JP2003051914A - Facsimile-type electronic mail device and facsimile-type electronic mail communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile type electronic mail device that enables even people having no terminal for receiving electronic mail, to manage received data by each individual. SOLUTION: The operating flowchart of the facsimile-type electronic mail communication method includes a step S133 for storing image data to a box by each address, generated in an external storage device of the facsimile type electronic mail device after steps S131, 132 for receiving image data and applying inverse format conversion to the data, the box being configured, such that owners are corresponded with IDs and passwords entered in advance by them and a user needs the ID and the password of the owner by each destination to extract contents of the box, a step S134 of entering the ID and the password of the owner and a step S135 of printing out the contents, when the password is approved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile type electronic mail apparatus and a facsimile type electronic mail communication method capable of transmitting and receiving image data by a simple operation similar to a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a facsimile has become popular in almost all companies as a device capable of transmitting and receiving an image by a simple operation. However, it is not known whether the transmitted image reaches the intended person, anyone can read the received manuscript, and when sending to a foreign country with poor line conditions, it is necessary to resend it every time it fails Such problems have not been solved, and people who use facsimile tend to give up.

On the other hand, the Internet, which is a worldwide network, is currently proliferating rapidly, and the number of people who use electronic mail using the Internet is also rapidly increasing mainly in companies. The electronic mail is sent and received using a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) or a workstation (hereinafter referred to as WS) belonging to an individual, and there is no problem with the above-described facsimile. Regarding the error, the data error is basically eliminated by the reliable protocol TCP / IP.

However, the data transmitted and received by electronic mail are mainly character codes input from the keyboard, and image data are not yet common. The reason is considered that it takes time to input the image data and convert it into a format that can be transmitted as an electronic mail. That is, the operability for sending the image data as an electronic mail is poor.

Therefore, in order to improve the operability, a facsimile apparatus using electronic mail is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-1.
No. 72348, and the like.

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a conventional facsimile apparatus using electronic mail. A CPU 101 controls the apparatus. 102 is a ROM in which programs are stored. 103 is a RAM,
Used for program data. A modem unit 104 is connected to the telephone line. A printer unit 105 prints image data. A scanner unit 106 reads an image. Reference numeral 107 denotes a panel unit, which is an image reading instruction, sender's identification information input,
Enter the identification information of the recipient. A compression / decompression unit 108 compresses or decompresses image data. 109
Is a computer I / F unit, which is connected to a host computer and sends and receives electronic mail.

The operation of facsimile transmission will be described below. A document is placed on the scanner unit 106, a destination telephone number and a sender identification code are input from the panel unit 107, and the start button is pressed. The scanner unit 106 is
The image is read, the compression / decompression unit 108 compresses the image data, and the image data is transmitted from the telephone line to the destination through the modem unit 104 by a facsimile procedure.
The transmission result is transmitted from the computer I / F unit 109 via the host computer to the sender's terminal as a character code electronic mail.

Next, the operation of receiving a facsimile original will be described. First, the receiver inputs the user identification information from the panel unit 107 in advance, and the RAM 103
Remember. When the facsimile original is received via the modem unit 104, when the destination information is sent in the facsimile procedure, it is confirmed whether or not it matches the user identification information stored in the RAM 103, If they match, the computer I / F unit 109 informs the user's terminal that the facsimile original has been received by electronic mail. The received image data of the facsimile is printed by the printer unit 105.

[0009]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, although the other terminal is notified that the facsimile original has been received, it is not known whether or not the transmitted facsimile data actually reaches the intended person. If both the sender and the receiver do not have the above-mentioned facsimile, the destination cannot be confirmed in the facsimile procedure, and the intended recipient is not notified that the facsimile data has been received. Since communication is performed using a facsimile procedure, there are problems such as unreliability of communication with overseas where the line conditions are bad.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a facsimile type electronic mail apparatus and a facsimile type electronic mail communication method which are capable of transmitting image data by electronic mail via a computer network. The purpose is to do.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a means for reading an original and converting it into image data, a means for compressing the read image data, and the compressed image data. To an e-mail format, means for inputting an e-mail address, and means for transmitting the format-converted image data to an e-mail enabled network for the input destination mail address. A facsimile type electronic mail apparatus comprising: a means for registering a plurality of electronic mail addresses addressed to the device itself; a means for accumulating and managing image data transmitted by electronic mail for each electronic mail address; How to set a password for each email address, and how to enter the password The providing facsimile type electronic mail apparatus characterized by comprising a means for outputting the stored image data were further.

