JP2008277939A - Information processing system, image output system, information processing program, and image output program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system which is composed to perform processing for electronic mails to which a response is returned, and improve convenience of users in the system which can be requested the processing using an electronic mail. <P>SOLUTION: A processing object receiving means of the information processing system receives an electronic mail including the processing object, a transmission means transmits an electric mail for carrying out confirmation whether processing is carried out or not for the processing object according to the electronic mail received by the processing object receiving means, and a response receiving means receives an electronic mail which is a response to the electronic mail transmitted by the transmission means, and a processing means carries out the processing for the processing object according to the electronic mail received by the response receiving means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system, an image output system, an information processing program, and an image output program.

In recent years, exchange of information and files by e-mail has been popular. A technique for performing printing using the electronic mail is known.
As a technique related to this, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a characteristic is assigned to an e-mail address and printing is performed by a printer associated in advance when the e-mail is transmitted to a predetermined address. ing. Specifically, a mail server suitable for distributing a document to a specific destination by specifying a printer at a specific destination by a mail address on the network so that an e-mail print request can be made. When the mail server includes a keyword such as “PRINTER” in the email address of the received email, the mail server refers to a predetermined setting file and stores the email address in the email address. If there is a printer name recorded corresponding to a certain user name, the printer requests the printer to print an email. If the printer name is included in the email address, the printer prints an email. Request output, and if none of the above, request print output from a specific printer that has been set in advance. When the print output of the electronic mail printer is the user of the terminal device is a destination of the electronic mail, it has been disclosed to notify its effect, whether any printer.

For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for notifying that print data has been received or printing has been completed using electronic mail. Specifically, it is an object to automatically notify the transmission depending on the transmission of the print data, and includes a receiving mail server included in the network, a recipient connected to the network, and the network. The receiving mail server has a table for registering the correspondence between the recipient and the printing device, and the correspondence between the printing device and the recipient is registered. It is disclosed that the side mail server can reliably notify the recipient of the mail related to the transmission of the print data synchronously and simultaneously.
Japanese Patent No. 3753523 Japanese Patent No. 3433396

If it is a normal e-mail, the received terminal can view it, but the file attached to the e-mail requires an application to open it. In the case of a mobile device such as a mobile phone, the attached file itself may be removed and not delivered to the mobile device at hand.
The present invention has been made in the situation of such a background art, and in a system that can request processing using an electronic mail, the electronic mail that has responded can be processed. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system, an image output system, an information processing program, and an image output program that improve user convenience.

The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.
[1] Processing target receiving means for receiving an e-mail including a processing target;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to perform processing on the processing target in response to the e-mail received by the processing target receiving unit;
Response receiving means for receiving an e-mail that is a response to the e-mail transmitted by the transmitting means;
An information processing system comprising: a processing unit that performs processing on the processing target in accordance with an electronic mail received by the response receiving unit.

[2] The processing target receiving means receives an email including a plurality of processing targets,
The information processing system according to [1], wherein the transmitting unit transmits an e-mail for performing confirmation for each processing target included in the e-mail received by the processing target receiving unit.

[3] Processing target receiving means for receiving an e-mail including the processing target;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail received by the processing target receiving means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to process the file stored in the file storage unit according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit;
Response receiving means for receiving an e-mail that is a response to the e-mail transmitted by the transmitting means;
An information processing system comprising: processing means for processing a file stored in the file storage means in response to an e-mail received by the response receiving means.

[4] Processing target extraction means for extracting an e-mail including the processing target from the mail server;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail extracted by the processing object extracting means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to process the file stored in the file storage unit according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit;
Response extraction means for extracting from the mail server an email that is a response to the email sent by the sending means;
An information processing system comprising processing means for performing processing on a file stored in the file storage means in accordance with the electronic mail extracted by the response extraction means.

