JP2005209189A - Communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication apparatus significantly reducing time and effort for inputting an e-mail address. <P>SOLUTION: The communication apparatus is provided with: a display means; an e-mail address input means for inputting an e-mail address composed of a user name, a domain name and a separation code between the user name and the domain name; and a storage means capable of storing a plurality of domain names. If input of the separation code is detected following the input of the user name by the e-mail address input means, a domain name is read out which has been stored in the storage means, and is displayed on the display means so as to be selectable, an e-mail address is formed by using a selected domain name and an inputted user name, and e-mail is transmitted with the formed e-mail address being its destination, thus producing an effect of significantly reducing time and effort for inputting the e-mail address. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus having an electronic mail exchange function on a network.

  In recent years, a network facsimile apparatus has been proposed that has a function of exchanging data on a local area network and a function of exchanging facsimile data by a facsimile transmission procedure performed via a public network (see Patent Document 1).

  When such a network facsimile apparatus is used, image information from a facsimile apparatus connected to a public network is distributed to a workstation apparatus connected to a local area network, or a workstation connected to a local area network. Since the image information can be transmitted to the user of the apparatus, it is very convenient.

In addition, when the connected local area network is connected to the Internet, the image information transmission operation can also be performed to a terminal device connected to another local area network via the Internet. , Can take a variety of usage forms.
JP-A-10-155001

  By the way, in a local area network or the Internet, an e-mail address is applied to distinguish each user, and this e-mail address is expressed in alphanumeric characters, and is generally a user name and a user name. , Network-specific domain names are concatenated via a delimiter (usually “@”).

  Therefore, the e-mail address becomes a relatively long character string, and when trying to input the e-mail address of the destination user in a communication apparatus such as a network facsimile apparatus, it is difficult to input unless a dedicated keyboard apparatus is provided. This caused a problem.

  Note that an e-mail address input device is configured by using a key input device (for example, a numeric keypad) used when inputting a name of a destination registered in a one-touch dial key, for example, instead of a dedicated keyboard device. However, inputting an e-mail address of a long character string is not changed, and the above-mentioned problems are not solved. In particular, an e-mail address must be entered every time it is sent. Unlike information that only needs to be entered once at the time of registration, such as the name of a destination that is registered with a one-touch dial key, the operability of the input device is greatly problematic. Therefore, diversion of such an input device does not solve the above-described problems.

  It is also possible to register an e-mail address in the phone number registration area of the one-touch dial. However, while the data management method, data registration operation, and quoting operation need to be changed significantly, the one-touch dial function This is not preferable because it causes a problem that the number of phone numbers that can be registered is reduced.

  Although it is conceivable to register the e-mail address together with the name of the other party for each one-touch dial, it is not preferable because the data capacity of the registration area for that purpose increases. In addition to the one-touch dial registration, it is conceivable to register an e-mail address so that it can be selected, but this is not preferable because the data capacity for the registration area increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device that can greatly reduce the labor of inputting an e-mail address.

  The present invention is capable of storing a plurality of domain names, display means, e-mail address input means for inputting an e-mail address consisting of a user name, a domain name, and a delimiter between the user name and the domain name. Storage means, and when the input of the delimiter is detected following the input of the user name by the e-mail address input means, the domain name stored in the storage means is read and selected by the display means An e-mail address is formed using the selected domain name and the input user name, and an e-mail is transmitted with the formed e-mail address as a destination.

  The formed e-mail address is displayed on the display means.

  The display of the domain name on the display means is performed in order from the stored date and time to the latest one.

  The domain names are displayed on the display means in order of use frequency.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the display means, the e-mail address input means for inputting the e-mail address composed of the user name, the domain name, and the delimiter between the user name and the domain name, and the plurality of domain names Storage means capable of storing the information, and when the input of the delimiter code is detected following the input of the user name by the e-mail address input means, the domain name stored in the storage means is read and the Since it is displayed so as to be selectable on the display means, an e-mail address is formed using the selected domain name and the input user name, and an e-mail is transmitted with the formed e-mail address as a destination. The effect of greatly reducing the trouble of inputting an e-mail address can be obtained.

  In addition, by calling the contents of the domain name buffer in order of use or frequency of use, there is also an effect that a desired domain name can be obtained quickly.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, a plurality of workstation devices WS1 to WSn, a mail server device SM, and a network facsimile device FX are connected to the local area network LAN.

  Here, the mail server device SM collects and distributes e-mails (described later) to users who use the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and the network network facsimile device FX. It provides services.

  The workstation devices WS1 to WSn include application software for exchanging various data via the local area network LAN, application software for processing image information included in an e-mail received from the network facsimile device FX, and the like. Various programs have been introduced and are used by specific users. Here, the specific user may be one or a plurality of users.

  Further, the network facsimile apparatus FX is connected to a local area network LAN, is connected to a transmission function for exchanging image information as an e-mail, and is connected to a public network (PSTN). A transmission function for transmitting image information according to a 3-facsimile transmission procedure is provided.