With this configuration, the image data can be sent by electronic mail to the destination via the computer network, and moreover, a plurality of electronic mail addresses for the own device can be registered, and the image data sent by the electronic mail can be stored. It stores and manages each email address, sets a password for each email address, and outputs the stored image data when this password is entered, so there is no terminal to receive emails. Even a person can manage the received data for each individual.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention reads a document and converts it into image data, compresses the read image data, and sends the compressed image data to an electronic mail. Facsimile including a step of converting to a format, a step of inputting an e-mail address, and a step of transmitting the format-converted image data to an e-mail enabled network to the input destination mail address Type e-mail communication method, in which a plurality of e-mail addresses addressed to the device itself are registered, image data transmitted by e-mail is stored and managed for each e-mail address, and a password is set for each e-mail address. Set and save the password when you enter the password. Outputting the image data to provide a facsimile type electronic mail communication method comprising.

According to this method, the image data can be sent by electronic mail to the destination via the computer network, and moreover, a plurality of electronic mail addresses addressed to the own device can be registered and the image data sent by the electronic mail can be stored. It stores and manages each email address, sets a password for each email address, and outputs the stored image data when this password is entered, so there is no terminal to receive emails. Even a person can manage the received data for each individual.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device capable of transmitting image data by a simple operation similar to a facsimile. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a CPU, which controls the apparatus. A ROM 2 stores a program.
A RAM 3 is used for program data. An external storage unit 4 such as a hard disk stores compressed image data. A format conversion unit 5 converts the compressed image data into an electronic mail format. A scanner unit 6 reads an image. Reference numeral 7 denotes a panel section for instructing to read an image and inputting an e-mail destination. 8 is compression
The decompression unit compresses the read image data or decompresses the transmitted image data. 9 is L
The AN control unit is connected to a LAN (local area network) and transmits / receives electronic mail data on the Internet.

FIG. 2 shows a flow when image data is transmitted in this embodiment. First, in step S1,
The original is set on the scanner unit 6, the destination (alphanumeric characters) of the e-mail is input from the panel unit 7, and the start button is pressed. Next, in step S2, the original set on the scanner unit 6 is input as image data, and in step S3,
The data is compressed by the compression / expansion unit 8 and stored in the external storage unit 4. At this time, if the original has a plurality of pages, the plurality of pages are stored in the external storage unit 4 as one file.
Next, in step S4, the stored image data is converted into an electronic mail format by the format conversion unit 5 and stored in the external storage unit 4. Then, in step S5, the format-converted image data is L
It is sent to the destination as an electronic mail by the AN control unit 9.

FIG. 3 shows a method of converting image data into an electronic mail format. The image data read from the scanner unit 6 and compressed by the compression / expansion unit 8 is the binary image data 21, and cannot be sent as an electronic mail on the Internet as it is.
E-mail on the Internet allows only 7-bit character code in the transmission procedure. Therefore, the binary image data is converted into a 7-bit character code to create the text coded image data 22. After that, a header 23 containing at least a destination, a sender, a data format, and a character code conversion method is added to this data.

The conversion method to the character code and the header format are MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension).
sions) according to the standard of e-mail on the Internet. Therefore, the image data can be sent from this apparatus as an electronic mail if the terminal has installed an electronic mail program that supports MIME.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the image data can be transmitted as an electronic mail by the same simple operation as that of the facsimile. Therefore, the image data can be transmitted to an individual, and only the intended person can see the transmitted data, and the reliability of data communication with foreign countries can be improved.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a format reverse conversion unit 10 for converting the image data of an electronic mail into a printable form and the format reverse-converted image data are printed. The printer unit 11 for this purpose is added.

