JP2001238063A - Equipment and method for communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide equipment and a method for communication provided with the first mode for transmitting picture data of various resolution and the number of indeterminate pixels and the second mode for converting the picture data to picture data having prescribed resolution and a prescribed number of pixels, giving header information on a date, time, the address of a transmission source, etc., to the picture data and attaching it to an electronic mail for transmission. SOLUTION: The resolution of a picture to be read is restricted at a step S351. The read picture data is given padding processing at a step S371 to be changed to the picture data of the prescribed number of pixels. Next, a position to fit a header is set at a step S372 to a step S373, and a picture header where the date, the time, the electronic mail address of a transmission source, the name of an opposite party, etc., are written is prepared at a step S374 to a step S375. Next, SMTP transmission processing is carried out at a step S358 to transmit picture data with the header.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device and a communication method for transmitting and receiving electronic mail by attaching image data to the electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of computers and networking, electronic mails for transmitting and receiving character information over a network have become widespread. Various types of files can be attached to the e-mail in addition to the e-mail text which is character information.

Also, TIFF (Tag Image File Forma)
t) An Internet FAX that transmits and receives an image by attaching an image file as an attached file has also been proposed.

On the other hand, in FAX via a telephone line, it is widely used to send a transmission image with an image header describing a date, a time, a telephone number of a transmission source, and a destination name in a header of a transmission image.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a conventional connection relationship of devices related to transmission and reception of electronic mail information and printing. Referring to FIG. 13, two computers on which e-mail software for e-mail transmission / reception is installed, that is, e-mail client 11 to e-mail client 1
An example of sending an e-mail using the Internet 13 will now be described.

First, the e-mail client 11 inputs an e-mail text and transmission destination information as a user name of the e-mail client 15 from a keyboard of a computer or the like, and sends the mail to the mail server / POP server 12 by SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer). Protocol), and send an e-mail.

Next, the mail server / POP server 12 that has received the e-mail determines that the destination is the mail server / POP server 14 from the transmission destination information, and sends the mail server / POP server 14 via the Internet 13.
The e-mail is transmitted to the POP server 14. Mail server / POP server 14 that received this e-mail
Accumulates the received e-mail in the e-mail box.

Next, the e-mail client 15 uses the e-mail software to execute POP3 (Post Off
In accordance with the Ice Protocol-Version3), the mail server P
It is checked whether a new e-mail has arrived in the e-mail box of the OP server 14. If a new e-mail has arrived in the e-mail box, the e-mail client 15 can read the e-mail sent from the e-mail client 11 by downloading the e-mail and opening the e-mail. . If the user wants to print the received mail text or attached file, the printer driver or application installed in the e-mail client 15 is activated, and the e-mail and the attached file are printed using the printer 16.

The same method as described above is used to transmit image data read by the Internet FAX 18 to the Internet FAX 17. That is, the image data read by the Internet FAX 18 is Ma
The data is transmitted to the il server / POP server 12, transmitted to the Internet FAX 17 via the Internet 13, the Mail server / POP server 14, and printed by the Internet FAX 17.

[0010]

In the case where image data is attached to an electronic mail and transmitted by the above-described conventional system,
For image data whose transmission resolution and number of pixels are predetermined such as FAX, it is possible to add the date, time, source telephone number, destination name, and the like as headers.

[0011] However, when image data of various resolutions and indefinite number of pixels whose transmission resolution and number of pixels are not predetermined are attached to an e-mail and transmitted, the date and time are added as headers to the image data. However, if the sender's e-mail address, destination name, etc. are added, the size of the characters becomes unnaturally too large or too small, or the characters run off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication apparatus for attaching image data to an electronic mail and transmitting the electronic mail. A function of reading an image at an arbitrary resolution and transmitting image data having an irregular number of pixels; a function of reading an image at a predetermined resolution and converting the image data to an image data having a predetermined number of pixels; A communication device and a communication method having a function of describing and transmitting a time, a transmission source e-mail address, a destination name, and the like.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, a communication apparatus according to the present invention for transmitting and receiving electronic mail by attaching image data has the following configuration. That is, in a communication device that transmits and receives image data by attaching image data to an e-mail, an image reading setting unit that sets an image reading condition, and an image that reads the image according to the reading condition set by the image reading setting unit. Reading means, a first mode for converting the image data read by the image reading means as an attached file of an e-mail without shaping, and converting the image data into image data having a predetermined size and a predetermined number of pixels. A second mode in which the image data is converted into an attached file of the e-mail, and the image data converted to the attached file of the e-mail by the converting unit is attached to the e-mail. Transmitting means for transmitting.

