JPH04297954A - Information reference system utilizing facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce work to deal with reference by the human a of a block center or the like by referring to prescribed information from the branch office or the like of a bank to an information processor installed at the block center or the like by a facsimile equipment (FAX) and outputting answer information from the information processor to the FAX automatically. CONSTITUTION:A reference request statement or the like is read from a FAX A for transmission, and reference request information is transmitted through a communication line C to an information processor D. A receiving means E of the information processor D receive this information and after a reference contents discriminating means G discriminates reference contents based on the received reference request information, the answer information is prepared by an answer information preparing means H and transmitted through the communication line to a FAX B for reception, which is decided by a reception facsimile equipment deciding means I, by a transmitting means F. The FAX for reception receives the answer information and outputs it to a medium.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is capable of centrally processing various processing requests from facsimile machines installed at each branch of a bank, for example, and from each branch installed at a district center, etc. The present invention relates to an information inquiry method for requesting an information processing apparatus to perform predetermined information processing and inquiring the processing results.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in financial institutions such as banks, for example, information processing equipment installed at district centers etc. is used to read predetermined forms using facsimile machines installed at each branch office etc. By using a system (hereinafter such a system is referred to as a "FAX-OCR system") that transmits image data and causes the above-mentioned information processing device to recognize the image data, convert it to character data, and perform predetermined processing. For example, we conduct foreign exchange transfer transactions.

[0003] Below, a description will be given of how money transfer transactions are carried out using the FAX-OCR system.

[0004] At the counter of a branch, a customer submits a money transfer request form filled out by the customer to a receptionist who is a bank employee in order to request the bank to transfer a money order. Then, the receptionist receives the money transfer request form from the customer and submits the money transfer request form to the operator of this system (the receptionist may also serve as the operator). When an operator reads a money transfer request form from a facsimile machine installed at a branch (for example, FAX 1a in Figure 1), the facsimile machine reads the money transfer request form and converts it into image data (usually compressed). Then, the image data is transmitted to an information processing device installed at the district center via a communication line, for example. The image data sent from the facsimile machine installed at the branch is converted into character data by the information processing device, and after the necessary processing related to the money transfer process is performed, a money order transfer request message is sent to the host computer. Then, the exchange transfer process is performed on the host computer.

[0005] As described above, the money transfer transaction requested by the customer is executed, but for the operator at the branch, it is difficult to read the money order transfer request form sent from the facsimile machine installed at the branch. The processing status of the exchange transfer based on the transaction status (e.g., has it been sent to the host computer?
It is necessary to know at an appropriate time whether the entered data is being checked or corrected at the district center. For this reason, it is necessary to inquire about the processing status to the district center, and FIG. 10 shows the conventional process flow when making an inquiry from the branch to the district center about the processing status. That is, in step (2) in FIG. 10, the operator of the branch contacts the district center by telephone regarding the processing status that he or she wishes to inquire about. At the district center, based on this telephone contact, the inquiry information is searched for from an input/output device such as a workstation connected to an information processing device in step (3), and the answer information, which is the search result, is output to the output device. While looking at the above, in step (2), the answer information is sent to the operator at the branch over the phone. Alternatively, if there is a large amount of response information, as in step A reply is made by causing the facsimile machine located at the store to read the paper on which the answer information is recorded and transmitting it to the facsimile machine installed at the branch (step 2), which outputs the answer information (step 2).