FIG. 5 shows a flow for receiving image data in this embodiment. First, step S11
Then, the image data of the electronic mail is received from the LAN control unit 9 and temporarily stored in the external storage unit 4. Then step S
In step 12, the image data of the electronic mail is converted into a facsimile format by the format reverse conversion part 10, and in step S13, it is expanded by the compression / expansion part 8 and stored in the external storage part 4. Then, in step S14, the accumulated image data is printed by the printer unit 11.

The reverse format conversion follows a procedure reverse to the method of converting the image data into the electronic mail format shown in FIG. First, it is confirmed from the header 23 that this electronic mail is image data. If it is not image data, an error notification e-mail is sent to the sender. Next, the text coded image data 22 is converted into the binary image data 21.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, even a person who does not have a personal address of electronic mail can
Image data can be received.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a font unit 12 for converting character code data into image data is added to the configuration of the second embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a flow for printing the character code data in this embodiment. First, step S21
Then, the LAN control unit 9 determines whether the received electronic mail is character code data or image data by analyzing the data format of the header section of the data. MIM
In E, the data format is described after Content-Type: and image data is described as image / tiff, and character code data is described as text / plain. Next, in step S22, the received character code data is expanded by the compression / expansion unit 8 and stored in the external storage unit 4, and then expanded into image data by the font unit 12, and the expanded image data is printed in step S23. To do. It should be noted that the character code data is transmitted in the same manner as a normal electronic mail.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the apparatus can be used as an original apparatus for electronic mail, and no error occurs even if an electronic mail of character code data is transmitted to the apparatus.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a character recognition unit 13 is added to the configuration of the third embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a flow for character recognition of a destination in this embodiment. First, in step S31, the document is placed on the scanner unit 6 and the start button is pressed. Next, in step S32, an image is input from the scanner unit 6.
Next, in step S33, the predetermined position of the input image is analyzed, and the character recognition unit 13 character-recognizes the destination. To determine the predetermined position, a cover sheet dedicated to this device is created and the position to write the destination is determined in advance. Then, in step S34, the image data is transmitted as an electronic mail to the recognized destination.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the destination address can be input without inputting the alphabetic keys from the panel section 7.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the electronic mail device is the same as that of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a flow of inputting a source address in the present embodiment. First, step S4
At 1, the destination address is input as in the first or fourth embodiment. Next, in step S42, press the sender button,
Enter the sender address. Next, in step S43, the start button is pressed, and the subsequent flow is the same as in FIG. 2, and the image data is transmitted (steps S44 to S4).
6). The sender address is usually the e-mail address of the PC or WS at the sender's seat. Therefore, if the transmission of the e-mail fails, the failure notification e-mail can be received by the PC or WS at the user's seat, as in the conventional e-mail device.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, when the transmission fails, the non-delivery notification can be delivered to the sender based on the source address.

(Sixth Embodiment) Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a voice input / output unit 14 having a microphone and a receiver and a voice compression / decompression unit 15 for compressing or decompressing digital voice are added to the configuration of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. Is.

FIG. 12 shows a flow for inputting voice and transmitting it together with an image in the present embodiment. First, in step S51, the destination is input as in the first or fourth embodiment, and in step S51, the message button on the panel unit 7 is pressed. In step S52, a message is recorded through the microphone of the voice input / output unit 14 while pressing the message button.
The voice is compressed by the voice compression / decompression unit 15 and stored in the external storage unit 4. Next, in step S53, the start button is pressed, in step S54, image data is input from the scanner unit 6, and in step S55, the input image data is format-converted and stored in the external storage unit 4. Next, in step S56, the stored image data and voice data are integrated into one mail, and step S56
At 57, it is transmitted to the destination. When receiving, the received image data and voice data are decompressed by the compression / decompression units 8 and 15, respectively, and output from the printer unit 11 and the voice input / output unit 14. The method of integrating files of two different data formats is specified by the above-mentioned MIME.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, information peculiar to the voice such as the emotion of the sender can be transmitted together with the image information.

