Relay device, facsimile communication method, and recording medium

A relay device includes a receiver that receives facsimile transmission instructions via a private network from a client device that does not include facsimile transmitting functions, a facsimile communication unit that transmits a facsimile externally via a public network, on the basis of the facsimile transmission instructions received by the receiver, a determiner that, on the basis of the content of the facsimile transmission instructions received by the receiver, determines whether or not to request another device connected via the private network to execute facsimile transmission, and a requester that, in the case where the determiner determines to request another device to execute facsimile transmission, sends a transmission request regarding some or all of the facsimile transmission instructions received by the receiver to another device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-049543 filed Mar. 12, 2013.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a relay device, a facsimile communication method, and a recording medium.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a relay device that includes a receiver that receives facsimile transmission instructions via a private network from a client device that does not include facsimile transmitting functions, a facsimile communication unit that transmits a facsimile externally via a public network, on the basis of the facsimile transmission instructions received by the receiver, a determiner that, on the basis of the content of the facsimile transmission instructions received by the receiver, determines whether or not to request another device connected via the private network to execute facsimile transmission, and a requester that, in the case where the determiner determines to request another device to execute facsimile transmission, sends a transmission request regarding some or all of the facsimile transmission instructions received by the receiver to another device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary Embodiment

Configuration of Communication System

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the communication system5, relay devices1ato1cand client devices2ato2care communicably connected to each other by a private network4. In addition, the relay devices1ato1care communicably connected to external devices6aand6bvia a public network7, with information being transmitted and received between the external devices6aand6bby facsimile (hereinafter called “fax”).

The relay devices1ato1care devices that include fax transmitting and receiving functions as well as printer, scanner, and copier functions, and are equipped with electronic components such as a central processing unit (CPU) and flash memory that include functions for processing information. Although the relay devices1are able to transmit faxes by themselves, this exemplary embodiment will describe the case of transmitting a fax according to fax transmission instructions from the client devices2ato2con the basis of the Internet Fax (iFax) standard.

The client devices2ato2care devices that include printer, scanner, and copier functions, but do not include fax transmitting and receiving functions, and are equipped with electronic components such as a CPU and flash memory that include functions for processing information. The client devices2ato2csend fax transmission instructions to the relay devices1.

The private network4is a communication network capable of high-speed communication, and is a wired or wireless communication network such as an intranet or local area network (LAN).

The external devices6aand6bare arbitrary information processing devices that include fax transceiving functions, such as printers or PCs, for example.

The public network7is, for example, a paid communication network operated by a communication company, and may be an external network such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a public IP network.

Hereinafter, a case will be described in which the client devices2ato2csend fax transmission instructions to the relay devices1ato1c, causing faxes to be transmitted and received to and from multiple destinations.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of the relay device1a. Note that since the relay devices1ato1chave a shared configuration, the relay device1awill be described as a representative example.

The relay device1ais equipped with a controller10, made up of a CPU or the like, that controls respective units in addition to executing various programs, memory11made up of a memory medium such as flash memory that stores information, a communication unit12that communicates with external devices via the private network4, a fax communication unit13that communicates by fax with external devices via the public network7, a printing unit14that prints onto a paper sheet, and a scanning unit15that optically scans a paper sheet having information such as text and images written thereon. The relay device1amay additionally include a display that displays information such as text and images, and an operating unit used to operate the relay device1a.

By executing a fax transceiving program110discussed later, the controller10functions as an email communication unit100, an email title analyzer101, an email body analyzer102, a fax communication controller103, an incoming fax sorter104, a forwarding determiner105, a fax transmission requester106, and the like.

The email communication unit100transmits and receives email to and from the client devices2ato2cvia the private network4. The email communication unit100also functions as a receiver that receives emails including Internet fax transmission instructions in particular.

The email title analyzer101analyzes information such as the destination of a fax transmission from Internet fax transmission instructions included in the title of an email received by the email communication unit100.

