Abstract:
A server apparatus is connected to a plurality of communication apparatuses via the Internet, and is connected to a terminal apparatus via the Internet. The server apparatus comprises a communicator configured to obtain, from the plurality of communication apparatuses, information regarding a job. The server apparatus also comprises a memory configured to store the obtained information regarding the job. The job includes a transmitting job and a receiving job. The transmitting job is linked with the corresponding receiving job by a predetermined identification information. The server apparatus further comprises a controller configured to receive, from the terminal apparatus, a request for the information regarding the job. The request designates a transmitting communication apparatus. The controller searches the memory for the transmitting job of the transmitting communication apparatus and the corresponding receiving job, based on the predetermined identification information, and transmits, to the terminal apparatus, the transmitting job and the corresponding receiving job.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a server apparatus and a relay apparatus that provides information regarding a job to manage a plurality of communication apparatuses, and to a method of verifying status of communications between a plurality of communication apparatuses.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     Regarding a communication apparatus which transmits and receives data, such as a facsimile apparatus or other like apparatus, it is required to verify that data transmitted from a transmitting apparatus is delivered to a receiving apparatus. Therefore, to manage the above communication apparatus, it is necessary to verify delivery status indicating whether or not the data is delivered to the receiving apparatus. It is also necessary to analyze a cause of a failed delivery when the data failed to be delivered to the receiving apparatus.  
         [0005]     To verify the delivery status or to analyze the cause of the failed delivery, it is required to obtain information regarding a job which is performed at the communication apparatus when the communication apparatus transmits and receives the data. It is known that, in order to conveniently obtain the information regarding the job, a facsimile apparatus generates a Web page data in which the information regarding the job is described, the job being performed at the facsimile apparatus, and the information regarding the job can be referred at a Web browser of a personal computer which is connected to the facsimile apparatus via a LAN (see Reference Document 1).  
         [0000]     Reference Document 1  
         [0006]     Japanese Kokai (laid open) patent publication 2002-7095  
         [0007]     However, it is necessary to compare a job performed at a transmitting apparatus with a job performed at a receiving apparatus, in order to verify the delivery status or to analyze the cause of the failed delivery. It is also preferable to compare a plurality of jobs performed at a plurality of receiving apparatuses in the case of a broadcast transmission in which data is transmitted to the plurality of receiving apparatuses.  
         [0008]     On the other hand, the above prior art merely disclose that a personal computer accesses to a predetermined communication apparatus and displays only information regarding the communication apparatus. However, the prior art has to access to each of a plurality of communication apparatuses in order to obtain the information regarding the jobs both form the transmitting apparatus and from the receiving apparatus. According to the prior art, extremely many procedures have to be performed for obtaining the information regarding the jobs when there are many communication apparatuses to be managed by the personal computer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention is provided to solve the above problem. A purpose of the present invention puts forth a server apparatus and a method for controlling the server apparatus that are configured to facilitate verification of the delivery status and analysis of the cause of the failed delivery.  
         [0010]     In order to achieve the purpose of the invention, a server apparatus is connected to a plurality of communication apparatuses via the Internet, and is connected to a personal computer via the Internet. The server apparatus comprises a communicator configured to obtain, form the plurality of communication apparatuses, information regarding a job. The server apparatus also comprises a memory configured to store the obtained information regarding the job. The job includes a transmitting job and a receiving job. The transmitting job is linked with the corresponding receiving job by a predetermined identification information. The server apparatus further comprises a controller configured to receive, from the personal computer, a request for the information regarding the job. The request designates a transmitting communication apparatus. The controller searches the memory for the transmitting job of the transmitting communication apparatus and the corresponding receiving job, based on the predetermined identification information, and transmits, to the personal computer, the transmitting job and the corresponding receiving job. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a document data delivery verification support system as described by the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a table illustrating the structure of the job data stored in the server shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a table illustrating the structure of the device data stored in the server shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a web browser screen on the web browser of the client computer shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a web browser screen of the client computer shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a web browser screen of the client computer shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a web browser screen of the client computer shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates a web browser screen of the client computer shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart describing the main operations when data is obtained by the server shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart describing the main operation when data is provided by the server shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     An embodiment of the present invention is explained in the following, in reference to the above-described drawings.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a document delivery verification support system as described by the invention. Facsimile apparatuses (communication apparatuses)  1  and  2  are Internet facsimile apparatuses that transmit and receive document data in the form of image data transmitted over the Internet by electronic mails. Facsimile apparatuses (communication apparatuses)  3  and  4  are G3 facsimile apparatuses that transmit and image data in the form of document data transmitted via a public switched telephone network (PSTN).  
