JP2006237784A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus whereby a receiver side can re-designate its desired image format with respect to an image format transmitted by the image processing apparatus and simply execute optimum settings for the next and succeeding image transmission so as to reduce mis-settings. <P>SOLUTION: When an image transmitted from the image processing apparatus to a recipient is formatted in a way of being unintended by a recipient of mail with an image, the recipient describes the revised contents to a return mail letter and transmits the mail to the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus analyzes the contents and converts the image into an image format along with the revised contents and retransmits the resulting image to the recipient. The image processing apparatus stores the revised contents by the return mail as history information corresponding to the destination of the recipient and reflects the revision on the image in the succeeding transmission. The image processing apparatus stores the revised contents as a default, and the image processing apparatus raises a warning UI when the revised contents are going to be re-set. In order to attain detailed setting revisions, the image is stored in a form of linking with mail having the highest image quality of the image processing apparatus and deleted from its HDD after a lapse of a prescribed time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides a technique for easily resetting a detailed format (resolution, number of gradations, compression format, compression rate, etc.) of transmission image data when image data is attached to an e-mail. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus.

  With the advancement of networks such as the Internet and LAN, data files are often attached to electronic mail to exchange and share information. Such data files include image files.

  Conventionally, when image data is attached to an e-mail and sent, a more general image format is adopted in consideration of data readability on the receiving side, and the e-mail is attached using the format. However, when an image file is attached and transmitted, the content of the image file may not be referred to at the receiving terminal. There are various file formats for image files, and corresponding application programs are required to properly refer to them. Without this application program, the receiving side cannot correctly refer to the file, and information exchange cannot be established.

Under such circumstances, if the receiver cannot refer to the data, the receiver sends a reply to the mail, converts the priority of the transmitting device to a general file format based on the priority, and re-sends it. Send. Thus, an example corresponding to the image file reference problem due to the readability of the recipient can be seen.
JP 2002-354040 A

  However, it is possible that the received image data is not necessarily in the format desired by the recipient. In addition, the performance of the transmitting device cannot be fully exhibited, and it may be rounded to an existing general format. If the data once received is not in the format desired by the user, the re-designation of the format involves a complicated operation by the user performing operations such as image re-conversion designation and re-transmission at the image transmission device.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and it is possible to re-designate a desired image format from the receiving side, and it is possible to easily perform optimum settings at the next and subsequent transmissions, thereby reducing setting mistakes. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for transmitting an electronic mail via a network, a means for transmitting an electronic mail with an image file attached thereto, and means for storing original data capable of generating the transmission image file. Based on the re-designated item analyzed by the e-mail recipient, means for re-designating the detailed image settings by e-mail reply, e-mail analyzing means for analyzing the re-designated item from the reply e-mail, and e-mail analyzing means An image processing apparatus comprising image regenerating means for regenerating an image and means for retransmitting the regenerated image to the e-mail recipient.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the image re-generation is performed when it has an image resolution as a re-designated item of the image detailed setting and the resolution is re-designated by the mail analyzing means. An image processing apparatus which performs image file format conversion by re-designation from the original data by means.

  In the invention of claim 3, in the image processing apparatus of claim 1, when it is analyzed that the number of image gradations is specified as the redesignated item of the image detailed setting and the gradation number is redesignated by the mail analyzing unit, An image processing apparatus which performs image file format conversion by re-designation from the original data by the image regeneration means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, when the image detail setting has an image compression rate as a redesignated item and the mail analysis means analyzes that the compression rate has been redesignated, An image processing apparatus which performs image file format conversion by re-designation from the original data by a regenerating unit.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, when the image detailed size setting has an image paper size as a re-designated item and the mail analyzing means analyzes that the paper size has been re-designated, An image processing apparatus which performs image file format conversion by re-designation from the original data by a regenerating unit.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, when an image file format is included as a re-designated item of an image detailed setting, and the mail analyzing unit analyzes that the image file format has been re-designated, An image processing apparatus which performs image file format conversion by re-designation from the original data by an image regenerating means.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the original data is deleted when the reply e-mail does not exist within a predetermined time after the e-mail attached with the image file is transmitted. An image processing apparatus.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect is analyzed by the means for storing the destination information of the e-mail transmission destination, the image setting information storage means corresponding to the destination, and the analysis means. An image processing apparatus comprising: means for associating the reset item contents with a destination, and resetting item storage means by the resetting reply mail when resetting by the resetting reply mail is performed.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the image processing apparatus further comprises means for displaying a warning message when the user tries to change the redesignated item when transmitting the redesignated item.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the image processing unit includes an image reading unit, and an image input from the image reading unit is used as the original data generation unit. apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to re-designate a desired image format from the receiving side by an easy method of mail reply. In addition, by storing the re-designated format, the optimum setting can be easily performed at the next and subsequent transmissions, and setting errors can be reduced.

