JP3329788B2 - Facsimile apparatus and electronic mail receiving method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of receiving an electronic mail and a file attached to the electronic mail (hereinafter, referred to as an attached file).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a technique of mounting a modem on an information terminal device (hereinafter, referred to as a server) such as a PC or the like and converting image information from a facsimile device transmitted from a public line into an attached file of electronic mail.

Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-331540 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-98298, a server attaches an attached file to an e-mail and transmits the file with an e-mail address specified by a transmission source as a destination. Are disclosed.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-167584, a server converts an attached file of an electronic mail into facsimile image information and transmits the converted image information to a facsimile having a designated electronic mail address. Things are disclosed.

In this technique, a text of an electronic mail composed of text is converted into image information by a server, and a file attached to the electronic mail is also converted into image information. Then, the server combines the e-mail text and the image information of the attached file with the facsimile apparatus corresponding to the designated e-mail address and transmits the facsimile. The receiving-side facsimile apparatus can receive the e-mail text and the image information of the attached file as facsimile image information. (Hereinafter, the e-mail text converted to image information is referred to as e-mail image information, and the attached file converted to image information is referred to as attached image information.)

[0006]

However, since the e-mail text is converted into e-mail image information by the server, the data of the e-mail text itself is much larger than the text.

Therefore, when it is desired to store the text of an e-mail in the main body of the facsimile apparatus, not the text data as the text of the e-mail but the e-mail text information obtained by converting the text of the e-mail. As a result, there is a problem that a large amount of memory is required for the facsimile machine.

Further, since the server converts the e-mail text into mail image information, the reply of the received e-mail text results in the mail image information being returned. For this reason, even if the text of an e-mail from an e-mail terminal with only text information such as a mobile phone is received by the facsimile machine, it will be converted into e-mail image information. There is a problem that can not be.

Therefore, by providing a facsimile terminal device that transmits and receives the body part of an e-mail as text and receives attached file information converted to facsimile image information for an attached file of the e-mail, Problem can be solved.

However, although the text of the electronic mail is sent by electronic mail, the attached file is sent as facsimile image information by the facsimile procedure. Therefore, if the facsimile apparatus is set to manual reception, the attached image information may be received forever. There is a problem that can not be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of reliably receiving attached image information.

[0012]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electronic mail receiving means for receiving an electronic mail, and an attached file detecting means for detecting whether or not the electronic mail has an attached file. And a control means for switching the facsimile reception mode to the automatic reception mode when an attached file is detected.

With this configuration, when it is detected that an attached file is included in the electronic mail, the receiving mode of the facsimile is switched to the automatic receiving mode, so that the attached image information transmitted from the server can be reliably received.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes facsimile communication control means for transmitting / receiving image information in accordance with a facsimile procedure, and e-mail communication control means for transmitting / receiving an e-mail text as text data. Attached file detecting means for detecting whether there is an attached file in the electronic mail body, and control means for switching a facsimile receiving mode to an automatic receiving mode when the attached file is detected.

According to this configuration, when it is detected that the electronic mail has an attached file, the receiving mode of the facsimile is switched to the automatic receiving mode, so that the attached image information transmitted from the server can be reliably received.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means detects that the attached file detecting means has an attached file in the body of the e-mail, and further comprises the receiving mode. Is a manual reception mode, the reception mode is switched to an automatic reception mode.

According to this configuration, the reception mode can be switched to the automatic reception mode only in the manual reception mode where the reception mode needs to be switched.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect or the second aspect, the attached file detecting means divides the electronic mail into the electronic mail text and the attached file, and By sending an e-mail text as an e-mail and inquiring of a service server transmitting the attached file as image information, it is detected whether or not the e-mail has an attached file.

As described above, by inquiring of the service server which processes both the electronic mail text and the attached file whether or not the attached file exists, even if the electronic mail is broken due to a reception error or the like, the attached file can be correctly extracted. You can inquire if there is.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, in the procedure before facsimile communication, the image information to be received from the facsimile apparatus is attached to the e-mail text. Gets information to determine whether it is a file.

