JP2004088788A - System and method for electronic mail communication - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To issue an error notification to an originator when image data sent by electronic mail cannot be received. <P>SOLUTION: Image data of electronic mail are stored for the time being. Next, the format of the image data is inverted in step 12. Then, the data are expanded by a compression and expansion part 8 and stored. The stored image data are printed by a printer part 11. When printing, a header part is removed from the electronic mail and only binary image data are printed out. If the received image data cannot be handled, an error notification is sent to the originator by electronic mail. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a facsimile-type e-mail device capable of transmitting and receiving image data by the same simple operation as a facsimile.

In recent years, facsimile devices have become widespread in almost all companies as devices that can send and receive images with simple operations. However, you do not know whether the transmitted image has reached the intended recipient, that anyone can read the received manuscript, and that if you send to a foreign country with poor line conditions, you need to resend it every time it fails The problem has not been solved, and some people who use facsimile tend to give up.

On the other hand, the Internet, which is a worldwide network, is currently growing rapidly, and the number of people using e-mail using the Internet is also growing rapidly, especially at companies. The electronic mail is transmitted and received using a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) or a workstation (hereinafter, referred to as a WS) belonging to an individual, and does not have the facsimile problem described above. Regarding errors, data errors are basically eliminated by the reliable protocol TCP / IP.

However, data sent and received by e-mail mainly consists of character codes entered from a keyboard, and image data is not yet common. The reason is considered to be that it takes time and effort to convert the image data into a format that can be transmitted as an electronic mail. That is, the operability for transmitting image data as e-mail is poor.

Therefore, in order to improve operability, a facsimile apparatus using electronic mail has been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-172348.

FIG. 28 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional facsimile apparatus using electronic mail. Reference numeral 101 denotes a CPU, which controls the apparatus. A ROM 102 stores a program. A RAM 103 is used for program data. Reference numeral 104 denotes a modem unit connected to a telephone line. A printer unit 105 prints image data. A scanner unit 106 reads an image. Reference numeral 107 denotes a panel unit for inputting an image reading instruction, inputting identification information of a sender, and inputting identification information of a receiver. A compression / decompression unit 108 compresses or decompresses image data. A computer I / F unit 109 is connected to the host computer and transmits and receives e-mails.

Hereinafter, the operation at the time of facsimile transmission will be described. An original is placed on the scanner unit 106, a destination telephone number and a sender identification code are input from the panel unit 107, and a start button is pressed. The scanner unit 106 reads the image, compresses the image data with the compression / decompression unit 108, and transmits the image data to the destination from the telephone line through the modem unit 104 in a facsimile procedure. The transmission result is transmitted from the computer I / F unit 109 via the host computer to the sender's terminal as an electronic mail in a character code.

Next, the operation for receiving a facsimile document will be described. First, the receiver inputs user identification information from the panel unit 107 in advance and stores it in the RAM 103. When the facsimile original is received via the modem unit 104 and the destination information is sent in the facsimile procedure, it is checked whether or not the destination information matches the user identification information stored in the RAM 103. If they match, the terminal of the user is notified by e-mail that the facsimile manuscript has been received through the computer I / F unit 109. The received facsimile image data is printed by the printer unit 105.

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, although it is notified that the facsimile document has been received by the partner terminal, it is not known whether or not the transmitted facsimile data has actually reached the intended person. If there is no facsimile with the above configuration in both, the destination cannot be confirmed in the facsimile procedure, the intended recipient is not notified that the facsimile data has been received, and the facsimile data itself communicates using the facsimile procedure, There were problems such as the fact that communication with overseas countries with poor line conditions may not be reliable.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to provide an electronic mail communication apparatus and an electronic mail communication method which can transmit and receive image data to an individual and have excellent operability.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a receiving means for receiving an e-mail, a judging means for analyzing a header portion of the received e-mail, and judging that the image data is image data, and processing by the judging means. And transmitting means for transmitting an error notification e-mail to the source of the e-mail when it is determined that the data cannot be transmitted.

