GB2353435A

GB2353435A - Translation server for a computer network

Info

Publication number: GB2353435A
Application number: GB0011845A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christian Ardin
Original assignee: Sagem SA
Current assignee: Sagem SA
Priority date: 1999-05-17
Filing date: 2000-05-17
Publication date: 2001-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-17
Also published as: DE10024074A1; GB2353435B; FR2793984A1; GB0011845D0; DE10024074B4; FR2793984B1

Abstract

A terminal 15 of a computer network, which may be a fax machine, receives a message from a computer messaging server 21 which contains unreadable data. In the course of the same connection to the computer network 100, the terminal opens another session with a computer translation server 30 and transmits the unreadable data to the server. The unreadable data is translated, temporarily stored in a local mailbox and then transmitted to the terminal.

Description

2353435 PROCESS FOR DOWNLOADING AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGE TO A COMMUNICATION

TERMINAL OF A COMPUTER NETWORK, ASSOCIATED TERMINAL AND ASSOCIATED TRANSLATION SERVER Electronic messaging is a means for communication between terminals (computers, fax machines etc.), across computer networks, such as the Internet or else LANs (Local Area Networks). An electronic message comprises a header, containing the sending and receiving computer addresses of the message, a message payload and, optionally, an attachment containing data which may be in very diverse formats (HTML, WORD, Bitmap, JPEG, etc.).

To dispatch and receive electronic messages across the Internet, a communication terminal must be furnished with access to the Internet, provided by an access provider server, with a messaging service, provided by an electronic messaging server, and with a mailbox for storing the electronic messages, accompanied by a computer messaging address managed by this messaging server. To despatch an electronic message, the terminal connects up to the Internet, by way of the access provider server, opens a communication session with the messaging server and transmits thereto the message to be despatched. The 2S messaging server is then responsible for dispatching the message across the Internet. Conversely, to retrieve a message received by the terminal and temporarily stored in the messaging server, the terminal connects up to the Internet, opens a communication session with the messaging server and downloads the message received.

Each terminal has its own capabilities for reading, or utilizing data in diverse formats. Since these 2 capabilities do not generally enable it to read the data of all existing data formats, it is possible that the terminal may not be able to utilize data contained in an electronic message received, these data therefore becoming 5 unreadable.

The document EP 855 821 discloses a process for downloading a message, together with an attachment, to a communication terminal of a computer network of the Internet type, in the course of which, in the case where the message and/or the attachment are unreadable, the terminal has them translated by a translation web site. The site translates the message and/or the attachment, connects up to the terminal and transmits the translation to it.

The implementation of such a process proves to be relatively complex and uneconomical. This is because the site, after having performed the translation, must connect up to the receiver terminal so as to transmit this translation to it. Now, if the terminal is not permanently connected to the computer network, as is generally the case, this connection of the site to the terminal requires the intervention of a service provider, responsible for calling the terminal so as to connect it to the computer network.

The present invention aims to overcome this drawback.

To this end, the invention relates to a process for downloading to a communication terminal of acomputer network, an electronic message stored in a computer 3 messaging server, the said message containing data unreadable by the terminal, in which process - the terminal connects up to the computer network, opens a communication session with the messaging server, downloads the message and detects therein the said unreadable data; - in the course of the same connection to the computer network, the terminal opens another communication session with a computer translation server and transmits the unreadable data to the said server; the translation server translates the unreadable data, temporarily stores their translation in a local mailbox and then transmits the translation to the terminal.

The terminal can thus retrieve the translation, on its own initiative by perusing the mailbox hosted by the translation server, by using a standard message reception protocol.

Advantageously, on the expiry of a determined duration of storage of the translation of the unreadable data in the translation server, the latter transmits the translation to a mailbox of the terminal, which mailbox is managed by a messaging server.

The translated data are temporarily stored in a local mailbox, managed by the translation server, until they are downloaded to the terminal. However, if the terminal does not download the translated data within a certain period, 4 the translation server transfers these data from the local mailbox to the mailbox of the terminal, managed by the messaging server. The terminal can then retrieve the translation from its mailbox, hosted by the messaging server, also by using a standard message reception protocol.

