JP2007111922A - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and a program which improve the ease of use of a user when printing processing is carried out by transmitting a mail with an attached printing object file to the image forming apparatus, and can suppress a capacity increase of a storing means. <P>SOLUTION: When the mail with the attached printing object file is received, a mail analyzing part 204 extracts a file name and a transmission origin address of the printing object file attached to the received electronic mail, and stores them in a printing object file name storing part 222 and an address storing part 223, respectively. When the address is designated via an operating part 11, a list of extracted file names is displayed on a displaying part 12. When a selection input of the file name is received, a printing object file acquiring part 207 acquires the printing object file from the mail, and a printing controlling part 208 carries out printing processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program, and more particularly to a technique for printing a file attached to an electronic mail.

  In recent years, mobile phones with cameras have become widespread, and it is very common to send image files taken with mobile phones attached to electronic mail. Recently, not only image files obtained by shooting but also files created and edited by application software such as word processors and spreadsheets are converted and attached to e-mails (hereinafter also simply referred to as “mails”). It can also be transferred to a mobile phone (see Non-Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, an image forming apparatus having a function of receiving mail via a network is also widely used, and a user of a mobile phone uses the above-described image file or application for an email address assigned to the image forming apparatus. It is also possible to send an email with the created file attached. Hereinafter, files to be printed in the image forming apparatus, such as image files and files generated by applications (including files converted for portable use), are collectively referred to as print target files.

Hiromu Tsuda, “A system that converts Sharp, Word and PowerPoint data for mobile use”, [online], December 10, 2003, Keitai Watch, [Search July 4, 2005], Internet <URL: http : //k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/16784.html>

  Recently, image forming apparatuses are often installed in supermarkets, convenience stores, and the like, and applications as printers that can be easily used at travel destinations are also being considered. For example, it is convenient that a mail can be transmitted from a mobile phone to a mail address assigned to an installed image forming apparatus, and a print target file attached to the mail can be printed. However, when the number of mails with attached files to be printed increases, it is difficult to select which file to print on the image forming apparatus side, and the hard disk drive can store the mail and the file to be printed separately. There is a problem that a large amount of storage means is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and improves the usability of the user and increases the capacity of the storage unit when printing is performed by sending a mail attached with a file to be printed to the image forming apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a program capable of suppressing the increase.

  In order to solve the above problems, a first image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit, a receiving unit that receives an e-mail, and a file name of a file to be printed attached to the received e-mail. Extraction means for extraction, list display control means for displaying a list of extracted file names on the display means, selection input acceptance means for accepting selection input of file names, and selection input acceptance means for accepting selection input In this case, the apparatus includes a file acquisition unit that acquires a print target file from an email attached with a print target file having a selected file name, and a print control unit that prints the acquired print target file.

  In the configuration of the present invention, since a list of file names is displayed, it is easy to select a file to be printed, the user's convenience can be improved, and mail and printing are performed until the file name is selected. Since the target file is not separated, an increase in the capacity of the storage means such as a hard disk can be suppressed.

  The image forming apparatus further includes an address designation input receiving unit that receives an input of a mail address, and the list display control unit is a file extracted by the extraction unit with respect to an electronic mail transmitted from the input mail address. If the list of names is displayed, selection becomes easier, especially when the number of mails increases.

  The address designation input means includes: an address list display control means for causing the display means to display a list of e-mail transmission source addresses; and an address selection input acceptance means for accepting a selection input from the displayed addresses; This is convenient for selecting the source address.

  The address designation input reception means includes a determination means for determining whether or not the input address is a mail address of a mobile phone, and a rejection means for rejecting input of a mail address when the input address is not a mail address of the mobile phone. It is good also as a structure. Whether it is a mail address of a mobile phone can be determined by, for example, a domain name.

  The address designation input accepting unit may include an address acquiring unit that acquires a mail address of the mobile phone from the mobile phone. For example, a mail address can be obtained from a mobile phone by connecting a USB cable or by infrared communication.

