US20020032736A1

US20020032736A1 - Communication equipment communication route selection method and computer program product in memory for selecting a communication route

Info

Publication number: US20020032736A1
Application number: US09/189,584
Authority: US
Inventors: Takenori Idehara
Original assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
Current assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
Priority date: 1997-11-17
Filing date: 1998-11-10
Publication date: 2002-03-14
Also published as: US6438605B1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A communication equipment having multiple communication functions, a method of selecting a communication route among multiple communication routes that are available between the sending equipment and receiving equipment, and a computer program product in memory for implementing the communication route selecting process. In route selection mode, a list of communication routes that are available between the sending equipment and receiving equipment is produced and displayed. The user selects a route and associated communication function on the displayed list, and proceeds to communication.

Description

This application is based on patent application No. 9-330832 filed in Japan, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a communication equipment having multiple communication functions, a communication route selection method, and a computer program product in memory for selecting a communication route.

2. Description of the Prior Art

When information is sent to the receiving party, it is generally sent depending on the communication function equipped on the communication equipment of the receiving party. For example, in case the receiving equipment has the facsimile function (will be termed “FAX function” hereinafter), information is sent by use of its FAX function. In case the receiving equipment has the electronic mail function (will be termed “E-mail function” hereinafter), information is sent by use of its E-mail function. In case the receiving equipment has the Internet FAX function, information is sent by use of its Internet FAX function. In case the sending equipment and receiving equipment are connected through a LAN (local area network), information can be sent by use of the LAN.

Some communication equipments developed recently have multiple communication functions among the above-mentioned FAX function, E-mail function, Internet FAX function, and LAN connecting function. In the case of communication between these multi-functional communication equipment, the sending party is allowed to send information by choosing a proper communication function of the receiving equipment, instead of installing plural communication equipments having different functions.

These multi-functional communication equipment allow the sending party to choose a communication function depending on individual communication purposes. For example, for low-cost communication, the expensive FAX communication can be avoided. For retaining the high-quality image transfer, the LAN connecting function or E-mail function can be used. In the latter case, however, communication based on E-mail cannot be achieved unless the receiving person operates the computer to open the mail box. In contrast, the FAX communication produces a print of information on the receiving equipment, and it can be handed to the receiving person. Accordingly, the FAX communication can possibly be faster practically than the E-mail communication, and the former may be chosen occasionally.

The Internet FAX function will be explained. In sending information by using FAX, the telephone line fee is charged, and therefore the communication fee depends on the distance between a sending party and a receiving party. A conceivable manner of low-cost communication to a distant receiving party is the use of the Internet, and it is called “Internet FAX function”.

It is assumed that the sending party has FAX unit F 1, intermediate FAX units F2 and F3 are connected through the Internet, and the receiving party has FAX unit F4, of which F1 and F2 are located in town A, and F3 and F4 are located in remote town B. In this situation, information is sent from F1 to F2 in the same town over the telephone line, it is sent from F2 to F3 through the Internet, and it is sent from F3 to F4 in the same town over the telephone line. This information sending manner enables a low communication fee based on the use of the Internet for long-distance communication between town A and town B.

Among other information sending manners, the sending party can connect its FAX F 1 directly to the Internet, or the sending party can connect its FAX F1 to the LAN which has the connection with the Internet.

Although multi-functional communication units allow the sending party to choose the best communication function based on the judgement of situation as explained above, the conventionally available multi-functional communication equipment do not inform the sending party of what communication function has the receiving equipment, or as to whether the receiving equipment has a communication function that matches with the function of the self equipment, causing the sending party to be troubled in choosing a communication function or to send information by using a function that is not the best.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A prime object of the present invention is to provide an innovative communication equipment capable of sending information from the sending equipment to the receiving equipment based on the selection of a proper communication route from among multiple available communication routes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an innovative communication equipment capable of sending information from the sending equipment to the receiving equipment based on the finding of multiple communication routes that are available between these equipments and the selection of a communication route among the found communication routes.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of selecting a communication route among multiple communication routes that are available between the sending equipment and receiving equipment.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a computer program product in memory for implementing the process of selecting a communication route among multiple communication routes that are available between the sending equipment and receiving equipment.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [0016]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first example of the communication network; [0017]
FIG. 2 is a front view of the operation panel of the facsimile unit as a communication equipment; [0018]
FIGS. [0019] 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) are diagrams showing examples of display on the LCD display screen, listing available communication means;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display on the LCD display screen at the selection of a communication route; [0020]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of display on the LCD display screen at the entry of the receiving equipment identification number; [0021]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing carried out by the CPU of the sending equipment for selecting a communication route; [0022]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing carried out by the CPU of the receiving equipment for sending a list of available communication means; [0023]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a second example of the communication network; [0024]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the FAX sending dialog box which is displayed on the display screen of the sending at the call of the FAX sending menu; [0025]
FIG. 10([0026] a) and FIG. 10(b) are diagrams showing an example of display on the LCD display screen, listing available communication means;
FIG. 11 is a table showing examples of communication means that are available between the sending equipment and receiving equipment; [0027]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of display on the LCD display screen at the selection of a communication route; [0028]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing carried out by the CPU of the sending equipment for selecting a communication route; [0029]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the details of the processing of making a list of available communication means; [0030]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing carried out by the CPU of the receiving equipment for sending a list of available communication means; and [0031]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the processing of transferring document data.[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be explained. [0033]

