JP2005020223A - Image processor, method and program for communication control - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor with which confidential communication of image information can more smoothly be performed, and to provide a communication control method and a communication control program. <P>SOLUTION: When a reception-side device 1 receives a registered box information transmission request or a box designation command which is not registered from a transmission-side device 2, the CPU 11 of the reception-side device 1 transmits registered information on the reception boxes BOX 1, BOX 2, etc. to the transmission-side device 2. Even if a transmitting person forgets the precise box designation command of an opposite party, confidential communication can be performed without asking it to the opposite party. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a communication control method thereof, and a communication control program. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that performs predetermined processing by communicating image information, a communication control method thereof, and a communication control program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile machine has been put into practical use in which a private box for confidential communication is created using the image storage function of the facsimile machine and confidential communication using this private box can be performed (see Patent Document 1).
In such a facsimile apparatus, a box designation command (corresponding to the address designation command in the claims) such as a box name, a password, and an F code according to the international standard (ITU-T) is a post office box (hereinafter referred to as an inbox). The sender sends a box designation command to designate a receiving box when performing confidential communication of image information.
Further, the receiving side accumulates image information in the receiving box designated by the box designation command, and forwards the image information to a client (facsimile device, personal computer) associated with the receiving box, or by confidential communication. Processing such as notifying the client that image information has been received is performed.
Refer to Patent Document 2 for a facsimile system that automatically creates a database at the time of facsimile transmission and reception and manages various types of transmission and reception files.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-349950 A [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-8-125688 [0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, confidential communication using a box designation command has conventionally required registration of the box designation command in the receiving facsimile machine, and when a box designation command that is not registered is received even if it is sent by a bona fide sender. A transmission error occurs and image information cannot be transmitted.
Then, there is a problem that a sender who receives such a transmission error message can send image information only after contacting the other party and inquiring about a correct box designation command. That is, in the conventional confidential communication of image information, there is a problem that communication may not be performed smoothly.
[0005]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, a communication control method thereof, and a communication control program that can perform confidential communication of image information more smoothly. Is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus comprising: communication means for communicating image information; and image information storage means for storing image information received by the communication means at a registered address. Registered address information transmission for transmitting information related to the registered address in response to the request or the address designation command to the communication partner when an address designation command designating the other party's request or an unregistered address is received The image processing apparatus is characterized by comprising means.
With this configuration, the sender can perform confidential communication without inquiring the correct addressing command from the communication partner, and without interrupting the communication once started even when an incorrect addressing command is transmitted. Can do. Therefore, confidential communication of image information is facilitated.
The present invention also provides a communication means for communicating image information and an address designation command for transmitting an address designation command relating to a registered address for accumulating the image information together with the image information to a communication partner communicating by the communication means. An image processing apparatus comprising a transmission means, comprising: an address information transmission requesting means for requesting the communication partner to transmit information relating to the registered address. The
In this case, it is also conceivable to further comprise registered address information display means for displaying information related to the registered address received from the communication partner.
As a result, the sender can perform confidential communication more smoothly by referring to the displayed registered address information and performing an address designation command setting operation.
Here, it is conceivable that the address information transmission requesting unit requests the communication partner to transmit information relating to the registered address at a time prior to transmission of image information by the communication unit. .
As a result, for example, when the target address is not found by referring to the registered address information, the image information input processing and transmission processing can be omitted.
Further, it is conceivable that the address information transmission request means requests to transmit only information related to an arbitrary keyword among the information related to the registered address. As a result, it is possible to speed up the processing by suppressing transmission of information unnecessary for the sender as much as possible. In addition, the sender can easily find necessary information.
Further, the information regarding the registered address is information indicating a correspondence relationship between the registered address and the address designation command, and the information regarding the registered address is the property of the registered address. It may be possible to assume that the information is.
Further, the information about the property of the address may be whether or not a password is set for the address and / or the capacity of image information that can be stored in the address.
Further, when an arbitrary keyword is received together with an address designation command for designating the request of the communication partner or the unregistered address, the address information transmission means relates to the registered address related to the received keyword. It can be considered that the information is transmitted to the communication partner.
The present invention also provides a communication procedure for communicating image information, an image information storage procedure for storing image information received by the communication procedure in association with a registered address, and a communication partner that performs communication by the communication procedure. An address information transmission procedure for transmitting information on the registered address to the communication partner in response to the request or the address designation command when an address designation command designating a request or an unregistered address is received. It is comprised as a communication control method of the image processing apparatus characterized by these.
The present invention also relates to a communication procedure for communicating image information, and an address designation command for transmitting an address designation command relating to a registered address for accumulating the image information together with the image information to a communication partner communicating according to the communication procedure. In the communication control method of an image processing apparatus provided with a transmission procedure, the image processing further comprises an address information transmission request procedure for requesting the communication partner to transmit information relating to the registered address. It is configured as a device communication control method.