(Seventh Embodiment) Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a video input / output unit 16 having a video camera and a CRT, and a video compression / decompression unit 17 are added to the configuration of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 shows a flow of inputting a moving image and transmitting it together with an image in the present embodiment. First, in step S61, the destination is input as in the first or fourth embodiment, and in step S62, the video button of the panel unit 7 is pressed to record a moving image with the camera of the video input / output unit 16. The recorded video is MPEed by the video compression / decompression unit 17.
It is compressed by the G method and stored in the external storage unit 4. Next, in step S63, the start button is pressed, and step S6
In step 4, the image data is input from the scanner section 6, and in step S65, the format of the input image data is converted and stored in the external storage section 4. Next in step S66.
In step S67, the stored image data and moving image data are integrated into one mail, and the mail is transmitted to the destination in step S67. When receiving, the received image data and moving image data are decompressed by the compression / decompression units 8 and 17, respectively, and output from the printer unit 11 and the video input / output unit 16. In addition,
The method of integrating files of two different data formats is specified by the above-mentioned MIME.

As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, it is possible to convey not only the image information but also the moving image information that cannot be expressed by a still image.

(Embodiment 8) Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the configuration shown in FIG. 8 is used to analyze the electronic mail received by the LAN control unit 9, and the CPU 1 performs processing according to the analysis result.

FIG. 15 shows a format example when registering a destination mail address and a sender address by electronic mail according to this embodiment. E-mail is roughly divided into a header and a body, and the data format of the body is known in the header. Content-type: text / of header 31 in FIG.
There is plain, which means that the body 32 is character code data. In the present embodiment, the body needs to be character code data. Subj in header 31
ect:! $ indicates that the text 32 is a command. S
Since the subject of this e-mail is usually entered after ubject :,! $ is a special character code and can be distinguished from the subject.

In the body 32, a sender ID, a list of destination mail addresses, a sender address, etc. are written, and! ID,! LIST,! FROM are defined at the beginning of each. In this device, the LAN control unit 9 analyzes these character strings in a predetermined position of the received character code data, identifies the sender ID and the like from the defined character code, and the CPU 1 stores them externally. The registration is made in the section 4.

As described above, according to the eighth embodiment, it is possible to perform the necessary processing without the need for a special protocol between the present apparatus and the terminals such as PC and WS.

(Ninth Embodiment) Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, using the configuration shown in FIG. 8, the LAN control unit 9 analyzes the received electronic mail of the character code data, and the CPU 1 registers the sender ID and the destination mail list in association with each other. It was done like this.

FIG. 16 shows the flow of this embodiment. First, in step S71, the LAN control unit 9 receives the character code data of the electronic mail, and in step S72, analyzes the Subject part of the header. Then in step S73,
If it is determined that the analysis result is a text instruction, it is determined in step S7.
At 4, the text is analyzed. Then, in step S75, the CP
U1 registers the sender ID and the destination mail list in the external storage unit 4 in association with each other. If the text is not a command, in step S76 the character data is converted to image data,
In step S77, the image data is printed.

FIG. 17 shows a flow for selecting a destination from the destination list in this embodiment. First, step S81
Then, press the destination list button on the panel section 7,
When the sender ID is entered at 82, the destination list registered by electronic mail is displayed on the panel unit 7. Then, in step S83, a destination is selected from the displayed destination list, and when the start button is pressed in step S84, the image data input from the scanner unit 6 is format-converted and sent to the destination (steps S85-S85). S8
7).

As described above, according to the ninth embodiment, it is possible to easily input the destination electronic mail address list for each individual.

(Embodiment 10) Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention
The embodiment will be described. This embodiment is shown in FIG.
The LAN control unit 9 analyzes the received e-mail of the character code data and the CPU 1 registers the sender ID and the sender address in the external storage unit 4 in association with each other by using the configuration shown in FIG. The difference from the ninth embodiment is that the sender ID and the sender's address are registered in association with each other in step S75 in FIG. When selecting the sender address, press the sender button on the panel section 7 and enter the sender ID. The registered sender address will be displayed on the panel section 7. Enter it while looking at it and press the start button. Push.

