JP2000235530A - Device, method and system for electronic mail and recording medium recording program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent data exceeding a previously determined reference value from flowing on a network at the time of transmitting an electronic(e) mail. SOLUTION: When a file of a size exceeding the previously determined reference value is attached to an email to be transmitted, a substitutive file is prepared by processing the file to a file of a size smaller than the reference value, the substitutive file is attached to the email instead of the original unprocessed file and the email including the substitutive file is transmitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of data communication technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A business line or branch office of a company or the like is usually provided with a communication line for connecting office equipment such as a computer in the area. In many cases, this communication line is owned by the company. As is well known, a communication system installed in such a relatively small area is called a LAN (local area network). L of each office
ANs are interconnected by network lines provided by specialized telecommunications carriers, creating a larger network.

Conventionally, letters, telephones, and faxes have been used exclusively for transmitting information between individuals inside and outside the company.
In recent years, information has been transmitted using an e-mail system provided in the LAN.

Electronic mail is transmitted and received by a computer or other dedicated / general-purpose communication terminal connected to a LAN.

[0005] The use of electronic mail can reduce communication costs. This is especially true for communications between locations that are far apart from each other.

On the other hand, a network line has a certain upper limit on the amount of information that can be passed per unit time thereon.

For this reason, when a large amount of information (e-mail with a large attached file) is sent from one establishment to another establishment via this network line, the network line is used. In some cases, the speed of other communication may be reduced, causing a problem in the entire system.

[0008] In electronic mail, information to be transmitted and received is basically character information (text format). Image data, word processor data, CAD data, etc. are not text data, but such non-text data can be sent as an attachment to be attached to an email. Of course, text data can also be an attached file.

When the file contains only character information, the file size is not so large even if the number of pages or characters is large, but when the file contains non-text data, for example, image data, the number of pages of the document is small. However, the file size is relatively large.

For this reason, when sending a file of non-text data by e-mail, a large amount of information tends to be sent even if the user does not recognize the file. When a large amount of information is sent to a network, data traffic increases, and the performance of the entire system is reduced.

[0011]

According to the present invention, a file having a data size exceeding a predetermined reference value, for example, 1 MB (megabyte), is transmitted to a network as an attached file of an electronic mail when transmitting the electronic mail. The task is to prevent it.

Further, according to the present invention, when a user attempts to send an e-mail by attaching a file having a size exceeding a reference value, the original file is replaced with the original file which the user tried to send. It is an object of the present invention to transmit a new file (alternative file) which has been processed based on the above-mentioned file to be smaller than the reference value as an attached file.

That is, in the present invention, before the electronic mail is transmitted, it is determined whether or not the size of the file attached to the electronic mail exceeds a reference value. When it is determined that the size of the attached file exceeds the standard value, the attached file is processed so as to have a size smaller than the standard value, and instead of the original file, the file size is reduced to be smaller than the standard value. Another new file (alternative file) that has been processed is attached to an e-mail and transmitted.

This prevents an increase in data traffic on the network, prevents a reduction in the communication speed as viewed by individual users of the system, and prevents a reduction in the efficiency of the entire system. .

According to the present invention, since a user of this system recognizes that a file having a size exceeding a reference value cannot be attached to an e-mail, an unnecessarily large file will be attached from the beginning. And no longer. This also prevents the efficiency of the entire system from being reduced.

The processed file (alternative file) represents an outline of the original file, and in most cases, almost all of the intended purpose is achieved by the processed file (alternative file). . For example, in the word processor data, if there is information on the first page or information corresponding to the first several thousand characters, it is possible to grasp the outline of the original file to be transmitted. The same applies to image files.

Another new file is created from the original file by the following processing. The new file replaces the original file and is sent as an e-mail attachment.

A New image data file processed so that the resolution of the image data is reduced to a size smaller than a reference value when the original attached file is a file of image data.

(B) A new non-text data file composed of only the first page when the original attached file is non-text data having the concept of a page, and processed to have a size equal to or smaller than a reference value.

C A new non-text data file which is partially extracted from the non-text data of the original attached file and processed to have a size equal to or smaller than a reference value.

D When the attached file is an image data file, a new image data file that has been processed so that its magnification is reduced to a size equal to or smaller than a reference value.

[0022]

The above object is achieved by the following means.

A first aspect of the present invention is an electronic mail apparatus capable of transmitting an electronic mail with a file attached thereto, wherein the size of the attached file is predetermined. A size determination device that determines whether or not the size exceeds the reference value, and when the size of the attached file is determined to exceed a predetermined reference value by the size determination device, the attached file is An alternative file creation device that creates an alternative file by processing the file into a file having a size smaller than a reference value, and, when the alternative file is created, attaching the alternative file in place of the original file before the processing. An electronic mail device comprising: an alternative file transmitting device that transmits an electronic mail.

[0024] In the electronic mail device according to the first aspect, the substitute file may be a file having a reduced image resolution when the original file is a file of image data. An electronic mail device characterized by the following.

In the electronic mail device according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the original file is a file of data having a concept of a page, the substitute file is one page of the original file. An e-mail device, characterized in that the file is a file consisting of only one.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic mail apparatus according to the first aspect, the substitute file has a size within a reference value obtained by extracting a part of the data of the original file. An electronic mail device characterized by the following.

In the electronic mail device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the substitute file may be a file having a reduced image magnification when the original file is an image data file. An electronic mail device characterized by the following.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic mail device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, when the substitute file is attached to an electronic mail,
An electronic mail device wherein information on an original file name and its storage location is transmitted.