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a communication network pertinent to the first embodiment of this invention. The network includes equipment A which is a facsimile (FAX) [0034] equipment 10A and unit B which is a FAX unit 10B. These FAX units 10A and 10B are connected to the telephone line 23 through communication controller 18, and also connected through their interface adapters 15 to Ethernets, e.g., LANs, 24 and 25, respectively, with these Ethernets 24 and 25 being connected through mail servers 20A and 20B, respectively, to the Internet 27.
The following explains the sending of document data from the [0035] FAX unit 10A to the FAX unit 10B.
Each of the [0036] FAX units 10A and 10B, which is controlled by a CPU 11, has a RAM 12 for temporarily storing document data of a source document which has been read and document data which has been received, a ROM 13 for storing control programs, an image reader 14 which reads the text in an optical manner, an interface adapter 15 which connects the FAX unit to the Ethernet, an operation panel 16, a printer 17, and a communication controller 18 which connects the FAX unit to the telephone line.
Among these functional devices, the [0037] image reader 14, printer 17, interface adapter 15, communication controller 18, and mail servers 20A and 20B are known of their structures and functions, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 2 shows the [0038] operation panel 30 of the sending FAX unit 10A. The operation panel 30 has a FAX mode select key 31 a, a copy mode select key 31 b, a print mode select key 31 c, a scan mode select key 31 d, an E-mail select key 31 e, and an LCD display screen 23 which displays the selected mode and the state of the unit and allows data input based on the laminated touch-panel.
Among the operational modes selected by the mode selection keys of the [0039] FAX unit 10A, the copy mode is to read the source text and make a copy of it, the print mode is to print data received by facsimile and stored in the memory, and the scan mode is to send document data which has been read on the sending FAX unit 10A to the personal computer and the scan mode is operable when reception program initiated in response to the detection of document data from the FAX is stored in the personal computer. These operational modes selected with the mode selection keys, however, do not relate directly to the communication route selection which will be explained later.
The [0040] operation panel 30 further includes a ten-key set 33 which is used to enter numerals and also enter alphabetic characters in the E-mail mode. The ten-key set 33 is designed to allow the entry of a comma, space and symbols, in addition to the alpha-numeric characters and symbols * and # that are labeled on the key tops. For example, when the key “1” is hit once, numeral “1” is entered; when it is hit twice, character “A” is entered; when it is hit three times, “B” is entered; when it is hit four times, “C” is entered; and when it is hit gain, the initial condition is restored to enter “1”. The entered character is displayed on the LCD display screen 32. When the key “*” is hit once, symbol, “*” is entered; when it is hit twice, symbol “@” is entered; when it is hit three times, symbol “&” is entered; and when it is hit four times, symbol “¥” is entered. When the key “#” is hit once, symbol “#” is entered; and when it is hit twice, a space is entered. The entered symbol is displayed on the LCD display screen 32.
The [0041] operation panel 30 further includes a start key 34 which is used to start the operation of the FAX unit 10A, a stop key 35 which is used to terminate the operation, and a communication route selection mode key 36 which is used to bring the unit into the mode of selecting a image data transfer route.
The receiving [0042] FAX unit 10B may have the same operation panel, or may include mode selection keys for other operational modes.
FIGS. [0043] 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) show displays on the LCD display screen 32 when the communication route has been selected by the operation of the communication route selection mode key 36 on the operation panel 30.
FIG. 3([0044] a) shows the display of communication means that are available for the receiving equipment B, FIG. 3(b) shows the display of communication means that are available for the sending equipment A, and FIG. 3(c) shows the display of the result of arrangement, indicating that FAX and E-mail are available as common means of communication from the sending equipment A to the receiving equipment B.
FIG. 4 shows the display on the [0045] LCD display screen 32 at the selection of a communication route, prompting the selection of a communication route for the case of the available communication means shown in FIG. 3(c). When the user touches a screen position on the line, i.e., telephone line 23 in this example, connecting between FAX-A 10A and FAX-B 10B, or a screen position in a block of facility, i.e., mail server 20B in this example, the touched position is detected by the touch-panel on the LCD display screen 32, and the corresponding communication route is selected.
FIG. 5 shows the display on the [0046] LCD display screen 32 when the unit is in the initial state or after the FAX mode key 31 a has been depressed. The display includes a FAX number field 32 a, a cursor 32 b in the field 32 a, cursor moving keys 32 c and 32 d, and a cancel key 32 e which is used to delete the numeral at the cursor position. When a FAX number is entered with the ten-key set 33, each digit is entered and displayed at the position of the cursor 32 b.
Next, the processes implemented by the [0047] CPU 11 of FIG. 1 for the selection of a communication route and the sending and reception of document data will be explained on the flowcharts of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of communication route selection and document data transfer implemented by the [0048] CPU 11 of the sending equipment A. It is detected whether the communication route selection mode which is invoked with the communication route selection mode key 36 is selected or not (step P1). When the communication route selection mode is selected, there is provided a list of communication means available for the sending equipment A as shown in FIG. 3(b) (step P2).
Next, the user is prompted to enter the receiving equipment identification number. On the [0049] LCD display screen 32 of the operation panel 30, with the display of FIG. 5 appearing in response to the setting of the communication route selection mode, the user enters the FAX number of the receiving party with the ten-key set 33 (step P3). The entered FAX number is dialed automatically, and the sending equipment (FAX-A) and receiving equipment (FAX-B) are linked through the telephone line.
The [0050] CPU 11 issues a status request to the receiving equipment B in order to examine the state of the receiving equipment B, i.e., it requests the transfer of a list of communication means that are available for the receiving equipment B as shown in FIG. 3(a) (step P4). The CPU 11 waits for the transfer of the list of available communication means from the receiving equipment B (step P5).
On receiving the list of available communication means from the receiving equipment B, a communication means selection list (refer to FIG. 3([0051] c)) is produced from the list of communication means available at the sending equipment A (refer to FIG. 3(b)) and the list of communication means available for the receiving equipment B (refer to FIG. 3(a)) (step P6), and displays a graphic guidance for communication route selection (refer to FIG. 4) on the LCD display screen 32 (step P7). In response to the user's operation on the LCD display screen 32, the communication route and communication means are determined (step P8).
The sending equipment A reads the source document and sends document data to the receiving equipment B by using the selected communication means over the selected communication route, i.e., by using FAX or E-mail based on the selection and determination of communication route and means (steps P[0052] 9, P10 and P11), and terminates the operation.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the transmitting of available communication means list and reception of document data implemented by the receiving equipment B. It is judged whether document data is received by FAX or E-mail or not (step P[0053] 21). In case of E-mail reception, the processing of E-mail reception is implemented (step P27), and the operation is terminated.
In case of FAX reception in step P[0054] 21, the processing of telephone reception is implemented (step P22), and subsequently it is judged whether a status request from the sending equipment A is received or not (step P23). On receiving the status request, a list of available communication means is produced and the list is transmitted to the sending equipment A (steps P24 and P25), and the operation is terminated.
Otherwise, in response to the negation of the status request judgement in step P[0055] 23, the processing of FAX reception is implemented (step P26), and the operation is terminated.

