JP3636625B2 - Facsimile apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present inventionFacsimile deviceAnd a control method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, facsimile has become widespread in almost all companies as a device that can send and receive images with a simple operation. However, it is not known whether the transmitted image has reached the intended person, anyone can read the received manuscript, and when sending to a foreign country with poor line conditions, it is necessary to resend each time it fails Problems such as these have not been solved, and people who use facsimiles tend to give up.
[0003]
On the other hand, the Internet, which is a worldwide network, is rapidly growing, and the number of people who use e-mail using the Internet is growing rapidly, especially among companies. The e-mail is transmitted / received using a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) or a workstation (hereinafter referred to as WS) belonging to an individual, and there is no problem with the facsimile described above. As for errors, data errors are basically eliminated by a reliable protocol TCP / IP.
[0004]
However, the data transmitted / received by e-mail mainly consists of character codes input from the keyboard, and image data is not yet common. The reason is considered that it takes time to input image data and convert it into a format that can be transmitted as an e-mail. That is, the operability for transmitting image data as an e-mail is poor.
[0005]
In order to improve operability, a facsimile machine using e-mail has been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-172348.
[0006]
FIG. 28 shows a schematic block 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. Reference numeral 103 denotes a RAM which is used for program data. A modem unit 104 is connected to the telephone line. A printer unit 105 prints image data. A scanner unit 106 reads an image. Reference numeral 107 denotes a panel unit that inputs an image reading instruction, inputs identification information of a sender, and inputs identification information of a receiver. A compression / decompression unit 108 compresses or decompresses image data. Reference numeral 109 denotes a computer I / F unit which is connected to a host computer and transmits and receives electronic mail.
[0007]
Hereinafter, an operation when performing facsimile transmission will be described. Place the document on the scanner unit 106, input the telephone number of the destination and the identification code of the sender from the panel unit 107, and press the start button. The scanner unit 106 reads an image, the image data is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 108, and the image data is transmitted from the telephone line to the destination through the modem unit 104 by a facsimile procedure. The transmission result is transmitted from the computer I / F unit 109 to the sender's terminal as a character code electronic mail via the host computer.
[0008]
Next, the operation when 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 document is received via the modem unit 104 and the destination information is sent during the facsimile procedure, it is confirmed whether or not it matches the user identification information stored in the RAM 103. If they match, the user's terminal is notified by e-mail through the computer I / F unit 109 that the facsimile document has been received. The received facsimile image data is printed by the printer unit 105.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, although the other party's terminal is notified that the facsimile document has been received, it is not known whether the transmitted facsimile data has actually arrived at the intended person.FacsimileSince the data itself is communicated using a facsimile procedure, there is a problem that there is a case where there is a case where there is no reliability of communication with overseas where the line condition is bad.
[0010]
  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and image data can be transmitted and received easily and securely to a destination via a computer network by e-mail.Facsimile apparatus and control method thereofThe purpose is to provide.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides scanner means for obtaining image data by reading a document,Obtained by this scanner meansCompression means for compressing the image data;Compressed by this compression meansImage dataInternetFormat conversion means for converting to an e-mail format, LAN control means for sending the e-mail using a LAN, and a destination address of the e-mail, And the source addressPanel means for inputting; a start button for an operator to input an instruction to send an e-mail; the scanner means; the compression means;The format conversion means;Controllably connected to the LAN control means, the panel means and the start buttonWasAnd a main control means.RedressWhere
  The main control means includesThe operatorA document is set on the scanner means.,Addressed from the panel meansFirstdress, And the e-mail address of the personal computer or workstation at the operator's seat, not the e-mail address of the facsimile machine itself, and the source address for receiving the error notification mailAfter entering,If the start button is pressed, the scanner means, the compression means, the format conversion means, and the LAN control meansWithout intervention by the operatorOperate sequentiallyBy, Let the scanner means read the document,Obtained by readingThe image data is compressed by the compression means, and the compressed image data is converted into the format.conversionTo the e-mail format, and the converted image data is input to the LAN control means from the panel means.FirstSend it to the dressFurthermore, the format conversion means converts the image data compressed by the compression means into a 7-bit character code to create text-encoded image data, and at least the destination, source, data format, character code Apparatus for obtaining an e-mail format conforming to MIME by adding a header containing a conversion methodI will provide a.