Preferably, the image reading setting means sets a reading resolution among a plurality of set resolutions.

Preferably, the image reading setting means sets a storage medium size for reading from a plurality of set recording medium sizes.

[0016] Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a header adding means for adding a header to the image data when the conversion means in the second mode is used.

[0017] Preferably, a date,
Includes one of the time and the source address.

[0018] Preferably, said header providing means comprises:
Either a header is added outside the image data, or a header is added above the image data. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises switching means for switching between the case where the header adding means is used and the case where the header adding means is not used.

Preferably, the transmission means further includes means for not adding the header to the image data when a plurality of destinations are designated, and the same image is transmitted to the plurality of destinations by one transmission. Send.

Preferably, the transmission means further includes means for adding a different header to the image data for each transmission destination when a plurality of destinations are designated, and an image having a different header for each transmission destination. Is transmitted in the plurality of transmissions.

In order to achieve the above object, the communication method of the present invention for transmitting and receiving image data by attaching image data to the electronic mail includes the following steps. That is, in a communication method of transmitting and receiving image data by attaching image data to an e-mail, an image reading setting step of setting image reading conditions, and an image for reading the image according to the reading conditions set in the image reading setting step. A reading step, a first mode in which the image data read in the image reading step is directly converted as an attached file of an e-mail without shaping, and the image data is converted into image data having a predetermined size and a predetermined number of pixels. A second mode in which the image data is converted to an attached file of the e-mail, and the image data converted to the attached file of the e-mail by the conversion step is attached to the e-mail. Transmitting step.

Preferably, in the image reading setting step, a reading resolution is set from a plurality of set resolutions.

Preferably, in the image reading setting step, a storage medium size for reading is set from a plurality of set recording medium sizes.

[0024] Preferably, the method further comprises a header adding step of adding a header to the image data when the conversion step in the second mode is used.

Preferably, the header includes a date,
Includes one of the time and the source address.

Preferably, the step of providing a header comprises:
Either a header is added outside the image data, or a header is added above the image data. Preferably, the method further includes a switching step for using the header providing step and not using the header providing step.

Preferably, the transmitting step further includes a step of not adding the header to the image data when a plurality of destinations are designated, wherein the same image is transmitted to the plurality of destinations by one transmission. Send.

Preferably, the transmitting step further includes a step of adding a different header to the image data for each transmission destination when a plurality of destinations are designated, wherein the image having a different header for each transmission destination is added. Is transmitted in the plurality of transmissions.

[0029]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the relative positions, numerical values, and the like of the components described in the embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified.

<Configuration of Internet FAX> FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an Internet FAX 20 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the Internet FAX 20 includes a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, and an image input / output control unit 3.

The reader unit 1 reads an image of a document and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3.
Is for recording an image corresponding to the image data transmitted from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on a recording sheet.

The image input / output control section 3 comprises a facsimile section 4, a file section 5, a network I / F section (network interface section) 7, a formatter section 8, an image memory section 9, and a core section 10. It is connected to the reader unit 1 and the telephone line 19.

Here, the facsimile unit 4 is connected to the telephone line 1
9 is a circuit for expanding the compressed image data received from the telephone line 19 and transmitting the expanded image data to the core unit 10. The image data transmitted from the core unit 10 is compressed and compressed to the telephone line. The circuit also transmits the compressed image data.

The file unit 5 is connected to the magneto-optical disk drive 6 and the core unit 10, compresses the image data transmitted from the core unit 10, and uses the compressed image data for searching the image data. Is written in the magneto-optical disk set in the magneto-optical disk drive 6 together with the keyword. Conversely, based on the keyword transmitted from the core unit 10, the compressed image data stored in the magneto-optical disk is searched, the selected compressed image data is expanded, and the expanded image data is transmitted to the core unit 10. Somewhere to do.

The network I / F unit 7 is an interface for connecting the image input / output control unit 3 to a network. The network includes an e-mail client 11, a mail server / POP server 12, and a worldwide network. The Internet 13 is connected. Further, the network I / F unit 7 is also connected to the hard disk 18, and is configured to transmit various data received in the mail format via the network to the hard disk 18, and store the data.

