JP2002041419A - Network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easily usable network system, capable of transferring image data from the network system by utilizing an existing electronic mail and storing the picture data by optional holder and file names. SOLUTION: In the case of transferring image data received through facsimile or image data, read by a read part 12 to a client device 3, a server 1 transmits the image data by the E mail which has the image data as an attached file. A message that the E mail is an E mail from the FAX server 1 and holder and file names to be stored in the client device 3 are included in the header part of the E mail. The client device 3 receives the E mail, and when the E mail is sent from the FAX server 1 and the holder and file names are specified in the header part of the E mail, stores the attached file in the specified holder of a file storage part 23 with the specified file name.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a network device used by connecting to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of networks, the number of network devices that can be used by connecting to networks has been increasing. For example, an input / output device such as a facsimile server, a network scanner, a network printer, and the like, and a client device such as a personal computer and a workstation are connected via a network so that data can be transferred between them. In the client device, image data received by the facsimile server,
Image data read by the network scanner can be received via the network. Of course, if the facsimile server is provided with a reading unit, the facsimile server can be used as a network scanner.

As described above, when transferring image data through a network, for example, a dedicated protocol such as a salutation protocol is used in a LAN. For this reason, there has been a problem that the client device side that receives the image data together with the image data transmitting side must be configured to be able to perform communication using a dedicated protocol.

[0004] Instead of using such a dedicated protocol, for example, an electronic mail protocol (SMTP) may be used to add image data as an attached file to an electronic mail for transfer. However, in this case, since the electronic mail is handled in the same manner as a normal electronic mail, the user performs an operation on the attached file by distinguishing it from other electronic mails. For example, if you want to store image data read by a network scanner in a specific folder,
It is necessary to determine that the received e-mail is an attachment of the image data read by the network scanner, and move the attached file to a specific folder. It is troublesome to perform such operations every time, and when a large number of e-mails are received, it is inconvenient just to search for e-mails sent from a facsimile server or a network scanner. .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and uses an existing e-mail protocol (SMTP) to transfer image data from a network device such as a facsimile server or a network scanner. It is another object of the present invention to provide a network device which can store image data in an arbitrary folder and file name and can easily use the device.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a network apparatus comprising: a communication unit for performing communication via a network; and a control unit for transmitting image data from the communication unit as e-mail. It is characterized in that a folder and a file name in which image data is to be stored are specified in a header part of the mail and the mail is transmitted. Further, in a network device for receiving such an e-mail, a communication unit for performing communication via a network, a storage unit for storing data as a file, a function of receiving an e-mail using the communication unit, and an attachment file And a control unit for storing the attached file in the storage unit based on the designation when a folder and a file name for storing the attached file are specified in the header of the e-mail when the e-mail is received. It is a feature.

[0007] With this configuration, image data can be transferred using the existing e-mail protocol, and a folder and a file name are specified and stored in the specified folder with the specified file name. You. This eliminates the need for the user to search for the e-mail sent from these network devices and move the attached file to the desired folder as in the conventional case, and can easily perform these operations. Network devices can be used.

As the network device on the image data sending side, for example, a device such as a facsimile server for receiving a facsimile from a public line, a network scanner having reading means for reading an image and generating image data,
Alternatively, various devices connected to a network, such as a device in which these are integrated, may be used.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a network system including a network device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a facsimile server, 2 is a mail server, 3 is a client device, 4 is a LAN, 5 is a public line, 11 is a control unit, 12 is a reading unit, 13 is a LAN communication unit, 14 is a storage unit, and 15 is a storage unit. A facsimile communication unit, 21 is a control unit, 22 is a communication unit, and 23 is a file storage unit.

In the network system shown in FIG. 1, a facsimile server 1 serving as an image data transmitting side and a client apparatus 3 serving as an image data receiving side are connected to a LAN 4 as network devices of the present invention. Further, in the present invention, since the image data is transmitted as an e-mail when transmitting the e-mail, the mail server 2 which handles the e-mail is also connected to the LAN 4.
It is connected to the. Although only one facsimile server 1, one mail server, and one client device 3 are shown here, any number may be connected to the LAN 4. In addition to the above devices, an arbitrary number of various network devices such as routers may be connected to the LAN 4.

