Communication method and computer

Abstract

To attain data communication while utilizing the advantage of a facsimile equipment.SOLUTION: The disclosed communication method includes performing data communication with a first facsimile apparatus as a transmission source. The first facsimile apparatus is configured to receive a destination designation operation of designating a destination telephone number for a first communication network that can be used for facsimile communication. The data communication is non-facsimile communication that is performed by using a second communication network different from the first communication network, and is communication in which an identifier assigned to a second facsimile apparatus to which the destination telephone number designated by the destination designating operation is assigned is a destination. The destination telephone number is a telephone number whose installation location is specified.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication method, a determination device, an identifier specifying device, and a facsimile machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a facsimile machine. Facsimile is a communication method for transmitting information such as text in the form of facsimile data, which is a type of still image data. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-77919 Summary of the Invention

[0004] Compared to email, fax has the advantage of being more suitable for handling highly confidential information. For this reason, even amid the trend toward digital transformation, the use of fax remains necessary in medical institutions, government agencies, police, law firms, and patent attorney offices. In particular, in hospitals and other medical institutions, where information is crucial to the lives of patients, the use of fax, the most reliable and simple means of communication, is expected to continue in the future.

[0005] Reasons why email is not a substitute for fax in medical institutions and other facilities include the following: "You don't know where it will be sent," "Internet connections are not always available everywhere," "Email requires various settings, so not all existing fax users can use email," and "Many people have concerns about cybersecurity issues that could prevent information leaks." Furthermore, when exchanging important information, it is unacceptable for email to end up in the "spam" folder and not be able to be viewed. For these reasons, email is not a viable substitute for fax.

[0006] On the other hand, some argue that faxing should be abolished in the context of digital transformation. Facsimiles are fundamentally similar to paper-based communication, making them difficult to handle as text data. For example, when sending text data, such as text or numerical data, by fax, the text data is printed on paper and sent via fax. The text data is lost in the fax data sent via this facsimile communication. Therefore, the recipient of the fax must visually or machine-read the text and numerical data from the printed fax data. However, the image quality of facsimile data can be low, making characters and other information unclear. This creates difficulties and limitations for the recipient when using text and numerical data.

[0007] As described above, facsimiles have the drawback that they can only handle facsimile data and cannot handle other general data (for example, digital data such as text data, video data, and audio data).

[0008] Therefore, the inventor came up with the idea of ​​not discontinuing facsimiles with such drawbacks but of eliminating those drawbacks so that facsimiles can continue to be used. That is, the inventor came up with the idea of ​​utilizing the advantages of facsimiles while also enabling general data communication, thereby continuing to use facsimiles. To realize this idea, a technology that enables data communication while utilizing the advantages of facsimiles is desired.

[0009] One aspect of the present disclosure is a communication method. The disclosed communication method may include performing data communication with a first facsimile device as a sender. The first facsimile device may be configured to accept a destination designation operation that designates a destination telephone number for a first communication network that can be used for facsimile communication. The data communication may be non-facsimile communication performed using a second communication network different from the first communication network, and may be communication addressed to an identifier assigned to a second facsimile device that is assigned the destination telephone number designated by the destination designation operation. The destination telephone number may be a telephone number that identifies an installation location.

[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a determination device. Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is an identifier determination device. Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a facsimile machine. These devices can be used in the communication method. Further details will be described in the following embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a communication system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the registration process. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the monitoring process. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the communication method. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a communication method when a conventional facsimile machine is also used. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a procedure for switching between permission and prohibition of data communication. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] <1. Overview of communication method, determination device, identifier specification device, and facsimile device>

[0013] (1) A communication method according to an embodiment includes performing data communication with a first facsimile device as a sender. The first facsimile device may be configured to accept a destination designation operation that designates a destination telephone number for a first communication network that can be used for facsimile communication. The data communication may be non-facsimile communication performed using a second communication network different from the first communication network, and may be communication addressed to an identifier assigned to a second facsimile device that is assigned the destination telephone number designated by the destination designation operation. The destination telephone number may be a telephone number that identifies the installation location.

