Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Rule 1.53(b) continuation of application Ser. No. 11/635,144, filed Dec. 6, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,094,792 which claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-359793 filed with the Japanese Patent Office on Dec. 14, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that has a register unit for registering a transmission destination in an internal address book. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are cases in which a user designates a wrong destination upon sending a document via facsimile transmission. 
     When the receiving side is a facsimile apparatus, the document is transmitted even when the designated destination is wrong. 
     Under such circumstances, irreparable damage and harm may be caused when a confidential document or a document containing personal information is mistakenly transmitted to a wrong destination, for example. 
     In order to prevent such an inconvenience, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-217879 discloses an apparatus that implements a mode of not performing transmission operations when a fax number that is not registered in its address book is input as the facsimile transmission destination. 
     However, even in such an apparatus, a document can still be sent to a wrong destination if the registered information in the address book is erroneous. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a facsimile apparatus is provided that promotes accurate designation of a transmission destination. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a facsimile apparatus is provided that includes: 
     a register unit that registers transmission destination information in an internal address book; 
     wherein the register unit receives a number input at least a first time and a second time, and upon determining that a number input the first time and a number input the second time correspond to a same input number, registers the same input number as a valid facsimile number. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention further includes: 
     a transmission unit that receives a destination number input at least a first time and a second time, and upon determining that a destination number input the first time and a destination number input the second time correspond to a same input destination number, performs call operations using the same input destination number as a valid destination facsimile number. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention further includes: 
     a display unit that displays a number match indication screen indicating that the number input the first time and the number input the second time correspond to the same input number. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the number match indication screen indicates the same input number. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the number match indication screen includes a selection element for selecting whether to validate the same input number, the result of selecting the selection element being used to determine whether the same input number is to be accepted as the valid facsimile number. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention further includes: 
     a display unit that displays a warning screen indicating that the number input the first time and the number input the second time do not correspond to the same input number. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a group  3  facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  are diagrams illustrating examples of address book information, address information, and input number confirmation information; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of registering address information in address book information; 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  are diagrams illustrating examples of display screens; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process to be executed when a facsimile transmission command is issued. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a group  3  facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In the illustrated group  3  facsimile apparatus, a system control unit  1  performs processes for controlling the components of the present apparatus and predetermined group  3  facsimile transmission control processes, a system memory  2 , which is used as a working area by the system control unit  1 , stores control process programs to be executed by the system control unit  1  and data used to execute process programs, a parameter memory  3  stores information unique to the present apparatus, and a clock circuit  4  outputs current time information. 
     Also, a scanner  5  reads a document image at a predetermined resolution, a plotter  6  records/outputs an image at a predetermined resolution, and an operations/display unit  7  includes operation keys and a display, for example, for operating the present apparatus. 
     Further, an encoding/decoding unit  8  performs compression on an image signal and performs decompression on compressed image information, and an image accumulating device  9  stores plural sets of compressed image information. 
     A group  3  facsimile modem  10  implements group  3  facsimile modem functions including a low-speed modem function (e.g., V. 21 modem) for enabling exchange of transmission procedure signals and a high-speed modem function (e.g., V. 17 modem, V. 34 modem, V. 29 modem, V. 27 ter modem) for primarily enabling exchange of image information. 
     A network control device  11  connects the present group  3  facsimile apparatus to an analog public communications network PSTN and has an automatic call transmitting/receiving function. 
     The system control unit  1 , the system memory  2 , the parameter memory  3 , the clock circuit  4 , the scanner  5 , the plotter  6 , the operations/display unit  7 , the encoding/decoding unit  8 , the image accumulation device  9 , the group  3  facsimile modem  10 , and the network control device  11  are interconnected by an internal bus  12 , and data exchanges between these elements are primarily performed via this internal bus  12 . 