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

<First embodiment>
The image processing apparatus and mail transmission apparatus in this embodiment are assumed to be multi-function peripherals (hereinafter abbreviated as MFP). An MFP is a multifunction machine having functions such as a scanner, a copier, a fax machine, and a printer, and can transmit and receive data via a network. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the flow of image data in the MFP.

  First, a storage format of image data attached to an e-mail will be described. When the original 101 (photograph, text, figure, etc.) is read by the scanner unit 102, density data output from the scanner unit 102 is transferred to the image processing unit 103. The image data is converted into image data by the image processing unit 103 and stored by the original image storage unit 104. This stored image data 104 is called original image data. This original image data is the highest image quality data at the time of reading by the scanner unit 102, that is, the highest resolution and the maximum number of gradations of the reading scanner, and is subjected to non-compression, lossless compression, or high-quality lossy compression. Image data.

  Original image data 104 is stored in the storage unit 105. In the MFP, the image data to be transmitted attached to the e-mail is stored in the storage unit 105 as original image data.

  The original image data 104 stored in the storage unit 105 is read at the time of mail transmission, and is subjected to conversion processing according to the file format designated by the image conversion unit 106. The converted image data is attached to an e-mail at 107 and transmitted at 108.

  The internal functional configuration of the MFP will be described with reference to FIG. The scanner unit 201 reads a document, sends the data to the image processing unit 202, and stores the image data in the original data storage unit 206 in the storage unit 205.

  When trying to transmit an image, the image extracted from the original data storage unit 206 is converted by the image conversion unit 210 and transmitted from the mail transmission unit 213 and the communication unit 215 to the network. The mail transmission unit 213 includes a function of attaching conversion data to a mail in addition to a function of transmitting an electronic mail to a mail server. It is also used in the re-transmission procedure when the file format desired by the recipient is not obtained.

  The mail receiving unit 214 uses the POP to make an email reception inquiry to the set mail server, and when there is a received mail, executes a reception process.

  The mail decrypting unit 211 is a processing unit having a function of decrypting a reset item when a file attached to an e-mail is not in a format desired by the recipient.

  The image conversion unit 210 is a processing unit that creates conversion data by applying various user settings to the original data stored in the original data storage unit 206. In addition, when the file is not desired by the user, it is also a processing unit that resets the original data stored in the original data storage unit 206.

  The display control unit 209 displays an operation menu or the like on the display 204.

  A history table 207 is stored in the storage unit. FIG. 3 shows an example of the history table. A history table 207 is a table in which an email transmission history is recorded. In each job, a mail ID, a file name, a destination address, and a transmission time are recorded.

  The mail decrypting unit 211 will be described in detail. In the MFP, if the transmitted attached file is not in the format desired by the recipient, the resetting is accepted, the resetting is performed by the image converting unit 210, and the mail transmitting unit 213 retransmits.

  When sending an image-attached e-mail in the MFP, an e-mail ID is written in the e-mail header or body, and a link between the ID and the original image data is displayed in the history table previously shown in FIG. Record it.

  When the mail receiving unit receives a reply mail from the user, the mail ID is searched from the body text or the mail header to ensure uniqueness with the original image data. After that, the recognition processing of the reset items such as the resolution and the number of gradations is performed from the text. This means can be realized by pattern matching in the text.

  An example of the reply mail including the transmitted mail text and reset items is shown in FIG. In this way, the user can re-specify the desired image format by rewriting the part to be changed to the received mail and writing a reply mail to the MFP. It is also possible to hide some functions as application modes according to the user's knowledge.

  Next, a series of operations of the attached file retransmission process in the MFP will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, a process for sending an e-mail with an attached file will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the user first designates a partner to send using the operation unit (S501). At this time, the source address, destination address, subject, etc. are entered. Next, the user designates the format of the image to be transmitted. Specifically, the image resolution, the number of gradations (including color and monochrome), the paper size, the image compression rate, the file format, and the like are applicable.

  Next, in S503, when the user designates the start of scanning, an original reading operation is performed by the scanner unit, which is converted into image data by the image processing unit. This data is recorded in the storage unit as original image data.

  In step S505, the image data is converted into an image format according to the detailed setting previously set by the user in the image processing unit.