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in the information inquiry method in the FAX-OCR system as explained in the prior art, it is difficult for the operator of the district center to respond to inquiries from sales offices, that is, to respond to telephone calls from sales offices. Many operations such as reception by contact, response by telephone, search operation for response information based on inquiry information, transmission operation by facsimile machine, etc. occur. For this reason, the FAX-OCR system, which aims to save labor in exchange transfer transactions at branch offices, has, on the other hand, become a burden on the district center.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and is intended to reduce the work required for responding to inquiries from sales offices, etc. at district centers, etc., and also to reduce the work processing related to inquiries for those making inquiries from sales offices, etc. The purpose of this invention is to provide an information inquiry method using a facsimile machine that can improve efficiency.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has been made as follows. That is, a sending facsimile device that can transmit information, a receiving facsimile device that can receive information and output it to a medium, and a predetermined facsimile device that is connected to the sending facsimile device and the receiving facsimile device via a communication line. In an information processing system having an information processing device that performs processing, the information processing device includes a receiving device that receives inquiry request information transmitted by the sending facsimile device; an inquiry content determining means for determining the inquiry content based on the query content; and an answer information creation means for creating answer information according to the inquiry content determined by the inquiry content determining unit;
receiving facsimile device determining means for determining a facsimile device that receives the reply information created by the reply information creating means; and transmitting means for transmitting the reply information to the facsimile device determined by the receiving facsimile device determining means. The information processing device further includes processing status information storage means for storing processing status information associated with the predetermined processing when the information processing device performs the predetermined processing. and when the inquiry content determination means determines that the inquiry is about information stored in the processing status information storage means, the response information creation means generates the processing status information stored in the processing status information storage means. The answer information is created based on the following:
The receiving facsimile device is determined by using the sending facsimile device information, and the receiving facsimile device determining means determines the receiving facsimile device by using the inquiry request information. Further, the receiving facsimile device determining means determines the receiving facsimile device using the answer information, and the receiving facsimile device determining means is configured to determine the receiving facsimile device using the answer information. An alternative receiving facsimile device that determines a receiving facsimile device different from the receiving facsimile device when the transmitting means transmits predetermined information to the receiving facsimile device and the receiving facsimile device is determined to be unable to receive information. Further, the predetermined processing is a foreign exchange transaction processing.

[0009]

[Operation] In the information inquiry method using the facsimile device configured as described above, when inquiry request information is sent to the information processing device via a communication line from the sending facsimile device that can send information, the information processing device Request information is received by a receiving means, an inquiry content determination means determines the inquiry content based on the inquiry request information received by the reception means, and an answer information creation means answers according to the inquiry content determined by the inquiry content determination means. When the information is created and the transmitting means transmits the reply information to the facsimile machine connected via the communication line determined by the receiving facsimile apparatus determining means, this facsimile machine receives the reply information. and then output it to the media.

Further, when the information processing apparatus performs a predetermined process, the processing status information storage means stores processing status information accompanying the predetermined process, and the inquiry content determination means stores the processing status information in the processing status information storage means. If it is determined that the inquiry is regarding stored information, the answer information creating means creates answer information based on the processing status information stored in the processing status information storage means.

Further, the reception facsimile device determining means determines the reception facsimile device using the transmission facsimile device information, the inquiry request information, and the response information, respectively.

Furthermore, the receiving facsimile device determining means has an alternative receiving facsimile device determining means, and when transmitting predetermined information to the receiving facsimile device, if it is determined that the receiving facsimile device is unable to receive data, the receiving facsimile device determines that the receiving facsimile device is unable to receive data. Predetermined information is transmitted to the facsimile device determined by the facsimile device determining means.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention (in the case of inquiry processing), FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the present invention (in the case of transfer processing), and FIG. A hardware configuration diagram of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is an example of an inquiry request form, and FIG. 7 is a destination FA.
An explanatory diagram of the storage mode of the X number. FIG. 8 is an example of inquiry response output (in the case of transaction status inquiry), FIG. 9 is an example of inquiry response output (in the case of number serial number information inquiry), and FIG. 10 is an example of a conventional inquiry. First, the configuration and hardware configuration of the FAX-OCR system of the present invention will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 4. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1a denotes a facsimile machine (hereinafter referred to as "FAX"), which is installed at each business branch such as a bank. F.A.
X1a is a fax machine installed at a district center that centrally manages each branch via communication line 2 (for example, a public line is used as a communication line, but is not limited to this).
It is connected to the OCR control device 3, and is also connected to the FAX-O
CR control device 3 is installed in the same district center.
It is connected to the AX-OCR processing device 4. FAX-O
The CR processing device 4 is further connected to a terminal control device 9, and the terminal control device 9 is connected via a communication line to a host computer (hereinafter referred to as "HOST") 10 installed in a bank's office center or the like. The FAX-OCR control device 4 mainly performs processing for receiving and transmitting image data (usually compressed) with the FAX 1a, and as shown in FIG. 33, workstation control section 34, line control section 35, disk device control section 36, image conversion section 3
7 and a timer 38, and as shown in FIG. 2, the FAX-OCR control device 4 is connected to a disk device 6a and a work station (hereinafter referred to as "WS") 5a. The FAX-OCR processing device 5 mainly uses FA
Based on the image data received by the X-OCR control device 4, the recognition device 7 is requested to perform recognition processing, and the WS
5b and the terminal control device 9, and as shown in FIG. 45, timer 46
, a communication control section 47, and a recognition device control section 48,
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the FAX-OCR processing device 5 includes a recognition device 7, a disk device 6b, a photo printer 8, and a W.
A plurality of S5b are connected.