[5] Output target extraction means for extracting an e-mail including the output target from the mail server;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail extracted by the output target extracting means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
In accordance with the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit, a transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to output the file stored in the file storage unit;
Response extraction means for extracting from the mail server an email that is a response to the email sent by the sending means;
In response to the email extracted by the response extraction means, image data conversion means for converting the file stored in the file storage means into image data that can be output by an output device;
An image output system comprising: image data transmission means for transmitting the image data converted by the image data conversion means to the output device.

[6] Information processing system
A processing target receiving means for receiving an email including the processing target;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to perform processing on the processing target in response to the e-mail received by the processing target receiving unit;
Response receiving means for receiving an e-mail that is a response to the e-mail transmitted by the transmitting means;
An information processing program that functions as a processing unit that performs processing on the processing target in accordance with an e-mail received by the response receiving unit.

[7] The processing target receiving means receives an email including a plurality of processing targets,
The information processing program according to [6], wherein the transmitting unit transmits an e-mail for performing confirmation for each processing target included in the e-mail received by the processing target receiving unit.

[8] Information processing system
A processing target receiving means for receiving an email including the processing target;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail received by the processing target receiving means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to process the file stored in the file storage unit according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit;
Response receiving means for receiving an e-mail that is a response to the e-mail transmitted by the transmitting means;
An information processing program that functions as processing means for processing a file stored in the file storage means in response to an e-mail received by the response receiving means.

[9] Information processing system
Processing target extraction means for extracting e-mails including processing targets from the mail server;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail extracted by the processing object extracting means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to process the file stored in the file storage unit according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit;
Response extraction means for extracting from the mail server an email that is a response to the email sent by the sending means;
An information processing program that functions as a processing unit that performs processing on a file stored in the file storage unit in accordance with the electronic mail extracted by the response extraction unit.

[10] An image output system
An output object extraction means for extracting an e-mail including an output object from the mail server;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail extracted by the output target extracting means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
In accordance with the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit, a transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to output the file stored in the file storage unit;
Response extraction means for extracting from the mail server an email that is a response to the email sent by the sending means;
In response to the email extracted by the response extraction means, image data conversion means for converting the file stored in the file storage means into image data that can be output by an output device;
An image output program for causing an image data converted by the image data converting means to function as an image data transmitting means for transmitting to the output device.

  According to the information processing system according to [1], in a system that can request processing using an e-mail, compared to a case where this configuration is not provided, a response to an e-mail that responds Thus, the convenience of the user can be improved.

  According to the information processing system according to [2], in addition to the effect of the information processing system according to [1], the user selects and processes from a plurality of processing targets as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. Can be performed.

  According to the information processing system according to [3], in the system that can request processing using electronic mail, the attached file is processed as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience for the user by allowing processing to be performed on the responding e-mail.

  According to the information processing system according to [4], in the system in which processing can be requested using e-mail, the attached file is processed as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience for the user by processing the responded electronic mail independently of the mail server.

  According to the image output system according to [5], the system is capable of requesting output processing to an output device using electronic mail, and is attached as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided. The convenience of the user can be enhanced by allowing the output processing to be performed independently of the mail server with respect to the e-mail that has been responded with the file as the processing target.

  According to the information processing program according to [6], in a system in which processing can be requested using an electronic mail, compared to a case where this configuration is not provided, an electronic mail that has responded is compared. Thus, the convenience of the user can be improved.

  According to the information processing program according to [7], in addition to the effect of the information processing program according to [6], the user selects and processes from a plurality of processing targets as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided Can be performed.

  According to the information processing program according to [8], the file to be processed is compared with the system in which processing can be requested using electronic mail, compared to the case where this configuration is not provided. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience for the user by allowing processing to be performed on the responding e-mail.

  According to the information processing program according to [9], in the system in which processing can be requested using e-mail, the attached file is processed as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience for the user by processing the responded electronic mail independently of the mail server.

  According to the image output program according to [10], the image output program is attached in comparison with a system that can request output processing to an output device using electronic mail, and does not have this configuration. The convenience of the user can be enhanced by allowing the output processing to be performed independently of the mail server with respect to the e-mail that has been responded with the file as the processing target.