As is apparent from the above embodiments, the electronic mail communication device and the electronic mail communication method according to the present invention convert the received electronic mail from an electronic format to a binary image format, and print this binary image data with a printer. If there is an error, an error notification can be sent to the transmission source.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device capable of transmitting image data by a simple operation similar to a facsimile. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU, which controls the apparatus. A ROM 2 stores a program. Reference numeral 3 denotes a RAM which is used for program data. Reference numeral 4 denotes an external storage unit such as a hard disk, which stores compressed image data. A format conversion unit 5 converts the compressed image data into an e-mail format. A scanner unit 6 reads an image. Reference numeral 7 denotes a panel unit for instructing reading of an image and inputting an e-mail address. A compression / decompression unit 8 compresses the read image data or decompresses the transmitted image data. Reference numeral 9 denotes a LAN control unit which is connected to a LAN (local area network) and transmits and receives e-mail data of the Internet.

FIG. 2 shows a flow when transmitting image data in the present embodiment. First, in step S1, a document is set on the scanner unit 6, an address (alphanumeric characters) of an e-mail is input from the panel unit 7, and a start button is pressed. Next, in step S2, the original set in the scanner unit 6 is input as image data. In step S3, the original is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 8 and stored in the external storage unit 4. At this time, if the document includes a plurality of pages, the plurality of pages are stored in the external storage unit 4 as one file. Next, in step S4, the stored image data is converted into an e-mail format by the format conversion unit 5 and stored in the external storage unit 4. Then, in step S5, the format-converted image data is transmitted by the LAN control unit 9 as an e-mail to the destination.

FIG. 3 shows a method of converting image data into an e-mail format. The image data read from the scanner unit 6 and compressed by the compression / decompression unit 8 is binary image data 21 and cannot be transmitted as e-mail on the Internet as it is. Internet e-mail only allows 7 bit $ character codes in the transmission procedure. Therefore, the binary image data is converted into a 7-bit character code to create text-coded image data 22. Thereafter, a header 23 containing at least a destination, a transmission source, a data format, and a character code conversion method is added to the data.

The conversion method to the character code and the format of the header conform to the Internet e-mail standard called MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions). Therefore, if the terminal has an e-mail program that supports MIME, the image data can be transmitted as e-mail from this apparatus.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, image data can be transmitted as e-mail by a simple operation similar to facsimile. Therefore, the image data can be transmitted to an individual and cannot be seen by anyone other than the person who intended the transmitted data, and the reliability of data communication with foreign countries can be improved.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a format reverse conversion unit 10 for converting image data of an e-mail into a printable form, and printing the image data after the format reverse conversion to the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Printer unit 11 is added.

FIG. 5 shows a flow when receiving image data in the present embodiment. First, in step S11, image data of an e-mail is received from the LAN control unit 9 and temporarily stored in the external storage unit 4. Next, in step S12, the image data of the e-mail is converted into a facsimile format by the format reverse conversion unit 10, and in step S13, decompressed by the compression / decompression unit 8 and stored in the external storage unit 4. Then, in step S14, the stored image data is printed by the printer unit 11.

The reverse format conversion follows the reverse procedure of the method for converting the image data into the e-mail format shown in FIG. First, it is confirmed from the header 23 that the electronic mail is image data. If it is not image data, an error notification e-mail is sent to the sender. Next, the text-coded image data 22 is converted into binary image data 21.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, even a person who does not have a personal address of an e-mail can receive image data.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a font unit 12 for converting character code data into image data is added to the configuration of the second embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a flow for printing character code data in the present embodiment. First, in step S21, the LAN controller 9 determines whether the received e-mail is character code data or image data by analyzing the data format of the header part of the data. In MIME, the data format is described after Content-Type: $, and is described as image / tiff for image data and text / plain for character code data. Next, in step S22, the received character code data is decompressed by the compression / decompression unit 8 and stored in the external storage unit 4, then decompressed into image data by the font unit 12, and in step S23, the decompressed image data is printed. I do. When character code data is transmitted, it is performed in the same manner as a normal electronic mail.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the present apparatus can be used as the original apparatus of the electronic mail, and no error occurs even when the electronic mail of the character code data is transmitted to the present apparatus.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a character recognition unit 13 is added to the configuration of the third embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a flow for character recognition of a destination in the present embodiment. First, in step S31, the document is placed on the scanner section 6 and the start button is pressed. Next, in step S32, an image is input from the scanner unit 6. Next, in step S33, a predetermined position of the input image is analyzed, and the destination is character-recognized by the character recognition unit 13. To determine the predetermined position, a cover sheet dedicated to the apparatus is created, and the position where the destination is to be written is determined in advance. Then, in step S34, the image data is transmitted as an e-mail to the recognized destination.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to input a destination address without inputting alphabetical keys from the panel unit 7.