  The address designation input receiving means includes a correspondence holding means for holding the correspondence between the telephone number of the mobile phone and the e-mail address, and an incoming call with a caller ID notification from the mobile phone of the held telephone number. In this case, if the address acquisition means for acquiring the corresponding e-mail address is provided, the address is input when a call is received from the mobile phone to the image forming apparatus with the caller ID notification. It is possible to execute the same processing as in FIG.

  The second image forming apparatus according to the present invention is input when receiving means for receiving an e-mail, address designation input accepting means for accepting input of an e-mail address, and when the address designation input accepting means accepts input. A file acquisition unit that acquires a file to be printed attached to a mail transmitted from the e-mail address, and a print control unit that prints the acquired print target file.

  In this configuration, by inputting the sender email address, the file to be printed attached to the email sent from the sender address can be printed at a time. Improved usability.

  A first program according to the present invention is a program installed in an apparatus comprising a display means and a processor, and a file name acquisition process for acquiring the file name of each attached file from a plurality of received e-mails A list display control process for displaying the acquired file name in a list on the display means, a selection input reception process for receiving a file selection input, and a file selection input when a file selection input is received. It is characterized by causing the processor to execute an attached file extraction process for extracting a selected file from an electronic mail.

  The second program according to the present invention is a program installed in an apparatus including a processor, in which an address designation input receiving process for receiving an input of an e-mail address, and when an e-mail address is input, It is characterized in that the processor executes an attached file extraction process for extracting a file attached to each of a plurality of received electronic mails.

  The program according to the present invention may be distributed to the market in a state of being recorded on various recording media, or may be supplied to the market via various networks such as the Internet.

  According to the image forming apparatus and the like according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the usability of the user and to suppress the increase in the capacity of the storage unit.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(1) Configuration of Image Print System FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an image print system in the present embodiment. The image printing system prints a file to be printed attached to an e-mail transmitted from the mobile phone 100 by the MFP 1 connected to the Internet 40.

  The mobile phone 100 is a base station 47 (only one base station is shown in the figure, but the mobile phone 100 performs voice communication, data transmission, etc. while repeating handoff operations between a number of base stations. ), Mail can be transmitted and received via a mobile phone network (packet exchange network, IP network, Internet network, etc.) 46. The mobile phone 100 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a third generation mobile phone, and transmits and receives mail via a packet switching network connected to the base station 47. The mobile phone 100 has a camera function, for example, and can send to the MFP 1 an email in which an image data file captured by the camera function is attached as a print target file to an email address input by the user. .

  The mobile phone network 46 is connected to the Internet 40 via the gateway 45, and mail sent from the mobile phone 100 to the MFP 1 is converted into a format suitable for the Internet 40 by the gateway 45 and stored in the mail server 41. The The mail transmission / reception protocol from the mobile phone is somewhat different depending on the network operator, but the present invention can be applied to any system. The portable MFP 1 of this embodiment periodically searches the contents of the mail server 41, and when a mail addressed to the MFP 1 is transmitted, the mail server 41 sends the mail according to a protocol such as POP3 or IMAP4. Can be acquired.

(2) Configuration of MFP 1 Next, the configuration of MFP 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment. The MFP 1 is an image forming apparatus that integrates functions such as copying, network printing, scanner, FAX, or document server. Sometimes called a multifunction device.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in MFP 1 according to the present embodiment. The MFP 1 includes an operation unit 11, a display unit 12, a scanner unit 13, a printer unit 14, a communication interface 16, a document feeder 17, a paper feeder 18, a tray 19 (see FIG. 2), a CPU 20, a RAM 21, a ROM 22, and a data storage unit. 23 or the like.

  The operation unit 11 includes a plurality of keys for inputting numbers, characters, symbols, and the like, a sensor for recognizing the pressed key, and a transmission circuit for transmitting a signal indicating the recognized key to the CPU 20. .

  The display unit 12 displays a screen for giving a message or an instruction to the user, a screen for the user to input settings and processing contents, a screen showing a result processed by the MFP 1, and the like. In the present embodiment, a touch panel is used as the display unit 12. Therefore, the display unit 12 has a function of detecting a position on the touch panel touched by the user with a finger and transmitting a signal indicating the detection result to the CPU 20.