The formatter unit 8 is connected to the Internet 13
Network I / F from a computer connected to
A circuit that expands code data indicating an image transmitted via the unit 7 into printable image data, and transmits the image data to the printer unit 2.

The image memory unit 9 is a circuit for temporarily storing image data, and the core unit 10 includes a reader unit 1, a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network I
/ F unit 7, formatter unit 8, and image memory unit 9
And has a role of controlling the flow of data in each block.

It should be noted that the Internet 13 includes a plurality of various e-mail servers such as a mail server / POP server 14, an e-mail client 15, a printer 16 and a printer 17, as shown in the figure. It is possible to send and receive e-mails with many people through.

<Structure of Image Input / Output Device> FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of an image input / output device 21 in which the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2 are integrated. Using FIG.
The configurations of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2 will be described below.

Document feeder 10 mounted on reader unit 1
When the document is conveyed one by one onto the platen glass 102 one by one in order from the last page, the lamp 103 is turned on and the scanner unit 104 starts moving. Original fringes are exposed and scanned by the movement of the scanner unit 104. The reflected light from the original at the time of this exposure scanning is transmitted through a mirror 105, a mirror 106, a mirror 107 and a lens 108 to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 109.
Led to. Here, the scanned document image is a CCD1 image.
The image data is optically read by the image sensor 09, converted into image data by photoelectric conversion, and output from the CCD 109.
This output image data is transmitted to the printer unit 2 and the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 via a video bus (not shown) after a predetermined process is performed. The document is discharged from the platen glass 102 after the reading operation is completed.

The image data output from the reader unit 1 is
The data is input to the laser driver 201 of the printer unit 2. The laser driver 201 drives the laser light emitting unit 221 to emit laser light based on the input image data. The laser light emitted by the driving of the laser emitting unit 221 is irradiated while scanning on the photosensitive drum 202, and an electrostatic latent image based on the laser light is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 202 is developed by a developer supplied from a developing device 203.

The recording paper P is supplied from either the cassette 204 or the cassette 205 at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation. The recording paper P is
Transported between the photosensitive drum 202 and the transfer unit 206,
The developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred to the transfer unit 2
06, the image is transferred onto the fed recording paper P. next,
The recording paper P is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer image is fixed on the recording paper P by the heat and pressure processing by the fixing unit 207. Next, the recording paper P is discharged by the discharge roller 208, and the recording paper P discharged by the sorter 220 is stored in each bin.

When the sorting of the sorter 220 is not set, the initial setting is such that the recording paper P is stored in the uppermost bin. When double-sided recording on the recording paper P is set, the recording paper is conveyed to the position of the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and Is set to lead to

When multiplex printing is set, the flapper 209 is switched so as not to convey the recording paper P to the discharge roller 208 and is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 210. The recording paper P guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 210 receives the photosensitive drum 20 at the timing described above.
The paper is fed again between the transfer unit 206 and the transfer unit 206.

<Configuration of Reader Unit> FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reader unit 1 of the Internet FAX 20. The configuration of the reader unit 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. The image data output from the CCD 109 is A
The analog / digital conversion is performed by the / D / SH unit 110 and the image processing unit 111 or the I / F unit (interface unit) 113 performs a shading correction process.
Sent to.

The data including the image data transmitted to the image processing unit 111 is divided into a case where the data is transmitted to the printer unit 2 or the CPU 114 and a case where the data is transmitted to the I / F unit 113. When transmitted to the I / F unit 113,
The data is further transmitted from the F unit 113 to the core unit 10. Conversely, the I / F unit 113 may transmit data including image data transmitted from the core unit 10 to the image processing unit 111.

The image processing unit 111 and the I / F unit 1
The image data transmitted to 13 is controlled by the CPU 114 based on the settings made on the operation unit 115. For example, when a “trimming copy mode” for performing copying after performing trimming processing with the operation unit 115 is set, C
The PU 114 instructs the image processing unit 111 to execute the trimming process and then transmits the trimmed image data to the printer unit 2.

When the “facsimile transmission mode” is set on the operation unit 115, the CPU 114 transmits the image data and the “facsimile transmission mode” control command to the I / O according to the control program stored in the memory 116. An instruction to transmit to the core unit 10 via the F unit 113 is issued. Here, the memory 116 is also used as a work area of the CPU 114.

