JP2009003804A - E-mail transmission control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of quickly transmitting information to a user. <P>SOLUTION: An e-mail transmission control device includes: an HDD 17 wherein a mail transmission management table 100 making a first mail address of a prescribed user, an IP address of a user's terminal for receiving the e-mail of the first e-mail address, and a second e-mail address of the user associate with one another is stored; and an e-mail transmission processing part 14c which determines whether a terminal is connected to a network or not on the basis of the IP address of the user's terminal when transmitting e-mail to the user and transmits the e-mail to the first mail address when determining that the terminal is connected to the network and transmits the e-mail to the second e-mail address when determining that the terminal is not connected to the network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an e-mail transmission control apparatus that transmits e-mails via a network, for example, to a technique for transmitting FAX (facsimile) data as e-mails.

  Conventionally, FAX communication is performed between FAX apparatuses connected to a public line network. In this FAX communication, FAX data can be transmitted from a FAX apparatus connected to the public line network to a FAX apparatus of a transmission destination user, and the transmission destination user is based on FAX data received by the FAX apparatus. By printing or the like, the contents of the FAX can be grasped. However, when the user of the transmission destination is not at the installation location of the FAX apparatus, there is a problem in that the user cannot quickly grasp the contents of the FAX.

  On the other hand, when the sender's portable information terminal device (PDA) of the destination user is designated and faxed to the communication server (CS), the fax data received by the CS is accumulated and the destination A technique for transmitting a message notifying the occurrence of FAX reception to a pager connected to a PDA is known (see Patent Document 1).

  In recent years, a technique for transmitting data related to FAX data received by a FAX apparatus to a preset e-mail address has been used.

JP-A-8-265245

  According to the technique for transmitting data related to FAX data to an e-mail address, if there is a terminal that can receive an e-mail even if there is no user near the FAX apparatus, the contents of the FAX can be grasped by the terminal. .

  However, even if an e-mail is sent to a general e-mail address that can be used on a PC (Personal computer), the e-mail can be received unless the PC side spontaneously performs the process of receiving the e-mail. Can not. For this reason, an e-mail related to FAX is not received, and there is a possibility that the contents of the e-mail (fax contents) cannot be transmitted to the user promptly.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of quickly transmitting the contents of an electronic mail to a user.

  To achieve the above object, an e-mail transmission control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is an e-mail transmission control apparatus capable of transmitting an e-mail via a network, and includes a first e-mail address of a predetermined user and A storage means for storing the IP address of the user's terminal for receiving the e-mail of the first e-mail address and the second e-mail address of the user in association with each other, and when sending the e-mail to the user And a connection determination unit that determines whether or not the user terminal is connected to the network based on the IP address of the user terminal, and the connection determination unit that determines that the terminal is connected to the network. If an e-mail is sent to the first e-mail address and it is determined that the terminal is not connected to the network, the second e-mail And an electronic mail transmitting means for transmitting an e-mail addressed to dress.

  According to the electronic mail transmission control device, when the user terminal for receiving the electronic mail addressed to the first electronic mail address is not connected to the network, the electronic mail is transmitted to the second electronic mail address. The terminal that can receive the e-mail addressed to the second e-mail address can quickly receive the e-mail, and the user can quickly grasp the contents of the e-mail.

  In the above e-mail transmission control device, the e-mail transmission means may transmit an e-mail to the first e-mail address when it is determined that the terminal is not connected to the network. According to such an e-mail transmission control apparatus, even when the e-mail is transmitted to the second e-mail address, the e-mail can be received even by a terminal that can receive the e-mail addressed to the first e-mail address.

  In the electronic mail transmission control device, the second electronic mail address may be an electronic mail address of a mobile terminal managed by a mail server that can cause a predetermined mobile terminal to receive an e-mail. . According to such an e-mail transmission control apparatus, by transmitting to the second e-mail address, the portable terminal can quickly receive the e-mail according to an instruction from the mail server. Thereby, it is not necessary for the user to operate the terminal in order to receive the e-mail, and the user can quickly receive the e-mail and quickly grasp its contents.

  The electronic mail transmission control apparatus further includes: a FAX receiving unit that receives FAX data via a public line network; and a transmission destination determining unit that determines a user who transmits an electronic mail related to the FAX data. The determination means may determine whether or not a terminal for receiving an e-mail addressed to the determined user's first e-mail address is connected to the network. According to such an e-mail transmission control apparatus, an e-mail regarding FAX data transmitted via the public line network can be quickly transmitted to the user.