[0012]
  The present invention also provides a scanner unit for reading image data to obtain image data, a compression unit for compressing image data obtained by the scanner unit, and a format of an Internet e-mail from the image data compressed by the compression unit. Format conversion means for converting to e-mail, LAN control means for sending the e-mail using a LAN, panel means for inputting a destination address and a source address of the e-mail, and an instruction for sending an e-mail by the operator Of a facsimile apparatus comprising: a start button for inputting an input; and a main control means that is controllably connected to the scanner means, the compression means, the format conversion means, the LAN control means, the panel means, and the start button. A control method,
  An operator sets a manuscript on the scanner means, and notifies the destination address from the panel means and the e-mail address of the personal computer or workstation at the operator's seat, not the e-mail address of the facsimile apparatus itself. If the start button is pressed after inputting a sender address for receiving mail, the scanner unit, the compression unit, the format conversion unit, and the LAN control unit are sequentially operated without an operator's operation. By operating, the scanner unit reads the document, the image data obtained by reading is compressed by the compression unit, and the compressed image data is converted into the e-mail format by the format conversion unit and converted. Image data The AN control means transmits to the destination address input from the panel means, and the format conversion means converts the image data compressed by the compression means into a 7-bit character code to convert the text-encoded image data. A method for controlling a facsimile apparatus, characterized in that an e-mail format conforming to MIME is obtained by adding a header containing at least a destination, a transmission source, a data format, and a conversion method to a character code to this data I will provide a.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(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 apparatus capable of transmitting image data by a simple operation similar to a facsimile. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU, which controls this apparatus. A ROM 2 stores a program. Reference numeral 3 denotes a RAM, which is used for program data. An external storage unit 4 such as a hard disk 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 which inputs an image reading instruction and inputs an e-mail destination. 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 / receives e-mail data on the Internet.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows a flow when transmitting image data in the present embodiment. First, in step S1, an original is set on the scanner unit 6, an e-mail address (alphanumeric characters) is input from the panel unit 7, and a start button is pressed. In step S 2, the document set on the scanner unit 6 is input as image data. In step S 3, the document is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 8 and stored in the external storage unit 4. At this time, if the document has a plurality of pages, the plurality of pages are stored in the external storage unit 4 as one file. In step S 4, 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. In step S5, the format-converted image data is transmitted to the destination as an e-mail by the LAN control unit 9.
[0026]
FIG. 3 shows a method for 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 an Internet e-mail as it is. Internet e-mail allows only 7-bit character codes for transmission procedures. Therefore, this binary image data is converted into a 7-bit character code to create text-encoded image data 22. Thereafter, a header 23 including at least a destination, a transmission source, a data format, and a conversion method to a character code is added to this data.
[0027]
The conversion method to the character code and the header format conform to the Internet e-mail standard called MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions). Therefore, any terminal in which an e-mail program supporting MIME is installed can transmit image data as e-mail from this apparatus.
[0028]
As described above, according to the first embodiment, image data can be transmitted as an e-mail by a simple operation similar to a facsimile. Therefore, image data can be transmitted to an individual, and only the person who aims at the transmitted data can see it, and the reliability of data communication with foreign countries can be improved.
[0029]
(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the format reverse conversion unit 10 for converting the image data of the e-mail into a printable form and the image data subjected to the format reverse conversion are printed in the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. For this purpose, a printer unit 11 is added.
[0030]
FIG. 5 shows a flow when image data is received in this embodiment. First, in step S <b> 11, e-mail image data is received from the LAN control unit 9 and temporarily stored in the external storage unit 4. In step S 12, the e-mail image data is converted into a facsimile format by the format reverse conversion unit 10, and decompressed by the compression / decompression unit 8 and stored in the external storage unit 4 in step S 13. In step S14, the accumulated image data is printed by the printer unit 11.
[0031]
The reverse format conversion follows a procedure reverse to the method of converting the image data of FIG. 3 to the electronic mail format. First, it is confirmed from the header 23 that this e-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.
[0032]
Thus, according to the second embodiment, even a person who does not have an e-mail personal address can receive image data.
[0033]
(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.