         [0024]     Server apparatus (communication job data presentation device)  5  includes data collector  6 , as a communicator, that obtains, through the Internet, a transmitting job data and a receiving job data from facsimile apparatuses  1  through  4 , data memory  7  that stores data obtained from data collector  6 , and web server  9  that transmits the job data from data memory  7  to client computers (viewing devices)  8 .  
         [0025]     Facsimile apparatuses  1  and  3  are equipped with data transmitters  11  and  12  respectively which transmit data, which is related to jobs executed by facsimile  1  and  3 , through the Internet to server apparatus  5 . Data transmitters  11  and  12  are each equipped with a SOAP controller that transmits job data to server apparatus  5  according to a SOAP protocol (Simple Object Access Protocol). This job data transmission is conducted whenever a job is executed.  
         [0026]     Facsimile apparatuses  2  and  4 , which are not able to communicate directly with server apparatus  5  through the Internet, are connected to relay apparatus  14  through a local area network (LAN). Relay apparatus  14  is equipped with data collector  15  which obtains job data relating to the transmitting operations and the receiving operations of facsimile apparatuses  2  and  4  over the LAN, and data transmitter  16  that transmits the aforesaid job data to server apparatus  5  over the Internet.  
         [0027]     Data collector  15  of relay apparatus  14  includes an SNMP controller that obtains job data from facsimiles apparatuses  2  and  4 , and data transmitter  16  includes a SOAP controller that transmits job data to server apparatus  5  according to the SOAP protocol. The process through which job data is obtained is based on the Management Information Base (MIB) of facsimiles  2  and  4 , and a job data transmission is executed whenever job data is obtained from facsimiles  2  and  4 . Moreover, relay apparatus  14  may be provided to install a program, which executes a required process, in a personal computer. Data collector  15  of relay apparatus  14  obtains the job data from facsimile apparatus  2  and  4  according to a SNMP protocol (Simple Network Management Protocol), and data transmitter  16  of relay apparatus  14  transmits the job data to server apparatus  5  according to the SOAP protocol.  
         [0028]     Data collector  6  of server apparatus  5  includes a SOAP controller in order to obtain job data from facsimile apparatuses  1  and  3  and from relay apparatus  14 , according to the SOAP protocol. Server apparatus  5  can be normally connected to facsimile apparatuses  1  and  3  and to relay apparatus  14 . Whenever facsimile apparatuses  1  or  3  execute a transmission or receive a job, or whenever job data is obtained from facsimile apparatuses  2  or  4  through relay apparatus  14 , the job data is transmitted to server apparatus  5 .  
         [0029]     Web server (information provider)  9  of server apparatus  5  incorporates a function that, in response to a view request from client computers, formats web page data (viewing data), which has been assembled from the relevant job data, into HTML format, and then transmits the web page to client computers. Client computer  8  then uses a web browser to display the web page which contains the job data. Moreover, the viewing data, created by server apparatus  5 , can also be structured to be viewed through a special viewing application.  
         [0030]     Server apparatus  5  also includes data processor  18  which generates data, based on the various data stored in data memory  7 . The generated data is required by web browser  9  to create the web page. Data processor  18  includes a job search section that searches for corresponding transmitted and receiving jobs that relate to the delivered document. Web server  9  generates web page data which assembles job data regarding corresponding transmitted and receiving jobs, and then transmits that web page to client computer  8 .  
         [0031]     Data processor  18  searches jobs. The job search is executed by determining the relationship between the transmitted and receiving jobs, based on a designated message ID (discriminator data). The message ID is sent, along with document data, from the transmitting facsimile apparatus to the receiving facsimile apparatus, and then data collector  6  of server apparatus  5  obtains the message ID, as job data, form the transmitting facsimile apparatus and form the receiving facsimile apparatus.  
         [0032]     For example, in the case of Internet facsimile apparatuses  1  and  2 , the message ID is contained in a header of an e-mail. In the case of G3 facsimile apparatuses  3  and  4 , the message ID is exchanged by a non-standard function setting signal (NSS) during negotiations between G3 facsimile apparatuses  3  and  4 . Furthermore, in the case of G3 facsimile apparatuses  3  and  4 , the relationship between the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus can be determined, based on the transmission time and the reception time in close proximity, and based on the same address (dialed number) and the same communication type utilized between the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus.  
         [0033]     When an operator specifies a transmitting job to verify delivery status, the operator specifies the facsimile apparatus that executes the transmitting job and specifies the time during which the transmitted job is executed. Thereby, data processor  18  finds the transmitting job, according to search conditions specified by the operator.  
         [0034]     In the same manner as it obtains job data, data collector  6  in server apparatus  5  directly obtains status data showing the current status of facsimile apparatuses  1  and  3 , and obtains status data from facsimile apparatuses  2  and  4  through relay apparatus  14 . After that, the data is stored in data memory  7 . Facsimile apparatuses  1  and  3  periodically send self-status data to server apparatus  5 . Relay apparatus  14  periodically sends status data obtained from facsimile apparatuses  2  and  4  to server apparatus  5 . The status data can indicate various conditions such as idle (normal status), power off, off-line, paper jam, door open etc.  
