JP2001043153A - Image transmission system, image transmitting device, image receiving device and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To establish image transmission in the form of a data file formatted in a prescribed format form by transmitting electronic mail data with attached prescribed viewer software for reproducing an image from the image data file formatted in the prescribed format form. SOLUTION: This image transmission system performs image transmission through a computer network 4 between communication terminals such as FAX 1 and 2 or PC 3. The image data are made into TIFF file formatted in a TIFF form, attached to the electronic mail data as an attached file and transmitted. Thus, even when the side of reception does not have the viewer software for reproducing the image from the image data file, the image can be reproduced while using the viewer software to come while being attached to the electronic mail data together with the image data file.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image transmission system, an image transmission device, an image reception device, and a storage medium for transmitting an image via a computer network such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a facsimile apparatus for transmitting an image via a computer network such as the Internet, image data is converted into a TIFF (Tag Image File Format).
The TIFF file formatted in the format is attached to the e-mail data as an attached file and transmitted.

For this reason, on the receiving side, software for reproducing an image from a TIFF file, so-called TIF
It is necessary to have an F viewer.

If the same type of facsimile machine, TIF
It naturally has the F-viewer and can transmit images without any trouble.

Since the TIFF file is attached to the electronic mail data and transmitted as an attached file, it is possible to transmit not only a facsimile apparatus of the same type but also a personal computer.

[0006]

However, personal computers do not always have a TIFF viewer. When image transmission is performed using a personal computer having no TIFF viewer as a receiving side, images cannot be reproduced on the receiving side, and image transmission cannot be established.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to format a data in a predetermined format even if the receiving side does not have appropriate viewer software. It is an object of the present invention to realize image transmission in the form of a data file.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transmitting e-mail data having an image data file formatted in a predetermined format such as TIFF as an attached file. In an image transmitting apparatus for transmitting to an arbitrary communication terminal via a predetermined computer network, a predetermined viewer software such as a TIFF viewer for reproducing an image from an image data file formatted in the predetermined format is used. And a viewer transmitting means which is attached to the e-mail data and transmitted, for example, realized by software processing of a CPU.

[0009] By taking such measures, the image data file and the e-mail data to which the viewer software for reproducing the image from the image data file is attached are transmitted. Therefore,
Even if the receiving side does not have the viewer software for reproducing the image from the image data file, it is possible to reproduce the image using the incoming viewer software attached to the e-mail data together with the image data file. Become.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, a history creating means which is realized by software processing of a CPU, for example, wherein the viewer sending means creates a history of a partner who has transmitted the viewer software. With
Further, the viewer transmitting means does not transmit the viewer software to a partner indicated in the history created by the history creating means.

[0011] By taking such means, viewer software is not transmitted to the other party who has transmitted viewer software in the past. Therefore, the viewer software is not repeatedly transmitted to the same partner.

[0012] In a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, a reception realized by software processing of, for example, a CPU for receiving designation of an operating system used by a communication terminal to which the electronic mail data is transmitted. Means for transmitting viewer software adapted to the operating system indicated by the specification received by the receiving means.

By taking such means, only the viewer software required by the receiving communication terminal is selected from the plurality of viewer software and transmitted. Therefore, transmission of unnecessary information is prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transmitting e-mail data attached with an image data file formatted in a predetermined format such as TIFF as an attached file from an image transmitting apparatus. In an image transmission system for transmitting to an arbitrary image receiving device via a predetermined computer network,
In the image receiving device, when viewer software for reproducing an image from an image data file attached to the received e-mail data is not provided, for example, a viewer transmission request unit realized by software processing of a personal computer , Indicating the operating system used by itself, and requesting transmission of viewer software, for example, indicating the source of the e-mail, and specifying a predetermined address indicating the transmission request of the viewer software Alternatively, predetermined electronic mail data indicating predetermined request information for requesting transmission of viewer software is transmitted, and the image transmitting apparatus transmits predetermined electronic mail data requesting transmission of the viewer software. That you received Then, for example, the viewer transmitting means realized by the software processing of the CPU transmits the e-mail data to which the e-mail data is transmitted with the viewer software attached to the operating system indicated in the e-mail data. I decided to send it.