[Seventh Solution of the Invention] When a file having a size exceeding a predetermined reference value is attached to an e-mail to be transmitted, the attached file is smaller than the reference value. An electronic mail method, wherein an alternative file is created by processing into a file of a size, and the alternative file is attached to the electronic mail and transmitted instead of the original file before the processing.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is an electronic mail system capable of transmitting an electronic mail with a file attached thereto, wherein the size of the attached file is predetermined. Size determining means for determining whether or not the size exceeds the reference value, and when the size of the attached file is determined to exceed a predetermined reference value by the size determining means, the attached file is An alternative file creating means for creating an alternative file by processing into a file having a size smaller than a reference value, and when the alternative file is created,
An electronic mail system comprising: an alternative file transmitting unit that transmits an electronic mail by attaching the alternative file in place of an original file before being processed.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is a recording medium storing a program for an e-mail device capable of transmitting an e-mail with a file attached thereto. A size determining function for determining whether the size of a file to be attached exceeds a predetermined reference value, and when it is determined that the size of the attached file exceeds a predetermined reference value by the size determining function. An alternative file creation function for creating an alternative file by processing the attached file into a file having a size smaller than the reference value, and replacing the original file before processing when the alternative file is created. An alternative file transmission function of transmitting an e-mail with the file attached. Recording medium in which the program is recorded for electronic mail device.

[0032]

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining control of the entire electronic mail system. The e-mail device according to the present embodiment includes an e-mail communication terminal 10 and a mail server 200 on a network.

The electronic mail communication terminal 10 of this embodiment is
In addition to the function of sending and receiving e-mail as explained below,
This is a multifunction device having a function of transmitting and receiving facsimile, a function as a printer, and a function as a scanner.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic mail communication terminal 1
0 is the control unit 11, the image reading unit 12, the image processing unit 1
3, fax modem 14, image memory 16, RAM 17,
Video interface 18, printer engine 19,
It has a ROM 20, a hard disk 21, a network interface 22, and an operation panel 50.

The electronic mail communication terminal 10 is connected to the network 150 via the network interface 22 and communicates with the mail server 200 connected to the network 150.

The control unit 11 controls the operation of the electronic mail communication terminal 10, and executes the program stored in the ROM 20 to control the operation of each unit in the electronic mail communication terminal 10. Implement predetermined functions. The control unit 11 is substantially constituted by a CPU.

The image reading section 12 scans a document placed on a platen glass to acquire image data, and includes a sensor for irradiating the document with light and reading the reflected light.

The image processing unit 13 can perform image processing such as character / photograph area discrimination, edge enhancement, smoothing processing, dither, error diffusion, and resolution conversion.

The FAX modem 14 is connected to a telephone line, receives a FAX signal via the telephone line, and transmits an image read by the image reading unit 12 as a FAX signal. The image memory 16 temporarily stores dot image data for a plurality of pages read by the image reading unit 12.

The hard disk 21 stores an attached file attached to the e-mail, a new attached file for processing this attached file and transmitting it in place of the original attached file, and a received e-mail file as described later. Is stored. In addition, a backup file of the transmitted e-mail is also stored here. The hard disk 21 has an area accessible from the network.

A program executed by the control unit 11 is stored in the ROM 20. By executing the program, the mail 20 is connected between the mail server 200 connected to the network 150 via the network interface 22 and the e-mail communication device 10. It is possible to exchange data.

Further, the e-mail communication terminal 10 uses the HTT
It has a function of a P server, and a protocol and an address for accessing the electronic mail communication terminal 10 by this function (called a URL in the Internet).
Can be designated, and the e-mail communication terminal 10 can provide a service to a remote client machine.

The video interface 18 is an interface for transferring data to a printer engine 19 connected to print out the received electronic mail.

The printer engine 19 receives the received mail, data read by the image reading unit 12,
Signal input via X modem 14, network 1
The data input via the printer 50 is also printed out.

Thus, the electronic mail communication device 10 has a copy function, a FAX function, and a print function.

The operation panel 50 includes a display device and a touch panel having a function of detecting that a finger has been touched and its position. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 50 displays a plurality of keys to which characters or symbols different from those of the character display area 51 are attached. Touching any of the displayed keys with a finger detects the key touch and its position, so that characters or control commands can be input in the same manner as a normal keyboard.

The character is the cursor 5 on the character display screen 51.
23 is entered using the displayed key, the user moves the cursor position, and displays the destination list 524, the subject list 525, the attached file list 526, and the message list 527 in each item. Enter each time.

The up key 521 and the down key 522 are keys for moving the cursor position up and down, and the right movement key 528 is a key for moving the cursor right.

In the attached file item, when an image file is to be sent by attaching the attached file, that is, the electronic mail, a folder storing the image file and a file name are entered. When necessary items are input and the transmission key 529 is pressed, the image file is transmitted to the destination together with the message and the subject. When the original is read by the scanner and the file is attached, the drive name of the scanner is input at the head of the attached file item.

At this time, if the size of the image file exceeds the reference value, as described below, another new image file (alternative file) created by processing this image file is attached to the e-mail. Sent.

FIG. 3 shows a software configuration diagram of the present system.

The system includes an authentication function 32 that allows a user to authenticate logging in to the system.
E-mail function 33 for controlling the function of sending and receiving e-mail, converting the format to e-mail format, address management, and attaching data read by a scanner or the like to e-mail.
An AX function 34, a function 35 for controlling scan, print, and copy operations; an HTTP server function 36 for enabling a data file stored on a hard disk to be downloaded to a server computer on a network; And a user interface function 31 that allows the user to perform operations.

Each process is entirely controlled by the operating system 37.

