JP2000181820A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile equipment by which data is transferred in an electronic mail(E-mail) form to/from an information processing terminal such as a computer connected through a telephone line and a portable telephone set. SOLUTION: This facsimile equipment 1 executes normal facsimile communication by using a facsimile communication control part 7 and a modem 9, executes E-mail communication by using an E-mail communication control part 8 and the model 9 and stores received facsimile data and E-mail data in a storing part 3. In the case E-mail data where a transmission opposite party is designed is received by the E-mail, a system control part 2 converts E-mail data into facsimile data by a font developing part 6, transmits it to the designed facsimile, converts facsimile data which is stored in the storing part 3 into the display possible one by the information processing terminal or converts it into character data by an OCR analyzing part 5 when a data take-out request comes from the information processing terminal by the E-mail and, then, the E-mail is transmitted to the information processing terminal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to exchange data in an e-mail format with an information processing terminal such as a computer or a portable telephone connected to the facsimile apparatus via a telephone line. And a facsimile machine capable of performing such operations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus has a reading section for reading an image of a document, a transmitting / receiving section for facsimile communication of a facsimile control signal and image data with a partner facsimile apparatus, and records and outputs received image data on recording paper. A recording unit and an operation unit for performing various operations are provided.
It functions as one independent device.

On the other hand, with the recent development of networks, mail receiving means for receiving electronic mail from a computer communication network, clock means for measuring time, and setting means for setting time or time intervals There has been proposed a communication terminal device comprising: a control unit for activating the mail receiving unit at a time or a time interval set by the setting unit based on the time measurement by the clock unit (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 9-163556). 10-75260). That is, the purpose of this communication terminal device is to automatically receive an e-mail from the computer communication network at a preset time or time interval.

Conventionally, in a communication terminal device capable of performing e-mail communication with a computer communication network, a line between a first storage means for storing identification information of a plurality of users and a server which is a recipient of the e-mail is provided. There has been proposed a communication terminal device having mail receiving means for sequentially receiving electronic mails corresponding to the respective identification information stored in the first storage means in a connected state (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-1078).
No. 37). That is, the purpose of this communication terminal device is to automatically and sequentially receive e-mails addressed to a plurality of users in a state where a line with a server to which e-mail is received is connected.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional communication terminal device, it is possible to automatically receive an electronic mail using the communication terminal device, but it is difficult to handle a facsimile document. There was a problem that it was not possible and the usability was poor.

[0006] That is, in recent years, with the spread of information processing terminals, the portability of information processing terminals has been improved, and in the case of a company employee or the like, not only in the company but also outside the company,
E-mail can be easily exchanged using a wireless or wired telephone line, but data exchange between companies is still often performed by facsimile today, and for such facsimile documents, Since the above-mentioned conventional communication terminal device cannot send and receive using electronic mail, the facsimile document received by the facsimile device cannot be viewed, and there is a problem that the usability of the facsimile device is poor.

Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 is an electronic mail communication means for transmitting and receiving an electronic mail to and from a predetermined information processing terminal connected by dial-up using a communication line. Upon receiving the designated data, the received data is converted into facsimile-format image data and then transmitted by facsimile to the designated facsimile apparatus, thereby providing a portable telephone or a PHS (Personal Handy Phone System).
Facsimile transmission of data transmitted from an information processing terminal capable of using e-mail to a designated facsimile machine to improve the usability of the data using e-mail, thereby facilitating easy-to-use facsimile. It is intended to provide a device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an e-mail communication means for transmitting / receiving an e-mail to / from an information processing terminal connected by dial-up using a communication line. An information processing terminal capable of using an e-mail from outside by transmitting the data stored in the data storage means for storing the image data received by facsimile or the data received by e-mail to the information processing terminal by e-mail It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which can extract facsimile data and e-mail data by using the same, further improve the usability of the data, and further improve the usability.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when a data extraction request is received from an information processing terminal by e-mail, the image data in facsimile format is converted into a data format that can be displayed on the information processing terminal, and then transmitted by e-mail. By using the information processing terminal that can use e-mail from outside the office, facsimile data can be retrieved and displayed on the information processing terminal as it is, so that the data contents can be confirmed, further improving the usability of the data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile machine with improved operability.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when a data extraction request is received by e-mail from an information processing terminal, image data is converted into character data and then transmitted by e-mail, so that only character data can be handled. Even in the case of an information processing terminal, data retrieved from a facsimile device using an information processing terminal capable of using e-mail from a destination is displayed on the information processing terminal, transferred to another information processing terminal, or It is another object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus in which the character data can be edited and further transmitted so as to further improve the usability of the data and further improve the usability.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving image data according to a predetermined facsimile communication procedure via a communication line, wherein the facsimile apparatus is connected by dial-up using the communication line. E-mail communication means for transmitting / receiving e-mail to / from a predetermined information processing terminal, image data conversion means for converting e-mail data into image data in facsimile format, and e-mail from the information processing terminal by the e-mail communication means. Control means for receiving the data specifying the transmission destination by facsimile, converting the received data into image data in a facsimile format by the image data conversion means, and then transmitting the facsimile to the specified facsimile apparatus. Thereby, the above object is achieved.

