JP2002244792A - Communication control device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device capable of inputting addresses of E-mail with a superior operability by few key operations. SOLUTION: This communication control device transmittable of the E-mail is provided with a command means executing a command for inputting letters of the E-mail address by a key operation, an extraction means extracting corresponding letter candidates based on the types and the number of times of the keys pressed down by the command means, a display means displaying the letter candidates extracted by the extraction means, and a selecting means selecting the letters to be inputted from the letter candidates extracted by the extraction means. The extraction means has a function determining whether or not prescribed letters are already selected and changing the letter candidates to be extracted in extracting the letter candidates.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication control device having an electronic mail transmission function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a plurality of character candidates for character input are assigned to a dial key of a portable telephone, and a user selects an input character by the number of times the dial key is pressed. For example, when inputting an e-mail address, "@" (hereinafter referred to as "at mark") and "." (Hereinafter referred to as "dot"), which are indispensable for describing the e-mail address, are usually one dial key. Therefore, after selecting the dial key, the user presses the same key a plurality of times to distinguish between the at mark and the dot.

[0003] For this reason, in displaying a plurality of character candidates assigned to one dial key, the priority order becomes a problem. In the case of inputting an e-mail address, it is conceivable that the display priority of the at mark is made higher than the display priority of the dot because the at mark is used only once and is used in a portion near the head of the address. However, since the dot is used a plurality of times, after the at mark is input, each time the input is made, the display goes through the at mark display and reaches the dot display. For this reason, there is a problem that the number of times the dial key is pressed increases as a result.

On the other hand, if the display priority of the dots is higher than the display priority of the at-mark, the number of times the dial key is pressed for dot input after the at-mark is input can be reduced. It is difficult to say that operability is good if the at mark used first is displayed after the dot.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of inputting an e-mail address with good operability with few key operations.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, for example, a communication control device having an e-mail transmission function of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a communication control device capable of transmitting an e-mail, instructing means for instructing a character address to be input to a mail address by a key operation, and based on a type of the pressed key of the instructing means and the number of times of pressing. Extracting means for extracting corresponding character candidates;
Display means for displaying the character candidates extracted by the extraction means, and selection means for selecting a character to be input from the character candidates extracted by the extraction means, wherein the extraction means
In extracting a character candidate, a function is provided for determining whether or not a predetermined character has already been selected, and changing the character candidate to be extracted.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

<1. Configuration of facsimile machine> FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the facsimile apparatus 100. In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a first central control unit (CP
U) and 102 are ROMs storing programs for controlling communication and printing, and 103 is a RAM used to store various data such as images, voices, e-mails, incoming melodies, and used as a general-purpose work area.

Reference numeral 114 denotes an SRAM, which stores various registration data and the like. The SRAM 114 is backed up by a battery (not shown) and retains its contents even when the apparatus power is turned off.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a printer image processing unit which performs various types of image processing on image data to be recorded and various data such as e-mails, and performs color image processing on the color printer (10).
5) and record and output. Printer image processing unit 1
In step 04, for example, a process of converting various data held in the main body facsimile apparatus to the resolution of the printer is performed, and the print data whose resolution has been converted is converted into a color printer (1
05).

In the color printer 105, a facsimile image received from the printer image
A mail document / attached image and a copy image are output.
An operation panel 106 includes a key input unit used for performing dial operations and various settings, and a liquid crystal display unit for displaying various data.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a scanner interface, which includes a connector for mounting the hand scanner 200 and a data transmission / reception register. Reference numeral 109 denotes a cross point switch, which switches connection of an analog signal path under the control of the CPU 101. Reference numeral 110 denotes a modem, which receives a fax signal or an image read by a scanner,
And a function of modulating various control signals into analog signals. 111 is a handset, 112 is a speaker, 11
Reference numeral 3 denotes a microphone, and reference numeral 108 denotes an NCU which is a communication line interface. Reference numeral 115 denotes a sound source that can output a frequency-modulated signal in a multiplexed manner, and outputs a predetermined melody via the speaker 112 when an incoming call is received.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a door phone (interphone) installed at an entrance or the like, which is connected to a communication line 900 outside the apparatus. In the facsimile apparatus 100, a signal from the communication line 900 and a signal from the door phone 300 are internally transmitted. It is distributed by the NCU 108 and connected to the communication line input / output and the door phone input / output of the cross point switch 109, respectively. 400 is a cordless cordless handset,
External telephone call, fax communication, and internal telephone call with the main unit handset via 00 are performed.

<2. Regarding Phone Book Memory> FIG. 2 shows the structure of the phone book memory in the present facsimile apparatus. Reference numeral 401 denotes an example of a data configuration of destination data per destination, which includes "party telephone number", "party name",
"Voice dial tag" and "E-mail address" are included as registered contents. In the above destination data, numerical data indicating the telephone number of the other party is stored in the "other party telephone number". The “other party name” stores an ASCII code of the other party's name. The "voice dial tag" stores a pointer indicating voice recognition data (hereinafter referred to as voice dial data) used when performing voice recognition dialing. In the present embodiment, a storage number of voice dial data stored in another memory is registered as a "voice dial tag". Further, the “e-mail address” stores the e-mail address of the other party. This destination data is stored in the SRAM 114 of the main system. Reference numeral 402 denotes a conceptual diagram when telephone directory data is actually stored in the SRAM 114. If 100 addresses can be registered in the telephone directory, the SRAM 114 can store 100 pieces of the address data 401. For example, registration No. In the destination data of No. 1, “0471341234” is registered as the destination telephone number, and an ASCII code of “Nakaosan” is registered as the destination name.
“1” is set as the voice dial tag. Further, “E-mail address” is also registered. The registration No. shown in FIG. In the destination data of 100, "NULL" is registered in the voice dial tag, which indicates that no voice recognition data exists for this destination data.

When the user intends to register destination data in the telephone directory, the user performs a telephone directory registration operation on the main body operation panel 106 shown in FIG. 1 to start a telephone directory registration operation.

In the operation of registering the other party's telephone number, the telephone number of the other party is input by key. This content is the destination data 401
Is stored in the part of the other party's telephone number. Next, key in the name of the other party. This content is stored in the destination data 401 in the part of the destination name. Finally, voice data for dialing the currently registered partner by voice recognition is registered.

In this embodiment, a specific speaker recognition system for registering a voice input from a voice input device is used, but such a technology is well-known and will not be described. The audio data is
A voice dial tag for managing a plurality of voice data is allocated and registered. This number corresponds to the voice dial tag portion in the destination data 401. The input of the e-mail address in the destination data 401 is performed by the same operation as the input of the name of the other party. Enter your email address using alphanumeric characters.

<3. E-mail transmission processing> Next, a processing procedure in the case where the user registers the above-described destination data in the telephone directory memory, and then transmits a mail to the other party of the e-mail address registered in the telephone directory memory by voice recognition explain.

In the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment, the following two procedures are provided as a procedure for transmitting an E-mail using voice recognition.