By taking such means, if the image receiving apparatus does not have the viewer software for reproducing the image from the received image data file, the e-mail data requesting the viewer software will The image data is transmitted to the transmission device, and in response, the image transmission device returns the e-mail data with the viewer software attached to the image reception device. Therefore, even if the image receiving device does not have viewer software for reproducing an image from an image data file,
It is possible to obtain appropriate viewer software from the image transmission device and reproduce an image using the viewer software.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the viewer transmitting means in the fourth aspect of the present invention indicates that the viewer transmitting means does not have viewer software compatible with the operating system indicated in the received e-mail data. The e-mail data is sent instead of the e-mail data attached with the viewer software.

By taking such means, even if transmission of the viewer software is requested from the image receiving apparatus, if the viewer does not have the viewer software compatible with the image receiving apparatus, the e-mail data is notified. Is notified from the image transmitting apparatus to the image receiving apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to make the image receiving apparatus recognize that the viewer software cannot be obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing an e-mail data attached with an image data file formatted in a predetermined format as an attached file via a predetermined computer network. Image transmitting means for transmitting the image data file formatted in the predetermined format to a communication terminal, and a viewer for transmitting the image data file formatted in the predetermined format from the attached file by attaching the viewer software to the e-mail data An operation program for causing the computer to perform an operation as each unit with the transmission unit is stored in the storage medium.

By taking such means, by operating based on the operation program stored in the storage medium, a general-purpose computer or the like operates as the image transmitting apparatus described in the first aspect. It will be.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a television receiver comprising the following functions: (1) when the viewer does not have viewer software for reproducing an image from an image data file attached to received e-mail data; An image data file formatted in a predetermined format for an arbitrary image receiving apparatus having a viewer transmission requesting means for transmitting predetermined e-mail data requesting transmission of viewer software Image transmission means for transmitting e-mail data attached as an attached file from an image transmission device to an arbitrary image reception device via a predetermined computer network, and a predetermined e-mail requesting transmission of the viewer software In response to receiving the data, the email And causing the computer to perform operations as viewer transmission means for transmitting e-mail data attached with viewer software adapted to the operating system indicated in the e-mail data to the data transmission source. The operation program was stored in the storage medium.

By taking such measures, a general-purpose computer or the like is used in the image transmission system according to the fourth aspect of the invention by operating based on the operation program stored in the storage medium. It will operate as an image transmitting device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in response to receiving predetermined electronic mail data requesting transmission of viewer software, the electronic mail data is transmitted to a source of the electronic mail data. An image data file formatted in a predetermined format is attached as an attached file from any image transmitting apparatus having a viewer transmitting unit that transmits electronic mail data attached with viewer software compatible with the operating system indicated in the mail data. Image receiving means for receiving the attached e-mail data via a predetermined computer network; and viewer software for reproducing an image from an image data file attached to the e-mail data received by the image receiving means. If you do not have one, Operating program for causing the computer to perform an operation as each means with the viewer transmission requesting means for transmitting predetermined e-mail data requesting transmission of the viewer software and indicating the operating system which is performing the transmission of the viewer software on the storage medium did.

By taking such means, a general-purpose computer or the like is used in the image transmission system according to the fourth aspect of the invention by operating based on the operation program stored in the storage medium. It will operate as an image receiving device.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an image transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This image transmission system is used for transmitting and receiving data between communication terminals such as facsimile machines (FAX) 1 and 2 and a personal computer (PC) 3 having a communication function.
Image transmission is performed via a computer network 4 including an AN and the Internet. The image data is converted into a TIFF file formatted in the TIFF format, attached to the e-mail data as an attached file, and transmitted through the computer network 4. Since the personal computer 3 has a well-known general configuration such as a general-purpose computer, detailed illustration and description of the configuration are omitted here.

The facsimile apparatus 1 has a CPU 11,
ROM 12, RAM 13, image memory 14, encoding / decoding unit 15, scanner 16, printer 17, modem 1
8, network control circuit (NCU) 19, telephone control unit 20, line signal detection unit 21, network interface 22,
It has an operation / display unit 23 and a character generator 24.

Then, CPU 11, ROM 12, RAM
13, image memory 14, encoding / decoding unit 15, scanner 16, printer 17, modem 18, NCU 19, line signal detection unit 21, network interface 22, operation / display unit 23, and character generator 24
They are connected to each other via a system bus 25. The NCU 19 includes a modem 18 and a telephone control unit 20.
Further, a line signal detection unit 21 is connected to the telephone control unit 20, respectively.

The CPU 11 realizes an operation as a facsimile apparatus by performing control processing for comprehensively controlling each unit based on a control program stored in the ROM 12.