[0014] One of the advantages of facsimile that the inventors have focused on is the ability to specify a communication destination by telephone number. One of the problems with e-mail is that existing facsimile users are not necessarily able to use e-mail. In the communication method according to the embodiment, in the destination specification operation, it is only necessary to specify a destination telephone number for a first communication network that can be used for facsimile communication, so it is possible to specify a destination by telephone number, which is familiar to existing facsimile users. In other words, the advantages of conventional facsimile are utilized.

[0015] In the communication method according to the embodiment, a telephone number used for facsimile communication is used to specify a destination, but data communication, which is a non-facsimile communication, is used instead of facsimile communication. Therefore, data communication can be performed while taking advantage of the advantages of facsimile.

[0016] In addition, in the embodiment, the destination of the data communication is not the destination telephone number, but an identifier assigned to the second facsimile machine to which the destination telephone number is assigned. This identifier is an identifier that can be used as the destination of data communication using the second communication network. Thus, in the communication of the embodiment, it is possible to specify a destination by telephone number, as in conventional facsimiles, but the destination of the data communication is not the destination telephone number, but an identifier assigned to the second facsimile machine to which the destination telephone number is assigned. The identifier is, for example, an IP address, a mobile phone number, or any other identifier that can be used as the destination for data communication.

[0017] Furthermore, since email addresses are not necessarily associated with geographic locations, there is a security issue of not knowing where the email will be sent. In contrast, in the embodiment, the destination telephone number is a telephone number for which the installation location is identified, so the receiving location is identified.

[0018] In the embodiment, the destination of the data communication is an identifier assigned to the second facsimile machine, but this identifier is assigned to the second facsimile machine separately from the destination telephone number. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the second facsimile machine to which the identifier is assigned is also assigned a destination telephone number with a specified installation location. In other words, in the embodiment, the destination telephone number with a specified installation location is not the destination of the data communication, but the second facsimile machine is assigned a destination telephone number with a specified installation location. As a result, the destination of the data communication is indirectly identified by the destination telephone number as its installation location (receiving location). Therefore, according to the embodiment, the receiving location is identified, which is preferable from the perspective of security.

[0019] Here, a "telephone number with a specified installation location" is not a telephone number for a mobile phone or other such phone whose installation location is not specified, but a telephone number whose installation location is specified by a telecommunications carrier or the like. A "telephone number with a specified installation location" is, for example, a telephone number for a landline phone. A landline phone is, for example, a subscriber phone or an IP phone assigned a telephone number in the 0AB-J format. A telephone number in the 0AB-J format is a 10-digit telephone number starting with 0, and in the 23 wards of Tokyo in Japan, a telephone number starting with 03. For telephone numbers in the 0AB-J format, the installation location (location of origin) is specified by a telecommunications carrier. Note that mobile phone numbers (such as 070 numbers, 080 numbers, and 090 numbers) are 11-digit telephone numbers in the 0A0 format.

[0020] A "telephone number with a specific installation location" may be an IP telephone number with a fixed 050 number, or a telephone number for other telephones (including telephones using a mobile phone system) whose installation location is fixed and whose installation location is specific. A "telephone number with a specific installation location" generally cannot be changed by the user (subscriber) of the telephone number without permission. A device (facsimile machine or telephone) that sends or receives using a "telephone number with a specific installation location" is used, for example, by connecting it to a telephone line (subscriber line) for the "telephone number with a specific installation location" via a wired connection, or by connecting it wirelessly to an adapter device (relay device) for using the "telephone number with a specific installation location."

[0021] A device that transmits or receives using a "telephone number with a specified installation location" is assigned a "telephone number with a specified installation location" when it is connected to the aforementioned telephone line or adapter device, and is not assigned a "telephone number with a specified installation location" when it is not connected to the aforementioned telephone line or adapter device. Therefore, even if a device that is not connected to the aforementioned telephone line or adapter device is moved, the telephone number will not be moved.