As described above, according to the tenth embodiment, the electronic mail address of the sender (source) can be easily input for each individual.

(Embodiment 11) Next, the eleventh embodiment of the present invention.
The embodiment will be described. This embodiment is a combination of the ninth embodiment and the tenth embodiment described above, and further, the source address is determined when the destination is selected from the destination list. Is. That is, in FIG. 17, when the sender ID is input in step S82, the corresponding source address is recognized, and when transmitting the image data, the source address is automatically entered in the header.

As described above, according to the eleventh embodiment, the sender's e-mail address can be input without the sender's awareness.

(Embodiment 12) Next, the twelfth embodiment of the present invention
The embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a modem unit 18 for sending an image in a facsimile procedure is added to the configuration shown in FIG. A handset is attached to the modem unit 18.

FIG. 19 shows a flow for selecting and transmitting either electronic mail or facsimile according to the present embodiment. First, in step S91, a button for selecting an electronic mail or a facsimile from the panel unit 7 is pressed. Next, if the facsimile is determined in step S92, the destination number is input and the start button is pressed in step S93, the image is input from the scanner unit 6 in step S94, and the facsimile is sent to the destination in step S95. Follow the steps below to send. If it is determined in step S92 that it is not a facsimile, it is sent as an electronic mail in the same procedure as in FIG. 2 (steps S96 to S99).

As described above, according to the twelfth embodiment, since the facsimile transmission can be performed through the telephone line, the image data can be transmitted by the facsimile when the other party cannot receive the electronic mail.

(Embodiment 13) Next, a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention
The embodiment will be described. This embodiment is shown in FIG.
By using the configuration shown in FIG. 8, a reception notification is mailed to a terminal waiting for reception, and its flow is shown in FIG.
Shown in. First, after printing the image in the same procedure as in FIG. 5 (steps S101 to S103), step S104.
If it is determined that there is a reception waiting flag, then step S
At 105, a reception notification is transmitted to the terminal registered in advance.

In order to set the reception notification flag, FIG.
Send an e-mail with! RCV SET in the text in advance according to the format. Also, to reset the receipt notification flag, send an email with! RCV RESET in the body.

As described above, according to the thirteenth embodiment, the reception of the facsimile data can be known at the own terminal.

(Embodiment 14) Next, a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention
The embodiment will be described. This embodiment is shown in FIG.
The configuration shown in FIG. 8 is used to send a received electronic mail by a facsimile procedure, and the flow thereof is shown in FIG. First, in step S110, after receiving the image data, in step S111, the image data is reverse-format-converted, and in step S112, the image data shown in FIG.
The header is analyzed according to the format of
If there is a character string meaning to fax the image, the character string that follows is interpreted as the FAX number of the destination. If it is determined to be FAX transmission in step S113, the image data is FAX-transmitted to the above-mentioned FAX number in step S114. If it is not FAX transmission, printing is performed in step S115.

As described above, according to the fourteenth embodiment, the image data can be transmitted to the facsimile from the personal terminal.

(Fifteenth Embodiment) Next, the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a world clock unit 19 for sending an image to the local time of the world is added to the configuration shown in FIG. 18, and the world clock unit 19 can obtain the local time from the country name. It is a clock that can.

FIG. 23 shows the flow of timer transmission at the time of the destination country in this embodiment. The difference from normal transmission is that after inputting the destination in step S121,
In step S122, after setting the transmission time at the time of the transmission destination and after changing the format of the input image data by pressing the start button (steps S123-).
S125), in step S126, the country is determined from the destination, and in step S127, the destination and world clock unit 19
Is to get the local time of the country from and send the image data when the time matches the set time. The e-mail address is, for example, toyoda@mgcs.mei.c
It looks like o.jp, and the last jp represents Japan. In this way, the country is identified by the last character string.