Printer controllers 38, scanner controllers 39, network drivers 40, modem drivers 41, I / O drivers 42 such as operation panels and disk devices, and CPU peripherals as controllers / drivers for controlling each hardware. , A memory 43 such as a memory.

The operation of the present system will be described below.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flow charts for explaining the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flow chart for the first half of this operation, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart for the latter half.

[Log-in Operation and Reading of Document] The log-in operation and reading of the document will be described with reference to FIG.

When the e-mail communication terminal 10 of this embodiment enters the e-mail transmission mode (S00), the operation panel 5
0 displays a screen on which an input for login (S01) is performed. That is, e-mail communication terminal 10 requests input of e-mail address and password of the sender on character display area 51 of operation panel 50 (not shown).
Display.

When an address and a password are input using the keys displayed at the same time, the e-mail communication terminal 1
0 indicates that this address and password are
It inquires of mail server 200 whether or not it is registered in the mail server 200. The input of the sender's address and the password is performed by the character input method as described above.

If these are registered in mail server 200 (S02, YES), mail server 200 sends a signal indicating that login is possible to electronic mail communication terminal 10, and electronic mail communication terminal 10 logs in to operation panel 50. Show what was done.

If the sender's address and password are not registered in mail server 200 (S02, NO), mail server 200 sends a signal indicating that login is impossible to electronic mail communication terminal 10, and receives the signal. The e-mail communication terminal 10 performs a display on the operation panel 50 again requesting the input of the address and the password, so that the user re-enters the correct address and the password (S0).
1).

When the e-mail communication terminal 10 logs in to the mail server, the screen shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the operation panel 50 (S03). As described above with reference to FIG. 524, subject 52
5. The user inputs the attached file name 526 and the message 527 (S04), places the document on the platen glass of the document reading unit 12, and presses the start key.

During this time, the e-mail communication device 10 waits for the start key to be pressed (S05), and when the start key is detected (S05, YES), the image reading section 12 reads the original, and the read image data is Once stored in the image memory 16. Then, the stored image data is compressed by the image processing unit 13 and
(S06).

Here, by compressing the data,
Although the file size is smaller, some or all of the data is not lost due to compression.
Therefore, the compressed file can be completely restored to the original data by the reverse process.

On the other hand, the data of the alternative file described later is
Since the data of the original file is partially lost data, the data of the original file cannot be completely restored from the data of the substitute file.

In the above description, the user gives a name to the attached file. However, even if a special symbol is entered in the attached file name list, When the image is read without inputting the password, the electronic mail communication terminal 10 may automatically attach a unique name to the attached file.

[Size Judgment and Transmission] The size of the file of the image data stored in S06 can be known from the information of the header of the file.

This file size is a reference value, for example, 1M
B, the image data is thinned out, that is, resolution conversion processing is performed in the first embodiment. In other words, since a digital image has a large number of pixels arranged regularly in the vertical and horizontal directions, the digital image has vertical and horizontal directions every Nth (N is an integer of 2 or more) among the pixels constituting the original image. New image data is created by extracting pixels along the line and aligning the extracted pixels. For example, if N = 3, the resolution 60
New image data with a resolution of 200 DPI is obtained from the original image of 0 DPI. Then, the new image file created by the thinning process is transmitted as an attached file instead of the original image file.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the above operation.

When the process proceeds from S06 in FIG. 4 to S20 in FIG. 5,
Here, it is determined whether the file size of the original image data created in S06 (the size of the image data can be known from the header as described above) is equal to or larger than the reference value.

When it is determined that the file size of the original image data is equal to or smaller than the reference value, the process proceeds to S27, where the attached file attached to the e-mail is used as the original image data file. And attach it (without any special processing).

In S20, when it is determined that the file size of the original image data is larger than the reference value,
In 21, for example, the image processing unit 12 performs a thinning process (resolution conversion) of the image data.

At S22, it is determined again whether the file size of the image data subjected to the thinning process (resolution conversion) is equal to or larger than a reference value. The reason why the determination is made again here is that the file size of the new image data may still be larger than the reference value even after the thinning process (resolution conversion).

Therefore, when the file size of the image data subjected to the thinning processing (resolution conversion) is equal to or larger than the reference value (S22, YES), the process proceeds to S28, where the resolution-converted image data or the first image data of the original image data is processed. Create a file containing page-only information and determine if the size of this file is within a reference value.

If it is not determined that the data size of the first page is within the reference value (S28, NO), the process proceeds to S24.

If it is determined that the data size of the first page is within the reference value (S28, YES), the process proceeds to S29, where the attached file attached to the e-mail is the file of the image data of the first page. , S24.

In S22, when it is not determined that the file size of the image data subjected to the thinning process (resolution conversion) is larger than the reference value (S22, NO), the process proceeds to S23.
Here, the file of the image data subjected to the thinning process (resolution conversion) in S21 is set as the attached file of the e-mail.

The flow from S23, S28 (NO) or S29 proceeds to S24. In S24, the storage location (link address) of the original image file stored in the hard disk 21 is registered in the HTTP server.

In S25, the link address of the original image file is attached to the mail (S25), and in S26, the data indicating the link address to the original image file and the attached file (only the file whose resolution has been converted or the first page only) An e-mail is sent together with the image data file.

As is clear from the flowchart, when "NO" in S28, that is, when the file size of the image data of only the first page does not fall within the reference value, the file of the original image data is simply accessed. An address (link address) to be transmitted is transmitted.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the terminal on the side of the e-mail recipient when the file of the original image data is not attached.

On the display screen, the address of the sender (adr (a)) and the address of the recipient (adr
(B)), the title, the fact that the original image data file was not transmitted at the beginning of the mail document, and the address indicating the location where the original image data file is stored are displayed.