(Embodiment 5)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the e-mail device is the same as that of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a flow when the source address is input in the present embodiment. First, in step S41, a destination address is input as in the first or fourth embodiment. Next, in step S42, the source button is pressed and the source address is input. Next, in step S43, the start button is pressed, and the subsequent flow transmits image data in the same manner as in FIG. 1 (steps S44 to S46). As the source address, an e-mail address of a PC or WS usually located at the sender's seat is input. Therefore, if the transmission of the e-mail fails, the failure notification e-mail can be received by the PC or WS at the user's seat, similarly to the conventional e-mail apparatus.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, when transmission fails, a non-delivery notification can be sent to the sender based on the source address.

(Embodiment 6)
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is obtained by adding an audio input / output unit 14 having a microphone and a receiver and an audio compression / expansion unit 15 for compressing or expanding digital audio to the configuration of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. It is.

FIG. 12 shows a flow when the voice is input and transmitted together with the image in the present embodiment. First, in step S51, a destination is input as in the first or fourth embodiment, and in step S52, a message button on the panel unit 7 is pressed. While pressing the message button, the message is recorded through the microphone of the voice input / output unit 14. The voice is compressed by the voice compression / decompression unit 15 and stored in the external storage unit 4. Next, in step S53, the start button is pressed. In step S54, image data is input from the scanner unit 6. In step S55, the input image data is format-converted and stored in the external storage unit 4. Next, in step S56, the stored image data and audio data are integrated into one mail, and in step S57, the mail is transmitted to the destination. When receiving, the received image data and audio data are decompressed by the compression / decompression units 8 and 15, respectively, and output from the printer unit 11 and the audio input / output unit 14. It should be noted that a method of integrating files of two different data formats is defined in the above-mentioned MIME.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, it is possible to transmit voice-specific information, such as transmitting the emotion of the sender, together with the image information.

(Embodiment 7)
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a video input / output unit 16 having a video camera and a CRT and a moving image compression / decompression unit 17 are added to the configuration of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 shows a flow when a moving image is input and transmitted together with an image according to the present embodiment. First, in step S61, a destination is input as in the first or fourth embodiment. In step S62, a video button on the panel unit 7 is pressed, and a moving image is recorded by the camera of the video input / output unit 16. The recorded moving image is compressed by the moving image compression / decompression unit 17 according to the MPEG method and stored in the external storage unit 4. Next, in step S63, the start button is pressed. In step S64, image data is input from the scanner unit 6. In step S65, the input image data is format-converted and stored in the external storage unit 4. Next, in step S66, the stored image data and moving image data are integrated into one mail, and in step S67, the mail is transmitted to the destination. When receiving, the received image data and moving image data are decompressed by the compression / decompression units 8 and 17, respectively, and output from the printer unit 11 and the video input / output unit 16. It should be noted that a method of integrating files of two different data formats is defined in the above-mentioned MIME.

As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, moving image information that cannot be expressed as a still image can be transmitted together with image information.

(Embodiment 8)
Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, using the configuration shown in FIG. 8, the LAN control unit 9 analyzes the received e-mail, and the CPU 1 performs processing according to the analysis result.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a format for registering a destination mail address and a source address by electronic mail according to the present embodiment. An e-mail is roughly divided into a header and a body, and the data format of the body can be understood from the header. The header 31 in FIG. 15 has Content-type: $ text / plain, which indicates that the body 32 is character code data. In the present embodiment, the body needs to be character code data. . Subject: {!! $} of the header 31 indicates that the text 32 is an instruction. The subject of this e-mail is usually placed after Subject :, so !! $ is a special character code and can be distinguished from the subject.

{Text 32 includes a sender ID, a list of destination mail addresses, a sender address, and the like, each of which is defined at the beginning with! ID,! LIST,! FROM}. In this apparatus, the LAN control unit 9 analyzes these character strings at predetermined positions of the received character code data, identifies the sender ID and the like from the defined character codes, and stores them in the CPU 1 for external storage. This is to be registered in the section 4.

