JP2005286679A - Communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication apparatus in which sender information is transmitted from a source as information available at a destination, and the destination can send back a replay document formed based on the received sender information. <P>SOLUTION: When a transmission document is transmitted from a communication apparatus 1, a converting section 12 converts user information stored in a user information storage section 11 into sender information available at a destination, and a communicating section 13 transmits the sender information together with the transmission document. Upon receiving the sender information together with the transmission document through a communicating section 21, a communication apparatus 2 registers it in a phone book data base 23 and a replay document forming section 22 forms a replay document by utilizing the sender information and sends back the replay document through the communicating section 21. User of the communication apparatus 2 can edit the replay document easily. When a plurality of pieces of sender information are received, the replay document can be formed according to each sender information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device that transmits and receives document information.

  Conventionally, information is transferred from a transmission source to a reception destination by facsimile communication or electronic mail. At this time, for example, in facsimile communication, the information of the transmission source is transferred to the reception destination in the communication protocol and displayed or left in the history information. In the e-mail, the sender address is stored in the “Form” column of the header, and this sender address is passed to the recipient. In the case of an electronic mail, a reply mail can be transmitted using the address of the transmission source received at the receiving destination.

  However, these sender information is only used in the system, such as being left at the receiver even if it is received at the receiver, or being used as a reply address. I couldn't create it. In many cases, various user information is registered at the transmission source. However, the source information sent is limited information such as a telephone number and a source address, and its use is limited.

  As a technique for transmitting information registered in a transmission source, for example, there is a communication device described in Patent Document 1. In this technique, telephone book data, which is information on a destination registered in a communication device that is a transmission source, is registered in a communication device that is a reception destination. Accordingly, since the user information of the sender is never transmitted, the user information of the sender cannot be used at the receiving destination. Also in this technique, the received information is stored as telephone directory data in the receiving apparatus at the receiving destination, but a reply document is not automatically created using the received information.

JP 2002-232585 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and transmits sender information as information that can be used at the receiver from the sender, and creates a reply document based on the received sender information at the receiver. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that can respond.

  The present invention relates to a communication means for transmitting and receiving information in a communication apparatus as a receiving destination, and when the communication means receives sender information together with original information, creates a reply original according to the sender information and sends a reply from the communication means. And a reply manuscript creation means. When a plurality of pieces of sender information are received, a reply document corresponding to each piece of sender information can be created and returned. The reply document can be edited by an instruction from the user. Further, the received sender information can be accumulated and used later.

  Further, the present invention provides a user information storage unit that stores user information in advance in a communication apparatus as a transmission source, a conversion unit that converts the user information into sender information, and a conversion unit that converts the user information according to an instruction from the user. And a communication means for transmitting the sender information together with the transmission document.

  According to the present invention, user information stored in a transmission source communication device is transmitted to a reception destination communication device together with a transmission document as sender information. Since this sender information is information that can be used at the receiver, it is possible to create a reply document using the received sender information, edit it as necessary, and send it back to the sender. There is an effect that there is.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a system including an embodiment of a communication apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 1 and 2 are communication devices, 3 is a communication path, 11 is a user information storage unit, 12 is a conversion unit, 13 is a communication unit, 21 is a communication unit, 22 is a reply document creation unit, and 23 is a telephone directory database. is there. In the example shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the communication apparatus 1 serves as a transmission source and transmits document information to the communication apparatus 2 through the communication path 3, and the communication apparatus 1 includes a configuration on the transmission side, and the communication apparatus 2 is on the reception side. It is shown as including a configuration. Of course, one communication apparatus may include both the transmission side and reception side configurations.

  The communication path 3 is arbitrary, but here it is assumed to be a data exchange network such as a LAN or the Internet, and information is transmitted and received using electronic mail. Of course, even when performing facsimile communication through a public line, the same communication is possible although the communication protocol is different.

  The communication device 1 serving as a transmission source includes a user information storage unit 11, a conversion unit 12, a communication unit 13, and the like. Generally, user information, which is information related to a user of the communication device, is registered in the communication device. The user information storage unit 11 stores the registered user information. Note that this user information is not limited to one person, and user information can be registered and stored in advance for a plurality of users.

  The conversion unit 12 converts the user information stored in the user information storage unit 11 into sender information that is code information that can be transmitted and can be easily used by the communication device 2 as a reception destination.