<Structure of Core Unit> FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3. FIG.
The configuration of the core unit 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The core unit 10 has an I / F unit 122 with the reader unit 1,
The image data of the data including the image data transmitted from the reader unit 1 is transmitted to the image data processing unit 121 via the I / F unit 122, and the control command transmitted from the reader unit 1 is transmitted to the CPU 123. I do.

The image data processing section 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing as required on the received image data, and outputs the image data on which image processing has been performed from the reader section 1. Based on the transmitted control command,
The data is transmitted to the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, or the network I / F unit 7 via the I / F unit 122. Further, the image data processing unit 121 transmits the printer data representing the image received via the network I / F unit 7 to the formatter unit 8 and develops the image data into image data, and then converts the image data into the facsimile unit 4 or I / F section 12
2 to the printer unit 2.

On the other hand, the image data received by the facsimile unit 4 is transmitted to the image data processing unit 121 and then transmitted from the image data processing unit 121 to the printer unit 2 and the file unit 5.
Alternatively, it is transmitted to the network I / F unit 7. Also,
The image data transmitted from the file unit 5 is transmitted to the image data processing unit 121, and then transmitted to the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, or the network I / F unit 7.

The CPU 123 controls the transmission of data between blocks according to the control program stored in the memory 124 and the control command transmitted from the reader unit 1, and executes image processing by the image data processing unit 121. Control. Further, the memory 124 includes a CPU
It is also used as a work area 123.

As described above, the Internet FAX 20 according to the present embodiment reads an original image, prints an image,
The communication device performs processing such as image transmission / reception, image storage, and data transmission / reception to / from a computer, mainly by the core unit 10.

<Operation of Formatter Unit> FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the formatter unit 8. Using FIG.
Hereinafter, the operation of the formatter unit 8 will be described. Data created by an application such as a word processor of the e-mail client 11 is converted into a page description language (PDL) that can be printed by a printer such as a PS (PostScript) by a printer driver. The converted data is then sent to the network I / F unit 7, the core unit 10, the core I / F
It is transmitted to the formatter unit 8 via the unit 220. The formatter unit 8 analyzes the conversion data received by the CPU 222, and converts the converted data into a Font ROM 223, a DRAM 225, and the like.
Is used as image data. When the image processing circuit 226 receives this image data, it processes the image in synchronization with a synchronization signal generated by the video clock 228, and then transmits it to the core unit 10 via the video I / F circuit 227. Here, the transmitted image data is printed by the printer unit 2. The program ROM 224 is a ROM in which a program for controlling the above operation is stored. In this way, PDL such as PS can be printed.

The formatter section 7 can be changed for each PDL, and the ROM 224 is different for each PDL and its version, and the user can select the PDL and version according to the purpose.

<Operation of Facsimile Unit> FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the facsimile unit 4. NCU (Networ
A k control unit (230) is a circuit for connecting a facsimile to the telephone, switching between the telephone and the facsimile, detecting a call signal at the time of reception, and holding a DC loop signal from the telephone exchange during a call. In addition, MODEM (Mo
dulator / DEModulator) 231 is a modulation / demodulation circuit for converting an analog signal into a digital signal or conversely converting a digital signal into an analog signal.

<Flow of Received Image Data> Next, the flow of image data will be described below. First, the data to be received will be described. Image data transmitted from another FAX is received by NCU 230,
At 231 it is converted to a digital signal. The converted data is obtained by converting the image data into MH, MR, MMR or JB.
This is data encoded by IG or the like. The data converted into the digital signal is decoded by the encoding / decoding circuit 236 and then stored in the DRAM 235. Here, the decoded image data is converted to a resolution
After the resolution is converted, the image processing circuit 237 performs image processing. The image-processed data is synchronized with the clock generated by the video clock 239,
The data is transmitted from the F circuit 238 to the core unit 10 and printed by the printer 2.

<Flow of Transmission Image Data> Next, the flow of transmission image data will be described. At the time of transmission,
The image data read by the reader unit 1 is synchronized with the clock generated by the video clock 239,
Via the video I / F circuit 238 and the image processing circuit 2
The data is developed in the DRAM 235 via the FB 37. The resolution of this data is converted by a resolution converter 234,
In the encoding / decoding circuit 236, MH, MR, MMR
Alternatively, it is encoded into JBIG. The encoded data is converted to an analog signal by the
It is transmitted by the CU 230.