  In the present embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is performed by a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called TCP / IP and a higher level than that. A combination with a layer communication protocol (so-called protocol suite) is applied. For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, a communication protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied as an upper layer communication protocol.

  In this embodiment, distribution of received image information from the network facsimile apparatus FX to each user of the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn is performed using electronic mail.

  In the present embodiment, the e-mail is transmitted in a storage-and-delivery type transmission form in which the e-mail is once stored in the mail server device SM and then distributed to the destination.

  That is, for example, an electronic mail from the network facsimile apparatus FX to the user of the workstation apparatus WS1 is temporarily stored in the mail server apparatus SM.

  On the other hand, the workstation devices WS1 to WSn and the network facsimile device FX make an inquiry to the mail server device SM for receiving an e-mail addressed to the user of the own terminal at an appropriate cycle, and the e-mail addressed to the user is sent to the mail server device. When it is stored in the SM, it receives the electronic mail from the mail server device SM and notifies its own user to that effect.

  Accordingly, in this case, when the workstation WS1 makes an inquiry to the mail server device SM for receiving an e-mail addressed to the user of the own terminal, the e-mail addressed to the user of the own terminal accumulates in the mail server device SM. Therefore, the user receives the e-mail and notifies the user to that effect by an appropriate method.

  The user who has received this notification reads the contents of the e-mail and confirms the contents. In this case, as will be described later, when the contents of the e-mail include binary data such as facsimile image information, an application capable of appropriately processing the binary data is started to check the contents of the e-mail. To do. However, the e-mail cannot include binary data directly, and is included in the e-mail in a state in which it is converted into readable information (7-bit character code) by applying a predetermined conversion method. Such an e-mail format is referred to as a MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (multipurpose mail); refer to RFC (described later) 1521, RFC1522, etc.) format.

  Here, a so-called POP (Post Office Protocol) or the like can be applied as a protocol that each terminal applies to the mail server device SM in order to confirm the reception of an e-mail addressed to the user, a transmission request, or the like.

  In addition, communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, and POP, and the data format and data structure of e-mails are issued by organizations that compile technical contents related to the Internet called IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). RFC (Request For Comments) document. For example, RFC 793 is defined for TCP, RFC 793 is defined for IP, RFC 821 for SMTP, RFC 822, RFC 1521, RFC 1522, and POP for RFC 1725.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the network facsimile apparatus FX.

  In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each part of the facsimile apparatus and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. A system memory 2 is a control executed by the system control part 1. The processing program and various data necessary for executing the processing program are stored, and the work area of the system control unit 1 is configured. The parameter memory 3 includes various information unique to the facsimile apparatus. The clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.

  The scanner 5 is for reading a document image with a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image with a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 7 is for operating the facsimile apparatus. It consists of various operation keys and various displays.

  The encoding / decoding unit 8 encodes and compresses the image signal, and also decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. The image storage device 9 performs encoding and compression. This is for storing a large number of image information in the selected state.

  The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing the modem function of the group 3 facsimile, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals, and mainly for exchanging image information. A high-speed modem function (V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27ter modem, etc.) is provided.

  The network control device 11 is for connecting the facsimile apparatus to the international telephone network PSTN, and has an automatic outgoing / incoming function.

  The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the Internet facsimile apparatus to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 13 communicates with other data terminal apparatuses via the local area network LAN. This is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data between them.

  The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, image storage device 9, group 3 facsimile modem 10, network The control device 11 and the local area network transmission control unit 13 are connected to an internal bus 14, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed via the internal bus 14.

  Data exchange between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is performed directly.

  When image information is transmitted to a user using the local area network LAN using e-mail, it is necessary to specify a target user using an e-mail address assigned to the user. .

  As described above, this e-mail address has a format in which a user name and a network-specific domain name are concatenated via a delimiter (usually “@”), and the graphic characters constituting the character string are , Alphanumeric characters apply.

  In this case, the operation display unit 7 of the network facsimile apparatus FX includes a key input device capable of inputting an e-mail address and a screen display (for example, a liquid crystal display device) for enabling confirmation of the input e-mail address. Is provided so that a desired e-mail address can be input.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the domain name buffer of the e-mail address that has been input so far is extracted and stored in the order of use. When inputting the e-mail address of the destination user, as shown in FIG. 4, when the user inputs up to the user name of the e-mail address of the destination user and inputs the delimiter “@”, the domain name buffer The domain name memorized in is displayed, and the displayed contents can be updated sequentially. When the user selects the domain name of the destination user's e-mail address and the input is confirmed, the user entered at that time The name, the delimiter “@”, and the selected domain name are concatenated sequentially to form the destination user's email address.

  As a result, it is possible to reduce the user's trouble when inputting the e-mail address of the destination user.

  An example of the e-mail address input process in this case is shown in FIG.

  First, key input data is captured until the delimiter “@” is input (processing 101, NO loop of determination 102), and when the delimiter “@” is input and the result of determination 102 is YES, the domain name A pointer is set at the head of the buffer (process 103).