[0022] (2) Preferably, the communication method according to the embodiment further comprises determining, by a determination device, whether the second facsimile device is capable of the data communication. If it is determined that the second facsimile device is capable of the data communication, the data communication is performed. If it is determined that the second facsimile device is not capable of the data communication, preferably, facsimile communication is performed using the first communication network, with the first facsimile device as the sender and the destination telephone number as the destination. In this case, if the second facsimile device is not capable of data communication, facsimile communication is performed. Note that the determination device may be configured as a device separate from the first facsimile device or the second facsimile device (e.g., server 15, described below), or may be provided in the first facsimile device or the second facsimile device 12.

[0023] (3) Preferably, the communication method according to the embodiment further comprises identifying the identifier from the destination telephone number by an identifier identification device that understands the correspondence between the destination telephone number and the identifier. The data communication is preferably performed with the identifier identified by the identifier identification device as the destination. In this case, the identifier can be easily identified from the destination telephone number. The identifier identification device may be configured as a device separate from the first or second facsimile device (for example, server 15, described below), or may be included in the first or second facsimile device.

[0024] (4) It is preferable that the data communication cannot be performed if the first facsimile device is not assigned a telephone number for the first communication network that specifies the installation location, but can be performed if the first facsimile device is assigned a telephone number for the first communication network that specifies the installation location. In this case, the location of the sender of the data communication is specified, which is preferable.

[0025] (5) A determination device according to an embodiment is used in the above-described communication method, and is configured to receive the destination telephone number from the first facsimile device, determine whether the second facsimile device to which the destination telephone number is assigned supports the data communication, and transmit the determination result of whether the second facsimile device supports the data communication to the first facsimile device.

[0026] (6) An identifier identification device according to an embodiment is used in the above-described communication method. The identifier identification device is configured to receive the destination telephone number from the first facsimile device, identify the identifier from the destination telephone number based on a correspondence between the destination telephone number and the identifier, and transmit the identifier to the first facsimile device.

[0027] (7) A facsimile machine according to an embodiment preferably includes an operation unit for receiving a destination designation operation for designating a destination telephone number for a first communication network that can be used for facsimile communication, and a data communication unit for performing data communication with the first facsimile machine as a sender when the destination designation operation for designating the destination telephone number is received. The data communication is non-facsimile communication performed using a second communication network different from the first communication network, and is communication addressed to an identifier assigned to a second facsimile machine to which the destination telephone number designated by the destination designation operation is assigned, and the destination telephone number is a telephone number for which an installation location is identified.

[0028] (8) It is preferable that the facsimile device according to the embodiment is configured to transmit the destination telephone number to an identifier identification device that knows the correspondence between the destination telephone number and the identifier, and to receive the identifier from the identifier identification device.

[0029] <2. Examples of communication method, determination device, identifier specification device, and facsimile device>

[0030] An example of an embodiment will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows an example of a communication system 10 for executing a communication method according to an embodiment. The communication system 10 is used, for example, to perform data communication from a first facsimile device 11, which is a sender, to a second facsimile device 12, which is a destination. The communication system 10 may include a first communication network 21 and a second communication network 22.

[0031] The facsimile devices 11 and 12 shown in FIG. 1 are facsimile devices according to an embodiment, and are capable of non-facsimile data communication. The facsimile devices 11 and 12 according to an embodiment are also capable of facsimile communication. Here, facsimile communication refers to a method of transmitting information such as text and graphics in the form of facsimile data, which is a type of still image data. Facsimile communication complies with the facsimile standard of the International Telecommunications Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). Examples of ITU-T facsimile standards include G1, G2, G3, Super G3, and G4.

[0032] Non-facsimile data communication refers to data communication in general other than facsimile communication, such as Internet communication, data communication using a mobile phone communication network, intranet communication, and other data communication. Preferably, the data communication is capable of transmitting at least text data, and more preferably, digital data other than text data can also be transmitted. The data communication may be wireless or wired.

[0033] The facsimile devices 11 and 12 are each provided with a first communication unit 111, 121 (facsimile communication unit 111, 121) for performing facsimile communication. The first communication units 111, 121 are configured to perform communication in accordance with a facsimile standard (for example, Super G3).