  Further, in the electronic mail transmission control apparatus, a transmission destination user storage unit for storing a correspondence relationship between a transmission source of FAX data and a user who is a transmission destination of an electronic mail related to the FAX data, and a transmission source of the FAX data are specified. A transmission source specifying unit that determines a user corresponding to the transmission source of the FAX data as a transmission destination of the electronic mail related to the FAX data based on the correspondence relationship of the transmission destination user storage unit. You may make it do. According to such an e-mail transmission control apparatus, it is possible to appropriately determine a user who is an e-mail transmission destination regarding FAX data according to a transmission source of FAX data.

  The electronic mail transmission control apparatus may further include conversion means for converting FAX data into image data, and the electronic mail transmission means may transmit an electronic mail having the image data as an attached file. According to such an e-mail transmission control apparatus, the user can grasp an image of FAX data from an attached file of the e-mail.

  To achieve the above object, an e-mail transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention is an e-mail transmission method by an e-mail transmission control apparatus capable of transmitting an e-mail via a network, and the e-mail transmission control apparatus includes: Storage means for storing the first e-mail address of a predetermined user, the IP address of the user's terminal for receiving the e-mail of the first e-mail address, and the second e-mail address of the user in association with each other And a connection determination unit of the e-mail transmission control device determines whether the terminal is connected to the network based on the IP address of the user's terminal when transmitting the e-mail to the user. The determination step and the e-mail transmission means of the e-mail transmission control device are connected to the network by the connection determination means. An e-mail transmission step of transmitting an e-mail addressed to the first e-mail address when it is determined and transmitting an e-mail addressed to the second e-mail address when it is determined that the terminal is not connected to the network; Have

  According to such an e-mail transmission method, when a user's terminal for receiving an e-mail addressed to the first e-mail address is not connected to the network, the e-mail is transmitted to the second e-mail address. The terminal that can receive the e-mail addressed to the two e-mail addresses can quickly receive the e-mail, and the user can quickly grasp the contents.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention. Absent.

  First, a multi-function machine that is an example of an electronic mail transmission control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The multifunction device 1 includes a control unit 10, a scanner function unit 11, a printer function unit 12, and a FAX (facsimile) function unit 13 as an example of a FAX receiving unit. The scanner function unit 11 reads a document such as paper or an OHP sheet placed on a document feed tray (not shown) and generates digital image data. The printer function unit 12 receives image data and forms an image on an image forming medium such as paper, an OHP sheet, cardboard, or an envelope. The FAX function unit 13 performs transmission / reception processing of FAX (facsimile) data with an external FAX apparatus via a public line.

  The control unit 10 receives various instructions from the user to the scanner function unit 11, the printer function unit 12, and the FAX function unit 13, and outputs various information to the user. The control unit 10 performs overall control of the scanner function unit 11, the printer function unit 12, and the FAX function unit 13. Specifically, the control unit 10 causes the scanner function unit 11 to execute image reading processing. Further, the control unit 10 causes the printer function unit 12 to execute image forming processing. Further, the control unit 10 controls the scanner function unit 11 and the printer function unit 12 to execute a so-called copy process for forming the content of the document on a predetermined image forming medium. That is, the control unit 10 causes the scanner function unit 11 to read a document to generate digital image data, converts the digital image data into predetermined image data, transmits the image data to the printer function unit 12, and forms it on the image forming medium. Let Further, the control unit 10 controls the scanner function unit 11 and the FAX function unit 13 to transmit the contents of the original document as FAX data to an external FAX device, and controls the FAX function unit 13 to control the external function. FAX data from the FAX machine is received.

  Next, a more detailed configuration of the control unit 10 will be described.

  In the control unit 10, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 14, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 15, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 16, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) as an example of a storage unit and a destination user storage unit 17, an input interface unit (input I / F unit) 18, a display processing unit 19, and communication interface units (communication I / F units) 20, 21, 22, and 23 are connected via a bus 24. .

  The ROM 15 stores a program such as a boot program. The RAM 16 is used as an area for storing programs and data, or as a work area for storing data used for processing by the CPU 14. Further, the HDD 17 stores various information that needs to be stored even when the multifunction device 1 is not powered on. In the present embodiment, for example, a program for executing processing, a mail transmission management table 100 (see FIG. 2), and the like are stored.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a mail transmission management table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The mail transmission management table 100 stores a plurality of records including a transmission source telephone number field 101, a first transmission destination mail address field 102, a first transmission destination IP address field 103, and a second transmission destination mail address field 104. Is possible.

