JPH0897925A - Facsimile network center equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] It is possible for each user to change the specifications so that they can flexibly adapt to their individual information usage patterns, and for other users, change the operation in accordance with the changes in the specifications. Not provide a center equipment for a fax network. A reception management unit 33, which is connected to a plurality of data input / output units 26, 29, and 31 and receives an instruction input thereof, and a command input from the data input / output unit are expanded and executed in a center device of a facsimile network. The instruction code expansion executing unit 34 and the instruction accumulating means 36 for storing the instruction code are provided so that the instruction can be input from each data input / output means without changing the operation method of the other data input / output means. . This allows the center device to flexibly adapt to the usage form of the user,
It is possible to realize a center device that is easy to operate without changing the operation method or the like for other users.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is capable of changing the processing contents by inputting a command to the center device of a facsimile network, particularly from any data input / output means connected to the facsimile network. Another operational characteristic of the data input / output means relates to the center equipment of the facsimile network which is capable of maintaining the previous state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a conventional center device of a facsimile network. This center device includes various types such as a post office box processing unit 1 for performing a mail service, a bulletin board processing unit 2 for performing a mail service, and a broadcast processing unit 3 for performing a distribution operation by broadcast communication. A service execution unit 4 including a processing unit, an operation management unit 5 that manages which processing unit in the service execution unit 4 is to be operated, and an operation console 6 that inputs processing data and various commands to the center device. , A facsimile communication control section 7 for controlling the facsimile communication operation and a control section 8 for controlling the operation of the center apparatus as a whole. The facsimile communication control section 7 of the center apparatus includes a plurality of facsimile terminals which are external apparatuses. 9 through a communication line 10.

In the center device of such a facsimile network, the service content of the center device is controlled by the operation management section 5 according to a command input from the console 6.
Data is generated as a basic command in which the operation pattern is converted into a command, and a basic command group as shown in FIG. 6, that is, a bulletin board operation basic command data 11 including a bulletin board operation basic command section 11a, its parameter 11b and an end code 11c,
Further, the post office box operation basic command data 12 including the post office box operation basic command part 12a, its parameter 12b, and the end code 12c is stored in the memory built in the control part 8. In addition to this, basic command data for performing an operation according to each service is generated and stored in a memory built in the control unit 8. Then, under the respective conditions, the control unit 8 is automatically or by inputting a command from the operator console 6.
Activates predetermined processing units 1, 2, and 3 in the service execution unit 4, and the information is sent to the facsimile terminal 9 through the facsimile communication control unit 7 and the communication line 10. For example, when there is a matter to notify all members directly at the center of the facsimile network, when the notification contents as the processing data and the broadcast command are input from the console 6, the control unit 8 broadcasts from the built-in memory. The basic operation command is fetched, the processing is executed, the broadcast processing unit 3 is activated, and the broadcast is broadcast to the facsimile terminals of all members including the facsimile terminal 9.

To change the service content, if the center is notified of the change content in advance, the operator of the center re-enters the command from the console 6, whereby the basic command is modified by the operation management unit 5. It is stored again in the memory of the control unit 8. In general, a person who uses the facsimile network generally has an information provider (sender) 12, an information receiver (receiver) 13, and a system operation manager (center) 11 as shown in FIG. Center operator) 14. Information provider 12
For example, a car dealer or a catalog dealer who is a person who constantly sends information such as goods, and the information recipient 13
Is a customer or member, and is the owner of the facsimile terminal 9. Further, the system operation manager 14 includes not only the operator of the center as described above but also the manager there and the person in charge of planning. The necessity of changing the service content may occur in any of the information provider 12, the information receiver 13, and the system operation manager 14.
For example, for the information provider 12, new product development,
In order to make a sale, a request may be made to change the data in order to inform all members or a limited number of members (special members) of the new product. Also, for the information recipient 13, he / she will be away for a while due to work, so he / she wants the notification service to him / herself to be registered in the PO Box, or the notification service to himself / herself to be sent to a business trip destination. A request such as (transfer treatment) may occur. All of these changes are handled by notifying the center so that the operator inputs change information from the operator console 6 and resets the basic command to the control unit 8.