When the file whose resolution has been converted or the image data file of only the first page is set as the attached file (at this time, the data of the link address is also attached), or the file of the image data is completely deleted. If only the data of the link destination address is attached without attachment, and the recipient needs the file of the original image data, an address indicating the location where the file of the original image data is stored (link address ), HTTP
The user can access the server and download the original image data file to the recipient's hard disk or the like.

Here, when the file of the original image data is not transmitted, this and the address indicating the location where the file of the original image data is stored are notified to the receiver. However, it is also possible to make the specification such that this contact is not made.

Further, a specification may be made such that only the fact that the file of the original image data has not been transmitted is notified.

In many cases, a resolution-converted file or an image data file of only the first page is sufficient. Even if that is not enough, and the original file must be downloaded, the recipient can access the HTTP server, and from there downloading is more efficient than sending an email attachment, Such a load is greatly reduced.

In the present embodiment, the HT is provided in the electronic mail communication terminal.
The type where the TP server exists has been described.
The present invention can also be implemented in a type in which the TP server is configured to exist in the mail server on the transmitting side or a computer on the network. In addition, the file that is not attached is stored in a place where the recipient can access the file, for example, a mail server on the transmission side or a computer on a network, in addition to the inside of the electronic mail communication terminal. Accordingly, the present invention can be realized.

This embodiment can also be applied to a case where non-text data such as an image file created by graphic software such as a personal computer is attached and transmitted. In the case of this modified example, the image reading operation in S06 is not necessary, and it is sufficient to change the file saved on the hard disk 21 by the graphic software as it is as the attached file.

Although the HTTP server is used in this embodiment, an FTP server can be used instead of the HTTP server.

The reference value of the present embodiment can be changed. This change may be uniform, or may be different for each time zone and destination area of the mail transmission.

[Embodiment 2] In Embodiment 2, FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6 and the description relating to these figures are common to Embodiment 1, and the flowchart of FIG. 5 is replaced by FIG.

In S40, it is determined whether the file size of the original image data is equal to or larger than a reference value, for example, 1 MB. When the size of the original image file is equal to or larger than the reference value (YES / S40), in the first embodiment, the thinning process (resolution conversion) of the image data is performed.
In the second embodiment, in S41, a file of image data of only the first page is created. The process proceeds to S42, where it is determined whether the size of the file of the image data of only the first page is within the reference value.

In S42, if the size of the file of the image data of only the first page is not determined to be within the reference value, the process proceeds to S44 without setting any image file as the attached file, and the file of the original image data is replaced with the HTT file.
Register with the P server.

In S42, when it is determined that the size of the file of the image data of only the first page is within the reference value, the file of the image data of only the first page is set as the attached file, and the flow advances to S44 to proceed to S44. Register the file in the HTTP server. At this time, the original image data file is not attached.

The operations from S45 onward are the same as the operations (S25, S26) in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

In the second embodiment, the image data file has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to any data file having a page concept, for example, a file of a word processor, CAD, graphic processing software, spreadsheet software, or the like. it can.

As in the first embodiment, it is possible to omit one or both of the notification that the original attached file was not transmitted and the notification of the address for accessing the original attached file. It is.

In many cases, the image data file of only the first page is sufficient, and if it is not enough, even if the original file has to be downloaded, the download from the HTTP server is more efficient than the electronic mail. As in the first embodiment, since the efficiency is higher than the transmission of the attached file, the load on the network is greatly reduced.

Although the present embodiment has been described with respect to the type in which an HTTP server exists in the electronic mail communication terminal, the present invention can be applied to the type in which the HTTP server exists in the mail server on the transmission side or in a computer on the network. Is also the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, the file that is not attached is stored in a place where the recipient can access the file, for example, a mail server on the transmission side or a computer on a network, in addition to the inside of the electronic mail communication terminal. Accordingly, the present invention can be realized.

The present embodiment is also similar to the first embodiment in that the present embodiment can be realized by a personal computer to which a peripheral device such as a scanner and a network connection interface, which is equivalent to an electronic mail communication terminal, is connected.

Although the HTTP server is used in this embodiment, an FTP server can be used in place of the HTTP server as in the first embodiment.

The reference value of the present embodiment can be changed. This change may be uniform, or may be different for each time zone and destination area of the mail transmission.

[Embodiment 3] In Embodiment 3, when an image file is used as an attached file, when the file size exceeds the reference size, two or four pages of the original attached file or more image files are attached. So that it is within one page (2in1, 4in respectively
First magnitude. ) Create a new attached file with a reduced magnification, replace this with the original attached file, and send it.

FIGS. 1 to 4, FIG. 6, and the description relating to these figures are common to the first embodiment, and the flowchart of FIG. 5 is replaced with FIG.

In S60, it is determined whether the size of the original image data is equal to or larger than a reference value, for example, 1 MB.
When it is determined that the size of the original image data is equal to or larger than the reference value (YES / S60), the thinning processing (resolution conversion) of the image data is performed in the first embodiment. In the image data file (2), two pages of the original file are stored in one page.
in1 file) is created. Proceeding to S62, it is determined whether the size of the created 2in1 file is within the reference value.

If the size of the 2in1 file is not determined to be within the reference value in S62, a 4in1 file is created from the original file or from the 2in1 file in S63.

In S64, it is determined whether or not the size of the created 4in1 file is within the reference value. If this is within the reference value (YES / S64), in S65, the 4in1 file or 2in1 file is attached to the e-mail. (It is determined in S62 that the 2in1 file is an attached file.)
Is satisfied), the process proceeds to S66.