[0034] The first communication units 111, 121 are connected to a first communication network 21 that can be used for facsimile communication. The first communication network 21 is, for example, a fixed telephone line. In the fixed telephone line, a telephone number is assigned to each telephone line (subscriber line) laid to the installation location of the telephone / facsimile device. This installation location is specified by a telecommunications carrier that provides communication services using the first communication network 21. In other words, the telephone number for the first communication network 21 is a telephone number for which the installation location is specified. In the embodiment, the telephone number for the first communication network 21 is, for example, a telephone number in the 0AB-J format, and is shown in FIG. 1 as a 10-digit number starting with 03.

[0035] When the facsimile devices 11, 12 are disconnected from the telephone line of the first communication network 21, the first communication units 111, 121 are in a state where no telephone number is assigned, and when the facsimile devices 11, 12 are connected to the telephone line of the first communication network 21, the first communication units 111, 121 are in a state where a telephone number is assigned.

[0036] For example, when the first communication unit 111 of the first facsimile device 11 is connected to a telephone line (subscriber line) of the first communication network 21, the first facsimile device 11 is assigned the telephone number (03-●●●●-●●●1 in FIG. 1) assigned to the connected telephone line. When the first facsimile device 11 is disconnected from the telephone line, the first facsimile device 11 is no longer assigned the telephone number of the first communication network 21.

[0037] Similarly, when the first communication unit 121 of the second facsimile device 12 is connected to a telephone line (subscriber line) of the first communication network 21, the second facsimile device 12 is assigned the telephone number (03-●●●●-●●●3 in FIG. 1) assigned to the connected telephone line. When the second facsimile device 12 is disconnected from the telephone line, the second facsimile device 12 is no longer assigned the telephone number of the first communication network 21.

[0038] To connect the facsimile machines 11 and 12 to the first communication network 21, for example, a modular plug of a telephone modular cable (not shown) connected to the first communication units 111 and 121 may be inserted into a modular jack installed in a building to which the telephone line of the first communication network 21 is drawn. The connection to the first communication network 21 is not limited to a wired connection, and a wireless connection may also be used.

[0039] The facsimile machines 11 and 12 are each provided with a second communication unit 112, 122 (data communication unit 112, 122) for performing non-facsimile data communication. The second communication unit 112, 122 is configured to perform communication using a second communication network 22. The second communication network 22 is, for example, an Internet line or a mobile communication network (mobile phone line). The mobile communication network is capable of secure communication.

[0040] When the second communication network 22 is an Internet line, the second communication units 112, 122 are assigned an IP address as an identifier for communication using the second communication network 22. The identifier may include a MAC address. When the second communication network 22 is a mobile communication network, the second communication units 112, 122 are provided with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card (not shown). The SIM card is an IC card assigned a unique number called an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). The IMSI is associated with a telephone number for the second communication network 22 (a so-called mobile phone number). In other words, when a SIM card is inserted into the second communication units 112, 122, the mobile phone number is assigned as an identifier for communication using the second communication network. The SIM card does not require settings that depend on the network environment of each building, so complicated settings are not necessary.

[0041] In this way, each of the facsimile machines 11 and 12 according to the embodiment has a telephone number for the first communication network 21 and an identifier for the second communication network 22. In the embodiment, by associating the telephone number (facsimile number) for the first communication network 21 with the identifier (data communication identifier) ​​for the second communication network 22, it is possible to perform data communication using the second communication network 22 while using the facsimile number as a sender / destination, as is used in conventional facsimiles.

[0042] The facsimile machines 11 and 12 are each provided with a controller 110 or 120. The controllers 110 or 120 control the operations of the facsimile machines 11 and 12. The controllers 110 or 120 are connected to the first communication units 111 or 121 and the second communication units 112 or 122, and control the communications.

[0043] The controllers 110 and 120 may be configured by a computer including a processor (not shown) and a storage device connected to the processor. The storage device stores a computer program executed by the processor. The processor reads and executes the computer program stored in the storage device. The computer program has program code representing instructions for causing the computer to execute processes related to the operation of the facsimile devices 11 and 12 or communications by the facsimile devices 11 and 12.

[0044] The facsimile machines 11 and 12 each include an operation unit 113 and 123. The operation units 113 and 123 are configured to accept a destination designation operation for designating a destination telephone number for the first communication network 21 and other operations from a user. The operation units 113 and 123 may be configured, for example, with a touch panel or physical buttons or keys. By operating the operation unit 113, the user can manually input a destination telephone number or select a stored destination telephone number to designate the destination telephone number.