Thus, only the attached file corresponding to the electronic mail text can be received. Therefore, it is possible to easily associate the electronic mail text with the attached file.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the number of sounds in the automatic reception mode is a settable minimum number.

With this configuration, the facsimile apparatus starts the facsimile reception with only the minimum ringing and minimizes the time in which the user can respond to the reception of the attached image information. Thus, it is possible to prevent the user from intervening.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the automatic reception mode also serves as a FAX / TEL switching mode.

With this configuration, even if the control unit switches to the automatic reception mode to receive the attached image information, the unit switches to the reception mode of the FAX / TEL mode to wait for the attached image information. It can respond to incoming calls.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, a step of receiving an e-mail text as text data, a step of detecting whether or not the e-mail has an attached file, and a step of receiving a facsimile upon detecting the attached file Switching the mode to an automatic reception mode.

Hereinafter, a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, a case where the facsimile apparatus transmits and receives an electronic mail and an attached file via the Internet will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a facsimile communication system according to the above embodiment.

The facsimile apparatus 101 can perform normal facsimile communication with a general facsimile apparatus 102 using a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 103, and also via the Internet 104 which is a worldwide computer network. The electronic mail can be transmitted and received with a personal computer 105 (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) or an Internet facsimile apparatus 106 (hereinafter, referred to as an IFAX).

The facsimile apparatus 101 transmits and receives an e-mail text by e-mail using text data via the service server 107 and receives an attached file as facsimile image information.

Hereinafter, concretely, the PC 105 or IFAX
A case where an e-mail and an attached file are received from 106 will be described. First, a case where an electronic mail with an attached file is transmitted from the PC 105 to the facsimile apparatus 101 will be described.

The electronic mail with the attached file created in PC 105 is sent to public line network 103 by dial-up connection, and sent to Internet service provider (ISP) 108. The ISP 108 transmits the e-mail with the attached file to the provider or server corresponding to the address specified by the PC 105, in this case, the service server 107 via the Internet 104. The service server 107 divides the transmitted e-mail with the attached file into the e-mail text and the attached file. Then, the service server 107 converts the text of the e-mail into a PSTN using the
The data is sent to the facsimile machine 101 via the communication terminal 103. Also,
The service server 107 converts the attached file into facsimile image information and sends it as facsimile information to the facsimile apparatus 101 via the PSTN 103 in a facsimile procedure.

When sending an e-mail from the FAX 1 to the PC 105, the e-mail body is created by the FAX 1, and a desired address is designated and the e-mail body is transmitted.
7. Sent to the ISP 108 via the Internet 104. When the PC 105 accesses the ISP 108, the PC 105 can read the e-mail text sent to the ISP 108.

Next, a case where an electronic mail with an attached file is transmitted from the IFAX 106 to the facsimile apparatus 101 will be described.

First, an electronic mail with an attached file is created by the IFAX 106. A method of creating an e-mail with an attached file by the IFAX 106 uses a conventional method, and a description thereof will be omitted. The e-mail with an attached file created by the IFAX 106 is stored in the mail server 109. The e-mail with the attached file stored in the mail server 109 is transmitted to the Internet 1
04 to the service server 107. Subsequent operations are the same as those in the case where an e-mail with an attached file is sent from the PC 105, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the service server 107 divides the body of the e-mail and the attached file, the body of the e-mail is an e-mail in text, and the attached file is a facsimile procedure as attached image information which is an image for facsimile. It is transmitted to the facsimile machine 101.

Next, the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is an external top view showing the facsimile apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
2, the lower part is the front side of the facsimile apparatus 101, and the upper part is the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile machine 1
A panel unit 201 is provided on the upper surface of the device 01.
A dial key 202 is provided on the right side of the center of the panel unit 201. The dial key 202 is used not only for inputting a telephone number or a facsimile number (FAX number), but also for reproducing a recorded message in an answering machine function and creating a message in an electronic mail function.