Here, the CPU 232 is a circuit for controlling the above, and the program ROM 233 stores the CPU 23
2 is stored. The facsimile unit 4 is detachable, and has a structure that can be mounted according to the user's purpose.

<Program Configuration of Network I / F Unit> FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a program configuration in a / F unit 7; Hereinafter, a program configuration in the network I / F unit 7 will be described.

The network I / F unit 7 has an IP (Intern
et Protocol) 250, TCP (Transmission Control)
Protocol) / UDP (User Datagram Protocol) 25
1. It is composed of an operation program of the application layer protocol 252.

The IP 250 is a protocol layer of the Internet for providing a service for sending a message from a sending host to a destination host in cooperation with a relay node such as a router. The most important information for sending the message is the address of the transmission and destination, and the address information of the transmission and destination is managed by the IP 250. In addition, the IP 250 also performs routing to determine the route of the message to the destination host in the network according to the address information.

The TCP / UDP 251 is a transport layer that provides a service for sending a message from a sending application process to a receiving application process. The difference between TCP and UDP is that T
The CP is a connection-type service that guarantees high reliability of communication, but the UDP is a connectionless service and does not guarantee the reliability.

Application layer protocol 252
Defines a plurality of protocols, and the defined protocol includes F which is a file transmission service.
TP (File Transfer Protocol), SNMP which is a network management protocol, LPD which is a server protocol for printer printing, HTTPd which is a protocol of a WWW (World Wide Web) server, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and e-mail Download protocol POP3 (Post O
ffice Protocol-Version3).

<Receiving and Printing E-mail by Internet FAX> The e-mail transmitted from the e-mail client 15 shown in FIG.
A method of printing the received e-mail received by the Internet FAX 20 via the Internet FAX 3 will be described. As a premise, it is assumed that e-mail software for transmitting / receiving e-mail is installed in the e-mail client 15 in advance.

In FIG. 1, an e-mail client 1
In order to transmit the e-mail to the Internet FAX 20, the user 5 first inputs the e-mail text and transmission destination information which is the e-mail address of the Internet FAX 20 from a keyboard or the like. Next, the mail server P
SMTP (Simple Mail Transf
er Protocol).

The mail server that has received the e-mail
The POP server 14 determines that the transmission destination is the mail server / POP server 12 from the destination information, and transmits an e-mail to the mail server / POP server 12 via the Internet 13.

The transmitted e-mail is received by the mail server / POP server 12. Here, if the e-mail address is set directly to the Internet FAX 20, the received e-mail is sent to the SMT
It is transmitted to the Internet FAX 20 using the P protocol. On the other hand, if the e-mail address is set to specify an e-mail box in the mail server / POP server 12, the received e-mail is
Stored in the e-mail box.

<Reception and Printing of E-mail> FIG. 8 is a flowchart for receiving and printing an e-mail. First, in step S300, when an e-mail is received in accordance with SMTP, in step S309, e-mail is obtained in accordance with the SMTP protocol. Next, step SS3
In step 06, the received electronic mail is data decoded.

On the other hand, when the e-mail address is
POP3 reception is started periodically to determine whether the e-mail has arrived at the e-mail box in the il server / POP server 12. Step S301 shows a case where the POP3 reception is activated and an interruption operation is performed.

Here, when the POP3 reception is activated, the process proceeds to step S302, where the mail server / POP server 1
Then, in step S303, the e-mail list information stored in the e-mail box in the POP server is acquired. Next, the process proceeds to step S304,
POP3 reception is activated last time, and the list information at the time of login is compared with the list information at the time of login this time, and a newly added e-mail is checked.

If there is no new e-mail, P
A series of operations for OP3 reception is completed. If there is a new e-mail, the process proceeds to step S305 and the POP
After acquiring the e-mail data according to the three protocols, the process proceeds to a data decoding subroutine of step S306.

In step S306, the e-mail data received using the above-described SMTP or POP3 protocol is decoded into the original file format as described in detail with reference to FIG. I do. The print processing instructs printing by the printer unit 2, and the transmission processing instructs transmission to a transmission device such as the facsimile unit 4 and ends a series of operations.