In a particular embodiment, the translation server transmits the translation of the unreadable data in the course of the same connection of the terminal to the computer network.

In this case, the translation server can transmit the translation of the unreadable data either in the course of is the same communication session, or in the course of a subsequent communication session, after interruption of the previous session.

The terminal can thus retrieve the translation of the unreadable data either immediately, after having transmitted the unreadable data to the translation server, during the same communication session, or subsequently, during a subsequent communication session.

As a variant, the translation server transmits the translation of the unreadable data in the course of a subsequent connection of the terminal to the computer network.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of a particular embodiment of the downloading process, of a particular embodiment of the communication terminal and of the translation server, according to the invention, with reference to the appended drawing in which:

- Figure 1 represents a functional block diagram of 5 the communication terminal and - Figure 2 represents a functional block diagram of the translation server.

In the particular example of the description, the communication terminal is a fax machine 15 linked to a telephone network 101, here the switched telephone network (STN). The fax machine 15 is furnished with access to a computer network, in this instance the Internet 100, provided by a server 20 providing access to the Internet 100, with a messaging service, provided by a computer electronic messaging server 21, and with a mailbox 22 for storing electronic messages, accompanied by a computer messaging address, managed by the messaging server 21.

The fax machine 15 comprises a line interface block 1, for linking to the telephone network 101, a data sending and receiving block 2 comprising a modem, a fax block 3, a printing block 4, an image analysis block 5, a block 6 for connection to the Internet 100, an electronic messaging block 7 and a man/machine interface.

The sending and receiving block 2 linked to the line interface 1, is intended for receiving and for sending analog signals, serving as carriers for the transmission of data across the telephone network 101. The modem is intended for transforming the data to be sent into analog 6 signals, by modulation, and, conversely, the analog signals received into data, by demodulation.

The fax block 3 comprises an application for executing a fax transmission protocol, in this instance the T30 protocol, and a memory for storing faxes.

The man/machine interface comprises an entry keyboard 8, a display screen 9 and a user interface block 10 which is intended to ensure the interface between the fax machine 15 and a user enabling the user to enter commands and receive visual information, via the display of pages on the screen 9.

The block 6 for connection to the Internet 100 comprises an application for connection to the Internet 100, enabling the fax machine 15 to execute a protocol for telephone connection to the server 20, so as to connect up to the Internet 100.

The electronic messaging block 7 comprises an electronic messaging application and a memory for storing electronic messages. The electronic messaging application makes it possible to prepare, to despatch and to download electronic messages.

It is recalled here that an electronic message comprises a header, a message payload and optionally an attachment containing at least one data file. The header of the message comprises an origin field, containing the computer sending messaging address of the message, a destination field, containing the computer reception messaging address of the message, a subject field, which

7 can contain any information, for example the subject of the message, and an attachment descriptor field, containing, as the case may be an indication specifying the format(s) of the data contained in the attachment.

An electronic message, addressed to the fax machine 15 and transmitted across the Internet 100, is firstly received by the m essaging server 21 which stores it temporarily in the mailbox 22, until the fax machine 15 connects up to the Internet 100, by way of the access provider server 20 opens a communication session with the messaging server 21 and downloads the message.

To despatch a message across the Internet 100, the fax machine 15 connects up to the Internet 100 by way of the access provider server 20, opens a communication session with the messaging server 21 and transmits the message to it. The messaging server 21 is then responsible for dispatching the message received, across the Internet 100.

The fax machine 15 also comprises various applications, represented overall by the block 11, enabling it to read data of various formats. Through its various applications, the fax machine 15 has its own capabilities for reading data, defined by the data formats which it can read, that is to say utilize.

The fax machine 15 furthermore comprises a block 12 for detecting unreadable data and a block 13 for acquiring a translation of unreadable data.

The detection block 12, linked to the messaging block 7, is intended for reading the content of each electronic 8 message's attachment descriptor field downloaded to the fax machine 15, and for determining whether the data of the relevant attachment are readable or unreadable, given the reading capabilities of the fax machine 15.

