JP2002278889A - Internet facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an Internet facsimile machine capable of making e-mail initialization setting work efficient by making a test transmission operation convenient. SOLUTION: This Internet facsimile machine 1 is provided with a means for instructing e-mail test transmission, a means for generating mail for test transmission to be transmitted on the basis of the instruction, and a means for transmitting the generated mail for test transmission with the mail address of its own machine as a transmission destination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an Internet facsimile apparatus having a function of transmitting and receiving image data such as an original using electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When newly installing an Internet facsimile apparatus having a function of transmitting and receiving image data such as a manuscript using electronic mail, it is necessary to initialize various parameters and the like. This is performed by manually inputting numbers, symbols, and the like such as parameters from a unit or the like. In particular, parameters to be set for sending an e-mail include an IP address (Internet Protocol A
ddress), DNS (DomainName System) server address,
Because there are a wide variety of things such as email addresses,
When setting these parameters and the like, an input error by an operator or the like is likely to occur. Therefore, a test transmission is performed as a final confirmation as to whether or not the parameters and the like are correctly set, that is, whether or not an electronic mail is transmitted to the own device and whether or not the electronic mail can be received correctly is performed.

[0003]

However, usually, every time a test is transmitted, it is necessary to read image data such as a manuscript and input a mail address, and to set the above parameters correctly once. Not always. In such a case, the test transmission has to be performed each time, and much time and effort has been spent on the initial setting work of the e-mail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an Internet facsimile apparatus capable of simplifying the operation of test transmission, thereby increasing the efficiency of the initial setting of e-mail. It is intended for.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 includes means for instructing a test transmission of an e-mail, and a test transmission mail to be transmitted based on the instruction. It is characterized by comprising: means for generating; and means for transmitting the generated test transmission mail with the mail address of its own device as the transmission destination.

An Internet facsimile apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising means for including setting information of the apparatus itself in the test transmission mail.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an Internet facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a specific configuration example of the Internet facsimile apparatus. The Internet facsimile apparatus 1 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2, a RAM (random access memory) 3, a ROM (read only memory) 4, a codec 5, a modem 6, an NCU (network control unit) 7, a reading unit 8, and a recording unit. Part 9,
An operating unit 10 and a LAN I / F (local area network interface) 11;
The devices 2 to 11 are communicably connected by a bus 12.

The CPU 2 controls each device constituting the Internet facsimile machine 1 according to a predetermined program.

The RAM 3 stores image data, a fax number,
As a storage unit for storing e-mail addresses and the like in advance,
Alternatively, it functions as a storage unit for temporarily storing various data.

The ROM 4 stores various programs for controlling the operation of each unit of the Internet facsimile machine 1 by the CPU 2.

The codec 5 performs encoding and decoding corresponding to a plurality of protocols. That is, the image data and the like read by the reading unit 8 are encoded for transmission by the MH, MR, MMR method or the like, and the received image data is decoded. In addition, Tagged Image File Format (TIFF), a commonly used image format used in computers.
Encoding and decoding can also be performed according to the t) format.
The TIFF specification has been published by Adobe Systems, Inc. in the United States.
Data is expressed by using tags in blocks, and by using tags, a plurality of pieces of image data having different resolutions and different numbers of colors can be stored at the same time.

The modem 6 is, for example, an ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union) Recommendation V. Modulation and demodulation of transmission / reception data according to the 34 standard or the like.

The NCU 7 is a network controller for controlling a telephone line to make or disconnect a call, and is connected to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 13.

The reading section 8 reads image data of a document and outputs image data converted to black and white binary.

The recording section 9 is of, for example, an electrophotographic type, forms an image of the received image data on a recording sheet, and discharges (prints out) the recording sheet. For example,
The image data of the document read by the reading unit 8, the image data received by facsimile, the image data of the attached file received by Internet facsimile, the text data of the body, and the like are printed out according to the instruction of the CPU 2.

The operation unit 10 includes, for example, a display 10a for displaying information on the state of the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 and various operation instruction screens, a ten-key 10b for inputting a FAX number and the like, and a shortening for transmitting from a short number. Key 10c, a start key 10d for starting a document reading operation, etc., and a cursor key 1 for moving a reverse display in the display 10a.
0e, etc., and various operations are performed by the operation unit 10.