  The transmission source telephone number field 101 stores a telephone number (transmission source telephone number) assigned to the transmission source FAX apparatus. The first destination email address field 102 stores the email address (first email address) of the user who is the destination of the email when the FAX data from the corresponding sender telephone number is sent. . The first destination IP address field 103 stores the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the terminal used by the user to receive the email of the first destination mail address. The second destination mail address field 104 stores an email address (second email address) different from the first email address of the user. The second e-mail address may be an e-mail address that can be received from the user's mobile terminal. In addition, the second e-mail address is managed by a mail server that can issue an instruction to execute e-mail reception to the mobile terminal of the user who should receive the e-mail when the e-mail is received. It may be an e-mail address. In the present embodiment, the second e-mail address is, for example, an e-mail address of a mobile phone as an example of a mobile terminal. If the email address of the mobile phone is an email addressed to the email address, the mail server managing the email of the mobile phone sends the email to the mobile phone. The mobile phone can promptly receive an e-mail.

  For example, in the first record, when the transmission source telephone number is “0111-11-XXXX” (XXXX indicates a number), the email address of the user to whom the email is to be sent is “client01 @ abc.def.co.jp "and" keitai01@aaaaa.ne.jp ", and the IP address of the user terminal for receiving e-mail addressed to" client01@abc.def.co.jp "is" 192.168 .100.101 ”.

  Returning to FIG. 1, a key unit 25 and a touch panel 26 are connected to the input I / F unit 18. The key unit 25 is provided in a housing (not shown) of the multifunction machine 1 and includes a start button, a stop button, a numeric keypad, and the like, and outputs a signal corresponding to the pressed button and key to the input I / F unit 18. The touch panel 26 is provided so as to be superimposed on a liquid crystal display device (LCD) 27, and outputs a signal corresponding to the position on the touch panel 26 pressed by the user to the input I / F unit 18.

  The input I / F 18 outputs signals from the key unit 25 and the touch panel 26 to the CPU 14 as data. The display processing unit 19 includes, for example, a VRAM (Video Random Access Memory), generates various image data under the control of the CPU 14, and displays and outputs a screen based on the image data on the LCD 27.

  The communication I / F unit 20 mediates data exchange between the CPU 14 and the scanner function unit 11. The communication I / F unit 21 mediates data exchange between the CPU 14 and the printer function unit 12. The communication I / F unit 22 mediates data exchange between the CPU 14 and the FAX function unit 13. The communication I / F unit 23 can be connected to a network and mediates data exchange with other devices via the network. For example, the communication I / F unit 23 mediates transmission / reception of electronic mail.

  The CPU 14 controls the operations of the units 15 to 23, 11, 12, and 13. Further, the CPU 14 reads out the program stored in the ROM 15 or the HDD 17 to the RAM 16 and executes it, so that the reception processing unit 14a, the transmission source specifying unit 14b as an example of the transmission source specifying unit, the connection determination unit, the electronic The mail transmission processing unit 14c as an example of the mail transmission unit, the conversion unit, and the transmission destination determination unit, and the functional unit control unit 14d are configured to execute various processes.

  The reception processing unit 14 a receives various instructions from the user with respect to the key unit 25 and the touch panel 26. In the present embodiment, the reception processing unit 14a receives input of a start instruction such as copy processing, scan processing, and FAX processing, and input of registration or change of a record in the mail transmission management table 100, and transmits mail according to the input. Registration or change in the management table 100 is performed.

  The transmission source specifying unit 14b specifies the transmission source of the FAX data stored in the HDD 17, for example, the transmission source telephone number. For example, when the transmission source telephone number is associated with the FAX data and stored in the HDD 17, the transmission source identification unit 14 b identifies the transmission source telephone number as the transmission source. Note that the transmission source specifying unit 14b may specify the transmission source by performing character recognition on the image indicated by the FAX data.

  The mail transmission processing unit 14c determines whether or not a record corresponding to the transmission source specified by the transmission source specifying unit 14b is stored in the mail transmission management table 100, and if it is stored, the corresponding record The first destination IP address is obtained, and whether or not the corresponding terminal is connected to the network by using the first destination IP address, that is, the network can be currently communicated. Check if it exists. Whether or not the terminal is connected to the network can be confirmed, for example, by issuing a ping command for the acquired first destination IP address and the result.

  When it is confirmed that the terminal is connected to the network, the mail transmission processing unit 14c transmits an e-mail addressed to the first destination mail address, and the terminal transmits an e-mail addressed to the first destination mail address. Since this means that the mail is received relatively quickly, the electronic mail is transmitted to the first destination mail address.