[0045] The facsimile devices 11 and 12 may be configured as dedicated facsimile devices, or as multifunction devices with copy and other functions, or may be configured as computers such as smartphones or tablet terminals that can connect to the second communication network 22. To configure a computer such as a smartphone as the facsimile devices 11 and 12, a computer program for causing the computer to function as the facsimile device of the embodiment may be installed on the computer. Furthermore, the computer such as a smartphone does not need to have the first communication units 111 and 121 internally, but may have them externally. For example, the computer may be connected to the first communication network 21 by wireless or wired connection to an adapter (repeater) connected to the first communication network 21.

[0046] The communication system 10 may include a server 15 to support communication using the facsimile machines 11 and 12. The server 15 may be operated by a business that provides services of the communication method according to the embodiment. To support communication using the facsimile machines 11 and 12, the server 15 may execute processes such as a registration process 151, a monitoring process 152, a destination determination process 153 (see FIG. 5), and an identifier specification process 154 (see FIG. 4). The server 15 that executes the destination determination process 153 functions as a determination device. The server 15 that executes the identifier specification process 154 functions as an identifier specification device.

[0047] The server 15 can communicate with the facsimile machines 11 and 12. The communication between the server 15 and the facsimile machine 11 may use the first communication network 21, the second communication network 22, both the first communication network 21 and the second communication network 22, or another communication network. In the following, as an example, it is assumed that the communication between the server 15 and the facsimile machine 11 uses the first communication network 21.

[0048] The server 15 may be configured by a computer including a processor (not shown) and a storage device connected to the processor. The server 15 may also be configured by multiple computers. The storage device includes a computer program executed by the processor. The processor reads and executes the computer program stored in the storage device. The computer program has program code representing instructions for causing the computer to execute the above-described processes 151, 152, 153, and 154.

[0049] The server 15 may also include a registration table 156. The registration table 156 is stored in a storage device of the server 15. The registration table 156 stores telephone numbers (facsimile numbers) for the first communication network 21 and data communication identifiers for the second communication network 22 in association with each other. Therefore, the server 15 including the registration table 156 is a device that understands the correspondence between telephone numbers (facsimile numbers) for the first communication network 21 and data communication identifiers for the second communication network 22.

[0050] A conventional facsimile device 13 may also be connected to the first communication network 21, which may be used for facsimile communication. The conventional facsimile device 13 here is a normal facsimile device that does not support data communication using a facsimile number as the destination. In other words, the conventional facsimile device 13 has a first communication unit for facsimile communication, but does not have a second communication unit for data communication. In this way, the first communication network 21 may include a mixture of facsimile devices 11 and 12 that support data communication and the conventional facsimile device 13 that does not support data communication.

[0051] 2 shows a registration process 151 executed by the server 15. The registration process 151 is a process for storing a telephone number for the first communication network 21 and an identifier for the second communication network 22 in association with each other. The registration process 151 is executed when the facsimile machines 11 and 12 are connected to the first communication network 21. By being registered with the server 15, the facsimile machines 11 and 12 of the embodiment become capable of transmitting and receiving data. It is preferable that the facsimile machines 11 and 12 that are not registered with the server 15 are not capable of transmitting and receiving data.

[0052] In the embodiment, for example, in order for the facsimile devices 11 and 12 to be able to use data communication, the facsimile devices 11 and 12 must be connected to the first communication network 21. Therefore, when the server 15 detects via the first communication network 21 that the facsimile devices 11 and 12 have been connected to the first communication network 21 (step S21), the server 15 acquires an identifier for the second communication network 22 from the connected facsimile devices 11 and 12 (step S22). The server 15 associates the telephone numbers (facsimile numbers; 0AB to J numbers) assigned to the facsimile devices 11 and 12 with the acquired identifier, and stores them in the registration table 156 (step S23).

