Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several Figures, in which:
a),
Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the present invention will be detailed in the following.
The network facsimile apparatus 10 serves as a network connectable facsimile apparatus that conducts a session controlling operation based on the Session Initiation Protocol, and is constituted by: a control section 11 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as its main section; an image reading section 12 for optically reading a document so as to acquire image data; an image recording section 13 for printing an image onto a recording medium; an operational display section 14 for displaying an operational screen and for receiving operations operated by the user; a data storage section 15 including data storages for storing the image data and a hard disc drive; a network information storage 17 for storing various kinds of information pertaining to the communications for which the Session Initiation Protocol is employed; a network I/F control section 18 having a function for exchanging various kinds of data between the SIP server 30 and other terminal devices through the network 2; etc.
Further, the image reading section 12, the image recording section 13 and operational display section 14 are coupled to the control section 11 through an image reading I/F section 12a, an image recording I/F section 13a and an operational display I/F section 14a, respectively.
As shown in
The registration server 32 is such a server that accepts a registration request, sent from specific one of the plurality of network facsimile apparatuses 10, for registering its positional information on the network 2. In the positional information, the SIP address of the own apparatus (for instance, the own telephone number on the public telephone line (FAX number) or the address information based on the user name, the apparatus name, etc., allotted to the apparatus concerned), the address information of the own apparatus on the network 2 (herein, IP address of the own apparatus), etc. are correlated with each other.
The location server 33 is provided with a database function for accumulating and storing the positional information accepted by the registration server 32 into it, so as to provide the positional information concerned, in response to the inquiry sent from the proxy server 31 or the redirect server 34. The proxy server 31 relays the methods and the responses sent from the network facsimile apparatus 10 to the next server.
Receiving a connecting request with a SIP address of the network facsimile apparatus 10 at a receiver site, sent from the other network facsimile apparatus 10 at a sender site, the SIP server 30 retrieves a specific IP address correlated to the SIP address from the positional information stored in the location server 33, and employs the specific IP address retrieved, so as to achieve the call connection between the network facsimile apparatus 10 at a receiver site and the other network facsimile apparatus 10 at a sender site.
When receiving the INVITE method, the network facsimile apparatus 10B sends a response code 180RINGING back to the network facsimile apparatus 10A, and further, when accepting receipt, sends a response code 2000K back to the network facsimile apparatus 10A. The proxy server 31B and the proxy server 31A relay both the response code 180RINGING and the response code 2000K, so that those arrive into the network facsimile apparatus 10B. Receiving the response code 2000K, the network facsimile apparatus 10A sends the ACK method directly to the network facsimile apparatus 10B. Then, the session is established.
After the session is established, the facsimile transmission of the image data is conducted by employing an arbitral protocol. For instance, a protocol conformity with the Recommendation T.37 or T.38 of ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union—Telecommunication sector) would be employed. In this example, the communication is conducted by employing the direct SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).
When the facsimile transmission is completed, the network facsimile apparatus 10B, serving as a callee, sends the BYE method to the network facsimile apparatus 10A, serving as a caller. In response to the BYE method, the network facsimile apparatus 10A sends the response code 2000K to the callee, to finalize the session.
Next, returning to
One of the plurality of network facsimile apparatuses 10 (for instance, the network facsimile apparatus 10B shown in
When the SIP server 30 receives a request of connection with the network facsimile apparatus 10B, in which such the redirect setting is established, from the network facsimile apparatus 10A serving as a caller (indicated by arrow P3), the SIP server 30 sends an inquiry to the location server 33 through the redirect server 34 (indicated by arrows P4 and P5), and then, notifies the network facsimile apparatus 10A, serving as the caller, of the specific information of the redirect address (namely, network facsimile apparatus 10C) registered while correlating to the SIP address of the network facsimile apparatus 10B (IP address of the other apparatus) as the redirect response (indicated by arrow P6).
The network facsimile apparatus 10A reissues the INVITE method to the IP address of the other apparatus notified by the redirect response, so as to established the session with the network facsimile apparatus 10C (the redirect address), which is established as the substitute apparatus for the network facsimile apparatus 10B originally nominated as the callee (indicated by arrows P7 through P14), and then, can transmits the image data to the network facsimile apparatus 10C.