[0012] According to the above configuration, the e-mail communication means for transmitting / receiving an e-mail to / from a predetermined information processing terminal connected by dial-up using a communication line transmits data designating an e-mail transmission destination from the information processing terminal. Upon receipt, the received data is converted into facsimile-format image data and then transmitted by facsimile to the designated facsimile apparatus.
(Personal Handy Phone System) Data sent from an information processing terminal that can use e-mail, such as e-mail, can be facsimile-transmitted to a specified facsimile machine, improving the usability of data using e-mail. Thus, the usability of the facsimile apparatus can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving image data according to a predetermined facsimile communication procedure via a communication line.
E-mail communication means for transmitting / receiving e-mail to / from an information processing terminal connected by dial-up using the communication line, data storage means for storing facsimile-received image data or e-mail-received data, and the e-mail communication means Control means for transmitting the data stored in the data storage means to the information processing terminal by e-mail when receiving a data extraction request by e-mail from the information processing terminal. Have achieved.

According to the above arrangement, the e-mail communication means for transmitting / receiving an e-mail to / from the information processing terminal connected by dial-up using the communication line, receives a data fetch request from the information processing terminal by facsimile, and Since the data stored in the data storage means for storing the received image data or the data received by e-mail is transmitted by e-mail to the information processing terminal,
Facsimile data and e-mail data can be retrieved using an information processing terminal that can use e-mail from outside the office, further improving the usability of data and improving the usability of facsimile machines. It can be further improved.

In each of the above cases, for example, as set forth in claim 3, the facsimile apparatus further comprises a data format conversion means for converting facsimile format image data into a data format that can be displayed on the information processing terminal. ,
The control unit, after converting the image data stored in the data storage unit into a data format that can be displayed on the information processing terminal by the data format conversion unit,
It may be transmitted by e-mail.

According to the above configuration, when a data extraction request is received from the information processing terminal by e-mail, the image data in facsimile format is converted into a data format that can be displayed on the information processing terminal, and then transmitted by e-mail. Facsimile data can be retrieved using an information processing terminal that can use e-mail from whereabouts, and displayed as it is on the information processing terminal to check the contents of the data, further improving the usability of the data. Thus, the usability of the facsimile apparatus can be further improved.

Also, for example, as set forth in claim 4, the facsimile apparatus further comprises character data conversion means for converting image data into character data, and the control means is stored in the data storage means. The image data may be converted into character data by the character data conversion means, and then transmitted by e-mail.

According to the above configuration, when a data extraction request is received from the information processing terminal by e-mail, the image data is converted to character data and then transmitted by e-mail, so that the information processing terminal can handle only character data only. Even if the data is retrieved from the facsimile device using an information processing terminal that can use e-mail from a place where the user is outside, the data is displayed on the information processing terminal, transferred to another information processing terminal, or The data can be edited and further transmitted, so that the usability of the data can be further improved, and the usability of the facsimile apparatus can be further improved.

[0019]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and therefore, various technically preferable limitations are added. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following description. The embodiments are not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise specified.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a main circuit of a facsimile apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram.

In FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 2, a storage unit 3, an image data conversion unit 4, an OC
R (Optical Character Reader)
5, a font development unit 6, a facsimile communication control unit 7, an e-mail communication control unit 8, a modem 9, and the like.