A preferred embodiment for realizing the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In the present embodiment, processing is executed using electronic mail. As an example of this processing, a printing process by a printer will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example using a network which is a communication line according to the present embodiment.
A mail server 200, a mail transmission / reception system 300, and a printer 400 are connected via a network 100. The network 100 is a local network used in an organization (including a company). In this example, the network 100 is connected to the Internet 110, which is an external network, and the mail transmission source 500, which is a mail client, is connected to the mail server 200 or the like via the Internet 110 and the network 100.
In this example, the mail transmission / reception system 300 and the printer 400 are connected via the network 100, but may be directly connected via a bus. In addition, the mail server 200 and the mail transmission / reception system 300, the mail transmission / reception system 300 and the printer 400, the mail server 200 and the printer 400, and the mail server 200, the mail transmission / reception system 300 and the printer 400 may be integrated.
The mail transmission / reception system 300 reads mail sent to the printer 400 from the mail server 200, interprets the content of the email, separates any attached file, and saves it separately from the mail text. . In addition, the mail transmission / reception system 300 also includes software for expanding and printing an attached file.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual module configuration diagram of the mail transmission / reception system 300.
The module generally refers to a component such as software or hardware that can be logically separated. Therefore, the module in the present embodiment indicates not only a module in a program but also a module in a hardware configuration. Therefore, the present embodiment also serves as an explanation of a program, a system, and a method. However, for convenience of explanation, “save”, “store”, “store”, and equivalent terms are used, but these terms are stored in the storage device when the embodiment is a program. It is meant to control. In addition, the modules correspond almost one-to-one with the functions. However, in mounting, one module may be composed of one program, or a plurality of modules may be composed of one program. A plurality of programs may be used. The plurality of modules may be executed by one computer, or one module may be executed by a plurality of computers in a distributed or parallel environment. Note that one module may include other modules. Hereinafter, “connection” includes not only physical connection but also logical connection (data exchange, instruction, reference relationship between data, etc.).
In addition, the system or apparatus includes a plurality of computers, hardware, devices, and the like connected by communication means such as a network, and includes a case where the system or device is realized by one computer, hardware, devices, and the like.
Further, here, “reply mail” will be described as an example of “response e-mail”. Note that “response e-mail” means that the receiving side returns some e-mail to the sending side with respect to the e-mail sent from the sending side, and an operation (for example, reply) performed by the receiving side operator. , Transfer, transmission, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 2, the mail transmission / reception system 300 includes a network control module 310, a mail reception module 321, a mail analysis module 322, a mail transmission module 331, a mail transmission / reception control module 341, a print data transmission module 351, and a print processing control module 361. A file storage module 362, a file browsing module 371, and a printer driver module 381.
As shown in FIG. 2, the file storage module 362 is connected to the print processing control module 361. The print processing control module 361 includes a file storage module 362, a file browsing module 371, a mail transmission / reception control module 341, a mail analysis module 322, The file browsing module 371 is connected to the mail transmission module 331, the print processing control module 361 and the printer driver module 381 are connected, and the printer driver module 381 is connected to the file browsing module 371 and the print data transmission module 351. The print data transmission module 351 includes a printer driver module 381, a mail reception module 321, a mail transmission module 331, and a network control module 310. The mail transmission / reception control module 341 is connected to the local printer 410, the mail analysis module 322, the mail transmission module 331, and the print processing control module 361. The mail analysis module 322 is connected to the mail transmission / reception control module 341 and the mail reception module. 321, a print processing control module 361, and a mail transmission module 331. The mail transmission module 331 is a mail transmission / reception control module 341, a mail analysis module 322, a print processing control module 361, a mail reception module 321, and a print data transmission module 351. Are connected to the network control module 310, and the mail receiving module 321 includes a mail analysis module 322, a mail transmission module 331, a print data Transmitting module 351 is connected to the network control module 310, the network control module 310 mail receiving module 321, a mail sending module 331, the print data transmission module 351 is connected to the network 100.

