Apparatus and method for an HTTP server capable of connecting facsimile apparatuses and data terminals

• US 6,230,189 B1
• Filed: 12/09/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Oseto, Futoshi, Sato, Fumihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US09/208,946
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201-206, 709/213, 709/217-218, 709/238, 709/245, 707/10, 707/104, 358/400-407, 358/442, 358/468, 379/100.01-100.03, 379/100.09, 379/201
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3278 using a protocol or handshaking signal, e.g. non-standard set-up [NSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

A communications terminal includes a first memory, an address conversion table, a first web page generator, an electronic mail generator, and first and second communications controllers. The first memory stores a transfer-request image file based on image information, which is sent through a transfer-request call with a destination address from a facsimile terminal. The address conversion table converts the destination address into at least one transfer address which individually corresponds to at least one data terminal. The first web page generator opens a first web page including a link to the transfer-requested image file. The electronic mail generator informs the data terminal of the transfer-request image file by electronic mail including a first web page locator. The first communications controller receives a first delivery request which is sent by the data terminal, using the first web page locator and a predetermined web page browsing procedure, and transmits the first web page to the data terminal upon receiving the first delivery request. The second communications controller receives a second delivery request which is sent by the data terminal through the first web page and transmits the transfer-request image file to the data terminal upon receiving the second delivery request.

Claims

1. A communications terminal comprising:

a first memory that stores a transfer-request image file based on image information, which is sent through a transfer-request call from a facsimile terminal remote from said communication terminal, through a first predetermined communications procedure, said transfer-request call including a destination address;

an address conversion table that converts said destination address into at least one transfer address which individually corresponds to at least one data terminal remote from said communication terminal, said at least one data terminal coupled to a local area network;

a first web page generator that generates a first web page which includes a link to said transfer-requested image file stored in said first memory and that opens said first web page to said local area network;

an electronic mail generator that informs said at least one data terminal of said transfer-request image file by electronic mail using said at least one transfer address and through a second communications procedure, said electronic mail including a first web page locator;

a first communications controller that receives a first delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal, using said first web page locator and a predetermined web page browsing procedure, and that transmits said first web page to said at least one data terminal upon receiving said first delivery request; and

a second communications controller that receives a second delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal through said first web page and that transmits said transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal upon receiving said second delivery request.

2. The communications terminal of claim 1, further comprising a second web page generator that generates a second web page which is linked to said first web page and which indicates delivery statuses of said transfer-request image file and that opens said second web page to said local area network.

3. The communications terminal of claim 2, further comprising a delivery status manager that erases said transfer-request image file from said first memory when said second communications controller completes the transmission of said transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal and that places delivery status information on said second web page.

4. The communications terminal of claim 2, further comprising:

a second memory that stores date and time on which said transfer-request image file is opened to said local area network through said first web page;

a print controller that performs a print operation in which said transfer-request image file is printed when a predetermined time passes from said date and time stored in said second memory;

a third web page generator that generates a third web page which is linked to said first web page and which indicates print statuses of said transfer-request image file and that opens said third web page to said local area network; and

a print status manager that erases said transfer-request image file from said first memory when said print controller completes said print operation of said transfer-request image file and that places print status information on said third web page.

5. The communications terminal of claim 4, further comprising:

a third memory that stores a communications history for said transfer-request image file;

a fourth web page generator that generates a fourth web page which includes links to said first web page and said communications history stored in said third memory and that opens said fourth web page to said local area network; and

a third communications controller that receives a third delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal through said fourth web page and that transmits said communications history to said at least one data terminal upon receiving said third delivery request.

6. The communications terminal of claim 5, further comprising:

a fourth memory that stores an application program;

a fifth web page generator that generates a fifth web page which includes links to said first web page and said application program stored in said fourth memory and that opens said fifth web page to said local area network; and

a fourth communications controller that receives a fourth delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal through said fifth web page and that transmits said application program to said at least one data terminal upon receiving said fourth delivery request.

7. The communications terminal of claim 5, wherein said third delivery request conform to a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP).

8. The communications terminal of claim 6, wherein said application program is used by said at least one data terminal when sending said first, second, third, and fourth delivery request to said communications terminal via said local area network.

9. The communications terminal of claim 6, further comprising:

a fifth communications controller that receives information with a transfer request from a data terminal coupled to said local area network, said transfer request including a transfer address which corresponds to a facsimile terminal,

wherein said application program is used by said data terminal when sending said information with said transfer request to said communications terminal via said local area network and said fifth communications controller transmits said information with said transfer request to said facsimile terminal through said first predetermined communications procedure.