A predetermined line L is connected to the modem 9.
The line L is connected to a direct telephone line in the case of a wired connection, and is connected to a telephone line wirelessly through a transmitting / receiving unit (not shown) in the case of a wireless connection. The modem 9 operates under the control of the facsimile communication control unit 7 and the e-mail communication control unit 8, modulates and demodulates transmission / reception signals, and communicates with other facsimile apparatuses and other information processing terminals.

The e-mail communication control unit 8 includes a protocol (SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) necessary for transmitting e-mail from another information processing terminal, for example, a personal computer, a mobile phone, or a PHS, and other information processing. It controls various protocols such as a protocol (POP: Post Office Protocol) necessary for receiving e-mail from the terminal and controls the modem 9.

The facsimile communication control section 7 performs automatic call origination / incoming call processing via the modem 9, exchanges facsimile control signals with the other party facsimile, executes a facsimile communication procedure, and controls the modem 9. Do.

Font expansion unit (image data conversion means) 6
Operates under the control of the control means 2 to expand the character information of the e-mail received via the modem 9 and the e-mail communication control unit 8 into a font, and to receive data in a data format that can be received by another facsimile machine, for example, MH (Modified Huffman),
MR (Modufied Relative element address designat
e) Alternatively, the image data is converted into image data (image data in a facsimile format) of a standard coding system for binary facsimile such as MMR (Modified MR).

OCR analysis unit (character data conversion means) 5
Operates under the control of the system control unit 2, performs OCR analysis on the binary image data received via the modem 9 and the facsimile communication control unit 7, and extracts character information.

Image data converter (data format converter)
Reference numeral 4 denotes a data format which operates under the control of the system control unit 2 and which can display image data of the standard coding method for binary facsimile received via the modem 9 and the facsimile communication control unit 7 on another information processing terminal. For example, BMP (Bitma
p), JPEG (Joint Photograhic Experts Group)
Alternatively, P which is a data format of a predetermined application
Convert to a data format such as CX.

Under the control of the system control unit 2, the storage unit (data storage means) 3 stores facsimile image data (hereinafter also referred to as facsimile data) and e-mail data (hereinafter also referred to as e-mail data). ) Is stored and held, and the stored data is read by the system control unit 2.

The system control unit (control means) 2 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Re
ad Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory)
The facsimile machine 1 controls each unit of the facsimile machine 1 based on a program in the ROM, executes basic control processing as the facsimile machine 1, and executes transmission / reception processing to be described later.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus 1 has a reading section for reading an image of a document, image data read by the reading section, received image data, and received e-mail data on a recording sheet. A recording unit for outputting, an operation display unit for performing various operations, and the like may be provided.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The facsimile apparatus 1 transmits and receives image data via the facsimile communication control unit 7 and the modem 9 and transmits and receives e-mail via the electronic mail communication control unit 8 and the modem 9 in the same manner as a normal facsimile apparatus. This is characterized in that the image data is converted into e-mail data, the e-mail data is converted into facsimile image data, and facsimile communication and e-mail communication are performed.

First, a process of receiving data by e-mail from another information processing terminal will be described with reference to FIG.

In the facsimile apparatus 1, when the electronic mail communication control unit 8 receives a notification of an incoming call from another information processing terminal during standby, the system control unit 2 controls the electronic mail communication control as shown in FIG. The control unit 8 controls the communication unit 8 to start e-mail communication with the called information processing terminal via the modem 9 and the e-mail communication control unit 8 (step S10).
1), receive data by e-mail transmitted from the information processing terminal (step S102).

When receiving the e-mail data from the information processing terminal, the system control unit 2 stores the received e-mail data in the storage unit 3, and receives the e-mail and stores the e-mail data in the storage unit 3. Upon completion, the receiving process by the e-mail is terminated (step S10).
3).

At this time, as described later, when there is a request to send the e-mail data to the designated destination, the system control unit 2 stores the designated destination information in the internal RAM or the like.

Next, a facsimile transmission process for facsimile transmitting data from an information processing terminal to a destination specified by an electronic mail will be described with reference to FIG.

That is, the facsimile apparatus 1 receives a facsimile transmission request for data specifying a destination by e-mail from the information processing terminal, and facsimile-transmits the image data to the destination specified by the e-mail.

