Communication system and communication apparatus building the system

• US 20050275873A1
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenzo Sekiguchi
• Original Assignee: Kenzo Sekiguchi
• Inventors: Sekiguchi, Kenzo
• Granted Patent: US 7,106,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0022 involving facsimile protocols or a combination of facsimile protocols and computer data transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Facsimile image data received from a normal facsimile apparatus connected to a general telephone network can be transmitted as an e-mail to the e-mail address of a computer network such as a LAN or the like designated by the source facsimile apparatus. An apparatus has a LAN I/F (6-14) for connecting to the LAN, and a line I/F (6-6) for connecting to the public telephone network. Upon reception of a remote instruction from the public telephone network, a CPU (6-3) converts received facsimile image data into e-mail data, and transmits the converted e-mail data to the e-mail address designated by the received remote instruction.

Claims

1. A communications apparatus comprising:

means for connecting to a computer network;

means for connecting to a public telephone network;

facsimile reception means for receiving facsimile image data from the public telephone network;

means for receiving transfer destination information of e-mail data from the public telephone network;

conversion means for converting the received facsimile image data into an e-mail data format;

transmission means for designating an e-mail destination of the computer network on the basis of the received transfer destination information, and transmitting the e-mail data converted by said conversion means to a destination designated by the transfer destination information;

means for selecting whether to release the public telephone network and whether facsimile reception via the public telephone network is started after the transfer destination information is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from the public telephone network after call reception from the public telephone network; and

means for selecting whether to release the public telephone network and whether facsimile reception via the public telephone network is started after a signal related to a facsimile communication is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from the public telephone network after call reception from the public telephone network.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means comprises destination designation means for designating the e-mail destination of the computer network on the basis of the received transfer destination information, and postoffice designation means for designating a desired postoffice in an e-mail server of the computer network.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer destination information and password information are received from the public telephone network, it is checked if e-mail transfer destination information corresponding to the transfer destination information is set in advance and if the received password information matches password information set in advance, and the converted e-mail data is transmitted in accordance with the checking results.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

storage means for registering in advance e-mail address information of the e-mail destination in correspondence with numeral information, and

wherein the transfer destination information is received as numeral information, and the address information of the e-mail destination corresponding to the received numeral information is read out from said storage means to designate the e-mail destination.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the password information is received as numeral information.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer destination information is received by a tone signal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the tone signal is a DTMF signal.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the transfer destination information is received by a protocol signal of a facsimile communication protocol.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the password information is received by a protocol signal of a facsimile communication protocol.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the protocol signal of the facsimile communication protocol is a subaddress signal or selective polling signal of the T.30 recommendation.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the protocol signal of the facsimile communication protocol is a password signal of the T.30 recommendation.

8. (canceled)

13. A method for a communication apparatus connected to a computer network and a public telephone network, the communication apparatus having a facsimile communication function, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a remote instruction including transfer destination information from the public telephone network by a protocol signal of a facsimile communication protocol;

receiving facsimile image data from the public telephone network;

converting the received facsimile image data into an e-mail data format;

designating an e-mail destination of the computer network based on the received remote instruction, and transmitting the converted e-mail data to a destination designated by transfer destination information;

selecting whether to release the public telephone network and whether facsimile reception via the public telephone network is started after the transfer destination information is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from the public telephone network after call reception from the public telephone network; and

selecting whether to release the public telephone network and whether facsimile reception via the public telephone network is started after the a signal related to a facsimile communication is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from the public telephone network after call reception from the public telephone network.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the remote instruction includes transfer destination information and password information of e-mail data, it is checked if e-mail transfer destination information corresponding to the transfer destination information is set in advance and if the received password information matches password information set in advance, and the converted e-mail data is transmitted in accordance with the checking results.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

designating the e-mail address destination of the computer network on the basis of the received transfer destination information, and designating a desired postoffice in an e-mail server of the computer network.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

registering in advance e-mail address information of the e-mail destination in storage means in correspondence with numeral information, and

receiving the transfer destination information as numeral information, and reading out the address information of the e-mail destination corresponding to the received numeral information from said storage means to designate the e-mail destination.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the password information is received as numeral information.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the transfer destination information is received by a tone signal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the tone signal is a DTMF signal.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the transfer destination information is received by a protocol signal of a facsimile communication protocol.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the password information is received by a protocol signal of a facsimile communication protocol.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the protocol signal of the facsimile communication protocol is a subaddress signal or selective polling signal of the T.30 recommendation.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the protocol signal of the facsimile communication protocol is a password signal of the T.30 recommendation.