As described above, according to the fifteenth embodiment, it is possible for the sender to perform timer transmission in local time without having to calculate the local time in each country.

(Embodiment 16) Next, a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention
The embodiment will be described. This embodiment is shown in FIG.
The configuration shown in FIG. 8 is used so that the device itself has a plurality of e-mail addresses.
4 shows. After receiving the image data and performing reverse format conversion (steps S131 and S132), step S
At 133, the image data is stored in the box for each destination created in the external storage unit 4. This box is associated with the ID and password previously input by the owner, and the ID and password of the owner for each destination are required to retrieve the contents of the box. And step S13
In step 4, the owner's ID and password are entered, and if accepted, the contents are printed in step S135. These processes are executed based on the program stored in the ROM 2.

As described above, according to the sixteenth embodiment, even a person who does not have a terminal for receiving an electronic mail can manage the received data for each individual.

(Embodiment 17) Next, the seventeenth embodiment of the present invention
The embodiment will be described. This embodiment is shown in FIG.
The configuration shown in FIG. 8 is used to add a cover sheet on the receiving side, and the flow is the same as FIG. 24 except that step S134 is eliminated and step S135 is performed.
In this case, a cover sheet for each owner is added. The cover sheet can be stored in advance in the external storage unit 4 by the owner.
The user's box is read from the scanner unit 6 or an e-mail containing an instruction to register the cover sheet is sent to the apparatus for registration.

As described above, according to the seventeenth embodiment, it is possible to know who the received data is, even if the sender of the apparatus does not attach the cover sheet.

(Embodiment 18) Next, the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention
The embodiment will be described. This embodiment is shown in FIG.
The configuration shown in FIG. 8 is used to send back a confirmation mail to the sender that the device has received the message.
The flow is shown in. After receiving the image data, converting it to the reverse format and printing (steps S141 to S141)
143), in step S144, an e-mail confirming the reception is transmitted to the e-mail address of the sender of the header. In the confirmation e-mail, the character string indicating the reception, the e-mail address of the apparatus, the company name, etc. are described. These processes are executed based on the program stored in the ROM 2.

As described above, according to the eighteenth embodiment, it is understood that the sender of this apparatus has received the electronic mail at this apparatus.

(Embodiment 19) Next, the nineteenth embodiment of the present invention
The embodiment will be described. This embodiment is shown in FIG.
The configuration shown in FIG. 8 is used to send a confirmation mail to the sender to the effect that the receiver has received the data. FIG. 26 shows the flow. After receiving the image data and performing reverse format conversion (steps S151, S
152), in step S153, the acceptance ID is described in the image data. The reception ID is generated based on the date and time that makes it unique for one year. Then step S
In 154, the reception I in which the recipient is described in the image data
When D is input, in step S155, the sender address of the image data corresponding to the reception ID is interpreted from the header, and a confirmation mail is sent to the sender.

As described above, according to the nineteenth embodiment, it is understood that the electronic mail has reached the intended individual by the sender of this apparatus.

(Embodiment 20) Next, the twentieth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described. This embodiment is shown in FIG.
The configuration shown in FIG. 8 is used to print the fact that transmission has failed, and the flow is shown in FIG. In step S161, the character code data is received, and in step S161.
In 162, the From line of the header of the received mail, that is, the address of the sender is analyzed. If it is determined in step S163 that the address is the address of the own device, in step S164, a message indicating that the transmission failed is printed. If it is an email other than your own device,
In step S165, the character data is converted into image data, and in step S166, the content is printed.

When the transmission of the received e-mail fails, the fact may be printed and the first page of the image data may be output.

As described above, according to the twentieth embodiment, it is easy for a person who has never dealt with electronic mail to know that the image data transmitted from the apparatus has an error.

In the second to twentieth embodiments, the character code received by e-mail is displayed on the CRT.
The CRT can be used when displaying a moving image. Further, the present embodiment can be configured by variously combining the first to twentieth embodiments described above.