  In step S506, the transmission history information is registered in the history table. Specifically, a mail ID, a transmission destination address, a file name, a file size, and a transmission time attached to an electronic mail to be transmitted are recorded.

  Next, in S507, the image file created in S505 is attached, the detailed settings of the image are described in the body, a mail with the mail ID assigned in S506 is created, and the e-mail is transmitted. .

  Next, a state in which a reply mail is waiting in the MFP will be described with reference to FIG. When there is a reply to the mail transmitted in the process of FIG. 5, the re-transmission according to the content is performed. The reply mail is inquired of the mail server, and the presence or absence of the reply mail is confirmed (S601). If there is a reply mail at this time, the process proceeds to a reply mail analysis / retransmission process. This analysis retransmission process will be described later.

  When there is no reply mail in S601, it is confirmed in the history table created in the previous S506 whether there is a job whose predetermined time has passed from the time of transmission to the present (S603).

  At this time, if there is a job that has passed the predetermined time, it is determined that the file format is the desired file format at the receiving source, the history table in which the job is recorded is deleted, and then the original image data linked to the history Is deleted (S604, S605). Thereafter, the process returns to the reply mail confirmation process in S601.

  Here, if there is no job for which the predetermined time has passed in S603, the process returns to the reply mail confirmation process in S601.

  Next, the flow of processing of reply mail analysis and image retransmission will be described with reference to FIG. If the reply mail is confirmed in the reply mail confirmation process in S601, the process proceeds to the reply mail analysis and image retransmission process.

  First, the mail ID of the reply mail is searched. The mail ID and reply source address are found from the history table (S701). If the reply source address or the corresponding mail ID is not in the history table, a mail that cannot be retransmitted is sent to the reply source (S709). At this time, it is described in the text that the image has been deleted or that the email has been fraudulent over time, and is transmitted.

  If the transmission address and mail ID are found, the process proceeds to the resetting item analysis process in the next S703. In this resetting item analysis, image detailed setting items written in a predetermined format in the text are read. At this time, if the analysis cannot be performed because the format is invalid or the like, an email that cannot be retransmitted is sent to the reply source in S709 as before. At this time, it is an error due to incorrect format, and notes and tutorials are described in the text and sent.

  Next, when the reset item can be analyzed correctly, the reset item analyzed in S703 is applied to the original image data found in S701, and image conversion is performed (S706).

  Next, the transmission history information is re-registered and updated in the history table. Specifically, a new mail ID, a transmission destination address, a file name, a new file size, and a new transmission time attached to an electronic mail to be transmitted are recorded.

  Finally, the image file regenerated in S708 is attached to the e-mail and re-transmission is performed, thereby completing the reply e-mail analysis and re-transmission.

  In this embodiment, the scanner has the highest image quality as the original data, but any image quality data can be used as long as the transmission image data can be regenerated.

<Second embodiment>
The image processing apparatus and mail transmission apparatus in this embodiment are assumed to be multi-function peripherals (hereinafter abbreviated as MFP) as in the first embodiment. An MFP is a multifunction machine having functions such as a scanner, a copier, a fax machine, and a printer, and can transmit and receive data via a network. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the flow of image data in the MFP.

  First, a storage format of image data attached to an e-mail will be described. When the original 101 (photograph, text, figure, etc.) is read by the scanner unit 102, density data output from the scanner unit 102 is transferred to the image processing unit 103. The image data is converted into image data by the image processing unit 103 and stored by the original image storage unit 104. This stored image data 104 is called original image data. This original image data is the highest image quality data at the time of reading by the scanner unit 102, that is, the highest resolution and the maximum number of gradations of the reading scanner, and is subjected to non-compression, lossless compression, or high-quality lossy compression. Image data.

  Original image data 104 is stored in the storage unit 105. In the MFP, the image data to be transmitted attached to the e-mail is stored in the storage unit 105 as original image data.

  The original image data 104 stored in the storage unit 105 is read at the time of mail transmission, and is subjected to conversion processing according to the file format designated by the image conversion unit 106. The converted image data is attached to an e-mail at 107 and transmitted at 108.

  The internal functional configuration of the MFP will be described with reference to FIG. The scanner unit 801 reads a document, sends the data to the image processing unit 802, and stores the image data in the original data storage unit 806 in the storage unit 805.

  When trying to transmit an image, the image extracted from the original data storage unit 206 is converted by the image conversion unit 810 and transmitted from the mail transmission unit 813 and the communication unit 815 to the network. The mail transmitting unit 813 includes a function of attaching conversion data to a mail in addition to a function of transmitting an electronic mail to a mail server. It is also used in the re-transmission procedure when the file format desired by the recipient is not obtained.