The ROM 12 stores a control program for the CPU 11 and the like. The ROM 12 stores a TIFF viewer suitable for each of a plurality of types of operating systems.

The RAM 13 is used to store various information required for the CPU 11 to perform various processes.

The image memory 14 temporarily stores received image data and image data waiting to be transmitted.

The encoding / decoding unit 15 performs encoding processing for redundancy compression on image data and decodes image data that has been encoded for redundancy compression. is there.

The scanner 16 reads a transmission document and generates image data indicating the transmission document.

The printer 17 prints the image indicated by the image data on a recording sheet.

The modem 18 modulates image data to generate a facsimile transmission signal, or modulates a command given from the CPU 11 to generate a command transmission signal.
Send to TN subscriber line 5. Also, the modem 18
The facsimile transmission data arriving via the TN subscriber line 5 and given via the NCU 19 is demodulated to reproduce image data, or the command transmission signal is demodulated to reproduce a command.

The NCU 19 monitors the status of the connected PSTN subscriber line 5 and performs transmission processing to the network. The NCU 19 equalizes a facsimile transmission signal to be transmitted to the PSTN subscriber line 5 and sets a level.

An external telephone 6 is connected to the telephone control unit 20 as needed. Then, the telephone control unit 20 performs a well-known control process for enabling a telephone call via the PSTN subscriber line 5 using the connected external telephone 6.

The line signal detector 21 receives a signal arriving via the PSTN subscriber line 5 via the NCU 19 and the telephone controller 20, and detects the arrival of a predetermined signal.

The network interface 22 is an LA
Data is transmitted to and from a communication terminal such as the facsimile machine 2 or the personal computer 3 via a computer network 4 including N and the Internet.

The operation / display unit 23 is provided by a user CPU.
A key input unit for receiving various instruction inputs to the CPU 11 and various information to be notified to the user
It has a display unit and the like for displaying under the control of Eleven.

The character generator 24 generates a character pattern such as a character or a symbol under the instruction of the CPU 11.

The control means realized by the CPU 11 operating based on the control program stored in the ROM 12 includes, in addition to well-known general means in a facsimile apparatus, a history creating means, a receiving means, and a viewer. It has transmission means.

Here, the history creating means creates a history of the partner who transmitted the TIFF viewer by the viewer sending means.

The accepting means accepts designation of an operating system used by the communication terminal to which the e-mail data is transmitted.

The viewer transmitting means is designated to a partner who has not transmitted a TIFF viewer in the past in the history created by the history creating unit, in a state attached to an image data file to be transmitted to the partner. A TIFF viewer suitable for the operating system is transmitted.

Next, the operation of the image transmission system configured as described above will be described. In the present embodiment, only the image transmission processing of the facsimile apparatus 1 has a feature, so only this processing will be described.

For example, when execution of image transmission is requested by a predetermined instruction operation by the user on the operation / display unit 23,
The CPU 11 executes an image transmission process as shown in FIG.

In this image transmission processing, the CPU 11 first receives designation of a destination by the user, that is, designation of a destination telephone number, a destination mail address, and the like (step ST1).

Subsequently, the CPU 11 determines, for example, whether the specified telephone number is the destination telephone number or the destination mail address, and determines whether the image transmission to the specified destination is performed via the PSTN. It is determined whether or not it is (step ST2). And here, the image transmission is PST
If the process is performed via N, the process proceeds to an image transmission process (step ST3) according to a well-known general procedure according to, for example, the G3 procedure.

On the other hand, if image transmission is not performed via the PSTN, that is, if image transmission is performed via the computer network 4, the CPU 11
It is determined whether or not the TIFF viewer has been transmitted to the current transmission destination by checking whether or not the current transmission destination address is registered as a viewer transmission destination in the history information stored in M13. (Step ST4).

Here, if the transmission destination this time is a partner who has never transmitted the TIFF viewer, the CPU 11 accepts the designation of the operating system used by the transmission destination communication terminal (step ST5). This is for example
"Windows 3.X""Windows95""Windows
If a TIFF viewer suitable for each of the operating systems 98, Windows NT, UNIX, and Mac is stored, selection of any one of these operating systems is accepted.

Then, the CPU 11 specifies in step ST1 the electronic mail data to which the TIFF file indicating the image to be transmitted and the TIFF viewer suitable for the operating system specified in step ST5 are attached as attached files. The data is transmitted to the computer network 4 with the destination address as a destination (step ST6).