The acquisition block 13 is intended for acquiring a translation of the unreadable data, which translation is supplied by a computer translation server 30, as will be explained hereinbelow, in the description of the downloading process.

The fax machine 15 furthermore comprises a central control block 14, to which all the elements described hereinabove are linked, and which is intended for controlling the operation of the fax machine 15.

The translation server 30 comprises a block 31 for linking to the Internet 100, an interface block 32 for communication with client terminals, a block 33 for receiving unreadable data to be translated, a translation block 36 and a block 40 for despatching the translations. The reception block 33 is linked to a mailbox 34 for storing unreadable data to be translated. Furthermore, the translation block 36 is linked to a plurality of local mailboxes 39, for storing translations and to a memory 35 for storing a lookup table of correspondences. The mailbox 34 and the mailboxes 39 each have a computer messaging address.

The server 30 is connected to the Internet 100, permanently, by way of the linking block 31.

9 The communication interface block 32, linked to the linking block 31 and to the translation block 36, is intended for ensuring a communication interface between the server 30 and each client terminal requesting a translation. The interface block 32 is in particular intended for receiving requests to translate unreadable data, sent by communication terminals, and for addressing translation acceptance or refusal notifications to these terminals.

The reception block 33, linked to the linking block 31, is intended for receiving electronic messages, containing, as an attachment, unreadable data to be translated and, in the subject field, a translation reference sent by client terminals, and for storing these messages in the mailbox 34.

The translation block 36 is linked to the mailboxes 34 and 39 and to the memory 35 for storing the lookup table.

It comprises a module 37 for determining translation formats and a translation module 38, with specific translation capabilities.

The translation module 38 is intended for translating unreadable data received, sent by a requesting terminal, to the extent of its translation capabilities.

The module 37 is intended for determining whether the translation module 38 can translate unreadable data received, and, if such is the case, for determining a translation format, utilizable by the requesting terminal, for allocating a translation reference and for recording, in the table 35, the translation reference allocated, the format of the unreadable data, the translation format of these data and the computer messaging address of a remote mailbox of the requesting terminal.

The lookup table 35 is intended for containing,f or each translation of unreadable data which is requested by a client terminal and can be executed by the server 30, the reference of this translation, the format of the unreadable data, the translation format of these data, the computer messaging address of a remote mailbox of the client terminal and, optionally, the computer address of a local mailbox 39 for storing the translation.

The dispatching block 40, linked to the translation is block 36, to the memory 35 for storing the lookup table and to the local mailboxes 39, is intended for dispatching the translation of unreadable data received to the terminal having requested this translation, according to various modes of dispatch, as is explained hereinbelow.

Finally, the translation server 30 comprises a central control block, not represented, to which all the elements described hereinabove are linked and which is intended for controlling the operation of the server 30.

The process for downloading, to the fax machine 15, an electronic message, stored in the messaging server 21, to the mailbox 22 of the fax machine 15, will now be explained. The relevant message comprises an attachment 30 containing data unreadable by the fax machine 15.

To retrieve the message stored in the mailbox 22, under the control of a user, the fax machine 15 connects 11 up to the Internet 100, by telephone connection to the access provider server 20.

After connection, under the control of the user, the fax machine 15 opens a communication session with the messaging server 21, in the course of which the fax machine 15 transmits, to the server 21, identification data with the aid of which the server 21 checks the identity of the fax machine 15. After identification, the fax machine 15 addresses to the server 21 a request for downloading the content of the mailbox 22 and the server 21 transmits the relevant message to the fax machine 15 across the telephone network 101. The message thus downloaded into the fax machine 15 is stored in the memory of the electronic messaging block 7.

The detection block 12 automatically reads the content of the attachment descriptor field of the message received and detects that the data contained in the attachment are unreadable, given the reading capabilities of the fax machine 15. Under the control of the block 13 for acquiring a translation, the fax machine 15 then opens another communication session with the translation server 30, automatically. It will be stressed here that the fax machine 15 opens a first communication session with the messaging server 21 and then a second communication session with the translation server 30, in the course of the same connection to the Internet 100.