In the first method, first, a telephone directory is searched using voice recognition, and it is displayed whether an e-mail address is registered in the destination data of the searched partner,
The user is asked to decide whether to create and send an e-mail or make a call to the other party. If creation / transmission of an e-mail is selected in this method, an e-mail mailer is opened, and an e-mail address associated with the partner of the search result obtained by the voice recognition is automatically set as a transmission destination. I do. On the other hand, when the outgoing call is selected, the outgoing call process is performed for the telephone number associated with the partner of the search result. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

In the second method, an e-mail mailer is opened when a new mail is created, and when a destination address of a new mail is input, the destination address is searched from a telephone directory using voice recognition. I do. In the second method, mail creation processing is performed for a party having an E-mail address. Therefore, when searching for a party by voice recognition from a telephone directory, the party having an E-mail address is preferentially searched. It is configured as follows. Alternatively, the search range by voice recognition may be limited to only the person having the e-mail address. This is because the search processing speed is improved by limiting the search range.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when searching for a partner from the telephone directory by voice recognition, the search is performed in a normal state of the device (the first method described above) or when a destination of a new mail is input. The search method of the telephone directory by voice recognition is changed depending on whether the search is the search in the above (the above-described second method) (in the second method, the other party having the e-mail address is searched with priority). I have.

[3-1. Creating mail by the first method
Transmission] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the mail transmission process in the first method. The processing described below is realized by the CPU 101 executing a control program stored in the ROM 102.

In step S301, speech recognition processing starts. The start of the voice recognition process is triggered by a key input from the operation panel 106 in FIG. 1 as a trigger. In step S302, initialization of soft variables and initialization of the speech recognition engine of the cross point switch 109 in FIG. 1 (initialization of global variables, cross point SW and CPU AD)
Converter settings). In step S303, a display urging the user to perform voice recognition is displayed on a display unit LCD (not shown, hereinafter referred to as a display unit) of the operation panel 106, and at the same time, a guide tone is displayed from the speaker 112 in FIG.

In step S304, the speech recognition engine is started, and recognition of the user speech input from the microphone 113 is started. Note that the speech recognition processing is a well-known technique, and thus a detailed description is omitted, but a brief description is as follows. That is, the input voice is converted into digital data, and this is compared with pre-stored voice data for recognition to determine the similarity. Here, when the maximum similarity is higher than a predetermined value, it is determined that the voice recognition has been normally performed, and a voice dial tag corresponding to the voice recognition data having the maximum similarity is obtained.

In step S305, it is determined whether or not speech recognition has been normally performed. If the recognition is successful, the process proceeds to step S306. On the other hand, if the recognition has failed, the voice recognition process ends from step S305 (step S315).

If the voice recognition is successful, a search result is displayed in step S306. When viewing search results,
The telephone directory memory of FIG. 2 is searched from the voice dial tag acquired in the voice recognition performed in step S304,
Indicates the partner name set in the searched destination data. If an e-mail address is set in the searched destination data, an e-mail mark is displayed in addition to the name of the other party. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a display example of the search result in step S306. Search result display 30
01 is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 106. In the search result display 3001, a list of the destination names in the telephone directory is displayed, and a cursor 302 is displayed at the destination name of the destination data specified by the voice recognition. Further, an e-mail mark 301 indicating whether or not an e-mail address has been set in the search result display is also displayed. As described above, the user can see whether or not the e-mail address is registered in association with the search result display 3001.

Next, in step S307, it is determined whether an e-mail key (not shown) provided on the operation panel 106 has been pressed. If the e-mail key is pressed, the operation is to transmit an e-mail to the e-mail address searched by voice recognition, and the process is executed in step S3.
Go to 09. On the other hand, if the e-mail key has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S308.

In step S307, it is determined that the e-mail key has not been pressed, and in step S308, the telephone number has not been registered in the destination data searched by voice recognition, and only the e-mail address has been registered. If it is determined that the e-mail key has not been pressed, the process automatically proceeds to step S310 to start processing for creating and transmitting an e-mail.

If it is determined in step S307 that the e-mail key has been pressed, it is checked in step S309 whether the e-mail address is included in the destination data searched by the voice recognition. If not, the process proceeds to step S312. On the other hand, if it is included, the process proceeds to step S310, the e-mail address of the search result is automatically set in the transmission destination buffer of the e-mail mailer, and the e-mail mailer is opened in step S311. The mailer is in a state of waiting for a user's e-mail creation / transmission operation with the destination set, and the flow of voice recognition ends (step S315).

If the destination data searched in step S308 is not only the e-mail address, or if the searched destination data does not include the e-mail address despite pressing the e-mail key, The process moves to step S312.

Step S312 is a process for transiting to a telephone call after searching by voice recognition. If the off-hook key is pressed, the flow advances to step S313 to register the telephone number in the destination data of the search result. Dialing is performed with the telephone number thus set, and the voice recognition flow ends.

If it is determined in step S312 that the off-hook key has not been pressed, it is checked in step S314 whether the on-hook key has been pressed. If the on-hook key has not been pressed, the process returns to step S307 and repeats the processing of step S307 and subsequent steps to wait for any of the e-mail key, off-hook key, or on-hook key to be pressed. If the on-hook key is pressed in step S314, the process proceeds to step S315, and the flow of voice recognition ends.

According to the above-described procedure, when a new mail is created and transmitted, the mailer is started only by specifying the other party by voice, and the mail address of the other party is set. Therefore, when composing and transmitting a new mail, the trouble of starting a mailer or inputting a destination address is eliminated.

[3-2. Create mail by the second method
Send] In the second method, E is used to create a new mail.
The mail mailer is opened, and the destination of the mail is searched from the telephone directory using voice recognition and set. This process
This is executed in a “new mail operation” which is one of the mail operations described later, and the details of the processing will be described later in the description of the e-mail operation, particularly with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

<4. E-mail Operation> Next, E-mail processing in the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. The e-mail processing described below includes a manual e-mail operation and an e-mail automatic reception processing for automatically receiving an e-mail. The manual e-mail operation further includes a received e-mail operation, a transmitted e-mail operation, and a new e-mail operation.

First, the general operation of the e-mail operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4A. The control shown by the following plurality of flowcharts is realized by the CPU 101 executing a control program stored in the ROM 102.

[Overview of Manual Email Operation]
FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating an outline of an e-mail operation according to the present embodiment. The facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment is characterized in that a plurality of persons use the facsimile depending on the use environment, such as at home, and have a function of transmitting and receiving e-mail for each individual. Therefore, a plurality of e-mail accounts can be provided, and e-mail management can be performed for each e-mail account.

The facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment
When an e-mail key provided on the operation panel 106 is pressed in the standby state, a screen for handling e-mail is displayed, and various operations relating to e-mail can be performed. Therefore, first, when the e-mail key is pressed while the facsimile apparatus in the present embodiment is in the standby state, it is determined in step S401 whether a plurality of mail accounts are set in the facsimile apparatus. If only one mail account has been set, the process proceeds directly to step S403.

On the other hand, if a plurality of mail accounts have been set, the flow advances to step S402 to display a mail account selection screen on the LCD display provided on the operation panel 106. The user selects the desired mail account. A name (for example, the name of a user) may be given to each mail account, and a mail account may be selected by selecting the name. Also, when selecting this e-mail account, personal authentication is performed using ID and password, etc.
You may comprise so that only the user of the mail account can use it.

Since the processing shown in steps S401 to S402 is conceptual, the processing in step S4 will be described below.
The mail account setting process from 01 to S402 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4B and 4C.