The present invention also provides a communication procedure for communicating image information, an image information storage procedure for storing image information received by the communication procedure in association with a registered address, and a communication partner that performs communication by the communication procedure. An address information transmission procedure for transmitting information related to the registered address to the communication partner in response to the request or the address designation command when an address designation command designating a request or an unregistered address is received by the computer The program is configured as a communication control program for an image processing apparatus.
Further, a computer includes a communication procedure for communicating image information, and an address designation command transmission procedure for sending an address designation command relating to a registered address for accumulating the image information together with the image information to a communication partner that communicates according to the communication procedure. An image processing apparatus for causing a computer to execute an address information transmission requesting procedure for requesting the communication partner to transmit information relating to the registered address in a communication control program of the image processing apparatus to be executed by Configured as a communication control program.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments and examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. It should be noted that the following embodiments and examples are examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image communication system including the receiving side and transmitting side facsimile apparatuses 1 and 2 as an example of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, the description will be made assuming that the facsimile apparatus 1 is the receiving side and the facsimile apparatus 2 is the transmitting side.
A facsimile apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as a receiving apparatus) and a facsimile apparatus 2 (hereinafter referred to as a transmitting apparatus) are controlled by a modem and a network for transmitting and receiving image information via a telephone line L according to a facsimile transmission procedure. A communication unit (not shown) including the apparatus, an image input unit (not shown) for reading an original image by an image sensor and inputting image information, and a printing mechanism for printing out image information received using the communication unit Including an image output unit (not shown).
The receiving apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 that controls the communication unit, the image input unit, and the image output unit described above, and an image memory 12 in which image information is stored. A box registration process, an image accumulation process, a registration box information transmission process, and a box designation command transmission process, which will be described later, are performed by the CPU 11 executing a corresponding program.
In the box registration process, a box designation command (address designation command) composed of, for example, an F code is associated with the reception boxes BOX1, BOX2,. Registration process.
Here, in the reception boxes BOX1, BOX2,..., Box names and passwords can be set. When a password is set, the password is also registered as a part of the box designation command. The F code here is based on the ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication sector: a subordinate organization responsible for standardization of communication relations of the International Telecommunication Union), and uses the F code as a box designation command. This makes it possible to perform confidential communication between facsimile machines of different manufacturers and models. However, in the application of the present invention, the box designation command is not limited to the F code, but may be a code system defined for each manufacturer and each model.
The image information storage process refers to the box designation command received together with the image information by the facsimile transmission procedure, and if the box designation command is registered, it is encoded and compressed into the corresponding reception boxes BOX1, BOX2,. This is a process for accumulating the processed image information.
In the registration box information transmission process, in response to a registration box information transmission request sent from the transmission side device 2, information on the reception boxes BOX1, BOX2,... Registered at the present time (hereinafter referred to as registration box information) is transmitted. To the side device 2. Here, the registration box information sent to the transmission side apparatus 2 includes the correspondence between the registered box designation command and the reception boxes BOX1, BOX2,..., The total number of registered boxes, and the boxes BOX1, BOX2,. ID, name of each box BOX1, BOX2,... And / or property of each box BOX1, BOX2,..., Ie capacity of each box BOX1, BOX2,... And / or presence / absence of password setting in each box BOX1, BOX2,. It is each information.
Further, in the registration box information transmission process, when a registration box information transmission request with a keyword added is received, the CPU 11 performs processing so as to transmit only information related to the reception boxes BOX1, BOX2,. I do.
For example, when the names of the recipients such as “Onishi”, “Oura”, “Saito”, “Kida”,... Are set in the reception boxes BOX1, BOX2,. When the keyword “Large” is received, processing is performed so that only information related to the reception boxes BOX1, BOX2,... In which box names including the characters “Large” such as “Onishi” and “Oura” are set is transmitted. I do.
The transmission side device 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 that controls the communication unit, the image input unit, and the image output unit described above. Further, a box designation command transmission process and a registration box information transmission request process, which will be described later, are performed by the CPU 21 executing corresponding programs.
The box designation command transmission process is a process for sending a box designation command to the receiving apparatus 1 in accordance with a facsimile transmission procedure.
The registration box information transmission request process is a process for issuing a request to the reception side apparatus 1 to transmit registration box information.
[0008]
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 2, a series of processes when the transmission side apparatus 2 receives a registration box information transmission request from the reception side apparatus 1 and performs confidential communication of image information by the registration box information transmission request process will be described. . FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the procedure of this series of processing. In FIG. 2, symbols S1, S2,... Indicate step numbers.
