Network facsimile system

Incorporation By Reference

0001This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-054218, filed on February 27, 2004, the entire subject matters of the application are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

Background of the Invention

0002The present invention relates to a network facsimile system that transmits/received images to/from an external device in accordance with a facsimile data transmission protocol.

0003Conventionally, a facsimile system in which a facsimile image is transmitted from an origin station to a destination station via a relaying server has been known. In such a system, the relaying server receives the facsimile image from the origin station and transmits the same to the destination station.

0004United States Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0069254 A1 discloses a method for an e-mail transmission control. According to this publication, the server receives an e-mail message transmitted from an origin station. The e-mail message contains a telephone number of the destination, and the server identifies the e-mail address of the destination based on the telephone number and transfer the e-mail message to the destination. Therefore, even if a user at the origin station does not know the e-mail address of the destination, the e-mail message can be sent to the destination. Thus, when a facsimile image is transmitted as an attachment of the e-mail message, the user at the origin station can send the facsimile image with the disclosed system similarly to a case where a normal facsimile machine is used.

0005Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. HEI 6-164645 discloses a system in which facsimile data is transmitted as an e-mail message. According to the publication, at an origin station (facsimile terminal), a sub address corresponding to a destination station is input. The relaying server identifies the destination based on the sub address, and transmits the facsimile data to the destination as identified.

0006United States Patent No. US 6,230,189 B1 discloses a similar system.

0007Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. P2002-199150A discloses a system for transmitting facsimile images among devices of which telephone numbers and e-mail addresses are registered in advance. A destination and/or a relaying server is identified based on the registered information, and the facsimile images are transmitted to the thus identified destination and/or relaying server.

0008Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. P2000-041063 discloses a system in which a communication is transmitted to a changeable destination. For example, when a user checks in a hotel, information indicating the check-in of the user is transmitted to the user's office, and facsimile and/or e-mail is transmitted to the user.

0009Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. HEI 06-268831 discloses a security system for a facsimile service in a hotel. According to this publication, when a user inputs a dial-in number through a facsimile device in the user's room for registration. After the registration, the user can uses the facsimile service.

0010In the conventional network facsimile systems as listed above, there are two problems in comparison with a normal facsimile system in which two facsimile devices are connected through a public telephone line.

0011In the normal facsimile system, the user at the origin station only need to input the telephone number of the destination to send a facsimile transmission. On the contrary, in the conventional network facsimile systems, the user at the origin station and/or the user at the destination station is required to perform some preparation settings. For example, registration of the information (telephone number, e-mail address etc.) of the origin station and/or destination station, or incorporating predetermined information in an e-mail message attaching a facsimile image. Such information is handled by the relaying server, and based on that, the e-mail message is transmitted to the destination station. For example, according to the provisional publication No. P2000-041063, the user can use the facsimile machine. However, for this purpose, the user had to register/input some information to be used by the relaying server.

0012When a facsimile transmission is performed between two facsimile machines through a telephone line, a transmission condition is generally indicated on a display of each facsimile machine. For example, on the transmitting side facsimile machine, messages such as "dialing", "transmitting", "transmission completed" or "transmission error" are displayed depending on the current transmission status. Further, if the facsimile machine has a redialing function, a status "redial stand-by state" or "redialing" may be displayed. On the destination facsimile machine, a message "receiving", "reception completed" or "reception (transmission) error" is displayed, depending on the current status of the facsimile machine.

0013According to the conventional network facsimile system described above, that is, the facsimile image is transmitted by e-mail through the relaying server, the following deficiencies arise. Firstly, the user at the origin station can know the transmission status from the origin communication terminal to the relaying server, but cannot know the status from the relaying server to the destination station in real time. Secondly, the user of the destination station can know the transmission status from the relaying server to the destination communication terminal, but cannot know the status from the origin station to the relaying server in real time. Therefore, even if the transmission from the origin station to the relaying server is completed successfully, there could be a case where an error occurs in the transmission from the relaying server to the destination station. In such a case, the user of the origin station may note not realize the occurrence of the error, which would not occur in the normal facsimile system. Further, when an error occurs in the transmission from the relaying server to the destination, it is recognized by the user of the destination station. However, if an error occurs in the transmission from the origin station to the relaying server, the user of the destination station would not know the attempt of transmission directed to the destination station, which would not occur in the normal facsimile system.

0014As above, according to the conventional network facsimile system, the users need to take the existence of the relaying server into account when transmitting facsimile images.

Summary of the Invention

0015The present invention is advantageous in that, in a network facsimile system employing a relaying server through which facsimile images are transmitted from an origin station to a destination station, "transparency" of the relaying server can be realized. Thus, users of the origin station and the destination station can use the network facsimile system as a normal facsimile system using the facsimile machines connected through the telephone line.

0016According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a network facsimile system including a relaying server and a communication terminal connected through a network. The relaying server is provided with a facsimile communication system capable of receiving facsimile data representing an image transmitted from an origin station outside the network facsimile system, an image data creating system that creates image data based on the facsimile data received by the facsimile communication system, the communication terminal being capable of processing the image data, an information obtaining system that obtains information necessary for communicating with the communication terminal, and a relaying server side data communication system that transmits the image data created by the image data creating system to the communication terminal in accordance with data obtained with the information obtaining system. Further, the communication terminal includes a communication terminal side data communication system that receives the image data transmitted from the relaying server side data communication system, and an image data processing system that carries out processing of the image data received by the communication terminal side data communication system to one of print the image data and store the image data in a memory. The image is transmitted from the origin station outside the network facsimile system in accordance with a facsimile transmission protocol, and the image is transmitted from the relaying server to the communication terminal in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol. Further, the relaying server may include a status setting system that sets an operational status of the network facsimile system to a receivable state where the communication terminal can receive the image through the relaying server when the communication terminal has become usable by a user of the communication terminal.

0017According to the network facsimile system configured as above, when the user of the communication terminal becomes able to use the communication terminal, the status setting system of the relaying server sets the operation status of the network facsimile system to the receivable state. That is, in association with the status of the user of the communication terminal is turned to be able to use the communication terminal, image reception can be carried out via the relaying server. Therefore, even if the operational status of the network facsimile system is not set to the receivable state (e.g., the relaying server and/or the communication terminal is in a state where the image cannot be received), in response to the change of status of the communication terminal such that the user can use the same, it becomes possible to receive the image with the communication terminal.

0018Optionally, when a location of the communication terminal is being used, the status setting system determines that the user of the communication terminal has become able to use the communication terminal and sets an operational status of the network facsimile system to the receivable state.

0019According to the network facsimile system as above, when a location of the communication terminal is being occupied, the status setting system determines that the user of the communication terminal has become able to use the communication terminal in association with the status change of the communication terminal, and the operational status of the network facsimile system is changed to the receivable state. Therefore, the network facsimile system can be applied to a system in which the availability of the location of the communication terminal switches in association with a usable/unusable state of the communication terminal.

0020For example, if such a communication terminal is set to a hotel room, when a customer checks in and the hotel room is occupied, the communication terminal in the room becomes usable. If the above-described network facsimile system is used in such a case, upon check-in of the customer, the communication terminal is determined to be in a usable state, and thus, the operational status of the network facsimile system is set to the receivable state. With such a configuration, only when the customer checked in and the hotel room is occupied, the operational status of the network facsimile system regarding the communication terminal located in the hotel room is set to the receivable state. Regarding the communication terminal(s) located in the hotel room(s) which is (are) not occupied (customers have not checked in), the control for setting the operational status of the network facsimile system will not be carried out uselessly. The decision of the check-in may be made in accordance with the input of the system administrator. Alternatively, the decision is made in association of some parameter. For example, the check-in status is set in accordance with an input operatio of the system administrator through an input unit of the relaying server. Alternatively, the status may be set when a device that can communicate with the communication terminal or relaying server at the location of the communication terminal is operated. Further alternatively, the status may be set in accordance with opening/closing of a door provided to the location of the communication terminal, which is detected with a sensor. It should be noted that the above described configuration are examples, and various modifications may be used.

0021Further optionally, the network facsimile system may further include a location availability setting system that allows a system administrator to arbitrarily set whether the location of the communication terminal is used or not, and the status setting system may determine the user has become able to use the communication terminal and sets the operational status of the network facsimile system to the receivable state when the location of the communication terminal is set to be used by the location availability setting system.

0022In this case, the system administrator can set arbitrarily whether the location of the communication terminal is used (i.e., occupied) or not. Therefore, different from a case where the availability of the location of the communication terminal is determined based on a condition that cannot be arbitrarily set, unintended erroneous judgment can be avoided. It is ensured that, when the user of the communication terminal becomes in the usable state, the image reception with the communication terminal can be carried out.

0023For example, when the communication terminal is placed in a hotel room, the location availability setting system may be provided at a front of the hotel. If the relaying server is implemented at the front of the hotel, the location availability setting system may be incorporated in the relaying server. If the relaying server is not located at the front of the hotel, the location availability setting system may be provided to a device (e.g., a computer), which functions as a node on the network connecting the devices of the network facsimile system.

0024With the above configuration, when a check-in process is carried out, a hotel clerk (who is regarded as the system administrator of the network facsimile system) sets the hotel room subject to the check-in of the customer to be occupied using the location availability setting system. This setting may be done by storing the status in a storage of a device included in the network facsimile system, or ON/OFF of a switching means provided to a device included in the network facsimile system. In either case, each device of the network facsimile system is capable of recognizing whether a hotel room is occupied or not by referring to the location availability setting system. The status setting system referrers to the location availability setting system, and determines that the user of the communication terminal is in a condition to use the communication terminal if the location of the communication terminal is occupied, and enables the reception of the image with the communication terminal.

0025Further optionally, the relaying server side data communication system may transmit the image data created by the image data creating system with an e-mail message with the destination having an e-mail address assigned to the communication terminal, and the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system to the receivable state by allowing the communication terminal to receive an e-mail message transmitted to the e-mail address assigned to the communication terminal.

0026In this case, in conjunction with the change of the status of the user of the communication terminal to the usable status, an e-mail message is transmitted from the relaying server to the communication terminal, thereby image reception being enabled.

0027Optionally, the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system to the receivable state by notifying the communication terminal of the e-mail address assigned to the communication terminal so that the communication terminal is capable of receiving an e-mail message transmitted to the e-mail address assigned to the communication terminal.

0028In this case, as the user of the communication terminal becomes able to use the communication terminal, the e-mail address assigned to the communication terminal is notified from the relaying server to the communication terminal, thereby the e-mail message can be transmitted from the relaying server to the communication terminal. As a result, it becomes possible that the communication terminal can receive the image.

0029- Still optionally, the relaying server side data communication system may transmit the image data created by the image data creating system to a network address assigned to the communication terminal in accordance with a packet communication protocol, and the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system to the receivable state by allowing the communication terminal to receive the packet transmitted to the network address assigned to the communication terminal.

0030In this case, in conjunction with the change of the status such that the user of the communication terminal becomes able to use the communication terminal, it becomes possible to transmits the packet from the relaying server to the communication terminal. As a result, image reception by the communication terminal is enabled.

0031Further optionally, the information obtaining system may search, in accordance with a reception number when the facsimile communication system received the facsimile data, for a communication terminal to which the telephone number same as the reception number is assigned and obtains information necessary for communicating with the detected communication terminal, and the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system to the receivable status by assigning the telephone number to the communication terminal.

0032In this case, in conjunction with the change of the status such that the user of the communication terminal becomes able to use the communication terminal, it becomes possible to assign a telephone number to the communication terminal. As a result, image reception by the communication terminal is enabled.

0033Further, the facsimile communication system may use a plurality of telephone numbers as reception numbers, and the status setting system may assign a telephone number different from the lastly assigned telephone number when a telephone number is assigned to a communication terminal.