Second Embodiment

Next, the second embodiment of this invention will be explained. [0056]
FIG. 8 shows a communication network including equipment A which is a [0057] personal computer 50A and equipment B which is a personal computer 50B. These computers 50A and 50B are connected to the telephone line 93 through their modems 60A and 60B, and also connected through their interface adapters 55 to Ethernets, e.g., LANS,94 and 95, respectively, with these Ethernets 94 and 95 being connected through mail servers 80A and 80B, respectively, to the Internet 97. The network further includes a facsimile unit (FAX-1) 71 and another facsimile unit (FAX-2) 72 both connected to the telephone line 93 and also connected to Ethernets 94 and 95, respectively.
The following explains the transfer of data from the equipment A, i.e., [0058] personal computer 50A, to the equipment B, i.e., personal computer 50B.
Each of the [0059] personal computers 50A and 50B, which is controlled by a CPU 51, has a RAM 52 for temporarily storing document data of a source document which has been read and document data which has been received, a VRAM 53 for storing control programs, a keyboard 54, an interface adapter 55, a floppy disk drive (FDD) 56, a hard disk drive (HDD) 57, a display 58, and a communication controller 59 which connects the personal computer to the telephone line.
Among these functional devices, the [0060] personal computers 50A and 50B, FAX units 71 and 72, and mail servers 80A and 80B are known of their structures and functions, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 9 shows the FAX sending dialog box which is displayed on the [0061] display screen 58 of the personal computer 50A in response to the call of the FAX sending menu from an application program running currently on the equipment A. The user enters the FAX number of the receiving equipment B in the field 101. By clicking the OK key 102 with the mouse device, the data specified in the range field 105 is sent to the equipment B. The user can point the cancel key 103 and click the mouse device to turn off the FAX sending dialog box and return to the application program.
The dialog box further includes a communication route [0062] selection mode key 104. By clicking the key 104 with the mouse device, the unit enters the mode for selecting a communication route between the sending equipment A, i.e., personal computer 50A, and the receiving equipment B, i.e., personal computer 50B, with lists of available communication routes being displayed.
FIG. 10([0063] a) shows a display of communication routes available for the sending equipment A, and FIG. 10(b) shows a display of communication routes available for the receiving equipment B.
FIG. 11 is a list of communication means available as common for communication between the sending equipment A and the receiving equipment B resulting from the tables of FIGS. [0064] 10(a) and 10(b). On the table of FIG. 11, column “address-1” indicates the address of the first destination of document data from the sending equipment A, and column “address-2” indicates the address of the final destination of document data. An IP address means an Internet Protocol address.
FIG. 12 shows a display on the [0065] LCD display screen 105 when communication route selection mode key 104 is depressed, and this example is for the case where the communication means listed in FIG. 11 are available. The user selects a communication route by sequentially clicking the mouse device while pointing a line or a facility (FAX 1, FAX 2, modem A, modem B, or mail server in this example) located between the sending equipment A and the receiving equipment B.
Next, the processes implemented by the [0066] CPU 51 of FIG. 8 for the selection of a communication route and the transfer of image data will be explained on the flowcharts of FIG. 13 through FIG. 16.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing of communication route selection and document data transferring implemented by the [0067] CPU 51 of the sending equipment A.
It is detected whether the communication route selection mode key is pointed and clicked in the dialog box in the display or not (step P[0068] 31). When the route selection mode is selected, there is provided a list of communication means available for the sending equipment A as shown in FIG. 10(a) (step P32). This listing process will be explained in detail later on the flowchart of FIG. 14.
Subsequently, the communication route selection dialog box is displayed to prompt the user to enter the FAX number of the receiving equipment B in the FAX number field. The user operates the ten-key set to enter the destination FAX number (step P[0069] 33). The entered FAX number is dialed automatically, and the sending equipment and receiving equipment are linked through the telephone line.
The [0070] CPU 51 issues a status request to the receiving equipment B in order to examine the state of the receiving equipment B, i.e., it requests the transfer of a list of communication means that are available for the receiving equipment (step P34). The CPU 51 waits for the transfer of the list of available communication means from the receiving equipment B (step P35).