The destination of data transmission by e-mail can be specified by various methods.
A method of adding the facsimile telephone number of the transmission destination to a dedicated header part of the e-mail, a method of embedding it in the body part, or the like can be used.

When the system control unit 2 receives an e-mail specifying a transmission destination via the modem 9 and the e-mail communication control unit 8, the system control unit 2 stores the received e-mail data in the storage unit 3 as described above, The transmission destination information is acquired from the e-mail, temporarily stored in a RAM or the like in the system control unit 2, and the reception of the e-mail is terminated.

Next, as described above, the system control unit 2 receives the e-mail specifying the transmission destination, and when the reception of the e-mail is completed, as shown in FIG. 3, the facsimile communication control unit 7 To make a call to the temporarily stored facsimile apparatus designated by the information processing terminal via the modem 9 (step S201).

When the called party receives a call, the system control unit 2
Reads out the data stored in the storage unit 3 and determines that the data is electronic mail data.
To convert the electronic mail data into facsimile image data (step S201). That is, under the control of the system control unit 2, the font developing unit 6 develops the font of the e-mail data and converts the e-mail data into image data in a facsimile format.

The system controller 2 facsimile-transmits the converted image data to the facsimile machine via the facsimile communication controller 7 and the modem 9, and terminates the processing (step S203).

If the data stored in the storage unit 3 is facsimile-format image data in step S202, the system control unit 2 transmits the facsimile data without converting the data into image data.

That is, when the system control unit 2 receives the data by e-mail and includes a facsimile transmission request specifying the transmission destination, the system control unit 2 transmits the received e-mail data to the font development unit 6 in the facsimile format. After conversion into image data, the image data may be stored in the storage unit 3. As described above, when the image data in the facsimile format is stored in the storage unit 3, the system control unit 2 transmits the facsimile data without performing the conversion process of the data to the image data as described above. I do.

Next, a facsimile reception process for receiving facsimile image data from another facsimile apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the system control unit 2
When the facsimile communication control unit 7 receives a call notification from another facsimile apparatus during standby, the control unit 7 controls the facsimile communication control unit 7 to receive the call via the modem 9 and the facsimile communication control unit 7. Facsimile reception from the apparatus is started, and image data transmitted from the other party facsimile apparatus is received (step S30).
1).

When receiving the image data from the facsimile machine, the system control unit 2 sequentially stores the received image data in the storage unit 3, and completes the reception of the image data and the storage of the image data in the storage unit 3. Then, the facsimile reception process ends (step S302).

When transmitting the received image data by e-mail, the system control unit 2 causes the image data conversion unit 4 to convert the received image data into data that can be displayed on the information processing terminal. Alternatively, the data may be converted into character data by the OCR analysis unit 5 and then stored in the storage unit 3.

Next, an e-mail transmission process for transmitting data by e-mail in response to a data extraction request by e-mail from the information processing terminal will be described with reference to FIG.

During standby, as shown in FIG. 5, when the system controller 2 receives a notification of an incoming call from the information processing terminal from the electronic mail communication controller 8, the system controller 2 controls the electronic mail communication controller 8, An e-mail communication is started between the modem 9 and the information processing terminal that has received the call via the e-mail communication control unit 8 (step S401).

When the electronic mail has a data take-out request, for example, a read request for the electronic mail by the POP protocol, the system control unit 2 transmits the facsimile-format image data stored in the storage unit 3 to the receiving terminal. The image data conversion unit 4 converts the data into a data format that can be processed by an information processing terminal, in particular, display processing (step S40).
2).

In this case, information necessary for the protocol to specify the destination for which the data extraction request is approved, for example,
The user name and password are stored in advance in R
When the system control unit 2 confirms the user and the password using an e-mail protocol, the system control unit 2 accepts the data extraction request.

In the data format conversion, if the data stored in the storage unit 3 is facsimile format image data, the system control unit 2 controls the image data conversion unit 4 to convert the data in advance. The image data conversion unit 4 converts the data into a data format registered for the information processing terminal that has issued the extraction request, for example, an image data format such as BMP or JPEG. In the conversion into a data format that can be processed by the information processing terminal, the data format to be converted is not limited to the one registered for each information processing terminal. The data format to be converted may be appropriately changed and operated by an operation unit (not shown) or the like. If the data stored in the storage unit 3 is already in a data format that can be processed by the information processing terminal, the system control unit 2 omits the data format conversion process.