First, in step S421 of FIG. 4B, an account table in which account information of an e-mail is set is acquired. FIG. 4C is a diagram showing a data configuration example of the account table. Account table 401
Registered therein are a name 402, an ID 403 and a password 404 as authentication information, and account information 405. The account information stores authentication information necessary for actually obtaining an e-mail from the e-mail server.
The account table 401 is stored in the SRAM 114
Is held.

In step S422, it is determined whether a plurality of accounts are registered in account table 401. If only one account has been registered, it is set to execute subsequent e-mail operations using the registered account information (step S4).
29). On the other hand, if a plurality of accounts are registered in the account table 401, a step S42 is performed to select a desired account from the plurality of accounts.
Proceed to 3.

In step S423, the names of a plurality of accounts registered in the account table 401 are displayed in a list. That is, the name 40 of the account table 401
The registered information is displayed in column 2. Step S424
When the name of the desired account is specified in step S
At 425, a screen for inputting an ID / password is presented, and I
Prompt for D and password. Then, step S4
At 26, authentication is performed based on the designated name, the entered ID, and the password.

If the result of the authentication processing in step S426 is OK, the flow advances to step S428, and the account information specified in step S424 is set so as to be used for subsequent e-mail operations. If the authentication fails, a message to that effect (display of an account designation error) is displayed in step S428, and the process ends.

In order to simplify the specification of an account for home use or the like, an authentication process (step S4) is performed.
25 to S427) may be omitted. In this case, the mail operation can be performed by a desired account only by specifying the name. Also, ID 403 and password 4
As the authentication information 04, the authentication information of the account information 405 may be used.

Next, in step S403, it is determined whether there is any unreceived mail in the mail center. Here, various methods are conceivable for the method of receiving the e-mail. For example, when the e-mail arrives at the mail server, the mail terminal automatically receives the e-mail almost simultaneously (hereinafter, referred to as an automatic reception mode). A mode or a mode in which only the arrival of the e-mail is notified to the mail terminal, and the terminal side proceeds to the mail server when it is convenient (hereinafter, referred to as an incoming call notification mode) can be considered. In order to determine whether or not there is unreceived mail in the mail server, if there is an incoming notification in the above-mentioned incoming notification mode, or if the mail reception fails due to a communication error or memory full in the automatic reception mode, the internal The fact that there is unreceived mail in the mail server is stored.
Based on the above information, the facsimile machine determines in step S403 whether or not there is any unreceived mail in the mail server.

If it is determined that there is no unreceived mail,
The process proceeds directly from step S403 to step S406. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S403 that there is an unreceived mail in the mail center, step S4
In step 04, it is determined whether a mail can be received. The determination of whether or not reception is possible is, for example, a determination as to whether or not there are various reasons why the device cannot receive mail, such as a case where the memory is already full and mail can no longer be received. It is. If it is determined that the mail can be received, a call is made to the mail center in step S405 to receive the mail. On the other hand, step S40
If it is determined in step 4 that e-mail reception is not possible, the process proceeds to step S406.

The processing shown in steps S403 to S405 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4D, 4E and 12.

FIG. 4D is a flowchart for explaining in detail the automatic acquisition processing of unreceived mail. Step S441
To obtain unreceived mail information. FIG. 4E is a diagram showing a data configuration example of the unreceived mail information 420. The unreceived mail information is stored in the SRAM 114. In FIG. 4E, reference numeral 421 denotes incoming notification presence / absence information, which indicates whether or not the arrival of an email has been notified from the email center in the incoming notification mode. Reference numeral 422 denotes reception failure presence / absence information, which indicates whether or not there is an e-mail whose reception failed in the e-mail reception processing. In this example, "○" indicates that there is an incoming notification or that there is a reception failure mail.
In the table, there is no incoming notification or no unsuccessful mail is indicated by "x". In the state of FIG. 4E, only the incoming call notification is present. Note that the incoming call notification presence / absence information 421 is valid in the incoming call notification mode, and need not be referred to in the automatic incoming call mode. In addition, even when the mail reception fails in the automatic incoming call mode, the reception failure presence / absence information 422 is “present (○)”.
It goes without saying that it is set to

Returning to FIG. 4D, it is checked in step S442 whether there is an incoming call notification or a reception failure mail. If none exists, there is no unreceived mail in the mail center, and the process of FIG. 4D ends as it is.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S442 that there is an incoming call notification or reception failure mail, the flow advances to step S443 to determine whether mail reception is possible as described in step S404. If it is possible for the facsimile apparatus to receive the mail, a call is made to the e-mail center in step S444, and in step S445, the mail is received using the account information set in step S428 or S429 in FIG. 4B. The mail receiving process will be described later with reference to FIG.

If the mail receiving process is performed in step S445, the incoming call notification presence / absence information is set to no incoming (x).
And the reception failure information 422 is updated according to the reception status in step S445. That is, in the reception process in step S445, if any one of the mails has failed to be received, the reception failure information 42
2 is set to failed (o), and if all mails are normally received, no failure (x) is set.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for receiving an e-mail in step S405. In addition,
The procedure is in accordance with the specifications of the individual carrier providing this email service. Each procedure (protocol)
Is different for each carrier, but does not relate to the essential point of the present invention, and therefore, will be described only schematically.

When the e-mail receiving procedure starts, a pre-email procedure is performed (step S1201). At this time, the procedure uses a modulation method designated by a carrier. After the e-mail pre-procedure succeeds, a mail record for managing the received mail data is cut out from the memory management pool (step S120).
2).

Next, header information, which is individual information of the mail itself, and body data are received from the e-mail server in a predetermined format (step S1203). These pieces of information are link-managed to the previously cut out mail record or stored on the mail record. In step S1204, the presence or absence of an attached image is determined, and the procedure phase is shifted. If it is determined that there is an attached image, the process proceeds to the attached image transmission phase (step S1205).

In step S1205, the setting state of the soft switch (switching between color reception / non-color reception) of the main body is determined. If "color reception" is set, the type of cartridge (color cartridge / color Cartridge for monochrome)
If it is determined that the cartridge is a color cartridge, step S
The process proceeds to 1207, and a declaration is made that the terminal capability of receiving the image attached to the e-mail is compatible with both color and monochrome.

On the other hand, even if the soft switch of the main unit is set to "color reception" in step S1205,
If the type of cartridge is a monochrome cartridge in step S1206, step S1208
And a declaration is made that the terminal capability of receiving the e-mail attached image is monochrome. If it is determined in step S12-5 that the soft switch of the main unit is not set to "color reception", the process similarly proceeds to step S1208 to declare that the terminal capability of receiving an e-mail attached image is monochrome. .

The server refers to the terminal capability declaration in step S1208 or S1207. If the original image is a monochrome image and the attached image is a color image, the monochrome image is converted by the color / monochrome conversion means in the mail server. And send it to the terminal.

In step S1209, an attached image is received, and in step S1210, a post-procedure is performed. In step S1211, the status of the mail record area is changed according to the success / failure status of the procedure phase. In the present embodiment, the description is made in the specification that the transmission of the attached image on the mail server side is completed when there is no problem, and it is determined that the transmission is completed, but the transmission success or failure of the body text and the transmission of the attached image are separately described in detail. Management may be performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1204 that there is no attached image, a post-procedure is performed in step S1210, and the status of the mail record area is changed in step S1211.