On receiving the list of available communication means from the receiving equipment B, a communication means selection list (refer to FIG. 11) is produced from the list of communication means available for the sending equipment A (refer to FIG. 10([0071] a)) and the list of communication means available for the receiving equipment B (refer to FIG. 10(b)) (step P36), and a graphic guidance for the communication route selection (refer to FIG. 12) is displayed on the display screen 105 (step P37).
In response to the user's operation on the display, the communication route and communication means are determined (step P[0072] 38).
The sending equipment A reads the source document, and sends document data to the receiving equipment B by using the selected communication means over the selected communication route, i.e., by using the modem A, FAX-[0073] 1 or mail server based on the selection and determination of communication route and means (steps P39, P40, P41 and P42), and terminates the operation.
Next, the process of step P[0074] 40 on the flowchart of FIG. 13 for sending document data to the receiving equipment B via the determined communication route and modem A will be explained. The process is carried out based on the modem communication program stored on the hard disk of the sending equipment A, with the destination FAX number being set to the program.
In case the communication route is from equipment A→modem A→modem B and to equipment B, the FAX number of modem B is used on the first row of the address-[0075] 1 column in the table of FIG. 11 to carry out the FAX communication.
In case the communication route is from equipment A→modem A→[0076] FAX 2 and to equipment B, the FAX number of FAX 2 is used on the second row of the address-1 column and the sub-address (address-2) for the transfer of document data from the FAX 2 to the equipment B in the table of FIG. 11 to carry out the FAX communication. Document data is transferred from the FAX 2 to the equipment B over the network, and therefore the sub-address (address-2) is the IP address (Internet Protocol address) of the equipment B.
In case the communication route is from equipment A→modem A→[0077] FAX 2 and to equipment B via E-mail, the FAX number of FAX 2 is used on the third row of the address-1 column and the sub-address (address-2) for the transfer of document data from the FAX 2 to the equipment B in the table of FIG. 11 to carry out the FAX communication. Document data is transferred from the FAX 2 to the equipment B via E-mail, and therefore the sub-address (address-2) is the E-mail address of the equipment B.
Next, the process of step P[0078] 41 on the flowchart of FIG. 13 for sending document data to the receiving equipment B via the determined communication route and FAX 1 will be explained. The process is carried out based on the program for the FAX 1 stored on the hard disk of the sending equipment A.
In case the communication route is from equipment A→[0079] FAX 1→modem B and to equipment B, the FAX number of modem B is used on the fourth row of the address-1 column in the table of FIG. 11 to carry out the FAX transfer.
In case the communication route is from equipment A→[0080] FAX 1→FAX 2 and to equipment B, the FAX number of FAX 2 is used on the fifth row of the address-1 column and the sub-address (address-2) for the transfer of document data from the FAX 2 to the equipment B in the table of FIG. 11 to carry out the FAX transfer. Document data is transferred from the FAX 2 to the equipment B over the network, and therefore the sub-address (address-2) is the IP address (Internet Protocol address) of the equipment B.
In case the communication route is from equipment A→[0081] FAX 1→FAX 2 and to equipment B via E-mail, the FAX number of FAX 2 is used on the sixth row of the address-1 column and the sub-address (address-2) for the transfer of document data from the FAX 2 to the equipment B in the table of FIG. 11 to carryout the FAX transfer. Document data is transferred from the FAX 2 to the equipment B via E-mail, and therefore the sub-address (address-2) is the E-mail address of the equipment B.
Next, the process of step P[0082] 42 on the flowchart of FIG. 13 for sending document data to the receiving equipment B via the determined communication route and communication means of E-mail will be explained. The process is carried out based on the program for E-mail stored on the hard disk of the sending equipment A, with the receiving equipment number being set to the E-mail server.
The destination mail address is determined with reference to the E-mail address on the seventh row of the address-[0083] 1 column in the table of FIG. 11. The determined E-mail address is set to the program for E-mail, and image data is transferred to the specified address of the E-mail server. The user of the receiving equipment B will be notified of the delivery of an E-mail, and receive the document data from the E-mail server.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the subroutine for making a list of available communication means shown by step P[0084] 32 on the flowchart of FIG. 13.