[0034]
FIG. 7 shows a flow when printing character code data in the present embodiment. First, in step S21, the LAN control unit 9 determines whether the received electronic mail is character code data or image data by analyzing the data format of the header portion of the data. In MIME, the data format is described after Content-Type :. If it is image data, it is described as image / tiff. If it is character code data, it is described as text / plain. 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, and then decompressed into image data by the font unit 12, and the decompressed image data is printed in step S23. To do. In addition, when transmitting character code data, it carries out like normal e-mail.
[0035]
As described above, according to the third embodiment, the apparatus can be used as an original apparatus for e-mail, and no error occurs even if character code data e-mail is transmitted to the apparatus.
[0036]
(Embodiment 4)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a character recognition unit 13 is added to the configuration of the third embodiment shown in FIG.
[0037]
FIG. 9 shows a flow for recognizing a destination character in the present embodiment. First, in step S31, the original is placed on the scanner unit 6 and the start button is pressed. In step S32, an image is input from the scanner unit 6. Next, in step S32, a predetermined position of the input image is analyzed, and the character recognition unit 13 recognizes the destination. The predetermined position is determined by creating a cover sheet dedicated to this apparatus and predetermining the position to write the destination. In step S34, the image data is transmitted as an e-mail to the recognized destination.
[0038]
As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the destination address can be input from the panel unit 7 without inputting alphabet keys.
[0039]
(Embodiment 5)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the electronic mail apparatus is the same as that of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.
[0040]
FIG. 10 shows a flow when inputting a source address 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 sender button is pressed and the sender 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 sender address, the e-mail address of the PC or WS that is usually in the sender's seat is input. Therefore, if the e-mail fails to be transmitted, the failure notification e-mail can be received by the personal computer or WS as in the conventional e-mail device.
[0041]
Thus, according to the fifth embodiment, when transmission fails, a non-delivery notice can be delivered to the sender himself / herself based on the source address.
[0042]
(Embodiment 6)
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, an audio input / output unit 14 having a microphone and a receiver and an audio compression / decompression unit 15 for compressing or expanding digital audio are added to the configuration of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. It is.
[0043]
FIG. 12 shows a flow when voice is input and transmitted together with an image in this embodiment. First, in step S51, a destination is input as in the first or fourth embodiment, and in step S51, a message button on the panel unit 7 is pressed. The message is recorded through the microphone of the voice input / output unit 14 while pressing the message button. The audio is compressed by the audio compression / decompression unit 15 and stored in the external storage unit 4. 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, it is transmitted to the destination. In the case of reception, the received image data and sound data are decompressed by the compression / decompression units 8 and 15 and output from the printer unit 11 and the sound input / output unit 14, respectively. Note that a method for integrating files of two different data formats is defined by the above-mentioned MIME.
[0044]
As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, it is possible to convey information peculiar to voice such as conveying a sender's emotion together with image information.
[0045]
(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.
[0046]
FIG. 14 shows a flow when a moving image is input and transmitted together with an image in the present embodiment. First, in step S61, as in the first or fourth embodiment, a destination is input. In step S62, a video button on the panel unit 7 is pressed, and a video 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. 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 converted in format 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, it is transmitted to the destination. In the case of reception, 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. Note that a method for integrating files of two different data formats is defined by the above-mentioned MIME.
[0047]
As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, moving image information that cannot be expressed by a still image can be transmitted together with image information.
[0048]
(Embodiment 8)
Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the configuration shown in FIG. 8 is used to analyze the email received by the LAN control unit 9, and the CPU 1 performs processing according to the analysis result.
[0049]
FIG. 15 shows a format example when registering a destination mail address and a sender address by electronic mail in the present embodiment. The e-mail is roughly divided into a header and a body, and the data format of the body can be understood at the header. Content-type: text / plain of the header 31 in FIG. 15 indicates that the text 32 is character code data. In this embodiment, the text needs to be character code data. . Subject: !! $ in the header 31 indicates that the body 32 is a command. Since the subject of this email is usually placed after Subject :, !! $ is a special character code that can be distinguished from the subject.
[0050]
In the body 32, a sender ID, a list of destination mail addresses, a sender address, and the like are described, and! ID,! LIST, and! FROM are defined at the top of each. 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 code, and the CPU 1 stores them externally. Part 4 is registered.
[0051]
As described above, according to the eighth embodiment, necessary processing can be performed without the need for a special protocol between the present apparatus and a terminal such as a PC or WS.