Step S1: For example, the operator of the transmission side apparatus 2 uses the operating panel (not shown) of the transmission side apparatus 2 to specify the destination setting operation for specifying the communication partner apparatus, and whether or not the transmission mode is set to the confidential communication mode. Set the transmission mode to be set. Here, the receiving side apparatus 1 is set as the destination by the destination setting operation, and the confidential communication mode is set as the transmission mode by the transmission mode setting operation.
Step S2: The operator of the transmission side apparatus 2 performs a BOX information request setting operation for instructing the CPU 21 to execute the registration box information transmission request process by using, for example, the operating panel. Here, when a keyword is added to the registration box information transmission request, the keyword is set.
Step S3: The transmission side device 2 calls the communication partner set by the destination setting operation in Step S1 described above, here the reception side device 1 using the communication unit.
Step S4: The receiving apparatus 1 receives a call using the communication unit.
Steps S5 and S6: The receiving side apparatus 1 and the transmitting side apparatus 2 exchange normal information (for example, information on the function of the apparatus, information on the setting of resolution).
Step S7: The transmission side apparatus 2 (CPU 21) transmits a registration box information transmission request to the reception side apparatus 1. If a keyword setting operation has been performed in step S2, the keyword is added to the registration box information transmission request and transmitted.
Step S8: The receiving side apparatus 1 receives the registration box information transmission request (and keyword).
Step S9: The receiving side apparatus 1 (CPU 11) transmits registration box information to the transmitting side apparatus 2. If a keyword has been received in step S8, only information related to the receiving boxes BOX1, BOX2,... Related to the keyword is transmitted. Step S10: The transmitting side apparatus 2 receives registration box information.
Step S11: The registration box information received from the receiving apparatus 1 by the transmitting apparatus 2 (CPU 21) is displayed on the operation panel, for example.
Step S12: The operator of the transmission side apparatus 2 refers to the registration box information displayed on the operation panel and performs an operation for designating the reception boxes BOX1, BOX2,. At this time, if necessary, a password input operation is performed.
Step S13: The transmission side apparatus 2 reads image information from the document using the image input unit.
Step S14: The transmission side apparatus 2 (CPU 21) transmits the image information read in step S13 to the reception side apparatus 1 together with the address designation commands of the reception boxes BOX1, BOX2,.
Step S15: The image information received by the receiving side apparatus 1 (CPU 11) is stored in the receiving boxes BOX1, BOX2,.
Step S16: When the transmission side apparatus 2 completes the transmission of the image information to be transmitted, the transmission side apparatus 2 notifies the reception side apparatus 1 to that effect.
Step S17: Notifying the receiving side apparatus 1 that the transmitting side apparatus 2 ends communication.
Note that it is also possible to perform processing so that image information is read from the document using the image input unit immediately before the procedure of step S5 is performed (immediately after step S4). As a result, the waiting time for reading can be reduced as compared with the case where the image information is read immediately before the image information transmission procedure (step S14) in step S13 as described above.
As described above, in the communication control method of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment, the transmission-side apparatus 2 (CPU 21) requests the reception-side apparatus 1 to transmit registration box information before reading the image information. In response to this request, the reception device 1 (CPU 11) transmits registration box information to the transmission side device 2, and the transmission side device 2 (CPU 21) displays the received registration box information on the operation panel, for example, and the displayed registration box is displayed. When the operator refers to the information and selects the transmission destination reception box, the transmission side apparatus 2 (CPU 21) reads the image information from the document using the image input unit, and the received image information together with the box designation command is received by the reception apparatus. 1 to send.
Therefore, even if the sender of the image information forgets accurate information about the receiving boxes BOX1, BOX2,... Of the other party that is trying to perform confidential communication, the image information sender performs confidential communication without making an inquiry to the other party by telephone or the like. You can get the information you need. This facilitates confidential communication of image information.
In addition, when a keyword is added to the registration box information transmission request, the amount of information communicated is reduced by processing to transmit only information related to the reception boxes BOX1, BOX2,. Thus, the processing can be speeded up. In addition, the sender can quickly find information regarding the inbox of the other party of the confidential communication.
[0009]
【Example】
In the above embodiment, the example in which the registration box information is transmitted when the reception side apparatus 1 receives the registration box information transmission request from the transmission side apparatus 2 has been shown, but FIG. 3 illustrates image processing as another example. The procedure of the apparatus communication control method is shown. According to the above embodiment, when a sender tries to perform confidential communication using an incorrect box designation command, as in the past, it is only necessary to receive a transmission error message from the receiving side device 1, In this case, it is necessary to follow the procedure of calling the receiving side device 1 again and transmitting a registration box information transmission request, and the process is improved. Is.