     It is noted that data may be directly exchanged between the network control device  11  and the group  3  facsimile modem  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the group  3  facsimile apparatus may include address book information as is illustrated in  FIG. 2A . The address book information may register address information including information items shown in  FIG. 2B  such as a number for identifying the registered address information, a destination name, and a facsimile number. 
     In one embodiment, input number confirmation operations may be performed when registering address information or inputting a transmission destination through operation of the operations/display unit  7 . Specifically, a user may be prompted to input a number two times so that the number input the first time and the number input the second time may be compared, and the input number may be validated only when the first input number and the second input number are determined to match, for example. 
     In a further embodiment, a determination may be made as to whether the input number confirmation operations are to be performed by referring to the value of an input number confirmation flag registered in input number confirmation information as is illustrated in  FIG. 2C . The value of the registered input number confirmation flag may be changed by the user via the operations/display unit  7 , for example. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for registering address information in the address book information. It is noted that input operations in this process may be performed through operation of the operations/display unit  7  by a user, for example. Also, relevant information may be displayed to the user via the operations/display unit  7 , for example. 
     According to the illustrated process, when a user selects address information input operations (step  101 ), the user is prompted to input a destination name (step  102 ). Then, a first facsimile number input screen is displayed, and the user is prompted to input a facsimile number and wait for the input number to be ascertained (loop formed by step  103  and negative determination NO in step  104 ). When the first input of the facsimile number is ascertained so that a positive determination (YES) is made in step  104 , a determination is made as to whether the input number confirmation flag value of the input number confirmation information is ON (step  105 ). When a positive determination (YES) is made in step  105 , a second facsimile number input screen is displayed to prompt the user to input the facsimile number for a second time and wait for the input to be ascertained (loop formed by step  106  and negative determination NO in step  107 ). 
     When the second input of the facsimile number is ascertained so that a positive determination (YES) is made in step  107 , the facsimile number input the first time and the facsimile number input the second time are compared (step  108 ), and a determination is made as to whether the two input facsimile numbers match (step  109 ). 
     When the two input facsimile numbers match so that a positive determination (YES) is made in step  109 , for example, a number match indication screen as is shown in  FIG. 4A  indicating that the two inputs match or a number match indication screen as is shown in  FIG. 4B  indicating that the two inputs match and the input number itself may be displayed (step  110 ). 
     Then, a determination is made as to whether designation operations (e.g., operation of the ‘CONFIRM’ button of the number match indication screen of  FIG. 4B ) have been performed for indicating acceptance of the facsimile number input by the user as a valid number (step  111 ). If a positive determination (YES) is made in step  111 , the input number is registered as a facsimile number of a new set of address information (step  112 ) and the process is ended. 
     If a negative determination (NO) is made in step  111 , the input number is discarded (step  113 ), and registration operations are not performed. 
     It is noted that when the facsimile number input the first time and the facsimile number input the second time do not match so that a negative determination (NO) is made in step  109 , a warning screen as is shown in  FIG. 4C  indicating that the input numbers do not match may be displayed (step  114 ) after which the process moves on to step  113  where the input numbers are discarded and the process is ended. 
     Also, it is noted that when the value of the input number confirmation flag of the input number confirmation information is OFF so that a negative determination (NO) is made in step  105 , the process moves on to step  111 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process that is preformed in response to the issuance of a facsimile transmission command. It is noted that input operations in this process may be performed though operation of the operations/display unit  7  by a user, for example. Also, information may be displayed to the user via the operations/display unit  7 , for example. 
     According to the illustrated process, when operations for inputting a transmission destination are performed by a user (step  201 ), a determination is made as to whether use of the address book is selected for inputting the transmission destination (step  202 ). When the user selects to use the address book so that a positive determination (YES) is made in step  202 , operations are performed for enabling selection (input) of a transmission destination from the address book and waiting for the input to be ascertained (loop formed by step  203  and negative determination NO of step  204 ). 
     When the input transmission address is ascertained so that a positive determination (YES) is made in step  204 , predetermined facsimile transmission operations may be performed using the input transmission destination (step  205 ). 