[0052]
(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 received email of the character code data, and the CPU 1 registers the sender ID and the destination mail list in association with each other. It is what I did.
[0053]
FIG. 16 shows a flow of the present embodiment. First, in step S71, when the LAN control unit 9 receives the character code data of the e-mail, the subject part of the header is analyzed in step S72. Next, in step S73, it is determined whether or not the analysis result is a text command. If it is determined that the analysis result is a text command, the text is analyzed in step S74. 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 a command, the character data is converted into image data in step S76, and the image data is printed in step S77.
[0054]
FIG. 17 shows a flow for selecting a destination from the destination list in the present embodiment. First, in step S81, the destination list button on the panel unit 7 is pressed, and in step S82, when the sender ID is input, the destination list registered by e-mail is displayed on the panel unit 7. In step S83, a destination is selected from the displayed destination list. When the start button is pressed in step S84, the image data input from the scanner unit 6 is converted in format and transmitted to the destination (step S85 to step S85). S87).
[0055]
Thus, according to the ninth embodiment, a destination electronic mail address list can be easily input for each individual.
[0056]
(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 received e-mail of the character code data, and the CPU 1 associates the sender ID with the source address and stores them externally. This is registered in the unit 4, and is different from the ninth embodiment in that in FIG. 16, the sender ID and the address of the sender are registered in correspondence in step S75. When selecting the sender address, press the sender button on the panel unit 7 and enter the sender ID. The registered sender address is displayed on the panel unit 7. Enter it while watching it, and press the start button. Push.
[0057]
Thus, according to the tenth embodiment, the e-mail address of the sender (source) can be easily input for each individual.
[0058]
(Embodiment 11)
Next, an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment is a combination of the ninth embodiment and the tenth embodiment, and the source address is determined when a destination is selected from the 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.
[0059]
Thus, according to the eleventh embodiment, the sender's e-mail address can be input without being conscious of the sender.
[0060]
(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 by a facsimile procedure is added to the configuration shown in FIG. It is assumed that a handset is attached to the modem unit 18.
[0061]
FIG. 19 shows a flow when selecting and transmitting either electronic mail or facsimile in this embodiment. First, in step S91, a button for selecting electronic mail or facsimile from the panel unit 7 is pressed. If it is determined in step S92 that the facsimile is received, the destination number is input in step S93 and the start button is pressed. In step S94, the image is input from the scanner unit 6. In step S95, the facsimile is sent to the destination. Send in the procedure. 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).
[0062]
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.
[0063]
(Embodiment 13)
Next, a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a reception notification is mailed to a terminal waiting for reception using the configuration shown in FIG. 18, 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 pre-registered terminal in step S105. To do.
[0064]
In order to set the reception notification flag, an e-mail in which! RCV SET is written in the body is transmitted in advance according to the format of FIG. To reset the reception notification flag, send an e-mail with! RCV RESET written in the text.
[0065]
As described above, according to the thirteenth embodiment, it is possible to know from the terminal that the facsimile data has been received.
[0066]
(Embodiment 14)
Next, a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the received electronic mail is transmitted by a 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. 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 a destination FAX number. If it is determined in step S113 that FAX transmission is to be performed, image data is FAX-transmitted to the above-described FAX number in step S114. If not FAX transmission, printing is performed in step S115.
[0067]
As described above, according to the fourteenth embodiment, image data can be transmitted from a personal terminal to a facsimile.
[0068]
(Embodiment 15)
Next, a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a world clock unit 19 for sending an image to local time in the world is added to the configuration shown in FIG. 18, and this world clock unit 19 can obtain the local time from the country name. It is a watch that can.
[0069]
FIG. 23 shows a flow when timer transmission is performed 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 destination time in step S122, and the format of the input image data is changed by pressing the start button (step S123). To S125), in step S126, the country is determined from the destination, and in step S127, the local time of the country is obtained from the destination and the world clock unit 19, and when the set time matches the image data. Is to send. The e-mail address is, for example, toyoda@mgcs.mei.co.jp, and the last jp represents Japan. In this way, the country can be identified by the last character string.
[0070]
As described above, according to the fifteenth embodiment, the transmitter can perform timer transmission in local time without having to calculate the local time in each country in the world.