Note that the setting of the soft switch of the main body in step S1205 is generally set when the terminal user intentionally prohibits color. Step S12
By changing the terminal capability declaration according to the type of the cartridge in 06, even if there is no spare color cartridge on the terminal side, printing with a monochrome cartridge can be performed, and the contents of the attached image can be referred to.
As a result, although the original color image is not transmitted, it is possible to solve the problem that the content is received but the contents cannot be viewed.

Further, as an additional effect when the setting of the soft switch of the main unit is set to the color prohibition, the loss of the original color image can be prevented. Generally, the e-mail service system deletes the e-mail according to the convenience or specification of the server when the communication between the server and the terminal is successful, including the communication of the attached image. The execution of the deletion differs depending on the carrier and the type of the server, but the trigger of the deletion start is when “communication between the server and the terminal is successful”. On the other hand, if the original image is converted into color and monochrome and received, the communication between the server and the terminal is forcibly unsuccessful. Therefore, the e-mail is not deleted, the original attached image can be intentionally left on the server side, and the loss of the original color image can be prevented.

If the communication is set to be unsuccessful in step S1211, the reception failure presence / absence information 422 in FIG. 4E is set to failure (“○”).

Referring back to FIG. 4, in step S406,
A list of received e-mails is displayed on the display LCD of the operation panel 106. Then, step S40
Proceed to 7 to execute the operation desired by the user. As described above, in this embodiment, when an e-mail operation is performed, a list of received e-mails is automatically displayed in the latest state. Note that such a list of received mails may be displayed only when, for example, step S405 is executed, that is, only when a new received mail exists, or step S406 may be omitted and step S406 may be omitted. The list display may be performed only in the received mail operation in S407.

Here, specific mail operations that can be performed in the present facsimile are “received mail operation”, “sent mail operation”, and “new mail operation”. Details of these operations will be described later. Finally, if it is determined in step S408 that the operation has been completed (if the operation has been instructed), the operation of the e-mail is completed.

As described above, when the e-mail key is depressed while the facsimile apparatus is in the standby state and the mode shifts to a mode for performing various operations relating to e-mail, when there is an unreceived mail in the mail center Automatically performs a mail acquisition process. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3A, when searching for an e-mail transmission partner from the telephone directory and then pressing the e-mail key to shift to a screen for creating a new e-mail,
The automatic acquisition process of unreceived mail is not performed.

With this configuration, when displaying the received mail, it is possible to display the unreceived mail in a state where it has been obtained, without the user being conscious of it.
When a plurality of e-mail accounts are set, the screen shifts to the e-mail account selection screen. However, when only one e-mail account is set, the screen does not shift to the selection screen.

In the flowchart of FIG. 4A, when an e-mail operation is started, an unreceived mail is acquired. However, in step S407, various operations of the e-mail (incoming mail operation, outgoing mail operation, etc.) are performed. When shifting to the (new mail operation) mode, the acquisition processing of steps S404 and S405 (for details, FIG. 4D) may be performed only once. The acquisition of the unreceived mail may be performed at a predetermined time interval.

Hereinafter, each mail operation of “received mail operation”, “outgoing mail operation” and “new mail operation”, and
The ending operation executed in step S408 will be described.

[4-1. About received mail operation]
5 is a flowchart showing details of the received e-mail operation in step S407 in FIG.

The facsimile apparatus in this embodiment is
When the user selects “received mail operation” as the operation for the e-mail, the processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed. First, a list of the already received e-mails is displayed on the display unit LCD of the operation panel 106 in step S501. . Next, in step S502, a desired received mail is selected from the list. In step S503, it is determined whether a function other than browsing has been specified for the e-mail selected in step S502. In this embodiment,
The function other than browsing is positioned in the submenu. If a function other than browsing is designated here, the process proceeds to step S506 to shift to the submenu. If browsing is desired here, the process proceeds to step S504 without moving to the submenu, and the body of the received mail selected in step S502 is displayed on the display unit L of the operation panel 106.
Display on CD. If the browsing is not ended in step S505, the process returns to step S501 again to display a list of received mails.

If an operation other than browsing is specified in step S503 and the operation shifts to the submenu, the process proceeds to step S50.
Proceed to 6. In step S506, the process branches according to the function specified for the received mail. In the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment, the functions that can be selected include “print”, “edit / reply”, “forward”, and “delete” of the received mail.

If "print" is selected in step S506, the received mail selected in step S507 is printed out.
Proceed to 505. Then, if the received mail operation is to be ended as it is, the operation is ended by performing the end operation (step S505), and if not, the display returns to the received mail list display (step S501).

Also, in step S506, "edit / reply"
If is selected, an editor for editing or replying to the received mail selected in step S502 is activated (step S508) (a new mail creation process described later with reference to FIG. 6 is used). At this time, the address of the sender of the selected received mail is automatically set as the “destination” in the new mail creation process, the title of the received mail is set as the “title”, and the “body” is set as the “body”. The body of the received mail is copied.

Similarly, when "TRANSFER" is selected in step S506, an editor for transferring the received mail selected in step S502 is activated, and the transfer processing of the received mail is performed (step S509). Email creation processing is used). In this case, the contents of the received mail are used for the title and the body of the mail, and the transfer destination (destination) is set.

On the other hand, if "delete" is selected in step S506, the received mail selected in step S502 is deleted from the memory. Then, the process returns to step S501 to display the received mail list.

[4-2. New mail operation] Figure 6
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a new mail creation process by a new mail operation in step S407 of FIG. 4 and a transmission process thereof. Note that, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the mail creation processing when the editing / reply of the received mail or the transfer operation is performed in the received mail operation is also realized by the processing illustrated in FIG.

When the user instructs "new mail operation", a new mail creation process is started. In the new mail creation processing, first, in step S601, an initial screen for creating a new mail is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 106, and the destination, title, and text are displayed. At this time, if this process is performed by a new mail operation,
“Destination”, “Title”, and “Body” are all blank. Also, in the case of the initial screen display from “edit / reply (step S508)” in the received mail operation by the user, the sender of the reply mail to be sent to “destination” and the received title in “title” The body of the received mail is copied to the title of the mail, "body". In the case of the initial screen display from “transfer (step S509)”, the title of the received mail is copied to “title” and the text of the received mail is copied to “body”. “Destination” is blank.

In this state, the operation panel 106
The cursor (→) displayed on the display unit is moved to a desired item by inputting the “↑” and “↓” keys provided in the menu. Items that can be selected include destination, title, body, send, and save.

When the "set" key on the operation panel 106 is pressed with the arrow pointing to "destination", the flow advances to step S604 via steps S602 and S603, and the process shifts to destination input processing.

The destination input includes character input using the 10 key,
As shown in FIG. 2, there is a method of inputting by selecting a telephone directory to which e-mail address information is added (step S604).

If input by telephone directory is selected in step S604, it is determined in step S605 that input is by telephone directory, and the flow advances to step S606. Step S6
At 06, an e-mail selection process from the telephone directory is started and a telephone directory search is performed. The details of the process of selecting an e-mail address from the telephone directory will be described later with reference to FIG. In the telephone directory, a plurality of e-mail addresses can be registered in one destination data. For destination data in which a plurality of e-mail addresses are registered, broadcast designation can be performed by one destination input.