0034In this case, when a telephone number is assigned to the communication terminal, the number different from the previously assigned number can be assigned. Therefore, a confusion or problem using the same telephone number for different users can be avoided. An example of the confusion or problem using the same telephone number is as follows. If a user of an origin sends a facsimile image to a previous use of the communication terminal, and the telephone number for the user has been released, the facsimile image is not transmitted and the use of the origin may recognize that the number is no more effective. However, if the same telephone number is used for a new user of the communication terminal, the facsimile image intended to the previous user is successfully transmitted to the communication terminal. For the new user, an unexpected facsimile image is received. According to the network facsimile system described above, such a confusion/problem can be avoided.

0035Still optionally, the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system such that the communication terminal cannot receive the image through the relaying server when the user of the communication terminal cannot use the communication terminal.

0036According to the network facsimile system as above, when the user of the communication terminal is in a condition where the communication terminal cannot be used, the status setting system sets the operational status of the network facsimile system such that reception of the facsimile image is disabled. Thus, in conjunction of the status of the user (i.e., unusable status), reception of the facsimile image by the communication terminal through the relaying server is disabled. With this configuration, if an intended user of the communication terminal cannot use the communication terminal, a person other than the intended user is prevented from receiving the facsimile image through the communication terminal.

0037Optionally, if the location of the communication terminal is unused, the status setting system determines that the user of the communication terminal cannot use the communication terminal, and sets the operational status of the network facsimile system to a reception-disabled state in which the communication terminal cannot receive the image.

0038Accordingly, the network facsimile system can be used for a system in which the usability of the communication terminal changes in conjunction with the availability of the location of the communication terminal.

0039For example, when the communication terminal is placed in a hotel room, if the customer of the hotel room checks out and the room is unoccupied, the communication terminal in the room is in the unusable status. By employing the above-described network facsimile system in such a situation, based on the check-out of the customer, it is determined that the communication terminal is turned to be in unusable state in conjunction with the change of the state of the room to unoccupied state, and the operation state or the network facsimile system is set to an reception disabled status. With this configuration, only when the customer checked out and the hotel room is turned unoccupied status, the operation status of the network facsimile system with regard to the communication terminal in the hotel room is set to unreceivable state. Therefore, the disabling control described above will not be applied to the communication terminals in the hotel rooms which are still occupied (i.e., the customers have not checked out).

0040Further, the network facsimile system may include a location availability setting system allowing a system administrator to arbitrarily set whether the location of the communication terminal is being used. In this case, when the location of the communication terminal is set to be unused by the location availability setting system, the status setting system determines that the user of the communication terminal cannot use the communication terminal and sets the operational status of the network facsimile system to the reception-disabled state.

0041In the above configuration, whether the location of the communication terminal is occupied or not can be arbitrarily set by the system administrator. If the system is configured such that the availability is judged based on predetermined parameters which cannot be arbitrarily changed, unintended erroneous judgment may occur, which may cause malfunction of the system. If the system is configured as above, if the condition of the used has changed and the user cannot use the communication terminal, it is ensured that the image reception of the communication terminal can be disabled.

0042For example, when the communication terminal is placed in a hotel room, the location availability setting system may be provided at a front of the hotel. If the relaying server is implemented at the front of the hotel, the location availability setting system may be incorporated in the relaying server. If the relaying server is not located at the front of the hotel, the location availability setting system may be provided to a device (e.g., a computer), which functions as a node on the network connecting the devices of the network facsimile system.

0043With the above configuration, when a check-out process is carried out, a hotel clerk (who is regarded as the system administrator of the network facsimile system) sets the hotel room subject to the check-out of the customer to be unoccupied using the location availability setting system. This setting may be done by storing the status in a storage of a device included in the network facsimile system, or ON/OFF of a switching means provided to a device included in the network facsimile system. In either case, each device of the network facsimile system is capable of recognizing whether a hotel room is occupied or not by referring to the location availability setting system. The status setting system referrers to the location availability setting system, and determines that the user of the communication terminal is unable to use the communication terminal if the location of the communication terminal is unoccupied, and disables the reception of the image with the communication terminal.

0044Further optionally, the relaying server side data communication system may transmit the image data created by the image data creating system with an e-mail message having a destination e-mail address that is assigned to the communication terminal, and the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system to the reception-disabled state by releasing the e-mail address assigned to the communication terminal.

0045In this case, in conjunction with the user's status of not being able to use the communication terminal, transmission of e-mail messages from the relaying server to the communication terminal is disabled. As a result, image reception by the communication terminal is disabled.

0046Optionally, the information obtaining system may detect the communication terminal to which a telephone number same as the reception number, which is the number when the facsimile data has been received by the facsimile communication system, and obtains information necessary for communicating with the communication terminal, and the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system to the reception-disabled state by releasing the assignment of the telephone number to the communication terminal.

0047In this case, in conjunction with the change of the user's status to a status of being unable to user the communication terminal, the telephone number assigned to the communication terminal can be released. As a result, the image reception by the communication terminal is disabled.

0048In the foregoing description, the network facsimile system which is configured such that the communication terminal receives facsimile images from the device outside the network facsimile system via the relaying server is described. Next, the network facsimile system that transmits the facsimile image to the outside device via the relaying server will be described.

0049According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a network facsimile system including a relaying server and a communication terminal connected through a network. The communication terminal includes an image data creating system that creates image data representing an image to be transmitted, and a communication terminal side data communication system that transmits the image data created by the image data creating system to the relaying server. The relaying server includes a relaying server side data communication system that receives the image data transmitted from the communication side data communication system, a facsimile data creating system that creates facsimile data to be transmitted in accordance with a facsimile communication protocol based on the image data received by the relaying server side data communication system, and a facsimile communication system capable of transmitting facsimile data created by the facsimile data creating system to a destination outside the network facsimile system in accordance with the facsimile communication protocol. In this case, the image may be transmitted from the communication terminal to the relaying server in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol, and further the image is transmitted from the relaying server to the destination outside the network facsimile system in accordance with the facsimile transmission protocol. The relaying server may include a status setting system that sets an operational status of the network facsimile system to a transmission-enabled state where the communication terminal can transmit the image through the relaying server when the communication terminal has become usable by a user of the communication terminal.

0050The network facsimile system configured as above, when the user of the communication terminal can use the communication terminal, the status setting system of the relaying server set the operational status of the network facsimile system to a transmission enabled status. Thus, when the condition of the user has changed and the user can use the communication terminal, it becomes possible to transmit images by the communication terminal via the relaying server. Therefore, before the user becomes able to use the communication terminal, if the operational status of the network facsimile system is not set to a transmission enabled status, i.e., one or both of the relaying server and communication terminal are disabled in transmitting the image, when the user become able to use the communication terminal, the user can transmit images through the communication terminal.

0051Optionally, when a location of the communication terminal is being used, the status setting system may determine that the user of the communication terminal has become able to use the communication terminal and sets an operational status of the network facsimile system to the transmission-enabled state.

0052According to the network facsimile system describe above, when the location of the communication terminal is used, in conjunction with that, it is determined that the communication terminal is in a usable condition, and the operational status of the network facsimile system is set to the transmission enables status. Thus, such a system may be applicable to a system in which the availability of the location of the communication terminal and whether the communication terminal can be used or not are switched in conjunction with each other.

0053For example, when the communication terminal is placed in a hotel room, if the customer of the hotel room checks in and the room is occupied, the communication terminal in the room is in the usable status. By employing the above-described network facsimile system in such a situation, based on the check-in of the customer, it is determined that the communication terminal is turned to be in usable state in conjunction with the change of the state of the room to the occupied state, and the operation state or the network facsimile system is set to a transmission enabled state. With this configuration, only when the customer checked in and the hotel room is turned to be in the occupied status, the operation status of the network facsimile system with regard to the communication terminal in the hotel room is set to transmission enabled state. Therefore, the enabling control will not be applied to the communication terminals in the hotel rooms which are unoccupied (i.e., a customers have not checked in).

0054The decision of the check-in may be made in accordance with the input of the system administrator. Alternatively, the decision is made in association of some parameter. For example, the check-in status is set in accordance with an input operatio of the system administrator through an input unit of the relaying server. Alternatively, the status may be set when a device that can communicate with the communication terminal or relaying server at the location of the communication terminal is operated. Further alternatively, the status may be set in accordance with opening/closing of a door provided to the location of the communication terminal, which is detected with a sensor. It should be noted that the above described configuration are examples, and various modifications may be used. Further, the network facsimile system may further include a location availability setting system that allows a system administrator to arbitrarily set whether the location of the communication terminal is used or not. Then, the status setting system may determine the user has become able to use the communication terminal and sets the operational status of the network facsimile system to the transmission-enabled state when the location of the communication terminal is set to be used by the location availability setting system.

0055In the above configuration, whether the location of the communication terminal is occupied or not can be arbitrarily set by the system administrator. If the system is configured such that the availability is judged based on predetermined parameters which cannot be arbitrarily changed, unintended erroneous judgment may occur, which may cause malfunction of the system. If the system is configured as above, if the condition of the used has changed and the user cannot use the communication terminal, it is ensured that the image transmission of the communication terminal can be enabled.

0056For example, when the communication terminal is placed in a hotel room, the location availability setting system may be provided at a front of the hotel. If the relaying server is implemented at the front of the hotel, the location availability setting system may be incorporated in the relaying server. If the relaying server is not located at the front of the hotel, the location availability setting system may be provided to a device (e.g., a computer), which functions as a node on the network connecting the devices of the network facsimile system.

0057With the above configuration, when a check-in process is carried out, a hotel clerk (who is regarded as the system administrator of the network facsimile system) sets the hotel room subject to the check-in of the customer to be occupied using the location availability setting system. This setting may be done by storing the status in a storage of a device included in the network facsimile system, or ON/OFF of a switching means provided to a device included in the network facsimile system. In either case, each device of the network facsimile system is capable of recognizing whether a hotel room is occupied or not by referring to the location availability setting system. The status setting system referrers to the location availability setting system, and determines that the user of the communication terminal is usable if the location of the communication terminal is occupied, and enables the transmission of the image with the communication terminal.

0058Optionally, the communication terminal side data communication system may transmit the image data created by the image data creating system with an e-mail message with the destination having an e-mail address assigned to the communication terminal, and the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system to the transmission-enabled state by notifying the communication terminal of the assigned e-mail address so that the communication terminal can transmit the e-mail message.

0059In this case, in conjunction with the user's status of being able to use the communication terminal, transmission of e-mail messages from communication terminal to the relaying server is enabled. As a result, image transmission from the communication terminal is enabled.

0060Further, when a telephone number is assigned to the communication terminal, the facsimile communication system may transmit the facsimile data with the assigned telephone number being the transmission telephone number, and the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system to the transmission-enabled state by assigning the telephone number to the communication terminal.

0061In this case, in conjunction with the user's status of being able to use the communication terminal, a telephone number can be assigned to the communication terminal. As a result, image transmission from the communication terminal is enabled.

0062Furthermore, the facsimile communication system may use a plurality of telephone numbers as transmission telephone numbers, and the status setting system may assign a telephone number different from the lastly released telephone number when a telephone number is assigned to a communication terminal.

0063In this case, when a telephone number is assigned to the communication terminal, the number different from the previously assigned number can be assigned. Therefore, a confusion or problem using the same telephone number for different users can be avoided. An example of the confusion or problem using the same telephone number is as follows. If a new user of the communication terminal transmits a facsimile image, to which the telephone number same as the previously assigned one (for the previous user) is assigned, for the receiver who receive facsimile images from both the previous user and the new user, the facsimile image transmitted from the new user appears to be one from the previous user since the transmission is made from the same telephone number. According to the network facsimile system described above, such a confusion/problem can be avoided.

0064Still optionally, the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system to a transmission-disabled state where the communication terminal cannot transmit the image through the relaying server when the user of the communication terminal cannot use the communication terminal.

0065According to the network facsimile system as above, when the user of the communication terminal is in a condition where the communication terminal cannot be used, the status setting system sets the operational status of the network facsimile system such that transmission of the facsimile image is disabled. Thus, in conjunction with the status of the user (i.e., unusable status), transmission of the facsimile image by the communication terminal through the relaying server is disabled.

