Information processing system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program that more reliably sends facsimile data to a sending destination, and allows a user to easily grasp that the data is re-sent to the sending destination.SOLUTION: A processing method in an information processing system comprises: sending means that sends facsimile data; and re-sending means that, when the sending means fails to send the facsimile data, sends facsimile data in which information related to the failed sending and information allowing recognition of successfully-sent pages in the facsimile data, are added to the facsimile data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Documents such as order forms and invoices are transmitted and received using a facsimile machine.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 aims to provide a facsimile apparatus in which the relationship between the original transmission in which an error occurred and the retransmission after the page where the error occurred is easily understood by the user on the receiving side. When an error occurs during transmission, the total number of pages of the image and the page number of the page where the error occurred are stored. In the retransmission after the error, only the pages after the page where the error occurred are transmitted, and the page numbers attached to the transmitted pages start from the page number of the page where the error occurred in the original transmission.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the technique described in Patent Document 1, only the pages after the page where the error occurred are transmitted. However, depending on the specifications on the receiving side, when reception fails, all pages (that is, also the pages before the page where the error occurred) may not be output. In such a case, with the method described in Patent Document 1, the pages before the page where the error occurred will not be output to the receiving side.

[0006] On the other hand, there may also be a case where, by resending all pages, the data of the same page reaches the destination, and in that case, there is a risk that the recipient may perform duplicate processing (for example, duplicate order registration in the case of an order form).

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that more reliably transmits facsimile data to the destination and is easy for the destination to recognize that it is a resend.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0008] Transmission means for transmitting facsimile data, When the transmission of facsimile data by the transmission means fails, resending means for transmitting facsimile data to which information related to the failed transmission and information capable of recognizing the pages that have been successfully transmitted among the facsimile data are added, An information processing system characterized by comprising.

Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to provide a mechanism that more reliably transmits facsimile data to the destination and is easy for the destination to recognize that it is a resend.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 8

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, client terminals 101 (although there are two in FIG. 1, it may be one or two or more) and a facsimile server 102 are communicably connected.

[0012] The client terminal 101 has a function of giving an instruction to the facsimile server 102 and a function of displaying facsimile data transmitted and received by the facsimile server 102 by receiving an operation from a user.

[0013] The facsimile server 102 has a function of transmitting and receiving facsimiles via a public line or the like.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus applicable as the client terminal 101 and the facsimile server 102 of the present invention.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, in the information processing apparatus, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, a storage device 204, an input controller 205, an audio controller 206, a video controller 207, a memory controller 208, and a communication I / F controller 209 are connected via a system bus 200.

[0016] The CPU 201 comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 200.

[0017] The ROM 202 or the external memory 213 holds a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System), an OS (Operating System), which are control programs executed by the CPU 201, a computer-readable executable program for implementing this information processing method, and various necessary data (including data tables).

[0018] The RAM 203 functions as the main memory, work area, etc. of the CPU 201. When executing a process, the CPU 201 loads a program or the like necessary for the execution from the ROM 202 or the external memory 213 into the RAM 203, and realizes various operations by executing the loaded program.

[0019] The input controller 205 controls inputs from input devices such as a keyboard 210 and a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown). When the input device is a touch panel, it is assumed that the user can give various instructions by pressing (touching with a finger or the like) in accordance with icons, cursors, or buttons displayed on the touch panel.

[0020] Also, the touch panel may be a touch panel capable of detecting positions touched with a plurality of fingers, such as a multi-touch screen.

[0021] The video controller 207 controls the display to an external output device such as a display 212. The display is assumed to include the display of a notebook personal computer integrated with the main body. Note that the external output device is not limited to a display, and may be, for example, a projector. Also, for a device capable of receiving the above-described touch operation, an input device is also provided.

[0022] Note that the video controller 207 can control a video memory (VRAM) for performing display control, and can use a part of the RAM 203 as a video memory area, or can separately provide a dedicated video memory.

[0023] The memory controller 208 controls access to the external memory 213. As the external memory, an external storage device (hard disk) that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edited files, and various data, a flexible disk (FD), or a compact flash (registered trademark) memory connected via an adapter to a PCMCIA card slot can be used.

[0024] The communication I / F controller 209 is for connecting and communicating with external devices via a network and executes communication control processing on the network. For example, communication using TCP / IP, a telephone line such as ISDN, and communication using a 4G line or 5G line of a mobile phone are possible.