The LAN I / F 11 has an interface with a LAN (local area network) 14, and connects the LAN 14 and the Internet facsimile machine 1 in a communicable manner.

The Internet facsimile machine 1
Has a function of facsimile transmitting and receiving image data of an original or the like by the G3 method or the like. In addition, TCP / IP is implemented, and the image data of the original or the like is attached to an electronic mail so that the image data of the electronic mail can be transmitted. It has an Internet facsimile function for sending and receiving text.

When transmitting and receiving image data such as a manuscript using the Internet facsimile function, the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 transmits and receives the RO data at the time of transmission.
The data in the G3 format or the like is converted into the data in the TIFF format by a predetermined conversion program stored in advance in M4 or the like.
ail Extensions) and encode it in Base64 or other format and send it as an e-mail attachment. At the time of reception, the attached file is decoded into data in TIFF format,
Convert from FF format to G3 format data. On the other hand, when printing out the received data, the G3 format data is decoded into black and white binary image data by the codec 5, and an image is formed on a recording sheet by the recording unit 9, for example.

The Internet facsimile apparatus 1 having the hardware configuration and the Internet facsimile function as described above has a test transmission function of transmitting an e-mail test by one instruction. When an instruction to perform a test transmission is issued, a test transmission of an e-mail is automatically performed. For example, after performing initial settings such as parameters relating to transmission of an e-mail, a test transmission of an e-mail performed to confirm that the settings are correctly performed can be easily performed by using the above function. . The test transmission instruction is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, when the Internet facsimile machine 1 is used as a server of a facsimile server / client system, it can be performed by a remote operation from a client. Alternatively, a button for instructing a test transmission may be provided on the operation unit 10, and the test transmission may be started by pressing this button.

Hereinafter, the operation when the Internet facsimile machine 1 executes the test transmission function will be described.
This will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, the Internet facsimile machine 1
Is installed and operates in the network environment A shown in FIG. 2, for example. That is, the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 is connected to the mail server 15, the router 16, and the mail client 17 through the LAN 14, and if various settings of the e-mail are normally performed, the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 communicates with other terminals that can transmit and receive the e-mail through the Internet. Transmission and reception of image data and the like can be performed by Internet facsimile. In addition, image data can be transmitted / received to / from another G3 FAX or the like by connecting to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 13 via the NCU 7.

Various operations of the Internet facsimile machine 1 described below with reference to flowcharts are performed in accordance with commands issued by the CPU 2 based on control programs and the like stored in the ROM 4. A predetermined document is read in advance by an operator or the like, and image data in TIFF format or the like to which an e-mail can be attached is stored in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 3 as image data for test transmission. Furthermore, it is assumed that some initial settings are made by an operator or the like, and setting information of the own device 1 including an e-mail address and the like is stored in a setting information storage section formed in a predetermined area of the RAM 3.

First, the operation unit 10 is operated by an operator or the like.
, The Internet facsimile machine 1 accepts this instruction (S1). Next, it is checked whether or not the parameters of the setting information necessary for the transmission and reception of the e-mail are missing (S2). If there is any missing, for the missing parameters, for example, "Account is set. Is displayed on the display 10a or printed out from the recording unit 9 on recording paper and displayed to that effect (S3), and an operator or the like is requested to set the parameters and the like. Then, when the missing parameters or the like are set by the operator or the like (S4), the process proceeds to S2, and it is determined whether or not other parameters are missing.

If no omission of the parameter or the like is detected in S2, then, as shown in FIG. 5, the predetermined parameter or the like, for example, an IP address, a DNS server address, etc. Is extracted and included in the body 19 of the e-mail, and the test transmission image data 20 is attached to the body 19 to generate a test transmission mail (S5). Further, the e-mail address of the own device 1 is also extracted from the setting information storage unit 18 and “T
o: ", the mail address of the own device 1 is designated as the transmission destination (S6), and the e-mail is transmitted (S7).