[0053] For example, when the first facsimile device 11 is connected to the first communication network 21, the first communication unit 111 of the first facsimile device 11 transmits a signal indicating the connection (connection signal) to the first communication network 21. When the server 15 receives the connection signal via the first communication network 21, it can detect that the first facsimile device 11 has been connected to the first communication network (step S21). At this time, the server 15 can also determine that the sender of the connection signal is 03-●●●●-●●●1, which is the telephone number assigned to the first facsimile device 11.

[0054] Furthermore, the first communication unit 111 of the first facsimile device 11 transmits the identifier assigned to the second communication unit 112 of the first facsimile device 11 to the first communication network 21 (step S22). The server 15 receives the transmitted identifier via the first communication network 21. Through the above procedure, the server 15 can obtain the telephone number and identifier assigned to the first facsimile device 11, and stores these telephone number and identifier in association with each other in the registration table 156 (step S23).

[0055] Similarly, when the second facsimile device 12 is connected to the first communication network 21, the telephone number and identifier assigned to the second facsimile device 12 are stored in the registration table 156. In the registration table 156 shown in FIG. 2, the telephone number and first identifier of the first facsimile device 11 are registered, and the telephone number and second identifier of the second facsimile device 12 are also registered.

[0056] It should be noted that the facsimile machines 11 and 12 assigned with the telephone numbers registered in the registration table 156 can also be said to be facsimile machines that support data communication. The conventional facsimile machine 13 does not support data communication, so even if it is connected to the first communication network 21, it is not registered in the registration table 156. In other words, the registration table 156 can also be used to determine whether the facsimile machine assigned with the registered telephone number supports data communication.

[0057] 3 shows the monitoring process 152 executed by the server 15. The monitoring process 152 is a process for monitoring whether the facsimile machines 11 and 12 are connected to the first communication network 21. The monitoring process 152 is executed at all times.

[0058] In the monitoring process 152, the server 15 determines whether each of the facsimile machines 11 and 12 is connected to the first communication network 21 (step S31). If the facsimile machines 11 and 12 are connected to the first communication network 21, the contents of the registration table 156 are maintained. If the connection between the facsimile machines 11 and 12 and the first communication network 21 is released, the registration of the released facsimile machines 11 and 12 is deleted from the registration table 156. For example, if the connection of the first facsimile machine 11 is released, 03-●●●●-●●●1 and the first identifier are deleted from the registration table 156.

[0059] 4 shows an example of a procedure for data communication using telephone numbers (facsimile numbers; 0AB to J numbers). Here, data communication is performed with first facsimile device 11 as the sender and second facsimile device 12 as the destination. Note that data transmitted by data communication is referred to as target data here. Target data is, for example, text data and image data.

[0060] First, the user of the first facsimile device 11 to which the target data is to be transmitted operates the operation unit 113 of the first facsimile device 11 to specify the telephone number (destination telephone number; destination number 0AB-J) of the second facsimile device 12, which is the destination. The first facsimile device 11 accepts the specification (step S41). The controller 110 of the first facsimile device 11, which has accepted the specification of the destination telephone number, transmits the destination telephone number from the first communication unit 111 to the server 15 via the first communication network 21 (step S42).

[0061] The server 15 receives the destination telephone number transmitted from the first facsimile device 11 (step S43). The server 15 refers to the registration table 156 and identifies an identifier corresponding to the received destination telephone number (step S44). The server 15 transmits the identified identifier to the first facsimile device 11. The first facsimile device 11 receives the transmitted identifier (step S46).

[0062] The controller 110 of the first facsimile device 11 sends the target data to the second communication network 22 via the second communication unit 112, with the received identifier as the destination (step S47). That is, the target data is sent with the identifier assigned to the second facsimile device 12, which has been assigned a telephone number (destination telephone number), as the destination.

[0063] The transmitted target data is received by the second communication unit 122 of the second facsimile device 12 (step S48). The second facsimile device 12 can output the received target data to a display or an external device (step S49). In this embodiment, the text data included in the target data is not transmitted as facsimile data, which is image data, but is transmitted as text data itself, so that there is no degradation in image quality and the data can be used for information processing on the receiving side as text data.

[0064] 5 shows an example of a communication method when the facsimile devices connected to the first communication network 21 include a conventional facsimile device 13. When the first facsimile device 11 receives a destination telephone number (step S51), it transmits the destination telephone number to the server 15 (step S52).

