Communication apparatus

• US 20080002224A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: Tanimoto, Yoshifumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,929,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32702 using digital control signals H04N1/32704, H04N1/32614, H04N1/32771 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3278 using a protocol or handshaking signal, e.g. non-standard set-up [NSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32789 Details of handshaking H04N1/32793, H04N1/32795 and H04N1/32797 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

A communication apparatus allows an efficient transmission/reception of a document for a sender and a receiver at their respective desired time and location. When a first user transmits a document using a facsimile machine (transmitting device) managed by a server, first, an account of the transmitting device is registered on the server. In such a state, when the first user inputs an account of a second user as a destination into the transmitting device, the transmitting device inquires the server of a registration status of the second user. The server checks the registration status of the account of the second user. When the account of the second user is registered on any facsimile machine (receiving device), the server notifies the transmitting device that the account of the second user is registered on the receiving device. Then, the transmitting device transmits a connection demand to the receiving device to transmit data of the document.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

means for inputting transmission data;

means for inquiring a server as to whether receiver identification information is registered on the server;

means for transmitting the transmission data to a receiving apparatus when the receiver identification information is registered on the server, the receiving apparatus being a source of the receiver identification information; and

storing means for storing the transmission data in memory means, when the receiver identification information is not registered on the server, until the receiver identification information is registered on the server.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for inputting sender identification information; and

means for transmitting the sender identification information to the receiving apparatus, the receiving apparatus being a destination of the transmission data.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the storing means includes means for transmitting the transmission data to the receiving apparatus as a source of the receiver identification information, when the receiver identification information is registered on the server.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the storing means includes means for transmitting the transmission data to the receiving apparatus as a source of the receiver identification information, when the receiver identification information is registered on the server.

5. A communication apparatus comprising:

registration means for inputting receiver identification information and registering the receiver identification information on a server; and

means for receiving transmission data specifying the receiver identification information, in a state in which the receiver identification information is registered on the server, from a transmitting apparatus registered on the server.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the registration means includes:

means for specifying a registration period of the receiver identification information; and

means for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information when the registration period has lapsed.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

means for accepting an instruction to cancel the registration of the receiver identification information and for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for accepting an instruction to cancel the registration of the receiver identification information and for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information.

9. A communication apparatus comprising:

a transmission data input unit for inputting transmission data;

an inquiring unit for inquiring a server as to whether receiver identification information is registered on the server;

a first transmitting unit for transmitting the transmission data to a receiving apparatus when the receiver identification information is registered on the server, the receiving apparatus being a source of the receiver identification information; and

a storing unit for storing the transmission data in a memory, when the receiver identification information is not registered on the server, until the receiver identification information is registered on the server.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

an information input unit for inputting sender identification information; and

a second transmitting unit for transmitting the sender identification information to the receiving apparatus, the receiving apparatus being a destination of the transmission data.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the storing unit includes a third transmitting unit for transmitting the transmission data to the receiving apparatus as a source of the receiver identification information, when the receiver identification information is registered on the server.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

the storing unit includes a third transmitting unit for transmitting the transmission data to the receiving apparatus as a source of the receiver identification information, when the receiver identification information is registered on the server.

13. A communication apparatus comprising:

a registration unit for inputting receiver identification information and registering the receiver identification information on a server; and

a receiving unit for receiving transmission data specifying the receiver identification information, in a state in which the receiver identification information is registered on the server, from a transmitting apparatus registered on the server.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the registration unit includes:

a specifying unit for specifying a registration period of the receiver identification information; and

a requesting unit for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information when the registration period has lapsed.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a requesting unit for accepting an instruction to cancel the registration of the receiver identification information and for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

a requesting unit for accepting an instruction to cancel the registration of the receiver identification information and for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information.

17. A method of controlling a communication apparatus, the method comprising:

an input step for inputting transmission data;

a step for inquiring a server as to whether receiver identification information is registered on the server;

a step for transmitting the transmission data to a receiving apparatus when the receiver identification information is registered on the server, the receiving apparatus being a source of the receiver identification information; and

a step for storing the transmission data in memory means, when the receiver identification information is not registered on the server, until the receiver identification information is registered on the server.

18. The method of controlling a communication apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a step for inputting sender identification information; and

a step for transmitting the sender identification information to the receiving apparatus, the receiving apparatus being a destination of the transmission data.

19. The method of controlling a communication apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a step for transmitting the transmission data to the receiving apparatus as a source of the receiver identification information, when the receiver identification information is registered on the server.

20. The method of controlling a communication apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:

a step for transmitting the transmission data to the receiving apparatus as a source of the receiver identification information, when the receiver identification information is registered on the server.

21. A method for communication of a communication apparatus, the method comprising:

a step for inputting receiver identification information and registering the receiver identification information on a server; and

a step for receiving transmission data specifying the receiver identification information, in a state in which the receiver identification information is registered on the server, from a transmitting apparatus registered on the server.

22. The method of controlling a communication apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

a step for specifying a registration period of the receiver identification information; and

a step for requesting the server for deletion of the registration of the receiver identification information when the registration period has lapsed.

23. The method of controlling a communication apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

a step for accepting an instruction to cancel the registration of the receiver identification information and for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information.

24. The method of controlling a communication apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:

a step for accepting an instruction to cancel the registration of the receiver identification information and for requesting the server to delete the registration of the receiver identification information.

25. A communication apparatus comprising:

a transmission data input unit for inputting transmission data;

an inquiring unit for inquiring a server, before transmitting the transmission data, whether a receiver has registered receiver identification information on the server;

a transmitting unit for transmitting the transmission data to a receiving apparatus as a source of the receiver identification information when it is determined, after inquiring the server by the inquiring unit, that the receiver has registered the receiver identification information on the server; and

a storing unit for storing the transmission data in a memory without transmitting to the receiving apparatus, when it is determined, after inquiring the server by the inquiring unit, that the receiver has not registered the receiver identification information on the server, until the receiver registers the receiver identification information on the server.

26. A communication apparatus comprising:

registration means for inputting receiver identification information and registering the receiver identification information on a server; and

means for receiving transmission data, in a state in which the receiver identification information is registered on the server, from a transmitting apparatus that notifies the server of a registration confirmation request specifying the receiver identification information.

27. A communication apparatus comprising:

a registration unit for inputting receiver identification information and registering the receiver identification information on a server and

a receiving unit for receiving transmission data, in a state in which the receiver identification information is registered on the server, from a transmitting apparatus that notifies the server of a registration confirmation request specifying the receiver identification information.

28. A method of controlling a communication apparatus, the method comprising:

a step for inputting receiver identification information and registering the receiver identification information on a server; and

a step for receiving transmission data, in a state in which the receiver identification information is registered on the server, from a transmitting apparatus that notifies the server of a registration confirmation request specifying the receiver identification information.