The email body analyzer102analyzes the body text of an email received by the email communication unit100to extract fax transmission settings. For example, the email body analyzer102analyzes information such as settings for broadcasting the same document to multiple destinations, and settings indicating prioritized transmission.

The fax communication controller103controls the fax communication unit13to transmit and receive a document in fax format.

The incoming fax sorter104sorts a document received via the fax communication unit13into a sorting box according to the destination of that document. Note that the relay device1ais assumed to be able to receive faxes with multiple phone numbers set as destinations.

The forwarding determiner105, in cases such as the case of receiving multiple fax transmission instructions, for example, determines whether or not to request another relay device1bor1cto execute fax transmission, and also which relay device1bor1cto forward to, on the basis of conditions discussed later.

The fax transmission requester106, in the case where the forwarding determiner105determines to request another relay device1bor1cto execute fax transmission, transmits fax transmission instructions and a document to the relay device1bor1cset as the forwarding destination, and requests fax transmission.

The memory11stores information such as the fax transceiving program110that causes the controller10to operate as the respective units100to106discussed above, box forwarding information111, direct inward dialing (DID) number sorting box information112, forwarding destination information113, and success rate information114.

The box forwarding information111is information that associates identifiers for sorting boxes that temporarily save documents received as faxes with the IP addresses of forwarding destinations (the client devices2ato2c) assigned to each sorting box.

The DID number sorting box information112is information that associates phone numbers, which are destinations for documents received as faxes, with identifiers for sorting boxes. Note that this configuration assumes that multiple phone numbers are registered in DID format in a relay device, and that the registered numbers are respectively associated with the client devices2ato2c.

The forwarding destination information113is information related to the other relay devices1band1cthat include fax transmitting functions.

The success rate information114is information indicating the success rate of previous fax transmissions from the relay device1ato a specific destination.

The communication unit12transmits and receives data via the private network4according to a communication protocol such as TCP/IP, performing network-related control and controlling the transmitting and receiving of email.

The fax communication unit13includes the functionality of a modem that modulates and demodulates image data according to a facsimile protocol such as G3 or G4, and the functionality of an NCU that controls connections with the public network7, and conducts fax communication via the public network V.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of the client devices2ato2c. Since the configuration of the client devices2ato2cis shared, the client device2awill be described as a representative example.

The client device2ais equipped with a controller20, made up of a CPU or the like, that controls respective units in addition to executing various programs, memory21made up of a memory medium such as flash memory that stores information, a communication unit22that communicates with external devices via the private network4, a printing unit23that prints onto a paper sheet, and a scanning unit24that optically scans a paper sheet having information such as text and images written thereon. The client device2amay additionally include a display that displays information such as text and images, and an operating unit used to operate the client device2a.

By executing a fax transceiving program210discussed later, the controller20functions as a fax receiver200, an email body creator201, an email title creator202, an email communication unit203, an incoming fax receiver204, and the like.

The fax receiver200receives a fax transmission request from the user of the client device2a. Note that a fax transmission request is input together with a destination phone number as a result of the user operating an operating unit (not illustrated), while a document to be faxed is scanned by the scanning unit24.

The email body creator201creates the body text of an email to be transmitted to a relay device1, on the basis of a fax transmission request and a destination phone number received by the fax receiver200.

The email title creator202creates the title of an email to be transmitted to a relay device1, on the basis of a fax transmission request and a destination phone number received by the fax receiver200.

The email communication unit203transmits and receives email to and from the relay devices1via the private network4.

The incoming fax receiver204receives, via the private network4, image information saved to a sorting box corresponding to the client device2afrom among the image information of received documents temporarily saved in the relay device1.

The memory21stores information such as the fax transceiving program210that causes the controller20to operate as the respective units200to204discussed above, and relay device information211.

The relay device information211is information on the IP address of a relay device to which the client device2ais able to transmit fax transmission instructions.