Next, in the network facsimile system 5, the operations, to be conducted in the case that facsimile information are transmitted to the receiver in which the redirect setting is established, will be detailed in the following.
Although the transmitting terminal device 10A sends a request of connection with the first receiving terminal device 10B to the SIP server 30 (indicated by arrow S1), since the redirect setting, which designates the second receiving terminal device 10C as the redirect address, is established in the first receiving terminal device 10B, the SIP server 30 notifies the transmitting terminal device 10A of the redirect response (indicated by arrow S2). Receiving the redirect response, a determining section (not shown in the drawings) included in the transmitting terminal device 10A determines that the first receiving terminal device 10B cannot receive the facsimile data, and accordingly, the transmitting terminal device 10A conducts a substitute transmission for transmitting the facsimile data to the second receiving terminal device 10C notified by the redirect response (indicated by arrow S3).
In the abovementioned substitute transmission, the transmitting terminal device 10A transmits terminal identifying information in regard to the transmitting terminal device 10A itself, other terminal identifying information in regard to the first receiving terminal device 10B and the image data to the second receiving terminal device 10C. Any kind of information, capable of specifying the terminal device concerned, could be employed as the terminal identifying information, and for instance, the SIP address can be employed. Alternatively, other than the SIP address, the IP address, a name or a number allotted to the terminal device concerned, etc. are also available as the terminal identifying information. Further, in the substitute transmission, the information in respect to the image data, for instance, a name of document, etc., would be also transmitted.
When receiving the image data transmitted in the substitute transmission mode, from the viewpoint of the substitute transmission, the second receiving terminal device 10C merely stores the received image data into the data storage section 15 and merely stores the information in respect to the image data into the network information storage 17, without conducting the printing operation unless otherwise instructed or operated. Accordingly, by disabling an automatic implementation of the printing operation as mentioned in the above, it becomes possible to maintain a security of the image data transmitted in the substitute transmission mode. By visiting the second receiving terminal device 10C and conducting the predetermined input operations from the operational display section 14, it becomes possible for the user to display a list of the information in respect to the image data transmitted in the substitute transmission mode onto the operational display section 14 of the second receiving terminal device 10C or to make the image recording section 13 print an image based on the image data received in the substitute reception mode (indicated by arrow S4). According to the abovementioned procedure, even when the first receiving terminal device 10B cannot receive the image data or cannot print the image based on the image data, it becomes possible to utilize the image data and the information in respect to the image data at another terminal device, which receives them in the substitute reception mode.
Further, the first receiving terminal device 10B has a function for transmitting a command signal for requesting the second receiving terminal device 10C to transmit the list of the information in respect to the image data received by the second receiving terminal device 10C serving as a substitute for the first receiving terminal device 10B itself, to the second receiving terminal device 10C (list request, indicated by arrow S5). Since the first receiving terminal device 10B memorizes information indicating what terminal device is designated as the redirect address, the first receiving terminal device 10B recognizes the destination of the list request based on the information concerned.
On the other hand, the second receiving terminal device 10C has a function for transmitting a list response including information in respect to the image data concerned (indicated by arrow S6) to the first receiving terminal device 10B, when receiving the list request from the first receiving terminal device 10B.
According to the functions mentioned in the above, it becomes possible for the user to employ the first receiving terminal device 10B located remote from the second receiving terminal device 10C for confirming whether or not the image data transferred to the second receiving terminal device 10C exist, and/or what kind of image data are received by the second receiving terminal device 10C in the substitute reception mode, without actually visiting the second receiving terminal device 10C. Such the functions are specifically useful when the inability state of receiving the image data in the first receiving terminal device 10B is eliminated.
The list request includes the terminal identifying information in respect to the first receiving terminal device 10B being an original callee. Based on the terminal identifying information mentioned in the above, the second receiving terminal device 10C selects specific information in respect to the image data, received in the substitute reception mode in which the first receiving terminal device 10B is designated as the redirect address, from various information received in various substitute reception modes, so as to create a list of the specific information. The first receiving terminal device 10B stores the terminal identifying information of the first receiving terminal device 10B itself in the network information storage 17, etc., and transmits list request signals including its own terminal identifying information retrieved in the above.
