Internet facsimile system

In a facsimile system adapted to receive data via a LAN (Internet facsimile system), when the facsimile machine is unable to print or otherwise process the received data, and has no mass storage device, the received data is rerouted to the other terminal connected to the LAN so that the received data may be readily retrieved at all times. Such a situation can occur as a result of a failure of the printer unit, running out of printing paper, experiencing an unchanged state of the image memory for more than a prescribed time period, experiencing a memory-full state of the image memory for more than a prescribed time period, and detecting the received data to be based on a format which the facsimile system is unable to handle. Therefore, the received data can be made readily available for the interested party, and the safety of the received data can be improved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a facsimile system which is generally called as “Internet facsimile” and adapted to receive data via a LAN or the Internet, and in particular to such a facsimile system which can successfully receive data even when the facsimile is unable to print or otherwise properly process the received data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Internet facsimile system is known. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,277 issued Jul. 25, 2000 to Toyoda et al. discloses an Internet facsimile system which changes the image data into corresponding mail data for transmission over the Internet. The Internet mail typically uses the SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol). According to this protocol, the communication terminal accesses a mail server at a regular interval, and retrieves mail directed to the particular communication terminal by matching the user name and password with the data stored in the mail server. The communication terminal typically consists of a personal computer or workstation, and such a terminal can retrieve the entire mail and display it on the monitor as it is normally equipped with a mass storage device such as a hard disk.

On the other hand, an Internet facsimile machine is not normally equipped with any such mass storage devices or large memory. Because the retrieved mail data is simply printed on paper concurrently with retrieving mail data from the mail server, there is no need to store any large amount of mail data under normal circumstances. However, if the printer should fail, the facsimile machine would not be able to retrieve mail data from the mail server, and any further receipt of mail or image data would be made impossible.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of such problems of the prior art, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile system adapted to receive data via a LAN (Internet facsimile system) which allows the received data to be retrieved even when the affected facsimile machine is unable to print or otherwise process the received data, and has no mass storage device.

A second object of the present invention is to provide such a facsimile system which allows received data that cannot be processed by the facsimile system to be rerouted to another terminal on the LAN so that the received data may be accessed from the other terminal without substantially modifying the existing system.

A third object of the present invention is to provide such a facsimile system which can prevent loss of the received data or delay in the access to the received data even when the affected facsimile machine is unable to print or otherwise process the received data, and has no mass storage device.

According to the present invention, these and other objects can be accomplished by providing a facsimile device adapted to receive data via a LAN, comprising: a facsimile unit including a printer unit, scanner unit and interface with a public switching telephone network; a CPU incorporated in the facsimile unit; a LAN interface provided in association with the CPU for establishing communication with another terminal via a LAN; data memory storing at least one mail address for rerouting received data; and image memory for storing received data; the CPU being adapted to reroute the received data to the other terminal connected to the LAN under a certain condition of the facsimile device.

The present invention also provides a method for receiving facsimile data in such a facsimile device which comprises the steps of determining if a certain condition of the facsimile device exists or not; and upon determining the existence of the certain condition of the facsimile device, rerouting the received data to the other terminal connected to the LAN.

More specifically, the rerouting step may comprise the sub steps of storing the received data in the buffer memory for each page thereof; if the certain condition of the facsimile device does not exist, transferring the image data stored in the buffer memory to the image memory page by page; and if the certain condition of the facsimile device exists, converting the image data stored in the buffer memory into mail data and transferring the mail data to the other terminal connected to the LAN page by page.

Thus, even when the facsimile device is unable to print the received data for any one of a number of possible reasons, the data can be simply rerouted to another terminal, and the received data can be readily accessed from the other terminal, and the possibility of losing the received data can be eliminated. The LAN as used herein includes the Internet or other intranet system, and the mode of linking with such systems may include various modes of LAN connection including Ethernet, and dialup connections among other possibilities.

The received data may include G3 facsimile data received via a public switching telephone network, facsimile data based on a prescribed protocol and received via the LAN, and email data based on a prescribed protocol and received via the LAN. The data which is stored in the image memory and is not yet printed may also be an object to be rerouted to another terminal. This is important because the situation where the data is kept in volatile memory for a prolonged time period can be avoided, and the possibility of losing the data due to the power outage of the facsimile device can be minimized.

The certain condition of the facsimile device may include a failure of the printer unit, running out of printing paper, experiencing an unchanged state of the image memory for more than a prescribed time period, experiencing a memory-full state of the image memory for more than a prescribed time period, and detecting the received data to be based on a format which the facsimile device is unable to handle. The other terminal connected to the LAN may include a personal computer, a server and another facsimile device adapted to receive data via a LAN.

According to a certain aspect of the present invention, there is provided an internet facsimile device, comprising: image memory for storing image data received by a facsimile reception or a mail reception; a control unit including means for detecting a memory full state of the buffer memory; the control unit being adapted to transfer data stored in the image memory to a server when the image memory is detected to be full.