On the other hand, if the input of the destination address using the dial button is selected in step S604, it is determined in step S605 that no input is made from the telephone directory, and the flow advances to step S607. In step S607,
A fixed phrase table for destination input is set, and step S60
In step 8, character input processing is performed. The details of the character input process are as shown in FIG. 8, and the details will be described later.

The fixed phrase table set in step S607 includes ".co.jp", ".ne.jp", ".com", ".ac.jp", etc. "↑"
It can be selected using the "↓" key input. When the character input processing in step S608 is completed, step S608
In step 609, the content is determined by the "set" key.

When the destination is determined by the "set" key in step S609, the flow advances to step S611 to return to the new mail creation display.

Next, when the "set" key is detected in a state where the arrow is in "title" (step S611) (step S611).
612), and proceeds to the title input process (step S61).
3). In the title input process, a fixed phrase table for title input is set (step S614), and the process proceeds to the character input process of FIG. 8 (step S615).

In the fixed phrase table for inputting the title set in step S614, "today's schedule", "greetings", "messages" and the like are registered. The desired fixed pattern can be selected by inputting "" and "↓" keys. When the character input processing in step S615 is completed, a definite input is performed using the "set" key (step S616). When the title is determined by the "set" key in step S616, the display returns to the new mail creation display (step S617).

Next, when the "set" key is detected in the state where the arrow is in "text" (step S617) (step S618), the flow shifts to text input processing (step S61).
9). In the text input process, a fixed text table for text input is set (step S620), and the process proceeds to the character input process of FIG. 8 (step S621).

[0090] In the typical sentence table for text input, which is set in step S620, "Hello" include "Please phone", "will rest today", "function" and candidate displayed by the key "↑" It can be selected by pressing the "↓" key. When the character input process in step S621 is completed, a definite input is performed using the "set" key (step S621).
622). As described above, when the text is determined by the “set” key in step S622, the display returns to the new mail creation display (step S623).

The state where the arrow is in transmission (step S62)
When the "set" key is detected in 3) (step S62)
4) After confirming that the destination information is registered, transmission of the e-mail is started (step S625). The details of the e-mail transmission process will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, the state where the arrow is in the storage (step S
When the "set" key is detected in step 626) (step S6)
27), confirm that any one of the destination, title, and text is registered, save the e-mail information, and display it in a list together with the e-mail information saved in the past (step S62).
8).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the process of selecting E-mail from the telephone directory in step S606 in FIG.

In step S701, the process branches depending on whether or not the search of the telephone directory is performed by voice recognition (voice dialing). When the search process by voice dial is not performed, that is, when the “phone book key” on the operation panel 106 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S702. In step S702, for example, the destination name of the destination data 401 is displayed, and a destination is selected from the telephone directory by a predetermined key operation (scroll operation or instruction operation). The e-mail address registered in the destination data of the specified destination is obtained.

On the other hand, if the "voice dial key" is pressed in step S701, the flow advances to step S703 to obtain an e-mail address from the telephone directory by voice dialing. When the name of the other party is input by voice in step S703, the process proceeds to step S704.
Displays the destinations that are found to be applicable as a result of voice recognition. When searching by voice recognition, the search is performed with priority given to the partner having the e-mail address. With this configuration, it is easy to select a partner having an e-mail, and the recognition rate increases. Further, if a search is not made for a partner who does not have an e-mail address, the processing speed of the voice recognition search is increased.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the character input processing (step S608) in the destination input processing, the character input processing (step S615) in the title input processing, or the character input processing (step S621) in the text input processing of FIG. It is.

This control has a function as a front-end processor (hereinafter referred to as FEP) which functions as a part of an editor for editing for inputting characters.

First, in step S801, character input of FEP is started. In step S802, key input from the operation panel 106 in FIG. 1 is performed, and in the case of valid input characters, the number of input characters is counted. Next, in step S803, the number of valid input characters after starting character input is checked. Here, if an input valid character is input by key input exceeding the FEP input limit character number, step S8.
From step 03, the process returns to step S802, and characters input beyond the limit are discarded. If it is within the input restricted characters, the process proceeds to step S804.

Next, it is determined in step S802 whether the key operation input in step S802 is a fixed phrase input operation.
The judgment is made in 804. If an operation to input a fixed phrase has been performed, the process proceeds from step S804 to step S9 shown in FIG.
Go to 03. The details of the input operation and processing of the fixed phrase will be described later with reference to FIG. If the operation for inputting the fixed phrase has not been performed, the process proceeds from step S804 to step S804.
Proceed to 805.

In step S805, it is determined whether or not the character switching key has been pressed. If it has been pressed, the flow advances to step S806 to switch the input character mode.
It returns to step S802. Switching of input characters is mode switching such as “alphanumeric mode” or “hiragana mode”. On the other hand, if the character input switching key has not been pressed in step S805, the process proceeds to step S807, and it is determined whether the key input in step S802 was a dial key. If the key is a dial key, the process advances to step S808 to perform a character input operation.

On the other hand, if it is not a dial key, it is not a character input operation, so the flow returns to the top of the flowchart (step S802). Here, as a case other than the above dial keys, for example, an input such as a “delete key” or a “cursor movement key” can be considered, but in the present embodiment, the description of such key operation is omitted.

In step S808, the flow advances to the branch of each selected character input mode. The input character mode is determined from the character table assigned to the dial key and the number of times the key is pressed. The input operation itself is basically a known method of inputting characters using a telephone having a dial key or the like.

First, the input character mode is determined in step S808. As shown in steps S805 and S806, when switching the input character mode, a specific key input from the operation panel 106 in FIG. 1 is used to select “alphanumeric mode”, “numerical mode”, or “hiragana mode”.
"Katakana mode" can be switched. In step S808, the process branches to processing using each character input table according to the input character mode switched by the switching operation.

Next, the processing of each character input table will be described. If the mode selected in step S806 is the “alphanumeric mode”, an input process of the alphanumeric mode is performed in steps S809 to S811.

For example, a case where the dial key input in step S802 is 1 will be described. In the present embodiment, in the alphanumeric mode, the character input table shown in step S810 is used, with priority given to $ until "$" is determined. Therefore, in the alphanumeric mode, first, "@" which is the first character of the character table (@ priority / step S801) assigned to dial key 1 is selected as a character candidate. Subsequently, when the dial key 1 is pressed again, "." Which is the second character in the character table is selected as a character candidate. If the character input mode does not change, if the same dial key is kept pressed, the character candidates assigned to dial key 1 will be selected in order. Selected as a selection candidate. The selected character is confirmed when the confirm key is pressed, when the character switching key is pressed to switch the input character mode, or when another key is pressed.

Next, when another dial key, for example, dial key 2 is pressed in the same mode, dial key 2 is pressed.
Is selected as a character candidate.
At this time, the character candidate selected by the dial key 1 is determined. That is, first, the user presses the dial key 1 to select “＠” as a candidate, and then press the dial key 2 to select “a” as a candidate. You.

Next, when the dial key 1 is pressed again in the same mode, the loop of the flowchart is set to 1
After branching to the alphanumeric mode in step S808, it is determined in step S809 that "@" has been input. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S811, and the dial key 1
Is set as the dot priority table, the leading character "." In the table is first selected as a character candidate, and the input character of the FEP is "@".
a. "Has been entered.