  The mail transmission / reception system 300 is connected to the mail server 200 and the printer 400 via the network 100 by the network control module 310. When the mail transmission / reception system 300 is directly connected to the local printer 410 without going through the network 100, the print data transmission module 351 connects to the local printer 410.

The mail reception module 321 periodically extracts an electronic mail addressed to the printer 400 (or the mail transmission / reception system 300 when the local printer 410 is directly connected) to the mail server 200. If the e-mail addressed to the printer 400 is extracted, the e-mail is transferred to the mail analysis module 322.
The mail analysis module 322 analyzes the contents of the electronic mail, and once passes the mail data and the attached file to the print processing control module 361.

  The print processing control module 361 confirms whether or not the target electronic mail is a reply mail (hereinafter referred to as a reply mail) to a print start confirmation mail described later. A job for specifying a message ID and a print job to be specified (a group of print processes given to the printer 400 or the local printer 410, which is one print process from the sender side of the print start confirmation mail). The mail text and the attached file in the mail data are stored in the file storage module 362 together with the ID (an identifier that can uniquely identify the process in units of print processing). The print processing control module 361 then queries the mail transmission / reception control module 341 for information regarding the transmission source in order to confirm whether the transmission source of the electronic mail is an electronic mail from a printable transmission source.

If the mail transmission / reception control module 341 confirms that the sender is a printable transmission source, the mail transmission / reception control module 341 determines that the number of emails and the number of attached files is equal to the number of attached files (number of attached files + 1). Email). The created electronic mail is transferred to the mail transmission module 331.
In the print start confirmation email, if the print target is the email body, include the title of the email in the print start confirmation email (for example, the title and body of the print start confirmation email), and if the print target is an attachment The file name of the attached file is included in the print start confirmation mail (for example, the title and body of the print start confirmation mail). As a result, the recipient of the print start confirmation mail (for example, the mail sender of the original electronic mail) can determine which file is the print start confirmation mail.

When the e-mail transmission / reception control module 341 confirms whether the e-mail transmission source is a mail from a printable transmission source, or when determining the destination of the print start confirmation mail, as shown in FIG. A user data management table 800 may be used. The user data management table 800 includes a sender mail address field 801, a request destination printer address field 802, and a confirmation destination mail address field 803. The sender mail address field 801 stores the mail address of the sender of the e-mail (extracted From address in the received e-mail). The request destination printer address column 802 stores the mail address of the e-mail destination (extracted from the To address in the received e-mail). The confirmation destination mail address field 803 stores a mail address that is the destination of the print start confirmation mail determined from the combination of the sender mail address field 801 and the request destination printer address field 802.
The email address stored in the confirmation destination email address column 803 is not necessarily the same as the email address stored in the sender email address column 801 (in the example of FIG. 8, “user1@foo.bar” and “Printer @ The same “user1@foo.bar” is set for the combination of “foo.bar”, but different “other” is set for the combination of “user1@foo.bar” and “Bprinter@foo.bar”. @ Abc.efg ”).
As a result, the destination of the print start confirmation mail can be determined not only by the mail sender of the original electronic mail but also by another person, such as the supervisor of the mail sender.

It is also possible to create a combination of a sender mail address and a request destination printer address that can be printed without sending a print start confirmation mail (in the example of FIG. 8, “user1@foo.bar”). “No confirmation” is set for the combination of “Cprinter@foo.bar”).
As a result, it is possible to print without sending a print start confirmation mail.

When the mail transmission module 331 receives the print start confirmation mail from the mail transmission / reception control module 341, the mail transmission module 331 transmits the electronic mail (print start confirmation mail) to the mail server 200 via the network control module 310.
If the mail transmission / reception control module 341 determines that the e-mail sender is not permitted to print, it notifies the print processing control module 361 of that fact. The print processing control module 361 deletes all the mail text and attached files stored in the file storage module 362.