  The scanner unit 13 photoelectrically reads an image such as a photograph, a character, a picture, or a chart drawn on a document, and generates digital image data (here, density data representing RGB or black density). The document feeder 17 is provided in the upper part of the main body of the MFP 1 and is used to sequentially send one or more originals to the scanner unit 13.

  The printer unit 14 prints an image read by the scanner unit 13, an image of image data attached to a mail transmitted from the mobile phone 100, and the like on a recording sheet such as a recording sheet or a film. The paper feeding device 18 is provided in the lower part of the MFP 1 main body, and supplies a recording sheet suitable for an image to be printed to the printer unit 14. The recording sheet on which the image is printed by the printer unit 14 is discharged to the tray 19.

  The communication interface 16 includes a receiving unit 161, a transmitting unit 162, and the like, and is a device for exchanging data with an external device such as a mail server 42. For example, a NIC (network interface card) is used as the communication interface 16.

  The data storage unit 23 includes a hard disk 23H, a card reader / writer 23R, and the like. The card reader / writer 23R can read data from or write data to various memory cards 91 such as Compact Flash (registered trademark), smart media, and SD card.

(3) Processing Contents of MFP 1 Processing contents of MFP 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the MFP 1. The processing of each block shown in the figure is realized mainly by a program stored in the ROM 22, a hard disk 23H, etc., and a program loaded on the RAM 21 operating on the CPU 20. Note that a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory may be used as the RAM 21 and the ROM 22. In addition, a part of the processing can be executed by dedicated hardware such as a DSP (digital signal processor) so that the processing speed can be increased.

  The MFP 1 includes a mail reception unit 201, a timer 202, a mail reception instruction input unit 203, a mail analysis unit 204, a list display control unit 205, a selection input reception unit 206, a print target file acquisition unit 207, a print control unit 208, and received mail storage. A unit 221, a print target file name storage unit 222, and an address storage unit 223. The received mail storage unit 221, the print target file name storage unit 222, and the address storage unit 223 can be provided in the hard disk 23H, for example.

  The mail receiving unit 201 receives an instruction input from the user when the timer 202 provided in the CPU 20 detects a periodic inquiry timing to the mail server 41 or through the operation unit 11 as the mail reception instruction input unit 203. If there is, the mail server 41 is accessed to search for mail addressed to the own device. When mail addressed to the own device is stored in the mail server 41, the mail is acquired according to a protocol such as POP3 or IMAP4, and stored in the received mail storage unit 221 provided in the hard disk 23H, for example.

  The mail analysis unit 204 analyzes the received mail. If the print target file is attached to the mail as a result of the analysis, the file name of the print target file is extracted and stored in the print target file name storage unit 222. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of the print target file name storage unit 222. As shown in the figure, the print target file name storage unit 222 stores the mail source address and the mail transmission date and time in addition to the file name. The information to be stored is not limited to these. For example, header information such as MESSAGE-ID defined in RFC822 may be held.

  Further, the mail analysis unit 204 stores the transmission source address in the address storage unit 223 when the mail is from a new transmission source. The list display control unit 205 causes the display unit 12 to display a list of file names stored in the print target file name storage unit 222 and addresses stored in the address storage unit 223. The user can select a file name and an address from the list displayed by a selection input via the touch panel as the operation unit 11 and the display unit 12. The selection input accepting unit 206 accepts a selection input. In the case of selecting an address, the selected address is sent to the list display control unit 205. In the case of selecting a file name, the selected file name is acquired as a print target file. Send to section 207.

  The print target file acquisition unit 207 acquires the print target file from the mail attached with the print target file having the file name selected via the selection input receiving unit 206, and sends the print target file to the print control unit 208. A print control unit 208 controls the printer unit 14 to perform print processing of a print target file. As described above, the mail transmission protocol from the cellular phone is slightly different depending on the line operator, but it is easy to extract the print target file from the mail.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of the mail reception process on the MFP 1 side. In the mail reception process, whether it is a regular inquiry timing to the mail server 41 (S101: YES), or if there is an instruction input from the user via the mail reception instruction input unit 203 or the like (S102: YES), the mail server 41 is searched for (S103), and if there is a received mail addressed to itself (S104: YES), the received mail is downloaded from the mail server 41 and stored in the received mail storage unit 221. Then, the mail analysis unit 204 analyzes the contents of the mail (S105).