In step S307, the printing and transmission processing of the obtained e-mail data is described.
In addition, a list of electronic mail information can be displayed on the operation unit 115 as a list. By selecting an electronic mail displayed in a list, the content can be displayed, printed, and transmitted by the operation unit 115.

<Data Decoding When Receiving E-mail> Next, a subroutine relating to data decoding in step S306 in FIG. 8 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9 showing data decoding when receiving e-mail. First, in step S320, the MIM of the received e-mail
An E-header process is performed to determine the e-mail language.

Here, for the electronic mail written in Japanese of the JIS code, the process proceeds to step S321 to convert the electronic mail into the SJIS code so that the electronic mail can be read as Japanese when printed. Next, the process proceeds to step S322 to check whether or not an attached file exists based on the description content of the MIME header. Step S322
In the case where the attached file is not attached to the e-mail, the subroutine for data decoding is terminated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S322 that the attached file is attached to the e-mail, the process proceeds to step S32
Proceed to 3 to inform the user that the attachment is present in the text of the email body, for example,
A text describing a file name such as “attached file: test.tif” is added to the e-mail body text.

Next, the process proceeds to step S324, in which the MIME
The content of the attached file described in the header is ima
Check if it is "ge / tiff". Here, if the attached file is not a TIFF file, a series of operations ends. If the attached file is a TIFF file in step S324, the process proceeds to step S325, in which the data encoded in BASE64 in the MIME header, that is, the 4-byte 6-bit data
The data is converted into 8-bit Byte data and BASE64 is encoded. Next, the process proceeds to step S326, where TI
Create an FF file and end the series of work.

<E-mail Transmission Mode> FIG. 10 shows the “E-mail transmission mode” of the Internet FAX 20.
It is a flowchart of FIG. "E-mail transmission mode"
Then, the Internet FAX 20 converts the image data fetched from the scanner together with the transmission destination and the text of the e-mail into an attached file of the e-mail, and transmits the file to the e-mail client 15 via the Internet 13.
Hereinafter, the flowchart of the “E-mail transmission mode” will be described.

First, in step S350, "E-mai
When the “l transmission mode” is selected, in step S351,
Instruct the reader unit 1 to set a set value for reading an image. Here, the parameters that can be set as the set values are the image reading sizes (A5, B5, A4, B4, A4).
3), color / black and white switching, resolution (100 dpi ~
600 dpi), text / photo / text / photo mode switching, double-sided / single-sided document switching, and the like.

Then, the flow advances to step S352 to instruct the operation unit 115 to input a destination to which an electronic mail is to be transmitted and data of an electronic mail text. Further, the process proceeds to step S353, in which an instruction to scan the original set on the platen glass 102 and read the image data to the reader unit 1 is sent. Next, the process proceeds to step S354, where the read image data is compressed in the MH format, and further, in step S355, an instruction to convert the image data into a TIFF file is issued. Next, the process proceeds to step S356, where an e-mail header and MIME information are created from the transmission destination, the e-mail text data, and the attached TIFF file information. Here, when a plurality of transmission destinations are selected, a plurality of transmission destinations are described in the To: field of the e-mail header when the e-mail header is created. Next, step S3
Proceeding to 57, the attached TIFF file is encoded in BASE64. Next, in step S358, the data created by the above procedure is transmitted as one e-mail in which a plurality of transmission destinations are entered according to the SMTP protocol, and a series of operations is completed.

<Internet FAX Transmission Mode> FIG.
1 is a flowchart of “Internet FAX transmission mode”. "Internet FAX transmission mode"
Captures image data from a scanner together with a transmission destination and an e-mail text, creates a TIFF image file conforming to the Internet FAX standard, attaches this file to an e-mail, and attaches the file to an e-mail. This is the function to send an e-mail to

Hereinafter, the flowchart of the “Internet FAX transmission mode” will be described. First, step S3
When the Internet FAX transmission mode is activated at 70, the process proceeds to step S351, where the reader unit 1 sets a set value for reading an image. Here, parameters that can be set as setting values are the same as those in the E-mail transmission mode, but the resolution is 200 * 200.
It is fixed at dpi and color reading is prohibited.

Next, the flow advances to step S352, where E-ma
As with the il transmission, an instruction is given to input the destination to be transmitted and the data of the e-mail text from the operation unit 115. In step S352, for example, "tok"
yo @ tokyo. canon. co. jp (Tokyo Head Office) "and" oosaka@oosaka.canon.
co. jp (Osaka branch) "
The number of destinations is set to 2.