According to another aspect of the present invention, it may also be defined as an internet facsimile device, comprising: buffer memory for storing image data received by a facsimile reception or a mail reception via SMTP protocol page by page; image memory for storing the image data transferred from the buffer memory; and a control unit for storing the received image data in the buffer memory, converting the image data into mail data, and transferring the converted mail data to another terminal connected to the internet facsimile via a LAN, page by page, when the image memory is detected to be full.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1schematically illustrates a system environment in which an internet facsimile system embodying the present invention is implemented. An internet facsimile machine (IFAX)1is placed in a public switching telephone network (PSTN)2, and can communicate with any one of a number of remote G3 facsimile machines (G3FAX)3and4via PSTN2. IFAX1is also connected to a local area network (LAN)5which is in turn connected to the Internet6via a gateway (not shown in the drawing). A number of workstations, personal computers and servers are connected to LAN5, and they are represented by an administrator personal computer (PC) and a POP3 mail server in the drawing. The internet facsimile machine embodying the present invention may be directly connected to the Internet6or LAN5in addition to PSTN2as represented by IFAX10which is connected to both the Internet6and PSTN2. Numeral9denotes a server representing various types of terminals and servers that are connected to the Internet6.

FIG. 2schematically illustrates the various channels of communication for IFAX1. The communication with G3FAX3or4can be accomplished by using the widely used G3 format for facsimile transmission. IFAX1can communicate with other IFAXs on LAN5or the Internet6by using the STMP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) as represented by IFAX10.

Typically, IFAX1is not provided with any mass storage system. Therefore, it IFAX1is unable to print the data or file which is forwarded thereto for any one of a number of possible reasons, either the sender experiences a transmission failure or the transmitted data is left in a mail server that may not be readily accessible for the recipient. This can occur when the printer of IFAX1has failed, when the memory of IFAX1has become full, and when the received file is not a TIFF file.

To avoid this problem, IFAX1according to the present invention is adapted to transfer the received file to POP server8. If desired, the received file may be transferred to administrator PC7, or other IFAX10. Once the problem with IFAX1has been corrected, and IFAX1has become capable of printing or otherwise processing the received file, the received file is retrieved from POP server6and printed at IFAX1. If the received file is not a TIFF file, it is rerouted to administrator PC7to be printed, displayed or otherwise processed at administrator PC7.

FIG. 3shows the internal structure of IFAX1which includes a CPU31. CPU31is connected, via a bus line, to ROM32, image memory33, data memory34, a LAN interface35, a scanner unit36, a printer unit37, a fax unit38which serves as an interface with PSTN2, buffer memory39and a conversion unit39.

The CPU31controls the various functions of IFAX1according to the program stored in ROM32. Received data and data which is to be transmitted are stored in image memory33as reception jobs and transmission jobs in different blocks of image memory33(see FIG.4). Data memory34stores administrative information on the data stored in image memory33such as the registered mail addresses and telephone numbers, and the procedure for transferring files when IFAX1is unable to print the received files.

LAN interface35interfaces IFAX1with LAN5and the Internet6, and is adapted to establish a communication with administrator PC7and POP server8. Scanner unit36reads character and image information from an original sheet, and printer unit37prints the received file. Fax unit38enables IFAX1to communicate with other facsimile machines (which may be either G3 or internet facsimile machines).

Buffer memory39temporarily stores the received file before printing it or transferring it to administrator PC7or server8. When the received file is required to be transferred to administrator PC7or server8via LAN5or the Internet6, and is not a TIFF file, the received file is converted into a TIFF file by conversion unit39.FIG. 5shows the structure of a TIFF file which includes a header and a number of pages. Each page consists of an IFD, long values and image data.

FIG. 6shows the contents of data memory34. The processing modes consist of a list of possible processing modes that can be selected. Depending on the particular situation, the system may (1) do nothing, (2) transfer data to another IFAX, (3) transfer data to administrator PC, or (4) transfer data to POP server. The selection is typically made by the user or a system administrator as a part of the initial setting process for the particular IFAX. Data memory34additionally stores the mail addresses of other IFAX, administrator PC and POP server as well as its own address. The received data may consist of G3 facsimile data, email data or other data of undefined format. If the received data consists of G3 facsimile data (TIFF data), the program flow advances to the flowchart shown inFIGS. 7 and 8. Otherwise, the program flow advances to the flowchart shown inFIGS. 9 and 10.

The control flow in case of a printer failure or memory full (in receiving G3 FAX data) of IFAX1is described in the following with reference toFIGS. 7 and 8. As soon as the system operation starts (step510), the system waits for reception of G3 fax data from other facsimile machines and IFAX machines (which emulate normal G3 facsimile machines) via PSTN (step520). When any G3 data intended for this particular IFAX1is detected, it is determined if IFAX1is in proper order for receiving and printing the G3 facsimile data (step530). If IFAX1is ready to receive and print the data, the data is received and printed by printer unit37(step540), and this particular control process is concluded (step660).

If IFAX1is not ready to receive the data and is unable to print the received data, the program flow advances to step550to look up the processing mode selected from data memory34. This situation can occur when printer unit37fails or runs out of paper, when IFAX1is transmitting data, and when the image memory is full. If “do nothing” is selected, the G3 facsimile data reception process is aborted (step560), and after completing the reception process (step570), the system flow advances to step660.