     On the other hand, when the user inputs a transmission destination directly through operation of the operations/display unit  7  without using the address book so that a negative determination (NO) is made in step  202 , a first facsimile number input screen is displayed, and the user is prompted to input a facsimile number and wait for the input operations to be ascertained (loop formed by step  206  and negative determination NO in step  207 ). 
     When the facsimile number input the first time is ascertained so that a positive determination (YES) is made in step  207 , a determination is made as to whether the value of the input number confirmation flag of the input number confirmation information is ON (step  208 ). If a positive determination (YES) is made in step  208 , a second facsimile number input screen is displayed, and the user is prompted to input the facsimile number for a second time and wait for the input operations to be ascertained (loop formed by step  209  and negative determination NO of step  210 ). 
     When the facsimile number input the second time is ascertained so that a positive determination (YES) is made in step  210 , the facsimile number input the first time and the facsimile number input the second time are compared (step  211 ), and a determination is made as to whether the two input facsimile numbers match (step  212 ). 
     When the two input facsimile numbers match so that a positive determination (YES) is made in step  212 , the number match indication screen as is shown in  FIG. 4A  or  FIG. 4B  may be displayed (step  213 ). 
     Then, a determination is made as to whether designation operations (e.g., operation of the ‘CONFIRM’ button of the number match indication screen of  FIG. 4B ) have been performed for indicating acceptance of the facsimile number input by the user as a valid number (step  214 ). When a positive determination (YES) is made in step  214 , the input number may be set as the destination facsimile number (step  215 ), and the process may move on to step  205  where facsimile transmission is performed according to the input destination. 
     When a negative determination (NO) is made in step  214 , the input number is discarded (step  216 ) and facsimile transmission is not performed. 
     When the facsimile number input the first time and the facsimile number input the second time do not match so that a negative determination (NO) is made in step  212 , for example, the warning screen as is shown in  FIG. 4C  indicating that the input numbers do not match may be displayed (step  217 ), and the process may move on to step  216  where the input numbers are discarded and the process is ended. 
     Also, when the input number confirmation flag value is off so that a negative determination (NO) is made in step  208 , the process moves on to step  214 . 
     As can be appreciated, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when registering a facsimile number in address book information or directly inputting a facsimile transmission destination number, a user is prompted to input the number to be registered or the destination number twice, and the registration operations or transmission operations may be enabled only when it is determined that the first and second input numbers match. In this way, registration of wrong address information or transmission to a wrong destination may be prevented. 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the number input the first time and the number input the second time match, a number match indication screen indicating that the input numbers match may be displayed to provide assistance to the user in input operations by informing the user that the input number is probably an accurate number. 
     In a further embodiment, the input number itself may be displayed on the number match indication screen so that the user may confirm whether the input number is accurate. In this way, registration of wrong address information or transmission to a wrong destination may be prevented. 
     In a further embodiment, a selection element for selecting to cancel or validate a designated number may be provided on the number match indication screen so that the user may select whether to use the input number. 
     In another embodiment, when the number input the first time and the number input the second time do not match, a warning screen may be displayed indicating that the input numbers do not match in order to inform the user that at least one of the input numbers is inaccurate to thereby prevent transmission to a wrong destination, for example. 
     In a further embodiment, the number input the first time and the number input the second time may be displayed on the warning screen being displayed when the input numbers do not match, so that the user may acknowledge his/her input operations error. 
     In another preferred embodiment, a selection element is provided for enabling a user to select whether to require a facsimile number to be input two times or only one time so that an environment conforming to the preferences of the user may be established. 
     It is noted that in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, applications of the group  3  facsimile apparatus are illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to such applications and may equally be applied to other types of transmission apparatuses having facsimile communication functions. 
     Although the present invention is shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is obvious that equivalents and modifications may occur to others skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     The present application is based on and claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-359793 filed on Dec. 14, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Technology Category: 5