As described above, after "@" which is a candidate for the dial key 1 is once input as a character and determined, the character candidate for the dial key 1 for the next input character and thereafter is "."
Is selected based on a character table that has priority over "@". Generally, in email addresses, "."
There are many opportunities to input later than “よ り”, and “＠” requires only one input, while “.” Requires multiple inputs. After input of "." And "@", operability is improved by setting the mode in which "." Is prioritized.

Next, if the mode selected in step S808 is a numeric mode, input processing in the numeric mode is performed in step S812. If the dial key input in step S802 is 1, in the numeric mode, the character "1" assigned to dial key 1 is selected as a character candidate. When the character input mode does not change, if the same dial key is kept pressed, the number "1111" is continuously input in the case of the number input mode.

Next, if the mode selected in step S808 is the hiragana mode, input processing of the hiragana mode is performed in step S813. For example, if the dial key input in step S802 is 1, in the hiragana mode, "a" which is the first character of the character table assigned to dial key 1 is selected as a character candidate. And then again one of the dial keys
Is pressed, the second character "i" in the character table is selected as a character candidate. If the character input mode does not change, if the same dial key is kept pressed, the character candidates assigned to dial key 1 will be selected in order. Selected as a selection candidate.

Next, when another dial key, for example, dial key 2 is pressed in the same mode, dial key 2 is pressed.
Is selected as a character candidate.

If the katakana mode is selected as the input character mode, the process proceeds from step S808 to step S8.
The flow branches to 14, and katakana character selection and input are performed in the same manner as in the hiragana mode described in step S813.

Each time a character is input, the process proceeds to step S
At 815, it is determined whether or not the character input has ended. Here, when a user operation for ending the character input is performed, the process proceeds from step S815 to step S816,
The character input operation in the FEP is completed, and the input character string is returned to a module such as an editor that is the caller of the FEP.

If the user operation for terminating the character input has not been performed, steps S815 to S80 are performed.
Then, the process returns to step S2, and the process returns to the FEP character input process. In this way, it is possible to input characters by FEP.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a fixed phrase input process executed when it is determined in step S804 of FIG. 8 that the input operation is a fixed phrase input operation.

First, in step S901, a fixed phrase input process is started. In step S902, the input processing mode is determined. As described with reference to FIG. 6, the input processing mode includes a destination (address) mode, a title mode, and a text mode. In this determination portion, which input state the apparatus is currently in (that is, any one of steps S608, S615, and S621) Is being processed) using variables that can be externally referenced.

In the address mode, it is possible to input alphanumeric characters used for an e-mail address. In title mode and body mode, alphanumeric characters, hiragana, katakana,
Kanji can be entered.

If it is determined in step S902 that the input processing mode for inputting a fixed phrase is an address mode input, the process advances to step S903 for inputting an address fixed phrase. Here, part or all of the address can be selected from the list of the fixed phrase table. The fixed phrase table can be referred to from the ROM 102 or the SRAM 114 in FIG. 1. A table list is displayed on the display LCD of the operation panel 106 in FIG. 1, and an arbitrary fixed phrase can be selected by key operation. Note that the fixed form table is not limited to a fixed form table, and may be configured so that the user can arbitrarily register it later.

After selecting a fixed phrase by key operation,
The fixed phrase selected in step S906 is copied to the caller's buffer. Then, the process ends in step S907.

If it is determined in step S902 that the input processing mode for inputting a fixed phrase is a title mode input, the process proceeds to a title fixed phrase input process in step S904.
As in step S903, a desired fixed phrase is selected from the list of fixed phrase tables for the title mode, and copied to the buffer of the caller of this processing.

If it is determined in step S902 that the input processing mode for inputting a fixed phrase is the input for the text mode, the process proceeds to the text input process in step S905.
As in step S903, a desired fixed phrase is selected from the list of fixed phrase tables for the text, and is copied to the buffer of the caller of this process. In this way, the process of inputting the fixed phrase called from the FEP is performed.

Next, the transmission process in step S625 will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the e-mail transmission processing executed in step S625.

First, in step S1001, in order to connect to an e-mail server, a line is captured and a call is made to the e-mail server. Note that this procedure is in accordance with the specifications of each carrier that provides this e-mail service. Each procedure (protocol) is different for each carrier, but is not related to the essential point of the present invention.

When connection with the mail center is made in step S1001, pre-procedures for E-mail (such as authentication) are performed (step S1002). At this time, the procedure uses a modulation method designated by a carrier.

After the e-mail pre-procedure succeeds, header information and body data, which are individual information of the e-mail itself, are transmitted to the e-mail server center in a predetermined format (step S).
1003). It is determined in step S1004 whether or not there is an attached image. If it is determined that there is an attached image, the process proceeds to the attached image transmission phase (step S1005). When the transmission of the attached image is completed, a post-designation procedure is performed in step S1006, and in step S1007, the telephone line connected to the e-mail server is released. And the success of the phase of the procedure /
The status of the mail record area is changed according to the unsuccessful situation (step S1008).

The mail record data makes it possible for the terminal to determine which mail has become unsendable when browsing the sent mail. In the present embodiment, the description is made in the specification that the transmission of the attached image on the terminal side is determined to be “sent” when the transmission of the attached image is completed without any problem. May be performed.

[4-3. Regarding outgoing mail operation] When "outgoing mail operation" is specified, a sent mail list display showing the number of items stored as outgoing mail and the title of the outgoing mail is performed. The user selects outgoing mail from the list display, and "Browse",
"Print", "edit / send", and "delete" can be performed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the contents of the outgoing mail operation according to the present embodiment. Step S1
At 101, a list of outgoing mails stored in the memory is displayed. This is a list display of outgoing mail stored in the memory in step S628 of the above-described new mail creation processing. The success or failure of the transmission may be displayed so as to be identifiable. Next, in step S1102, a desired outgoing mail is selected from this list. Then, in step S1103, it is determined whether transmission processing has been designated for the outgoing mail selected in step S1102.

If transmission processing is specified here, the flow advances to step S1104 to transmit the transmission mail selected in step S1102 according to the transmission procedure described with reference to FIG. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1101.

If a process other than the transmission process is specified in step S1103, the process advances to step S1105. In step S1105, the process branches according to the process specified for the outgoing mail. In the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment, the functions that can be selected include “viewing”, “printing”, “editing / sending”, and “erasing” of the transmitted mail.

If "browse" is designated in step S1105, the flow advances to step S1106 to proceed to step S11.
Operation panel 1 sends outgoing mail selected in 02
06 is displayed on the display unit. When the browsing end is instructed, the process returns to step S1101. If “print” is specified in step S1102, step S1107
Then, the selected outgoing mail is printed out, and when the printing is completed, the process returns to step S1101.

If "edit / send" is selected in step S1105, an editor for editing or sending the received mail selected in step S1108 is activated. In this case, the new mail creation process described with reference to FIG. 6 is executed, and the “destination”, “title”, and “body” set in the selected outgoing mail are respectively copied.

If "Erase" is selected in step S1105, the flow advances to step S1109 to proceed to step S11.
The outgoing mail selected in 02 is deleted from the memory. Then, the process returns to step S1101 to display a list of transmitted mails.

[4-4. Operation end processing] FIG.
14 is a flowchart showing details of an end processing step (step S408) in the general operation flow of the e-mail.