  The mail receiving unit 814 uses the POP to make an email reception inquiry to the set mail server, and when there is a received mail, executes a reception process.

  The mail decrypting unit 811 is a processing unit having a function of decrypting a reset item when a file attached to an electronic mail is not in a format desired by the recipient.

  The image conversion unit 810 is a processing unit that creates conversion data by applying various user settings to the original data stored in the original data storage unit 206. In addition, when the file is not a user-desired file, it is also a processing unit that resets the original data stored in the original data storage unit 806.

  A display control unit 809 displays an operation menu or the like on the display 804.

  A history table 807 is stored in the storage unit. FIG. 3 shows an example of the history table. The history table 807 is a table in which an email transmission history is recorded, and each job stores a mail ID, a file name, a transmission destination address, and a transmission time.

  The storage unit stores a destination table 808 in addition to the history table. FIG. 9 shows an example of the destination table. In the destination table, detailed image setting data indicating in what image format the sender corresponding to the e-mail address sent e-mail last time is described. In the example of FIG. 9, image resolution, the number of image gradations, an image compression rate, an image paper size, and an image format are described as items. In addition, it is possible to link various data in association with the sender, such as settings at the time of scanning.

  The mail decrypting unit 811 will be described in detail. In the MFP, if the transmitted attached file is not in the format desired by the recipient, the resetting is accepted, the resetting is performed by the image converting unit 810, and the mail transmitting unit 813 retransmits the resetting.

  When sending an image-attached e-mail in the MFP, an e-mail ID is written in the e-mail header or body, and a link between the ID and the original image data is displayed in the history table previously shown in FIG. Record it.

  When the mail receiving unit receives a reply mail from the user, the mail ID is searched from the body text or the mail header to ensure uniqueness with the original image data. After that, the recognition processing of the reset items such as the resolution and the number of gradations is performed from the text. This means can be realized by pattern matching in the text.

  An example of the reply mail including the transmitted mail text and reset items is shown in FIG. In this way, the user can re-specify the desired image format by rewriting the part to be changed to the received mail and writing a reply mail to the MFP. It is also possible to hide some functions as application modes according to the user's knowledge.

  Next, a series of operations of the attached file retransmission process in the MFP will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, with reference to FIG. 10, transmission processing of an e-mail with an attached file will be described. Here, the user first designates a partner to be sent using the operation unit (S1001). At this time, the source address, destination address, subject, etc. are entered.

  Next, it is confirmed whether or not the address exists in the destination table (S1010). As shown in the example of FIG. 9, the address table records the address and the detailed image settings for the previous transmission for that address. If it is registered in this destination table (S1012), the detailed image settings are reflected from the destination table and displayed and set as image setting values for the destination. If the destination is not registered in the destination table, default image settings are displayed and set (S1011).

  Next, the user designates the format of the image to be transmitted. Specifically, the image resolution, the number of gradations (including color and monochrome), the paper size, the image compression rate, the file format, and the like are applicable. These settings are set in advance in the previous steps S1011 and S1012, and basically no resetting is required. In S1012, if the previous desired file setting is to be changed, a message to that effect is displayed on the UI.

  In step S1003, when the user designates the start of scanning, the scanner unit performs a document reading operation. The image processing unit converts the document into image data. The data is recorded as original image data in the storage unit.

  In step S1005, the image data is converted into an image format in accordance with the detailed setting previously set by the user in the image processing unit.

  In step S1006, transmission history information is registered in the history table. Specifically, a mail ID, a transmission destination address, a file name, a file size, and a transmission time attached to an electronic mail to be transmitted are recorded. At the same time, when the detailed image settings in S1002 are changed, the setting items are recorded and updated in the destination table.

  In step S1007, the image file created in step S1005 is attached, the detailed settings of the image are described in the text, a mail with the mail ID assigned in step S1006 is created, and the e-mail is transmitted. .

  Next, a state in which a reply mail is waiting in the MFP will be described with reference to FIG. When there is a reply to the mail transmitted in the process of FIG. 5, the re-transmission according to the content is performed. The reply mail is inquired of the mail server, and the presence or absence of the reply mail is confirmed (S601). If there is a reply mail at this time, the process proceeds to a reply mail analysis / retransmission process. This analysis retransmission process will be described later.

  When there is no reply mail in S601, it is confirmed in the history table created in the previous S506 whether there is a job whose predetermined time has passed from the time of transmission to the present (S603).