Next, using FIG. 2, the above-mentioned FAX-OC
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on transaction operations at a financial institution using the R system, but for ease of understanding, the conceptual diagram of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be used in conjunction with FIG. 2. The outline of the present invention will now be explained. In other words, sending FAX (
When predetermined information (for example, inquiry request information based on an inquiry request form) is transmitted from the FAX 1a in FIG.
The FAX-OCR control device 4 and FAX-OCR processing device 5) in FIG. 2 receive inquiry request information from the sending FAX by the receiving means, and after the inquiry content determination means determines the inquiry content based on the received inquiry request information. , the response information creation means creates response information (response to the inquiry request form), and the reception facsimile device determination means determines the reception FAX (for example, FIG.
FAX 1a. Note that in this example, the sending FAX and the receiving FAX happened to be the same FAX, but this does not necessarily mean that they are the same. This will be explained in detail later. ) the transmitting means transmits the reply information.

Next, the FAX-OCR described above using FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on transaction operations at a financial institution using the system. This business is a money exchange business, and will be explained based on the assumption that an operator belonging to a bank branch has been requested by a customer to transfer a money order. When the operator receives the transfer request form filled out by the customer at the sales office counter (step ■), the operator causes the transfer request form to be read from the FAX 1a installed at the sales office (step ■). As a result, FAX1a reads the transfer request form,
The data is converted into image data (compressed) and transmitted via the communication line 2 to the FAX-OCR control device 3 installed at the district center. The image data received by the FAX-OCR control device 3 is once stored in the DK 6a (step ①) and then transmitted to the FAX-OCR processing device 4. Next, the FAX-OCR processing device 4
The image data received from the CR control device 3 is converted into character data using the recognition device 7. When converting to text data, the entire received image data (i.e., the entire contents of one transfer request form converted into image data)
may be uniformly converted to character data, or a specific part of the image data may be first converted to character data, and then it may be determined based on the character data which part of the image data should be converted to character data. , only the portion determined by this may be converted into character data. When there is a large amount of image data, it is necessary to convert the image data into original image data (for example, bank marks or patterns printed on the transfer request form) and character data. When image data is mixed with image data, the latter is more effective in reducing the conversion time to character data and improving the conversion rate to character data, but in the present invention, conversion to character data is more effective. The method may be any of the above, and is not limited to the above methods. When the conversion from image data to character data is completed, it is determined whether or not it is a money transfer process based on the character at a specific position of the character data, and if it is a money transfer process, the character data is converted into an image corresponding to the character data. It is stored in the disk device 6b together with the data (that is, the image data to be converted into character data) (step 2). For transfer processing, FAX-OCR processing device 4
In step (2), predetermined processing is performed based on the character data for the transfer process stored in the disk device 6b, edited into a predetermined format, and if necessary, image data is also added and displayed on the CRT, which is the display section of the WS5. Display it on a display etc. (step ■). Operators belonging to the district center are
Check the transfer transaction data displayed on the display section of the WS5 in step ①, and if necessary, correct the transfer transaction data using the operating section of the WS5, such as the keyboard.
When a predetermined key on the operation section of the WS 5 is pressed, the FAX-OCR processing device 4 determines that the exchange transfer data displayed on the display section of the WS 5 is correct, edits it into a predetermined message format (not shown), and sends the data to the terminal control device 9. is transmitted to the HOST 10 via (step ■). Here, in the case where the FAX-OCR processing device 4 transmits a predetermined message to the HOST 10 via the terminal device 9, the processing status accompanying the transmission is stored in the disk device 6b in association with the message. The information stored at this point is used as answer information in inquiry processing, which will be explained later. The specific details of the processing status are as follows. That is, the transmission result to the HOST 10 (normal or abnormal end), the pass number, etc. Other information used as response information includes, for example, FA
The information includes the time of reception from X (that is, the time of reception from the branch serving as the district center), the type of exchange transaction, the amount to be transferred, and the fee. Other information includes the modification status and verification status in the WS. The answer information is not limited to these. Through the above steps, the exchange transfer process is performed.