         [0035]     Furthermore, in cases where data processor  18  in server apparatus  5  cannot find the receiving job which is the object of the search, an operation is executed to specify the receiving facsimile apparatus that corresponds to the transmitting job. This operation is based on data from the transmitting facsimile apparatus. The data comprises the transmission destination address, and data pertaining to the transmitting apparatus itself. As a result, status data of the receiving facsimile apparatus is placed in the web page instead of receiving job data, and is sent to the client computer.  
         [0036]     In the case where the specified transmitting job indicates a multicasting transmission in which the same information being transmitted to a plurality of facsimile apparatus destinations, job data, relating to the receiving job data executed by each of the plurality of receiving facsimile apparatuses, is taken from data memory  7  by data processor  18  of server apparatus  5 . Then data processor  18  compiles and processes the data. The transmitting job data and the plurality of receiving job data corresponding to the transmitting job data are assembled into a web page, and are transmitted to client computer  8 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  illustrates the data structure for job data stored in the server shown in  FIG. 1 . The data stored in data memory  7  of server apparatus  5  includes the name of the sender, device ID, communications start time, message ID, number of recipients receiving the same message, destination address, and communication type for each transmission and reception job. An e-mail address is used when using an Internet facsimile apparatus, and a PSTN dial-up number is used when the destination is a G3 facsimile apparatus.  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  illustrates the data structure of the device data stored in the server shown in  FIG. 1 . Memory  7  of server apparatus  5  stores the device ID, device name, MAC address, location, condition (status data), and registration time. This data is obtained from the facsimile apparatus and is set in client computer  8 .  
         [0039]      FIGS. 4 through 8  illustrate screen displays provided by the client computer web browser shown in  FIG. 1 . These screens are accessed by the web browser of client computer  8  through server apparatus  5 , and are displayed as web page data transmitted from server apparatus  5 . The operator can use a pointing device or other like input device to select the screen for display.  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  illustrates the Communications Device Selection Screen which is used to specify the transmitting facsimile apparatus for which the delivery status is to be verified. Facsimile apparatus data is used in device data display column  41 . Transmission device selector buttons  42 , located to the left of device data display column  41 , can be used to select the desired facsimile apparatus. Device data display column  41  displays the presence or absence of a signal from the facsimile apparatus (Signal), the name of the facsimile apparatus (Name), the location (Location), and the condition (status) based on the device data shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0041]     “Platform,” which is displayed in message column  43  at the top of the screen, shows the connection system through which the facsimile apparatus is connected to server apparatus  5 . “Platform A” indicates the connection system through which facsimile apparatuses  1  and  3  are connected directly to server apparatus  5 , and “Platform B” indicates the connection system through which facsimile apparatuses  2  and  4  are connected to server apparatus  5  through relay apparatus  14 . Facsimile apparatuses whose platforms have been specified in advance are listed in device data display column  41 .  
         [0042]     The Transmission Time Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 5  is used to narrow down the time period for transmitting jobs executed by transmission devices selected in the Communications Device Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 4 . Start Time Select column  51  is used to select the date and time from where the job search will start, and End Time Select column  52  is used to select the date and time at which the job search will end. Touching the “Search” button will execute the processing operation for the transmitting job search.  
         [0043]     Message column  54  at the top of the screen shows the platform (Platform A) to which the device belongs, and the name of the model of the device (Model A). Moreover, Select Device button  55  can be used to return to the Transmission Device Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0044]     The Transmitting job Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 6  provides a list of transmitting jobs corresponding to the transmission devices selected in the Transmission Device Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 4 , and the transmission times selected in the Transmission Time Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 5 . The desired transmitting job can be selected from this list. Relevant transmitting jobs are displayed in transmitting job data column  61 , and the desired transmitting job can be selected through the operation of transmitting job select button  62  located to the left of transmitting job data column  61 .  
         [0045]     Transmitting job data column  61  displays data pertaining to communications type (Type), date of transmission (Send Date), first destination (First Destination), a number of destinations (Number of Destination), a number of transmitted pages (Pages), time of transmission (Sending Time), and transmission result (Result). The operator refers to the transmitting job data in this list, and selects the transmitting job for which the delivery status will be verified.  