Subsequently, the CPU 11 sets the e-mail address of the current transmission destination to the RAM
13 in the history information stored in step 13 (step ST
7). With this, the CPU 11 ends the current image transmission processing.

By the way, the e-mail address of the party who transmitted the TIFF viewer in this way is registered as a viewer who has already transmitted the TIFF viewer.
If the other party to whom the F viewer has already been transmitted is designated as the destination, it can be determined that transmission has been completed in step ST4.

Therefore, in this case, the CPU 11 attaches only the TIFF file indicating the transmission image and converts the e-mail data without the TIFF viewer into
The transmission is sent to the computer network 4 with the transmission destination address specified in T1 as a destination (step ST8).
With this, the CPU 11 ends the current image transmission processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when image transmission is performed via the computer network 4, the electronic mail data is transmitted by attaching the TIFF viewer together with the TIFF file indicating the image. Therefore, on the receiving side, from the received TIFF file, the TIF
Images can be reproduced using the F viewer.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the history of the other party who has transmitted the TIFF viewer is kept, and the TIFF viewer is not transmitted to the other party who has already transmitted the TIFF viewer at the time of subsequent image transmission. There is no needless transmission.

According to the present embodiment, the designation of the operating system used by the destination communication terminal is accepted, and the TI
Since only the FF viewer is transmitted, the TIFF viewer required by the other party can be transmitted accurately without unnecessary increase in the amount of information to be transmitted.

(Second Embodiment) The hardware configuration of the image transmission system of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the processing means realized by the CPU 11 of the facsimile machine 1 by software processing and the processing means realized by the personal computer 3 by software processing.

That is, in the present embodiment, the personal computer 3 has viewer transmission request means as control means realized by software processing.
As a control unit realized by the PU 11 by software processing, in addition to a well-known general unit in a facsimile machine, a viewer transmission unit is provided.

Here, if the viewer transmission request means does not have viewer software for reproducing an image from the image data file attached to the received e-mail data, the viewer transmission request means transmits the e-mail data to the transmission source. A process of returning a predetermined e-mail for requesting transmission of viewer software is performed.

The viewer transmitting means performs a process of returning electronic mail data to which appropriate viewer software is attached, in response to receiving predetermined electronic mail data requesting transmission of the viewer software.

Next, the operation of the image transmission system configured as described above will be described.

In the present embodiment, when the facsimile apparatus 1 transmits an image via the computer network 4, unlike the first embodiment, the e-mail data to which only the TIFF file showing the image is attached as in the related art. To the computer network 4 with the specified destination address as the destination.

When the personal computer 3 finds that some e-mail data arrives via the computer network 4, the personal computer 3 executes a mail receiving process as shown in FIG.

In the mail receiving process, the personal computer 3 first receives incoming electronic mail data (step ST11).

Then, the personal computer 3 confirms whether or not a TIFF file is attached to the received e-mail data (step ST12).

Here, the electronic mail data is, for example, data transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 as described above,
If the TIFF file is attached, the personal computer 3 checks whether or not the personal computer 3 has a TIFF viewer corresponding to the TIFF file (step ST13).

If a TIF file corresponding to a TIFF file
If the user has the F viewer, the personal computer 3 reproduces an image from the received TIFF file using the TIFF viewer owned by the user (step ST14). The reproduced image is presented to the user by display display or printing.

On the other hand, a TIF file corresponding to a TIFF file
If the F-viewer does not have the viewer itself, the personal computer 3 sends the e-mail data (viewer) to the predetermined e-mail address for the viewer transmission request and the operating system used by the personal computer 3 in the header information. It creates transmission request e-mail data) and returns it to the source of the e-mail data received in step ST11 (step ST15).

The predetermined e-mail address for the viewer transmission request can be obtained, for example, by processing the source address indicated in the e-mail data received in step ST11. That is, the source address indicated in the e-mail data received in step ST11 is "FA
If it is X@xxx.yyy, it can be obtained by adding “TiffViewer” indicating that it is for a viewer transmission request immediately before ＠ to obtain “FAXTiffViewer@xxx.yyy”.

Thereafter, the personal computer 3 sets itself in a viewer waiting state (step ST16).
With this, the current mail receiving process ends.

On the other hand, in the facsimile machine 1,
When the PU 11 finds that some e-mail data has arrived via the computer network 4, the PU 11
The mail receiving process as shown in FIG. 4 is executed.