If the system is pre-programmed to transfer the received data to another IFAX, administrator PC or POP server under such a condition, the system retrieves the email address from data memory34(step610).FIG. 8shows the case where the received data is transferred to POP server8. If administrator PC7or other IFAX10is selected, the program flow is essentially the same except for that POP server8is replaced by administrator PC7or other IFAX10as the case may be. In any case, IFAX1establishes a connection with POP server8(step620), and conducts a G3 fax data reception process (step630).

The G3 fax data reception process includes the steps of receiving one page of data via FAX unit38(step631), storing the one page data in buffer memory39(step632), converting the data stored in buffer memory39into TIFF data with conversion unit40(step633), and transmitting the TIFF data to POP server8via LAN interface35(step634). It is then determined if the received data is the last page or not (step635). The steps631to635are repeated until the last page is reached.

When the last page is reached in step635, the G3 fax data reception process is concluded by executing a G3 fax reception ending step (step640). The connection with POP server8is then shut off (step650), and the program flow advances to step660.

The control flow in case of receiving non-TIFF data or a memory full situation (in case of SMTP data reception) is described in the following with reference toFIGS. 9 and 10. As soon as the system operation starts (step710), the system waits for reception of data from other IFAX10based on the SMTP protocol via LAN5or the Internet6(step720). If IFAX1is ready to receive and print the data (step730), the received data is printed (step740), and the program flow advances to step860.

If it is determined in step730that IFAX1is incapable of printing the received data, the system looks for the selected processing mode in data memory34. This situation can occur when printer unit37fails or runs out of paper, when IFAX1is transmitting data, and when image memory33is full. If the instruction given in data memory34is “do nothing”, the program flow advances to step770to abort the process of receiving the IFAX data. Otherwise, the program flow advances to step810shown in FIG.10. In step810, one of the rerouting addresses is acquired from the list in data memory34according to the initial setting (step750), and the process of receiving and rerouting the IFAX data is conducted (step830).

The process of receiving and rerouting the IFAX data is conducted as described in the following. IFAX1first receives a block of the IFAX data via LAN interface35(step831). The size of this block corresponds to the size of the available buffer memory. The received IFAX data is temporarily received in buffer memory39(step832), and forwarded to POP server8via LAN interface35(step833). It is then determined if the final page has been reached (step834). Until the final page is reached, steps834,831,832,833and834are repeated. In this manner, the received data is entirely rerouted to POP server8according to the initial selection, by the SMTP. It is also possible to select the other IFAX10or administrator PC7as the alternate destination of rerouting. When the final page is reached (step834), the program flow advances to step840to conclude the IFAX communication process. The connection with POP server8is shut off in step850, and this concludes this particular routine (step860).

Now is described the process which is executed when the image memory continues to be full for more than a prescribed time period with reference toFIGS. 11 and 12. This process is selected, for instance, when the data in the image memory would not decrease for a prescribed time period typically due to the failure of the printer unit. The data in the image memory could be lost if the data in IFAX1is turned off or experiences a power outage.

As the process is started (step910), it is determined if this process has been reset or not in step915. If the process is reset, the program flow advances to step970to conclude this process. If not, the program flow advances to step920. In step920, it is determined if the image memory is full or not. If not, the program flow advances to step915. It is determined in step930if the memory has continued to be full for more than a prescribed time period. If so, the program flow advances to step940. If not, the program flow returns to step915. Thus, as long as the image memory continues to be full for more than a prescribed time period (steps920and930), and the process is not reset in step915, steps930,915,920and930are repeated.

The pre-selected processing mode is acquired from data memory34in step940. In this case, “do nothing” cannot be acquired. It is determined in step950if there is any received jobs among the jobs stored in image memory33. If there is any received job, the program flow advances to step960. If not, the program flow advances to step915, and as long as the process is not reset in step915, steps950,915,920,930,940and950are repeated until a received job is detected in step950. If there are any received jobs, one of the received jobs stored in the image memory is selected in step960.

One of the rerouting addresses is acquired in step1010, and a connection is established with POP server8according to this address in step1020. A block of the selected received job is converted into a TIFF file at conversion unit40in step1030, and the TIFF file corresponding to this block of the buffer memory is forwarded to POP server8via LAN interface35. If the buffer block transmitted in step1040is the final block (step1045), the program flow advances to step1050. If not, the steps1045,1030,1040and1045are repeated until the final buffer block is detected in step1045.

When the program flow has advanced from step1045to step1050, all of the buffer blocks of the single received job have been process. It is determined in step1050if the received job which has been transmitted is the last received job or not. If it is the last received job, the program flow advances to step1060to conclude this process. If not, the program flow advances to step960, and steps1050,960,1010,1020,1030,1040,1045and1050are repeated until the transmitted job is determined to be the last received job. When the program flow has advanced from step1050to step1060, all of the received jobs have been transmitted or rerouted.

A data transmission is concluded in step1060, and IFAX1is disconnected from POP server8in step1070. The program flow then advances to step925, and if the process has been reset, the program flow advances to step970to conclude this process.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment thereof, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that various alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention which is set forth in the appended claims.