As described above, according to the eighth embodiment, necessary processing can be performed between the apparatus and a terminal such as a PC or a WS without the need for a special protocol.

(Embodiment 9)
Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, using the configuration shown in FIG. 8, the LAN control unit 9 analyzes the electronic mail of the received character code data, and the CPU 1 registers the sender ID and the destination mail list in association with each other. It is like that.

FIG. 16 shows the flow of the present embodiment. First, in step S71, when the LAN control unit 9 receives the character code data of the e-mail, in step S72, it analyzes the Subject # part of the header. Next, in step S73, it is determined whether or not the analysis result is a body instruction. If it is determined that the analysis result is a body instruction, the body is analyzed in step S74. Then, in step S75, the CPU 1 registers the sender ID and the destination mail list in the external storage unit 4 in association with each other. If the text is not an instruction, the character data is converted into image data in step S76, and the image data is printed in step S77.

FIG. 17 shows a flow for selecting a destination from the destination list in the present embodiment. First, in step S81, a destination list button on the panel unit 7 is pressed, and in step S82, when a sender ID is input, a destination list registered by e-mail is displayed on the panel unit 7. Then, in step S83, a destination is selected from the displayed destination list, and when the start button is pressed in step S84, the image data input from the scanner unit 6 is format-converted and transmitted to the destination (steps S85 to S85). S87).

As described above, according to the ninth embodiment, the destination electronic mail address list can be easily input for each individual.

(Embodiment 10)
Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, using the configuration shown in FIG. 8, the LAN control unit 9 analyzes the e-mail of the received character code data, and the CPU 1 associates the sender ID with the source address and stores it in the external storage. The difference from the ninth embodiment is that the sender ID and the source address are registered in step S75 in FIG. To select the sender address, press the sender button on the panel 7 and enter the sender ID. The registered sender address is displayed on the panel 7, so enter it while looking at it and press the start button. Push.

As described above, according to the tenth embodiment, the e-mail address of the sender (source) can be easily input for each individual.

(Embodiment 11)
Next, an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is a combination of the ninth embodiment and the tenth embodiment, and further, a source address is determined when a destination is selected from a destination list. It is. That is, in FIG. 17, when the sender ID is input in step S82, the corresponding source address is recognized, and when the image data is transmitted, the source address is automatically entered in the header.

As described above, according to the eleventh embodiment, the sender's e-mail address can be input without being conscious of the sender.

(Embodiment 12)
Next, a twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a modem unit 18 for sending an image in a facsimile procedure is added to the configuration shown in FIG. It is assumed that a handset is attached to the modem unit 18.

FIG. 19 shows a flow of selecting and transmitting either an electronic mail or a facsimile according to the present embodiment. First, in step S91, a button for selecting electronic mail or facsimile from the panel unit 7 is pressed. Next, if it is determined in step S92 that the destination is a facsimile, the destination number is input in step S93 and the start button is pressed. In step S94, an image is input from the scanner unit 6, and in step S95, the destination is facsimile. To send. If it is determined in step S92 that it is not a facsimile, it is transmitted as an e-mail in the same procedure as in FIG. 2 (steps S96 to S99).

As described above, according to the twelfth embodiment, since facsimile transmission can be performed through a telephone line, image data can be transmitted by facsimile when the other party cannot receive an e-mail.

(Embodiment 13)
Next, a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, using the configuration shown in FIG. 18, a reception notification is mailed to a terminal waiting for reception, and the flow is shown in FIG. First, after printing an image in the same procedure as in FIG. 5 (steps S101 to S103), if it is determined in step S104 that there is a reception waiting flag, a reception notification is transmitted to a terminal registered in advance in step S105. I do.

In order to set the reception notification flag, an e-mail in which! RCV @ SET is entered in the text is transmitted in advance according to the format shown in FIG. To reset the reception notification flag, send an e-mail with! RCV @ RESET written in the text.

As described above, according to the thirteenth embodiment, it is possible to know at its own terminal that facsimile data has been received.