At S66, the original attached file is
It registers with the TP server and further adds an address (link address) for linking to the original file to the e-mail in S67.

In S68, the original file (when NO is satisfied in S60), the 2in1 file (S6
2 when YES is satisfied) or a 4 in 1 file (when S YES is satisfied in S64) is transmitted as an attached file of the e-mail.

If the size of the 4-in-1 file does not fall within the reference size, the file is not attached to the e-mail.

However, in this example, up to 4 in 1 is a file attached to the e-mail, but it is 8 in.
One file or more may be specified as an attached file.

When the file (original file) that the sender tried to attach (original file) was processed into a 2in1 file or 4in1 file and attached, or when no file was attached, the recipient was given the above link address. , The original file can be accessed, and the file can be downloaded to a disk or the like of the recipient's personal computer.

Even if the link address is not notified to the receiver, the server in which the original file is stored can be specified from the sender's address in many cases. You don't have to tell them.

In many cases, a 2in1 file or a 4in1 file will suffice for the purpose,
Even if the original file has to be downloaded because this is not enough, downloading from an HTTP server is more efficient than sending an e-mail attachment, greatly reducing the load on the network. This is similar to the first embodiment.

Although the present embodiment has been described with respect to the type in which the HTTP server exists in the e-mail communication terminal, the present invention can be applied to the type in which the HTTP server exists in the mail server on the transmitting side or a computer on the network. Is also the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, the file that is not attached is stored in a place where the recipient can access the file, for example, a mail server on the transmission side or a computer on a network, in addition to the inside of the electronic mail communication terminal. Accordingly, the present invention can be realized.

The present embodiment is also similar to the first embodiment in that it can be realized by a personal computer to which a peripheral device such as a scanner and a network connection interface, which is equivalent to an electronic mail communication terminal, is connected.

Although the HTTP server is used in the present embodiment, an FTP server can be used in place of the HTTP server as in the case of the first embodiment.

Further, the reference value of this embodiment can be changed. This change may be uniform, or may be different for each time zone and destination area of the mail transmission.

[Embodiment 4] In this embodiment 4, when the size of a file (for example, a file of image data) to be attached to an e-mail is a reference value, for example, 1 MB or more, the data of this file is , Only the portion not exceeding the reference value is extracted and a new file is created.

The new file created is replaced with the original file and attached to the e-mail.

FIGS. 1 to 4, FIG. 6, and the description relating to these figures are common to the first embodiment, and the flowchart of FIG. 5 is replaced with FIG.

In S80, the size of the file obtained in S06 is compared with a reference value. If the size of this file does not exceed the reference value, the process proceeds to S86, where this file is set as an attached file of the electronic mail.

When the above file exceeds the reference value,
Proceeding to S81, a new file is created in which the portion of the file exceeding the reference value has been truncated, and the process proceeds to S82.

At S82, the new file created in the above step is made a file attached to the electronic mail. The original file is not attached.

In S83, the original file is HTTP
The data is registered in the server, and the data of the link address of the original file is added to the electronic mail in S84.

In S85, the original file (when the size of the original file is smaller than the reference value) or a new file created from the original file so that the size becomes smaller than the reference value is set as an attached file. In the latter case, it is transmitted together with the link address data.

Even if the link address is not notified to the receiver, the server in which the original file is stored can be specified from the sender's address in many cases. You don't have to tell them.

In many cases, the new file suffices to accomplish the goal, but this is not enough and the original file must be downloaded, but downloading from the HTTP server is more efficient than email. As in the first embodiment, since the efficiency is higher than the transmission of the attached file, the load on the network is greatly reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the type in which the HTTP server is present in the electronic mail communication terminal has been described. Is also the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, the file that is not attached is stored in a place where the recipient can access the file, for example, a mail server on the transmission side or a computer on a network, in addition to the inside of the electronic mail communication terminal. Accordingly, the present invention can be realized.

The present embodiment is also similar to the first embodiment in that it can be realized by a personal computer to which a peripheral device such as a scanner and a network connection interface, which is equivalent to an electronic mail communication terminal, is connected.

Although the HTTP server is used in this embodiment, an FTP server can be used in place of the HTTP server as in the first embodiment.

The reference value of the present embodiment can be changed. This change may be uniform, or may be different for each time zone and destination area of the mail transmission.

Fifth Embodiment In the first to fourth embodiments described above, a new file (alternative file) processed into a file having a size smaller than or equal to the reference value to be transmitted instead of the original file, for example, 1 MB, is used. ) Is processed in a manner determined for each electronic mail communication terminal transmission device of each embodiment. In this embodiment, the sender can select from among the possible candidates how to create a new file based on the original file.

In this embodiment, the list of candidates is displayed on the sender's personal computer. The sender can select a processing method from this candidate list.

It is to be noted that the list may be displayed on the operation panel of the electronic mail communication terminal.

It is also possible to display the list on the recipient's personal computer, and the recipient can select the most desirable processing method from the list.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining control of the entire electronic mail system according to the fifth embodiment.

In this figure, the following items are added to explain Embodiment 5 to FIG. 1 used in the description of each embodiment so far. That is, the network (LAN) 150 to which the e-mail communication terminal is connected is connected to another network (LAN) 170 via the line 160. A personal computer A and a personal computer B are connected to the network 150 and the network 170, respectively.

In this embodiment, description will be made on the assumption that the user A transmits an e-mail attached with a file using the e-mail communication terminal 10 and the user B receives the e-mail by the personal computer B. . That is, the e-mail communication terminal 10 is a sender of the e-mail, and the personal computer B is a receiver of the e-mail. Note that the computer used by the user A in this embodiment is referred to as a computer A.