0066Further optionally, if the location of the communication terminal is unused, the status setting system may determine that the user of the communication terminal cannot use the communication terminal, and set the operational status of the network facsimile system to the transmission-disabled state in which the communication terminal cannot transmit the image.

0067Accordingly, the network facsimile system can be used for a system in which the usability of the communication terminal changes in conjunction with the availability of the location of the communication terminal.

0068For example, when the communication terminal is placed in a hotel room, if the customer of the hotel room checks out and the room is unoccupied, the communication terminal in the room is in the unusable status. By employing the above-described network facsimile system in such a situation, based on the check-out of the customer, it is determined that the communication terminal is turned to be in unusable state in conjunction with the change of the state of the room to unoccupied state, and the operation state or the network facsimile system is set to a transmission disabled status. With this configuration, only when the customer checked out and the hotel room is turned unoccupied status, the operation status of the network facsimile system with regard to the communication terminal in the hotel room is set to transmission disabled state. Therefore, the disabling control described above will not be applied to the communication terminals in the hotel rooms which are still occupied (i.e., the customers have not checked out).

0069The network facsimile system may further include a location availability setting system allowing a system administrator to arbitrarily set whether the location of the communication terminal is being used. In this case, when the location of the communication terminal is set to be unused by the location availability setting system, the status setting system determines that the user of the communication terminal cannot use the communication terminal and sets the operational status of the network facsimile system to the transmission-disabled state.

0070In the above configuration, whether the location of the communication terminal is occupied or not can be arbitrarily set by the system administrator. If the system is configured such that the availability is judged based on predetermined parameters which cannot be arbitrarily changed, unintended erroneous judgment may occur, which may cause malfunction of the system. If the system is configured as above, if the condition of the used has changed and the user cannot use the communication terminal, it is ensured that the image transmission of the communication terminal can be disabled.

0071For example, when the communication terminal is placed in a hotel room, the location availability setting system may be provided at a front of the hotel. If the relaying server is implemented at the front of the hotel, the location availability setting system may be incorporated in the relaying server. If the relaying server is not located at the front of the hotel, the location availability setting system may be provided to a device (e.g., a computer), which functions as a node on the network connecting the devices of the network facsimile system.

0072With the above configuration, when a check-out process is carried out, a hotel clerk (who is regarded as the system administrator of the network facsimile system) sets the hotel room subject to the check-out of the customer to be unoccupied using the location availability setting system. This setting may be done by storing the status in a storage of a device included in the network facsimile system, or ON/OFF of a switching means provided to a device included in the network facsimile system. In either case, each device of the network facsimile system is capable of recognizing whether a hotel room is occupied or not by referring to the location availability setting system. The status setting system referrers to the location availability setting system, and determines that the user of the communication terminal is unable to use the communication terminal if the location of the communication terminal is unoccupied, and disables the transmission of the image with the communication terminal.

0073Still optionally, the communication terminal side data communication system may transmit the image data created by the image data creating system with an e-mail message having an origin e-mail address that is assigned to the communication terminal, and the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system to the transmission-disabled state by releasing the e-mail address assigned to the communication terminal.

0074In this case, in conjunction with the user's status of not being able to use the communication terminal, transmission of e-mail messages from the communication terminal to the relaying server is disabled. As a result, image transmission by the communication terminal is disabled.

0075Further, when a telephone number is assigned to the communication terminal, the facsimile communication system may transmit the facsimile data using the assigned telephone number as the transmission telephone number, and the status setting system may set the operational status of the network facsimile system to the transmission-disabled state by releasing the assignment of the telephone number to the communication terminal.

0076In this case, in conjunction with the user's status of not being able to use the communication terminal, the telephone number assigned to the communication terminal can be released. As a result, image transmission by the communication terminal is disabled.

0077As is understood from the foregoing description, when an image is received with the network facsimile system according to the invention, it is preferable that the relaying server is provide with a status setting system that sets an operational status of the network facsimile system to a receivable state where the communication terminal can receive the image through the relaying server when the communication terminal has become usable by a user of the communication terminal.

0078Further, as is understood from the foregoing description, when an image is transmitted with the network facsimile system according to the invention, it is preferable that the relaying server is provided with a status setting system that sets an operational status of the network facsimile system to a transmission-enabled state where the communication terminal can transmit the image through the relaying server when the communication terminal has become usable by a user of the communication terminal.

0079As described above, according to the invention, there is provided an improved network facsimile system, which is enabled to receive/transmit images with the communication terminal via the relaying server when the user of the communication terminal is in a condition to be able to use the communication terminal. Further, the relaying server for the above network facsimile system is also provided.

Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings

0080<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of a network facsimile system according to an embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the network facsimile device shown in Fig. 1;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of a facsimile relaying server shown in Fig. 1;</li><li>Figs. 4 through 7 show a flowchart illustrating a network facsimile side transmission procedure executed in the network facsimile device;</li><li>Figs. 8 and 9 show a flowchart illustrating a facsimile relaying server side transmission procedure;</li><li>Figs. 10 and 11 show a flowchart illustrating a network facsimile side reception procedure;</li><li>Fig. 12 shows a facsimile relaying side reception procedure;</li><li>Fig. 13 shows a flowchart illustrating a registered information transmitting procedure executed in the network facsimile device;</li><li>Fig. 14 shows a flowchart illustrating a registered information transmitting procedure executed in the facsimile relaying server;</li><li>Fig. 15 shows a flowchart showing an updating procedure at a time of check-in of a user;</li><li>Fig. 16 shows a flowchart showing an updating procedure at a time of check-out of the user;</li><li>Figs. 17A-17C show tables managed by the facsimile relaying server;</li><li>Fig. 18 shows an example of an e-mail message for a facsimile transmission;</li><li>Fig. 19 shows an example of notifying a completion of a facsimile transmission;</li><li>Fig. 20 shows a configuration of a managed information base for notifying the completion of a facsimile transmission;</li><li>Fig. 21 shows an example of data to UDP broadcast room number and IP address for a user;</li><li>Fig. 22 shows a flowchart illustrating a reception procedure executed by a network facsimile device according to a second embodiment;</li><li>Fig. 23 shows a flowchart illustrating a reception procedure executed by a facsimile relaying server;</li><li>Fig. 24 is a timing chart showing progression of facsimile transmitting procedures according to a third embodiment of the invention;</li><li>Fig. 25 shows a flowchart illustrating a procedure executed by a task serving as an SMTP reception module;</li><li>Figs. 26 and 27 show a flowchart illustrating a procedure executed by a task serving as a facsimile communication management module; and</li><li>Fig. 28 shows an example of a transmission management report.</li></ul>

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

0081Referring now to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

First Embodiment

0082A network facsimile system according to a first embodiment will be described. The network facsimile system is a system employed in a hotel having a plurality of rooms. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of the network facsimile system.

0083As shown in Fig. 1, in the hotel, a facsimile relaying server 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a FAX relaying server), network facsimile devices 2 and 3 are provided and are connected through a LAN (Local Area Network) 4 to constitute the network facsimiles system.

0084The FAX relaying server 1 is connected with a PSTN (public switched telephone networks) 6. Accordingly, the FAX relaying serer 1 is capable of transmitting/receiving images to/from a facsimile machine (e.g., G3 facsimile machines 7 and 8) outside the network facsimile system.

0085It should be noted that there are a plurality of network facsimile devices, which are implemented in hotel rooms one for each. Since they have functionally the same, only two network facsimile devices 2 and 3 are shown in Fig. 1 for the brevity.

0086Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the control system of the network facsimile device 2 (or 3). Since the network facsimile devices 2 and 3 have the same configuration, only the network facsimile device 2 will be described. The description applies the network facsimile device 3 and other network facsimile devices (not shown) included in the network facsimile system.

0087The network facsimile device 2 includes a CPU 21 that controls an entire operation of the network facsimile device 2, a ROM 22 for storing various pieces of data, and a RAM 23 for temporarily storing various types of data dynamically generated during operation of the network facsimile device 2. The network facsimile device 2 further includes a MODEM 24 that converts digital data such as a facsimile image to analogue signal, and vice versa, a scanner 31 for capturing an image to be transmitted on an original, a printer 32 for printing an image, an operation panel 33 that is operated by a user when the user inputs commands to the network facsimile device 2. In the embodiment, the user who operates the operation panel 33 may be a user of a hotel room in which the network facsimile device 2 is implemented. The network facsimile device 2 is further provided with an LCD 34 capable of displaying messages and other visual information, a PC interface 35 such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port, an encoder 41 that encodes image data in accordance with a predetermined encoding method such as MH/MR/MMR etc., and a decoder 42 that decodes the image data which has been encoded with the predetermined encoding method. The network facsimile device 2 further includes an LCU (Line Control Unit) 43 that controls communication through the PSTN 6, and a LAN control memory 44 for storing data necessary for communicating through the LAN 4. Further, the network facsimile device 2 includes an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) control unit 45 that executes transmission/reception control in accordance with the SNMP and receives data indicative of operational status of the FAX relaying server 1, an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) reception control unit 46 that executes a mail receiving control in accordance with the SMTP to receive e-mail messages from the FAX relaying server 1, a mail transmission control unit 47 that executes a mail transmission control to transmits e-mail messages to the FAX relaying server 1, and a LAN control unit 48 that executes a communication control through the LAN 4.

0088It should be noted that network facsimile devices 2 and 3 are not dedicated devices which are used only as the network devices, but are general purpose devices which can also be used as normal facsimile machines that transmit/receive images through the PSTN 6. That is why the network facsimile device 2 (3) is provided with the MODEM 24 and LCU 43 and is configured to be connectable with the PSTN 6 (as indicated by broken line in Fig. 2).

0089When the network device 2 (3) is used as a communication device in the network facsimile system, it is unnecessary to connect the network facsimile device 2 with the PSTN 6. Therefore, according to the embodiment, the network facsimile devices 2 and 3 are connected only to the LAN 4, and are not connected with the PSTN 6. Accordingly, in each hotel room, equipment for connecting the network facsimile device 2 (3) to the PSTN need not be introduced.

0090Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the FAX relaying sever 1.

0091The FAX relaying server 1 includes a personal computer (or a workstation), which is provided with a control unit having CPU, ROM and RAM, an input unit having a keyboard and pointing device, an output unit having a display, a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a network I/F for connection with the LAN 4, other hardware including a MODEM for connection with the PSTN 6 and software including OS (Operating System) and various application programs. With combinations of the units, hardware and software above, an SMTP receiving module 51, a FAX communication management module 52, an SMTP transmission module 53, a table management module 54, an operation IF management module 55, a UDP communication module 56, and SNMP transmission module 57 are configured. The storage device of the FAX relaying server stores a group of files including transmission/reception data DB 61, management table 62, and the like.

0092The SMTP receiving module 51 executes a mail receiving control in accordance with the SMTP and receives e-mails messages from the mail transmission control unit 47 of the network facsimile device 2 (3). The e-mail messages as received are stored in the transmitted/received data DB 61.

0093The FAX communication management module 52 converts an image represented by image data contained in the e-mail message, which is received from the network facsimile device 2 (3) and stored in the transmitted/received data DB 61, to facsimile data which is transmitted in accordance with the facsimile communication protocol. Then, the FAX communication management module 52 transmits the converted data (i.e., the facsimile data) to the PSTN 6. Further, the FAX communication management module 52 converts the image represented by the facsimile data received through the PSTN 6 into image data which can be processed by the network facsimile device 2 (3) and stores the converted image data in the transmitted/received data DB 61.

0094The SMTP transmission module 53 transmits an e-mail message to which the image data, which has been received through the PSTN 6 and stored in the transmitted/received data DB 61, is attached as an attached file to the network facsimile device 2 (3).

0095The table management module 54 executes management such as recording or updating data of various tables (e.g., e-mail address management table, telephone operating status table, check-in management table etc.) stored in the management table 62.

0096The operation IF management module 55 provides the table management module 54 with instruction to update data corresponding to operations performed by a system administrator (e.g., a clerk of the hotel), when she/he operates an operation unit of the FAX relaying server 1 to execute a predetermined operation (e.g., operation corresponding to check-in, check-out, etc. which will be described in detail later).