[0071]
(Embodiment 16)
Next, a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the apparatus shown in FIG. 18 is used to have a plurality of e-mail addresses, and the flow is shown in FIG. After receiving the image data and performing reverse format conversion (steps S131 and S132), in step S133, the image data is stored in a box for each destination created in the external storage unit 4. This box is associated with an ID and a password input in advance by the owner, and the ID and password of the owner for each destination are required to retrieve the contents of the box. In step S134, the owner's ID and password are input, 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.
[0072]
As described above, according to the sixteenth embodiment, even a person who does not have a terminal for receiving electronic mail can manage received data for each individual.
[0073]
(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 using the configuration shown in FIG. 18, and the flow of FIG. A cover sheet for each person is added. The cover sheet is registered in advance by the owner by reading from the scanner unit 6 into a box of the owner of the external storage unit 4 or by sending an e-mail including an instruction for registering the cover sheet to the apparatus.
[0074]
As described above, according to the seventeenth embodiment, it is possible to know who the received data is for the sender to the apparatus without attaching a cover sheet.
[0075]
(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 email indicating that this apparatus has been received to the sender, and FIG. 25 shows the flow. After the image data is received, converted into the reverse format and printed (steps S141 to S143), a confirmation mail is transmitted to the sender's email address in the header in step S144. In the confirmation e-mail, a character string indicating that it has been received, the e-mail address of the apparatus, the company name, etc. are described. These processes are executed based on a program stored in the ROM 2.
[0076]
Thus, according to the eighteenth embodiment, it can be seen that a sender to the apparatus has received an e-mail at the apparatus.
[0077]
(Embodiment 19)
Next, a nineteenth embodiment of the present invention is described. In the present embodiment, a confirmation mail to the effect that the receiver has received data is transmitted to the sender 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 S151 and S152), the reception ID is written in the image data in step S153. The reception ID is generated based on a date and time that are unique for one year. 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.
[0078]
Thus, according to the nineteenth embodiment, it can be seen that the e-mail has arrived at the individual intended by the sender to this apparatus.
[0079]
(Embodiment 20)
Next, a twentieth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the transmission failure is printed using the configuration shown in FIG. 18, and the flow is shown in FIG. 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 own device, step S164 Then, print the failure of transmission. If it is a mail other than its own device, the character data is converted into image data in step S165, and the content is printed in step S166.
[0080]
When the transmission of the received e-mail fails, that fact may be printed and the first page of the image data may be output.
[0081]
As described above, according to the twentieth embodiment, it can be easily understood by a person who has never handled an e-mail that the image data transmitted from the apparatus has an error.
[0082]
In the second to twentieth embodiments, the character code received by e-mail may be displayed on a display such as a CRT, and this CRT is also used when displaying a moving image. Can do. Further, the present apparatus can be configured by variously combining the first to twentieth embodiments.
[0083]
As is apparent from the above embodiments, the electronic mail apparatus according to the present invention converts the image data read from the document into an electronic mail format and then sends it over the network. Since the printer has been converted to a facsimile format and is then printed by a printer, simply connecting the machine to a network capable of e-mail allows the user to simply read the original document, just like a conventional facsimile machine. Thus, the image data can be transmitted to the other party. When the image data is received, the image data can be received simply by keeping the apparatus in an operating state. In addition, it is possible to solve problems such as in the case of a conventional facsimile apparatus in which it is not known whether the transmission destination has been surely reached, read by another person, or a communication error occurs.
[0084]
The present invention also enables both the transmission and reception of image data by e-mail through a network and the transmission and reception of image data by facsimile through a telephone line. In addition, when the transmission partner is a facsimile machine, it can be transmitted by the facsimile machine. Furthermore, the received electronic mail can be transmitted by a facsimile apparatus, and the received facsimile can be received by electronic mail.