Any kind of information useful for recognizing a property of image data received in each of various substitute reception modes can be employed as the information in respect to the image data. For instance, an ID or address information of the transmitting terminal device 10A, a name of document, a name of a receiving person, a date and time of substitute reception, a number of pages, a document number, etc. can be cited.
Further, the first receiving terminal device 10B has a function for transmitting a command signal for requesting the second receiving terminal device 10C to transmit the image data, received in the substitute reception mode by the second receiving terminal device 10C serving as a substitute for the first receiving terminal device 10B itself, to the first receiving terminal device 10B, to the second receiving terminal device 10C (transfer request, indicated by arrow S7). Since the first receiving terminal device 10B memorizes information indicating what terminal device is designated as the redirect address, the first receiving terminal device 10B recognizes the destination of the transfer request based on the information concerned.
On the other hand, the second receiving terminal device 10C has a function for transmitting a transfer response including the image data concerned (indicated by arrow S8) to the first receiving terminal device 10B, when receiving the transfer request from the first receiving terminal device 10B. As well as the list request, the image data transfer request includes the terminal identifying information in respect to the first receiving terminal device 10B being an original callee. Based on the terminal identifying information mentioned in the above, the second receiving terminal device 10C identifies the image data, received in the substitute reception mode in which the first receiving terminal device 10B is designated as the redirect address, from various information received in various substitute reception modes.
According to the functions mentioned in the above, it becomes possible for the user to acquire the image data transferred into the second receiving terminal device 10C from the first receiving terminal device 10B located remote from the second receiving terminal device 10C, without actually visiting the second receiving terminal device 10C.
It is applicable that the list request and the transfer request can be automatically transmitted at the time when the first receiving terminal device 10B enters into a receivable state, or transmitted at an arbitral time based on the instruction of the user.
For instance, the first receiving terminal device 10B is provided with a state distinction section (not shown in the drawings) to distinguish whether or not the first receiving terminal device 10B itself is currently capable of receiving the image data (receivable state). When the state distinction section determines that the first receiving terminal device 10B itself is currently capable of receiving the image data, a requesting section (not shown in the drawings) provided in the first receiving terminal device 10B automatically transmits a request command signal (either the list request or the transfer request) to the second receiving terminal device 10C.
Speaking with a concrete example, when the first receiving terminal device 10B itself is currently incapable of receiving the image data due to an occurrence of error, such as a paper jamming, etc., the first receiving terminal device 10B makes the SIP server 30 establish the redirect setting in which the second receiving terminal device 10C is designated as the redirect address. It is preferable that this redirect setting is automatically established by detecting the paper jamming, etc. After that, the state distinction section determines whether or not the error, such as a paper jamming, etc., is eliminated, so that the request command signal (either the list request or the transfer request) in respect to the substitute reception is automatically transmitted to the second receiving terminal device 10C at the time when the error is eliminated and the receivable state is resumed.
According to the controlling procedure mentioned in the above, when the error, such as a paper jamming, etc., is eliminated and the receivable state is resumed, it becomes possible for the first receiving terminal device 10B not only to remotely confirm whether or not the transferring operation has been conducted during the time period in which the receiving operation has been incapable, but also to automatically acquire the image data received in the substitute reception mode from the first receiving terminal device 10B.
Incidentally, even when the state distinction section determines that the first receiving terminal device 10B is in the receivable state, it is applicable that the transmission of the request command signal (either the list request or the transfer request) is banned on the basis of the setting information of the network facsimile apparatus 10. For instance, a time period, during which the transmission of the request command signal (either the list request or the transfer request) is banned, is established, so that both the first receiving terminal device 10B and the second receiving terminal device 10C are controlled not to transmit the request command signal (either the list request or the transfer request) during the above-established time period, even if the receivable state is resumed. It would be effective to employ such the time period for holidays or nighttime.