In the course of the communication session between the fax machine 15 and the translation server 30, the fax machine 15 addresses a translation request to the translation server 30, this request containing the format 12 of the unreadable data, the data-reading capabilities of the fax machine 15 and the computer messaging address of the mailbox 22 of the fax machine 15, to which mailbox the server will be able, as the case may be, to transmit the translation of the unreadable data, as will be explained below.

In the server 30, the communication interface block 32 receives the translation request and supplies it to the translation block 36. The module 37 determines whether the translation module 38 is capable of translating the unreadable data into a format utilizable by the fax machine 15, given its translation capabilities, the format of the unreadable data and the reading capabilities of the is fax machine 15. If such is the case, the module 37 chooses a translation format for the relevant unreadable data, allocates a reference to this translation, then records the translation reference, the format of the unreadable data, the translation format and the computer address of the mailbox 22, extracted from the translation request, in the table 35.

Then, under the control of the block 37, the communication interface block 32 transmits to the fax machine 15 a translation acceptance notification containing the indication according to which the translation request is accepted, the computer messaging address of the mailbox 34, to which to dispatch the unreadable data, as well as the translation reference allocated.

After receipt of the translation acceptance notification, under the control of the acquisition block 13, automatically, the messaging block 7 prepares an electronic message containing, in the origin f ield, the computer messaging address of the fax machine 15, in the destination field, the computer address of the mailbox 34, in the subject field, the translation reference obtained, and as an attachment, the unreadable data. Then, under the control of the messaging block 7, the fax machine 15 dispatches the electronic message to the server 30.

In the translation server 30, the reception block 33 receives the message and stores it in the mailbox 34. The translation module 38 extracts the unreadable data and the translation reference from the message stored in the mailbox 34, searches through the table 35, with the aid of the translation reference, for the format of the unreadable data and the translation format of these data, translates the unreadable data and provides the dispatch block 40 with the translation and its reference.

After having transmitted the unreadable data to the translation server 30, the fax machine 15 can interrupt or maintain the current communication session with the server 30. Both cases will now be explained.

1) Maintaining the communication session between the fax machine and the translation server Should the communication session between the server 30 and the fax machine 15 be maintained, the dispatch module 40 transmits the translation of the unreadable data to the fax machine 15, in the course of this communication session. Stated otherwise, the fax machine 15 transmits the unreadable data to the translation server 30 and 14 receives the translation from it, in the course of the same communication session with the translation server 30.

2) Interrupting the communication session between the fax 5 machine and the translation server In this case, after interruption of the communication session between the fax machine 15 and the server 30, the dispatch module 40 prepares an electronic message containing, as an attachment, the translation of the unreadable data and, in the subject field, the translation reference, temporarily stores this message in one of the local mailboxes 39 and records the computer address of this mailbox 39, in the table 35, associating it with the is reference of the relevant translation.

After interruption of the communication session between the fax machine 15 and the server 30, the fax machine 15 can either remain connected to the Internet 100, or disconnect from the Internet 100.

2.1 Maintaining the connection of the fax machine to the Internet In the case where the fax machine 15 remains connected to the Internet 100, it subsequently opens a new communication session with the translation server 30, after interruption of the previous session. During this subsequent communication session, the fax machine 15 addresses to the server 30 a request to download the translation of the unreadable data, containing the reference of the translation requested. The dispatch module 40 extracts from the download request received the translation reference, with the aid of which it searches for the address of the mailbox 39, for storing the translation requested, in the table 35, with the aid of the translation reference, then extracts from this mailbox 39 the electronic message, containing the translation of the unreadable data, and transmits it to the fax machine 15, in the course of this subsequent communication session between the translation server 30 and the fax machine 15.