Next, inquiry processing, which is the central part of the present invention, will be explained.

[0017] Here, the sales branch informs the district center about the processing status (ie, F
A case will be described in which the status regarding the exchange transfer processing in the AX-OCR processing device 4 is inquired. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of inquiry processing from a branch in the present invention, and an overview of the inquiry processing will be explained below based on this figure. An operator belonging to a branch enters the information he/she wishes to inquire into the inquiry request form shown in Figure 6, has the inquiry request form read from the FAX 1a installed at the branch (step ■), and then sends the inquiry request form to the FAX 1a at the district center. Inquiry information is sent to the OCR control device 3. Then, the processing status information stored in the FAX-OCR processing device 4 is extracted, edited into predetermined character data and format, converted to image data, and sent to the FAX 1a.
(Step ■). For example, Figure 8 is displayed on FAX1a.
and the information shown in FIG. 9 are output (step ■).

Next, the inquiry process will be explained in detail based on the flowchart shown in FIG. An operator belonging to the branch writes the information he/she wishes to inquire into the inquiry request form shown in FIG. 6, and causes the inquiry request form to be read by the FAX 1a installed at the branch (step S1). The FAX 1a reads the inquiry request form, converts it into compressed image data, and transmits it via the communication line 2 to the FAX-OCR control device 3 installed at the district center. The image data sent from the FAX 1a of the branch is received by the FAX-OCR control device 3, stored once in the disk device 6a, and then sent to the FA
It is transmitted to the X-OCR processing device 4. Next, FAX-O
The CR processing device 4 converts the image data received from the FAX-OCR processing device 3 into character data using the recognition device 7 (step S2). The processing up to this point is the same as the money transfer processing described above, except for the inquiry request form. Next, it is determined based on the character data whether it is an inquiry process (step S3). As a method for this determination, for example, a method using characters in a specific position of the character data, that is, as shown in FIG.
A method is adopted in which it is determined whether or not it is an inquiry process based on the character corresponding to the position ("123" in the example of FIG. 6). In this embodiment, since "123" is printed on the inquiry request form in the form position corresponding to the request form classification K, when the image data of the inquiry request form is converted to character data, The character corresponding to the position is "123" (note that the character corresponding to the request form classification of the money transfer request form mentioned above is a different character from "123", such as "789"). ). If it is determined that it is an inquiry process (that is, if the character corresponding to the request form classification is "123"), then it is determined what information the inquiry is about. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, there are two types of inquiry: transaction status inquiry and serial number specification inquiry, and the operator can indicate which inquiry it is by marking a circle in the predetermined position of the form corresponding to each inquiry. It is specified by filling in. The FAX-OCR processing device 4 determines which inquiry it is in the following manner. That is, based on the character data converted in step 2, the character corresponding to the position of the form corresponding to each inquiry where a circle mark should be entered on the inquiry request form is extracted, and it is determined whether the character is a circle mark or not. judge. The query corresponding to the position where the circled character is extracted is the relevant query. Next, according to the specified inquiry type, if necessary, the character data converted in step 2 is appropriately referred to, and information stored in the FAX-OCR processing device 4 is retrieved (step S4).
Answer information is created and edited by adding necessary information, processing, etc. (step S5). When the creation and editing of the answer information is completed, the character data of the answer information is transmitted from the FAX-OCR processing device 4 through the communication control section 47 to the FAX-OCR control device 3 via the communication control section 33. After that, FAX-
The OCR control device 3 performs predetermined processing if necessary based on the character data of the response information, and then converts the image conversion section 37
(step S6) and stored in the disk device 6a, including the device number information of the FAX that sent the inquiry request information, the answer information sent from the FAX-OCR processing device 4, and the destination FAX device number information. etc., determines the FAX to be sent (step S7),
When a transmission is immediately made, for example, through the line control unit 35 to the FAX connected to the communication line 2 determined in step S7 (step S8), the inquiry result (that is, an answer) is output to the FAX (step S9). Note that if it is determined that the transfer is to be made in step S3, the above-mentioned transfer process will be performed.