[0005]

However, in the conventional center device of the above-mentioned facsimile network, only the predetermined service is provided by the uniformed processing contents, and the respective services are provided. The user of the facsimile network has a problem that the facsimile network system cannot flexibly adapt to its own requirements.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to make it possible for users of respective facsimile networks to change specifications so as to flexibly adapt to their respective information usage patterns. For other users, the center device of the facsimile network is provided so that the operation is not changed due to the specification change.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention connects a facsimile terminal and an external computer as command input / output means to a center device of a facsimile network so that the facsimile terminal and the external computer can Of a command input from the facsimile terminal, the external computer and the operator console, an instruction code expansion executing unit that expands and executes an instruction, and an instruction code generated by the instruction code expansion executing unit. And a command accumulating means for storing a command, and a command can be inputted from any one of a facsimile terminal, an external computer and a console without changing the operation method of other command input / output means. .

[0008]

According to the present invention, with the above configuration, if not only the system operation manager but also the information provider and the information receiver input the form to be used to the center device in the form of an extended command, The center device resets the basic command according to the extended command, and adapts to the request of the person who inputs the extended command. On the other hand, even after adapting to such a request, the operation of the center device has not changed for other persons at all, and the expected operation can be performed and scheduled information can be obtained by the conventional operation.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a center device of a facsimile network according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the center device includes a post office box processing unit 21 for performing a mail service, a bulletin board processing unit 22 for performing a mail service, a broadcast processing unit 23 for performing a distribution operation by broadcast communication, and the like. The service execution unit 4 including various processing units such as the first and the service execution unit 24
An operation management unit 25 that manages which of the processing units to operate, a console 26 that inputs processing data and various commands to the center apparatus, and a facsimile communication control unit 27 that controls the facsimile communication operation. Have,
The facsimile communication control unit 27 of this center device connects the plurality of facsimile terminals 29, which are external devices, to the communication line 3.
It is basically the same as the center device of the above-mentioned conventional facsimile network in that it is connected via 0.

However, in the center apparatus according to the present embodiment, the facsimile terminal 29 can receive commands as well as receive information. In addition to the console 26 and the facsimile terminal 29, this center device includes an external computer 31 as command input means and an external computer 3.
An external input management unit 32 that manages commands input from 1
And a facsimile terminal 29 and an external computer 31
Similarly to the control unit 8 and the reception management unit 33 that receives a command input from the control unit 8, the entire operation of the center device is controlled, while the code of the command input from the console 26, the facsimile terminal 29, and the external computer 31 is expanded. An instruction code expansion execution unit 34 to be executed, an image data temporary storage unit 35 for temporarily storing image data under control of the instruction code expansion execution unit 34, and an instruction storage unit 36 for storing coded instruction data. It has and.

In FIG. 1, the service execution unit 24 includes a post office box processing unit 21, a bulletin board processing unit 22, and a broadcast processing unit 23. However, in addition to this, the recipient specifies a delivery message. There is a transfer processing unit for sending to the location, or a storage processing unit for storing in the center device. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 37 is a network installed between the external computer 31 and the external input management unit 32.

The operation of the center device of the facsimile network having the above structure will be described below. In normal business operation, under certain conditions, the instruction code expansion executing unit 34 causes the predetermined processing units 1, 2 in the service executing unit 24 to operate automatically or by inputting an instruction from the operator console 26. 3 is activated, and the information is sent to the facsimile terminal 29 through the facsimile communication control unit 27 and the communication line 30. For example, when there is a matter of directly notifying all the members at the center of the facsimile network, when the notification contents as the processing data and the broadcast command are input from the console 26, the command code expansion executing unit 34 uses the built-in memory. Then, the broadcast operation basic command is taken out to execute the processing, and the broadcast processing unit 23 is activated to broadcast the broadcast to all the facsimile terminals of the members including the facsimile terminal 29. Alternatively, when there is a matter to be displayed, when the content of the notice as the processing data and the bulletin board instruction are input from the console 26, the instruction code expansion executing unit 34
Retrieves the bulletin board operation basic command from the built-in memory, executes the processing, and activates the bulletin board processing section 22 to register and post the message.