(Embodiment 14)
Next, a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the received e-mail is transmitted by the facsimile procedure using the configuration shown in FIG. 18, and the flow is shown in FIG. First, in step S110, after receiving the image data, in step S111, the image data is subjected to reverse format conversion, and in step S112, the header is analyzed in accordance with the format shown in FIG. If there is, the subsequent character string is interpreted as the destination FAX number. If it is determined in step S113 that fax transmission is to be performed, image data is faxed to the above-described fax number in step S114. If the fax transmission is not performed, printing is performed in step S115.

As described above, according to the fourteenth embodiment, image data can be transmitted from a personal terminal to a facsimile.

(Embodiment 15)
Next, a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment is obtained by adding a world clock section 19 for sending an image to the local time of the world to the configuration shown in FIG. 18, and this world clock section 19 can obtain the local time from the country name. A watch that can do it.

FIG. 23 shows a flow when the timer is transmitted at the time of the destination country in the present embodiment. The difference from the normal transmission is that after the destination is input in step S121, the transmission time is set at the transmission destination time in step S122, and the format of the input image data is changed by pressing the start button (step S123). To S125), the country is determined from the destination in step S126, and in step S127, the local time of the country is obtained from the destination and the world clock unit 19, and the image data is output when the time matches the set time. Is to send. The destination of the e-mail is, for example, toyoda@mgcs.mei.co.jp, and the last jp represents Japan. In this way, the country is identified by the last character string.

As described above, according to the fifteenth embodiment, the sender can perform timer transmission in local time without having to calculate local time in each country of the world.

(Embodiment 16)
Next, a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a plurality of e-mail addresses are provided in the own apparatus using the configuration shown in FIG. 18, and the flow is shown in FIG. After receiving the image data and performing reverse format conversion (steps S131 and S132), the image data is stored in a box for each destination created in the external storage unit 4 in step S133. The box is associated with an ID and a password input by the owner in advance, and the ID and the password of the owner for each destination are necessary to extract the contents of the box. Then, in step S134, the owner's ID and password are entered, and if they are accepted, the contents are printed in step S135. These processes are executed based on a program stored in the ROM 2.

As described above, according to the sixteenth embodiment, even a person who does not have a terminal that receives an e-mail can manage received data for each individual.

(Embodiment 17)
Next, a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a cover sheet is added on the receiving side by using the configuration shown in FIG. 18, and the flow is different from that of FIG. A cover sheet is added for each user. The cover sheet is registered by the owner in advance by reading from the scanner unit 6 into the box of the owner of the external storage unit 4 or by sending an e-mail including an instruction to register the cover sheet to the apparatus.

As described above, according to the seventeenth embodiment, it is possible for the sender of this apparatus to know to whom the data is received without attaching a cover sheet.

(Embodiment 18)
Next, an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment uses the configuration shown in FIG. 18 to return a confirmation e-mail to the sender to the effect that the apparatus has received the data. FIG. 25 shows the flow of the operation. After receiving the image data, converting the image data into a reverse format, and printing (steps S141 to S143), in step S144, an e-mail confirming the reception is transmitted to the e-mail address of the sender of the header. In the confirmation mail, a character string indicating that the mail has been received, the mail address of the apparatus, the company name, and the like are described. These processes are executed based on a program stored in the ROM 2.

As described above, according to the eighteenth embodiment, it can be understood that the sender of this apparatus has received an e-mail to this apparatus.

(Embodiment 19)
Next, a nineteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, using the configuration shown in FIG. 18, a confirmation mail indicating that the receiver has received the data is transmitted to the sender, and FIG. 26 shows the flow. After receiving the image data and performing reverse format conversion (steps S151 and S152), the reception ID is described in the image data in step S153. The reception ID is generated based on a date and time that are unique for one year. Next, in step S154, when the receiver inputs the reception ID described in the image data, in step S155, the address of the sender of the image data corresponding to the reception ID is interpreted from the header, and a confirmation mail is sent to the sender. Send to

As described above, according to the nineteenth embodiment, it is understood that the e-mail has arrived at the intended individual of the sender of the apparatus.

(Embodiment 20)
Next, a twentieth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a message indicating transmission failure is printed using the configuration shown in FIG. 18, and FIG. 27 shows the flow thereof. In step S161, the character code data is received. In step S162, the From line of the header of the received mail, that is, the address of the sender is analyzed. If it is determined in step S163 that the address is the address of the own device, the process proceeds to step S164. Prints that transmission failed. If it is a mail other than the own device, the character data is converted into image data in step S165, and the content is printed in step S166.

