution in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a workstation device W when receiving an incoming notification mail from the network facsimile device FX.
9 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing executed in S1 to WSn.

FIG. 12 shows one of workstation devices WS1 to WS1.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX (server) when a request for receiving a table of contents page in which a target image document name is specified is received from a WSn (client).

FIG. 13 is a time chart showing still another example of a transmission procedure of image information distribution in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing another example of an incoming notification mail.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX when a call is received from the public network.

FIG. 16 shows a workstation device W when receiving an incoming notification mail from the network facsimile machine FX.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed in S1 to WSn.

FIG. 17 shows one of workstation devices WS1 to WS1.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by the network facsimile machine FX (server) when receiving a notification of a target image document from a WSn (client).

[Explanation of symbols]

 FX network facsimile machine WS1-WSn workstation device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/32 H04L 11/20 101C // H04L 12/40 11/00 321 F term (Reference) 5B089 GA11 GA15 GA21 GB09 HA01 HA06 HA08 HA10 HB05 JA05 JA21 JA32 JB03 JB22 KA00 KA06 KB06 KC15 KC44 KD08 KE02 KE03 KH03 KH11 LB14 LB17 MA03 5C062 AA02 AA16 AA30 AA35 AB38 AB42 AC28 AC29 AC35 AC38 CD14 BA14 CB14 5K030 GA01 GA13 HB04 HB16 HC01 HC14 JT05 KA02 KA15 LA08 LD13 LE11 5K032 AA01 AA03 BA17 CC07 CC11 CD01 DA01 DA08

Claims (5)

[Claims] The present invention has a function of exchanging data on a local area network, a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public network, and sub-address information received by a facsimile transmission procedure and its sub-address. An address conversion table storing network addresses corresponding to the information in association with each other, and storing the image information received via the public network in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received; A network facsimile machine that delivers to the destination terminal of the stored network address via the local area network, and is connected to the local area network so that it can receive image information via the local area network and In a method for controlling a network communication system including one or more workstation devices that can be a destination terminal, the network facsimile device stores image information received via the public network and transmits the stored image information via HTTP. The workstation device has an HTTP client function, and the network facsimile device has an HTTP server function for distributing according to a procedure. Notifying the workstation device of the stored network address that the facsimile document has been received, and passing the file name for obtaining the table of contents information of the stored image information by the HTTP client function. The workstation device, which has received the incoming notification mail, activates the HTTP client function by a user operation and sends a request to the network facsimile device to acquire the notified table of contents information. When the network facsimile apparatus is requested to acquire the table of contents information, the network facsimile apparatus generates table of contents information representing a list of the names of the image information stored corresponding to the workstation apparatus of the request source, and The table of contents information is transmitted to the requesting source by the server function. When the above-mentioned table of contents information is received, the workstation device causes the user to select a document name of the image information to be obtained by the operation of the user, and the selected document name And image data type information representing one or more types of image data formats that can be displayed on the terminal. Is notified to the network facsimile apparatus by an HTTP client function. When the network facsimile apparatus receives the acquired document name and the image data type information from the workstation apparatus, the network facsimile apparatus transmits image information corresponding to the received acquired document name to the network facsimile apparatus. A method for controlling a network communication system, comprising: converting received image data type information into image data of any image data format; and transmitting the converted image data as received image data to the workstation device. . 2. A function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure through a public network, and sub-address information received by the facsimile transmission procedure and its sub-address An address conversion table storing network addresses corresponding to the information in association with each other, and storing the image information received via the public network in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received; A network facsimile machine that delivers to the destination terminal of the stored network address via the local area network, and is connected to the local area network so that it can receive image information via the local area network and In a method for controlling a network communication system including one or more workstation devices that can be a destination terminal, the network facsimile device stores image information received via the public network and transmits the stored image information via HTTP. The workstation device has an HTTP client function, and the network facsimile device has an HTTP server function for distributing according to a procedure. The fact that the facsimile document has been received and the list information of the document names of the image information stored corresponding to the workstation device are notified to the workstation device of the stored network address, and the stored The workstation device transmits an incoming notification mail for notifying a file name for obtaining the table of contents information of the image information by the HTTP client function, and upon receiving the incoming notification mail, activates the HTTP client function by a user operation. In addition, a document name of the image information for the purpose of income is selected, and a request for acquiring the selected acquired document name and the table of contents information of the acquired document name is issued to the network facsimile apparatus. When the acquisition of the table of contents information of the acquired document name is requested, table of contents information representing a list of the specified acquired document names is created, and the table of contents information is transmitted to the request source by the HTTP server function. When the above table of contents information is received, the acquired document name and Possible 1
The network facsimile apparatus notifies the network facsimile apparatus of image data type information indicating one or more types of image data formats by using an HTTP client function, and the network facsimile apparatus receives the acquired document name and the image data type information from the workstation apparatus. Converting the image information corresponding to the received acquired document name into image data of any image data format of the received image data type information, and using the converted image data as received image data as the workstation device A method for controlling a network communication system, comprising: 3. A function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure through a public network, and sub-address information received by a facsimile transmission procedure and its sub-address An address conversion table storing network addresses corresponding to the information in association with each other, and storing the image information received via the public network in the address conversion table corresponding to the sub-address information notified from the partner terminal when the image information is received; A network facsimile machine that delivers to the destination terminal of the stored network address via the local area network, and is connected to the local area network so that it can receive image information via the local area network and In a method for controlling a network communication system including one or more workstation devices that can be a destination terminal, the network facsimile device stores image information received via the public network and transmits the stored image information via HTTP. The workstation device has an HTTP client function, and the network facsimile device has an HTTP server function for distributing according to a procedure. Incoming notification mail for notifying the workstation device of the stored network address that the facsimile document has been received, and distributing the table of contents information of the stored image information corresponding to the workstation device. The workstation device that has transmitted and received the incoming notification mail activates the HTTP client function by a user operation to select a document name of the image information to be obtained, and the selected document name and Notifying the network facsimile apparatus of image data type information indicating one or more types of image data formats that can be displayed on the own terminal by using an HTTP client function, the network facsimile apparatus obtains a document name and an acquired document name from the workstation apparatus. When the image data type information is received, the image information corresponding to the received acquired document name is converted into image data of any image data format of the received image data type information, and the converted image data is received. The data is transmitted to the workstation device as data. A method for controlling a network communication system. 4. The workstation device further comprises a processing system of a predetermined script language, and the table of contents information includes one or more types of image data formats that can be displayed on the workstation device side at its own terminal. And a program source document in the script language for creating information to be transmitted and transmitted, and the workstation device includes an HT
4. The network communication according to claim 1, wherein the script language processing system is started from a TP client function, the program source document is executed, and the image data type information is created. How to control the system. 5. The type of one or more image data formats that can be displayed on the own terminal is a type of image data format that can be displayed by the HTTP client function. 5. The control method for a network communication system according to claim 3.