A function / registration button 204 is provided near the dial key 202. Function / Registration button 204
Is used to select a function provided in the facsimile apparatus 101. For example, this is used when the facsimile apparatus 101 is provided with a so-called auto-pilot function for periodically checking an e-mail with a provider. The function / registration button 204 is also used to set an autopilot timer for setting the interval at which the provider checks the e-mail.

The function / registration button 204 is used when switching between various reception modes. Here, various reception modes of the facsimile apparatus 101 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a ringing bell number setting table of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the reception mode includes a manual reception mode and a FAX / TEL switching mode (hereinafter, referred to as F / T).
Mode), a fax-only mode, and an absence mode.

In the manual reception mode, the number of ringing bells cannot be set, and the ringing continues until the handset 222 is raised on the receiving side. In other words, the handset 22
No facsimile image or attached image information is received until the number is increased by two.

In the F / T mode, after the bell rings a number of times, the telephone processing is automatically performed when the transmitted signal is a signal relating to a telephone, and is automatically performed when the transmitted signal is a facsimile signal. This is a mode for switching to a process of setting a fax reception state. In the F / T mode, the number of times the bell rings can be set freely within a predetermined range.

The facsimile-only mode is a mode for automatically performing a process for receiving a facsimile after the bell rings a set number of times. In the fax only mode, the number of times the bell rings can be set freely within a predetermined range.

In the answering machine mode, after the bell rings a set number of times, an answering machine message is transmitted to the destination, and if the transmitted signal is a signal relating to telephone, the message is automatically transmitted to the answering machine processing. If the signal is a facsimile signal, this mode automatically performs a process of receiving a facsimile. In the answering machine mode, the number of times the bell rings can be set freely within a predetermined range.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the mode for receiving a facsimile image using the function / registration button 204 is changed from the manual mode to the automatic reception mode F / F.
The mode can be manually switched to the T mode, the fax-only mode, and the answering machine mode.

An answering machine button 207 is provided on the right side of the dial key 202. Answering Machine Button 20
Reference numeral 7 is for switching the state of the answering machine function of the facsimile apparatus 101 on / off. The answering machine button 207 is normally used when the operator goes out of office or the like. When the state of the answering machine function of the facsimile apparatus 101 is turned on by the answering machine button 207, the message received during this time is recorded. Thereafter, when the answering machine function of the facsimile apparatus 101 is turned off by the answering machine button 207, the recorded message is automatically reproduced. If the answering machine button 207 is pressed during a call, the conversation during the call is recorded. The number of rings in the answering machine mode is also determined by the function / registration button 204.
Can be set by

A display section 215 is provided on the left side of the center of the panel section 201. Display unit 215
Is composed of an LCD or the like. The display unit 215 displays a screen corresponding to the state of the facsimile machine 101. For example, when a telephone number is input on the facsimile apparatus 101, the input telephone number is displayed on the display unit 215. When the content of the e-mail is confirmed by the facsimile apparatus 101, the received e-mail is displayed on the display unit 215. The display unit 215 has, on the front side, a column for displaying a function that is provided in the facsimile apparatus 101 and that displays a currently selected function. More specifically, columns for displaying text mail, overseas fax using the Internet network, incoming melody download, and incoming call history display functions are arranged.

The telephone book dial 2 is displayed on the front side of the display unit 215.
16 are provided. This telephone directory dial 216
The facsimile apparatus 101 is used to select a telephone number or a facsimile number of a destination registered by a user in the facsimile apparatus 101. By rotating the telephone directory dial 216, the telephone numbers displayed on the display unit 215 are scrolled. The telephone directory dial 216 is also used when scrolling a display such as a function selection screen described later.

At the center of the telephone directory dial 216,
A set button 217 is provided. The start / set button 217 is used for facsimile
This is used when starting transmission.