In the mail receiving process, the CPU 11 first receives the incoming electronic mail data (step ST31).

Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the destination address of the received e-mail data is for the viewer transmission request as described above (step ST32).

Here, if the destination address is not for a viewer transmission request, the CPU 11 shifts to a normal post-mail reception process (step ST33) according to a well-known general procedure.

On the other hand, when an image is transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 to the personal computer 3,
If e-mail data for a viewer transmission request has been sent as described above, the destination address is for the viewer transmission request. So in this case the CPU
11 recognizes the header information and determines the source of the e-mail data received this time, that is, the operating system used by the party who has requested transmission of the TIFF viewer (step ST34).

Subsequently, the CPU 11 determines a TI suitable for the operating system of the partner used as determined above.
It is confirmed whether or not the user has the FF viewer (step ST35). If the user has the corresponding TIFF viewer, the CPU 11 sends the e-mail data with the TIFF viewer attached as an attached file.
The e-mail data received in step ST31 is returned to the transmission source (step ST36). When the return of the e-mail data is completed, the CPU 11 ends the current e-mail receiving process.

If the user does not have a TIFF viewer compatible with the operating system of the other party, the TIFF viewer cannot be transmitted in response to the request, and the CPU 11 informs the user that there is no corresponding TIFF viewer. It creates the indicated e-mail data and returns it to the source of the e-mail data received in step ST31 (step ST37). When the return of the e-mail data is completed, the CPU 11 ends the current e-mail receiving process.

When the personal computer 3 recognizes the arrival of the return e-mail data for the viewer transmission request e-mail data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus 1 as described above, as shown in FIG. Perform e-mail reception processing.

At the time of receiving such e-mail data, since the TIFF file is not attached as an attached file, the personal computer 3 determines that in step ST12.

Therefore, the personal computer 3 proceeds to the determination (step ST17 and step ST18) as to whether or not the viewer waiting state is set and the TIFF viewer is attached to the received e-mail data.

Even if it is not for a viewer transmission request, if electronic mail data to which a TIFF viewer is not attached is received, the personal computer 3 makes the determinations in steps ST17 and ST18, and In ST18, it is determined that the TIFF viewer is not attached.

Even when the electronic mail data with the attached TIFF viewer is received, if the viewer waiting state is not set, the TIFF viewer is transmitted in response to a request from the personal computer 3. is not.

Therefore, in these states, the personal computer 3 shifts to ordinary mail reception processing (step ST19) according to a well-known general procedure.

However, if the viewer waiting state is set and the TIFF viewer is attached to the received e-mail data, the personal computer 3 releases the viewer waiting state (step ST20).

Subsequently, the personal computer 3 uses the transmitted TIFF viewer to set the viewer waiting state, and the TIFF file attached to the received e-mail data (for example, stored in the image memory 14). Is reproduced from (step ST21). The reproduced image is presented to the user by display display or printing. With this, the personal computer 3 ends the current mail receiving process.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, image transmission is performed as a TIFF file from the image transmission source to the image transmission destination, but the image receiving side has a TIFF viewer for reproducing an image from the TIFF file. If not, the electronic mail data for the viewer transmission request is returned to the image transmission destination. Then, in response to receiving the e-mail data for the viewer transmission request, the image transmitting side returns to the image receiving side e-mail data with a TIFF viewer attached to the operating system used by the image receiving side. Then, the image receiving side uses the TIFF viewer transmitted from the image transmission source to reproduce the image from the TIFF file transmitted from the image transmission source.

Therefore, on the image receiving side, the received TIF
If there is no TIFF viewer for reproducing an image from an F file, the TIFF viewer can be obtained from the image transmitting side.
An image can be accurately reproduced from an IFF file.

Further, according to the present embodiment, if the image receiving side has a TIFF viewer, the image transmitting side
Since the transmission of the FF viewer is not performed, it is possible to prevent an unnecessary increase in the amount of transmission information.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the image transmitting side
If the image receiving side does not have a TIFF viewer compatible with the operating system, the electronic mail data indicating that fact is given to the image receiving side. It can be simply and reliably confirmed that it cannot be acquired.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the format of the image is TIFF. However, each invention of the present application can be applied to a case where a well-known data format other than TIFF or a unique data format is used.

