Facsimile server

• US 20030038980A1
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: Tanimoto, Yoshifumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,408,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32416 Storage of instructions or retrieval of prestored instructions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3209 of a telephone number
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3287 Storage of at least one complete document page or image frame

Abstract

The present invention provides a facsimile server including a facsimile receiving unit for receiving image data and a distributing unit for distributing the image data that is received by the facsimile receiving unit to an original destination. The facsimile server also includes a storing unit for storing the image data when not distributed to the original destination. The distributing unit distributes the stored image data to a second destination that differs from the original destination.

Claims

1. A facsimile server comprising:

a facsimile receiving means for receiving image data;

a distributing means for distributing the image data that is received by the facsimile receiving means to an original destination; and

a storing means for storing the image data when not distributed to the original destination;

wherein the distributing means distributes the stored image data to a second destination that differs from the original destination.

2. The facsimile server according to claim 1 further comprising:

a means for storing a table that defines the second destination in association with each original destination, wherein the distributing means determines the second destination in accordance with the table, when the image data cannot be distributed to the original destination within a prescribed period of time.

3. The facsimile server according to claim 1 further comprising:

an accepting means for accepting indication of the second destination, wherein the distributing means determines the second destination in accordance with the indication that is accepted by the accepting means.

4. The facsimile server according to claim 1, wherein the original destination or the second destination is a printer.

5. The facsimile server according to claim 1, wherein the original destination or the second destination is a client terminal.

6. The facsimile server according to claim 1, wherein the original destination or the second destination is an electronic mail receiving terminal.

7. The facsimile server according to claim 1, wherein the original destination or the second destination is another facsimile machine.

8. A facsimile server comprising:

a facsimile receiving unit for receiving image data;

a distributing unit for distributing the image data that is received by the facsimile receiving unit to an original destination; and

a storing unit for storing the image data when not distributed to the original destination;

wherein the distributing unit distributes the stored image data to a second destination that differs from the original destination.

9. The facsimile server according to claim 8 further comprising:

a storing unit for storing a table that defines the second destination in association with each original destination, wherein the distributing unit determines the second destination in accordance with the table, when the image data cannot be distributed to the original destination within a prescribed period of time.

10. The facsimile server according to claim 8 further comprising:

an accepting unit for accepting indication of the second destination, wherein the distributing unit determines the second destination in accordance with the indication that is accepted by the accepting unit.

11. The facsimile server according to claim 8, wherein the original destination or the second destination is a printer.

12. The facsimile server according to claim 8, wherein the original destination or the second destination is a client terminal.

13. The facsimile server according to claim 8, wherein the original destination or the second destination is an electronic mail receiving terminal.

14. The facsimile server according to claim 8, wherein the original destination or the second destination is another facsimile machine.

15. A method for distributing image data that is received by a facsimile server, comprising:

receiving image data; and

distributing the received image data to a second destination that differs from an original destination, when the received image data cannot be distributed to the original destination.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising:

defining the second destination in association with original destination; and

determining the second destination in accordance with the original destination, when the image data cannot be distributed to original destination within a prescribed period of time.

17. The method according to claim 15 further comprising:

accepting the indication of the second destination; and

determining the second destination in accordance with the accepted indication.

18. The method according to claim 15 further comprising providing the original destination or the second destination as a printer.

19. The method according to claim 15 further comprising providing the original destination or the second destination as a client terminal.

20. The method according to claim 15 further comprising providing the original destination or the second destination as an electronic mail receiving terminal.