Further, it is applicable that a result determined by the state distinction section is displayed on a display device, such as the operational display section 14, etc., so that the user can determine whether or not the request command signal (either the list request or the transfer request) should be transmitted, by viewing the above-determined result displayed on the screen of the display device. In this case, the request command signal (either the list request or the transfer request) is transmitted only when a transmitting instruction sent from the user is received through an accepting section, such as the operational display section 14, etc.
Further, the third receiving terminal device 10D has a function for transmitting a command signal for requesting the second receiving terminal device 10C to transmit the list of the information in respect to the image data received by the second receiving terminal device 10C serving as a substitute for the first receiving terminal device 10B, to the second receiving terminal device 10C (list request, indicated by arrow S9). The second receiving terminal device 10C has a function for transmitting a list of information in respect to the image data concerned as a list response (indicated by arrow S10) to the third receiving terminal device 10D, when receiving the list request sent from the third receiving terminal device 10D.
Further, the third receiving terminal device 10D can transmit a command signal for requesting the second receiving terminal device 10C to transmit the image data, received in the substitute reception mode by the second receiving terminal device 10C serving as a substitute for the first receiving terminal device 10B, to the third receiving terminal device 10D, to the second receiving terminal device 10C (transfer request, indicated by arrow S11). While, the second receiving terminal device 10C has a function for transmitting a transfer response including the image data concerned (indicated by arrow S12) to the third receiving terminal device 10D, when receiving the transfer request from the third receiving terminal device 10D. According to the functions mentioned in the above, it becomes possible for the user to confirm whether or not the image data transferred to the second receiving terminal device 10C represented by the redirect address, or what kind of image data are received in the substitute reception mode by the second receiving terminal device 10C, by employing the third receiving terminal device 10D other than the first receiving terminal device 10B, without actually visiting the first receiving terminal device 10B or the second receiving terminal device 10C.
The terminal identifying information of the first receiving terminal device 10B, being an original callee, are inputted into the third receiving terminal device 10D from the operational display section 14 of it. Then, the third receiving terminal device 10D transmits the above-inputted terminal identifying information to the second receiving terminal device 10C. The second receiving terminal device 10C retrieves a specific image data, corresponding to the terminal identifying information included in the request command signal, from image data received in the substitute reception mode, and creates a list of the information in respect to the specific image data retrieved, so as to transmit the list of the information and/or the specific image data to the third receiving terminal device 10D.
Next, processing to be conducted in each of the apparatuses and information to be exchange between the apparatuses in order to implements the operations indicated in
In the present embodiment, information exchanges indicated by arrows S3 through S12 are conducted by employing the E-mail conformity with the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).
In the case of substitute transmission, the first parameter represents the terminal identifying information of the first receiving terminal device 10B being the original callee to which the caller originally intended to transmit the image data (for instance, SIP address), while the second parameter represents the terminal identifying information of the transmitting terminal device 10A being the caller. In the case of any one of the list request, the transfer request, the list response and the transfer response, the first parameter represents the terminal identifying information of the sender of request, while the second parameter represents the terminal identifying information of the first receiving terminal device 10B being the original callee to which the caller originally intended to transmit the image data.
For instance, in the case of substitute transmission, a character string formed in such a predetermined format as “@@@@ SUBSTITUTE TRANSMISSION, ORIGINAL SIP ADDRESS” is set at the headline of text of the E-mail. The receiver side checks whether or not the control data are attached to the headline of text of the E-mail, so as to conduct the controlling operation according to the control data, when the setting of the character string is detected.
Further, when the terminal device being capable of transmitting the list request and the transfer request is limited to only the first receiving terminal device 10B (namely, the terminal device being the original callee to which the caller originally intended to transmit the image data), since “the sender of request is equal to the original caller” can be established when the request from the third receiving terminal device 10D does not occur, it is applicable that each of the list request and the transfer request includes the first parameter only. Still further, irrespective of presence or absence of the abovementioned limitation, it is also applicable that the second parameter of “ORIGINAL SIP ADDRESS” is not necessary attached to each of the list request and the transfer request.