The facsimile server 1 is connected to the LAN 4 and can exchange data with each device via the LAN 4. Further, in this example, the facsimile server 1 is also connected to the public line 5, and can perform facsimile communication with other facsimile apparatuses, multifunction devices, computers, and the like.

In particular, image data received by facsimile at the facsimile communication unit 15 and image data read using the reading unit 12 can be transferred to the client device 3 via the LAN 4. In this case, the image data to be transferred is transmitted as an e-mail attached file. At this time,
A folder for storing image data and a file name are specified in the header of the e-mail.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of an electronic mail to be transmitted. The e-mail to be sent is as shown in FIG.
It consists of a header, a body, and an attached file containing image data. In the header part, “Content-Di
There is an item “position”, of which a folder and a file name are specified in a “filename” field for specifying a file name. In the example shown in FIG.
"-" Is used as a folder delimiter of the folder, and "doc"
"image" folder in the "image" folder in the "image" folder. Also, in order to distinguish it from other general e-mails in the client device 3, “Content-Descriptor” in the header portion is also used.
Data that can be recognized as an electronic mail from the facsimile server 1 is added to the item “n”. In this example, “scanned document” is used to indicate that the image data is read by the reading unit 12.
Is added. Note that the data for distinguishing from a general electronic mail may be inserted in, for example, a subject field. The header section also contains the destination, the date and time of facsimile reception or scanning, the address of the sender (facsimile server name), the expiration date of the manuscript (storage period), or the name of the client to be circulated. Can be included. Note that there is no need for any text. The image data to be transferred is attached to the electronic mail as an attached file.

Returning to FIG. 1, the control unit 11 controls the entire facsimile server 1 and operates the respective units to perform a facsimile transmission / reception function, a function of transferring image data to / from a client device connected to the LAN 4, and a reading unit. 12 as a facsimile transmission or a function as a network scanner. In particular, when transferring image data received by facsimile or image data read using the reading unit 12 to the client device 3 via the LAN 4, an e-mail having a structure as shown in FIG. Then, the image data is transmitted as an e-mail attached file. At this time, a folder for storing image data designated in advance and a file name are stored in the header portion of the e-mail as shown in FIG. 2 and transmitted. In the header section, in addition, the destination, the time when the facsimile was received and the time when the facsimile was read, the address of the copy transfer destination and the circulation destination if necessary, and other information are also set.

The reading unit 12 is constituted by an image input device such as an image scanner or a digital camera.
The image on the document is read under the control of the control unit 11. The read image data is transmitted by facsimile from the FAX communication unit 15 or transmitted as an attached file of an e-mail via the LAN 4.

The LAN communication unit 13 is an interface for connecting the facsimile server 1 to the LAN 4.
By the LAN communication unit 13, image data received by facsimile, image data read by the reading unit 12, and the like can be transmitted as e-mail via the LAN 4.
E-mail transmission is E-mail protocol (SMTP)
, And the transmitted e-mail is temporarily stored in the mail server 2.

The storage unit 14 stores image data to be transmitted by facsimile, image data received by facsimile, image data read by the reading unit 12, and other image data being processed. It is also used for storing data and the like necessary for the processing of the control unit 11 and each unit.

The facsimile communication unit 15 performs facsimile transmission or facsimile reception using the public line 5. In addition, it may be configured to be usable also when a dial-up connection is made to the Internet or the like via the public line 5. In this case, the above e-mail transmission is performed by this FAX
What is necessary is just to perform from the communication part 15.

In addition, the facsimile server 1 may be provided with various devices. For example, connect a recording device to record and output facsimile received image data,
The copy function may be realized by recording and outputting the image data read by the reading unit 12, or may function as a network printer that receives and records and outputs the image data from the LAN communication unit 13. Alternatively, the facsimile server 1 having only the facsimile transmission / reception function can be configured without the reading unit 12.
Further, the present invention may be configured as a network scanner having no FAX communication unit 15.

The mail server 2 is a general server that is connected to the LAN 4 and handles electronic mail. For example, an e-mail is received by SMTP,
An electronic mail may be delivered by (POP3).

The client device 3 is connected to the LAN 4 and can exchange data with each device via the LAN 4. At least a function of extracting an e-mail from the mail server 2 is provided.