Note that when the transmission of the received e-mail has failed, the fact may be printed and the first page of the image data may be output.

As described above, according to the twentieth embodiment, it can be easily understood that an error has occurred in the image data transmitted from the apparatus, even by a person who has never handled e-mail.

In the second to twentieth embodiments, the character code received by e-mail may be displayed on a display such as a CRT, and the CRT may be used for displaying a moving image. Can be. Further, the present apparatus can be configured by variously combining the first to twentieth embodiments.

1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for transmitting image data according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a method for converting image data into an e-mail format according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for receiving image data according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Schematic block diagram of an e-mail device according to the third and fifth embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for printing character code data according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to the fourth, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for character recognition of a destination according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for inputting a source address according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a flow chart when a voice is input and an image is transmitted together according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Flow chart when a moving image is input and an image is transmitted together according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention A data structure diagram showing an example of registration of a destination mail address and a source address by an electronic mail address according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for analyzing an electronic mail of received character code data according to the ninth, tenth, and eleventh embodiments of the present invention. Flow chart for selecting a destination from a destination list in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh embodiments of the present invention Schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to the twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth embodiments of the present invention. Flow chart for selecting and transmitting electronic mail and facsimile according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention Flowchart when e-mailing a reception notification to a terminal waiting for reception in the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention Flow chart of facsimile transmission of received mail according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention Schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention. Flow chart of timer transmission at the time of the destination country in the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention FIG. 17 is a flowchart for receiving image data when the own apparatus has a plurality of e-mail addresses in the sixteenth and seventeenth embodiments of the present invention. Flow chart when replying a confirmation mail to the sender to the effect that it has been received in the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention Flow chart when the receiver returns a confirmation mail indicating that the data has been received to the sender in the nineteenth embodiment of the present invention FIG. 21 is a flowchart for printing a message indicating transmission failure in the twentieth embodiment of the present invention. Schematic block diagram of a conventional facsimile machine using e-mail

Explanation of reference numerals

1 CPU
2 ROM
3 RAM
Reference Signs List 4 external storage unit 5 format conversion unit 6 scanner unit 7 panel unit 8 compression / expansion unit 9 LAN control unit 10 format reverse conversion unit 11 printer unit 12 font unit 13 character recognition unit 14 audio input / output unit 15 audio compression / expansion unit 16 Video input / output section 17 Video compression / decompression section 18 Modem section 19 World clock section

Claims (7)

Receiving means for receiving the e-mail, determining means for analyzing the header of the received e-mail to determine that the data is image data, and determining that the data cannot be processed by the determining means. A transmission means for transmitting an error notification e-mail to a source of the e-mail. Receiving means for receiving the e-mail; determining means for analyzing the header of the received e-mail to determine that the data is image data; and sending out the e-mail when the determining means determines that the image data is not image data. An e-mail communication device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits an e-mail of an error notification to a source. Receiving means for receiving an e-mail including text-coded image data, format conversion means for format-converting binary image data from the received e-mail, printing means for printing the converted binary image data, An e-mail communication apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits an error notification e-mail to a transmission source when binary image data cannot be obtained by the format conversion unit. 3. The electronic mail communication device according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting unit determines that binary image data cannot be obtained by analyzing a header portion of the received electronic mail. A receiving step of receiving the e-mail; a determining step of analyzing the header of the received e-mail to determine that the data is image data; and a determination that the data cannot be processed by the determining step. A transmitting step of transmitting an error notification e-mail to a source of the e-mail. A receiving step of receiving the e-mail, a determining step of analyzing the header of the received e-mail to determine that the image data is image data, and transmitting an e-mail when it is determined that the image data is not image data. Sending an error notification email to the sender. A receiving step of receiving an e-mail including text-coded image data, a format conversion step of format-converting the binary image data from the received e-mail, and a printing step of printing the converted binary image data, A transmitting step of transmitting an error notification e-mail to the transmission source when binary image data cannot be obtained by the format conversion means by the format conversion means.

Images