[0025] Incidentally, the CPU 201 enables display on the display 212 by executing an outline font expansion (rasterization) process on, for example, the display information area in the RAM 203. Further, the CPU 201 enables user instructions using a mouse cursor (not shown) or the like on the display 212. Next, an example of the processing of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0026] The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is processing that the facsimile server 102 reads and executes a predetermined control program. In step S101, a facsimile transmission instruction based on a user operation is received from the client terminal 101. Specifically, input of data to be facsimile transmitted and the destination (destination facsimile number) is received, and a transmission instruction is received. The received information (ID (FAX item ID) for identifying the facsimile data instructed to be transmitted, destination FAX number, source FAX number, total number of pages, etc.) is registered in the facsimile transmission data table shown in FIG. 6.

[0027] In step S102, based on the transmission instruction received in S101, facsimile data is transmitted to the destination. Information regarding the transmitted facsimile data (transmission date and time, number of transmitted pages, status, etc.) is registered in the facsimile transmission data table of FIG. 6.

[0028] Note that in the first transmission by S102, it is assumed that the transmission is performed by the first communication method described later.

[0029] In step S103, it is determined whether the transmission was successful. If the transmission was successful (S103: YES), the processing of this flowchart is terminated. If the transmission failed (S103: NO), the process proceeds to step S104.

[0030] In step S104, wait until the preset retransmission time has elapsed. Note that instead of waiting for the preset retransmission time to elapse, it may be configured to wait until a retransmission instruction is received from the user or the timeout time has elapsed.

[0031] In step S105, it is determined whether the facsimile number of the destination received in step S101 is registered in the retransmission notification target destination FAX number table shown in FIG. 4.

[0032] If it is registered, the process proceeds to step S106. If it is not registered, the process proceeds to step S111.

[0033] In step S106, the notification facsimile printing information shown in FIG. 5 is acquired.

[0034] In step S107, the facsimile input transmission data table of FIG. 3 is searched, and a record that matches the item ID related to the facsimile data to be retransmitted is acquired.

[0035] In step S108, it is determined whether the number of transmitted completion pages obtained in S107 is 1 or more. If it is 1 or more (S108: YES), the process proceeds to step S109, and if it is not 1 or more (0) (S108: NO), the process proceeds to step S111.

[0036] In step S109, for the transmitted pages (from the 1st page to the number of transmitted completion pages, that is, the pages that have been successfully transmitted) among the facsimile data to be transmitted, recognizable information (for example, a reduced image such as a thumbnail image) is generated.

[0037] In step S110, using the value related to the notification facsimile printing information obtained in S106 and the reduced image generated in S109 among the records obtained in S107, retransmission facsimile data (1st page) is created.

[0038] In step S111, it is determined whether the destination facsimile number is registered in the destination information table for retransmission by the first communication method shown in FIG. 7.

[0039] If it is registered (S111: YES), the process proceeds to step S112, and if it is not registered (S111: NO), the process proceeds to step S113.

[0040] In step S112, settings for transmission by the second communication method are made.

[0041] In step S113, settings for transmission by the first communication method are made.

[0042] In step S114, using the communication methods set in S112 and S113, the first page is set as the data generated in S110, and the second page and subsequent pages are set as the data for facsimile transmission specified in S101 (data related to all pages regardless of the location where a transmission error occurred in the first transmission), and the retransmission data is transmitted to the facsimile transmission destination specified in S101.

[0043] Note that the second communication method is assumed to be a method that can transmit more reliably than the first communication method (a method less affected by communication environment, etc.). As a specific example, the second communication method is assumed to be G3 communication and the first communication method is assumed to be Super G3 method.

[0044] In addition, since the possibility of transmission error increases when transmitting without notifying the sender's number, control may be performed so that transmission is performed with a setting to notify rather than notifying the number at the time of retransmission.

[0045] FIG. 4 is an example of a data table in which the FAX number of the destination to be notified at the time of retransmission is registered. When fax transmission fails and retransmission is performed, the fax number for which the thumbnail of the transmitted page and information at the time of the first transmission are to be notified is registered. For the fax numbers registered in the data table of FIG. 4, when retransmitting the fax data, the thumbnail of the transmitted page and information at the time of the first transmission (data shown as an example in FIG. 8) are added and the fax data is retransmitted.