         [0046]     Message column  63 , which is located at the top of the screen, shows the platform (Platform A) to which the device belongs, and the name of the device model (Model A). The time period selected in the Transmission Time Selection Screen of  FIG. 5  is shown in title column  64 . Activating the Search Again button  65  will recall the Transmission Time Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0047]     The Delivery Status Verification Screen shown in  FIG. 7  provides a list of receiving jobs corresponding to the transmitting jobs that were selected from the Transmitting job Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 6 . An operation can be conducted from this screen to verify the delivery status of document data and to analyze the cause of a delivery failure. Transmission data display column (Sended Fax Information)  71  shows the job data for the selected transmitting job, and reception data display column (Received Fax Information)  72  shows the job data and the status data, corresponding to receiving job.  
         [0048]     In this example, multiple communications devices have been selected as transmission destinations to which the same transmission has been sent. In this case, Received Fax Information column  72  includes destination data display columns  73  and  74  that provide data pertaining to the receiving job for each destination as well as corresponding job status data.  
         [0049]     Transmission data display column (Sended Fax Information column)  71  displays various types of transmitting job data in the same manner as the Transmitting job Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 6 . Receiving job data, in the form of platform name (Platform), device type (Device), a received time in a transmitting location (Received Time (Send Region)), a received time in a received location (Received Time (Receive Region)), a number of received pages (Pages), result of reception (Result), and status data (Device Status) is displayed in Destination Data Display Columns  73  and  74  in Received Fax Information columns  72 , as well as data pertaining to the status of the device (Device Status).  
         [0050]     Message column  75 , located at the top of the screen, shows the platform (Platform A) to which the device belongs, and the name of the type of device (Model). Also, Sended List button  76  is used to return to the Transmitting job Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 6 , and Sended Fax Search button  77  to return to the Transmission Time Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0051]     The Delivery Status Verification Screen shown in  FIG. 8  illustrates one example where a job search has failed to find the receiving job corresponding to the transmitting job for which a delivery status verification was requested. Destination Data Display column  81  (in Received Fax Information column  72 ) displays the status data instead of the receiving job data for the receiving facsimile apparatus.  
         [0052]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating the main operations executed when data is obtained by the server shown in  FIG. 1 . Normally, server apparatus  5  is in a standby condition waiting for job and status data from a facsimile apparatus (step  101 ). When transmitting job data from a facsimile apparatus is received (step  102 ), the received transmitting job data is written into data memory  7  (step  103 ). When job data is received again (step  104 ), the data is written into data memory  7  (step  105 ). When job data is received again (step  106 ), the data is written into data memory  7  (step  107 ).  
         [0053]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating the main operations executed when data is provided by the server shown in  FIG. 1 . First, a view request is received by server apparatus  5  from client computer  8  through a web browser (step  201 ). Web page data is sent to client computer  8  in order to display the Transmission Device Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 4  on client computer  8  (step  202 ). The operator then operates client computer  8  to select the relevant communications devices.  
         [0054]     The operator of client computer  8  then selects the communications device which is sent to server apparatus  5  (step  203 ). Web page data is then sent to client computer  8  so that client computer  8  may display, in this case, the Transmission Time Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 5  (step  204 ). The operator of client computer  8  then selects the transmission time period.  
         [0055]     The transmission time period selected by the operator of client computer  8  is then sent to server apparatus  5  (step  205 ). Data processor  18  executes a search operation for job data within the time period specified for the selected communications device. Web page data resulting from the search is sent to client computer  8  (step  206 ) so that client computer  8  can display the Transmitting job Selection Screen shown in  FIG. 6 , and thus allow the operator of client computer  8  to select the desired transmitting job.  
         [0056]     Next, server apparatus  5  receives the transmitting job which is selected by the operator of client computer  8  (step  209 ), and data processor  18  executes a search operation for the receiving job corresponding to the selected transmitting job, from the data stored in data memory  7  (step  208 ).  
         [0057]     A determination is made whether the receiving job corresponding to the specified transmitting job exists (step  209 ). In a case where the receiving job exists, data processor  18  removes the corresponding receiving job data and status data of the receiving apparatus from data memory  7  (step  210 ), compiles information the receiving apparatus and information regarding the transmitting apparatus, and creates web page data so that the Delivery Status Verification Screen shown in  FIG. 7  can be displayed by client computer  8  (step  211 ). The web page data is sent to client computer  8  (step  212 ). After that, computer  8  can display the Delivery Status Verification Screen.  
         [0058]     On the other hand, in a case where the receiving job corresponding to the transmitting job cannot be found, data processor  18  searches for the receiving apparatus corresponding to the transmitting job, based on destination and information regarding the transmitting apparatus, reads out status data of the receiving apparatus from data memory  7  (step  213 ), and continues with the above step for generating web page data (step  211 ). In this case, the Transmission Status Verification Screen, shown in  FIG. 8  as an example, is displayed on client computer  8 .  
         [0059]     It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular structures, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0060]     The present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments, and various variations and modifications may be possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0061]     This application is based on the Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-376668 filed on Nov. 6, 2003, entire content of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.