(Operation of Communication System)

Hereinafter, operation of a communication system5according to the exemplary embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 6, with the description divided into (1) basic operation, (2) fax forwarding operation, and (3) forwarding determination operation. Note that the case of the client device2atransmitting faxes by broadcast transmission via the relay device1awill be described as representative of the client devices2ato2c.

(1) Basic Operation

First, a user of a client device2aoperates an operating unit (not illustrated) of the client device2a, and prepares a fax.

The fax receiver200of the client device2astarts receiving a fax transmission request in response to the user operations, and receives a destination phone number while also prompting the user to place a document to be faxed on a platen of the scanning unit24of the client device2a.

The user inputs a destination phone number, and in addition, places a document on the platen and operates the operating unit to cause the scanning unit24to scan the document.

The fax receiver200of the client device2aoptically scans the document with the scanning unit24and generates image information.

Next, the email body creator201creates the body text of an email to be transmitted to the relay device1a, on the basis of a fax transmission request and a destination phone number received by the fax receiver200. For example, information indicating broadcast transmission or information indicating a priority ranking of multiple destinations may be input into the body text.

In addition, the email title creator202creates the title of an email to be transmitted to the relay device1a, on the basis of a fax transmission request and a destination phone number received by the fax receiver200.

The email title states “FAX-044BBB1111@[192.168.1.33]”, for example. This indicates that fax transmission instructions with respect to the phone number “044BBB1111” are sent to the relay device1aat the IP address “192.168.1.33”. Note that in the case of broadcast transmission, there are actually multiple destination phone numbers.

Next, the email communication unit203attaches image information to the email created by the email body creator201and the email title creator202, and transmits the resulting email to the relay device1a.

The email communication unit100of the relay device1areceives the email transmitted by the client device2a, and the email title analyzer101analyzes the email title “FAX-044BBB1111@[192.168.1.33]” and recognizes that “044-BBB-1111” is the destination fax number. Note that in the case of broadcast transmission, there are actually multiple destination phone numbers.

Next, the fax communication controller103transmits a fax of the image information attached to the email to the phone number “044-BBB-1111”.

In addition to the basic operation above, in the case where conditions discussed later are met, the relay device1aforwards all or part of the fax transmission instructions that the relay device1ahas received to another relay device1bor1c, and requests fax transmission.

(2) Fax Forwarding Operation

FIG. 6is a flowchart illustrating an example of fax forwarding operation by a relay device.

First, if the email communication unit100of the relay device1areceives fax transmission instructions from the client device2a(S10), the forwarding determiner105determines whether or not to request another relay device1bor1cto execute fax transmission on the basis of the “(3) Forwarding determination operation” discussed later (S11).

In the case of determining to request fax transmission (S11; Yes), the forwarding determiner105references the forwarding destination information113and determines whether to forward to the relay device1bor1c(S12).

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the forwarding destination information113.

The forwarding destination information113aillustrated inFIG. 4is an example of forwarding destination information113, and is information related to other relay devices that include fax transmitting functions. The forwarding destination information113aincludes a forwarding destination device ID that indicates an identifier for a relay device, a forwarding destination IP address that indicates an IP address assigned to a relay device, and a phone number indicating a phone number assigned to a relay device.

The question of which forwarding destination is requested to execute fax transmission will be discussed in “(3) Forwarding determination operation”.

Note that the forwarding destination information113amay be registered in the relay device1ain advance, or acquired by querying the other relay devices1band1cconnected to the relay device1avia the private network4during the initialization of the respective units, such as when powering on the relay device1a.

Next, the fax transmission requester106forwards fax transmission instructions to the forwarding destination determined by the forwarding determiner105(S13).

Note that the fax transmission requester106forwards fax transmission instructions by transmitting the document and destination information of fax transmission instructions received by the relay device1afrom the client device2ato another relay device1bor1cvia the private network4using a protocol such as email or FTP.