The explanation about the operation panel 50 shown in FIG. 2, the explanation about the software configuration shown in FIG. 3,
The description of the operation up to step S06 shown in FIG. 4 is the same as the description in the previous embodiments, so that the description thereof will be omitted.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are combined with the flowchart of FIG. 4 and are flowcharts for explaining the outline of the operation of the electronic mail communication apparatus of the fifth embodiment.

In this embodiment, the following three electronic mails are transmitted and received. That is, 1 an email that the user A wants to send to the user B, and an email to which a file is attached (FIG. 6).

(2) An auxiliary e-mail transmitted by the e-mail communication terminal 10 to the address of the user A,
E-mail (FIG. 15) including a list of reduction methods described later in the message.

(3) E-mail that is an auxiliary e-mail to be transmitted to the e-mail communication terminal by the user A and that includes one of the reduction methods selected from the reduction method list in the message (FIG. 16) .

The auxiliary e-mails 2 and 3 do not need to be in the form of e-mails as long as necessary information can be transmitted and received.

In this embodiment, a unique address (adr (c)) of the e-mail communication terminal is used as described later, but it is assumed that the address is already registered in the e-mail communication terminal 10. .

After image reading and compression have been performed in step S06 in FIG. 4, the sequence proceeds to S100 in FIG. The size of the obtained file is S1
At 00, it is compared to a reference value. This file (hereinafter referred to as the original file) is a file that the user A has attempted to attach to an electronic mail and transmit. If the size of the original file is not larger than the reference value (N
O, S100) is the same as S10 in the conventional e-mail.
At 1, the original file is attached to the e-mail and transmitted to the user B, and the transmission of the e-mail ends.

In S100, if the size of the original file is larger than the reference value (YES, S100), the sequence proceeds to S102, the original file is stored in the hard disk 21 (FIG. 10), and the process proceeds to S103.

In S103, a subroutine "creation of reduction method table", which will be described in detail later, is executed.

In this subroutine "Create reduction method table", a reduction method table as shown in FIG. 14 is created.

The reduction method table includes columns of “number”, “reduction method”, and “result”. The column "Number" contains the numbers sequentially assigned to each of the "Reduction method" in the next column, and the column "Reduction method" contains the names of various methods for reducing the original file. Have been.
In the column “Result”, “0” is displayed when the size of the reduced file is equal to or larger than the reference value when the original file is reduced by the respective reduction method, and when the size of the reduced file is smaller than the reference value, "1" is entered.

For example, in the example shown in FIG.
The size of the file reduced by the reduction method “600 dpi to 300 dpi” is equal to or smaller than the reference value (that is,
“1” is described in the “Result” column. ). However, the number in the "Result" column of number 10 "
6 "is an exception, and this numerical value indicates the maximum number of pages that can be included to make the file size smaller than the reference value.

When the creation of the reduction method table in S103 is completed, the process proceeds to S104.

At S104, an electronic mail addressed to user A is transmitted from the electronic mail communication device. This e-mail is different from the e-mail to which the file which the user A intends to transmit to the user B is attached.

FIG. 15 shows an example of an e-mail sent to the user A from the e-mail communication device in S104.

In this figure, the column of the sender address is
Address of e-mail communication terminal 10 (adr (c))
, And the recipient address column indicates the address (adr (a)) of the user A.

As can be seen from this figure, the e-mail is
The registration number of the attached file that user A intends to send to user B (stored together with the original attached file on hard disk 21 of the e-mail communication device), and the “result” extracted from the reduction method table Is a list of reduction methods whose size is "1" (the size of the reduced file is equal to or smaller than the reference value), and other comments as shown in the figure.

When the e-mail communication device transmits the e-mail addressed to user A, the sequence goes to S105.
Proceeding to (FIG. 12), the e-mail communication device waits for an incoming e-mail returned from user A.

FIG. 16 is a text example of an e-mail that the user A replies to the e-mail communication device. The text example of this e-mail contains the registration number "08451" of the original file.
And that the original file is reduced by the reduction method “2”.

In this figure, the column of the sender address indicates the address (adr (a)) of the user A, and the column of the recipient address indicates the address (ad) of the electronic mail communication terminal 10.
r (c)).

When the e-mail from the user A arrives at the e-mail communication device, the process proceeds to S106, where the registration number described in the received e-mail (08451 in this example)
The original file is read from the hard disk 21 and decompressed.

In S107, the read and decompressed file is reduced according to the reduction method described in the electronic mail (the second reduction method in this example).

In S108, the reduced file is compressed. In S109, the electronic mail (FIG. 6) including the information indicating that the original attached file was not transmitted and the address (storage location) for accessing the original attached file is sent to the compressed file (alternative file). ) Is attached and transmitted to user B, and this routine ends.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the computer A when receiving an electronic mail from the electronic mail communication terminal and replying to it.

In S200, the computer A waits for the reception of the electronic mail of FIG. 15 from the electronic mail communication terminal.

User A selects one reduction method from the list in FIG. 15, and creates a message shown in FIG. 16 including the number of this reduction method and a registration number (S20).
1) Yes. Then, in S202, this message is transmitted to the electronic mail communication device.

FIG. 17, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining a more detailed operation of the subroutine "Create reduction method table" (S013) in FIG.

Upon entering the subroutine "Create reduction method table", the resolution of the original file is converted in S300 (FIG. 17). In step S301, it is determined whether the size of the file whose resolution has been converted is equal to or smaller than a reference value. If the value is equal to or smaller than the reference value, “1” (S302) is set in the “Result” column of the reduction method table (FIG. 14).
0 "(S303) is entered.