Next, the system control section 2 transmits the converted image data to the partner information processing terminal via the electronic mail communication control section 8 and the modem 9 by electronic mail, and ends the processing (step S403). . In this case, the system control unit 2 converts the image data into, for example, a MIME (Multipur
pose Iternet Mail Extensions) attached to an e-mail and sent to the information processing terminal.

Next, an e-mail transmission process for converting data into character data and transmitting the e-mail in response to a data extraction request by an e-mail from the information processing terminal will be described with reference to FIG.

During standby, as shown in FIG. 6, when the electronic mail communication control unit 8 receives a notification of an incoming call from the information processing terminal, the system control unit 2 controls the electronic mail communication control unit 8, An e-mail communication is started with the called information processing terminal via the modem 9 and the e-mail communication control unit 8 (step S501).

If the electronic mail is a data fetch request, the system control unit 2 converts the facsimile image data stored in the storage unit 3 into character data (step S502).

In this case, the information for specifying the destination for which the data extraction request is approved, for example, the user name and the password are stored in the RAM of the system control unit 2 in advance as described above.
When the system control unit 2 confirms the user and the password using an e-mail protocol, the system control unit 2 accepts a request for extracting the data.

If the data stored in the storage unit 3 is facsimile-format image data, the system control unit 2 causes the OCR analysis unit 5 to recognize the facsimile-format image data as characters, and converts the data into character data. Let it be converted. The system control unit 2 may control the OCR analysis unit 5 immediately after receiving the image data by facsimile, convert the image data into character data, and store the converted character data in the storage unit 3 as character data. When the data is stored as character data in the storage unit 3 as described above, the character data is transmitted to the information processing terminal as it is when there is a request for extracting the data.

Next, the system control unit 2 transmits the converted character data to the partner information processing terminal by electronic mail via the electronic mail communication control unit 8 and the modem 9,
The process ends (step S503).

As described above, the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present embodiment uses the e-mail communication control unit 8 for transmitting / receiving e-mail to / from the information processing terminal connected by dial-up using the line L. When the data which specifies the transmission destination is received, the received data is converted into image data in the facsimile format by the font developing unit 6 and then transmitted to the specified facsimile apparatus by facsimile.

Therefore, data transmitted from an information processing terminal such as a personal computer, a portable telephone, or a PHS that can use electronic mail can be transmitted by facsimile to a designated facsimile apparatus. The usability of the data can be improved, and the usability of the facsimile apparatus 1 can be improved.

When the facsimile apparatus 1 receives a data extraction request by e-mail from the information processing terminal at the e-mail communication control section 8, the data stored in the storage section 3 is transmitted to the information processing terminal by e-mail. Sending in.

Therefore, facsimile data and e-mail data can be taken out using an information processing terminal capable of using e-mail from outside the office.
The usability of the data can be further improved, and the usability of the facsimile apparatus 1 can be further improved.

Further, when the facsimile apparatus 1 receives a data extraction request by e-mail from the information processing terminal, the facsimile apparatus 1 converts the facsimile image data into a data format that can be displayed on the information processing terminal by the image data converter 4. , Sent by e-mail.

Therefore, facsimile data can be retrieved from an out-of-home location using an information processing terminal capable of using e-mail, displayed on the information processing terminal as it is, and the contents of the data can be confirmed. By further improving the usability of the facsimile apparatus, it is possible to further improve the usability.

When the facsimile apparatus 1 receives a data extraction request by electronic mail from the information processing terminal, the facsimile apparatus 1 converts the image data into character data by the OCR analysis unit 5, and then transmits the data by electronic mail.

Therefore, even if the information processing terminal can only handle character data such as a mobile phone or a PHS, the data extracted from the facsimile apparatus 1 by using an information processing terminal that can use e-mail from outside the home can be used as information. The character data can be displayed on a processing terminal, transferred to another information processing terminal, or edited and further transmitted so that the facsimile apparatus 1 can further improve the usability of the data. Can be further improved.

