JP3379396B2 - Communication terminal with e-mail function - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device with an electronic mail function such as a facsimile device which can be connected to a computer communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Computer communication networks such as the Internet tend to be used more and more, and recently, the number of people using them in general households is increasing. Therefore, at present, various communication terminal devices capable of connecting to a computer communication network have been developed, and one of them is a facsimile device with an e-mail function, in which a scanned and scanned original image is
It can be transmitted to a facsimile machine or a personal computer of the other party by either facsimile transmission or electronic mail transmission.

That is, when facsimile transmission is selected at the time of transmitting image data, the image data is directly transmitted using a telephone network or the like. On the other hand, when the electronic mail transmission is selected, the image data is converted into the electronic mail format and the data is stored in the mailbox on the network. Many of the receivers connect this to a computer communication network via a telephone line at an appropriate time by dial-up connection, and if electronic mail arrives, take out image data from the mailbox.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional communication terminal device with an electronic mail function, the electronic mail arriving at the mailbox includes a data format that cannot be decrypted by the device itself. However, when such a mail was received and printed, a meaningless character string was printed, and the mail data could not be accurately reproduced.

For example, in a communication terminal device that can handle only text data, even if a mail as image data is received, the text is not converted, so the correct data is not printed, and communication costs at the time of download are wasted. It was. The present invention has been proposed in view of the above circumstances, and checks the data format before receiving an electronic mail, and if the data format cannot be processed, the electronic mail not to be downloaded. It is intended to provide a communication terminal device with a function.

[0006]

A communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to claim 1, which is proposed to achieve the above object, comprises a storage means for storing an electronic mail received via a computer communication network. , Analyze the data information of the e-mail that has arrived at its own device, and if the data format of this e-mail is a data format that the own device cannot process, do not receive this e-mail and do not store it in the storage means. And a control means for doing so. That is, only the data information is referenced from the mail that has arrived in its own mailbox of the computer communication network, and it is determined whether or not the mail body is downloaded by this.

Here, the data information of the electronic mail includes at least the data format of the mail, and is composed of header information such as a sender address and a subject. Also, the data format is the character code type,
It includes the encoding method and encoding method. In addition,
The computer communication network includes the Internet, NIFTY-Serve and PC-V which are personal computer communication services.
There is an AN or the like, and the communication terminal device of the present invention can use the electronic mail service which is one of the services of these communication networks.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first aspect further comprises a display means for displaying the data information of the electronic mail or a printing means for printing, and the control means does not receive the electronic mail and does not store it in the storage means. In some cases, the data information of the electronic mail is displayed by the display unit or printed by the printing unit. In claim 3, the control means of claim 2 receives or does not store the electronic mail in a data format that cannot be processed by the own device and stores it in the storage means. To
It is characterized in that whether to display by the display means or to print by the printing means can be set in advance.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to the present invention. Here, a configuration example of a facsimile device F with an electronic mail function, which is one of the communication terminal devices of the present invention, is shown.
The present invention is not limited to this, and may be a personal computer (personal computer) having a data communication function.

This facsimile apparatus F is provided with a communication function via a computer communication network in addition to the conventional G3 and G4 facsimile communication functions performed via a public line network. As one of
A case where the Internet is used and an electronic mail (e-mail) service is used on the Internet will be described.

The main control section 1 constitutes the control means of the present invention with a CPU and the like, and not only controls each section of the facsimile apparatus F, but also performs encoding and decoding, image conversion, which will be described later.
Executes each process such as binary / text conversion and mail editing. The NCU2 closes and opens the communication line L1 (analog line). The modem 3 modulates and demodulates signals for facsimile communication. The data modem 4 modulates and demodulates signals for transmitting and receiving electronic mail. The external interface 5 is for connecting other terminal devices such as a personal computer, and enables facsimile communication and transmission / reception of electronic mail by the connected personal computer. In addition,
During digital communication such as G4 facsimile communication, D
Communication is performed via the SU 9 and a communication line L2 (digital line) such as ISDN.

The image memory 6 constitutes a storage means of the present invention with a DRAM or the like, stores the mail downloaded from the provider, and temporarily stores the data transmitted / received by facsimile communication or the like. The RAM 7 stores temporary data generated when the processing is executed, and also stores the user ID and e-mail address of each user for logging in to the Internet, and the e-mail addresses and facsimile numbers of a plurality of parties. The ROM 8 stores a device control program necessary for the operation of the facsimile device F.

The display unit 10 constitutes the display means of the present invention with a liquid crystal display device or the like, and displays the operating state, setting contents, operating procedure, etc. of the facsimile apparatus F. The operation unit 11 is provided with various keys such as a numeric keypad, and performs various input settings for the facsimile apparatus F. The reading unit 12 is a CCD
Etc. to read the original and output black and white binary image data. The recording unit 13 constitutes the printing means of the present invention by a printer such as an electrophotographic system, and is used by another facsimile device.
Alternatively, via the Internet, the received data is converted into image data and recorded (printed out).