0097The UDP communication module 56 is an interface for a packet communication with the network facsimile device 2 (3) in accordance with the UDP (User Datagram Protocol). In this embodiment, the UDP communication module 56 is used to effect settings of e-mail type communication among the network facsimile devices 2, 3, ...

0098The SNMP transmitting module 57 transmits the operational status in the FAX relaying server 1 to the network facsimile device 2 (3).

0099With the above configuration, data communication according to the UDP, data communication according to the SNMP and data communication using the e-mail messages are executed between the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 (3) depending on the type and/or size of the data to be transmitted and depending on the operational status of respective devices/modules.

0100It should be noted that, in this embodiment, each of the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 (3) has a function of the mail client and the SMTP server. When one of the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 (3) functions as the mail client, the other functions as the SNTP server, thereby the data communication using the e-mail messages, which are sent from one to the other, being realized.

0101The data communication using the e-mail message should not be limited in the manner described above, but can be realized in another way, which is left to the user's discretion. For example, as a protocol for exchanging e-mail messages between the mail client and server, a POP (Post Office Protocol) is also known besides the SMTP. Therefore, if one of the FAX relaying server 1 or the network facsimile device 2 (3) has a POP server function and the other has a mail client function, it is possible to realize the data communication using the e-mail messages since the mail client can extract an e-mail message from a mail box of the POP server. Alternatively, an PMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) may be used instead of the POP.

0102The protocol to be used one an e-mail message is transmitted from the FAX relaying server 1 to the network facsimile device 2 (3) or opposite can be arbitrarily selected. Therefore, in both direction, the SMTP or POP can be used. Alternatively, the SMTP is used in one direction, while the POP is used in the opposite direction. Therefore, it is possible to configure the network facsimile system such that only one of the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 (3) has both the SMTP server function and the POP server functions, and the other of FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 (3) has only the mail client function.

0103In the above examples, the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 (3) is provided with the SMTP server function or the POP server function. Alternatively, if some server computers with which the FAX relaying server and the network facsimile device 2 (3) can communicate through the LAN 4 are provided, and the SMTP server and the POP server are implemented therein, only by providing the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 (3) with the mail client function, the data communication using the e-mail message can be realized through the SMTP server and the POP server.

0104That is, in the embodiment, only the nodded indispensable for describing the characteristics of the present system are indicated for the brevity. However, as indicated above, by constituting a well-known decenterized data processing system using a plurality of personal computers with which the FAX relaying server and the network facsimile device 2 (3) can communicate, the functions provided by the FAX relaying server and the network facsimile device 2 (3) can be provided by other server computers.

0105It should be noted that some functions may be implemented in the FAX relaying server 1 or other server computers connected to the LAN 4. Examples of such functions include a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server function that assigns IP address to the FAX relaying server 1 and network facsimile device 2 (3), and a name server function that converts the mail address (domain name) used in the e-mail message to a network address as well as the SMTP server function and POP server function as indicated above. Since the DHCP server function and the name server function are not the essential portion of the present invention, the following description is made on assumption that the IP address of each device is assigned by the DHCP server (not shown) or manually assigned by the system administrator, and the name server function is provide in the LAN 4 and can be used whenever necessary.

0106Next, the operation of the network facsimile system according to the embodiment will be described. In the description below, it is assumed that the FAX relaying server 1 uses "FAX_SERVER@br.co.jp" as its e-mail address, the FAX relaying server 1 is capable of using a plurality of lines as connection lines to the PSTN 6, and when the PSTN 6 is used, a plurality of telephone numbers including "052-123-4567" and "052-876-5432" are used.

0107It is further assumed that the network facsimile device 2 uses the FAX relaying server 1 as the SMTP server for transmitting e-mail. The network facsimile device 2 stores e-mail addresses "IFAX1@br.co.jp" as its own e-mail address and "FAX_SERVER@br.co.jp" as the destination e-mail address. Among the plurality of telephone numbers the FAX relaying server 1 can use, "052-876-5432" is assigned to the network facsimile device 2, which is stored in the network facsimile device 2.

0108Further, it is assumed that the network facsimile device 3 uses the FAX relaying server 1 as the SMTP server 1 as the SMTP server for transmitting e-mail. The network facsimile device 3 stores e-mail addresses "IFAX2@br.co.jp" as its own e-mail address and "FAX_SERVER@br.co.jp" as the destination e-mail address. Among the plurality of telephone numbers the FAX relaying server 1 can use, "052-123-4567" is assigned to the network facsimile device 3, which is stored in the network facsimile device 3.

0109The e-mail addresses and the telephone numbers of the network facsimile devices 2 and 3 are assigned by the FAX relaying server 1. The FAX relaying server 1 has a e-mail address management table (see Fig. 17A), in which the telephone number, e-mail addresses, IP addresses assigned to the network facsimile devices 2 and 3, and room numbers in which the network facsimile devices 2 and 3 are located area stored in a related manner.

0110Hereinafter, a facsimile transmission procedure of the network facsimile system according to the embodiment will be described with being premised on the above settings.

0111The facsimile transmission procedure includes a network facsimile device side transmission procedure, which is executed by each network facsimile device 2 (3), and a FAX relaying server side transmission procedure, which is executed by the FAX relaying server 1.

0112The network facsimile device side transmission procedure will be described. Figs. 4 through 7 show a flowchart illustrating the network facsimile device side transmission procedure executed in the network facsimile device. In the flowchart, messages displayed on the LCD 34 at respective steps are indicated.

0113When the network facsimile device side transmission procedure is started, the network facsimile device 2 operates in a stand-by state in which the network facsimile device 2 can acquire setting of an original (S10). At this stage, as shown on right-hand side of S10, no messages are displayed on the LCD 34 (L10). When the user of the network facsimile device 2 sets the original, the network facsimile device 2 operates to acquire input of the telephone number of the destination station (S20). As the user inputs the telephone number through the operation panel 33, the input numbers are displayed on the LCD 34 in the input order (L20).

0114In S30, the network facsimile device 2 waits for depression of a START button. When the user depresses the START button on the operation panel 33, the network facsimile device 2 changes the display on the LCD 34 to "Reading" (L30).

0115In S40, the network facsimile device 2 creates an e-mail address of the destination station. In step S40, a description to be entered in a "To field" of the e-mail header is created based on the mail address "FAX_SERVER@@br.co.jp" of the FAC relaying server 1 and the telephone number input in S20. Specifically, in this embodiment, if the telephone number of the destination station is "00312345678", the "To field" will be created as follows: "To: FAX_SERVER@br.co.jp(FAX#0312345678)".

0116Next, the network facsimile device 2 executes an original reading procedure (S50) in which the original set in S10 is read with the scanner 31. The image data the scanner creates by reading the original is then converted into a file having a predetermined format suitable as a file attached to an e-mail message (S60). It should be noted that the format of the attached file can be any format as far as the format is usable in the FAX relaying server 1. In the embodiment, as an example, image data of a monochromatic image is converted into a TIFF format file, and image data of a color image is converted into a JPEG format file.

0117In S70, the network facsimile device 2 creates an e-mail message to be transmitted. The e-mail message created in S70 includes the "To field" created in S40 and the attached file converted in S60. An example of contents of such an e-mail message is shown in Fig. 18. It should be noted that the contents of the e-mail message and format thereof need not be limited, and various types of description/formats can be used as far as the FAX relaying server 1 can handle the e-mail message.

0118In S80, the network facsimile device 2 displays a message indicating that the telephone number is being dialed (i.e., "Dialing") on the LCD 34 (L40). Then, the network facsimile device 2 starts transmitting the e-mail (S90) according to the SMTP using the FAX relaying server 1 as the SMTP server. When the e-mail message created in S70 has been transmitted in S90, the process for transmitting the e-mail is finished (S100).

0119When S100 is finished, control proceeds to S110 (Fig. 5), where the network facsimile device 2 changes its operation status in a reception stand-by mode in which mode the facsimile device 2 is ready to receive a notification of start of a dial transmission from the FAX relaying server 1 (S 110). The notification of the start of the dial transmission is one kind of status data which is transmitted in order to notify the information regarding the operational status in the FAX relaying server 1 to the network facsimile device 2. When the dial transmission start notification is received, the network facsimile device 2 can recognize whether the a call is started at the first time, or the call by a redialing function is being made. It should be noted that, according to the embodiment, from the FAX relaying server 1 to the network facsimile device 2, a notification of the start of the dial transmission is sent by e-mail.

0120In S 110, when the network facsimile device 2 has received the e-mail message, control judges whether the received e-mail message is the notification from FAX relaying server 1 (S115). Specifically, control judges whether the e-mail message received by the network facsimile device 1 is the notification from the FAX relaying server 1 based on whether the e-mail address of the origin station of the received e-mail message is the e-mail address of the FAX relaying server 1. If control determines that the e-mail message is the notification from the FAX relaying server 1 (S115: YES), controls judges whether the notification corresponds to the current communication (i.e., the communication from the network facsimile device 2 to the destination station outside the system) in S 120. In the e-mail message the network facsimile device 2 has received contains the telephone number of the destination station which was contained in the e-mail message transmitted in S90. By judging whether the telephone number is included or not, control judges whether the e-mail message is the notification regarding the current communication.

0121If control determines that the e-mail message is the notification of the current communication (S120: YES), control proceeds to S 130.

0122If the e-mail message is not the notification from the FAX relaying server 1 (S 115: NO), or if the e-mail message is not the notification regarding the current communication (S120: NO), control returns to S110, thereby the network facsimile device 2 operates in the stand-by state in which the network facsimile device 2 waits for receipt of the notification of the start of the dial transmission.

0123In S 130, control judges whether a redial is being carried out. Whether the redial is carried out or not is determined based on whether control returns to S 130 after executing steps S220-S230 (which will be described later). When S 130 is executed first time, control has not executed S220-S230, i.e., control determines that the current process is not a redialing process (S 130: NO), and control proceeds to S 150. If control has executed S220-5230 and returned to S 130, it is determined that the redial is being carried out (S 130: YES). In this case, the network facsimile device 2 displays the indication "Dialing" in S 140 (and L40). Step S 140 is similar to S80. After control has executed S220-S230 and returned to S 130, the indication "Dialing" is not displayed on the LCD 34, and since S 140 is executed, the indication is displayed on the LCD 34 again.

0124If control determines that redial is not being carried out (S130: NO) or executes S 140, the operational state of the network facsimile device 2 is changed to a stand-by state in which the network facsimile device 2 waits for reception of FAX transmission start notification from the FAX relaying server 1 (S150). The FAX transmission start notification is, similar to the dial transmission start notification, a kind of status data included in the data related to operational status of the FAX relaying server 1, which is transmitted to the network facsimile device 2. When the FAX transmission start notification is received, the network facsimile device 2 can recognize, regarding the operational status of the FAX relaying server 1, whether transmission of the facsimile data to the destination outside the system is started, transmission error has occurred, or operates in the stand-by state for redialing. According to this embodiment, the FAX transmission start notification is transmitted from the FAX relaying server 1 to the network facsimile device 2 by e-mail.

0125If the network facsimile device 2 receives the e-mail message in S 150, control judges , in S 160, whether the FAX relaying server 1 has started transmitting the facsimile data to the destination station outside the system, error has occurred or the FAX relaying server operates in a stand-by state for redialing based on the received e-mail message (i.e., the FAX transmission start notification).

0126If control determines that the FAX relaying server 1 has started transmitting the facsimile data to the destination station outside the network facsimile system (S160: START TRANSMITTING), control proceeds to S170 and displays an indication "Sending" on the LCD 34(L50).

0127Next, the network facsimile device 2 operates in a stand-by state in which the network facsimile device 2 waits for reception of a FAX transmission completion notification from the FAX relaying server 1 (S 180). The FAX transmission completion notification is, similar to the aforementioned dial transmission start notification and FAX transmission start notification, a kind of status data notifying the network facsimile device 1 of data related to the operational status of the FAX relaying server 1. The network facsimile device 2 that has received the FAX transmission completion notification recognizes, regarding the operational status of the FAX relaying server 1, whether the facsimile data has been transmitted to the destination station outside the system successfully or a transmission error has occurred. It should be noted that, according to the embodiment, the FAX transmission completion notification is transmitted from the FAX relaying server 1 to the network facsimile device 2 by e-mail.