  The mail analysis unit 204 analyzes whether or not a file is attached to the mail. When the received mail has an attached file (S106: YES), the mail analysis unit 204 performs a file name and address extraction process (S107). In the file name and address extraction process, the mail analysis unit 204 extracts the file name of the attached file from the header information of the mail and stores it in the print target file name storage unit 222. In addition, the mail analysis unit 204 extracts a mail transmission source address, and stores it in the address storage unit 223 when it is an address not yet stored in the address storage unit 223.

(4) Contents of Print Control Process Next, the contents of the print control process in this embodiment will be described. In the print control process, the file to be printed attached to the mail sent as described above is selected and the print process is performed. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the contents of the print control process.

  In the print control process, first, the list display control unit 205 reads out the addresses stored in the address storage unit 223, and displays a list of addresses on the display unit 12 (S201). FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display of the display unit 12 in which addresses are displayed as a list. When the user selects one of the addresses displayed in the list (in the example shown in the figure, the address “k0123@dakamo.ne.jp” is selected), and the OK button 121 is pressed (S202). : YES), the selection input receiving unit 206 receives an address selection input.

  The address selection is sent to the list display control unit 205. The list display control unit 205 searches the print unit file name storage unit 222 for the file name of the print target file attached to the mail transmitted from the selected address, and displays the list on the display unit 12 (S203). FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display of the display unit 12 in which file names are displayed as a list.

  As in the case of FIG. 8, the user can select a file name. When the OK button 121 is pressed, the selection input receiving unit 206 receives a file name selection input (S204: YES). At this time, in addition to the selected file name, the transmission date and time is sent to the print target file acquisition unit 207. The print target file acquisition unit 207 searches for the mail from the received mail storage unit 221 using the mail address and the transmission date as a key (S205), and acquires the print target file from the searched mail (S206). Then, the print control unit 208 prints the print target file (S207).

  As described above, according to the print control of the present embodiment, the selection input of the address and the file name is accepted, and the print processing is performed for the file to be printed having the selected file name. Therefore, particularly when the number of mails increases. It becomes possible to easily search for a file attached to a mail transmitted from its own address, and the usability of the user is improved. If the address and mail cannot be displayed on one screen, for example, a “next screen” button 123 and a “previous screen” button (not shown) as shown in FIG. 9 are displayed, or a scroll bar is displayed. You can respond by doing. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when displaying the file names of the print target files, the file names are extracted from the mail without extracting the print target files from the mail, and the extracted file names are displayed as a list. Therefore, an increase in the storage capacity of the hard disk or the like can be suppressed as compared with the case where the mail and the print target file are individually managed.

(Modification)
The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the content of the present invention is not limited to the specific examples described in the above embodiment, and for example, the following modifications may be considered.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the transmission source mail address is specified via the operation unit 11 and the display unit 12. However, when the transmission source is a mobile phone or the like, via a USB cable. It is also possible to obtain an e-mail address from a mobile phone or obtain an e-mail address by infrared communication.

  (2) It may be determined whether or not the received mail is a mail transmitted from a mobile phone, and a file name and address extraction process (S107 in FIG. 6) is executed for the mail transmitted from the mobile phone. . Whether the mail is from a mobile phone can be determined by referring to the domain name of the mail address, for example, but may be determined based on the description of the mail text. When it is based on the description of a mail text or a field indicating a title (Subject field), if it is directly described whether the mail applies to the present invention, the mail that is not intended to apply the present invention Subsequent processing can be omitted.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the source address is displayed as a list and a selection input is accepted. However, a configuration may be adopted in which the address is directly designated and input from the operation unit 11. In this case, when the input address is not the address of the mobile phone, the input may be rejected. Whether or not the address is a mobile phone address can be determined with reference to, for example, a domain name.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the print target file names are displayed in a list when the transmission source address is specified. However, when the address is specified, the print target file attached to the mail transmitted from the address is specified. Can be batch-printed. When the address name is designated and entered, a button for designating and inputting a list of file names or batch print processing can be displayed on the display unit 12. Further, it may be specified whether or not to delete from the received mail storage unit 221 when the print processing is completed.