The sending equipment A issue status requests to all equipments connected to the network (refer to FIG. 8, Ethernet [0085] 94) which is connected with the sending equipment A. Specifically, it requests the transfer of lists of communication means available for these equipments (step P45), and waits for the reception of the lists (step P46). On receiving the lists of available communication means from all equipments in the network, the sending equipment A adds its own available communication means to the received lists and provides the lists of communication means that are available for the transfer operation of the equipment A (step P47), and returns to the main routine.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing for the transfer of available communication means list and document data reception implemented by the [0086] CPU 51 of the receiving equipment B which is a personal computer 50B shown in FIG. 8. Initially, the CPU 51 receives a telephone call from a sending equipment (step P51), and judges whether it is a status request or not (step P52).
On receiving the status request, it issues status requests to all equipments connected to the network (Ethernet [0087] 95) which is connected with the sending equipment B (step P53), and waits for the reception of status information (step P54). On receiving status information from all equipments, there is provided a list of communication means available on these equipments in the network and a list of communication means available for the self equipment B (step P55). The list is transmitted to the sending equipment A (step P56), and the operation is terminated.
Otherwise, in response to the negation of the status request judgement in step P[0088] 52, the processing of FAX reception is implemented (step P57), and the operation is terminated.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the document data transfer process implemented by the CPU of the [0089] FAX 2 in the network shown in FIG. 8. The CPU judges whether or not the FAX 2 has received document data and information indicative of the destination from the modem A or FAX 1 (step P61). On receiving document data and destination information, it judges whether the destination is an E-mail address or IP address (Internet Protocol address) of a receiving personal computer (step P62).
When the destination information is an E-mail address in step P[0090] 62, the E-mail address is set (step P63), the data format is converted so that the document data can be processed by the receiving equipment B (step P64), the converted document data is attached to an E-mail (step P65), and finally the E-mail is sent to the specified E-mail address (step P66).
In case the judgement step P[0091] 62 reveals that the destination information is an IP address, the IP address is set (step P67), the document data is sent to the specified IP address based on the file transfer protocol (FTP) (step P66), and the operation is terminated. The receiving equipment B is running under the operating system (OS) which can deal with the file transfer protocol (FTP), and it receives the document data and automatically stores the data onto the hard disk of the personal computer.
Although a list of communication means that are available for communication between the sending equipment and receiving equipment are transacted by using FAX in the above explanation, the list may be transacted via other means, e.g., E-mail. [0092]
Although the communication route selection control program is stored in the hard disk of the personal computer in the above explanation of the second embodiment, this program may be stored on a floppy disk and loaded with the floppy disk drive of the personal computer into the main memory at the time of processing. This variant scheme is made possible by the provision of a [0093] floppy disk drive 56 on the personal computer 50A and the preparation of a floppy disk 56 f as shown in FIG. 8.
The floppy disk for storing the communication route selection control program may be replaced with a CD-ROM, with a CD-ROM drive being provided on the personal computer obviously. [0094]
Although in the foregoing first and second embodiments, the sending equipment inquires of the receiving equipment the available communication means and produces a graphic communication route guidance (shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 12) at each time of communication, an alternative scheme is to memorize the reply of inquiry and produces the guidance from the stored record for successive communications within a certain period of time. Inquiry of available communication means may be made at certain events, e.g., when the equipment is turned on, or on expiration of a certain time length after turn-on of the equipment, thereby to update the information of available communication means of the receiving equipment. [0095]
A conceivable preset destination equipment is an equipment which is registered with the allotment of a one-touch dial number of the usual facsimile unit. [0096]
According to the present invention arranged as described above, the user is allowed to choose a communication means and communication route among multiple available means and routes depending on the content of communication, communication speed and communication cost, whereby the user is prevented from being troubled in choosing a communication function or sending information by using a function that is not the best. [0097]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A communication equipment capable of sending information to a receiving communication equipment via a plurality of communication routes, said equipment comprising:

a route finding controller which finds a plurality of communication routes that are available between said sending equipment and said receiving equipment;

a display device which displays the communication routes found by said route finding controller;

an input device used to specify a communication route out of plural communication routes displayed on said display device; and

a transmission controller which transmits information to said receiving equipment through the communication route specified with said input device.

2. A communication equipment according to claim 1, wherein said route finding controller lists up communication routes that are available for said sending equipment and communication routes that are available for said receiving equipment, and extracts communication routes that are available commonly for said sending equipment and said receiving equipment.

3. A communication equipment according to claim 2, wherein said route finding controller sends to said receiving equipment a status request for inquiring communication routes that are available for said receiving equipment, and lists up communication routes that are available for said receiving equipment upon receiving a reply from said receiving equipment in response to the status request.

4. A communication equipment according to claim 1, wherein said route finding controller lists up communication routes that are available for a network connected with said sending equipment and communication routes that are available for a network connected with said receiving equipment, and extracts communication routes that are available commonly for said sending equipment and said receiving equipment.

5. A communication equipment according to claim 4, wherein said route finding controller sends to said receiving equipment a status request for inquiring communication routes that are available for said network connected with said receiving equipment, and lists up communication routes that are available by said receiving equipment upon receiving a reply from said receiving equipment in response to the status request.

6. A communication route selection method for selecting a communication route to be used for communication between a sending equipment and a receiving equipment from among a plurality of communication routes that are available between said sending equipment and receiving equipment, said method comprising the steps of:

a step of finding a plurality of communication routes that are available between said sending equipment and said receiving equipment;

a step of displaying the communication routes found in said route finding step;

a step of detecting the selection of a communication route out of the communication routes displayed in said displaying step; and

a step of sending information from said sending equipment to said receiving equipment through the communication route in said detection step.