A handset 222 is attached to the side of the facsimile machine 101. Further, a paper feed tray 223 is provided on the rear surface of the facsimile machine 101. Further, a hand scanner 224 is provided on a front portion of the facsimile machine 101.

Next, the hardware configuration of the facsimile machine 101 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment.

The CPU 401 executes a program stored in the storage means, and controls the entire facsimile apparatus 101.

As storage means, a ROM (Read Only Me
mory) 402, RAM (Random Access Memory) 403
In addition, a flash memory 404 (hereinafter, referred to as FROM), which is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory capable of erasing and rewriting, is provided. The ROM 402 stores a program to be executed by the CPU 401. The RAM 403 is a work memory that executes programs and temporarily stores various data such as e-mails and image files. FR
As shown in FIG. 5, the OM 404 includes an e-mail text storage area 501 for storing a received e-mail text and an e-mail text to be transmitted, an image data of the received attached file and an image for transmission. An image data storage area 502 for storing data, a mail address storage area 503 storing a plurality of destination mail addresses, a telephone number of the service server 107, ID information for sending an e-mail, and various kinds of communication. A setting information storage area 504 for storing various settings such as a password and a reception mode storage area 505 for storing the current reception mode of the facsimile apparatus 101 are provided. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a memory configuration diagram of the FROM according to the embodiment.

The facsimile machine 101 has a PS
A communication control unit 405 that controls transmission and reception of signals to and from the TN 103 is provided. The communication control unit 405 issues a call,
Processing such as incoming calls is performed. The handset 222 and the built-in speaker 406 are connected to the communication control unit 405. The communication control unit 405 includes means for performing data communication and facsimile communication via the PSTN 103,
Specifically, modem, DSU, terminal adapter (T
A) is provided.

Further, the facsimile apparatus 101 is provided with a scanner 224 for reading a document and acquiring image information for transmission to another apparatus. Further, the facsimile apparatus 101 is provided with a printer 407 for printing the received image information.

Further, the facsimile apparatus 101 is provided with an operation unit 408 such as a dial key and a touch panel provided on the panel unit 201 for receiving an operation by the operator such as designation of a destination and transmission start instruction. . The facsimile apparatus 101 is provided with a display unit 215 for visually displaying various information such as processing contents and input information, so that an operator can easily grasp the processing contents and input information.

Incidentally, the service server 107 described above.
Is to send an e-mail text by e-mail, and to send an attached file as attached image information which is facsimile image information by a facsimile procedure. Therefore, link information for associating the electronic mail text with the attached file is required. For this reason, the service server 107 is provided with a link table 601. Hereinafter, the configuration of the link table 601 will be described with reference to FIG.

The link table 601 stores a file number 602 which is a serial number of a file obtained by converting a received file into a TIFF image. The link table 601 stores an e-mail text file number 603 which is e-mail text information corresponding to the file number 601 and attached file information 604 for the text file number 603. Further, the link table 601 includes
Subject information 605 for storing subject information corresponding to the file number 602, and destination information 606
Is stored. Also, the link table 601 includes
A transfer flag 607, which is transfer information indicating whether or not the stored e-mail text 603 has been transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 101, is also stored.

The link table 601 has a file number 602, an e-mail text file number 603, attached file information 604, subject information 605, destination information 606, and a transfer flag 607.
And an identification number 608 for associating with. By referring to the identification number 608, the correspondence of the information stored in the link table 601 can be known. As described above, since the link table 601 is stored in the service server 107, the e-mail text and
Related information such as attached files can be linked.

The information in the link table 601 is also held in the facsimile apparatus 101, and the facsimile apparatus 101 also links the electronic mail text with the attached picture information.

By the way, the service server 107 described above
Sends an e-mail text by e-mail, and an attached file as attached image information by facsimile procedure. For this reason, when the facsimile apparatus is in the manual reception mode, there is a problem that the attached image information cannot be received forever. Facsimile machine 101 of the present invention
In order to solve this problem, the CPU 401 determines whether there is an attached file in the e-mail, and if there is an attached file, automatically switches the receiving mode from the manual receiving mode to the automatic receiving mode. It was made.