The character generator 14 converts text data into image data. The character recognition unit 15 is O
A CR function is provided, and image data is collated (pattern matching) with prestored reference character data to recognize a character and converted into a character code (text data). Figure 2
2 schematically shows the flow of data in the facsimile apparatus F shown in FIG. Each part in this figure is shown in FIG.
Although not existent in the main control unit 1, it is assumed that the main control unit 1 processes the program based on a program stored in the ROM 8.

The encoding / decoding unit 1a encodes the image data read by the reading unit 12 by an encoding method such as MH, MR, MMR, or decodes the encoded data for printing out by the recording unit 13. Turn into. Hereinafter, the encoded data will be referred to as “encoded data”. The image conversion unit 1b converts the encoded data into a TIFF (Tagged Image File format), which is a general image format used in a computer, at the time of sending an electronic mail, while receiving the encoded data from the TIFF at the time of reception. Convert to.

The TIFF is published by Adobe and defines various Classes that handle not only binary black and white, but also multi-valued black and white and full color. Class F, which handles facsimile images, is defined in one of them, and the TI of Class F is added to the beginning of encoded data.
If FF header information is added, it can be converted into TIFF. Hereinafter, the encoded data to which the Class F TIFF header information is added is referred to as “TIFF data”.

A mail sent from a text mail terminal (a terminal that handles only electronic mail of text data) is
The binary text conversion unit 1c uses the character generator 14 to convert the text data into image data because it is composed of a JIS7 unit code or a text code of 7-bit ASCII code. Further, in order to send the mail to the text mail terminal, the character recognition unit 15 is used to convert the image data into text data.

Further, the binary text conversion unit 1c is
When sending e-mail, binary data such as TIFF data is converted into text data, while when receiving e-mail,
Performs the function of converting text data to binary data. Computers that cannot handle binary data e-mail may be connected to the Internet, so in order to ensure that e-mail is delivered to the other party, binary data is Need to be converted to.

The text data handled on the Internet is
Documents issued by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Fore), RFC (Request For Comments) 82
2 is defined as a 7-bit code, but MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension)
By using base64 of s), binary data can be converted into text data. Note that base64 is 8 bits × 3 bytes of binary data 6 bits ×
It is an encoding method for converting binary data into text data by regarding 4 bytes and assigning a character code to each byte.

That is, the binary text converter 1c
Has a function of mutually converting text data and image data and a function of mutually converting binary data such as TIFF and a pseudo text code. The mail editing unit 1d adds the mail header information to the TIFF data converted into the text data and edits it into the e-mail format at the time of sending the e-mail. Is removed to make TIFF data of text data.

Here, the mail header information is predetermined header information of electronic mail on the Internet,
"From:", "To:", "Subjec" at the beginning of the data to be sent
It is stipulated to add items such as t: "," cc: "," Date: ", etc. When sending and receiving e-mails in this way, the data passes through the above parts 1a to 1d, but the facsimile communication When performing, only the encoding / decoding unit 1a is used.

In the present invention, the main controller 1 analyzes the data information of the electronic mail arriving at the own device F, and the data format of the electronic mail is a data format that the own device F cannot process. At times, the electronic mail is controlled not to be received and stored in the image memory 6. That is,
Only the data information is referenced from the mail that has arrived in its own mailbox provided by the provider, and based on this, it is determined whether or not to download the mail body.

In this way, the mail in the data format that cannot be decrypted by the device F is not downloaded unnecessarily, and the garbled character string of meaningless data is not printed, so that the recording paper is wasted. You don't have to.
For example, in a communication terminal device that can handle only text data, you can prevent image data from being downloaded.
Further, in a communication terminal device that cannot handle mails other than FAX mail (encoded data of facsimile communication by TIFF / MIME), mails other than FAX mail can be prevented from being downloaded.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the above operation. After logging in and connecting to the Internet (100), the presence of mail in the mailbox is checked (101). Then, by referring to a part of the header or the text which is the data information of the arriving mail (102), the data format is extracted from this (10
3) It is checked whether or not this data format is a format that can be reproduced when the mail text is received (104).

If the data format is reproducible,
Although the mail text is received and stored in the image memory 6, if the data format is not reproducible, only the data information including the title and the like is stored in the RAM 7 or the like in addition to the data format (105 to 107). If another mail has arrived, the mail is checked and the above operation is continued (101 to 107), but if no other mail has arrived, if there is a non-reproducible mail in step 107, The mail title stored in the RAM 7 or the like is output as a list from the recording unit 13 (108 to 11).
0).

That is, the main control unit 1 causes the recording unit 13 to print the data information of the mail when the mail text is not downloaded to the image memory 6. Further, the data information may be displayed on the display unit 10. The mail data information referred to in step 102 includes at least the data format of the mail, but in addition to this, headers such as a sender address and a subject (title) necessary for list output when not downloaded. Contains information. This data information may be composed of a part of the mail text.