10. The communications terminal of claim 6, wherein said fourth delivery request conform to a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP).

11. The communications terminal of claim 1, further comprising a data format converter that converts said transfer-request image file, and wherein said second communications controller receives information of acceptable data formats through the second delivery request from said at least one data terminal and instructs said data format converter to convert said transfer-request image file using a data format which matches said acceptable data formats, and transmits said converted transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal.

12. The communications terminal of claim 11, wherein said second communications terminal receives said information of acceptable data formats in an accept field which is included in a request header of the second delivery request.

13. The communications terminal of claim 1, further comprising a data format converter that includes a plurality of different data formats and that converts said transfer-request image file stored in said first memory into a plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files using said plurality of different data formats,

and wherein said second communications controller receives information of acceptable data formats through the second delivery request from said at least one data terminal, searches and selects a file having a smallest data amount from among said plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files of which data format matches said acceptable data formats, and transmits said selected transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal.

14. The communications terminal of claim 13, wherein said first memory stores information of said acceptable data formats as a previously-accepted data format and said actually used data format as a previously-used data format during a previous transmission operation in response to said second delivery request which has been made previously, and wherein upon newly receiving said information of acceptable data formats which are equivalent to said previously-accepted data formats, said second communications controller selects said transfer-request image file in said previously-used data format, which matches one of said acceptable data formats, from among said plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files stored in said first memory through said previous transmission operation, and transmits said selected transfer-request image file in said previously-used data format to said at least one data terminal.

15. The communications terminal of claim 14, wherein either one of when said acceptable data formats of said newly-received information are different from said previously-accepted data formats and when none of said previously-accepted data formats are stored in said first memory, said second communications controller searches and selects a file having a smallest data amount from among said plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files of which data format conforms to said acceptable data formats of said newly-received information, and transmits said selected transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal.

16. The communications terminal of claim 1, wherein said first web page is in accordance with a hyper text markup language (HTML).

17. The communications terminal of claim 1, wherein said predetermined web page browsing procedure, said first delivery request, and second delivery request conform to a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP).

18. The communications terminal of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined communications procedure is a Group 3 facsimile procedure.

19. The communications terminal of claim 1, wherein said second predetermined communications procedure is at least one of a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), a multipurpose Internet message extensions (MIME), and a file transfer protocol.

20. A communications terminal comprising:

first memory means for storing a transfer-request image file based on image information, which is sent through a transfer-request call from a facsimile terminal remote from said communication terminal, through a first predetermined communications procedure, said transfer-request call including a destination address;

address conversion table means for converting said destination address into at least one transfer address which individually corresponds to at least one data terminal remote from said communication terminal, said at least one data terminal coupled to a local area network;

first web page generating means for generating a first web page which includes a link to said transfer-requested image file stored in said first memory means and for opening said first web page to said local area network;

electronic mail generating means for informing said at least one data terminal of said transfer-request image file by electronic mail using said at least one transfer address and through a second communications procedure, said electronic mail including a first web page locator;

first communications controlling means for receiving a first delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal, using said first web page locator and a predetermined web page browsing procedure, and for transmitting said first web page to said at least one data terminal upon receiving said first delivery request; and

second communications controlling means for receiving a second delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal through said first web page, and for transmitting said transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal upon receiving said second delivery request.

21. The communications terminal of claim 20, further comprising a second web page generating means for generating a second web page which is linked to said first web page and which indicates delivery statuses of said transfer-request image file and for opening said second web page to said local area network.

22. The communications terminal of claim 21, further comprising a delivery status managing means for erasing said transfer-request image file from said first memory means when said second communications controlling means completes the transmission of said transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal and for placing delivery status information on said second web page.

23. The communications terminal of claim 21, further comprising:

second memory means for storing date and time on which said transfer-request image file is opened to said local area network through said first web page;

print controlling means for performing a print operation in which said transfer-request image file is printed when a predetermined time passes from said date and time stored in said second memory means;

third web page generating means for generating a third web page which is linked to said first web page and which indicates print statuses of said transfer-request image file and for opening said third web page to said local area network; and

print status managing means for erasing said transfer-request image file from said first memory means when said print controlling means completes said print operation of said transfer-request image file and for placing print status information on said third web page.

24. The communications terminal of claim 23, further comprising:

third memory means for storing a communications history for said transfer-request image file;

fourth web page generating means for generating a fourth web page which includes links to said first web page and said communications history stored in said third memory means and for opening said fourth web page to said local area network; and

third communications controlling means for receiving a third delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal through said fourth web page, and for transmitting said communications history to said at least one data terminal upon receiving said third delivery request.