  The communication unit 13 transmits the transmission original to the reception destination through the communication path 3 in accordance with an instruction from the user. At this time, the sender information converted by the conversion unit 12 is transmitted together with the transmission original. This sender information can be described in the text or attached as an attached file, for example, when the transmission original is transmitted by e-mail.

  The communication device 2 as a receiving destination includes a communication unit 21, a reply document creation unit 22, a telephone directory database 23, and the like. The communication unit 21 transmits and receives information through the communication path 3. Here, it is possible to receive an e-mail including a transmission document and sender information sent from the communication device 1. Of course, it is also possible to receive normal e-mails that do not contain sender information.

  When the communication unit 21 receives the sender information together with the document information, the reply document creating unit 22 creates a reply document according to the sender information and sends it back from the communication unit 21. When a plurality of pieces of sender information are received together with the document information, a reply document corresponding to each sender information can be created and sent back. In addition to automatically creating a reply manuscript, it can also be edited according to an instruction from the user.

  The telephone directory database 23 stores information regarding the transmission destination in the communication device 2. The sender information received by the communication unit 21 can be registered, for example, in the telephone directory database 23 and stored for later use.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation in the transmission source communication apparatus 1 of the present invention. If there is a transmission instruction from the user in S31, it is determined in S32 whether or not to transmit the sender information. This determination may be received in accordance with a transmission instruction from the user in S31 and an instruction indicating whether or not to transmit the sender information, or may be determined according to a preset setting.

  When the sender information is not transmitted, normal transmission processing is performed. Here, it is assumed that the transmission original is transmitted by electronic mail, an electronic mail including the transmission original is created in S33, and the electronic mail is transmitted in S37.

  When transmitting sender information, if there are a plurality of pieces of user information stored in the user information storage unit 11 in S34, user information to be transmitted is selected from them. The user information selected at this time is not limited to one information, and a plurality of user information may be selected. In step S35, the selected user information is converted by the conversion unit 12 into sender information of code information that can be transmitted and is suitable for use at the reception destination. In S36, an e-mail including one or more sender information converted by the conversion unit 12 is created together with the transmission original, and the e-mail is transmitted in S37.

  In this way, normally, user information registered in the communication apparatus can be transmitted to the receiver together with the transmission document as transmitter information of code information that can be transmitted and is suitable for use at the receiver.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the receiving communication apparatus 2 according to the present invention. In S41, it is determined whether or not there is information (e-mail) to be received. If there is information to be received, the information is received in S42.

  In S43, it is determined whether or not the sender information is included in the received information. If the sender information is included, the sender information is registered in the telephone directory database 23 in S44. Of course, in addition to registration in the telephone directory database 23, it may be stored as it is, transferred to another apparatus, or printed out by a printing means (not shown).

  In S45, it is determined whether or not the transmission information is included in the received information. If the transmission information is included, processing related to the transmission document is performed in S46. For example, it may be stored and stored internally, transferred to another device, or printed out by a printing means (not shown).

  In S47, it is determined whether or not to send a reply document according to the sender information. If no reply is made, the reception process is terminated. When returning a reply document, in S48, the reply document creating unit 22 creates a reply document using the received sender information. At this time, the user may edit the reply document. In step S49, the created reply document is transmitted to a notification destination such as an e-mail address in the sender communication device or sender information. Of course, the communication path at the time of receiving the transmission original may be different from the communication path at the time of returning the reply original. For example, the transmission original can be received by e-mail and the reply original can be transmitted by facsimile.

  When a plurality of pieces of sender information are received, a reply document corresponding to each piece of sender information may be created and sent back in S48. Alternatively, when a reply document is returned by e-mail, it may be broadcast to the e-mail address extracted from each sender information.

  An example of the above-described operation will be further described using a specific example. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of user information. In the communication device 1 on the transmission side, user information regarding a user who uses the communication device 1 is registered and stored in the user information storage unit 11. In the example shown in FIG. 4, user ID, password, authority, name, company name, department name, telephone number (TEL), facsimile number (FAX), and e-mail address (MAIL) information are registered as user information. . Of course, it goes without saying that data registered as user information is not limited to this example. The user information is not limited to one person, but a plurality of users can register each user information.