Next, when the user wants to change the service content, a person who desires this change inputs the command using a predetermined terminal. As described above with reference to FIG. 7, the person who uses the facsimile network includes the information provider 12, the information receiver 13, and the system operation manager 14, and provides services to the facsimile network. The necessity of changing the contents may occur in any of the information provider 12, the information receiver 13, and the system operation manager 14. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the system operation manager 14 inputs commands using the console 26 as in the conventional manner, while the information provider 12 uses the external computer 31 and the information receiver 13 uses the facsimile terminal 29 to input commands. I am trying to enter.

When an instruction is input from either the external computer 31 or the facsimile terminal 29, the instruction is processed by the acceptance management section 33 and then sent to the instruction code expansion executing section 34 to be converted into an extended instruction code. The extended instruction is registered in the instruction storage unit 36. FIG. 2 shows a method of registering and a method of deleting this extension command. In the case of registration, the extended instruction registration instruction section 41a, the extended instruction section 41b, the first basic instruction section 41c, its parameter 41d, the second basic instruction 41e, the second parameter section 41f, and the end. The extended instruction data 41 composed of the code 41g is generated in the instruction code expansion execution unit 34, and the extended instruction data 41 is stored in the instruction storage unit 36.
Will be transferred to and registered with. As a result, it is possible to reconfigure the basic command only by input operation from an external terminal without the help of the system operation administrator as in the past, and it is possible to customize the center device (change specifications or settings). ) Has been realized. Depending on the contents of the extended instruction, there may be one basic instruction and one parameter, or three or more basic instructions and parameters.

The data structure in the instruction storage unit 36 is as shown in FIG. Extended instruction data 41 in the registered state
Next to the extension command section 41b, the extension command registrant section 41h, the notification level section 41i, and the extension command user section 41j.
Further, an extended instruction change level section 41k and an extended instruction parameter presence / absence designating section 41m are added. The extension command registrant 41h is one of the information provider 12, the information receiver 13, and the system operation manager 14 who has input the extension command, and the extension command is the main user, that is, the data manager (above). This is different from the system operation manager 14). And the others become subordinate users. The usage status of the extension command and the operation abnormality notification are output to the extension command registrant by designation. The notification level 41i is for notifying the data manager of the number of information retrieval cases and the occurrence of errors. The limitation of the extension command user 41j is
The registrant of this extension command can specify. The extension command change level 41k is, for example, a user who can use the extension command,
This is a process of changing only the person, only a specific group, or all. The presence / absence of parameters can be designated for each extension instruction in the extension instruction parameter presence / absence designating section 41m.

When deleting an extension instruction, an extension instruction deletion instruction section 42a, an extension instruction section 41b, and an end code 42 are used.
Deletion data 42 composed of c and c is generated in the instruction code expansion executing unit 34, and the corresponding extension instruction is deleted by transferring the deletion data 42 to the instruction storage unit 36 and registering it.

Next, a method of executing the extension instruction will be described. Subordinate users simply perform the necessary operations according to the normal operating procedure. If the processing program prepared by the instruction code expansion executing unit 34 by this operation is based on the extension instruction, data for executing the extension instruction is created. The data structure for executing this extension instruction is shown in FIG.
Shown in. The extended instruction execution data 43 shown here is
Extended instruction part 43a and end code 43b, or extended instruction part 43a, parameter 43c, and end code 43
b and.

Here, as a specific example, the above-mentioned request from the information receiver 13, that is, "I will be absent for a while due to work, so the notification service to myself is registered in the post office box, It is assumed that a request (command) having the content "I want the notification service to be sent to a business trip destination (handled as a transfer)" is entered by someone (a member A) of the information recipient 13 into the center apparatus through the facsimile terminal 29. . In this case, the instruction is subjected to acceptance processing by the acceptance management unit 33, then sent to the instruction code expansion execution unit 34 and converted into an extended instruction code, and the extended instruction is registered in the instruction storage unit 36.