25. The communications terminal of claim 24, further comprising:

fourth memory means for storing an application program;

fifth web page generating means for generating a fifth web page which includes links to said first web page and said application program stored in said fourth memory means, and for opening said fifth web page to said local area network; and

fourth communications controlling means for receiving a fourth delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal through said fifth web page, and transmitting said application program to said at least one data terminal upon receiving said fourth delivery request.

26. The communications terminal of claim 24, wherein said third delivery request conform to a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP).

27. The communications terminal of claim 25, wherein said application program is used by said at least one data terminal when sending said first, second, third, and fourth delivery request to said communications terminal via said local area network.

28. The communications terminal of claim 25, further comprising:

fifth communications controlling means for receiving information with a transfer request from a data terminal coupled to said local area network, said transfer request including a transfer address which corresponds to a facsimile terminal,

wherein said application program is used by said data terminal when sending said information with said transfer request to said communications terminal via said local area network and said fifth communications controlling means transmits said information with said transfer request to said facsimile terminal through said first predetermined communications procedure.

29. The communications terminal of claim 25, wherein said fourth delivery request conform to a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP).

30. The communications terminal of claim 20, further comprising a data format converting means for converting said transfer-request image file, and wherein said second communications controlling means receives information of acceptable data formats through the second delivery request from said at least one data terminal and instructs said data format converting means to convert said transfer-request image file using a data format which matches said acceptable data formats, and transmits said converted transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal.

31. The communications terminal of claim 30, wherein said second communications terminal receives said information of acceptable data formats in an accept field which is included in a request header of the second delivery request.

32. The communications terminal of claim 20, further comprising a data format converting means for including a plurality of different data formats and for converting said transfer-request image file stored in said first memory means into a plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files using said plurality of different data formats,

and wherein said second communications controlling means receives information of acceptable data formats through the second delivery request from said at least one data terminal, searches and selects a file having a smallest data amount from among said plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files of which data format matches said acceptable data formats, and transmits said selected transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal.

33. The communications terminal of claim 32, wherein said first memory means stores information of said acceptable data formats as a previously-accepted data format and said actually used data format as a previously-used data format during a previous transmission operation in response to said second delivery request which has been made previously, and wherein upon newly receiving said information of acceptable data formats which are equivalent to said previously-accepted data formats, said second communications controlling means selects said transfer-request image file in said previously-used data format, which matches one of said acceptable data formats, from among said plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files stored in said first memory means through said previous transmission operation, and transmits said selected transfer-request image file in said previously-used data format to said at least one data terminal.

34. The communications terminal of claim 33, wherein either one of when said acceptable data formats of said newly-received information are different from said previously-accepted data formats and when none of said previously-accepted data formats are stored in said first memory means, said second communications controlling means searches and selects a file having a smallest data amount from among said plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files of which data format conforms to said acceptable data formats of said newly-received information, and transmits said selected transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal.

35. The communications terminal of claim 20, wherein said first web page is in accordance with a hyper text markup language (HTML).

36. The communications terminal of claim 20, wherein said predetermined web page browsing procedure, said first delivery request, and second delivery request conform to a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP).

37. The communications terminal of claim 20, wherein said first predetermined communications procedure is a Group 3 facsimile procedure.

38. The communications terminal of claim 20, wherein said second predetermined communications procedure is at least one of a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), a multipurpose Internet message extensions (MIME), and a file transfer protocol.

39. A method of performing a relay operation for a communications terminal, comprising the steps of:

a first storing step that stores a transfer-request image file based on image information, which is sent through a transfer-request call from a facsimile terminal remote from said communication terminal, through a first predetermined communications procedure, said transfer-request call including a destination address;

converting said destination address into at least one transfer address which individually corresponds to at least one data terminal remote from said communication terminal, said at least one data terminal coupled to a local area network;

a first web page generating step that generates a first web page which includes a link to said transfer-requested image file stored by said first storing step;

a first web page opening step that opens said first web page to said local area network;

informing said at least one data terminal of said transfer-request image file by electronic mail using said at least one transfer address and through a second communications procedure, said electronic mail including a first web page locator;

a first receiving step that receives a first delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal, using said first web page locator and a predetermined web page browsing procedure;

a first transmitting that transmits said first web page to said at least one data terminal upon a receipt of said first delivery request;

a second receiving step that receives a second delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal through said first web page; and