In the first embodiment, the designation of the operating system used by the destination communication terminal is accepted, and the T
Although it is assumed that the IFF viewer is transmitted, it is possible to transmit all the TIFF viewers unconditionally, or to implement a modification such as transmitting a TIFF viewer suitable for a typical operating system. It is.

In the first embodiment, the transmission of the TIFF viewer is not performed to the other party who has already transmitted the TIFF viewer. However, the transmission of the TIFF viewer may be always performed.

In the second embodiment, it is possible to identify the electronic mail data for the viewer transmission request by using the electronic mail address for the viewer transmission request. By inserting predetermined information indicating that the data is present in the header portion or the body portion, it may be possible to identify the electronic mail data for the viewer transmission request.

In the second embodiment, the operating system used by the communication terminal on the image receiving side is indicated in the e-mail data for the viewer transmission request.
The image transmission side transmits only the TIFF viewer that is compatible with the operating system used by the image reception side, but unconditionally sets all TIFF viewers that the image reception side has in response to the request of the image reception side. Or a variant implementation such as transmitting a TIFF viewer suitable for a typical operating system.

Also, in the second embodiment, a TI suitable for the operating system used by the image receiving side is used.
When the image transmitting side does not have the FF viewer, the fact is notified to the image receiving side by e-mail data, but such notification may not be performed. In this case, on the image receiving side, for example, if e-mail data to which a TIFF file is attached cannot be received even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the transmission of e-mail data for a viewer transmission request, the e-mail with the TIFF file attached Take measures such as invalidating the mail data.

In the second embodiment, the image transmitting side is the facsimile apparatus 1 and the image receiving side is the personal computer 3, but the facsimile apparatus 1
The personal computer 3 can be both an image transmitting side and an image receiving side.

The characteristic operations in each of the above embodiments are realized by software processing.
Therefore, if an operation program for causing the computer to perform the image transmission processing, the mail reception processing, and the like described in each of the above embodiments is stored as, for example, a storage medium, a general-purpose computer can be used as the image transmission device or It becomes possible to function as a receiving device.

In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0103]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, electronic mail data obtained by attaching an image data file formatted in a predetermined format as an attached file to an arbitrary communication terminal via a predetermined computer network. In the image transmitting device to transmit, a predetermined viewer software for reproducing an image from the image data file formatted in the predetermined format,
A viewer transmitting means for transmitting the image data attached to the e-mail data is provided, so even if the receiving side does not have viewer software for reproducing an image from the image data file, the e-mail data is attached to the e-mail data together with the image data file. Then, it is possible to reproduce the image using the viewer software that arrives, and it is possible to establish image transmission in the form of a data file formatted in a predetermined format.

According to the second invention, in addition to the first invention, the viewer transmission means includes history creation means for creating a history of a party who has transmitted the viewer software, and the viewer transmission Since the means does not transmit the viewer software to the partner indicated in the history created by the history creating means, it is possible to minimize the transmission of the viewer software and improve the communication efficiency. Become.

According to the third invention, in addition to the first invention, there is provided receiving means for receiving designation of an operating system used by the communication terminal to which the electronic mail data is to be transmitted, and the viewer Since the transmitting means transmits viewer software adapted to the operating system indicated by the specification received by the receiving means, it is possible to prevent unnecessary transmission of information and to improve communication efficiency. It becomes possible.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the electronic mail data attached with the image data file formatted in the predetermined format as an attached file is transferred from the image transmitting apparatus to an arbitrary image receiving apparatus by a predetermined computer. In an image transmission system that transmits over a network, the image receiving device does not have viewer software for reproducing an image from an image data file attached to received e-mail data,
The viewer transmission requesting means indicates the operating system used by the viewer itself, and requests transmission of viewer software. A predetermined e-mail data indicating a specified address or predetermined request information for requesting transmission of viewer software is transmitted, and the image transmission device requests transmission of the viewer software. In response to receiving the predetermined e-mail data, the viewer transmission means attaches viewer software adapted to the operating system indicated in the e-mail data to the transmission source of the e-mail data. I decided to send Even if the image receiving device does not have the viewer software for reproducing the image from the image data file, it is possible to obtain the appropriate viewer software from the image transmitting device and perform the image reproduction using the viewer software. As a result, image transmission in the form of a data file formatted in a predetermined format can be achieved.