  In addition, when it is not possible to confirm that the terminal is connected to the network, the mail transmission processing unit 14c transmits an e-mail addressed to the first destination e-mail address. This means that the e-mail is not received promptly, and the e-mail is transmitted to the second destination e-mail address. Here, in the present embodiment, since the second destination mail address is the email address of the mobile phone, the user's mobile phone can promptly receive the email. For this reason, the user can quickly confirm the contents of the e-mail, that is, the contents of the FAX by using the mobile phone.

  In addition, when the e-mail is transmitted to the first destination e-mail address or the second destination e-mail address, the e-mail transmission processing unit 14c converts the received FAX data into a predetermined format (for example, bmp format, jpeg format). Etc.) and send an e-mail with the image data as an attached file.

  The functional unit control unit 14d controls the printer functional unit 12 to form an image on the image forming medium. For example, the functional unit control unit 14d controls the printer functional unit 12 to form an image on the image forming medium based on the image data. Further, the functional unit control unit 14d controls the scanner function unit 11 to execute reading of a document, receives image data of the document, and stores it in the RAM 16. Further, the function unit control unit 14 d controls the FAX function unit 13 to receive FAX data and store the FAX data in the HDD 17. At this time, if the FAX function unit 13 receives the transmission source telephone number (caller number) of the transmission source FAX apparatus when the FAX function unit 13 receives the FAX data, the function unit control unit 14d receives the FAX data and the transmission source telephone. The numbers are associated with each other and stored in the HDD 17.

  Next, processing executed by the multifunction machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of FAX data reception processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  It is assumed that the MFP 1 is turned on and the FAX function unit 13 is ready to receive FAX data transmitted via a public line.

  First, it is determined whether or not the FAX function unit 13 has received a FAX (Step S1). If the FAX function unit 13 has not received a FAX, Step S1 is repeatedly executed until the FAX is received.

  On the other hand, when the FAX function unit 13 receives a FAX (YES in Step S1), the FAX function unit 13 passes the received FAX data to the function unit control unit 14d. At this time, when the transmission source telephone number is received, the FAX function unit 13 also passes the transmission source telephone number to the functional unit control unit 14d. The functional unit control unit 14d stores the FAX data and the transmission source telephone number received from the FAX functional unit 13 in a predetermined shared folder of the HDD 17 (Step S2).

  Next, the transmission source specifying unit 14b acquires the transmission source telephone number of the FAX data stored in the HDD 17 and specifies it as the transmission source (step S3).

  Next, the mail transmission processing unit 14c determines whether the FAX data from the transmission source telephone number is a transmission target by e-mail, that is, whether there is a record corresponding to the transmission source telephone number in the mail transmission management table 100. Is determined (step S4). As a result, when it is determined that the e-mail is not a transmission target (NO in step S4), the e-mail transmission processing unit 14c ends the process as it is.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that it is a transmission target by electronic mail (YES in step S4), the mail transmission processing unit 14c starts from the first transmission destination IP address field 103 in the record corresponding to the transmission source telephone number. A transmission destination IP address is acquired, and it is confirmed whether the terminal of the said 1st transmission destination IP address is connected to the network using the said 1st transmission destination IP address (step S5).

  Next, as a result of the confirmation, the mail transmission processing unit 14c determines whether or not the terminal having the first transmission destination IP address is connected to the network (step S6). This means that the e-mail can be received relatively quickly by the terminal having the IP address, so the first transmission destination mail address is acquired as the transmission destination of the electronic mail from the mail transmission management table 100 (step S7). . On the other hand, if it is not connected, it means that the e-mail cannot be quickly received by the terminal of the first destination IP address, so the second destination e-mail address is set from the e-mail transmission management table 100 to the e-mail address. Obtained as a transmission destination (step S8).

  In step S7 or step S8, after acquiring the e-mail address as the e-mail transmission destination, the e-mail transmission processing unit 14c converts the FAX data to be transmitted into predetermined image data (step S9). The acquired e-mail address is set as an e-mail transmission destination, image data is attached to the e-mail, and is transmitted to the network via the communication I / F unit 23 (step S10). As a result, the e-mail is transmitted to the set e-mail address.

  According to the above processing, when a terminal for receiving an e-mail addressed to the first destination e-mail address is connected to the network, an e-mail regarding FAX data is transmitted to the first e-mail address. An electronic mail can be received relatively quickly by the terminal, and the user can quickly grasp the contents of the FAX data. On the other hand, when a terminal for receiving an e-mail addressed to the first destination e-mail address is not connected to the network, an e-mail regarding FAX data is transmitted to the second destination e-mail address. An e-mail can be quickly received by telephone, and the user can quickly grasp the contents related to FAX data.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be applied to various other modes.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the destination email address is determined based on the source telephone number. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the destination email address is included in the FAX data. As described above, the e-mail address of the transmission destination may be specified by performing character recognition on the image indicated by the FAX data.