When the electronic mail delivered from the mail analysis module 322 to the print processing control module 361 is a reply to the print start confirmation mail sent earlier, the print processing control module 361 returns the corresponding file (or mail text). Is read from the file storage module 362 and passed to the file browsing module 371.
Further, the printer 400 or the local printer 410 is determined according to the mail address that is the destination of the electronic mail (such as a reply mail to the print start confirmation mail). At that time, a printer data management table 700 as shown in FIG. 7 may be used. The printer data management table 700 has a mail address column 701, a printer column 702, and a print setting column 703. The mail address column 701 stores a mail address of a destination when the user transmits. The printer column 702 stores the printer 400 or the local printer 410 corresponding to the mail address as the name of the logical printer. The print setting field 703 stores print settings (color / monochrome, etc.) corresponding to the printer. That is, the print processing control module 361 specifies a printer (printer field 702) corresponding to the destination mail address (mail address field 701), and performs print settings (print setting field 703) in the printer. A plurality of different e-mail addresses may be associated with the same printer (in FIG. 7, the same “a” is applied to “Printer@foo.bar” and “Bprinter@foo.bar”. printer ").
Also, using the printer data management table 700, the mail receiving module 321 acquires an e-mail to the printer 400 or the local printer 410 managed by the mail transmission / reception system 300 from the mail server 200.

The file browsing module 371 generates image data for printing from the received file (or mail text). Then, print data (including image data, the same applies below) is sent to the local printer 410 via the printer driver module 381 and the print data transmission module 351. In addition, print data is sent to the printer 400 via the printer driver module 381, the print data transmission module 351, the network control module 310, and the network 100.
The printer 400 or the local printer 410 to which the print data is sent performs printing according to the print data.

  If the file storage module 362 does not receive a reply to the print start confirmation mail within a predetermined time, the file storage module 362 deletes the mail text and the attached file stored in the file storage module 362.

Next, the function and operation (operation) will be described.
A basic processing example will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
In step S302, the mail reception module 321 of the mail transmission / reception system 300 inquires of the mail server 200 whether there is an electronic mail addressed to the printer 400 or the mail transmission / reception system 300, and determines whether the electronic mail exists.
In this determination, if there is an electronic mail, the process proceeds to step S308, and if not, the process proceeds to step S304.
In step S304, the system waits for a predetermined time.
In step S306, it is determined whether or not to end the process of the mail transmission / reception system 300. In this determination, if the process is to be terminated, the process is terminated (step S316). If not, the process returns to step S302.

In step S <b> 308, the mail receiving module 321 of the mail transmission / reception system 300 receives an e-mail from the mail server 200. The electronic mail is transferred to the mail analysis module 322 and transferred to the print processing control module 361.
In step S310, the print processing control module 361 determines whether the electronic mail received in step S308 is a reply mail for the print start confirmation mail. The process of step S310 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In this determination, if the electronic mail is a print start confirmation mail, the process proceeds to step S312; otherwise (if it is a print request mail), the process proceeds to step S314.

In step S <b> 312, the print processing control module 361 takes out the file (or mail body) designated by the print start confirmation mail from the file storage module 362 and passes it to the file browsing module 371. The file browsing module 371 generates image data and prints it by the local printer 410 via the printer driver module 381 and the print data transmission module 351. Alternatively, printing is performed by the printer 400 via the printer driver module 381, the print data transmission module 351, the network control module 310, and the network 100.
In step S314, since the extracted electronic mail is a print request mail, the print processing control module 361 registers the attached file or the like as a print job in the file storage module 362. The process of step S314 will be described in detail using the flowchart of FIG.

With reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, an example of a mail determination process that is the process of step S310 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.
In order to identify individual e-mails, a message ID (Message ID) is used. By using this, it is possible to know which electronic mail (print start confirmation mail) is the reply mail if the electronic mail to be processed is a reply mail or a reply mail. Depending on the mailer used by the user (mailer, software for sending and receiving e-mails), the message ID may not be recorded in “in-reply” or “references”. In this case, the job ID is determined from the title of the reply mail to determine which electronic mail (print start confirmation mail) is the reply mail. As a result, even when the message ID of the reply source mail is not recorded in “in-reply” or “references”, it is possible to cope with it.