0128Fig. 19 shows an example of the e-mail message the network facsimile device 2 receives from the FAX relaying server 1 in S180. In this example, regarding the transmission of the facsimile data form the FAX relaying server 1 to the destination station outside the system, communication results information including a communication time, a transmitted number of pages, and a communication mode is written. In practice, the contents of the e-mail message can be modified in various ways as far as the contents can be processed by the FAX relaying server 1.

0129If the network facsimile device 2 receives an e-mail message (i.e., FAX transmission completion notification) in S 180, control judges whether the FAX relaying sever 1 has successfully transmitted the facsimile data to the destination station outside the system or a transmission error has occurred based on the received notification (i.e., e-mail message) in S190.

0130If control determines that the facsimile transmission has been completed successfully (S 190: TRANSMITTED SUCCESSFULLY), registration of a communication management report is carried out (S200). At this stage, control turns off the display on the LCD 34 (L60). After S200 is executed, control finishes the procedure shown in Figs. 4-6.

0131If control determines that a transmission error has occurred (S 190: TRANSMISSION ERROR; or S1ISSION ERROR), indication of the transmission error is made for two seconds (S210). As shown in Fig. 6, a message "Sending Error" is displayed on the LCD 34 for two seconds (L70). Thereafter, control proceeds to S200 to register the communication management report (S200) and finishes the procedure shown in Figs. 4-6.

0132In the communication management report, information received by the FAX transmission completion notification and the like is stored. By executing a print/display process of the management report, a report as shown in Fig. 28, which is an example of the management report, can be printed and/or displayed. The network facsimile device 2 only exchanges e-mail messages with the FAX relaying server 1. However, as the communication report, information which can be obtained only by the FAX relaying server 1 is also registered with the communication management report. Thus, the communication management report similar to those of the normal facsimile machines which uses the PSTN 6 is registered with the network facsimile device 2.

0133If it is judged that the redial is carried out (S160: REDIAL), control proceeds to S220 of Fig. 7. In S170, the network facsimile device 2 displays a message indicating that process is awaiting a redialing for two seconds. Specifically, process displays a message "Awaiting Redial" on the LCD 34 for two seconds (L80). Then, the network facsimile device 2 sets the display of the LCD 34 to a normal sand-by state display (S230). According to the embodiment, at this stage, the display of the LCD 34 is turned OFF (L90). After S230 is executed, control returns to S 110 and steps thereafter, which have been described above, will be repeated.

0134Figs. 8 and 9 show a flowchart illustrating the FAX relaying server side transmission procedure. When the FAX relaying server transmission procedure is started, the FAX relaying server 1 functions as the SMTP server, and starts receiving an e-mail message transmitted from the network facsimile device 2 using the SMTP (S310). When the FAX relaying server 1 receives the e-mail message, it finishes the e-mail receiving process (S320). It should be noted that steps S310-S320 correspond to steps S90-S100 executed in the network facsimile device 2.

0135Next, the FAX relaying server 1 extracts the telephone number of the destination station from the contents of the received e-mail message (S330). The destination telephone number has been, as described above, incorporated in the "To field" of the e-mail message in S40 of Fig. 4.

0136The FAX relaying server 1 extracts the e-mail address of the origin station from the received e-mail message (S340). Then, using the extracted e-mail address as a key, the FAX relaying server 1 searches the e-mail address management table (see Fig. 17A) for the telephone number corresponding to the origin station e-mail address as the origin station telephone number (S350). For example, when the FAX relaying server 1 has received an e-mail address from the network facsimile device 2, the origin station e-mail address extracted in S340 is "IFAX1@br.co.jp". In S350, by searching the e-mail address management table (Fig. 17A) for the telephone number using the address "IFAX1@br.co.jp" as a key, the number "052-876-5432" is extracted as the origin station telephone number.

0137Next, the FAX relaying server 1 decodes the facsimile transmission data based on the file attached to the received e-mail message (S360), and transmits the dial transmission start notification <normal> (<normal> represents the content included in the notification) to the network facsimile device 2 (S370). The dial transmission start notification is, as described above, a kind of data transmitted to the network facsimile device 2 to send information related to the operational status of the FAX relaying server 1. In the embodiment, the dial transmission start notification is an e-mail message to be received in S 110 by the network facsimile device 2.

0138When the dial transmission start notification is transmitted, the FAX relaying server 1 start dialing (S380). The FAX relaying server 1 is capable of using a plurality of lines as connection lines to the PSTN 6, and one of the lines is selected so that the origin station telephone number extracted in S350 is a telephone number of a caller, and makes a call to the destination telephone number using the line selected in S330.

0139Control proceeds to S390, where the FAX relaying server 1 judges whether the line has been connected (S390). If it is determined that the line is connected with the destination outside the system (S390: YES), the FAX relaying server 1 transmits the FAX transmission start notification <start of transmission> to the network facsimile device 2 (S400). The FAX transmission start notification is, as described above, a kind of data for transmitting information related to the operational status of the FAX relaying server 1, and is an e-mail message received by the network facsimile device 2 in S 150.

0140Next, the FAX relaying server 1 starts the facsimile transmission to the destination station outside the system (S410). After the FAX relaying server has finished the transmission in accordance with the facsimile communication protocol, it finishes the facsimile transmission (S420). Then, the FAX relaying server judges whether the facsimile transmission has completed successfully (S430).

0141If the facsimile transmission has been completed successfully (S430: YES), the FAX transmission completion notification <normal transmission> is transmitted to the network facsimile device (S440), and the procedure shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is finished. If the facsimile transmission has not been completed successfully (S430: NO), the FAX relaying server 1 transmits the FAX transmission completion notification <transmission error> to the network facsimile device 2 (S450) and finishes the procedure. The FAX transmission completion notifications described above are, as aforementioned, kinds of data related to information on operational status of the FAX relaying server 1 and is transmitted to the network facsimile device 2. The notification is received by the network facsimile device 2 in S 180 of Fig. 6.

0142If control determines that the connection with the destination station outside the system has not been completed (S390: NO), control judges whether the number of redials is less than three or not (S460).

0143If the number of redials is less than three (S460: YES), the FAX relaying server 1 transmits the FAX transmission start notification <redial> to the network facsimile device 2 (S470). Then, the FAX relaying server 1 operates in a redial stand-by mode (S480) and stay in this mode for five minutes. When five minutes have elapsed, the FAX relaying server 1 transmits the dial transmission start notification <redial> to the network facsimile device 2 (S490). After S490 has been executed, control returns to S380 to start dialing.

0144If, in S460, the number of redials is not less than three (S460: NO), the FAX relaying server 1 transmits the FAX transmission completion notification <transmission error> (S500) to the network facsimile device 2 and finishes the procedure shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

0145As described above, the network facsimile side transmission procedure and FAX relaying server side transmission procedure are executed in parallel, thereby the facsimile transmission procedure of the network facsimile system is realized and facsimile images can be transmitted form the network facsimile device 2 to the destination station outside the network facsimile system via the FAX relaying server 1.

0146Next, a facsimile reception procedure of the network facsimile system according to the embodiment will be described. The facsimile reception procedure of the network facsimile system includes a network facsimile device side reception procedure executed in the network facsimile device 2 and a FAX relaying server side reception procedure executed in the FAX relaying server 1.

0147Figs. 10 and 11 show a flowchart illustrating the network facsimile device side reception procedure. Beside some steps, exemplary indications on the LCD 34 are illustrated.

0148When the network facsimile device side reception procedure is started, the network facsimile device 2 is, as shown in Fig. 10, operates in a state in which it acquires a FAX reception start notification transmitted from the FAX relaying server 1 (S 1010). The FAX reception start notification is a kind of data which is transmitted to the network facsimile device 2 to send the operational status of the FAX relaying server 1. When the FAX reception start notification is received, the network facsimile device 2 recognizes that the FAX relaying server 1 starts receiving the facsimile data transmitted form the origin station outside the network facsimile system. It should be noted that, according to the embodiment, the FAX reception start notification is transmitted from the FAX relaying server 1 to the network facsimile device 2 by e-mail. When step S1010 is started, no information is displayed on the LCD 34 (L110).

0149In S1010, if the network facsimile device 2 has received the e-mail message, control judges whether the received e-mail message is the notification received from the FAX relaying server 1 (S1020). Specifically, control judges whether the e-mail message as received has been transmitted from the FAX relaying server by examining whether the origin address of the e-mail message the network facsimile device 2 has received is the e-mail address of the FAX relaying server 1. Further, as a result of the decision in S1020, if control determines that the received e-mail message has been transmitted from the FAX relaying server 1 (S1020: YES), control judges whether it is an appropriate reception start notification (S 1030). Specifically, control judges whether the destination e-mail address indicated in the e-mail message received by the network facsimile device is the e-mail address assigned to the network facsimile device 2, and whether the destination telephone number is equal to the telephone number assigned to the network facsimile device 2. '

0150If the control determines that the received e-mail message is an appropriate notification indicting the start of reception (S1030: OK), control proceeds to S1040. If, in S1020, control determines that the received e-mail message is not the notification from the FAX relaying server 1 (S1020: NO) or the received notification is not the appropriate one (S 1030: NG), control finishes the procedure shown in Figs. 9 through 11.

0151In S1040, the network facsimile device 2 displays a message on the LCD 34 to indicate that it receives data. That is, on the LCD 34, a message "Receiving" is displayed (L120). Then, control changes the operational status of the network facsimile device 2 to a reception stand-by status in which the network facsimile device 2 waits for receiving the FAX reception completion notification from the FAX relaying server 1 (S1050). The FAX reception completion notification is a kind of data transmitted to the network facsimile device 2 to transmit information related to the operational status of the FAX relaying server 2. The network facsimile device 2, which has received the FAX reception completion notification, recognizes whether the FAX relaying server 1 has received the facsimile data successfully or an error has occurred. It should be noted that, according to this embodiment, the FAX reception completion notification is transmitted from the FAX relaying server 1 to the network facsimile device 2 by e-mail.

0152Next, the network facsimile device 2 functions as the SMTP server and starts receiving the e-mail message transmitted form the FAX relaying server 1 (S1060). When the network facsimile device 2 has received the e-mail message, it finishes receiving the e-mail message (S 1070).

0153Then, the network facsimile device 2 judges, in S1080, whether the FAX relaying server 1 has received the facsimile data from the origin station outside the network facsimile system or an error has occurred based on the FAX reception completion notification received in S1050.

0154When it is recognized that an error has occurred (S 1080: RECEPTION ERROR), control proceeds to S1090, where the network facsimile device 2 displays an error message for two seconds (S1090). Specifically, in S1090, a message "Receiving Error" is displayed on the LCD 34 for two seconds (L130).

0155If it is confirmed that the data has been received successfully (S1080: NORML RECEPTION), or S1090 of Fig. 11 is finished, control proceeds to S1100, where the network facsimile device 2 decodes the image data attached to the received e-mail message (S 1100), and prints out the decoded image data (S1110). At this stage, control changes the message displayed on the LCD 34 to a message "Printing" (S1140).

0156In S 1120, regarding the received facsimile data, a communication management report is registered. At this stage, the network facsimile device 2 turns off the message on the LCD 34 (L150). When S1120 is executed, control finishes the procedure.

0157Next, FAX relaying server side reception procedure will be described. Fig. 12 shows a flowchart illustrating the FAX relaying side reception procedure. When the FAX relaying server side reception procedure is started, the FAX relaying server 1 starts receiving the facsimile data transmitted from the origin station outside the network facsimile system (S1210).