According to the fifth aspect, when the viewer transmitting means in the fourth aspect does not have viewer software suitable for the operating system indicated in the received e-mail data, the fact is described. Is transmitted instead of the e-mail data to which the viewer software is attached, so that the image receiving device can recognize that the viewer cannot obtain the viewer software.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, e-mail data obtained by attaching an image data file formatted in a predetermined format as an attached file is transmitted to an arbitrary communication terminal via a predetermined computer network. Image transmitting means for transmitting an image data file formatted in the predetermined format, and a viewer transmitting means for transmitting a predetermined viewer software for reproducing an image from an attached file to the e-mail data. Since the operation program for causing the computer to perform the operation as the means is stored in the storage medium, by operating based on the operation program stored in the storage medium, the general-purpose computer or the like can be operated by the first computer.
It is possible to operate as the image transmission device shown in the invention of the above.

According to the seventh invention, when the viewer does not have the viewer software for reproducing the image from the image data file attached to the received e-mail data, the operating system used by the self is used. Attach and attach an image data file formatted in a predetermined format as an attached file to any image receiving apparatus equipped with a viewer transmission requesting means for transmitting predetermined e-mail data requesting transmission of viewer software. E-mail data
Image transmission means for transmitting from the image transmission device to any image reception device via a predetermined computer network,
In response to receiving predetermined e-mail data requesting transmission of the viewer software, attached to the transmission source of the e-mail data viewer software suitable for the operating system indicated in the e-mail data. Since the operation program for causing the computer to perform the operation as each means with the viewer transmission means for transmitting the e-mail data is stored in the storage medium,
By operating based on the operation program stored in the storage medium, it becomes possible to operate a general-purpose computer or the like as an image transmission device used in the image transmission system according to the fourth aspect.

According to the eighth aspect, in response to receiving predetermined electronic mail data requesting transmission of viewer software, the electronic mail data is transmitted to the source of the electronic mail data. From an arbitrary image transmitting apparatus equipped with a viewer transmitting means for transmitting e-mail data attached with viewer software adapted to the operating system which has been attached as an attached file with an image data file formatted in a predetermined format. When there is no image receiving means for receiving mail data via a predetermined computer network, and viewer software for reproducing an image from an image data file attached to the e-mail data received by the image receiving means. In addition, the operator that he is using And an operation program for causing the computer to perform an operation as each means with a viewer transmission requesting means for transmitting predetermined e-mail data requesting transmission of viewer software. By operating based on the operation program stored in this storage medium, it becomes possible to operate a general-purpose computer or the like as an image receiving device used in the image transmission system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an image transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart (first embodiment) illustrating a processing procedure at the time of image transmission processing by a CPU 11 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of mail reception processing by the personal computer 3 in FIG.
Embodiment).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of mail reception processing by a CPU 11 in FIG. 1 (second embodiment).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 facsimile machine (FAX) 3 personal computer (PC) 4 computer network 5 PSTN subscriber line 6 external telephone 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 image memory 15 encoding / decoding Unit 16 Scanner 17 Printer 18 Modem 19 Network control circuit (NCU) 20 Telephone control unit 21 Line signal detection unit 22 Network interface 23 Operation / display unit 24 Character generator 25 System bus

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B089 GA21 GB04 HA01 JA31 JB03 JB07 KB06 LA01 LA18 LB14 5C062 AA02 AA14 AB38 AB42 AC24 AC41 AC42 AE00 AF00 AF02 BA04 BD09 5K030 HA07 HB02 HB19 HC01 HC14 KA04 9A001 BB04 BB03 DD03 HH27 JJ14 JJ25 JJ35 KK31 KK42