20. (canceled)

25. A computer readable medium storing a computer program code executable by a computer of a communication apparatus connected to a computer network, and a public telephone network, the communication apparatus having a facsimile communication function, said executed computer program code performing process steps comprising:

processing of receiving a remote instruction including transfer destination information from the public telephone network;

processing of receiving facsimile image data via the public telephone network;

processing of converting the received facsimile image data into an e-mail data format;

processing of designating an e-mail destination of the computer network based on the received transfer destination information, and transmitting the converted e-mail data to a destination designated by transfer destination information;

processing of selecting whether to release the public telephone network and whether facsimile reception via the public telephone network is started after the transfer destination information is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from the public telephone network after call reception from the public telephone network; and

processing of selecting whether to release the public telephone network and whether facsimile reception via the public telephone network is started after a signal related to a facsimile communication is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from the public telephone network after call reception from the public telephone network.

26. The medium according to claim 25, wherein the remote instruction includes transfer destination information and password information of e-mail data, it is checked if e-mail transfer destination information corresponding to the transfer destination information is set in advance and if the received password information matches password information set in advance, and the converted e-mail data is transmitted in accordance with the checking results.

27. The medium according to claim 26, wherein said computer program further has:

processing of designating the e-mail address destination of the computer network on the basis of the received transfer destination information, and designating a desired postoffice in an e-mail server of the computer network.

28. The medium according to claim 26, wherein said computer program further has:

processing of registering in advance e-mail address information of the e-mail destination in storage means in correspondence with numeral information, and

processing of receiving the transfer destination information as numeral information, and reading out the address information of the e-mail destination corresponding to the received numeral information from said storage means to designate the e-mail destination.

29. The medium according to claim 26, wherein said computer program further has processing of receiving the password information as numeral information.

30. The medium according to claim 26, wherein said computer program further has:

processing of receiving the transfer destination information by a DTMF signal.

32. The medium according to claim 26, wherein said computer program further has processing of receiving thetransfer destination information by a protocol signal of a facsimile communication protocol.

33. The medium according to claim 26, wherein said computer program further has processing of receiving the password information by a protocol signal of a facsimile communication protocol.

34. The medium according to claim 26, wherein said computer program further has processing of receiving the transfer destination information by a subaddress signal or selective polling signal of the T.30 recommendation.

35. The medium according to claim 26, wherein said computer program further has processing of receiving the password information by a password signal of the T.30 recommendation.

31. (canceled)

36. A communication system including a communication apparatus which is connected to a computer network and a public telephone network, the communication apparatus having a facsimile communication function, the computer network having an e-mail server,

wherein said communication apparatus receives facsimile image data from the public telephone network upon reception of a remote instruction including transfer destination information from the public network on the basis of a facsimile communication, converts the received facsimile image data into an e-mail data format, transmits the e-mail data by designating an e-mail destination based on the received transfer destination, selects whether to release the public telephone network and whether facsimile reception via the public telephone network is started after a signal related to a facsimile communication is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from the public telephone network after call reception from the public telephone network, selects whether to release the public telephone network and whether facsimile reception via the public telephone network is started after transfer destination information is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from the public telephone network after call reception from the public telephone network, and

said e-mail server receives the transmitted e-mail data in a post office corresponding to the e-mail destination.