Hereinafter, the reception mode switching operation of the facsimile apparatus 101 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. First, an e-mail reception processing operation according to the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in order to determine whether or not the facsimile apparatus 101 automatically receives an e-mail, it is determined whether or not the automatic pilot operation is set (ST701).

If the automatic pilot operation is not set in ST701, no e-mail is received, and it is not possible to determine whether or not there is an attached file, and the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in ST701 that the operation is the autopilot operation, then the autopilot timer is set to a preset time (ST701).
702). As a timer for autopilot, CP
U401 uses an internal timer. And the CPU 40
1 counts the autopilot timer (ST7).
03), It is determined whether or not the timer has timed out until the timer has timed out (ST704).

When the CPU 401 determines that a timeout has occurred in ST 704, the CPU 401 controls the communication control unit 405 to store the service server 107 stored in the FROM 404.
And automatically connects to the service server 107 (ST705). Next, the CPU 401
The user authentication information such as the password stored in the ROM 404 is transmitted to the service server 107 (ST7).
06). The service server 107 is a facsimile machine 1
The facsimile apparatus 101 transmits to the facsimile apparatus 101 information on whether or not the user authentication information sent from the user 01 has been correctly and correctly connected. Then, facsimile apparatus 101 receives this information returned from service server 107, and determines whether or not the connection has been normally established (ST707).

If it is determined in ST707 that the connection is not normally established, facsimile apparatus 101 controls communication control unit 405 to disconnect the line (ST708). On the other hand, if it is determined in ST707 that the connection has been made normally, the facsimile
07, and sends information to inquire whether there is an incoming mail. The service server 107 receives this information and transmits a signal to the facsimile apparatus 101 as to whether or not there is an incoming mail. Then, facsimile apparatus 101 determines whether or not there is an incoming mail from the signal transmitted from service server 107 (ST70).
9).

If there is no incoming mail in ST709, the process proceeds to ST708, and facsimile apparatus 101 disconnects the line. On the other hand, in ST709, if facsimile apparatus 101 determines that there is an incoming mail, facsimile apparatus 101 displays on display unit 215 that there is an unread mail. FIG. 8 shows an image displayed on the display unit 215 at this time.

Then, facsimile apparatus 101 transmits a signal to the service server 107 to receive the mail. The service server 107 receives the signal and transmits the electronic mail text to the facsimile apparatus 101. Then, facsimile apparatus 101 receives the e-mail text (ST710).

Next, facsimile apparatus 101 transmits an inquiry signal to service server 107 as to whether or not the e-mail received in ST 710 has an attached file. The service server 107 receives this signal and sends a signal indicating whether or not there is an attached file to the facsimile machine 1.
Send to 01. Then, the facsimile machine 101
ST by the signal sent from the service server 107
It is determined whether there is an attached file in the body of the e-mail received in 710 (ST711).

If it is determined that there is no attached file in the e-mail received in ST711, the service server 1
At 07, a signal is sent to inquire whether there is any mail other than the already received e-mail. Service server 10
7 receives this signal and sends a signal to the facsimile apparatus 101 as to whether or not there is another mail. Facsimile apparatus 101 determines from this signal whether there is another mail (ST712). If there is another mail, the process from ST 710 is repeated, and if there is no other mail, the process proceeds to ST 708.

On the other hand, if the facsimile apparatus 101 determines that there is an attached file in ST711, the service server 107 and the link table 601 are updated in order to search for the attached file information corresponding to the received mail. Specifically, processing such as generating a table in which the attached file information 601, the file number 602, and the identification number 608 are blank is performed.

Then, service server 107 updates the portion of the link table corresponding to the mail text received by facsimile apparatus 101 (ST713). here,
The contents to be changed include the update of the transfer flag 607 and the like.
Then, facsimile apparatus 101 performs the processing after ST712.