  (5) A table that holds the correspondence between mobile phone numbers and e-mail addresses as shown in FIG. 10 is provided, and the sender address when a caller ID notification call is received from the mobile phone. The same processing as that performed when “” is input may be executed.

  (6) In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the MFP 1 has been described. However, a program for executing the processing as described above is installed in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and the information processing is performed. The present invention can also be realized on an apparatus.

  The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as an MFP.

1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an image print system in an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of an MFP 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in MFP1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the MFP 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of contents of a print target file name storage unit 222. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of mail reception processing on the MFP 1 side. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of print control processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display of the display part 12 by which the address was displayed as a list. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display of the display part 12 by which the file name was displayed as a list. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the table which stores the correspondence of the mail address and telephone number of a mobile telephone.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Operation part 12 Display part 13 Scanner part 14 Printer part 16 Communication interface 161 Reception part 162 Transmission part 17 Document feeder 18 Paper feeder 19 Tray 20 CPU
21 RAM
22 ROM
23 Data storage unit 23H Hard disk drive 23R Card reader / writer 40 Internet 41 Mail server 45 Gateway 46 Mobile phone network (packet switching network)
47 base station 91 memory card 100 mobile phone 201 mail receiving unit 202 timer 203 mail receiving instruction input unit 204 mail analyzing unit 205 list display control unit 206 selection input receiving unit 207 print target file acquiring unit 208 print control unit 221 received mail storage unit 222 Print target file name storage unit 223 Address storage unit

Claims (9)

Display means;
Receiving means for receiving e-mail;
An extraction means for extracting the file name of the file to be printed attached to the received e-mail;
List display control means for causing the display means to display a list of extracted file names;
A selection input receiving means for receiving a file name selection input;
A file acquisition unit for acquiring a print target file from an email attached with a print target file having a selected file name when the selection input receiving unit receives a selection input;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a print control unit that prints the acquired print target file. The image forming apparatus further includes:
Equipped with address designation input reception means for receiving input of e-mail address,
The list display control means includes
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a list of file names extracted by the extraction unit is displayed for an electronic mail transmitted from an input mail address. The address designation input means includes
Address list display control means for displaying a list of e-mail sender addresses on the display means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an address selection input receiving unit that receives selection input from a list-displayed address. The address designation input receiving means
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the input address is a mail address of a mobile phone;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a rejection unit that rejects input of an email address when the email address is not a mobile phone. The address designation input receiving means
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an address acquisition unit that acquires a mail address of the mobile phone from the mobile phone. The address designation input receiving means
Correspondence holding means for holding the correspondence between the phone number of the mobile phone and the mail address;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an address obtaining unit that obtains a corresponding mail address when a call is received from the mobile phone having the held telephone number by caller ID notification. apparatus. Receiving means for receiving e-mail;
Address designation input acceptance means for accepting input of an email address;
A file acquisition means for acquiring a file to be printed attached to an email sent from an inputted email address when the address designation input acceptance means accepts an input;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a print control unit that prints the acquired print target file. In a program installed in an apparatus comprising a display means and a processor,
A file name acquisition process for acquiring the file name of a file attached to each of a plurality of received emails;
A list display control process for displaying a list of acquired file names on the display means;
A selection input reception process for receiving a selection input of a file;
A program which causes the processor to execute an attached file extraction process for extracting a selected file from an e-mail attached with the selected file when a selection input of the file is received. In a program installed in a device including a processor,
Address designation input acceptance processing for accepting input of an email address;
A program that, when receiving an input of an e-mail address, causes the processor to execute an attached file extraction process for extracting a file attached to each of a plurality of e-mails received from the input e-mail address. .

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