In S304, it is determined whether or not a resolution conversion method having a different degree has not yet been executed and is left. If so, the sequence returns to S300, and a resolution conversion method having a different degree is executed. . Also,
If not, the sequence goes to S310 (FIG. 18).
Proceed to.

At S310, N is added to the original file.
An in 1 conversion is performed. Each time the loop is repeated, the value of N is sequentially increased to 2, 4, and 8. S311
It is determined whether the size of the converted file is equal to or smaller than the reference value. If it is equal to or smaller than the reference value, "1" (S312) is entered in the "Result" column of the reduction method table (FIG. 14), and if not, "0" (S313) is entered.

In S 314, it is determined whether or not a different N conversion method has not yet been executed and remains.
If so, the sequence returns to S310 and a different N conversion method is performed. If not, the sequence proceeds to S320 (FIG. 19).

In S320, a file of only some specified pages of the original file is created. The designated page (the first page at the beginning) is changed to the next page every time the loop is repeated. In step S321, it is determined whether the size of the created file is equal to or smaller than the reference value.
If it is equal to or smaller than the reference value, “1” (S322) is set in the “Result” column of the reduction method table (FIG. 14),
0 "(S323) is entered.

In S324, it is determined whether or not the file of the designated page has not yet been created and is not left. If so, the sequence returns to S320, and a file including only different pages is created. .
If not, the sequence proceeds to S330 (FIG. 20).

At S330, it is determined whether or not the size of the file composed of only the first page of the original file created at S320 is equal to or smaller than the reference value. If it is not less than the reference value, the "Result" column of the reduction method table (FIG. 14)
“0” (S331) is entered, and the process proceeds to S340.

When the determination in S330 is YES, that is,
If the size is equal to or less than the reference value, a file including the first to second pages of the original file is created in S332.

In S334, it is determined whether or not the size of the created file up to the second page is equal to or smaller than the reference value. If the file size is equal to or smaller than the reference value (YES, S334), S3
Return to 32. This is repeated, and when the size exceeds the reference value, the process proceeds to S335.

In S335, the page number of the last file whose size is equal to or smaller than the reference value is entered in the result column of the reduction method table, and the flow advances to S340 (FIG. 21).

In S340, it is determined whether or not the sizes of all the files created in S320 are larger than a reference value.

If it is determined that the sizes of all the files are equal to or larger than the reference value (YES, S340), "0" (S341) is entered in the "Result" column of the reduction method table (FIG. 14), and the sequence is executed in this subroutine. Through.

If the sizes of all the files are not judged to be larger than the reference value (NO, S340), "1" (S342) is entered in the "result" column of the reduction method table (FIG. 14), and the sequence is executed in this subroutine. Through.

In the fifth embodiment, one or both of the notification that the original attached file was not transmitted and the notification of the address for accessing the original attached file can be omitted. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

In many cases, an image data file of only the first page is sufficient, and if that is not enough, even if the original file has to be downloaded, downloading from the HTTP server is more efficient than e-mail. As in the first embodiment, since the efficiency is higher than the transmission of the attached file, the load on the network is greatly reduced.

In the present embodiment, the type in which the HTTP server is present in the e-mail communication terminal has been described. Is also the same as in the first embodiment.

The present embodiment is also similar to the first embodiment in that it can be realized by a personal computer to which a peripheral device such as a scanner and a network connection interface, which is equivalent to an electronic mail communication terminal, is connected. In addition, the file that is not attached is stored in a place where the recipient can access the file, for example, a mail server on the transmission side or a computer on a network, in addition to the inside of the electronic mail communication terminal. Accordingly, the present invention can be realized.

Although the HTTP server is used in the present embodiment, an FTP server can be used in place of the HTTP server as in the first embodiment.

In the fifth embodiment, a list of reduction method candidates is displayed on the sender's personal computer, and the sender is described as a specification for selecting a processing method from the candidate list. However, as described above, the list may be displayed on the recipient's personal computer, and the recipient may select a desired processing method from the list.

Further, the reference value in the present embodiment can be changed. This change may be uniform, or may be different for each time zone and destination area of the mail transmission.

In the above embodiment, a list of reduction methods (FIG. 15) that can process the original file into a file having a size smaller than the reference value is displayed on the screen of the personal computer A. The reason for this is that it takes some time before the e-mail communication terminal 10 reads the manuscript and then creates the reduction method list. This is because you don't need to be nearby. However, this list is stored in the e-mail communication terminal 1
0 may be displayed on the operation panel so that the user A can select a desired reduction method by the e-mail communication terminal 10. In this way, there is no need for a personal computer A for displaying the list and for replying to the selected reduction method, and auxiliary electronic mail transmitted and received by this computer.

[0189]

According to the present invention, when sending an e-mail,
It is possible to prevent a file exceeding a predetermined reference value, for example, 1 MB, from being sent to the network as an attached file of an e-mail, and to prevent the system efficiency from being lowered.

Further, in the present invention, before the e-mail is transmitted, the size of the file attached to the e-mail is determined, and when the size of the attached file exceeds a predetermined reference value, this attached file is A new file (alternative file) that has been processed so that the file size is smaller than the value and the file size has been reduced to be smaller than the reference value, instead of the original file, is attached to the e-mail and sent. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in data traffic on the network, to prevent a reduction in communication speed from the viewpoint of individual users of the system, and to prevent a reduction in efficiency of the entire system. Can be

Further, even if a new file (alternative file) processed in place of the original file is attached to the e-mail and sent, it is sufficient in many cases,
Further, even if the recipient needs to access the original file, the frequency of the access is low, so that the effect on the network is reduced as a whole.