Thus, the facsimile apparatus 101
Ends the operation of receiving the e-mail text. FIG.
In the flow chart of (1), it is displayed that there is an incoming mail while the body of the e-mail is being received (ST709).

Next, the facsimile apparatus 101 starts the operation of receiving the attached image information corresponding to the attached file. Here, the facsimile apparatus 101 is automatically controlled so that the reception mode is set to the automatic reception mode in order to prevent the inconvenience that the attached image information cannot be received.

The operation of receiving the attached image information will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of receiving attached image information according to the above embodiment.

First, the facsimile machine 101 sends a signal to the service server 107 to instruct the service server 107 to send a signal indicating whether or not the received e-mail has an attached file. Then, the service server 107
Upon receiving this signal, a signal indicating whether or not there is an attached file in the e-mail already transmitted to facsimile apparatus 101 is transmitted. Facsimile apparatus 101 receives this signal and determines whether or not the received e-mail has an attached file (ST901).

In ST901, facsimile apparatus 1
If 01 determines that there is no attached file, the process ends. On the other hand, in ST901, the facsimile machine 10
If it is determined that the facsimile apparatus 101 is in the automatic reception mode, the facsimile apparatus 101 determines whether or not the attached image information corresponding to the attached file can be received. Is determined (S
T902). The reception mode setting of the facsimile apparatus 101 is stored in the FROM 404. The CPU 401 can know the current reception mode by referring to the FROM 404.

In ST902, facsimile machine 1
If it is determined that 01 is not the automatic reception mode, that is, it is the manual reception mode, the reception mode of facsimile apparatus 101 is switched to the automatic reception mode (ST903). However, at this time, the change of the reception mode is not reflected in the stored contents of the FROM 404 for the reason described later.

Thus, the facsimile apparatus 101
Has been switched to the automatic reception mode, so that the attached image information can be automatically received.

Next, the facsimile apparatus 101 has almost decided to perform facsimile reception next.
It is necessary to eliminate unnecessary ringing of the bell. To this end, facsimile apparatus 101 sets the number of times the bell rings to the minimum value that facsimile apparatus 101 can set (ST90).
4). In the present embodiment, since the minimum set value of the number of times of ringing is 0, it is set to 0 here.

Further, even if the facsimile apparatus 101 is in the automatic reception mode, if the facsimile apparatus 101 is in the facsimile only mode, it becomes impossible to cope with a call during standby of the attached image information.
Also, when the facsimile apparatus 101 is in the absence mode, although the possibility that the attached image information is received is high,
An answering machine message is sent, slowing down the process.

For this reason, the reception mode of facsimile apparatus 101 is switched to F / T mode (ST905). This makes it possible to respond to an incoming call even while waiting for the attached image information to receive the attached file. Also, it is not necessary to send an answering machine message unnecessarily.

Thus, the facsimile machine 101
Is a state in which a facsimile image can be comfortably received, that is, a state in which the attached image information can be comfortably received. Then, facsimile apparatus 101 determines whether or not there is an incoming facsimile signal (ST906), and continues this processing until there is an incoming call.

Then, in ST906, when facsimile apparatus 101 determines that there is an incoming call, it is necessary to recognize whether or not the incoming facsimile signal is attached picture information. For this purpose, the telephone number of the fax destination is stored in the service server 1 using the number display function.
Check if it is a telephone number of 07. Therefore, the facsimile apparatus 101 receives the number display information (S
T907). Note that the method of checking whether the received facsimile signal is the service server 107 may be performed by using a signal of a facsimile procedure, for example, a TSI signal without using the number display function.

Then, the facsimile machine 101
Even if the transmitted image information is not an attached image, the FAX receiving operation is started (ST908).

Then, the facsimile apparatus 101
It is determined whether the received facsimile signal is from service server 107 (ST909). If facsimile apparatus 101 determines that the facsimile signal is not a signal from service server 107, ST906
After that, the processing from ST906 to ST908 is repeated until a facsimile signal from the service server 107 is received.