As is clear from the above-described embodiments, the electronic mail apparatus according to the present invention converts the image data obtained by reading the original into the electronic mail format, and then transmits and receives the data on the network. After converting the electronic format to the facsimile format,
Since the printer is used for printing, by connecting this device to a network that allows e-mail, you can send image data to the other party with the simple operation of reading a document, just like a conventional facsimile machine. When receiving, the image data can be received by simply leaving the device in the operating state. In addition, it is possible to solve the problems such as the conventional facsimile apparatus, in which it is impossible to know whether or not the data reaches the transmission partner surely, the data is read by others, and a communication error occurs.

Since the present invention enables both transmission / reception of image data by electronic mail through a network and transmission / reception of image data by facsimile over a telephone line, when the transmission partner is an electronic mail device, electronic mail is transmitted. It can be sent by e-mail or, if the recipient is a facsimile machine, by a facsimile machine. Further, the received electronic mail can be transmitted by the facsimile device, and the received facsimile can be received by the electronic mail.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Image data can be sent by e-mail to a destination via a computer network, and more than one e-mail address addressed to the device itself can be registered, and the image data sent by e-mail can be stored for each e-mail address. , Manage, set a password for each email address, and output the accumulated image data when this password is entered, so even if you do not have a terminal to receive emails Can be managed for each.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart when transmitting image data according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a method of converting image data into an electronic mail format according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart when receiving image data according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for printing character code data according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to fourth, fifth, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of character recognition of a destination according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for inputting a source address in the fifth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for inputting voice and transmitting an image together in the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart when inputting a moving image and transmitting an image together in the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of registration of a destination mail address and a sender address by an electronic mail address according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for analyzing an electronic mail of received character code data in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart when selecting a destination from a destination list in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, sixteenth, and twelfth aspect of the present invention.
Schematic block diagram of the electronic mail device according to the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth embodiments.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for selecting and transmitting electronic mail and facsimile according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for mailing a reception notice to a terminal waiting for reception in the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for facsimile-transmitting a received mail in the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail device according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart when performing timer transmission at the time of the destination country in the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart when receiving image data when the own device has a plurality of electronic mail addresses in the sixteenth and seventeenth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart at the time of returning a confirmation mail to the sender that the confirmation mail has been received, according to the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart for sending a confirmation mail to the sender indicating that the receiver has received the data, according to the nineteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart for printing a message indicating a transmission failure in the twentieth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional facsimile apparatus using electronic mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 External storage 5 Format converter 6 Scanner section 7 panel section 8 compression / decompression section 9 LAN control unit 10-format reverse converter 11 Printer section 12 font section 13 Character recognition part 14 Audio input / output section 15 Audio compression / decompression unit 16 Video input / output section 17 Video compression / decompression section 18 Modem section 19 World Clock Club

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Toshihisa Sawada             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C062 AA02 AA29 AA35 AB17 AB22                       AB38 AB42 AC02 AC04 AC24                       AC29 AC30 AC35 AE01 AE08                       AF02 AF12 BC06 BD09

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A means for reading an original and converting it into image data, a means for compressing the read image data, a means for converting the compressed image data into an e-mail format, and an e-mail address. A facsimile-type electronic mail device, comprising: a means for inputting; and a means for transmitting the format-converted image data to the input destination mail address to a network capable of electronic mail, A means for registering a plurality of e-mail addresses, a means for accumulating and managing the image data transmitted by e-mail for each e-mail address, a means for setting a password for each e-mail address, and inputting the password Means for outputting the accumulated image data when A facsimile-type electronic mail device, which is characterized in that 2. A method of reading an original and converting it into image data, compressing the read image data, converting the compressed image data into an e-mail format, and an e-mail address. A facsimile type electronic mail communication method comprising: a step of inputting; and a step of transmitting the format-converted image data to a network capable of electronic mail to the input destination mail address Multiple e-mail addresses are registered, the image data sent by e-mail is stored and managed for each e-mail address, a password is set for each e-mail address, and the storage is performed when the password is entered. Output the image data Facsimile type electronic mail communication method.