This concludes the explanation of the inquiry process. Next, the method of determining the destination FAX in step S7 will be explained in detail.

(1) When making a decision using information regarding the sending FAX device When image data is sent, the FAX is simultaneously sent along with pure processing request information (that is, the image data of the A communication protocol is adopted in which information that can identify the sending fax, such as the device number and telephone number of the sending fax, is sent to the receiving fax.
A receiving FAX is determined based on information such as a device number that can identify X. The simplest case is to use the sending FAX itself as the receiving FAX. Another determination method is to prepare a pair of the sending FAX device number and the receiving FAX device number in the memory 42, memory 32, etc., and then use the sending FAX device number to determine the corresponding receiving FAX number. may be determined, and the determined FAX may be used as the receiving FAX.

(2) When making a decision using inquiry request information An area is provided in a predetermined position of the inquiry request form to write in the shop number that specifies the branch, and as shown in FIG. device number (or telephone number) pair in memory 42
store number tables T1 and FA in memory 32, etc.
Prepare an X-number table T2, determine the corresponding receiving fax number based on the store number, and
Let X be the received FAX. In this case, if it is the phone number itself, the FA where the phone number is set
If X becomes a receiving fax and the device number is to be entered, prepare a pair of device number and telephone number in the memory 42, etc., and use the FA of the corresponding telephone number based on the device number.
X is a receiving FAX. Another determination method is to provide an area in which to write the telephone number, device number, etc. of the receiving FAX at a predetermined position on the inquiry request form, and determine the receiving FAX based on the information written in the area. In this case, if it is the phone number itself, the fax to which the phone number is set will be the receiving fax, and if the device number is to be entered, a pair of device number and phone number should be prepared in memory, etc. Then, based on the device number, the FAX with the corresponding telephone number is set as the receiving FAX. If the area is blank, a specific fax
Considered as specified. In this case, if the sending fax can be determined by the communication protocol, in combination with the method described in (1), the sending fax address (i.e., the sending fax
It is also possible to consider X itself as a receiving FAX). In addition, as a method of determining the receiving FAX based on the inquiry request information, it is also possible to decide based on the inquiry classification (for example, the transaction status inquiry and the serial number specification inquiry shown in FIG. 6). The inquiry category and the FAX telephone number are stored as a pair in the memory 42 or the like. In any case, in this method, the reception information is based on the direct data entered in the inquiry request form (either explicitly, e.g., fax phone number, or implicitly, e.g., inquiry category). Decide on fax.

(3) When making a decision using response information For example, in the case of a response to the transaction status inquiry shown in FIG. The telephone number of is stored in the memory 42 or the like. In this way, transactions are classified into the above-mentioned categories based on the transfer amount, and the receiving fax for transactions for each classification result is a fax with a phone number stored in advance corresponding to the category. do. As another method, it is also possible to determine the FAX based on the transmission result to the HOST 10 (sent or unsent, reason for unsent, etc.). These are both event classification categories and F
The correspondence between AX and telephone numbers can be stored in the memory 42 or the like, and the determination can be made by retrieving the telephone number corresponding to the classification.