When the extension instruction is registered, the extension instruction registration data 41 shown in FIG. 2 is generated with the extension instruction registration instruction section 41a and the extension instruction section 41b, and the first basic instruction The post office box operation basic command data 11a shown in FIG. 6 is set in the section 41c, and the parameter 11b of the post office box operation basic command data 11a is set in the parameter 41d. The transfer operation basic instruction data (not shown) is set in the second basic instruction section 41e, and the parameter of the transfer operation basic instruction data is set in the parameter 41f. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the extended instruction registration data 41 is stored in the instruction accumulating section 36 after certain data is added in the instruction code expansion executing section 34. As a result, thereafter, in the message addressed to the A member from the center device, the expansion command is executed every time the outgoing operation is performed,
It is sent to the A member's PO Box and is sent to the forwarding destination specified by the A member. In this operation, although the message transmission destination for the A member is changed by the generation registration of the extension command, the person who should send the message, that is, the operator of the center, does not recognize that the transmission destination of the A member has changed. Instead, just call the A member, just as you would call other members. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the A member, it is recognized that the center device is flexibly adapted as requested by the A member, but from the viewpoint of the system operation manager 14, no special operation is required when transmitting to the A member. It seems that the operations on the center device are uniformized before and after the registration of the extension command.

In such a mode, even when an extension command is input by the information provider 12 or an extension command is input by the system operation manager 14, the same situation is obtained except that the request content to the center device is different. Is revealed.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A facsimile terminal as a command input / output unit and an external computer are connected to a center device of a facsimile network, and a reception management unit for receiving command input from these input / output units, the facsimile terminal, the external computer, and an input from the console. From the facsimile terminal, the external computer, or the console including an instruction code expansion executing unit that encodes and expands the executed instruction, and an instruction accumulating unit that stores the instruction code generated in the instruction code expansion executing unit. Since commands can be input without changing the operation method of other command input / output means, the center device can be flexibly adapted to the usage form of the user and the operation method etc. can be changed for other users. Realizes a center device that is easy to operate without causing Door can be. Further, since an input request for an extended command is made by any of the information provider, the information receiver, or the system operation manager using each data input / output means, each person does not need to have an operator for command input at the center. There is also an effect that manpower can be saved by inputting and registering only by the operation of.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a center device of a facsimile network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method of registering and deleting an extension instruction in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data structure of extension instructions stored in an instruction storage unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining a method of executing an extension instruction in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a center device of a conventional facsimile network.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a basic command used in a center device of a facsimile network.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a relationship between a center device and a person who uses the center device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 PO Box Processing Section 22 Bulletin Board Processing Section 23 Broadcast Processing Section 24 Service Execution Section 25 Operation Management Section 26 Operation Console (Data Input / Output Means) 27 Facsimile Communication Control Section 29 Facsimile Terminal 31 External Computer 33 Reception Management Section 34 Command Code Execution Execution Part 36 Command storage unit 41 Extended command data

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A reception management unit which is connected to a plurality of data input / output means and receives an instruction input from the data input / output means, and an instruction code which codes the instruction input from the data input / output means to expand and execute it. It has an expansion executing unit and an instruction accumulating unit for storing the instruction code generated by the instruction code expanding execution unit, and gives an instruction from each data input / output unit without changing the operation method of the other data input / output unit. A center device for a facsimile network, which is capable of inputting. 2. The data input / output means inputs a facsimile terminal connected to the center apparatus via a communication line, an external computer connected to the center apparatus via a network, and process data and command data. The center device of the facsimile network according to claim 1, further comprising an operation console. 3. A center device of a facsimile network, wherein a command can be input from any one of a facsimile terminal, an external computer and a console without changing the operation method of other devices. 4. The instruction code expansion executing unit is capable of responding to a usage form of the primary user by a request input from the primary user, but does not change the usage form of the secondary user. 2. The center device of the facsimile network according to claim 1, wherein the extension command data is generated and stored in the command storage unit. 5. The information provider, the information receiver, or the system operation manager corresponds to the main user, and the person other than the main user corresponds to the subordinate user. A center device of the facsimile network according to item 2. 6. The information provider inputs a request to the center apparatus by means of an external computer, the information recipient inputs a request to the center apparatus by means of a facsimile terminal, and the system operation manager operates the center via an operation console. 4. A center device of a facsimile network according to claim 2, wherein a request is input to the device.