[0065] When the server 15 receives the destination telephone number transmitted from the first facsimile device 11 (step S53), it determines whether the facsimile device to which the destination telephone number is assigned supports data communication using the registration table 156 (step S54). If the received destination telephone number exists in the registration table 156, the server 15 determines that the facsimile device to which the destination telephone number is assigned supports data communication; if not, it determines that the facsimile device does not support data communication.

[0066] If the facsimile machine to which the destination telephone number is assigned is compatible with data communication, the server 15 identifies the identifier corresponding to the received destination telephone number in the registration table 156 (step S55). The server 15 transmits the determination result (compatible / incompatible) of step S54 to the first facsimile machine 11 (step S56). The first facsimile machine 11 receives the transmitted determination result (step S57). If the determination result of step S54 is "compatible," the identifier corresponding to the destination telephone number is also transmitted from the server 15 to the first facsimile machine 11.

[0067] The controller 110 of the first facsimile device 11, which has received the determination result of step S54, identifies the determination result of step S54 (step S58). If the determination result is "compatible," step S59-1 is executed, and if it is "incompatible," step S59-2 is executed.

[0068] In step S59-1, the controller 110 of the first facsimile device 11 sends the target data to the second communication network 22 via the second communication unit 112, with the received identifier as the destination. That is, the target data is sent to the second communication unit 122 of the facsimile device 12 that supports data communication by data communication, which is non-facsimile communication. In other words, the target data is sent with the identifier assigned to the second facsimile device 12 to which the destination telephone number is assigned as the destination.

[0069] In step S59-2, the controller 110 of the first facsimile device 11 converts the target data into a facsimile data format, which is image data, and transmits the data to the first communication network 21 by the first communication unit 111, with the destination telephone number (destination number 0AB to J) itself as the destination. In other words, the target data is transmitted to the conventional facsimile device 13 by facsimile communication.

[0070] In the example of Figure 5, the first facsimile device 11 can send to the second facsimile device 12 that supports data communication, and can also send to the conventional facsimile device 13 that does not support data communication.

[0071] In the above example, if the first facsimile device 11, which is the sender, is not connected to the first communication network 21, it cannot obtain the identifier of the destination, and therefore data transmission using the second communication unit 112 is essentially impossible. Furthermore, if the second facsimile device 12, which is the destination, is not connected to the first communication network 21, it is not registered in the registration table 156. Therefore, other facsimile devices 11 cannot obtain the identifier of the second facsimile device 12, and therefore data reception using the second communication unit 122 is essentially impossible. That is, the second communication units 112 and 122 are capable of communication regardless of whether the first communication units 111 and 121 are connected to the first communication network 21. However, in the above example, if the first communication units 111 and 121 are not connected to the first communication network 21, data communication via the second communication units 112 and 122 is essentially prohibited. However, the facsimile devices 11 and 12 themselves may have a function to prohibit data communication via the second communication units 112 and 122.

[0072] 6 shows the processing procedure of the controllers 110, 120 of the facsimile machines 11, 12 having the function of prohibiting data communication by the second communication units 112, 122. The controllers 110, 120 constantly monitor whether the first communication units 111, 121 are connected to the first communication network (fixed telephone line) (step S61). If the first communication units 111, 121 are connected to the first communication network (fixed telephone line), the controllers 110, 120 permit data communication by the second communication units 112, 122 (step S62), and if the first communication units 111, 121 are not connected to the first communication network (fixed telephone line), the controllers 110, 120 prohibit data communication by the second communication units 112, 122 (step S63).

[0073] The facsimile devices 11 and 12 have a function for prohibiting data communication via the second communication units 112 and 122, so that data communication can be prevented when the facsimile devices 11 and 12 are not connected to the first communication network 21. Note that the prohibition of data communication via the second communication units 112 and 122 does not necessarily prohibit all communication, but it is sufficient that only data transmission intended by the user is prohibited. For example, communication between the second communication network 22 and the second communication units 112 and 122 for maintenance and management purposes, regardless of the user's intention, may be permitted even in the prohibited state of step S63.