The control unit 21 controls each unit in the client device 3 and realizes various functions. In particular, the communication unit 22
An e-mail is received via the facsimile server 1 and the received e-mail is attached with image data received by the facsimile server 1 or image data read by the reading unit 12, and the attached file is stored in the header. If the folder and file name to be specified are specified, the attached file is stored in the specified folder of the file storage unit 23 with the specified file name. For example, when an e-mail having a configuration as shown in FIG. 2 is sent, “Content-Descripp” in the header portion is sent.
"scanneddocumen"
By adding a character string such as "t" indicating that the electronic mail is from the facsimile server 1, it is recognized that the electronic mail is from the facsimile server 1. Furthermore, “Content-D” in the header section
"position" and "filenam
e), the folder and file name specified in the "e" column are obtained. When an e-mail as shown in FIG. 2 is received, “001.tif” is stored in the “image” folder in the “document” folder of the file storage unit 23.
Stores the attached file with the file name.

The communication unit 22 connects the client device 3 to the LA
This is an interface for connecting to N4. The communication unit 22 can receive an e-mail from the mail server 2 via the LAN 4. The e-mail is received by a protocol such as POP (POP3). Of course, an electronic mail may be transmitted to another client, or data may be exchanged with various other devices on the LAN 4.

The file storage unit 23 can store files hierarchically under the control of the control unit 21. The file system is arbitrary, but here, for example, nodes in the tree structure are called folders and leaves are called files.

Next, an outline of an operation in an example of a network system including the network device of the present invention will be described. In general, it works as follows. That is,
When transferring the facsimile-received image data or the image data read by the reading unit 12 to the client device 3, the facsimile server 1 specifies a folder and a file name in a header portion as shown in FIG.
An e-mail to which image data is attached as an attached file is transmitted with data that can be distinguished from other e-mails. This e-mail is temporarily stored in the mail server 2, is arranged for each destination, and is then delivered to the client device 3 according to a request from the client device 3. If a folder and a file name are specified in the header of the received e-mail, the client device 3 stores the attached file with the specified file name in the specified folder of the file storage unit 23 according to the specification. In this way, the user can use the facsimile server 1
The image data is classified and stored in a predetermined folder without performing a complicated operation such as searching for an e-mail from the user and moving an attached file attached to the e-mail to a folder.

The outline of the operation of the facsimile server 1 on the sending side of the e-mail and the client device 3 on the receiving side will be described below. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the facsimile server 1 in an example of a network system including the network device of the present invention. Here, an operation mainly when the image data is transmitted from the facsimile server 1 as an electronic mail is shown.

First, a case where image data read by the reading unit 12 is transferred will be described. In S31, when a document is set on the reading unit 12 of the facsimile server 1,
In S32, it is determined whether the function setting is the scanner function. If the function setting is the facsimile transmission function, the process of the facsimile transmission function is performed in S33. For example, if the function settings are
Even in cases other than the scanner function and the facsimile transmission function, the processing for each function is performed.

If the function setting is the scanner function, the input of the destination is accepted in S34,
At 5, a folder and a file name for storing the image data are designated. The destination may be registered in advance, or may be selected from a plurality. The same applies to the folder, and the folder may be registered in advance, or may be registered in association with the destination. Further, the file name can be automatically generated according to a predetermined rule such as a serial number.

At the same time as the reading start instruction, the image on the document set in the reading section 12 is read in S36. The read image data is stored in the storage unit 14 here.
Once.

When the reading is completed, in S37, S3
4, the folder and file name specified in S35, and data indicating that the data is scanner data (for example, “Scanned Document”)
Is generated, and an e-mail in a format as shown in FIG. 2 is created by using the read image data as an attached file, and transmitted from the LAN communication unit 13. The transmitted e-mail is received by the mail server 2.

When transferring the image data received by facsimile, the image data is first received in S38 and temporarily stored in the storage unit 14. In this case, similarly to the case of the scanner function, the destination, folder, file name, and the like may be specified after reception. However, here, the condition is set in advance, and 1 to 1 is set based on various information at the time of facsimile reception. It is assumed that a plurality of destinations are determined. It is also assumed that a folder is set according to the destination. In S39, information such as these destinations and folders is obtained. The file name can be automatically generated according to a predetermined rule such as a serial number.