Although the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

[0070]

According to the facsimile apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, electronic mail communication means for transmitting / receiving an electronic mail to / from a predetermined information processing terminal connected by dial-up using a communication line. When receiving data that specifies a destination by e-mail, the received data is converted into facsimile-format image data and then transmitted by facsimile to a specified facsimile machine, so that a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handy Phone System), etc. Facsimile transmission of data sent from an e-mail-enabled information processing terminal to a designated facsimile machine, improving the usability of data using e-mail, and using the facsimile machine Performance can be improved.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the e-mail communication means for transmitting / receiving an e-mail to / from an information processing terminal connected by dial-up using a communication line. Upon receipt of the retrieval request, the data stored in the data storage means for storing the image data received by facsimile or the data received by e-mail is transmitted to the information processing terminal by e-mail, so that e-mail can be used from outside the office By using a simple information processing terminal, facsimile data and e-mail data can be extracted, and the usability of data can be further improved, and the usability of the facsimile apparatus can be further improved.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the third aspect of the invention, upon receiving a data extraction request by e-mail from the information processing terminal, the facsimile-format image data is converted into a data format that can be displayed on the information processing terminal. Since the data is sent by e-mail, the user can retrieve the facsimile data using an information processing terminal capable of using e-mail from a destination and display the data as it is on the information processing terminal, thereby confirming the content of the data. The usability can be further improved, and the usability of the facsimile apparatus can be further improved.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, when a data extraction request is received from the information processing terminal by e-mail, the image data is converted into character data and then transmitted by e-mail. Even if it is an information processing terminal that can only handle information, the data retrieved from the facsimile device can be displayed on the information processing terminal using an information processing terminal that can use e-mail from whereabouts, or transferred to another information processing terminal Alternatively, the character data can be further edited and transmitted so that the data can be further used and the use of the facsimile apparatus can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part circuit block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of receiving data by e-mail from an information processing terminal by the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a facsimile transmission process of data to a destination designated by electronic mail by the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a facsimile receiving process by the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows an e-mail transmission process in which the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 1 converts data into a data format displayable by the information processing terminal and transmits the e-mail in response to a data extraction request from the information processing terminal by e-mail. The flowchart shown.

6 is a flowchart showing an e-mail transmission process in which the facsimile machine of FIG. 1 converts data into a character data format and transmits the e-mail in response to a data extraction request from the information processing terminal via the e-mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 System control part 3 Storage part 4 Image data conversion part 5 OCR 6 Font development part 7 Facsimile communication control part 8 E-mail communication control part 9 Modem

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 5B089 GA23 GA26 GB03 HA02 JA05 JA31 JB01 JB03 KA09 KE02 KE03 KF05 KG01 KG08 KH03 KH12 KH13 LA03 LA08 LB08 LB25 5C062 AA02 AB38 AB42 AC28 AC35 AC38 AC43 AF02 BA04 KK09 NN101K02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving image data according to a predetermined facsimile communication procedure via a communication line, wherein e-mail communication for transmitting and receiving e-mail to and from a predetermined information processing terminal connected by dial-up using the communication line. Means, image data conversion means for converting the data of the e-mail to image data in facsimile format, and when the e-mail communication means receives data specifying a destination by e-mail from the information processing terminal,
A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit that converts the received data into image data in a facsimile format by the image data conversion unit, and then transmits the facsimile to the designated facsimile apparatus. 2. A facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving image data according to a predetermined facsimile communication procedure via a communication line, comprising: an e-mail communication means for transmitting and receiving e-mail to and from an information processing terminal connected by dial-up using said communication line; A data storage unit for storing image data received by facsimile or data received by e-mail, and when the electronic mail communication unit receives a data extraction request from the information processing terminal by e-mail, the data is stored in the data storage unit. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit for transmitting the data to the information processing terminal by e-mail. 3. The facsimile apparatus further comprises data format conversion means for converting facsimile format image data into a data format that can be displayed on the information processing terminal, and wherein the control means is stored in the data storage means. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image data is converted into a data format that can be displayed on said information processing terminal by said data format conversion means, and then transmitted by e-mail. 4. The facsimile apparatus further comprises character data conversion means for converting image data into character data.
3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit converts the image data stored in the data storage unit into character data by the character data conversion unit, and then transmits the character data by e-mail. .