  Next, the data in the domain name buffer corresponding to the pointer is extracted and displayed (process 104), and the user's key input data is captured (process 105). At this time, in order to use the displayed domain name, it is checked whether or not the enter key has been operated (decision 106). If the result of the decision 106 is YES when the user has operated the enter key, Destination confirmation process (forms an email address composed of the user name inputted at the time and the confirmed domain name, outputs the email address as the email address of the destination user, and updates the domain name buffer) The processing 107) is executed and this processing is terminated.

  When the result of determination 106 is NO, it is checked whether or not the key data input at step 105 is a scroll key (determination 108). When the result of determination 108 is YES, the contents of the domain name buffer are indicated. The pointer to be advanced is advanced by one (process 109). Here, it is checked whether or not there is the next data (decision 110). If the result of determination 110 is NO, the process returns to step 104, and the contents of the domain name buffer indicated by the pointer are newly displayed.

  If the key data input in step 105 is other than that and the result of determination 108 is NO, the user presses the confirmation key because the user inputs an e-mail of a destination user with a new domain name. Until the key input data is fetched (NO loop of processing 111 and determination 112), when the confirmation key is pressed and the result of determination 112 is YES, the e-mail address composed of the user name and the domain name input at that time , And the electronic mail address is output as the electronic mail address of the destination user, and a new addition process (process 113) is performed on the domain name buffer for updating the domain name buffer by newly adding the domain name. Execute this to finish this process.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the destination confirmation process (process 107).

  First, it is checked whether or not the pointer is at the head of the domain name buffer (determination 201). When the result of determination 201 is YES, the domain name used immediately before is used again. Since there is no need to update, this processing is immediately terminated.

  When the result of determination 201 is NO, a domain name other than the domain name used immediately before is used. Therefore, the newly used domain name is stored at the top of the domain name buffer, and other domain name elements are sequentially moved to the old storage location one by one to update the domain name buffer (processing) 202 to process 209).

  FIG. 7 shows an example of new addition processing (processing 113) in the domain name buffer.

  First, the destination domain name to be added to the temporary buffer is saved (process 301), and the pointer is updated to indicate the oldest data in the domain name buffer (process 302).

  Next, the oldest data in the domain name buffer is deleted (process 304), and the other domain name buffer elements are sequentially moved to the old storage position one by one (process 305 to decision 310). The domain name saved in the temporary buffer is stored at the beginning of (step 311), and this processing is terminated.

  By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the elements of the domain name buffer are extracted in the order of use, but may be extracted in the order of use frequency. In that case, as shown in FIG. 8, the domain name and the number of uses are stored as one element of the domain name buffer.

  Then, by arranging the elements of the domain name buffer from the top in the descending order of the number of uses, the domain names can be displayed in the order of use frequency in the e-mail address input process shown in FIG.

  An example of the destination confirmation process (process 107) in this case is shown in FIG.

  First, the value of the number of uses stored in the domain buffer corresponding to the domain name of the confirmed destination is incremented by 1 (process 401). Next, it is checked whether or not the pointer is at the head of the domain name buffer (decision 402). When the result of determination 402 is YES, the most frequently used domain name is used again, and the domain name buffer is Since there is no need to update, this processing is immediately terminated.

  Further, when the result of determination 402 is NO, a domain name other than the domain name having the highest use frequency is used. Therefore, the domain name buffer is updated by rearranging the elements of the domain name buffer in order of the number of times of use including the newly used domain name (process 404 to process 411).

  An example of new addition processing (processing 113) in the domain name buffer in this case is shown in FIG.

  First, the domain name of the destination to be added and the number of times of use (the value is “1” because it is the first) are saved (process 501), and the pointer is updated to indicate the final data in the domain name buffer (process 502).

  Next, the final data of the domain name buffer is deleted, and other elements of the domain name buffer are rearranged in order of the number of times of use, including the newly used domain name. The name buffer is updated (process 503 to process 512).

  In the above-described embodiment, the data element of the domain name buffer is fixed-length data, but may be variable-length data.

1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which showed the structural example of the network facsimile apparatus FX. Schematic which showed an example of the domain name buffer. The time chart which showed an example of the operation mode of an e-mail address input. The flowchart which showed an example of the email address input process. The flowchart which showed an example of the destination confirmation process. The flowchart which showed an example of the new addition process to a domain name buffer. Schematic which showed the other example of the domain name buffer. The flowchart which showed the other example of the destination determination process. The flowchart which showed the other example of the new addition process to a domain name buffer.

Explanation of symbols

1 System control unit 2 System memory 3 Parameter memory

Claims (4)

Display means;
E-mail address input means for inputting an e-mail address consisting of a user name, a domain name, and a delimiter between the user name and the domain name;
Storage means capable of storing a plurality of domain names,
When the input of the delimiter is detected following the input of the user name by the e-mail address input means, the domain name stored in the storage means is read out and displayed on the display means so as to be selectable. An e-mail address is formed using the domain name and the input user name, and an e-mail is transmitted with the formed e-mail address as a destination.   2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the formed e-mail address is displayed on the display means.   3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display of the domain name on the display means is performed in order from the earliest stored date to the latest one.   3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display of the domain name on the display means is performed in order of use frequency.