[0046] FIG. 5 is an example of a data table in which the notification fax printing information is registered. It is a table in which the data described in the data shown in FIG. 8 is registered.

[0047] FIG. 6 is an example of a fax transmission data table. It is a data table in which the history data of fax transmission is registered. As shown in FIG. 6, information such as the transmitted FAX item ID, status, transmission date and time, destination fax number, sender fax number, total number of pages of the transmitted fax data, and number of pages for which transmission has been completed (succeeded) is registered.

[0048] FIG. 7 is an example of a data table in which the destinations to be transmitted by the first communication method at the time of retransmission are registered. For the destination fax numbers registered here, fax transmission is performed by the first communication method at the time of retransmission.

[0049] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an image of the first page of facsimile data transmitted at the time of retransmission. As shown in FIG. 8, a title 801 indicating that it is a retransmission notice, a caution 802 for the destination, information 803 regarding the first transmission (information related to the items registered in FIG. 5 among the information registered in the data table of FIG. 6), and a reduced image related to the transmitted page generated in step S109 are described. By transmitting this page as the first page (although it is appropriate to be placed on the first page, it may also be the second page or later (for example, the last page)), it is possible to alert the destination not to perform duplicate processing.

[0050] As described above, according to the present invention, when a facsimile transmission fails, regardless of the location where the transmission error occurred, it is possible to perform transmission for all pages even at the time of retransmission. Also, at the time of retransmission, for the facsimile data to be transmitted, a caution note to be careful not to perform duplicate processing, information related to the first transmission (transmission date and time, destination, source, number of transmitted pages, total number of pages, etc.), and an image of the page that was successfully transmitted for the first time are added and transmitted. This makes it easier for the destination to recognize that it is a retransmission and reduces the occurrence of duplicate processing.

[0051] Also, at the time of retransmission, by transmitting using a communication method that can ensure more reliable transmission, it is possible to surely transmit data to the destination without repeating the same transmission error.

[0052] Also, at the time of retransmission, by controlling to transmit with a setting that notifies the source number, it is possible to more surely succeed in transmission.

[0053] As described above, the embodiments have been shown, but the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, device, method, program, or recording medium. Specifically, it may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, or may also be applied to a device consisting of a single device.

[0054] In addition, the program in the present invention is a program that enables a computer to execute the processing method shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, and the storage medium of the present invention stores a program that enables a computer to execute the processing method of FIG. 3. Note that the program in the present invention may be a program for each processing method of each device in FIG. 3.

[0055] As described above, it goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a recording medium recording a program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device, and causing a computer (or a CPU or MPU) of the system or device to read and execute the program stored in the recording medium.

[0056] In this case, the program itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel functions of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program constitutes the present invention.

[0057] As the recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROM, a silicon disk, etc. can be used.

[0058] In addition, by executing the program read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also based on the instructions of the program, an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by that processing. This goes without saying.

[0059] Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written into the memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and it goes without saying that cases where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by such processing are also included.

[0060] In addition, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or to an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention is also applicable when achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading out a recording medium storing the program for achieving the present invention to the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0061] Furthermore, by downloading and reading out the program for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on the network by means of a communication program, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. Note that all configurations combining the above-described embodiments and their modifications are also included in the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0062] 101 Client Terminal 102 Facsimile Server

Claims

1. transmission means for transmitting facsimile data; retransmission means for, when transmission of the facsimile data by the transmission means fails, transmitting facsimile data to which information related to the failed transmission and information enabling recognition of pages successfully transmitted among the facsimile data are added; An information processing system, characterized by comprising the above.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that transmission by the transmission means is performed by a first communication method, and transmission by the retransmission means is performed by a second communication method different from the first communication method.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2, characterized in that the second communication method is a method capable of more reliably transmitting than the first communication method.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, as information enabling recognition of pages successfully transmitted among the facsimile data, a thumbnail image related to the page successfully transmitted is added.

5. The information processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, in transmission by the retransmission means, control is performed to notify the number of the transmission source.

6. A transmission step in which a transmission means of an information processing system transmits facsimile data; A retransmission step in which, when transmission of the facsimile data in the transmission step by the retransmission means of the information processing system fails, the retransmission means transmits facsimile data to which information related to the failed transmission and information enabling recognition of pages successfully transmitted among the facsimile data are added; An information processing method, characterized by comprising the above.

7. A program for causing a computer to function as each means according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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