  In the above embodiment, the transmission is made to either the first transmission destination email address or the second transmission destination email address. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, the second transmission destination email address. When sending an e-mail, the e-mail may also be sent to the first destination mail address. In this way, even a terminal for acquiring an e-mail from the first destination e-mail address can appropriately receive an e-mail regarding FAX data.

  In the above embodiment, two e-mail addresses are registered as candidates for the e-mail transmission destination for the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more e-mail addresses are registered. Further, in this case, for each e-mail address, the IP address of the terminal for receiving e-mail addressed to the e-mail address is registered, and the terminal is connected to the network. An e-mail regarding FAX data may be transmitted to an e-mail address that can be received by a terminal connected to the network. In this way, the user can confirm the e-mail more reliably and quickly.

  In the above-described embodiment, the record of the mail transmission management table 100 is registered or updated by input from the key unit 25 or the like of the multifunction device 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. Information such as the first transmission destination IP address may be received from a user terminal connected to, and record registration or update may be performed based on the information.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which data related to FAX data is transmitted as an e-mail has been shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to any type of e-mail. The same can be applied.

1 is a configuration diagram of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the mail transmission management table which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process at the time of FAX data reception which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multifunction device, 10 Control unit, 11 Scanner function part, 12 Printer function part, 13 FAX function part, 14 CPU, 14a Reception process part, 14b Transmission origin specific part, 14c Mail transmission process part, 14d Function part control part, 15 ROM, 16 RAM, 17 HDD, 18 input I / F unit, 19 display processing unit, 20, 21, 22, 23 communication I / F unit, 24 bus, 25 key unit, 26 touch panel, 27 LCD, 100 mail transmission management table.

Claims (7)

An e-mail transmission control apparatus capable of transmitting e-mail via a network,
A storage that associates and stores a first e-mail address of a predetermined user, an IP address of the user's terminal for receiving an e-mail of the first e-mail address, and a second e-mail address of the user Means,
Connection determination means for determining whether or not the terminal is connected to the network based on the IP address of the terminal of the user when sending an e-mail to the user;
When it is determined by the connection determination means that the terminal is connected to the network, the e-mail is transmitted to the first e-mail address, and it is determined that the terminal is not connected to the network. In this case, an e-mail transmission control device comprising e-mail transmission means for transmitting the e-mail to the second e-mail address. 2. The e-mail transmission control according to claim 1, wherein the e-mail transmission unit transmits the e-mail to the first e-mail address when it is determined that the terminal is not connected to the network. apparatus. 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second electronic mail address is an electronic mail address of the portable terminal managed by a mail server capable of causing a predetermined portable terminal to receive an electronic mail. Mail transmission control device. FAX receiving means for receiving FAX data via a public line network;
A destination determination means for determining a user who transmits an e-mail related to the FAX data;
The connection determination unit determines whether or not the terminal of the user for receiving an e-mail addressed to the first e-mail address of the determined user is connected to the network. The electronic mail transmission control apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 4. Transmission destination user storage means for storing a correspondence relationship between a transmission source of FAX data and a user who is a transmission destination of an electronic mail related to the FAX data;
A transmission source specifying means for specifying a transmission source of the FAX data;
The said transmission destination determination means determines the said user corresponding to the transmission origin of the said FAX data as a transmission destination of the email regarding the said FAX data based on the correspondence of a transmission destination user memory | storage means. E-mail transmission control device. A conversion means for converting the FAX data into image data;
6. The e-mail transmission control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the e-mail transmission unit transmits the e-mail having the image data as an attached file. An e-mail transmission method by an e-mail transmission control device capable of transmitting an e-mail via a network,
The e-mail transmission control device includes a first e-mail address of a predetermined user, an IP address of the user's terminal for receiving an e-mail of the first e-mail address, and a second e-mail address of the user And storing means for storing them in association with each other,
Whether or not the terminal is connected to the network based on the IP address of the terminal of the user when the connection determination unit of the electronic mail transmission control device transmits an e-mail to the user. A connection determination step for determining;
The e-mail transmission unit of the e-mail transmission control device transmits the e-mail to the first e-mail address when the connection determination unit determines that the terminal is connected to the network, and An e-mail transmission method comprising: an e-mail transmission step of transmitting the e-mail to the second e-mail address when it is determined that the terminal is not connected to the network.

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