During the process of receiving the attached image information, the facsimile apparatus 101 displays the image shown in FIG. 10 on the display unit 215 so that the receiving side can understand that the attached image information is currently being received. I do.

When the reception of the attached image information is completed,
The facsimile apparatus 101 refers to the reception mode information stored in the FROM 404, and returns to the state before the attached file processing such as the reception mode of the facsimile apparatus 101 and the number of times the bell rings (ST910). Also, the reception mode information stored in FROM 404 is the same as before ST904, so that facsimile apparatus 101
4, the user can easily know the setting before the reception processing of the attached image information, that is, the setting of the standby state.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, when an e-mail has an attached file, the facsimile apparatus 101 automatically switches the facsimile reception mode from the manual mode to the automatic mode. Can reliably receive attachments sent from.

Further, the facsimile apparatus 101 inquires of the service server 107 which processes both the e-mail text and the attached file whether there is an attached file, and the e-mail received by the facsimile apparatus 101 is broken due to a reception error or the like. Even if it does, it can be queried whether or not there is an attached file correctly.

In the above embodiment, the number of sounds in the automatic reception mode is set to the minimum settable number.
The facsimile apparatus 101 starts facsimile reception with only a minimum ringing. This minimizes the time the user can respond to incoming attachment information,
It is possible to prevent the user from intervening when the attached image information is received.

Further, since the automatic reception mode of the above embodiment also serves as the FAX / TEL switching mode, even if the control unit switches to the automatic reception mode for receiving the attached image information, the attached image information is not transmitted. It is possible to respond to an incoming call even during the reception standby of the call.

The CPU 401 is provided with a function as an attached file detecting means for detecting whether an attached file is present in the electronic mail and a control means for switching a facsimile receiving mode to an automatic receiving mode when the attached file is detected. Also, a dedicated processing unit having each of these functions may be provided.

[0095]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When it is detected that the e-mail has an attached file, the receiving mode of the facsimile is switched to the automatic receiving mode, so that the attached image information transmitted from the server can be reliably received.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a facsimile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external top view showing the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a ringing bell number setting table of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a memory configuration diagram of the FROM according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a link table according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an e-mail reception processing operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an image displayed on the display unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of receiving attached image information according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image displayed on the display unit according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101, 102 Facsimile machine 103 Public line 104 Internet 105 PC 106 IFAX 107 Service server 108 ISP 109 Mail server 401 CPU 404 FROM 405 Communication control unit 215 Display unit 222 Handset

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00 107 G06F 13/00 640 H04N 1/32

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic mail sent from a service server.
To receive the text of the email as text data using e-mail.
E-mail communication means, and the service server
The e-mail book sent separately from the e-mail text
Facsimile procedure of image information converted from sentence attachment
Facsimile communication means for receiving in accordance with
When the child mail communication means receives the e-mail text
The e-mail is sent to the service server
And attachment detecting means for detecting whether or not text is the attachment, the attachment sensing means the electrodepositing
The facsimile communication means converts the attached file when detecting that the attached file is present in the child mail body.
Control means for switching to an automatic reception mode for automatically receiving selected image information . (2) In a procedure before facsimile communication,
The image information received from this is attached to the email body
2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information for determining whether the file is a file is obtained . 3. The number of sounds in the automatic reception mode is
3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number is a settable minimum number . 4. The automatic reception mode includes a facsimile / telephone mode.
4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile apparatus also functions as a switching mode . 5. An electronic mail sent from a service server.
Receives the text of the email as text data using email
From the service server and separate from the email body
Change the attached file of the email body sent to
Receiving the converted image information according to the facsimile procedure
An e-mail receiving method, wherein when the e-mail text is received, the service server
Contact the server to add the attached file to the email body.
Detecting the presence or absence of an email file,
If the attachment is detected in the sentence,
Automatic reception to automatically receive image information converted from files
Switching to a mode.
Email receiving method.