0158In parallel with the reception of the facsimile data, the FAX relaying server 1 extracts the e-mail address corresponding to a reception telephone number, through which the facsimile data is received, from the management table (S1220). The FAX relaying server 1 is capable of using a plurality of lines as connection lines to the PSTN 6, and a plurality of telephone numbers are assigned to the lines, respectively. When the facsimile data is received, one of the plurality of telephone numbers is designated by the origin station outside the network facsimile system, and the designated number is referred to as the reception telephone number.

0159In S1220, using the reception telephone number as a key, control searches the e-mail address management table (Fig. 17A) and extracts the e-mail address which is related to the reception telephone number. For example, if the reception telephone number is "052-876-5432", control searches the e-mail address management table (Fig. 17A) to find an e-mail address which is stored therein in relation to the telephone number same as the reception telephone number. In the above example, the e-mail address "IFAX1@br.ojp" is extracted.

0160Then, the FAX relaying server 1 transmits the FAX reception start notification to the network facsimile device 2 (S1230). The FAX reception start notification is, as aforementioned, a kind of status data transmitted to the network facsimile device 2 to transmit information related to the operation status of the FAX relaying server 1. Specifically, the notification is an e-mail message which is received by the network facsimile device 2 in S 1010.

0161While steps S1220-S1230 are executed, the facsimile data is kept received. After the facsimile data has been received, the FAX relaying server 1 finishes the facsimile reception procedure (S1240). When received the facsimile data, the FAX relaying server 1 judges whether the facsimile data has been received successfully (S1250). If an error has occurred (S1250: RECEPTION ERROR), the FAX relaying server 1 transmits the FAX reception completion notification <RECEPTION ERROR> to the network facsimile device 2 (S1260). If the facsimile data has been successfully received (S1250: NORMAL RECEPTION), the FAX relaying server 1 transmits the FAX reception completion notification <NORMAL RECEPTION> to the network facsimile device 2 (S1270). The FAX reception completion notification is, as aforementioned, a kind of status data transmitted to the network facsimile device 2 to transmit information related to the operation status of the FAX relaying server 1. Specifically, the notification is an e-mail message which is received by the network facsimile device 2 in S 1050.

0162When S1260 or S1270 is executed, the FAX relaying server 1 converts the received facsimile data in e-mail format data (S1280). That is, regardless whether the end status of the received facsimile data examined in S1250 is successful or not (error), the received facsimile data is converted in e-mail format data. With this conversion, if facsimile data has been normally received in the beginning and error has occurs in a midway of its reception, the normally received portion of the received facsimile data can be converted into e-mail format data.

0163The FAX relaying serer 1 creates e-mail transmission data (S1290). The data created in S 1290 is an e-mail message having the e-mail address that is extracted in S 1220, and includes the facsimile data created in S 1280 as its attached data. It should be noted that concrete contents and format of the e-mail data can be arbitrarily determined as far as it can be processed by the network facsimile device 2.

0164Next, the FAX relaying server 1 uses the network facsimile device 2 as the SMTP server and starts transmitting the e-mail message (S 1300). After transmitting the e-mail message created in S1290, control finishes the e-mail transmitting process (S 1310). Steps 1300-S 1310 correspond to steps S1060-S1070 executed in the network facsimile device 2. When S 1310 has been executed, control finishes this procedure.

0165The network facsimile side reception procedure and the FAX relaying server side reception procedure are executed in parallel, and as a result, the facsimile reception procedure by the network facsimile system is realized and the facsimile image transmitted from the origin station outside the network facsimile system to the network facsimile device 2 via the FAX relaying server 1 can be received.

0166It should be noted that, in the above-described facsimile transmission procedure/facsimile reception procedure by the network facsimile system according to the embodiment, the notifications transmitted/received between the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 are realized by e-mail messages. The method need not be limited to such a configuration, and, if the similar information can be transmitted/received, notifications may be realized with another packet communication protocol.

0167In the description above, as an example of an e-mail message that is received in S 180, the e-mail message of Fig. 19 is shown. This can be modified such that the contents of the e-mail message shown in Fig. 19, i.e., the communication result information including the communication time, the number of pages of transmission, the communication mode may be obtained using the SNMP. If the SNMP is used, object IDs (OIDs) as indicated in Fig. 20 may be assigned to the respective pieces of result information and stored in an MIB (Management Information Base), and by designating the OID using the SNMP to request for the designated information so that respective pieces of information can be obtained.

0168In the description above, when the facsimile transmission procedure/facsimile reception procedure of the network facsimile system are executed, both the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 recognize the e-mail addresses and formation related to the telephone numbers to be used each other. Strictly speaking, such information is dynamically exchanged between the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2, and as a result, both the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 recognize consistent information.

0169Specifically, information regarding the e-mail addresses and telephone numbers to be used by the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 is managed by the FAX relaying server 1, and is notified to the network facsimile device 2. When such information is notified by the FAX relaying server 1 to the network facsimile device 2, an IP address of the network facsimile device 2 is necessary when the FAX relaying device 1 communicates therewith through the LAN 4. Further, as will be described later, the number of the room in which the network facsimile device 2 is located will also be necessary. Such information regarding individual network facsimile devices is dynamically obtained or managed by the network facsimile devices and notified from the network facsimile devices to the FAX relaying server 1.

0170Hereinafter, a registered information transmitting procedure for exchanging information as above will be described. Fig. 13 shows a flowchart illustrating the registered information transmitting procedure executed in the network facsimile device 2.

0171When the network facsimile device 2 is started up, the network facsimile device 2 obtains an IP address from a DHCP server (S2010). Since the DHCP server is well-known, it is omitted in Fig. 1. It should be noted that the FAX relaying server 1 may have a function of the DHCP server. Alternatively, another server computer connected to the LAN 4 may have the DHCP function. The DHCP server assigns an IP address that is not used by another node to the network facsimile device 1. However, if the DHCP server is configured to maintain a relationship between a node and the IP address assigned to the node for a certain period of time (e.g., one or two days), even thought the network facsimile device 2 is rebooted one or more times within the period, the same IP address can be assigned to the network facsimile device 2. The IP addresses of the network facsimile devices 2 and 3 may be assigned and fixed manually by the system administrator. In view of a burden to the system administrator, however, it is preferable that the IP addresses may be automatically assigned. Instead of the DHCP server, BOOTP (BOOTstrap Protocol), or APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) may be used.

0172When obtaining the IP address, the network facsimile device 2 notifies the FAX relaying server 1 of the room number and the thus obtained IP address (S2020). At this point of time, the network facsimile device 2 has not recognized the e-mail address etc. of the FAX relaying server 1. Therefore, in S2020, the facsimile device 2 notifies by a UDP broadcast. Specifically, it is determined that the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 perform the USP broadcast using a predetermined communication ports ("58***"; where each "*" represents a numeral) in advance, and as shown in Fig. 21, The network facsimile device 2 transmits packets to the FAX relaying server 1 using the UDP broadcast. The packets as transmitted may include a version number of software of the network facsimile device 2, the room number and the IP address. In the example shown in Fig. 21, using a symbol "|" as a delimiter, a character string indicating the version number "A", the room number "1101" and the IP address "192.168.19.11" is indicated.

0173Next, the network facsimile device 2 operates in a stand-by state so that it can acquire response to the UDP broadcast (S2030). If the response from the FAX relaying server 1 is received, the network facsimile device 2 operates in another stand-by state to acquire notification of the registered information (S2040). The registered information is the information regarding the e-mail address and telephone number assigned to the network facsimile device 2 transmitted from the FAX relaying server 1. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the e-mail address and the telephone number are dynamically assigned, i.e., they are assigned in response to check-in/check-out with respect to the room where the network facsimile device 2 is located. Therefore, if the room is in the check-out state, the FAX relaying server 1 notifies the network facsimile device 2 of null data as the registered information. When S2040 is executed, the e-mail address has not be assigned to the network facsimile device 2. Therefore, the notification in S2040 is performed using the SNMP.

0174When the registered information is received, the network facsimile device 2 executes registration of the received registered information (S2050). In this procedure, the network facsimile device 2 registers the received information with the memory so that it can be used in the following process. Further, the network facsimile device 2 executes various settings for transmitting/receiving e-mail messages, using the notified e-mail address. After the process in S2050, control returns to S2040. Thereafter, upon receipt of the registered information from the FAX relaying server 1, control executes S2050, thereby the information registered in the memory being updated and the latest information being kept therein.

0175Fig. 14 shows a flowchart illustrating the registered information transmitting procedure executed in the FAX relaying server 1. When the procedure shown in Fig. 14 starts, the FAX relaying server 1 receives a notification of the room number and IP address from the network facsimile device 2 (S2200). This notification is transmitted as the network facsimile device executes step S2020.

0176Next, the FAX relaying server 1 judges whether the IP address included in the received notification is a newly assigned IP address (S2210). Specifically, in S2210, control search the e-mail address management table (Fig. 17A) using the IP address included in the received notification as a key. If the IP address included in the received notification is not found, control determines that the received IP address is a new IP address. If the same IP address as received is included in the e-mail address management table, control determines that the IP address as received is not a new IP address.

0177If the received IP address is a new IP address (S2210: YES), the FAX relaying server 1 extracts unused e-mail address and unused telephone number from a telephone number usage table (Fig. 17B), and sets the status of the extracted e-mail address and telephone number to "busy" (S2220). As shown in Fig. 17B, the telephone number usage table includes a plurality of pairs of e-mail address and telephone number, and a plurality of status flags are provided for respective pairs. In S2220, the unused e-mail address and telephone number whose status flag is "unused" are selected, and the flag is rewritten to "busy".

0178Next, the FAX relaying server 1 newly registers the IP address and room number notified in S2200 along with the unused e-mail address and unused telephone number extracted in S2220 in a related manner (S2230).

0179When step S2230 has been executed as above or the notified IP address is not a new IP address (S2210: NO), the FAX relaying server 1 issues a response notification (S2240). The response notification will be received by the network facsimile device 2 in S2030. The FAX relaying server 1 transmits, in S2250, the newly registered e-mail address and telephone number in S2230 to the IP address notified in S2200, and finishes the procedure. This notification will be received by the network facsimile device 2 in S2040, and as described above, the notification is made using the SNMP.

0180The registered information transmitting procedures executed by the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 have been described. In addition to the above procedures, in the FAX relaying server 1, in accordance with the check-in and check-out with respect to each hotel room, an updating procedure for updating the e-mail address management table, telephone usage table and check-in management table is executed.

0181Fig. 15 shows a flowchart showing a check-in updating procedure at a time of check-in with respect to a hotel room. When a clerk of the hotel performs an operation, on the FAX relaying server side, to register the check-in with respect to a hotel room in response to the check-in of a user, and the status flag of the check-in management table (Fig. 17C) is updated to indicate "check-in", the check-in updating procedure is executed for the room of which the status flag has been updated.

0182When the check-in updating procedure is started, the FAX relaying server 1 extracts an unused e-mail address and unused telephone number from the telephone number status table (Fig. 17B), and set the status flag of the extracted e-mail address and telephone number to "busy" (S2310). This process is similar to step S2220. That is, in the telephone number status table, a pair of e-mail address and telephone number corresponding to a status flag of "unused" are extracted, and the status flag is rewritten to "busy".

0183Next, the FAX relaying server 1 registers the unused e-mail address and unused telephone number extracted in S2310 with the e-mail address management table 17A of the room which is checked in (S2320). The number of the room which is checked-in is the number corresponding to the status flag of the check-in management table (Fig. 17C) having been changed to "check-in". Using the room number as a key, control searches the e-mail address management table (Fig. 17A) to detect the e-mail address, and in the areas of telephone number and e-mail address of the e-mail address management table corresponding to the detected room number, the unused e-mail address and telephone number are stored.

0184The FAX relaying server 1 transmits a notification including the e-mail address and telephone number registered with the e-mail address management table (Fig. 17A) in S2320 to the IP address corresponding to the "checked-in" room number of the e-mail address management table (S2330), and finishes the procedure. This notification will be received by the network facsimile device 2 in S2040, and as aforementioned, the SNMP is used.

0185With the above check-in updating procedure, in response to a check-in of a user, the FAX relaying server 1 dynamically assigns an e-mail address and a telephone number to the network facsimile device 2 located in the room subject to be checked-in.