(4) Cases other than the above (1) to (3) It is determined based on the time period, for example. That is, a time division and a fax number are stored in the memory 42 or the like in association with each other, and a timer 46 or the like determines that a predetermined time has arrived, and the information is stored in the memory 42 or the like in association with the predetermined time. This is determined by extracting the FAX number. Alternatively, there is also a method of determining the number, such as when the operator inputs the FAX telephone number from the WS. Of course, it is a combination of (1) to (3), such as a combination of the inquiry category and the result content, and in principle (1) is applied, but in cases where the transmission to HOST10 is incomplete and the reason for the incompleteness is special. The receiving FAX can be determined by a method such as setting a specific fixed FAX. Of course, the method is not limited to these, and various methods can be considered.

[0024] This concludes the explanation of one embodiment of the present invention based on exchange transactions, but of course the present invention is not limited to inquiry transactions related to exchange transactions or only to the above-mentioned embodiments. It may be configured as follows.

1. Regarding inquiries, various inquiries can be made, such as not only money transfer processing but also general money orders, and not only money orders but also general transaction processing results inquiries.

[0026] Alternatively, the inquiry may be performed without the HOST 10 and the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 may perform its own processing. In the present invention, inquiry refers to returning predetermined processing result information (i.e., response information) based on request information, and refers to not only retrieving and editing information stored in the information processing device, but also performing calculations. This also refers to the case of returning processing result information that involves various information processing, including , translation, etc.

2. One received FAX does not necessarily correspond to each inquiry. Under certain conditions, a plurality of machines may be required to simultaneously send data to another specific FAX, to send to a group of FAXs at the same time, to send to all FAXs, and so on.

3. When transmitting to a receiving FAX, the data may be transmitted immediately, or the transmission time may be determined and the transmission may be performed when a timer or the like determines that the transmission time has come.

[0029] As a method of determining the sending time, the receiving FAX
This can be done using the same method as described in the determination method. That is, the determination is made based on the sending FAX device information, inquiry request information, response information, and the like. The timing for determining the receiving fax can be determined when the sending time arrives, or it can be determined in advance when the response information is created and stored together with the response information. At the time of transmission, a stored FAX may be used.

4. If a receiving fax is determined and dialing is performed to send to the fax, but it is busy, dialing is performed again a predetermined number of times at appropriate time intervals by monitoring with timer 38 or timer 46, etc. If it is determined that the transmission cannot be made due to a busy situation, for example, as shown in Figure 7, among the FAX machines installed at the same branch, the above-mentioned FAX cannot be sent.
A different FA from the AX (for example, FAX-number i1 in FIG. 7)
Select X according to the selection priority and select the selected FAX
(For example, FAX number i2 in FIG. 7) is determined as the receiving FAX, and the reply information is transmitted to the FAX.

[0031] As another selection method, a specific FAX
It is also possible to determine this in advance and, when the above-mentioned event that makes transmission impossible occurs, to use that particular FAX as the receiving FAX.

[0032]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be expected. That is, when the information processing device receives inquiry request information from the sending FAX, the information processing device creates response information based on the inquiry request information and transmits the answer information to the receiving FAX.
For example, for an operator at a bank's regional center, the task of responding to information inquiries from branches is automated, eliminating the need for human intervention and reducing the number of personnel required to handle inquiries at the regional center. In addition, since the inquiry request information can be inputted by fax for the branch office, inquiry requests can be made easily, the inquiry processing efficiency can be improved, mistakes can be prevented from occurring during inquiries, and complexity can be reduced.

[0033] The information processing device also has a processing status information storage means for storing processing status information associated with predetermined processing, and the information processing device stores information stored in the processing status information storage means from the sending FAX. When the information processing device receives inquiry request information regarding, the information processing device creates response information based on the processing status information stored in the processing status information storage means, and transmits the response information to the receiving FAX. It becomes possible to collectively inquire at an appropriate time about information that the branch does not need to know or cannot know immediately during predetermined processing.

Further, the receiving facsimile device determining means includes:
Since the device information of the sending fax is used to determine the receiving fax, the receiving fax is determined based on a small amount of information.
There is an advantage that X can be determined.