Next, the fax communication controller103executes fax transmission similarly to “(1) Basic operation” for non-forwarded destinations. Additionally, the other relay device1bor1cthat has received forwarded fax transmission instructions executes fax transmission similarly to “(1) Basic operation”.

Also, in the case where the forwarding determiner105determines in step S11to not request another relay device1bor1cto execute fax transmission (S11; No), the fax communication controller103executes fax transmission similarly to “(1) Basic operation” (S15).

(3) Forwarding Determination Operation

Hereinafter, the operation by which the forwarding determiner105determines whether or not to request another relay device1bor1cto execute fax transmission in step S11will be described in detail.

As an example, in the case where the received fax transmission instructions are instructions for broadcast transmission that transmits the same document to multiple destinations, the forwarding determiner105determines to request one other relay device to execute fax transmission of half of the multiple destinations. Fax transmission may also be requested such that the destinations are divided equally or unequally among all other relay devices.

Also, as another example, in the case where the relay device1areceives multiple fax transmission instructions, and the number of received instructions exceeds a predetermined number, the forwarding determiner105determines to request an arbitrary other relay device to execute fax transmission of the exceeding portion.

Note that a request from the relay device1amay also be denied in the case where another relay device1bor1creceives a fax transmission request from the relay device1a, and the number of fax transmission instructions received at the other relay device1bor1citself exceeds a predetermined number. The denied fax transmission request is resent to another relay device by the relay device1a.

Also, as another example, in the case where a priority ranking is set for multiple destinations at the client device2a, the forwarding determiner105causes the execution of fax transmission at the relay device able to execute the fax transmission soonest in terms of time from among all relay devices1ato1c, including the relay device1aitself.

Note that in order to determine which device is able to execute fax transmission sooner than other devices, the forwarding determiner105may compare the number of fax transmission requests queued in the relay devices1band1c, and may also make comparisons that account for the numbers of pages in each fax transmission request.

Also, as another example, the forwarding determiner105to request another relay device to execute fax transmission in the case of a situation in which fax transmission is unavailable due to factors such as a malfunction or communication error in the relay device1a.

Furthermore, a communication error may be caused by the conditions of the physical lines connecting each of the relay devices1ato1cto external receiving devices set as destinations. For this reason, success rates of communication between each of the relay devices1ato1cand external receiving devices set as destinations may be computed from a past history, and these success rates may be used as a basis for determining which of the relay devices1ato1cto request.

FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating an example of success rates for communication between the relay device1aand respective destinations.

The success rate information114ais an example of success rate information114, and is information indicating success rates computed from a history of previous fax transmissions between the relay device1aand the destinations in the destination field.

Since the success rate of the relay device1ais high for the destinations “03-XXXX-1234” and “045-XXYY-0000”, the relay device1areceives more fax transmission requests from another relay device1bor1c. Meanwhile, since the success rate is low for the destination “07-ZZZZ-1111”, if there is another relay device with a high success rate, the relay device1arequests the other relay device to execute fax transmission without executing fax transmission itself.

Note that the fax transmission requester106sends fax transmission requests in addition to executing fax transmission in the relay device1a, and may also send communication parameters such as the transmit level, receive level, cable equalizer, and communication rate in the case of a failure as communication conditions. On the basis of these communication parameters, the relay device1bor1creceiving a request may be configured to select communication parameters so as to raise the success rate.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

Note that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing exemplary embodiment, and that various modifications are possible within a scope that does not depart from the principal matter of the present invention.

Furthermore, the foregoing fax transceiving programs110and210may also be provided by being stored on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, or by being downloaded to memory inside a device from a device such as a server connected to a network such as the Internet. In addition, all or part of the respective units100to106and the respective units200to204may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC. Note that the order of the respective steps indicated in the operational description of the foregoing exemplary embodiment may also be modified, and steps may also be added or removed.