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An image transmitting apparatus for transmitting e-mail data attached with an image data file formatted in a predetermined format as an attached file to an arbitrary communication terminal via a predetermined computer network, An image transmitting apparatus, comprising: a viewer transmitting unit that attaches predetermined viewer software for reproducing an image from an image data file formatted in a predetermined format to the electronic mail data and transmits the attached data. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the viewer transmitting unit includes a history creating unit that creates a history of a partner who has transmitted the viewer software, and the viewer transmitting unit includes a partner indicated in the history created by the history creating unit. 2. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission of the viewer software is not performed. 3. A receiving unit for receiving a designation of an operating system used by a communication terminal to which the electronic mail data is to be transmitted, wherein the viewer transmitting unit operates on the operating system indicated by the designation received by the receiving unit. 2. The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein viewer software adapted to the system is transmitted. 4. An image transmitted from an image transmitting apparatus to an arbitrary image receiving apparatus via a predetermined computer network, the electronic mail data having an image data file formatted in a predetermined format attached as an attached file. In the transmission system, if the viewer does not have the viewer software for reproducing an image from the image data file attached to the received e-mail data, A viewer transmission requesting means for transmitting predetermined electronic mail data requesting transmission of viewer software, and receiving predetermined electronic mail data provided in the image transmitting apparatus and requesting transmission of the viewer software. Depending on the email date Image transmission system characterized by comprising the transmission source, and a viewer transmitting means for transmitting the electronic mail data with attached viewer software adapted to the operating system shown in the e-mail data. 5. The predetermined e-mail data requesting transmission of the viewer software is characterized by indicating a transmission source of the e-mail and designating a predetermined address indicating a transmission request of the viewer software. The image transmission system according to claim 4, wherein 6. The image transmission according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined e-mail data requesting transmission of the viewer software indicates predetermined request information requesting transmission of the viewer software. system. 7. The viewer transmitting means, if the viewer does not have viewer software compatible with the operating system indicated in the received e-mail data,
5. The image transmission system according to claim 4, wherein the electronic mail data indicating the fact is transmitted instead of the electronic mail data to which the viewer software is attached. 8. When the viewer does not have viewer software for reproducing an image from an image data file attached to the received e-mail data, the operating system used by the user is indicated, and the viewer software is transmitted. To an arbitrary image receiving apparatus having a viewer transmission requesting means for transmitting predetermined e-mail data requesting the e-mail data obtained by attaching an image data file formatted in a predetermined format as an attached file. An image transmitting apparatus that transmits from the image transmitting apparatus to an arbitrary image receiving apparatus via a predetermined computer network, wherein the electronic mail is transmitted in response to receiving predetermined electronic mail data requesting transmission of the viewer software. To the source of the data, Image transmission apparatus being characterized in that a viewer transmitting means for transmitting the electronic mail data with attached viewer software adapted to operating the system shown in Rudeta. 9. Upon receiving predetermined e-mail data requesting transmission of viewer software, a viewer adapted to an operating system indicated in the e-mail data is transmitted to a source of the e-mail data. From an arbitrary image transmitting apparatus having a viewer transmitting means for transmitting e-mail data attached with software, e-mail data obtained by attaching an image data file formatted in a predetermined format as an attached file to a predetermined computer network In the image receiving device receiving via the, the viewer does not have the viewer software for reproducing the image from the image data file attached to the received e-mail data, indicates the operating system used by itself , Viewer Image receiving apparatus being characterized in that a viewer transmission request means for transmitting a predetermined electronic mail data for requesting transmission of the software. 10. An image transmitting means for transmitting e-mail data attached with an image data file formatted in a predetermined format as an attached file to an arbitrary communication terminal via a predetermined computer network; The operation as each means of viewer transmitting means for attaching predetermined viewer software for reproducing an image from an attached file to an image data file formatted in a predetermined format, and transmitting the attached data to the electronic mail data is performed by a computer. Storage medium storing an operation program to be performed by a user. 11. When the viewer does not have viewer software for reproducing an image from an image data file attached to received e-mail data, the operating system used by the viewer is indicated, and the viewer software is transmitted. To an arbitrary image receiving apparatus having a viewer transmission requesting means for transmitting predetermined e-mail data requesting the e-mail data obtained by attaching an image data file formatted in a predetermined format as an attached file. An image transmitting means for transmitting from the image transmitting device to an arbitrary image receiving device via a predetermined computer network; and an e-mail receiving the predetermined e-mail data requesting transmission of the viewer software. Sends the email to the source of the data. Storage medium storing an operation program for causing an operation as the means of viewer transmitting means for transmitting the electronic mail data with attached viewer software adapted to the operating system shown in the data in the computer. 12. Upon receiving predetermined e-mail data requesting transmission of viewer software, a viewer adapted to an operating system indicated in the e-mail data is transmitted to a source of the e-mail data. From an arbitrary image transmitting apparatus having a viewer transmitting means for transmitting e-mail data attached with software, e-mail data obtained by attaching an image data file formatted in a predetermined format as an attached file to a predetermined computer network Image receiving means for receiving via the e-mail data received by the image receiving means, if there is no viewer software for reproducing the image from the image data file attached to the Indicates which operating system is With a storage medium storing an operation program for causing an operation as the means of the viewer transmission request means for transmitting a predetermined electronic mail data requesting transmission of the viewer software on the computer.