Next, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the test transmission mail has succeeded (S8). If the transmission of the test transmission mail has succeeded, the transmission has succeeded, for example, "Test transmission mail" Is displayed on the display 10a or the like (S9).
On the other hand, if the transmission of the test transmission mail has failed, a parameter or the like with incorrect settings is detected (S1).
0), for parameters with incorrect settings, etc.
For example, by displaying "Please confirm the e-mail address of the own device again." On the display 10a or the like (S11), the operator or the like is requested to correct the setting. After the display in S11, the operator or the like corrects the settings of the parameters and the like based on the contents of the display and gives an instruction for test transmission again.

After the test transmission of the e-mail is performed, when the operator or the like gives an instruction to receive the e-mail from the operation unit 10, the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 accepts the instruction (S21), A request to retrieve the e-mail is sent to the mail server 15 (S2
2). When the mail server 15 already holds the test transmission mail, the Internet facsimile machine 1 receives the mail and sends it to the mail server 1.
5 does not hold the test transmission mail (S2
3) It is determined whether or not the e-mail retrieval request has been made a predetermined number of times (for example, the number of times set in advance by the operation of the operation unit 10 by an operator or the like) (S24). If there is no such message, a request to retrieve the e-mail is sent to the mail server 15 again after a predetermined time, and if the number of times is equal to or greater than the set number, an error message is displayed on the display 10a or the like, Printing is performed from the recording unit 9 (S25). On the other hand, when the test transmission mail is received, the contents are displayed by printing out the received test transmission mail on recording paper or the like in the recording unit 9 (S26), and the operator or the like correctly displays the contents. In this case, it is determined that the initial settings of the parameters and the like have been correctly performed.

Note that the electronic mail retrieval request to the mail server 15 in S22 is the same as that in S.
The request may not be based on the instruction reception at 21, but may be, for example, a request to retrieve to the mail server at a fixed period. Further, the e-mail retrieval request may be executed continuously after the e-mail test transmission. In other words, after the operation of S9, a series of operations of S22 to S26 may be executed, whereby the operator or the like gives an instruction to receive an e-mail from the operation unit 10. You can save time and effort.

As described above, according to the Internet facsimile apparatus 1, a test transmission e-mail addressed to the own apparatus is automatically transmitted only by instructing an e-mail test transmission. Can be simplified. Also, when there is a forgetting to set a parameter or the like, a setting error, or the like, it is automatically detected and displayed, so that an operator or the like can easily find a problem parameter or the like.

[0029]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Internet facsimile apparatus for instructing a test transmission of an e-mail, and for generating a test transmission mail transmitted in the test transmission based on the instruction. Means for transmitting the test transmission mail as the destination of the mail address of the own device. Therefore, when an operator or the like instructs the test transmission of the e-mail, the mail is automatically addressed to the own device. The test sending e-mail is sent. That is, there is no need to specify the e-mail address of the own device or to read the image data for each transmission, thereby simplifying the operation in the e-mail test transmission. In particular, this is effective when the test transmission of the e-mail must be repeated many times, for example, when input errors of parameters to be set in the initial setting of the e-mail are made many times.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising means for including the setting information of the own apparatus in the test transmission mail. Is received, it is possible to confirm that the initial setting of the e-mail has been correctly performed, and at the same time, to confirm the setting information of the own device, so that it is not necessary to separately check the setting information of the own device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of an Internet facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a network environment in which an Internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation when setting information of the own device is described in a test transmission e-mail.

[Description of Signs] 1 Internet facsimile apparatus 2 CPU 3 RAM 4 ROM 18 Setting information storage unit 19 Body of e-mail

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masakazu Ishibashi 136 Takeda-cho, Machishiro-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto Murata Machinery Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C062 AA02 AA16 AA29 AA30 AA35 AB20 AB44 AF01 BA00 BD00 5C075 AB90 CA90 CD05 CD07 FF90 5K101 KK01 KK02 NN06 NN18 NN21 PP03 RR12 UU19

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A means for instructing a test transmission of an e-mail, a means for generating a test transmission e-mail to be transmitted based on the instruction, and transmitting the generated test transmission e-mail to an e-mail address of the own apparatus. Internet facsimile apparatus comprising: 2. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for including setting information of the apparatus itself in the test transmission mail.