[0074] In the embodiment, it is preferable that data communication using the second communication network 22 is possible only when both the first facsimile device, which is the sender, and the second facsimile device 12, which is the destination, are connected to the first communication network 21. However, if the second facsimile device 12, which is the destination, is connected to the first communication network 21, the receiving location can be identified, so data communication using the second communication network 22 may be permitted. If the first facsimile device, which is the sender, is dedicated to sending, for example, the first facsimile device, which is the sender, does not need to be connected to the first communication network 21. If the first facsimile device does not need to be connected to the first communication network 21, the first facsimile device 11 does not need to be provided with the first communication unit 111, thereby simplifying the configuration.

[0075] On the other hand, it is preferable to allow data communication on the condition that the first facsimile device, which is the sender, is connected to the first communication network 21, because the location of the sender can be identified. That is, data communication using the second communication network 22 cannot be performed unless the first facsimile device 11 is assigned a telephone number with a specific installation location, but it is preferable that data communication can be performed when the first facsimile device 11 is assigned a telephone number with a specific installation location.

[0076] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 10: Communication Systems 11: First facsimile device 12: Second facsimile device 13: Conventional facsimile machine 15: Server (determination device; identifier identification device) 21: First communication network (fixed telephone line) 22: Second communication network 110: Controller 111: First communication section (facsimile communication section) 112: Second communication unit (data communication unit) 113:Operation unit 120: Controller 121: First communication section (facsimile communication section) 122: Second communication unit (data communication unit) 123:Operation unit 151: Registration process 152: Monitoring process 153: Destination determination process 154: Identifier identification process 156: Registration table

Claims

1. performing data communication with the first facsimile device as a sender; the first facsimile device is configured to be able to accept a destination designation operation for designating a destination telephone number for a first communication network that can be used for facsimile communication; the data communication is a non-facsimile communication carried out by using a second communication network different from the first communication network, and is a communication addressed to an identifier assigned to a second facsimile device to which the destination telephone number designated by the destination designation operation is assigned, The destination telephone number is a telephone number for which the installation location is specified. Communication method.

2. The method further comprises determining, by a determination device, whether the second facsimile device is compatible with the data communication; If it is determined that the second facsimile device is capable of the data communication, the data communication is performed; If it is determined that the second facsimile device is not compatible with the data communication, facsimile communication is performed using the first communication network with the first facsimile device as the sender and the destination telephone number as the destination. The communication method according to claim 1 .

3. The method further comprises identifying the identifier from the destination telephone number by an identifier identifying device that knows the correspondence between the destination telephone number and the identifier, The data communication is performed with the identifier identified by the identifier identification device as the destination. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The data communication This cannot be done if the first facsimile device is not assigned a telephone number for the first communication network that specifies its installation location, This can be done when the first facsimile device is assigned a telephone number for the first communication network that specifies its installation location. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A determination device used in the communication method according to claim 1, receiving the destination telephone number from the first facsimile machine; determining whether the second facsimile machine to which the destination telephone number is assigned is compatible with the data communication; transmitting a determination result as to whether the second facsimile device is compatible with the data communication to the first facsimile device; The determination device is configured to:

6. An identifier specifying device used in the communication method according to claim 1, receiving the destination telephone number from the first facsimile machine; Identifying the identifier from the destination telephone number based on a correspondence relationship between the destination telephone number and the identifier; transmitting the identifier to the first facsimile machine; An identifier specifying device configured to perform the following.

7. an operation unit for receiving a destination designation operation for designating a destination telephone number for a first communication network that can be used for facsimile communication; a data communication unit that, when receiving the destination designation operation for designating the destination telephone number, performs data communication with the first facsimile device as a sender; Equipped with the data communication is a non-facsimile communication carried out by using a second communication network different from the first communication network, and is a communication addressed to an identifier assigned to a second facsimile device to which the destination telephone number designated by the destination designation operation is assigned, The destination telephone number is a telephone number for which the installation location is specified. Facsimile machine.

8. The destination telephone number is transmitted to an identifier identification device that knows the correspondence between the destination telephone number and the identifier, and the identifier is received from the identifier identification device.

8. The facsimile machine according to claim 7.

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