37. A communication apparatus comprising:

means for connecting various types of networks which have unique formats and addresses, respectively;

means for receiving information data with destination address data via one of said networks from a transmission source;

means for changing a format of said information data and said destination address data into another format corresponding to another type of network by discriminating said destination address data; and

means for selecting whether to continue communication via said network when said destination data is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from said network after a session is started via said network;

means for selecting whether to continue communication via said network when said information data is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from said network after a session is started via said network; and

means for determining at least two mode of operation based on said selection means, at least one of the modes being for a communication of facsimile data.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said types of networks include a computer network.

39. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said types of networks include a public telephone network.

40. The communication apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said information data is image data in accordance with predetermined image format.

41. The communication apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said means for changing a format changes the format from a predetermined format to an e-mail format.

42. The communication apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said means for changing a format changes the format from a facsimile format to a predetermined format.

43. A communication apparatus comprising:

means for connecting various types of networks which have unique formats and addresses, respectively;

means for receiving information data with destination address data from a transmitting source via a network;

means for returning a message in response to a request from the transmitting source via said network;

means for receiving an instruction generated based on said message;

means for receiving another instruction different from said instruction based on said message;

means for processing said information data without changing the format in a case where the another instruction is received;

means for changing a format of said information data and said destination address data into another format corresponding to another type of network in accordance with the received instruction;

and means for transmitting the changed information data and destination address data in accordance with the instruction received by one of said means of receiving; and

means for selecting between at least two mode of operation for continuing communication if said information data is not received within a prescribed time, at least one of the modes being for the communication of facsimile data.

44. The communication apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said means for returning returns said message as voice guidance information.

45. The communication apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said means for receiving an instruction receives the instruction by a tone signal.

46. The communication apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the tone signal is a DTMF signal.

47. The communication apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said information data is image data in accordance with a predetermined image format.

48. The communication apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said means for changing the format changes the format from a predetermined format to an e-mail format.

49. The communication apparatus according to claim 43, wherein means for changing a format changes the format from a facsimile format to a predetermined format.

50. A method for a communication apparatus comprising the steps of:

connecting various types of networks which have unique formats and addresses, respectively;

receiving information data with destination address data via one of said networks from a transmission source;

changing a format of said information data and said destination address data into another format corresponding to another type of network by discriminating said destination address data;

selecting whether the communication is continued via said network after said destination data is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from said network after a session is started via said network;

selecting whether to continue the communication via said network after said information data is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from said network after a session is started via said network.

51. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program with computer readable media for a communication apparatus containing computer readable program code means for executing steps, said steps comprising:

connecting various types of networks that have unique formats and addresses, respectively;

receiving information data with destination address data via one of said networks from a transmission;

changing a format of said information data and said destination address data into another format corresponding to another type of network by discriminating said destination address data;

selecting whether to continue the communication via said network after said information data is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from said network after a session is started via said network; and

selecting whether the communication is continued via said network after said destination data is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception from said network after a session is started via said network.

52. A method for a communication apparatus comprising:

connecting various types of networks which have unique formats and addresses, respectively;

receiving information data with destination address data form a transmitting source via a network;

returning a message in response to a request from the transmitting source via said network;

receiving an instruction generated based on said message;

receiving another instruction different from said instruction based on said message;

processing said information data without changing the format in a case where the another instruction is received; and

changing a format of said information data and said destination address data into another format corresponding to another type of network in accordance with the receiving instruction; and

selecting between at least two mode of operation for continuing communication if said information data is not received within a prescribed time, at least one of the modes being for the communication of facsimile data.

53. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program with computer readable media for a communication apparatus containing computer readable program code means for executing steps, said steps comprising:

connecting various types of networks which have unique formats and addresses, respectively;

receiving information data with destination address data from a transmitting source via a network;

returning a message in response to a request from the transmitting source via said network;

receiving an instruction generated based on said message;

receiving another instruction different from said instruction based on said message;

processing said information data without changing the format in a case where the another instruction is received;

changing a format of said information data and said destination address data into another format corresponding to another type of network in accordance with the receiving instruction; and

selecting between at least two modes of operation for continuing communication if said information data is not received within a prescribed time for monitoring signal reception after a session is started, at least one of the modes being for the communication of facsimile data.