When the redirect setting (temporal change of the address) is established in the first receiving terminal device 10B serving as the callee, a code of 302MovedTenporary (serving as the redirect response) is returned to the caller as the response to the inquiry mentioned in the above. When receiving the code of 302MovedTenporary (Step S103; Yes), the transmitting terminal device 10A recognizes that the address of the first receiving terminal device 10B is temporarily changed, and sets a substitute transmission flag (Step S104).
Then, the transmitting terminal device 10A again sends the connection request with the INVITE method for connecting it to the address returned in the redirect response (in this example, the address of the second receiving terminal device 10C established as the redirect address of the first receiving terminal device 10B) to the proxy server 31 (Step S106). When the code of 2000K is returned from the second receiving terminal device 10C in response to the connection request sent from the caller (Step S107), the session is established. After that, the transmitting terminal device 10A conducts the image data transmitting operation according to the procedure conformity with the direct SMTP (Step S108). When the image data transmitting operation is completed, the session is opened by communicating the code of BYE/2000K between the caller and the callee as shown in
On the other hand, when the contents received in Step S102 do not include 302MovedTenporary (Step S103; No), the transmitting terminal device 10A clears the substitute transmission flag (Step S105). Then, when the transmitting terminal device 10A receives 2000K (Step S107), the session between the transmitting terminal device 10A and the first receiving terminal device 10B is established. After that, the transmitting terminal device 10A transmits the image data to the first receiving terminal device 10B according to the procedure conformity with the direct SMTP (Step S108).
At first, either the caller or the callee logs in to the SMTP server (Step S201), to determine whether the current transmission corresponds to any one of the substitute transmission, the transmission of the list request, the transmission of the list response, the transmission of the transfer request and the transmission of the transfer response or falls under a transmission other than the above (Step S202). When determining that the current transmission corresponds to any one of the substitute transmission, the transmission of the list request, the transmission of the list response, the transmission of the transfer request and the transmission of the transfer response (Step S202; Yes), the control data items (the category data, the first parameter and the second parameter) corresponding to the headline of the text of the E-mail are set (Step S203). When determining that the current transmission falls under, for instance, the normal facsimile transmission other than the substitute transmission, the transmission of the list request, the transmission of the list response, the transmission of the transfer request and the transmission of the transfer response (Step S202; No), the control data items are not set. Incidentally, either the normal transmission of the image data or the substitute transmission is determined on the basis of the status of the substitute transmission flag set or cleared in Step S104 or Step S105 shown in
Next, either the caller or callee establishes header information, such as a transmission address, sender information, a subject, etc., and attaches the concerned image data to the E-mail when it corresponds to any one of the normal transmission of the image data, the substitute transmission and the transmission of the transfer response, and then, sends the E-mail (Step S204). After that, either the caller or callee logs out from the SMTP server so as to finalize the processing (Step S205).
The list created as text data is described in the text of the E-mail. A character string, such as “@@@@ LIST RESPONSE OF ORIGINAL REQUESTER, ORIGINAL SIP ADDRESS”, etc., is described on the headline of text of the E-mail. The information in respect to the image data of “a date-and-time transmission SIP address, a number of pages included in the image data, a name of attached file” for all of the received data currently existing are described on the second line of text of the E-mail and the following lines.
For instance, in the example shown in
When receiving the transfer request (Step S304; Yes), the callee retrieves the image data, whose original transmission address originally addressed by the caller, coincides with the address represented by the terminal identifying information (SIP address) of the second parameter in the transfer request currently received, from the various image data received in the various substitute reception modes. Then, the callee transmits the E-mail attached with the retrieved image data to the sender of the transfer request concerned (Step S305).
The address picked up from the first parameter (SIP address of the original requester) described on the headline of text of the E-mail received as the transfer request is employed as the transmission address of the transfer response. A character strings of “@@@@ TRANSFER RESPONSE, SIP ADDRESS OF ORIGINAL REQUESTER, ORIGINAL SIP ADDRESS” are described on the headline of text of the E-mail to be transmitted as the transfer response and the E-mail attached with the image data is transmitted. When a plurality of image data sets are received, the above processing is repeated equivalent times to the number of the image data sets.