2.2 Interrupting the connection of the fax machine to the Internet In the case where the fax machine 15 disconnects from the Internet 100, it connects up to it again subsequently is and opens a new communication session with the server 30. In the course of this subsequent connection and this subsequent communication session, the fax machine 15 addresses to the server 30 a request to download the translation of the unreadable data, containing the reference of the translation requested. As explained in case 2.1), the server 30 extracts the electronic message containing the requested translation from its local storage mailbox 39 and transmits it to the fax machine 15, in the course of this subsequent connection.

Moreover, the dispatch block 40 regularly evaluates the duration for which the translation has been stored in the local mailbox 39. If on the expiry of a determined duration of storage of the translation in the local mailbox 39, the fax machine 15 has still not requested its downloading, the dispatch module 40 extracts the translation reference from the subject field of the electronic message stored in the local mailbox 39,

16 searches through the table 35, with the aid of this reference, for the computer messaging address of the mailbox 22 of the fax machine 15, and dispatches the electronic message containing the translation to the computer messaging address of the mailbox 22. The electronic message is received by the messaging server 21 and temporarily stored in the mailbox 22, until it is downloaded to the fax machine 15, during a communication session between the fax machine 15 and the messaging server 21.

It will be stressed that in cases 1) and 2.1), the translation server 30 receives the unreadable data and transmits their translation to the fax machine 15 in the course of the same connection of the fax machine 15 to the Internet 100, whereas, in case 2.2), the translation server 30 receives the unreadable data and transmits their translation to the fax machine 15 in the course respectively of two successive connections of the fax 20 machine 15 to the Internet 100.

In case 1), in order to transmit the translation to the fax machine 15, the translation server can attach this translation to a message, as an attachment, and temporarily place this message in one of the local mailboxes 39 until it is downloaded to the fax machine 1S, as explained in case 2).

If the translation capabilities of the server 30 do not enable it to perform the translation requested, under the control of the translation block 36, the communication interface block 32 addresses a translation refusal notification to the fax machine. In this case, the fax 17 machine 1S does not transmit the unreadable data to the server 30.

One could also envisage the fax machine transmitting the unreadable data forthwith together with the translation request, rather than after receipt of a translation acceptance notification.

Moreover, the translation server could comprise a client database containing the reading capabilities of a plurality of client terminals, these capabilities being associated with the identification data of these terminals. In this case, there would be no need to transmit the reading capabilities of these terminals in the translation requests sent by them. Should there be a change in the reading capabilities of a terminal, the latter would notify this to the translation server so as to update the client database.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so is disclosed.

Claims

1. Process for downloading to a communication terminal of a computer network, an electronic message stored in a computer messaging server, the said message containing data unreadable by the terminal, in which process - the terminal connects up to the computer network, opens a communication session with the messaging server, downloads the message and detects therein the said unreadable data; - in the course of the same connection to the computer network, the terminal opens another communication session with a computer translation server and transmits the unreadable data to the said server; - the translation server translates the unreadable data, temporarily stores their translation in a local mailbox and then transmits the translation to the terminal.

2. Process according to Claim 1, in which, on the expiry of a determined duration of storage of the translation of the unreadable data in the translation server, the latter transmits the translation to a mailbox of the terminal, which mailbox is managed by a messaging server.

3. Process according to one of Claims 1 and 2, in which the translation server transmits the translation of the unreadable data in the course of the same connection of the terminal to the computer network.

4. Process according to Claim 3, in which the translation server transmits the translation of the unreadable data in the course of the same communication session.

5. Process according to Claim 3, in which the translation server transmits the translation of the unreadable data in the course of a subsequent communication session between the translation server is and the terminal after interruption of the previous session.

6. Process according to one of Claims 1 and 2, in which the translation server transmits the translation of the unreadable data in the course of a subsequent connection of the terminal to the computer network.

7. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 6, in which, the terminal having specific reading capabilities, in the course of the first communication session between the terminal and the translation server, the terminal transmits the said capabilities to the translation server.

8. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 7, in which during the first communication session between the terminal and the translation server, the 21 translation server notifies the terminal of a computer address to which to dispatch the unreadable data.

9. Process for downloading to a communication terminal of a computer network, an electronic message stored in a computer messaging server, the said message containing data unreadable by the terminal, which process is substantially as described herein.