0186Fig. 16 shows a flowchart showing a check-out updating procedure at a time of check-out. When a clerk of the hotel performs an operation, on the FAX relaying server side, to register the check-out with respect to a hotel room in response to the check-out of a user, and the status flag of the check-in management table (Fig. 17C) is updated to indicate "check-out", the check-out updating procedure is executed for the room of which the status flag has been updated.

0187When the check-out updating procedure is started, the FAX relaying server 1 extracts the e-mail address and telephone number from the e-mail address management table (Fig. 17B) for the room subjected to the check-out (S2410). The room number of the checked out is a room number corresponding to the flag "check-out" in the check-in management table (Fig. 17C). Using the room number as a key, control searches the e-mail address management table (Fig. 17A), and when the room number is detected, from the corresponding areas, the e-mail address and telephone number having been assigned thereto are extracted.

0188Next, the FAX relaying server 1 detects the e-mail address and telephone number corresponding to the check-out room in the telephone number usage table (Fig. 17B) and set the status information thereof to "unused" (S2420). That is, the telephone number usage table stores pairs of telephone number and e-mail address. When the pair of the check-out telephone number and e-mail address are detected, the stats flag corresponding to the pair is rewritten to "unused".

0189Then the FAX relaying server 1 deletes the e-mail address and telephone number of the e-mail address management table (Fig. 17B) corresponding to the room subject to the check-out (S2430). Since the e-mail address and telephone number to be deleted in the e-mail address management table have been detected in S2410, control simply deletes the e-mail address and telephone number as detected. As a result, in the e-mail address management table, only the IP address and room number remain and the areas for the e-mail address and telephone number corresponding to the room subject to check-out, null data is stored. It should be noted that, instead of deleting the e-mail address and telephone number from the e-mail address management table, status flags for the e-mail address and telephone number are employed and setting the flags to "invalid", the process similar to S2430 can be realized.

0190Next, the FAX relaying server 1 transmits a notification indicating null e-mail address and telephone number to the IP address of the room subject to check-out (S2440), and finishes the procedure. The notification will be received in S2040 by the network facsimile device 2, and as aforementioned, transmitted using the SNMP.

0191With the above-described check-out updating procedure, the e-mail address and telephone number assigned to the network facsimile device 2 located in the room subject to the check out can by dynamically deleted in response to the check-out by the user.

0192As described above, the communication setting between the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 (3) is made in association with the check-in procedure of the user of the room in which the network facsimile device is located. Therefore, when the check-in procedure has not been finished, the FAX relaying server 1 may not have assigned the e-mail address and telephone number to the network facsimile device 2 (3). In such a case, the network facsimile devices may not store the e-mail address and telephone number to be used, of may store invalid information. It could rarely happen that the e-mail address and telephone number stored therein may be deleted due to disorder of the network facsimile device 2. It is preferable that, in such a case, the network facsimile device 2 (3) does not acquire the facsimile transmission from another communication terminal.

0193In order to cope with the above problem, the following procedure may be implemented. Control judges whether the communication settings are made appropriately in the network facsimile side transmission procedure at an early stage, e.g., when the destination telephone number is acquired in S20 or the depression of the start button is detected in S30. Then, if the appropriate communication settings have not been made, control may display an error message or outputs an alarm sound so that the user of the communication terminal can recognize immediately. It would be convenient if a message indicating the user how to deal with the problem, for example, a message indicting the user to contact the system administrator (e.g., the clerk of the hotel).

0194There would occur some error condition on the FAX relaying server side. For example, the sender's e-mail address of the e-mail message received from the network facsimile device 2 (3) is not valid in the e-mail address management table, the check-in management table corresponding to the room number is not set to "check-in", or in the telephone number usage table, the telephone number corresponding to the e-mail address may not be set to "busy". When some error as above is detected, a system error has occurred or an e-mail message has been transmitted from a device other than the regular network facsimile device 2 (3). It is also preferable, in such a case, that the facsimile transmission will not be acquired (or forcibly terminated) when an error is detected, for example, in S310, S340 or S350. It would further be convenient if a message indicating the user to contact the system administrator (e.g., the clerk of the hotel).

0195The foregoing is a case where the facsimile transmission is made from the network facsimile system according to the embodiment. When a facsimile message is received, since the origin station outside the network facsimile system can designate any possible telephone number. Therefore, the telephone number used for transmitting facsimile data, which is received by the FAX relaying server 1, may be the number which has not been set to be used for receiving the facsimile transmission.

0196For example, according to the embodiment, the settings for communication between the FAX relaying server 1 and network facsimile device 2 (3) are released in association with the check-out procedure of the user of the rooms in which the facsimile devices 2 and 3 are implemented. When a call as above is received, if the communication settings are released, problems as follow could occur: (1) an e-mail address corresponding to the telephone number of the line received the call is not appropriately stored in the e-mail address management table (i.e., the memory is cleared, or a flag indicates that the memorized number is invalid; (2) the room corresponding to the line through which the call is received is not set to "check-in" status in the check-in management table.

0197The above erroneous condition may occur when the telephone number designated by the origin station is the number used by a user before he/she checked out the hotel room. Therefore, if such a condition occurs when S3210 is executed, it is preferable to reject the call. If the condition occurs after S3210, it is preferable to disconnect the line immediately when the problem in the designated telephone number is detected, or not to receive the facsimile transmission.

0198As described above, according to the network facsimile device 2 configured as above, it is possible to notify that, during the entire period from the start of transmission by the network facsimile device 2 to the completion of the transmission by the FAX relaying server 1, the progression of the operation by the network facsimile system.

0199In particular, since the network facsimile device 2 receives the status data from the FAX relaying server 1 and notify the operational status of the network facsimile system, it is possible to notify the user of the communication terminals of the progression of the operation in detail.

0200Further, according to the network facsimile system, the origin station outside the system can transmit the facsimile image to a desired network facsimile device among the various devices of the network facsimile system only by inputting the telephone number, similarly to the normal facsimile machine. Therefore, for the user of the origin station outside the system, no preparation for the network facsimile system is necessary, and it is not necessary to consider the existence of the FAX relaying server or the network system, and the facsimile image can be sent to the network facsimile device as if it is sent to the normal facsimile machine.

0201Further, according to the network facsimile system described above, when a facsimile image is transmitted from a predetermined network facsimile device among a plurality of network facsimile devices, if the facsimile image is transmitted to the destination station outside the network facsimile system from the FAX relaying server 1, a telephone number assigned to the predetermined network facsimile device is used without any specific operation therefor. Accordingly, if different network facsimile device is used, although the same relaying server is used, the destination station received the facsimile transmission through a different telephone number. Thus, for the user of the destination station, the network facsimile devices are similar to the normal facsimile machines which have different telephone numbers. Therefore, the user of the outside destination station need not think about the existence of the FAX relaying server 1 or the network system itself, and the facsimile image can be received as if it is transmitted form the normal facsimile machine.

0202Further, according to the network facsimile device described above, when a user of each hotel room makes the check-in procedure and is allowed to use the network facsimile device implemented in the room, the network facsimile device is configured, in association with the check-in procedure, such that it can transmit/receive facsimile images through the FAX relaying server. Therefore, even if the FAX relaying server 1 cannot receive the facsimile image, or if the FAX relaying server 1 can receive the facsimile image but the network facsimile device cannot receive the facsimile image before the user is allowed to used the network facsimile device, once the user has finished the check-in procedure and authorized to use the network facsimile device, the user can receive/transmit the facsimile images using the network facsimile device 2.

Second Embodiment

0203Hereinafter, a network facsimile system according to a second embodiment will be described. Since the configuration of the second embodiment is close to the first embodiment, in the following description, different portions will be described in detail and portions of the second embodiment having the configuration similar to the first embodiment will be omitted.

0204In the first embodiment, the facsimile data transmitted by the origin station outside the network facsimile system is received by the FAX relaying server 1, which converts the received facsimile data into an e-mail message and transmits the e-mail message to the network facsimile device 2. Since the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 can exchange electronic data using a predetermined communication protocol. Therefore, the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2 can exchange data in accordance with a communication protocol other than the e-mail communication protocol.

0205In the second embodiment, as an example using a protocol other than the e-mail communication protocol for transmitting data, a method using an LPR protocol which is generally used in network printers is used for transmitting the data from the FAX relaying server to the network facsimile device 2 will be described. In this system according to the second embodiment, the FAX relaying server 1 transmits a print request to the network facsimile device 2 using the LPR protocol, while the network facsimile device 2 waits for arrival of the print request using the LPD protocol. With this configuration, the between the FAX relaying server 1 and the network facsimile device 2, a data transmission can be executed.

0206Firstly, referring to Fig. 22, a network facsimile device side receiving procedure will be described. In Fig. 22, corresponding to steps of the flowchart, messages displayed on the LCD 34 are also indicated.

0207When the network facsimile device side receiving procedure is started, the network facsimile device 2 operates in a stand-by state where it waits for receipt of the facsimile reception start notification from the FAX relaying server 1 (S3010). The FAX reception start notification is similar to the notification which is received by the network facsimile device in S1010 (first embodiment). The user of the network facsimile device 2 that has received the facsimile reception start notification can recognize that the FAX relaying server 1 starts receiving the facsimile data that is transmitted from the origin station outside the network facsimile system. It should be noted that when S3010 is started, no messages are displayed on the LCD 34 (S21 0).

0208Next, the network facsimile device 2 displays a message indicating that data is being received (S3020). That is, a message "Receiving" is displayed on the LCD 34 (L220). Next, the network facsimile device operates in a stand-by state where the network facsimile device 2 waits for reception of the FAX reception completion notification from the FAX relaying server 1 (S3030). The facsimile reception completion notification is a notification similar to that the network facsimile device 2 receives in S1050 in the first embodiment. The user of the network facsimile device 2 that has received the facsimile reception completion notification can recognize whether the FAX relaying server 1 has received the data successfully or a reception error has occurred.

0209Next, the network device 2 waits for the print request using the LPD protocol and start receiving the LPR data transmitted from the FAX relaying server 1 (S3040). When the LPR data is received, the network facsimile device 2 finishes receiving the LPR data (S3050).

0210Then, in S3060, the network facsimile device 2 judges whether the FAX relaying server 1 has received the facsimile data from the origin station outside the network facsimile system successfully or an error has occurred based on the FAX reception completion notification received in S3030.

0211If it is determined that the reception error has occurred (S3060: RECEPTION ERROR), the network facsimile device 2 displays an error message for two seconds (S3070). Specifically, on the LCD 34, a message "Receiving Error" is displayed for two seconds (L230).

0212If it is determined that the facsimile data has been received successfully (S3060: NORMAL RECEPTOIN), or step S3070 has been finished, the network facsimile device 2 prints out the LPD data (S3080). At this stage, the network facsimile device 2 displays a message "Printing" on the LCD 34 (L240).

0213Next, regarding the reception of the facsimile data, a communication management report is registered (S3090). At this stage, the network facsimile device 2 turns of the display on the LCD 34 (L250). After S3090 is executed, control finishes the procedure.

0214Fig. 23 shows a flowchart illustrating the FAX relaying server side reception procedure. When the FAX relaying server side reception procedure is started, the FAX relaying server 1 starts receiving the facsimile data transmitted form the origin station outside the network facsimile system (S3210).

0215In parallel with the reception of the facsimile data, the FAX relaying server 1 extracts an e-mail address corresponding to the telephone number of the line through which the facsimile data is being transmitted from the e-mail address management table (S3220). As described above in the first embodiment, the FAX relaying server 1 is capable of using a plurality of lines as connection lines to the PSTN 6, a plurality of telephone numbers being prepared for the plurality of connection lines. When facsimile data is received, one of the plurality of telephone numbers is designated by the origin station outside the network facsimile system, and a call is made to the designated telephone number. In S3220, control searches the e-mail address management table (Fig. 17A) using the telephone number at which the FAX relaying server 1 has received the facsimile data from the origin station outside the network facsimile system to fined the e-mail address corresponding to the telephone number.