[0010]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the CPU 11 of the embodiment when the receiving device 1 receives a box designation command from the transmitting device 2 by a facsimile transmission procedure. 3, reference numerals S21, S22,... Indicate step numbers.
Step S21: It is determined whether or not the received box designation command is registered.
If the box designation command is registered, the process proceeds to step S22. If not registered, the process proceeds to step S23.
Step S22: A normal confidential communication process is performed and the process is terminated.
Step S23: After transmitting the registration box information to the transmission side apparatus 2, the process proceeds to a standby state for receiving a new box designation command from the transmission side apparatus 2, and proceeds to step S24. In this standby state, the communication relationship between the transmission side device 2 and the reception side device 1 is maintained.
Further, in the transmission side device 2, the same processing as in the above embodiment is performed such as displaying the received registration box information on the operation panel.
Step S24: It is determined whether or not a communication end notification is received from the transmission side device 2. If a communication end notification is received, the process ends. If not received, the process proceeds to step S25.
Step S25: It is determined whether or not a new box designation command has been received. If a new box designation command has been received, the process returns to step S21. If no new box designation command has been received, the process returns to step S24.
Thus, in the communication control method of the embodiment, when the receiving side device 1 receives an unregistered box designation command, the sending side device 2 does not issue a transmission error notification or the like, but ends the communication. Processing is performed to transmit registration box information while continuing communication. Therefore, even in such a case, the sender, after receiving the transmission error notification, inquires the other party of communication for a correct box designation command, calls the receiving apparatus 1 again, and transmits the image information. It is possible to perform confidential communication of image information smoothly without following the procedure.
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the image processing apparatus receives a request for a communication partner or an address designation command for designating an unregistered address, information on the address registered in the communication partner is displayed. Process to send. Therefore, confidential communication of image information can be facilitated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system including an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a time chart showing a procedure of communication control processing by each image processing apparatus of the communication system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a communication control method of the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reception side facsimile apparatus 2 ... Transmission side facsimile apparatus 11, 21 ... CPU
12 ... Image memory L ... Telephone line

Claims (13)

A communication means for communicating image information;
In an image processing apparatus comprising image information storage means for storing image information received by the communication means at a registered address,
Address information transmission for transmitting information related to the registered address to the communication counterpart in response to the request or the address specification command when an address designation command for designating a communication partner request or an unregistered address is received An image processing apparatus comprising: means. A communication means for communicating image information;
In an image processing apparatus comprising address designation command transmission means for sending an address designation command relating to a registered address for storing image information together with image information to a communication partner that performs communication by the communication means,
An image processing apparatus comprising: address information transmission request means for requesting the communication partner to transmit information relating to the registered address. In addition,
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising registered address information display means for displaying information relating to the registered address received from the communication partner. 4. The address information transmission requesting unit requests the communication partner to transmit information about the registered address at a time prior to transmitting image information by the communication unit. Image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the address information transmission request unit requests to transmit only information related to an arbitrary keyword among the information related to the registered address. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding the registered address is information indicating a correspondence relationship between the registered address and an address designation command. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding the registered address is information regarding a property of the registered address. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information about the property of the address is a password setting for the address and / or a capacity of image information that can be stored at the address. When an arbitrary keyword is received together with an address designation command for designating the communication partner's request or the unregistered address, the address information transmitting means provides information on the registered address related to the received keyword. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus transmits the communication partner. A communication procedure for communicating image information;
An image information storing procedure for storing image information received by the communication procedure in association with a registered address;
When receiving a request for a communication partner that performs communication according to the communication procedure or an address designation command for designating an unregistered address, information on the registered address in response to the request or the address designation command is received. Address information sending procedure to send first,
A communication control method for an image processing apparatus, comprising: A communication procedure for communicating image information;
In a communication control method for an image processing apparatus comprising an address designation command transmission procedure for transmitting an address designation command related to a registered address for accumulating image information together with image information to a communication partner performing communication by the communication procedure,
A communication control method for an image processing apparatus, comprising: an address information transmission request procedure for requesting the communication partner to transmit information relating to the registered address. A communication procedure for communicating image information;
An image information storing procedure for storing image information received by the communication procedure in association with a registered address;
When receiving a request for a communication partner that performs communication according to the communication procedure or an address designation command for designating an unregistered address, information on the registered address in response to the request or the address designation command is received. Address information sending procedure to send first,
A computer-executable communication control program for an image processing apparatus. A communication procedure for communicating image information;
In a communication control program for an image processing apparatus for causing a computer to execute an address designation command transmission procedure for transmitting an address designation command relating to a registered address for accumulating image information together with image information to a communication partner that performs communication according to the communication procedure. ,
A communication control program for an image processing apparatus, which causes a computer to execute an address information transmission request procedure for requesting the communication partner to transmit information relating to the registered address.

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