In step S402, the print processing control module 361 determines whether there is an “in-reply ID” in the email to be processed. If there is “in-reply ID”, it is a reply mail.
In this determination, if the target electronic mail is a reply mail, the process proceeds to step S404, and if not, the process proceeds to step S406.
In step S <b> 404, the print processing control module 361 determines whether there is a job corresponding to “in-reply ID” in the jobs stored in the file storage module 362.
In this determination, if there is a job, the process proceeds to step S414, and if not, the process proceeds to step S406.

In step S <b> 406, the print processing control module 361 determines whether there is a “references ID” in the email to be processed. If there is a “references ID”, it is a reply mail.
In this determination, if the target electronic mail is a reply mail, the process proceeds to step S408, and if not, the process proceeds to step S410.
In step S <b> 408, the print processing control module 361 determines whether there is a job corresponding to “references ID” in the jobs stored in the file storage module 362.
In this determination, if there is a job, the process proceeds to step S414, and if not, the process proceeds to step S410.

In step S410, the print processing control module 361 determines whether there is a job ID in the title of the electronic mail to be processed. If there is a job ID, it is a reply mail.
In this determination, if the target electronic mail is a reply mail, the process proceeds to step S412. If not, the process proceeds to step S416.
In step S412, the print processing control module 361 determines whether there is a job corresponding to the job ID in the jobs stored in the file storage module 362.
In this determination, if there is a job, the process proceeds to step S414, and if not, the process proceeds to step S416.

Step S414 corresponds to the process of step S312 shown in FIG.
Step S416 corresponds to the process of step S314 shown in FIG. 3 (the process of step S416 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5).

With reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, an example of a registration process that is the process of step S314 shown in FIG. 3 (step S416 shown in FIG. 4) will be described.
In step S502, the print processing control module 361 generates a job ID of the target email.
In step S504, the mail transmission / reception control module 341 creates a confirmation e-mail with the job ID generated in step S502 as a part of the title.

In step S506, the print processing control module 361 stores the job ID generated in step S502 and the message ID of the confirmation e-mail created in step S504 in the file storage module 362.
In step S508, the mail transmission module 331 transmits the confirmation e-mail (print start confirmation mail) created in step S504.
In step S510, it is determined whether there is another attached file in the target electronic mail.
In this determination, if it is determined that there is an attached file, a job ID for this attached file is generated in step S514, and the process returns to step S504. If it is determined that there is no attached file, the process proceeds to step S512, and registration processing is performed. Exit.

An example of processing between servers will be described with reference to FIG.
As the mail transmission source 500, there is a PC 501 or a mobile phone 502. The PC 501 or the mobile phone 502 transmits / receives an e-mail to / from the mail server 200 via the Internet 110 and the network 100, and the mail server 200, the mail transmission / reception system 300, The printer 400 is connected to each other via the network 100 and performs processing in cooperation.

In step S <b> 602, the user of the PC 501 or the mobile phone 502 transmits an e-mail attached with a file to the printer 400.
In step S604, the mail transmission / reception system 300 inquires of the mail server 200 whether there is an e-mail addressed to the printer 400, and if there is, e-mail is acquired. Polling that inquires every predetermined period is used. The mail server 200 may notify the mail transmission / reception system 300 that there is an electronic mail addressed to the printer 400. Alternatively, the electronic mail addressed to the printer 400 may be transferred to the mail transmission / reception system 300 (see step S302 and step S308 in FIG. 3).

In step S606, the mail transmission / reception system 300 stores a print job such as an attached file in the file storage module 362 for the electronic mail received in step S604, and transmits a print start confirmation mail to the mail server 200 (FIG. 4). See the flowchart of FIG. The destination of the print start confirmation mail may be the user who sent the e-mail in step S602, or may be the destination of the print start confirmation mail assigned as shown in FIG.
In step S <b> 608, the user such as the PC 501 or the mobile phone 502 that is the destination of the print start confirmation mail receives the print start confirmation mail in step S <b> 606 from the mail server 200.