0216Next, the FAX relaying server 1 transmits a FAX reception start notification to the network facsimile device 2 (S3230). The FAX reception start notification will be received by the network facsimile device 2 in S3010.

0217While steps S3220-S3230 are executed, the facsimile data is kept received. After completion of the reception, the FAX relaying server 1 finishes the facsimile receiving process (S3250). When the facsimile data has been received, the FAX relaying server 1 judges the completion status of the reception of the facsimile data (S3250). If a reception error has occurred (S3250: RECEPTION ERROR), the FAX relaying server 1 transmits the FAX reception completion notification <RECEPTION ERROR> to the network facsimile device 2 (S3260). If the facsimile data has been received successfully (S3250: NORML RECEPTION), the FAX relaying server 1 transmits the FAX reception completion notification <NORMAL RECEPTION> to the network facsimile device 2 (S3270). The FAX reception completion notification will be received by the network facsimile device 2 in S3030.

0218When S3260 or S3270 has been finished, the FAX relaying server 1 converts the received facsimile data into the LPR data (S3280). That is, regardless whether the end status of the reception of the facsimile data is the "normal reception" or "reception error", the received facsimile data is converted into the e-mail format.

0219Then, the FAX relaying server 1 start transmitting the LPR data using the LPR protocol (S3290). When the LPR data has been transmitted, the FAX relaying server 1 finished s the LPR data transmitting process (S3300). Steps S3290-S3300 correspond to steps S3040-S3050 which are the network facsimile device side processes. When S3300 is finished, control finishes the procedure.

0220The network facsimile side reception procedure and the FAX relaying server side reception procedure are executed in parallel, thereby the facsimile reception procedure of the network facsimile system according to the embodiment being realized. The network facsimile system receives the facsimile image transmitted from an origin station outside the system to the network facsimile device 2 via the FAX relaying server 1, and prints out the received image.

Third Embodiment

0221Hereinafter, a network facsimile system according to a third embodiment of the invention will be described. In the third embodiment, the FAX relaying server 1 is configured such that a plurality of facsimile transmission requests from a plurality of network facsimile devices are handled parallelly (i.e., simultaneously).

0222Specifically, the FAX relaying server 1 employs a multi-task OS, and with the function of the multi-task OS, the FAX relaying server 1 is capable of executed a plurality of tasks parallelly in a time-sharing manner. According to the third embodiment, the SMTP reception module 41 (see Fig. 3) is configured to have plurality of similar tasks each executes an e-mail receiving process. With this configuration, the FAX relaying server 1 is capable of receiving a plurality of e-mail messages respectively transmitted from a plurality of network facsimile devices. Further, the FAX communication management module 52 (see Fig. 3) includes a plurality of similar tasks each executing a facsimile transmission process. Thus, a plurality of pieces of facsimile data can be transmitted simultaneously to destinations outside the network facsimile system.

0223Since such a configuration is employed, when there is a facsimile transmission request by a first network facsimile device IFAX1 and the FAX relaying server 1 receives an e-mail message from the first network facsimile device IFAX1 (i.e., e-mail 1 in Fig. 24), and thereafter, another facsimile transmission (i.e., FAX transmission 1 in Fig. 24) is to be executed, if another facsimile transmission request is received from a second network facsimile device IFAX2 during the facsimile transmission (i.e., FAX transmission 1 in Fig. 24), the FAX relaying server 1 is capable of receiving the e-mail message from the network facsimile device IFAX2 by creating another task (i.e. e-mail 2 in Fig. 24). Thus, although the FAX relaying server 1 is transmitting facsimile data, the network facsimile device IFAX2 can send the e-mail to the FAX relaying server 1 and completes the transmission.

0224Further, if the FAX relaying server 1 receives an e-mail message from the network facsimile device IFAX2 (i.e., e-mail 2 in Fig. 24) before the previously started facsimile transmission (i.e., fax 1 in Fig. 24) has not been completed, the FAX relaying server 1 can execute a plurality of facsimile transmitting processes parallelly by creating another task (e.g., fax1 and fax 2 in Fig. 24).

0225Among processes realizing the above system according to the third embodiment, a procedure provided by a task that functions as the SMTP reception module 51 will be described. Fig. 25 shows a flowchart illustrating the procedure executed by the task serving as the SMTP reception module 51.

0226When the procedure shown in Fig. 25 is started, the task (hereinafter, referred to as an SMTP reception task) functions as the SMTP reception module 51 of the FAX relaying server 1 waits until an e-mail message is transmitted from the network facsimile device 2 using the SMTP (S4010). When the e-mail message has been arrived, the SMTP reception task starts receiving the e-mail message (S4020). When the e-mail message has been received, the task finishes the e-mail receiving process (S4030).

0227Next, the SMTP reception task extracts the destination telephone number from the received e-mail message (S4040). The SMTP reception task also extracts an e-mail address of the origin station from the received e-mail message (S405). Then, using the e-mail address as a key, the SMTP reception task searches the e-mail address management table (Fig. 17A) and extracts a telephone number corresponding to the origin station e-mail address as the origin station telephone number (S4060). Steps S4040-S4060 are similar to S330-S350 of the first embodiment. The data obtained during execution of S4040-S4060 is stored in the transmission data DB 61, which can be used by a task which functions as the FAX communication management module 52.

0228The SMTP reception task notifies the facsimile communication management module 52 of the facsimile transmission start MSG (S4070), and finishes the procedure. The FAX transmission start message is information transmitted, using inter-task communication function, to the task functions as the FAX communication management module 52. When the FAX transmission start MSG is received, a task that functions as the FAX communication management module 52 starts the process to be executed.

0229Figs. 26 and 27 show a flowchart illustrating a procedure executed by a task serving as the facsimile communication management module 52. One of the tasks functioning as the FAX communication management module 52 (hereinafter, referred to as a FAX communication management task) waits until the FAX transmission MSG is notified (S4210). Then, the FAX communication management task receives the FAX transmission start notification MSG (S4220).

0230Then, the FAX communication management task decodes the facsimile transmission data (S4330), and transmits a dial transmission start notification <NORMAL> to the network facsimile device 2 (S4340).

0231After transmitting the dial transmission start notification, the FAX communication management task starts dialing (S4350). The FAX relaying server 1 is capable of a plurality of lines as connection lines to the PSTN 6. In this embodiment, one of the plurality of lines is selected such that the origin station telephone number extracted by the SMTP reception task in S4040 is a caller's telephone number, and via the line, and a call is made to the destination station telephone number which has been extracted in S4040 by the SMTP reception task.

0232Control then proceeds to S4360 (Fig. 27), and the FAX communication management task judges whether the line connection has been completed (S4360). If the FAX communication management task determines that the connection with the destination station outside the network facsimile system has established (S4360: YES), the FAX communication management task transmits the FAX transmission start notification <STRAT TRANSMISSION> to the network facsimile device 2 (S4370).

0233Then, the FAX communication management task starts the facsimile transmission to the destination station outside the network facsimile system (S4380). When the transmission according to the facsimile communication protocol is finished, the FAX communication management task finishes the facsimile transmission process (S4390). Then, in S4400, the FAX communication management task judges whether the facsimile transmission has finished successfully.

0234If the facsimile transmission has been finished successfully (S4400: YES), the FAX communication management task transmits the FAX transmission completion notification <NORMAL TRANSMISSION> (S4410), and finishes the procedure. If the facsimile transmission has not successfully finished (S4400: NO), the FAX communication management task transmits the FAX transmission completion notification <TRANSMISSION ERROR> (S4420) and finishes the present procedure.

0235If it is determined that the connection with the destination station outside the network facsimile system has not been established ()S4360: NO), control judges whether the number of redialing is less than three (S4440).

0236If the number of redialing is less than tree (S4440: YES), the FAX communication management task transmits the FAX transmission start notification <redial> to the network facsimile device 2 (S4450). Then, the operational status is changed to the redial stand-by state where the FAX communication management task pauses before the redialing is executed (S4460). When a predetermined period (e.g., five minutes) has elapsed, the FAX communication management task transmits the dial transmission start notification <redial> to the network facsimile device 2 (S4470). After S4470 is finished, control returns to S4350 and restarts dialing.

0237If the number of redialing is not less than three (S4440: NO), the FAX communication management task transmits the FAX transmission completion notification <transmission error> (S4430), and finishes the current procedure.

0238With the cooperation of the SMTP reception task and FAX communication management task, the facsimile transmission procedure by the network facsimile system according to the third embodiment is realized, and the facsimile image can be transmitted from the network facsimile device 2 to the destination station outside the network facsimile system via the FAX relaying server 1. In particular, a plurality of SMTP reception tasks and a plurality of FAX communication management tasks are executed in parallel with the multi-task function, facsimile images can be transmitted in parallel (i.e., simultaneously) to a plurality of destination stations outside the network facsimile system from a plurality of network facsimile devices via the FAX relaying server.

0239It should be noted that the embodiments described above are exemplary embodiments and the present invention need not be limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments. Rather, the above-described configurations can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

0240For example, in the embodiments, the telephone number of the destination station outside the network facsimile system is described in the "To field" of the e-mail header in order to transmits the telephone number from the network facsimile device 2 to the FAX relaying server 1. The portions at which the destination telephone number is described can be modified in various ways as far as the FAX relaying server can process the modified format. For example, the destination telephone number may be described in the "Subject field" of the e-mail header., or described in the body of the e-mail message.

0241In the above-described embodiments, between the FAX relaying server and the network facsimile device 2, communication is made by e-mail. However, the invention need not be limited to such a configuration, and any communication protocol which allows the devices to communication through the LAN 4 can be optionally or alternatively employed.

0242In the above described embodiments, when the telephone number that has not assigned to the network facsimile device 2 (3) is used as the reception telephone number, the call is rejected or the line is cut so that the facsimile transmission is not received. In addition to the rejection/disconnection, a further counter measure may be introduced. For example, it is preferable that the telephone number assigned to the network facsimile device before the check-out procedure is done may be prevented from being assigned to any other network facsimile device predetermined period after the check-out procedure is done. With such a control, when a telephone number is assigned to a network facsimile device when the check-in procedure is done, the telephone number can be selected from among the numbers which have not been used for a while. In such a case, even if a facsimile transmission is made to the user who has already made check-out procedure, the facsimile transmission will not received by the network facsimile device assigned to another user. Thus, the privacy of the user who has already checked out can be held securely. The duration in which the reuse of the telephone number is prevented may; be determined depending on the total number of available telephone numbers and the total number of the network facsimile devices included in the network facsimile system. In view of the protection of privacy, it may be necessary to determine the duration relatively long, and reuse of such a telephone number may be prevented for six moths, for example, by setting the status of the telephone number to "busy" or "protected" in the table.

0243In the embodiments, it is described that the network facsimile devices are general purpose devices so that they can connect to the PSTN 6. It is of course possible to use dedicated facsimile devices without the modem 24 and the circuit control unit 43.

0244Further, in the embodiments, the connection status is indicated by displaying messages on the LCD 34. Alternatively or optionally, a speaker may be provided to notify the user of the communication status with voice messages or alarm sounds.

0245Furthermore, in the above described embodiments, as the facsimile devices outside the network facsimile system, G3 facsimile machines 7 and 8 are indicates as examples. Alternatively or optionally, G4 facsimile machines or other type of facsimile machines can be used.

0246In the above-described embodiments, the network facsimile devices 2 and 3 having fundamental configuration as a facsimile machine are used as the facsimile device of the network facsimile system. However, the invention need not be limited to such a configuration. Any type of device that can function as a communication terminal in the network facsimile system can be used even if it has different configuration in comparison with the facsimile devices 2 and 3. For example, a multi-function device having printer function, scanner function, copier function in addition to the facsimile function may be employed in the network facsimile system as its communication terminal.

0247Further, in the embodiments, the relaying server extracts the e-mail address or network address of the network facsimile device that receives the facsimile image transmitted to the network facsimile system based on the reception telephone number. The invention can be applied to a system in which the e-mail address or network address is derived based on an dial-in number of ISDN system.