Further, the new file (alternative file) may be an image file with a reduced resolution of the original image, a file consisting of only one page of the original file, a file obtained by extracting a part of the original file, or Even in the case of a file in which a plurality of pages of the original file are stored in one page, the intended purpose is achieved in many cases, so that the effect of reducing the load on the network is achieved. .

Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the user of this system recognizes that a file having a size exceeding the reference value cannot be attached to an e-mail, it is not necessary to attach an unnecessarily large file from the beginning. No longer.
This also prevents the efficiency of the entire system from being reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating control of an entire electronic mail system according to Embodiments 1 to 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation panel according to the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of a system according to the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a part of a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a part of a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of an image displayed on a display screen of a terminal on the side of an e-mail recipient when a file of original image data is not attached.

FIG. 7 is a part of a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a flowchart following the flowchart of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a part of a flowchart for explaining the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention, and is a flowchart subsequent to the flowchart of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a part of a flowchart for explaining the operation of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a flowchart following the flowchart of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating control of the entire electronic mail system according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart combined with the flowcharts of FIGS. 12 and 4 for explaining an outline of the operation of the electronic mail communication device of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart combined with the flowcharts of FIGS. 11 and 4 for explaining an outline of the operation of the electronic mail communication device of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the computer A when receiving an electronic mail from the electronic mail communication terminal and replying to the electronic mail in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a reduction method table created by a subroutine “reduction method table creation” in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an example of an e-mail sent from the e-mail communication device to the user A in S104 (FIG. 11) of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a text example of an e-mail returned from the user A to the e-mail communication device in the fifth embodiment.

17, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, and FIG. 21 are flowcharts for explaining the more detailed operation of the subroutine “Create reduction method table” (S103) in FIG.

18, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, and FIG. 21 are flowcharts for explaining the more detailed operation of the subroutine “Create reduction method table” (S103) in FIG.

FIG. 19, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, and FIG. 21 are flowcharts for explaining the more detailed operation of the subroutine “Create reduction method table” (S103) in FIG.

FIGS. 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 are flowcharts for explaining the more detailed operation of the subroutine "Create reduction method table" (S103) in FIG.

FIG. 17, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, and FIG. 21 are flowcharts for explaining the more detailed operation of the subroutine “Create reduction method table” (S103) in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 E-mail communication terminal 11 Control part 12 Image reading part 13 Image processing part 14 FAX modem 16 Image memory 17 RAM 18 Video interface 19 Printer engine 20 ROM 21 Hard disk 22 Network interface 50 Operation panel 51 Character display area 150 Network 160 Line 170 Network 200 mail server

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Junichi Nishiyama 2-13-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term in Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. 5B089 GA21 JA31 KA07 KA08 KC28 KH21 KH23 LA01 LA18 5C062 AB38 AC08 AC24 AC41 AC58 AF00 AF11 BA04 BD09 5K030 GA13 HA06 HB16 LA07 LB16 MA13 MB15 9A001 BB04 CC08 JJ14 JJ18 JJ27 KK56

Claims (9)

[Claims] An electronic mail device capable of sending an electronic mail with a file attached thereto, wherein the electronic mail device determines whether the size of the attached file exceeds a predetermined reference value. When the size of the attached file is determined to exceed a predetermined reference value by the size determination device, the attached file is converted to a file having a size smaller than the reference value. An alternative file creation device that creates an alternative file by processing, and when the alternative file is created, an alternative file transmission that sends an e-mail by attaching the alternative file in place of the original file before processing An e-mail device comprising: a device; 2. The electronic mail device according to claim 1, wherein the substitute file is a file of the image data when the original file is a file of image data.
An e-mail device, which is a file with a reduced image resolution. 3. The electronic mail device according to claim 1, wherein, when the original file is a data file having a concept of a page, the substitute file is a file including only one page. E-mail device characterized. 4. The electronic mail device according to claim 1, wherein the substitute file is a file having a size within a reference value obtained by extracting a part of the data of the original file. Mail device. 5. The electronic mail device according to claim 1, wherein the substitute file is a file when the original file is a file of image data.
An e-mail device, wherein the file is a file with a reduced image magnification. 6. The electronic mail device according to claim 1, wherein when the substitute file is attached to the electronic mail, information on the name of the original file and the storage location thereof is transmitted. An e-mail device, comprising: 7. When a file having a size exceeding a predetermined reference value is attached to an e-mail to be transmitted, the attached file is processed into a file having a size smaller than the reference value. An electronic mail method, wherein a substitute file is created, and the substitute file is attached to the electronic mail and transmitted instead of the original file before being processed. 8. An e-mail system capable of transmitting an e-mail with a file attached thereto, wherein the e-mail system determines whether a size of the attached file exceeds a predetermined reference value. When the size of the attached file is determined to exceed a predetermined reference value by the size determining unit, the attached file is converted into a file having a size smaller than the reference value. Alternative file creation means for creating an alternative file by processing, and when the alternative file is created, an alternative file transmission for sending an e-mail by attaching the alternative file in place of the original file before being processed Means, the electronic mail system comprising: 9. A recording medium on which a program for an e-mail device capable of sending an e-mail with a file attached is recorded, wherein the size of the attached file is predetermined. A size determination function for determining whether or not the size of the attached file exceeds a reference value, when the size of the attached file is determined to exceed a predetermined reference value by the size determination function, the attached file is An alternative file creation function of creating an alternative file by processing the file into a file having a size smaller than a reference value, and, when the alternative file is created, attaching the alternative file in place of the original file before the processing. An electronic mail device characterized by being a program that realizes an alternative file transmission function of transmitting an electronic mail. Recording medium on which the program is recorded.