[0085]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, according to the present invention, image data can be obtained by a simple operation similar to a facsimile.InternetSend as emailby doing, Improve the reliability of data communication with overseasIn addition, if the transmission fails, a non-delivery notice is delivered to the terminal designated by the sender based on the sender address.be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart when transmitting image data according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a method for converting image data into an e-mail format according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for receiving image data according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for printing character code data according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail apparatus according to fourth, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for recognizing a destination character in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a flow chart when inputting a sender address in the fifth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart when an audio is input and an image is transmitted together in the sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart when a moving image is input and an image is transmitted together in the seventh embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a data configuration diagram showing a registration example of a destination mail address and a source address by an electronic mail address in the eighth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart for analyzing an e-mail of received character code data according to the ninth, tenth, and eleventh embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a flowchart for selecting a destination from a destination list according to the ninth, tenth, and eleventh embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail apparatus according to the twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart when selecting and transmitting an e-mail and a facsimile in the twelfth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 20 is a flowchart for e-mailing a reception notification to a terminal waiting for reception according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 21 is a flowchart for facsimile transmission of received mail in the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail apparatus according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart at the time of timer transmission at the time of the destination country in the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 24 is a flowchart for receiving image data when the device has a plurality of e-mail addresses in the sixteenth and seventeenth embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 25 is a flowchart for returning a confirmation e-mail to the sender according to the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 26 is a flowchart for sending back a confirmation e-mail indicating that the receiver has received data to the sender in the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 27 is a flowchart for printing a transmission failure message in the twentieth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 28 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional facsimile apparatus using electronic mail.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU
2 ROM
3 RAM
4 External storage
5 Format converter
6 Scanner section
7 Panel section
8 Compression / decompression section
9 LAN controller
10 Format reverse conversion part
11 Printer section
12 Font part
13 Character recognition part
14 Voice input / output
15 Voice compression / decompression unit
16 Video input / output section
17 Video compression / decompression unit
18 Modem part
19 World Clock Club

Claims (2)

Scanner means for reading image data to obtain image data, compression means for compressing image data obtained by the scanner means, and format conversion means for converting the image data compressed by the compression means into an Internet e-mail format LAN control means for transmitting the e-mail using a LAN, panel means for inputting a destination address and a source address of the e-mail, and a start button for an operator to input an e-mail transmission instruction; the scanner unit, said compressing unit, said format conversion unit, the LAN control unit, a facsimile RiSo location comprising a main control unit that is controllably connected to said panel means and the start button,
Said main control unit, an operator sets an original on the scanner unit, said panel means addressed from Sakia dresses, and a personal computer or workstation in the operator's seat, not the e-mail address of the facsimile apparatus itself If the start button is pressed after inputting an e-mail address and a sender address for receiving an error notification mail , the scanner unit, the compression unit, the format conversion unit, and the LAN control unit are operated. the Rukoto are sequentially operate without the intervention of operation by user, the scanner unit to read the document, compressing the image data obtained by reading the compression means, the electronic mail image data is compressed in the format conversion means Converted to the format of The Jideta is transmitted addressed to addressed Sakia dress inputted from the panel means to said LAN control section,
Further, the format conversion means converts the image data compressed by the compression means into a 7-bit character code to create text-encoded image data, which is converted into at least a destination, a sender, a data format, and a character code. facsimile RiSo location, characterized in that to obtain the format of the e-mail in accordance with MIME by adding header containing the conversion method. Scanner means for reading image data to obtain image data, compression means for compressing image data obtained by the scanner means, and format conversion means for converting the image data compressed by the compression means into an Internet e-mail format LAN control means for transmitting the e-mail using a LAN, panel means for inputting a destination address and a source address of the e-mail, a start button for an operator to input an e-mail transmission instruction, A control method for a facsimile apparatus comprising: the scanner means; the compression means; the format conversion means; the LAN control means; the panel means; and a main control means connected to the start button in a controllable manner.
An operator sets a manuscript on the scanner means, and notifies the destination address from the panel means and the e-mail address of the personal computer or workstation at the operator's seat, not the e-mail address of the facsimile apparatus itself. If the start button is pressed after inputting a sender address for receiving mail, the scanner unit, the compression unit, the format conversion unit, and the LAN control unit are sequentially operated without an operator's operation. By operating, the scanner unit reads the document, the image data obtained by reading is compressed by the compression unit, and the compressed image data is converted into the e-mail format by the format conversion unit and converted. Image data Is transmitted addressed to a destination address inputted from the panel means to AN control means,
Further, the format conversion means converts the image data compressed by the compression means into a 7-bit character code to create text-encoded image data, which is converted into at least a destination, a sender, a data format, and a character code. A method for controlling a facsimile machine, wherein an e-mail format conforming to MIME is obtained by adding a header including the conversion method .

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