Facsimile apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable storage medium

• US 6,804,021 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1999
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Takehiro
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLERSON, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US09/417,048
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/442, 358/468, 358/405, 358/404, 358/444, 358/400, 379/100.01, 379/88.17, 379/93.24, 379/93.15
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 1/32609 Fault detection or counter-measures, e.g. original mis-positioned, shortage of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32641 of transmission or transmitted data, e.g. interruption or wrong number of pages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32673 Adjusting or controlling an operating mode, e.g. from paper reception to memory reception H04N1/32678 takes precedence; inhibiting an operation H04N1/00925
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32683 Preventive counter-measures, e.g. using redundant hardware, or anticipating a fault arrangements for keeping a communication line open H04N1/32795
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/002 Selecting or switching between an image communication channel and a non-image communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

When image data converted into a predetermined file format is communicated via the Internet (IT) but does not reach a target calling destination, the image data is communicated using only a PSTN. When the partner apparatus cannot interpret the contents of the received data, unconverted image data is communicated via the IT. When IT communication of converted image data or IT communication of unconverted image data to a given calling destination fails, the communication route is managed by the statuses of a plurality of internal flags for each calling destination in a calling destination registration unit (26) so as not to select the unsuccessful communication route in next and subsequent communication operations.

Claims

1. A facsimile apparatus that performs facsimile communication via Internet, comprising:

a communication unit, which communicates image data converted into a predetermined file format or unconverted image data via the Internet; and

a control unit, which changes a data communication form used by said communication unit based on data received from a receiver terminal,

wherein, when the image data converted into the predetermined file format is communicated via the Internet and the data received from the receiver terminal represents that contents of the image data cannot be interpreted, said control unit changes the data communication form used by said communication unit to communicate with the receiver terminal to a data communication form in which the unconverted image data is transmitted via the Internet.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the image data converted into the predetermined file format cannot be transmitted to the receiver terminal by communication via the Internet, said control unit changes the data communication form used by said communication unit to communicate with the receiver terminal to a data communication form in which image data not converted into the predetermined file format is transmitted via the Internet.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said communication unit communicates using a telephone network, and

when the receiver terminal cannot be detected by communication via the Internet, said control unit changes the data communication form to the receiver terminal used by said communication unit to a data communication form using only the telephone network.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when the receiver terminal cannot be detected by a predetermined number of communication operations via the Internet, said control unit inhibits communication via the Internet to the receiver terminal in a next and subsequent operations.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said apparatus further comprises a detection unit, which detects a reception capability of the receiver terminal, and,

when the data communication form is changed to the data communication form using only the telephone network, said control unit determines based on the reception capability of the receiver terminal detected by said detection unit whether to convert image data to be transmitted into a second predetermined file format.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second predetermined file format is a BFT (Binary File Transfer) format.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said communication unit communicates using a telephone network, and,

when the data received from the receiver terminal represents that contents of the image data transmitted via the Internet cannot be interpreted, said control unit changes the data communication form used by said communication unit to communicate with the receiver terminal to a data communication form using only the telephone network.

8. A control method for a facsimile apparatus that performs facsimile communication via Internet, comprising the step of:

changing a data communication form based on data received from a receiver terminal, such that image data converted into a predetermined file format by the facsimile apparatus or unconverted image is transmitted to the receiver terminal via the Internet,

wherein, when the image data converted into the predetermined file format is communicated via the Internet and the data received from the receiver terminal represents that contents of the image data cannot be interpreted, the data communication form used by the facsimile apparatus to communicate with the receiver terminal is changed to a data communication form in which the unconverted image data is transmitted via the Internet.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, when the image data converted into the predetermined file format cannot be transmitted to the receiver terminal by communication via the Internet, the data communication form used by said communication unit to communicate with the receiver terminal is changed to a data communication form in which image data not converted into the predetermined file format is transmitted via the Internet.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the facsimile apparatus communicates using a telephone network, and,

when the receiver terminal cannot be detected by communication via the Internet, the data communication form to the receiver terminal is changed to a data communication form using only the telephone network.

11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a communication program for performing facsimile communication via Internet, the communication program comprising:

a code of a communication step, in which image data converted into a predetermined file format by a facsimile apparatus or unconverted image data is communicated from the facsimile apparatus to a receiver terminal via the Internet; and

a code of a control step, in which a data communication form used in the communication step is changed based on data received from the receiver terminal,

wherein, when the image data converted into the predetermined file format is communicated via the Internet in the communication step and the data received from the receiver terminal represents that contents of the image data cannot be interpreted, the control step includes changing the data communication form used by the facsimile apparatus to communicate with the receiver terminal in the communication step to a data communication form in which the unconverted image data is transmitted via the Internet.

12. The medium according to claim 11, wherein the code of the control steps comprises, when the image data converted into the predetermined file format cannot be transmitted to the receiver terminal by communication via the Internet using the code of the communication step, changing the data communication form used by the facsimile apparatus to communicate with the receiver terminal in the communication step to a data communication form in which image data not converted into the predetermined file format is transmitted.

13. The medium according to claim 11, wherein the code of the control step comprises, when the receiver terminal cannot be detected by communication via the Internet using the code of the communication step, changing the data communication form used by the facsimile apparatus to communicate with the receiver terminal used in the communication step to a data communication form using only the telephone network.