Next, the flow advances to step S353, where "E-m
As in the “ail transmission mode”, a document set on the platen glass 102 of the reader unit 1 is scanned and image data is read.

Next, the flow advances to step S371 to instruct image padding processing. Here, if a document size other than A4 is set, a scaling process of the resolution is instructed to change the size to A4 size. Also, if the number of main scanning pixels is 1
An instruction is also given to execute a padding process for adding a white pixel so as to have 728 pixels.

The operation unit 115 has a user mode (not shown), and is set so that “attach a header” or “not attach a header” can be selected as one of the user mode items. ing. In the case of "attach header", "external header (add header outside original image)" and "internal header (write above original image)" can be selected. Is set.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the contents to be written in the header.
As shown in (a), the transmission date, transmission time, sender's e-mail address, recipient's abbreviation (in this example, the first transmission uses "Tokyo Head Office"), and the page number are written. The image that was placed is given.

Then, the flow advances to step S372 to check whether or not the header addition in the user mode is "attach a header". If "no header", the flow advances to step S354 without performing the header addition process. On the other hand, step S3
In the case of “attach header” in 72, the process proceeds to step S 373, and the header attachment is “external header”.
If it is set to, the process advances to step S374 to perform a header image attaching process.

If the header addition in the user mode is set to "insert header" in step S373, the flow advances to step S375 to perform the header image internalization process, and then to step S354 to execute the image processing. Perform encoding processing.

Next, the process proceeds to step S355, where TIFF
A file is created, and in step S356, an e-mail header and MIME information are created. Further, the process proceeds to step S357 to perform a BASE64 encoding process, and then proceeds to step S358 to perform an SMTP transmission process and execute “tokyo@tokyo.canon.c”.
o. jp (Tokyo head office) ".

Next, the process proceeds to step S376, where 1 is subtracted from the number of destinations after the transmission of the electronic mail with the image is completed, and the process proceeds to step S377. On the other hand, as in the above-described example, if the first number of destinations is 2 and the number of destinations (1) after subtracting 1 is not 0, the process returns to step S372 and the same operation as the first transmission processing is repeated. .

However, in the second time, in addition to the header image of FIG. 12A, a header image in which the recipient is abbreviated to “Osaka branch” in FIG. 12B is added.
＠Oosaka. canon. co. jp (Osaka branch) ".

In the present embodiment, the communication mode of the Internet FAX has been described using SimpleMode, but another communication method involving negotiation, such as real-time mode or full mode, may be used. Further, although the description has been made using TCP / IP as the communication protocol of the network, the same effect can be obtained by using a communication protocol such as IPX / SPX or Apple Talk.

Further, the decoding method of the electronic mail is B
As described using ASE64, uuencode, B
InHex may be used, and a TIFF file is printed. However, JPEG, GIF, PI
The image file format and image compression format such as CT and BMP are not limited to MH, but may be MR, MMR, JBIG, or RLE. Also, the information recording device has been described using a hard disk, but the same effect can be obtained with a recording device such as a semiconductor memory or an optical disk.

As described above, the Internet FAX 20 of this embodiment sets an arbitrary resolution from among a plurality of reading resolutions when reading an image from a scanner, reads an image according to the set resolution, and reads the read image. A first mode in which the file is attached to an e-mail and transmitted, and an image obtained by attaching header information such as a date, a time, and a sender address to an image read at a resolution that can be transmitted by facsimile is attached to the e-mail. A second mode for transmitting is provided.

In the first mode, since the read image does not have any header information such as the date, time, source address, etc., the characters of the header information are unnaturally large characters / small characters, and the characters are prevented from protruding. However, an effect that a plurality of reading resolutions can be selected is obtained.

In the second mode, it is possible to select a sufficient reading resolution for daily use, but to obtain the effect of adding header information such as date, time, and transmission source address to the read image. Can be Also, in the second mode, the user can switch so as not to add a header at the time of transmission, so that the user has more options and can use it more conveniently.

Further, in the second mode, it is possible to switch between adding a header to the outside of the image or adding the header to the top of the image at the time of transmission. In this case, there is a merit that the original image does not change when the header is provided outside the image, and there is a merit that the image size does not change when the header is provided on the top of the image.