The data format includes image data and text data. In addition, character code type (JIS code, shift JIS code, etc.), encoding method (MIME, UUENCODE, etc.), facsimile data encoding method (MH) , MMR, etc.) and graphic file formats (JPEG, GIF, etc.). It also includes data formats for video and voice (voicemail).

The extraction of the data format in step 103 may be performed by searching a predetermined character string (Content-Type or the like) in the header or by searching for text data that is determined in advance. The facsimile apparatus F having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is provided with the character generator 14 and the character recognition unit 15 and is capable of mutual conversion between an image and a text. Therefore, mail of any data format can be processed.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a list printed out in step 110 of FIG. Only the sender address (From :) and title (Subj :) are recorded as the data information of the mail here, but the information to be recorded is not limited to these, and the mail downloaded as processable. The data information of the above may be separately listed in the list.

In this way, if a mail whose data format cannot be processed (reproducible) is found, the sender is immediately contacted and the mail is retransmitted with a different data format or facsimile. You can send it to another computer that can process the data format, or you can directly listen to the contents. Further, according to the present invention, whether the main control unit 1 previously receives an electronic mail in a data format that cannot be processed by the device F and stores the electronic mail in the image memory 6 or not stores the electronic mail in the image memory 6. Whether the data information of the mail is displayed by the display unit 10 or printed by the recording unit 13 can be registered in the RAM 7 or the like.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (200 to 207) showing the operation at this time. Here, in accordance with the operation procedure displayed on the display unit 10, the operation unit 11
Each registered content is sequentially input by key operation of. Also, here, it is possible to register whether or not to receive the above-mentioned e-mail (200,
201), whether or not to download the mail body (203, 204) and whether or not to display / print the mail list (see FIG. 4) when the reception is possible (205, 20)
6) can be input. When input is made in this way, each registration content is accepted as "1" and rejected as "0".
The data is stored in the RAM 7 in a table configuration as data such as (2
07), and the main control unit 1 refers to this when the mail is received.

Depending on the contents registered here, the main controller 1 can
Although it operates as described above, when the mail is not received, the mail is not received and the mail is kept in the mailbox. The case of registering the receivable, downloadable, and mail list possible means that the data format may be processed by another personal computer or the like. In this case, once downloaded, the data is processed by a personal computer or the like. The case of registering receivable, downloadable, and mail list rejected is a case where it is sufficient to process only a processable part such as a header or a text part in a multipart format.

The case of registering the reception possible, the download not possible, and the mail list possible corresponds to the case of outputting a list as shown in FIG. 4 and dealing with it. When registering whether to receive, download, or mail list, the external interface 5
This is a case where the mail is directly transferred to a personal computer or the like connected via. It should be noted that, although the description has been given here on the assumption that the table is set in advance, the above contents may be sequentially set when the mail in the unprocessable data format is received.

[0034]

As can be understood from the above description, the communication terminal device with the electronic mail function according to claim 1 of the present invention analyzes the data information of the electronic mail addressed to itself, and the data of this mail. If the format is a data format that cannot be processed by the device itself, this email text is not downloaded. As a result, an e-mail in a data format that cannot be decrypted by the device itself is not unnecessarily downloaded, and a character string whose meaning is unknown is not printed. Therefore, the recording paper is not wasted.

According to the second aspect, when there is an incoming mail in a data format that cannot be processed, the information is displayed or printed. Therefore, appropriate measures such as promptly contacting the sender are taken. be able to. According to the third aspect, it is possible to register in advance whether or not to download the mail in the unprocessable data format and whether to output the list of the information of the mail not to be downloaded. Therefore, it is impossible to process depending on the environment of each user. Can handle email in data format.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a data flow in the communication terminal device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the communication terminal device of FIG. 1 when receiving a mail.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a list output of mails that have not been downloaded.

5 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the communication terminal device of FIG. 1 when registering a table.

[Explanation of symbols]

F: Facsimile machine with e-mail function 1 ... Main control unit 6 ... Image memory 7 ... RAM 10 ... Display 13 ... Recording unit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. Storage means for storing an electronic mail received via a computer communication network, and data information of an electronic mail arriving at its own device is analyzed, and the data format of this electronic mail is processed by the own device. A communication terminal device with an electronic mail function, comprising: a control means for not receiving the electronic mail and storing it in the storage means when the data format is impossible. 2. A display means for displaying data information of an electronic mail or a printing means for printing, further comprising:
The data information of the electronic mail is displayed by the display means or printed by the printing means when the electronic mail is not received and stored in the storage means. Communication terminal device with e-mail function. 3. The control means receives data information of an electronic mail, which is adapted not to be stored in the storage means, whether or not to receive the electronic mail in a data format that cannot be processed by the own device and store the electronic mail in the storage means. 3. The communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to claim 2, wherein whether to display by the display unit or to print by the printing unit can be set in advance.