a second transmitting step that transmits said transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal upon a receipt of said second delivery request.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising a second web page generating step that generates a second web page which is linked to said first web page and which indicates delivery statuses of said transfer-request image file, and a second web page opening step that opens said second web page to said local area network.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising an erasing step that erases said transfer-request image file stored by said first memory step when said second transmitting step completes the transmission of said transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal, and a placing step that places delivery status information on said second web page.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising the steps of:

a second storing step that stores date and time on which said transfer-request image file is opened to said local area network through said first web page;

printing said transfer-request image file when a predetermined time passes from said date and time stored by said second storing step;

a third web page generating step that generates a third web page which is linked to said first web page and which indicates print statuses of said transfer-request image file;

a third web page opening step that opens said third web page to said local area network;

erasing said transfer-request image file stored by said first memory step when said printing step completes; and

placing print status information on said third web page.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising the steps of:

a third storing step that stores a communications history for said transfer-request image file;

a fourth web page generating step that generates a fourth web page which includes links to said first web page and said communications history stored by said third storing step;

a fourth web page opening step that opens said fourth web page to said local area network; and

a third receiving step that receives a third delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal through said fourth web page; and

a third transmitting step that transmits said communications history to said at least one data terminal upon a receipt of said third delivery request.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising the steps of:

a fourth storing step that stores an application program;

a fifth web page generating step that generates a fifth web page which includes links to said first web page and said application program stored by said fourth storing step;

a fifth web page opening step that opens said fifth web page to said local area network; and

a fourth receiving step that receives a fourth delivery request which is sent by said at least one data terminal through said fifth web page; and

a fourth transmitting step that transmits said application program to said at least one data terminal upon a receipt of said fourth delivery request.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein said third delivery request conform to a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP).

46. The method of claim 44, wherein said application program is used by said at least one data terminal when sending said first, second, third, and fourth delivery request to said communications terminal via said local area network.

47. The method of claim 44, further comprising a fifth receiving step that receives information with a transfer request from a data terminal coupled to said local area network, said transfer request including a transfer address which corresponds to a facsimile terminal,

wherein said application program is used by said data terminal when sending said information with said transfer request to said communications terminal via said local area network,

said method further comprising a fifth transmitting step that transmits said information with said transfer request to said facsimile terminal through said first predetermined communications procedure.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein said fourth delivery request conform to a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP).

49. The method of claim 39, further comprising a data format converting step that converts said transfer-request image file, and wherein said second receiving step receives information of acceptable data formats through the second delivery request from said at least one data terminal, and said method further comprising the steps of:

instructing said data format converting step to convert said transfer-request image file using a data format which matches said acceptable data formats; and

sending said converted transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said second receiving step receives said information of acceptable data formats in an accept field which is included in a request header of the second delivery request.

51. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of:

including a plurality of different data formats; and

converting said transfer-request image file stored in said first memory means into a plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files using said plurality of different data formats,

wherein said second receiving step receives information of acceptable data formats through the second delivery request from said at least one data terminal,

and said method further comprising the steps of;

searching a file having a smallest data amount among said plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files of which data format matches said acceptable data formats; and

selecting said smallest data file,

and wherein said second transmitting step transmits said selected transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said first storing step stores information of said acceptable data formats as a previously-accepted data format and said actually used data format as a previously-used data format during a previous transmission operation in response to said second delivery request which has been made previously, and wherein upon a new receipt of said information of acceptable data formats which are equivalent to said previously-accepted data formats, said selecting step selects said transfer-request image file in said previously-used data format, which matches one of said acceptable data formats, from among said plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files stored in said first storing step through said previous transmission operation, and said second transmitting step transmits said selected transfer-request image file in said previously-used data format to said at least one data terminal.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein either one of when said acceptable data formats of said newly-received information are different from said previously-accepted data formats and when none of said previously-accepted data formats are stored by said first storing step, said searching step searches a file having a smallest data amount from among said plurality of different-formatted transfer-request image files of which data format matches said acceptable data formats of said newly-received information, said selecting step selects said searched transfer-request image file, and said second transmitting step transmits said selected transfer-request image file to said at least one data terminal.

54. The method of claim 39, wherein said first web page is in accordance with a hyper text markup language (HTML).

55. The method of claim 39, wherein said predetermined web page browsing procedure, said first delivery request, and second delivery request conform to a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP).

56. The method of claim 39, wherein said first predetermined communications procedure is a Group 3 facsimile procedure.

57. The method of claim 39, wherein said second predetermined communications procedure is at least one of a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), a multipurpose Internet message extensions (MIME), and a file transfer protocol.