In step S1301, it is determined whether or not the e-mail is being edited. If the e-mail is not being edited, another end processing is performed in step S1307. However, since the processing is outside the scope of the present invention, the description is omitted. .

If it is determined in step S1301 that the E-mail is being edited, the process proceeds to step S1302.
Check whether the mail record of the mail has been acquired. If the mail record has not been obtained, the process is terminated. If the mail record has already been obtained, the input contents shown in FIG. 6, such as "address", "title", "body", etc., are saved on the mail record or linked to the record. (Step S13
03). Further, the fact that the message has not been transmitted is stored as a status in the mail record (step S1304). Note that the status is stored as "transmitted" at the end of transmission, so that if there is no change in the status, "not transmitted" may be assigned.

Next, the creation of the mail is suddenly interrupted for the user, and a message to that effect (“The mail being created is saved as unsent mail”) is displayed on the display panel (step S1305). To prevent erroneous operation or interruption due to anxiety. Finally, a message to the effect that the operation task is finished is transmitted to another line task or the like, and the process ends (step S1306). This end message is shown in T-M3 (described later) in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the operation status of the operation task and the line task when the creation is interrupted during the creation of the E-mail and the E-mail is answered.

TA is the operation task status, TB is the task status for monitoring and controlling the line event, and TC is the task status.
Represents a signal on the line, a closed state, and the like, respectively, and represents a lapse of time in a downward direction.

In the normal standby state, the line task monitors the line in a resident manner (T-B1). When the user creates an e-mail by inputting on the operation panel (T-A1), the operation task performs processing for the operation of e-mail creation, while the line task continues monitoring the line (T-B1). ). Here, when the CI signal from the exchange arrives via the line, the NCU 10 of the facsimile apparatus of FIG.
The CI detection means 8 detects the CI signal. The CI signal is tested on the line task to determine whether it has a predetermined frequency, whether it has a predetermined ON time, and whether it has a predetermined OFF time (T-B2, CI verification phase). If a predetermined number or more CI signals are detected within the specified range,
The facsimile machine prepares to shift to the predetermined mode, and transmits a termination request message from the line task to the operation task (T-m2). Note that the predetermined mode is
This refers to the answering machine mode, FT mode, etc.
It is set in advance for each mode.

The line task sends the end request message (T-m2) to the operation task, while
Trace in parallel or even if the signal is off. On the other hand, when the operation-related task receives the termination request, the “operation-related termination processing (FIG.
3) "is performed.

After performing the processing shown in FIG. 13, the operation task sends an end notification to the line task (T-m).
3). When the line task detects the end of the operation task, it performs "line connection" (T-B4) and checks the appropriate signals (FAX signal, start signal from the e-mail center, DTMF signal) after the connection. Perform (T-B5).
Based on the check result of the activation signal at T-B5, T-
At B6, the process branches to an appropriate mode (answering machine message response, fax reception, communication with an e-mail center, etc.) for each activation signal.

<5. Automatic Mail Receiving Operation> The above-described received mail operation was started by the user manually selecting “received mail operation”. However, the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment sets the automatic mail receiving mode to
It is also possible to automatically answer a call from an e-mail server and automatically receive an e-mail. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing details of automatic e-mail reception according to the present embodiment.

When an e-mail addressed to the present device arrives at the e-mail server, the e-mail server makes a call to the present device, and the present device responds to this and connects to the e-mail server in step S1501. In step S1502, the e-mail is received from the e-mail server by the processing described above with reference to FIG.
In step S1503, the line is released.

When the automatic reception of the e-mail is completed, the flow advances to step S1504 to shift to the automatic e-mail recording process. In step S1504, it is determined whether “E-mail automatic recording” is set to “ON” by user setting. If "E-mail automatic recording" is "ON", the flow advances to step S1505 to execute e-mail automatic recording processing. In other words, "E-mail automatic recording"
Is set to “ON” by the user, it is possible to automatically record the mail received automatically without user intervention, and to eliminate the inconvenience that the user waits while recording. It is possible.

In step S1505, it is determined whether there is an unrecorded e-mail. If there is no unrecorded e-mail, the process proceeds to step S1509, but if there is an unrecorded e-mail, the process proceeds to step S1506. In step S1506, it is determined whether the “header detail recording setting” of the user setting is “ON”. If "OFF", step S
The process proceeds to step 1507, and if "ON", the process proceeds to step S1508. In step S1506, the header detail record setting is set to OF.
In the case of F, an unrecorded e-mail is automatically recorded in the simplified header recording mode (step S1507). The header simple recording mode is the body of the received e-mail and only necessary items from the header of the e-mail, for example, From, To, Subj
In this mode, ect, Date, and the like are extracted and recorded. By hiding complicated information, a recording format that is easy for the user to see can be provided. On the other hand, if the header detail recording setting is ON in step S1506, the entire header portion is recorded together with the text of the received e-mail (step S1508). That is, the header detail recording mode refers to a mode in which all of the header information is recorded. The user can switch the “header detail recording setting” to provide a recording format according to the user's request.

In step S1509, all of the E-mails stored in the apparatus that have been subjected to the above-described recording processing are processed.
The mail is changed to a recorded state so that it is not recorded again at the next automatic e-mail reception.

As described above, by the e-mail receiving process described with reference to FIG. 15, recording can be performed in a desired header recording mode.
In addition, it is possible to eliminate the time for waiting for recording.

<6. Incoming call melody> In the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment, a melody can be used as a ring tone when a telephone call or a facsimile is received. As the incoming melody, a built-in incoming melody can be used, music data input by the facsimile apparatus can be used as an incoming melody, or a tune downloaded from a server via a communication line. The data can be used as a ringtone. It should be noted that such a function relating to melody data is obviously applicable to not only a facsimile apparatus but also a communication terminal such as a mobile phone.

FIG. 16 shows the music data download processing. The facsimile apparatus can connect to a music data download server and download music data from the server.
The song data download process will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S1601, when an operation for instructing the start of music data download by the user is received via operation panel 106, step S1602
Then, the cross point switch 109 is connected to the NCU 108 to automatically call the music data download server via the NCU 108.

In step S1603, a music menu is received from the connected music data download server, and the received music menu is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 106. In step S1604, a song selection instruction from the user is received from the operation panel 106, and the song data selected by the user in step S1605 is downloaded from the server.

In step S1606, the music data is reproduced by a process described later with reference to FIG. 17 in order to allow the user to determine whether to register the music data. The user can immediately listen to the downloaded song. The user is prompted to select whether or not to register the reproduced song data in the apparatus, and if instructed to do so, step S1607
The process proceeds from step S1608 to step S1608,
The song data is registered in No. 4. The process advances to step S1609 to determine whether the user has instructed the download process to end. On the other hand, if it is instructed not to register the reproduced music in step S1606, step S16
07 directly proceeds to step S1609.

If it is determined in step S1609 that the download process has been terminated, step S16
03, and repeats the above processing. On the other hand, if termination is instructed, the process advances to step S1610 to terminate the connection with the music data download server, release the line, and terminate the processing.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the reproduction process (step S1606) of the downloaded music data. In step S1701, the MAX scale (high-frequency side) and the MIN scale (low-frequency side) of the downloaded music data are detected. In step S1702, the detected M
It is determined whether the AX scale can be reproduced by the sound source 115 or not. If the reproduction is possible, the process proceeds to step S1703. If the reproduction is not possible, the process proceeds to step S1704.