  When transmitting a transmission document to the communication apparatus 2 that is a reception destination, user information can be added to the transmission document as sender information and transmitted. The user selects user information to be transmitted as sender information together with the transmission document from the user information stored in the user information storage unit 11. Alternatively, user information corresponding to a user who issues a transmission instruction may be automatically selected.

  When the user information is instructed to be transmitted together with the transmission original, the conversion unit 12 converts the user information, which is internal information, into the sender information in a format that can be transmitted and can be used by the receiving communication device 2. Convert. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of sender information. FIG. 5 shows an example of sender information obtained by converting the user information shown in FIG. Here, it is converted into code (character) data in VCARD format which is generally used for data exchange of a card type database. By adopting a general data format, it is possible to easily cope with the function of transmitting and receiving sender information as in the present invention. Of course, the data format is not limited to this example, and various formats can be adopted. If no conversion is necessary, the user information may be used as it is as sender information.

  Such sender information is transmitted together with the transmission original. For example, when the communication apparatuses 1 and 2 are Internet facsimile apparatuses and transmit and receive a transmission document by e-mail, the transmission document is transmitted as an attached file of the e-mail. The sender information can be described in the body of the e-mail or transmitted as an attached file together with the transmission original.

  When the communication apparatus 2 receives the transmission original and the sender information sent from the communication apparatus 1 as the transmission source, the communication apparatus 2 performs normal reception processing on the transmission original, for example, prints out or stores it internally. It is possible to perform various processes that have been conventionally performed, such as storage and distribution to other devices.

  Furthermore, when sender information is sent, various processes using the sender information can be performed. For example, the sender information can be printed out and distributed to other devices, or the data format can be converted and registered in the telephone directory database 23. Furthermore, in the present invention, a reply document can be created and sent back using the sender information. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a reply document. Here, an example of a reply document created by receiving the sender information shown in FIG. 5 is shown. In the example shown in FIG. 6, an acceptance slip that replies that the transmission original has been received is returned as a reply original. The company name, department name, and name described in the sender information are automatically inserted in the reply manuscript. Of course, a part of the received transmission document may be included. Even in ordinary e-mail, the e-mail address in the From column can be used as sender information, but the sender information has much more information, and reply using such a lot of information. A manuscript can be created.

  The reply document can also be edited by the user of the communication device 2 on the receiving side. At this time, since the sender information is sent as code (character) data, the information extracted from the sender information and inserted can be easily edited.

  When a plurality of pieces of sender information are sent from the transmission source communication device 1, a reply document can be created for each piece of sender information. Alternatively, only one or several reply manuscripts may be created and broadcasted.

  Of course, the reply manuscript is obviously not limited to that shown in FIG. Since the sender information is code (character) data in a general data format, it can be used in various ways other than the above.

  The created reply document may be returned to, for example, the sender's email address described in the From column of the received email or the email address in the sender information. Alternatively, the reply can be made via another communication path. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, if the sender information includes a facsimile number, the reply document can be transmitted by facsimile using the facsimile number. If a telephone number is included, reply information may be transmitted by voice. The reply information can also be used in this way.

  In this way, the receiving side communication device 2 can easily create a reply manuscript automatically or further by the user using the sender information sent from the sending side communication device 1. And can reply.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the system containing one Embodiment of the communication apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement in the communication apparatus 1 of the transmission origin of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement in the communication apparatus 2 of the receiving destination of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of an example of user information. It is explanatory drawing of an example of sender information. It is explanatory drawing of an example of a reply original.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 ... Communication apparatus, 3 ... Communication path, 11 ... User information storage part, 12 ... Conversion part, 13 ... Communication part, 21 ... Communication part, 22 ... Reply original preparation part, 23 ... Phonebook database.

Claims (5)

  A communication unit that transmits and receives information; and a reply document creation unit that creates a reply document according to the sender information and sends a reply from the communication unit when the communication unit receives the sender information together with the document information. Communication device.   2. The communication according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of pieces of sender information are received together with the document information, the reply document creating unit creates a reply document corresponding to each of the sender information and returns each of them. apparatus.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reply document creating unit accepts an instruction from the user for the reply document and enables the reply document to be edited.   4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the received sender information in an available manner.   User information storage means for storing user information in advance, conversion means for converting the user information into sender information, and the sender information converted by the conversion means in accordance with an instruction from the user is transmitted together with a transmission original. A communication apparatus comprising communication means.

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