Further, the receiving facsimile device determining means includes:
Since the inquiry request information sent from the sending fax is used to determine the receiving fax, the receiving fax
Since X can be specified by the sending side of the inquiry request information, it is possible to set the receiving FAX to a FAX that matches the wishes of the sending side of the inquiry request information.

Further, the receiving facsimile device determining means includes:
Since the answer information is used to determine the receiving fax, the sending side of the answer information can determine the receiving fax, and the receiving fax can be determined in detail based on the specificity and importance of the answer information. It is possible to decide.

Further, the receiving facsimile device determining means includes:
When sending specified information to a receiving FAX, the receiving FAX
If the AX is determined to be unreceivable, there is an alternative receiving facsimile device determining means that determines a receiving fax other than the receiving fax, so that branch offices, etc. can always receive reply information. At the same time, the response information is not stagnant on the side that transmits the response information, such as the district center, and the response information can be transmitted efficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Figure 1] Conceptual diagram of the present invention

[Fig. 2] An explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention (in the case of inquiry processing)

[Fig. 3] Explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the present invention (in the case of transfer processing)

[Figure 4] Hardware configuration diagram of the present invention

FIG. 5: Flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention

[Figure 6] Example of inquiry request form

[Figure 7] Diagram explaining how destination FAX numbers are stored

[Figure 8] Inquiry response output example (in case of transaction status inquiry)

[Figure 9] Inquiry response output example (in case of querying serial number information)

[Figure 10] Conventional query example

[Explanation of symbols]

1a Facsimile machine (FAX) 2 Communication line 3 FAX-OCR control device 4 FAX-OCR processing device 5b Work station (WS) 6a, 6b
Disk device (DK) 7 Recognition device 10 Host computer (HOST) 31, 4
1 Processor 32, 42 Memory 34, 45 Workstation control unit 35
Line control section 36, 43 Disk device control section 37 Image conversion section 38, 46 Timer 48 Recognition device control section

Claims (7)

[Claims] Claim 1: A transmitting facsimile device capable of transmitting information; a receiving facsimile device capable of receiving information and outputting it to a medium; and a receiving facsimile device connected to the transmitting facsimile device and the receiving facsimile device via a communication line. ,
In an information processing system having an information processing device that performs predetermined processing, the information processing device includes a receiving device that receives inquiry request information transmitted by the sending facsimile device, and a receiving device that receives the inquiry request information that the receiving device receives. an inquiry content determining means for determining the inquiry content based on the inquiry content, an answer information creating means for creating answer information according to the inquiry content determined by the inquiry content determining means, and a facsimile machine for receiving the answer information created by the answer information creating means. a receiving facsimile device determining means for determining a device; and a facsimile device determined by the receiving facsimile device determining means;
An information inquiry method using a facsimile machine, characterized in that it has a transmitting means for transmitting the answer information. 2. The information processing device further includes processing status information storage means for storing processing status information accompanying the predetermined processing when the information processing device performs the predetermined processing, When the determining means determines that the inquiry is related to information stored in the processing status information storage means, the answer information creation means generates reply information based on the processing status information stored in the processing status information storage means. 2. The information inquiry method using a facsimile machine according to claim 1, wherein the information inquiry method uses a facsimile machine. 3. The information inquiry method using a facsimile device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving facsimile device determining means determines the receiving facsimile device using transmitting facsimile device information. 4. The information inquiry method using a facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving facsimile apparatus determining means uses the inquiry request information to determine the receiving facsimile apparatus. 5. The information inquiry method using a facsimile device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving facsimile device determining means uses the response information to determine the receiving facsimile device. 6. The receiving facsimile device determining means determines whether the receiving facsimile device is incapable of receiving information when the transmitting device sends predetermined information to the receiving facsimile device. Claim 1, further comprising an alternative receiving facsimile device determining means for determining another receiving facsimile device.
Or an information inquiry method using a facsimile machine according to any one of claims 3 to 5. 7. The information inquiry method using a facsimile machine according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined processing is a foreign exchange transaction processing.