  At this time, if there is a job that has passed the predetermined time, it is determined that the file format is the desired file format at the receiving source, the history table in which the job is recorded is deleted, and then the original image data linked to the history Is deleted (S604, S605). Thereafter, the process returns to the reply mail confirmation process in S601.

  Here, if there is no job for which the predetermined time has passed in S603, the process returns to the reply mail confirmation process in S601.

  Next, the flow of processing for reply mail analysis and image retransmission will be described with reference to FIG. If the reply mail is confirmed in the reply mail confirmation process in S601, the process proceeds to the reply mail analysis and image retransmission process.

  First, the mail ID of the reply mail is searched. The mail ID and reply source address are found from the history table (S1101). If the reply source address or the corresponding mail ID is not in the history table, a mail that cannot be retransmitted is sent to the reply source (S1109). At this time, it is described in the text that the image has been deleted or that the email has been fraudulent over time, and is transmitted.

  If the transmission address and mail ID are found, the process proceeds to the resetting item analysis processing in the next S1103. In this resetting item analysis, image detailed setting items written in a predetermined format in the text are read. At this time, if the analysis is impossible because the format is invalid, in S1109, a mail that cannot be retransmitted is sent to the return source in the same manner. At this time, it is an error due to incorrect format, and notes and tutorials are described in the text and sent.

  Next, when the reset item can be analyzed correctly, the reset item analyzed in S1103 is applied to the original image data found in S1101, and image conversion is performed (S1106).

  Next, the transmission history information is re-registered and updated in the history table. Specifically, a new mail ID, a transmission destination address, a file name, a new file size, and a new transmission time attached to an electronic mail to be transmitted are recorded. At the same time, the detailed image setting of the analysis result in S1103 is recorded and updated in the destination table.

  Finally, the image file regenerated in S1108 is attached to the e-mail, and re-sending is performed, thereby completing the reply e-mail analysis and re-sending.

  In this embodiment, the scanner has the highest image quality as the original data, but any image quality data can be used as long as the transmission image data can be regenerated.

6 is a flowchart of data in the MFP according to the first and second embodiments. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of an MFP in the first embodiment. FIG. It is a sample figure of the history table in the 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a sample figure of the transmission and reply mail in 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart of the transmission process in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the reply process in 1st, 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart of the analysis resending process in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 10 is an internal configuration diagram of an MFP according to a second embodiment. It is a sample figure of the destination table in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the transmission process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the analysis resending process in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

101 Document 102 Scanner Unit 103 Image Processing Unit 104 Original Image Storage Unit 105 Storage Unit 106 Image Conversion Unit

Claims (10)

  A device for sending an e-mail via a network, a means for attaching an image file to the e-mail and sending, a means for storing original data capable of generating the send image file, and a recipient of the e-mail Means for re-designating detailed image settings by e-mail reply, e-mail analyzing means for analyzing re-designated items from the reply e-mail, and image reproduction for regenerating an image based on the re-designated items analyzed by the e-mail analyzing means An image processing apparatus comprising: generating means; and means for retransmitting the regenerated image to the e-mail recipient.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image resolution is analyzed as the re-designated item of the image detailed setting and the resolution is re-designated by the mail analyzing unit, the image re-creating unit regenerates the original data. An image processing apparatus that performs image file format conversion by designation.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image regenerating unit has an image gradation number as a redesignated item, and the image regenerating unit analyzes the gradation number redesignated by the mail analyzing unit. An image processing apparatus which performs image file format conversion by re-designation from original data.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the original data is analyzed by the image regenerating unit when the image reconstructing unit has an image compression rate as a redesignated item of the image detailed setting and the mail analyzing unit analyzes that the compression rate has been redesignated. An image processing apparatus that performs image file format conversion by re-designation.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the original image data is analyzed by the image regenerating unit when the image analyzing unit has an image paper size as a redesignated item of the image detail setting and the mail analyzing unit has analyzed that the paper size has been redesignated. An image processing apparatus that performs image file format conversion by re-designation.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image reformatting unit has an image file format as a redesignated item and the mail analyzing unit analyzes that the image file format has been redesignated, the image regenerating unit performs the original processing. An image processing apparatus which performs image file format conversion by re-designation from data.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the original data is deleted when there is no reply e-mail within a certain time after the e-mail attached with the image file is transmitted.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means for storing the destination information of the e-mail transmission destination, image setting information storage means corresponding to the destination, and resetting item contents analyzed by the analyzing means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a resetting item storage unit configured to receive a resetting reply mail when the resetting reply mail is reset.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying a warning message when the user attempts to change the redesignated item during transmission.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image reading unit, wherein an image input from the image reading unit is used as the original data generation unit.

Images