In step S610, the user such as the PC 501 or the mobile phone 502 that has received the print start confirmation mail selects a file to be printed, and returns a print start confirmation mail that has instructed printing for the file. To do.
In step S612, as in step S604, the mail transmission / reception system 300 inquires of the mail server 200 whether there is an e-mail addressed to the printer 400. Here, the reply mail of the print start confirmation mail in step S610 is acquired.
In step S614, the mail transmission / reception system 300 retrieves the print job stored in step S606 in response to the email received in step S612, transmits the print data to the printer 400, and the printer 400 prints. To do.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the computer on which the program according to the present embodiment is executed is a general computer as shown in FIG. 9, and specifically, a computer or the like that can be a server. Stores a CPU 901 that executes programs such as a mail analysis module 322, a print processing control module 361, a file browsing module 371, and a printer driver module 381, a RAM 902 that stores the programs and data, a program for starting the computer, and the like. ROM 903, an auxiliary storage device HD 904 (for example, a hard disk can be used), an input device 906 for inputting data such as a keyboard and a mouse, an output device 905 such as a CRT and a liquid crystal display, and a communication network And a communication line interface 907 (for example, a network interface card can be used) for connecting to the bus, and a bus 908 for connecting them to exchange data.A plurality of these computers may be connected to each other via a network.

  Note that the hardware configuration illustrated in FIG. 9 illustrates one configuration example, and the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 9, and is a configuration that can execute the modules described in the present embodiment. I just need it. For example, some modules may be configured by dedicated hardware (for example, ASIC), and some modules may be in an external system and connected via a communication line. A plurality of systems shown in FIG. 5 may be connected to each other via communication lines so as to cooperate with each other. In addition to servers, information appliances, copiers, fax machines, scanners, printers, multifunction machines (also called multi-function copiers, which have two or more functions of scanners, printers, copiers, fax machines, etc.) Or an image processing apparatus).

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a printer is used to perform print processing using e-mail has been described. However, in addition to print processing, document registration processing for registering an attached file of an e-mail in a database, e-mail Document processing that merges the attached file with other files may be used.

The program described above may be provided by being stored in a recording medium, or the program may be provided by communication means. In that case, for example, the above-described program may be regarded as an invention of a “computer-readable recording medium recording the program”.
The “computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded” refers to a computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded, which is used for program installation, execution, program distribution, and the like.
The recording medium is, for example, a digital versatile disc (DVD), which is a standard established by the DVD Forum, such as “DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM,” and DVD + RW. Standards such as “DVD + R, DVD + RW, etc.”, compact discs (CDs), read-only memory (CD-ROM), CD recordable (CD-R), CD rewritable (CD-RW), etc. MO), flexible disk (FD), magnetic tape, hard disk, read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable and rewritable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, random access memory (RAM), etc. It is.
The program or a part of the program may be recorded on the recording medium and stored or distributed. Also, by communication, for example, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wired network used for the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, etc., or wireless communication It may be transmitted using a transmission medium such as a network or a combination of these, or may be carried on a carrier wave.
Furthermore, the above program may be a part of another program, or may be recorded on a recording medium together with a separate program. Moreover, it may be divided and recorded on a plurality of recording media. Further, it may be recorded in any manner as long as it can be restored, such as compression or encryption.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example using the network of this Embodiment. It is a conceptual module block diagram about the structural example of a mail transmission / reception system. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a basic process by this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of mail judgment processing by this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a registration process by this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process example between each server. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a printer data management table. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of a user data management table. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the computer which implement | achieves this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Network 110 ... Internet 200 ... Mail server 300 ... Mail transmission / reception system 310 ... Network control module 321 ... Mail reception module 322 ... Mail analysis module 331 ... Mail transmission module 341 ... Mail transmission / reception control module 351 ... Print data transmission module 361 ... Printing Processing control module 362 ... File storage module 371 ... File browsing module 381 ... Printer driver module 400 ... Printer 410 ... Local printer 500 ... Mail transmission source 501 ... PC
502 ... Cellular phone 700 ... Printer data management table 800 ... User data management table