In the example shown in
When receiving the list response (Step S306; Yes), the callee stores the list included in the list response into the network information storage 17 (Step S307), and displays the stored list on the data storage section 15 (Step S308). For instance, when the user selects a desired image data from the list, the callee transmits the transfer request, in which the desired image data is designated as an object of transmission, to the sender of the list response previously received. Then, the terminal device, which received the above transfer request, sends the image data designated as the object of transmission back to the callee concerned. Accordingly, it becomes possible to acquire the image data, selected from the list, from the terminal device located remote form the callee concerned.
When receiving the transfer response (Step S309; Yes), the callee prints out an image based on the image data included in the transfer response (Step S310). Incidentally, it is also applicable that the callee stores the transfer response including the image data into storage in response to instructions or setting of the user.
In the case of the substitute transmission (Step S311; Yes), the callee stores the received image data into the data storage section 15 without printing the image based on the image data. Further, the callee stores the information in respect to the received image data into the network information storage 17 (Step S313). Namely, since the image data and the information received in the substitute reception mode are originally directed to the other callee, the callee, which currently received the image data in the substitute reception mode, stores them in storage without conducting the printout operation of the image data.
When the E-mail does not correspond to any one of the list request, the transfer request, the list response, the transfer response and the substitute transmission (Step S311; No), the E-mail includes the image data to be received in the normal facsimile transmission. Accordingly, the callee prints out an image based on the image data received (Step S312).
a),
b) shows a first substitute reception confirmation screen 60a to be displayed when no image data are stored in the substitute reception box, while
As indicated in a third substitute reception confirmation screen 60c shown in
Incidentally, when receiving the list response, the first receiving terminal device 10B or the third receiving terminal device 10D displays the list based on the list response in the same screen as shown in
Although, referring to the drawings, the embodiments of the present invention have been detailed in the foregoing, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments. Further, modifications and additions applied to the disclosed embodiments by a skilled person without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention shall be included in the scope of the present invention.
For instance, in the aforementioned embodiment, when conducting the substitute transmission, the information indicating the substitute transmission and the terminal identifying information (original SIP address) of the first receiving terminal device 10B are separately attached to the headline of text of the E-mail. However, it is also applicable that the terminal identifying information of the first receiving terminal device 10B also serve as the information indicating the substitute transmission or vice versa. In other words, it is applicable that the fact that the terminal identifying information of the first receiving terminal device 10B is attached to the headline of text of the E-mail represents that the current communication mode is the substitute transmission.
Further, although the SMTP is employed for conducting the substitute transmission or for transmitting the list request in the aforementioned embodiment, a certain communication method other than the SMTP could be employed for this purpose. Further, it is applicable that the method for adding the control data is changed corresponding to the communication method as needed. The combination of the parameters, employed as the control data in the aforementioned embodiment, are merely a sample combination. Accordingly, it is applicable that more information is added to the control data as an additional parameter. For instance, when transmitting the image data in the substitute transmission mode, authentication information (such as a password, etc.) for authenticating the right for printing an image represented by the image data and/or transmitting the transfer request is added to the control data, so as to limit the printing and/or the transferring operations within a range authenticated by the authentication information. This will contribute an improvement of the security.
Incidentally, the redirect address to be designated by the first receiving terminal device 10B is not limited to a single address, but a plurality of redirect addresses can be designated by the first receiving terminal device 10B. In this case, one of the plurality of redirect addresses could be employed as the destination of the list request and the transfer request.
Further, each of the third receiving terminal device 10D and the second receiving terminal device 10C is not necessarily provided with the function for reading the document, the function for printing an image, etc. For instance, it is applicable that the second receiving terminal device 10C to be designated as the redirect address is such a facsimile server that is capable of accumulating the transferred image data in it.
According to the network facsimile apparatus and the network facsimile system embodied in the present invention, it becomes possible to alleviate burdens to be incurred to the user in charge of operations for confirming the transferring status and for acquiring the image data when the image data are transferred to another receiver by employing the redirect function.
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described using specific term, such description is for illustrative purpose only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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JP2006-153063 | Jun 2006 | JP | national |