7. A communication route selection method according to claim 6, wherein said route finding step comprises the steps of:

a first listing step of listing up communication routes that are available for said sending equipment;

a second listing step of listing up communication routes that are available for said receiving equipment; and

a step of extracting communication routes that have been listed commonly in said first and second listing steps.

8. A communication route selection method according to claim 7, wherein said second listing step comprises the steps of:

a step of sending a status request from said sending equipment to said receiving equipment for inquiring communication routes that are available for said receiving equipment; and

a step of sending back, from said receiving equipment to said sending equipment in response to the status request, reply information indicative of the communication routes available for said receiving equipment.

9. A communication route selection method according to claim 6, wherein said route finding step comprises the steps of:

a first listing step of listing up communication routes that are available for a network connected with said sending equipment;

a second listing step of listing up communication routes that are available for a network connected with said receiving equipment; and

10. A communication route selection method according to claim 9, wherein said first listing step comprises the steps of:

a step of sending a status request from said sending equipment to other equipments connected with said network which is connected with said sending equipment for inquiring available communication routes; and

a step of sending back, from said other equipments to said sending equipment in response to the status request, reply information indicative of the available communication routes.

11. A communication route selection method according to claim 9, wherein said second listing step comprises the steps of:

a first inquiry step of sending a first status request from said sending equipment to said receiving equipment for inquiring communication routes that are available for said network connected with said receiving equipment;

a second inquiry step of sending, from said receiving equipment to other equipments connected to said network which is connected with said receiving equipment in response to the first status request, a second status request for inquiring available communication routes;

a first reply step of sending back, from said other equipments to said receiving equipment in response to the second inquiry step, reply information indicative of the available communication routes; and

a second reply step of transferring the information, which has been received in said first reply step by said receiving equipment, to said sending equipment.

12. A communication route selection method according to claim 9, wherein said route display step displays communication routes on a display device provided on said sending equipment.

13. A computer program product in memory for selecting a communication route to be used for communication between a sending equipment and a receiving equipment from among a plurality of communication routes, said computer program product comprising:

route finding control for finding a plurality of communication routes that are available for communication between said sending equipment and said receiving equipment;

display control for displaying the communication routes found by said route finding control;

detection control for detecting the selection of a communication route to be used for communication out of the communication routes displayed by said display control; and

transfer control for sending information from said sending equipment to said receiving equipment via the communication route selected by said detection control.

14. A computer program product in memory according to claim 13, wherein said route finding control comprises:

a first listing control for listing up communication routes that are available for said sending equipment;

a second listing control for listing up communication routes that are available for said receiving equipment; and

route extraction control for extracting communication routes that have been listed commonly by said first and second listing controls.

15. A computer program product in memory according to claim 14, wherein said second listing control comprises:

inquiry control for sending a status request from said sending equipment to said receiving equipment for inquiring communication routes that are available for said receiving equipment; and

reply control for sending back, from said receiving equipment to said sending equipment in response to the status request, information indicative of the communication routes available for said receiving equipment.

16. A computer program product in memory according to claim 13, wherein said route finding control comprises:

a first listing control for listing up communication routes that are available for a network connected with said sending equipment;

a second listing control for listing up communication routes that are available for a network connected with said receiving equipment; and

17. A computer program product in memory according to claim 16, wherein said first listing control comprises:

inquiry control for sending a status request from said sending equipment to other equipments connected with said network which is connected with said sending equipment for inquiring available communication routes; and

reply control for sending back, from said other equipments to said sending equipment in response to the status request, reply information indicative of the available communication routes.

18. A computer program product in memory according to claim 16, wherein said second listing control comprises:

a first inquiry control of sending a first status request from said sending equipment to said receiving equipment for inquiring communication routes that are available for said network connected with said receiving equipment;

a second inquiry control of sending, from said receiving equipment to other equipments connected to said network which is connected with said receiving equipment in response to the first status request, a second status request for inquiring available communication routes;

a first reply control of sending back, from said other equipments to said receiving equipment in response to the second inquiry control, reply information indicative of the available communication routes; and

a second reply control of transferring the information, which has been received by said first reply control of said receiving equipment, to said sending equipment.

19. A computer program product in memory according to claim 13, wherein said route display control displays communication routes on a display device provided on said sending equipment.