Claims (10)

A processing target receiving means for receiving an email including the processing target;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to perform processing on the processing target in response to the e-mail received by the processing target receiving unit;
Response receiving means for receiving an e-mail that is a response to the e-mail transmitted by the transmitting means;
An information processing system comprising: a processing unit that performs processing on the processing target in accordance with an electronic mail received by the response receiving unit. The processing target receiving means receives an email including a plurality of processing targets,
The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits an e-mail for performing confirmation for each processing target included in the e-mail received by the processing target receiving unit. A processing target receiving means for receiving an email including the processing target;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail received by the processing target receiving means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to process the file stored in the file storage unit according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit;
Response receiving means for receiving an e-mail that is a response to the e-mail transmitted by the transmitting means;
An information processing system comprising: processing means for processing a file stored in the file storage means in response to an e-mail received by the response receiving means. Processing target extraction means for extracting e-mails including processing targets from the mail server;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail extracted by the processing object extracting means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to process the file stored in the file storage unit according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit;
Response extraction means for extracting from the mail server an email that is a response to the email sent by the sending means;
An information processing system comprising processing means for performing processing on a file stored in the file storage means in accordance with the electronic mail extracted by the response extraction means. An output object extraction means for extracting an e-mail including an output object from the mail server;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail extracted by the output target extracting means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
In accordance with the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit, a transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to output the file stored in the file storage unit;
Response extraction means for extracting from the mail server an email that is a response to the email sent by the sending means;
In response to the email extracted by the response extraction means, image data conversion means for converting the file stored in the file storage means into image data that can be output by an output device;
An image output system comprising: image data transmission means for transmitting the image data converted by the image data conversion means to the output device. Information processing system
A processing target receiving means for receiving an email including the processing target;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to process the processing target in response to the e-mail received by the processing target receiving unit;
Response receiving means for receiving an e-mail that is a response to the e-mail transmitted by the transmitting means;
An information processing program that functions as a processing unit that performs processing on the processing target in accordance with an e-mail received by the response receiving unit. The processing target receiving means receives an email including a plurality of processing targets,
The information processing program according to claim 6, wherein the transmission unit transmits an e-mail for performing confirmation for each processing target included in the e-mail received by the processing target receiving unit. Information processing system
A processing target receiving means for receiving an email including the processing target;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail received by the processing target receiving means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to process the file stored in the file storage unit according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit;
Response receiving means for receiving an e-mail that is a response to the e-mail transmitted by the transmitting means;
An information processing program that functions as processing means for processing a file stored in the file storage means in response to an e-mail received by the response receiving means. Information processing system
Processing target extraction means for extracting e-mails including processing targets from the mail server;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail extracted by the processing object extracting means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
A transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to process the file stored in the file storage unit according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit;
Response extraction means for extracting from the mail server an email that is a response to the email sent by the sending means;
An information processing program that functions as a processing unit that performs processing on a file stored in the file storage unit in accordance with the electronic mail extracted by the response extraction unit. Image output system,
An output object extraction means for extracting an e-mail including an output object from the mail server;
E-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail extracted by the output target extracting means;
File storage means for storing a file attached to the e-mail according to the analysis result by the e-mail analysis means;
In accordance with the analysis result by the e-mail analysis unit, a transmission unit that transmits an e-mail for confirming whether or not to output the file stored in the file storage unit;
Response extraction means for extracting from the mail server an email that is a response to the email sent by the sending means;
In response to the email extracted by the response extraction means, image data conversion means for converting the file stored in the file storage means into image data that can be output by an output device;
An image output program for causing an image data converted by the image data converting means to function as an image data transmitting means for transmitting to the output device.

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