[0100]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0103]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image reading condition can be selected from a plurality of reading conditions, and the number of irregular pixels read at an arbitrary resolution in accordance with the selected setting condition. And a first mode in which image data having the following can be attached to an e-mail and transmitted, and an image is read at a predetermined resolution, and further obtained by converting the read image data into image data having a predetermined number of pixels. It is possible to provide a communication device and a communication method provided with a second mode in which header information such as a date, a time, a transmission source address and the like is added to image data and then attached to an electronic mail and transmitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration using a communication device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image input / output device unit of the communication device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a reader unit of the communication device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a core unit in the communication device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a formatter unit in the communication device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile unit in the communication device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a program configuration in a network I / F unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of receiving an electronic mail in the communication device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing data decoding when receiving an e-mail.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an E-mail transmission mode in the communication device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an Internet FAX transmission mode in the communication device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram in which a FAX header is added to a transmission image in the communication device.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional electronic mail system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 3 Image input / output control part 4 Facsimile part 5 File part 6 Magneto-optical desk drive 7 Network I / F part 8 Formatter part 9 Image memory part 10 Core part 11 Email client 12 Mail server / POP server 13 Internet 14 Mail server / POP server 15 Email client 16 Printer 17 Internet FAX 19 Telephone line 20 Internet FAX 21 Image input / output device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B089 JA31 JB03 KH11 LA06 LA09 LA18 5C062 AA02 AA13 AA29 AB17 AB42 AC22 AC24 AC28 AF01 AF02 AF06 5C075 AB90 CA03 5C076 AA16

Claims (18)

[Claims] A communication device that transmits and receives image data by attaching image data to an e-mail; an image reading setting unit configured to set an image reading condition; and the image reading unit sets the image according to the reading condition set by the image reading setting unit. Image reading means for reading, a first mode for converting the image data read by the image reading means as an e-mail attached file without shaping, and a predetermined size and a predetermined number of pixels of the image data A second mode for converting the image data converted to an attached file of the e-mail into the e-mail by the converting means, the second mode comprising: converting the image data into an attached file of the e-mail; A communication device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the data by attaching it. 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image reading setting means sets a reading resolution from a plurality of set resolutions. 3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading setting unit sets a storage medium size for reading from a plurality of set recording medium sizes. 4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a header adding unit that adds a header to the image data when using the conversion unit in the second mode. 5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the header includes one of a date, a time, and a source address. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the header adding unit adds a header to the outside of the image data, or adds a header to the image data. Communication device. 7. The communication device according to claim 4, further comprising a switching unit that switches between when the header adding unit is used and when it is not used. 8. The transmission unit further includes a unit that does not add the header to the image data when a plurality of destinations are designated, and transmits the same image to the plurality of destinations in one transmission. The communication device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein: 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transmission unit further includes a unit that assigns a different header to the image data for each transmission destination when a plurality of destinations are designated, The communication device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein transmission is performed by a plurality of transmissions. 10. A communication method for transmitting and receiving image data by attaching image data to an electronic mail, comprising: an image reading setting step of setting image reading conditions; An image reading step for reading, a first mode in which the image data read in the image reading step is directly converted as an attached file of an e-mail without shaping, and the image data has a predetermined size and a predetermined number of pixels. A second mode in which the image data is converted into an attached file of the e-mail, and the image data converted into the attached file of the e-mail in the conversion step is converted into the e-mail. A transmission step of attaching and transmitting. 11. The communication method according to claim 10, wherein in the image reading setting step, a reading resolution is set from a plurality of set resolutions. 12. The communication method according to claim 10, wherein in the image reading setting step, a storage medium size for reading is set from a plurality of set recording medium sizes. 13. The communication method according to claim 10, further comprising a header adding step of adding a header to the image data when using the conversion step in the second mode. 14. The date, time, or
14. The communication method according to claim 13, wherein the communication method includes any one of transmission source addresses. 15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the header adding step is to add a header outside the image data or to add a header above the image data. Communication method. 16. The communication method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of switching between a case where the header adding step is used and a case where the header adding step is not used. 17. The transmitting step further includes a step of not adding the header to the image data when a plurality of destinations are designated, and transmitting the same image to the plurality of destinations in one transmission. The communication method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein: 18. The transmitting step further comprises the step of, when a plurality of destinations are specified, adding a different header to the image data for each transmission destination. The communication method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the transmission is performed by a plurality of transmissions.