After the address, folder, file name, and the like are obtained in this manner, in step S37, the header including the obtained address, folder, file name, and data (for example, “FAX Document”) indicating that the data is the scanner data. For example, an e-mail having the format shown in FIG. 2 is created using the received image data as an attached file, and transmitted from the LAN communication unit 13. The transmitted e-mail is received by the mail server 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of receiving an e-mail in the client device 3.
When an e-mail is received from the mail server 2 in S41, it is determined in S42 whether the e-mail is e-mail including image data received by the facsimile server 1 by facsimile or image data read by the reading unit 12. The determination is made by referring to the header of the mail. For example, in this example, if there is a character string such as "scanned document" or "FAX Document" in the item of "Content-Description" in the header of the e-mail,
This is an electronic mail including image data received by facsimile server 1 by facsimile or image data read by reading unit 12.

If the received e-mail contains image data received by the facsimile server 1 by facsimile or image data read by the reading unit 12, a folder and a file name are further specified in the header of the e-mail at S43. Is determined. The folder and file name can be specified by using the “Content-Disposition” in the header of the e-mail.
ion ”may be referred to. If a folder and a file name are specified, in step S44, “Content-Disposition” in the header of the e-mail is displayed.
The character string described in the “filename” column of the item “on” is analyzed to obtain the folder and file name. For example, when an e-mail as shown in FIG. 2 is sent, the character string “document-image-001.ti” described in the “filename” column is used.
f ”is divided by“-”and the folder name“ docum ”is divided.
ent "and" image ", and the file name" 001.tif ". Based on these,
In the “image” folder in the “document” folder, the attached file attached to the received e-mail is stored in the file storage unit 23 as a file name “001.tif”. Further, in this example, in S45, a reception log of the received e-mail is created as reception of scan data or FAX data. In this way, the image data attached to the e-mail can be automatically stored in the designated folder with the designated file name.

If it is determined in step S42 that the received e-mail does not include the image data received by the facsimile server 1 or the image data read by the reading unit 12, a folder and a file name are designated in step S43. If not, S4
In step 6, it is processed as a normal electronic mail. In this case, in the header of the e-mail, "Co
nent-Disposition ”and“ f
The character string described in the "ilname" column is used as the file name of the attached file.

As described above, the processing at the time of receiving an e-mail in the client device 3 is performed by slightly changing the processing at the time of receiving an e-mail which has been conventionally performed, and the file name specified in the specified folder is changed. Can store image data.

In the above description, items or fields for describing data for distinguishing an e-mail sent from the facsimile server 1 from others, data for designating a folder, a file name, and the like are shown in FIG. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the example shown in FIG.

[0038]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, for example, image data received by facsimile or image data obtained by scanning with a scanner can be transmitted using electronic mail. At that time, on the receiving side,
The image data can be stored in the folder specified by the header of the e-mail with the specified file name. Therefore, there is no need to search for an e-mail including desired image data or to move the attached file to another folder one by one, so that it is possible to easily use the e-mail.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a network system including a network device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of an electronic mail to be transmitted.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the facsimile server 1 in an example of a network system including the network device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an e-mail receiving operation in the client device 3.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 facsimile server, 2 mail server, 3 client device, 4 LAN, 5 public line, 11 control unit, 12 reading unit, 13 LAN communication unit, 14 storage unit, 15 fax communication unit , 21: control unit, 22: communication unit, 23: file storage unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] A communication unit that communicates via a network; and a control unit that transmits image data as e-mail from the communication unit. The control unit stores the image data in a header portion of the e-mail. A network device for transmitting by designating a folder and a file name to be stored. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reading unit configured to read an image to generate image data, wherein the control unit transmits the image data read by the reading unit as an electronic mail from the communication unit. The network device according to claim 1. 3. A communication means for performing communication via a network, a storage means for storing data as a file, and a function for receiving an e-mail using the communication means and receiving an e-mail with an attached file. A network device having a control unit for storing the attached file in the storage unit based on the designation when a folder and a file name for storing the attached file are specified in the header part of the e-mail; .