When a scale that cannot be reproduced is included in the high frequency side,
In step S1704, the difference between the MAX scale of the music data and the reproducible MAX scale is calculated as a negative offset. Then, in step S1705, the scale of the entire music data is shifted to the MIN side (low frequency side) by the calculated negative offset, and the flow advances to step S1708.

On the other hand, if the unreproducible scale is not included in the high frequency side, the flow advances to step S1703 to determine whether or not the MIN scale in the downloaded music data can be reproduced by the sound source 115. If the music data can be reproduced, all of the music data can be reproduced, and the process advances to step S1708 to reproduce the music data as it is.

However, if it is determined in step S1703 that an unreproducible scale is included in the low-frequency side, the flow advances to step S1706 to calculate the difference between the reproducible MAX scale and the MAX scale of the music data as a plus offset 1. I do. Subsequently, in step S1707, the difference between the reproducible MIN scale and the MIN scale of the music data is calculated as plus offset 2. In step S1708, the two plus offsets are compared. If the plus offset 1 is smaller, the process proceeds to step S1709. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1710.

In step S1709, since the plus offset 1, which is a shift amount possible in a range where there is no deviation on the high frequency side, is smaller than the plus offset 2, which is a part deviating on the low frequency side, the deviation does not deviate to the high frequency side. , And shifts to the MAX side (high frequency side) by plus offset one minute, and step S
Proceed to 1711. In step S1710, since the plus offset 1, which is a possible shift amount in a range where there is no deviation on the high frequency side, is larger or equal to the plus offset 2, which is a part deviating on the low frequency side, the deviation on the low frequency side MAX by the amount of the offset, that is, by the amount of plus offset 2
Shift to the higher side (higher frequency side) and proceed to step S1711.

In step S1711, step S17
03, the downloaded music data is used as it is, and if the music data is transferred from steps S1709, S1710 and S1705, the music of the entire music is shifted in the range in which the music data on the MAX side (high frequency side) can be reproduced. The data is reproduced by the sound source 115 and the speaker 11
Output from 2. At this time, there is a possibility that there is a scale that cannot be reproduced on the MIN side (low-frequency side).

As the music data to be registered in step S1608 of FIG. 16, the downloaded music may be registered as it is, or the above-described steps S1702 to S171
The music data whose scale has been adjusted by the process of 0 may be registered. That is, in step S1608, the downloaded original music data is registered as it is, and when the registered music is reproduced at the time of incoming call or facsimile, the reproduction processing of the music data shown in FIG. 17 is performed. May be performed. Alternatively, step S1
In the music data reproduction processing in 606, the music data whose scale has been shifted by the processing shown in FIG. 17 is registered in step S1608, and this music data is reproduced during music reproduction such as an incoming call or a facsimile. The registered music data may be reproduced as it is.

Next, a case will be considered in which the facsimile apparatus has sound sources whose sound ranges that can be reproduced by the master unit and the slave unit are different.

A case where the sound source of the master unit can reproduce only a sound range narrower than that of the sound source of the slave unit will be described. Perform the operation of downloading song data on the master unit,
In the case where the downloaded music data is used by the slave 400, there is a case where there is no sound source that can correspond to the music data when viewing on the parent machine side. In this case, in S1606, the music data can be reproduced by shifting the scale of the music data as described in FIG. 202 described above. When registering the music data in step S1608,
Register the original song data.

When registering the registered music data in the child device, in step S1608, the music data may be transmitted to the child device or the child device may be registered in the parent device. The music data may be transmitted to the child device when the music data is requested to be transmitted. With this configuration, even if the music data is reproducible on the slave device and is not completely reproducible on the master device, an impressive treble side can be viewed and confirmed on the master device. Will be able to

As described above, in the case of music data in which the dynamic range falls within the dynamic range of the sound source 115 even in a scale where the sound source 115 cannot be reproduced, the entire music can be reproduced. At this time, since the whole scale shifts, there is a shift in tone, but the entire music can be grasped. Even when the dynamic range does not fit, the scale that cannot be reproduced is limited to only one of the MIN side (low frequency side), and the impressive MAX side (high frequency side) is always reproduced to confirm the music data. Effectiveness can be improved.

[0166]

[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).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize 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 board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0172]

As described above, according to the present invention,
E-mail addresses can be input with good operability with few key operations.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of a telephone directory memory according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing an address search by voice recognition according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a display example of a search result by the address search in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing an entire process of an e-mail operation according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing an account setting process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4C is a diagram showing a data configuration example of an account table according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4D is a flowchart illustrating automatic acquisition processing of unreceived mail according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4E is a diagram illustrating unreceived mail information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a received mail operation process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing a new mail operation process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a flowchart showing a new mail operation process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of E from a telephone directory according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a flowchart which shows a mail address selection process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a character input process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a fixed phrase input process according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an e-mail transmission process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing outgoing mail operation processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an e-mail receiving process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an e-mail operation end process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation end sequence according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an e-mail child reception process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a music data download process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a music data reproduction process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100: Facsimile machine 101: CPU 102: ROM 103: RAM 104: Printer image processing unit 105: Color printer 106: Operation panel 107: Scanner interface 108: NCU 109: Cross point switch 110: FAX modem 111: Handset 112: Speaker 113 : Microphone 114: SRAM 200: Hand scanner 300: Door phone 400: Handset 900: Communication line

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A communication control device capable of transmitting an e-mail, comprising: an instruction unit for instructing a character address to be input by a key operation by a key operation; Extracting means for extracting a corresponding character candidate based on the number of times; display means for displaying the character candidate extracted by the extracting means; and selecting means for selecting a character to be input from the character candidates extracted by the extracting means. The communication control apparatus, wherein the extraction unit determines whether a predetermined character has already been selected and changes a character candidate to be extracted when extracting a character candidate. 2. The extracting means, wherein the at mark and the dot are extracted by distinguishing the type of key and the difference in the number of times the key is pressed, and the at mark is selected by the selecting means. Until, extract the at mark corresponding to the number of key presses less than the dot,
2. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein after the at mark is selected by the selection unit, the at mark is extracted in accordance with the number of times the key is pressed more than a dot. 3. A communication control method in a communication control device capable of transmitting an e-mail, comprising: an instruction step of instructing a character input to a mail address by a key operation; and a key depressed in the instruction step. Extracting a corresponding character candidate based on the type and the number of times of pressing, displaying a character candidate extracted in the extracting step, and selecting a character to be input from the character candidate extracted in the extracting step A communication control method, comprising: selecting whether a predetermined character has already been selected and changing a character candidate to be extracted, in extracting the character candidate. 4. In the extracting step, the at mark and the dot are extracted by being distinguished by the same key type and the difference in the number of times of key press, and the at mark is selected by the selecting step. Until, extract the at mark corresponding to the number of key presses less than the dot,
4. The communication control method according to claim 3, wherein after the at mark is selected in the selecting step, the at mark is extracted in accordance with the number of times the key is pressed more than a dot. 5. A storage medium storing a control program for causing a computer to realize the communication control method according to claim 3. 6. A control program for causing a computer to implement the communication control method according to claim 3.