JP3471707B2 - Facsimile apparatus and image information printing 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 and an image information printing method 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 in which an information terminal device (hereinafter referred to as a server) including a PC or the like is equipped with a modem to convert image information from a facsimile device transmitted from a public line into an attached file of an electronic mail.

Further, in JP-A-11-331540 and JP-A-11-98298, a server attaches an attachment file to an electronic mail and sends the electronic mail address designated by the sender as a destination. What is done is disclosed.

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

According to this technique, an electronic mail text consisting of text is converted by a server into image information, and an attached file attached to the electronic mail is also converted into image information. Then, the server combines the image information of the email body and the image information of the attached file with the facsimile device corresponding to the specified email address, and sends it by facsimile. The facsimile machine on the receiving side can receive the image information of the electronic mail text and the attached file as facsimile image information. (Hereinafter, the email body information converted into image information is referred to as email image information, and the attached file converted into image information is referred to as attached image information.)

[0006]

However, since the server converts the e-mail text into e-mail image information,
The data of the email body itself becomes much larger than the text state.

For this reason, when it is desired to store the body of the electronic mail in the main body of the facsimile apparatus, not the text data which is the body of the electronic mail but the electronic mail image information obtained by converting the body of the electronic mail is stored. As a result, there is a problem that a large amount of memory is required for the facsimile machine.

Further, since the body of the electronic mail is converted into electronic mail image information on the server side, when replying the received electronic mail text, the electronic mail image information is returned. For this reason, even if the text of an e-mail from an e-mail terminal that has only text information, such as a mobile phone, is received as an e-mail image information by the facsimile device, a reply is sent to the e-mail terminal that has only text information. There is a problem that you can not.

Therefore, by providing a facsimile terminal device which transmits and receives the text portion of the electronic mail as it is and receives the attached image information converted into the image information of the facsimile for the attached file of the electronic mail, Can solve the problem.

However, the attached image information is simply printed in the same manner as the image information transmitted from a general facsimile machine. Therefore, there is a problem that the user has to print the attached image information once and then check the e-mail text corresponding to the attached image information.

Further, when printing the received image information, the conventional facsimile apparatus simply prints the received image information from the earliest received time. Therefore, the conventional facsimile machine
Even when the image information received in the memory is printed, it is simply printed in the order of the received time. Therefore, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, when the attached image information and the normal image information are mixed and received,
It will be printed in the order received.

For this reason, when the normal image information and the attached image information are received in a mixed manner, if the received image information is simply attached time information, it is determined whether the received image information is attached image information. When making a determination, there is a problem that the user must continue to check the printed information until the last received image information is printed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above point, and when the user is printing the image information even if the image information and the attached image information received from a general facsimile apparatus are mixed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus and an image information printing method capable of identifying whether or not this image is attached image information. It is another object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus and an image information printing method that can confirm the attached image information without waiting for the completion of printing.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention, when printing attached image information of an electronic mail, transmits an electronic mail corresponding to the attached image information being printed at the same time as the printing process. The display unit is configured to display individual information.

With this configuration, when the attached image information is printed, the individual information of the electronic mail corresponding to the attached image information is displayed. Therefore, the user only needs to give a print instruction and the image information to be printed with the electronic mail is displayed. You can know the correspondence with.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention receives the electronic mail text sent from the service server as text data, and the electronic mail text and the attachment corresponding thereto. E-mail receiving means for receiving identification information commonly given to files and image information sent from general facsimile machines
To receive e-mail or to use the e-mail receiving means to send e-mail
When a sentence is received, the image information obtained by converting the attached file and the identification information corresponding to the attached file sent separately from the notification mail from the service server separately from the body of the email are received according to a facsimile procedure. By linking the facsimile communication means and the electronic mail text and the image information having the same identification information to each other and storing them in the link table, the link means for associating the electronic mail text with the corresponding image information. And a memory for storing the e-mail text and the image information
And a means for printing the image information stored in the storage means, referring to the link table to determine whether or not there is the e-mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed,
If there is the e-mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed, the image information to be printed is printed and the e-mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed is stored.
Print control means for reading from the means and displaying on the display means,
Adopt a configuration equipped with.

With this configuration, when the attached image information is printed, the e-mail text corresponding to the attached image information is displayed. Therefore, the user only needs to instruct the printing to obtain the e-mail text and the image information to be printed. You can know the correspondence of.

A second aspect of the present invention is a service server.
Of the text data of the email body sent from
Before receiving the email as it is and responding to it
Receives the identification information commonly given to the attached file
Receiving e-mail receiving means and general facsimile machine
Receives the image information sent from
When the email body is received by means of this email body
Separate from the notification mail from the service server
Image information converted from the attached file sent to
And the identification information corresponding to the attached file
Facsimile communication method to receive according to the Ximiri procedure
And the email body with the same identification information and the previous
Corresponding image information and storing it in the link table
Then, the e-mail text and the corresponding image information
Link means to associate with, the above-mentioned e-mail text and
A storage means for storing the printing information, and a storage means for storing the storage information in the storage means.
Refer to the link table when printing the image information
Body of the email corresponding to the image information to be printed
It is determined whether there is any, and it corresponds to the image information to be printed.
If there is the text of the e-mail, the image information to be printed
And the corresponding data corresponding to the image information to be printed.
The child mail text is read from the storage means and displayed on the display means.
Meanwhile, the corresponding email body is deleted.
If it is displayed, the power corresponding to the image information to be printed is displayed.
Displays individual information including the reception date or subject of child mail
The print control unit shown in FIG.

With this configuration, even if the body of the electronic mail is deleted, it can be confirmed that it is the attached image information.
It can be notified that the information is not the image information transmitted from a general facsimile.

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

In a third aspect of the present invention, the electronic mail text sent from the service server is converted into text data.
A step of receiving a common identification information assigned to the received and the corresponding e-mail text and the attached file corresponding to leave, sent from the general facsimile machine
Image information is received or the electronic mail is received by the electronic mail receiving means.
When the body text is received, the image information obtained by converting the attached file and the identification information corresponding to the attached file sent separately from the notification mail from the service server separately from the electronic mail body according to a facsimile procedure. A step of receiving and a step of associating the e-mail text and the image information corresponding to the same by storing the e-mail text and the image information having the same identification information in a link table. Said email
Storing the text and the image information, and determining the presence or absence of the e-mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed by referring to the link table when printing the stored image information And, if there is the electronic mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed, printing the image information to be printed and displaying the electronic mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed on a display means. An image information printing method characterized by being provided .

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a service server.
Of the text data of the email body sent from
Before receiving the email as it is and responding to it
Receives the identification information commonly given to the attached file
And the process of sending from a general facsimile machine
Image information is received or the electronic mail is received by the electronic mail receiving means.
When the email text is received, the above
Sent from the service server separately from the notification email
The image information obtained by converting the attachment file and the attachment
The identification information corresponding to the file is used in the facsimile procedure.
Therefore, the electronic information having the same identification information as the receiving step is received.
Link the table by correlating the email text and the image information
The email body and the corresponding email
The step of associating the image information with the e-mail
Storing the text and the image information, and the stored image
Refer to the link table when printing information
If the e-mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed is
Corresponding to the process of determining whether or not to print, and the image information to be printed
If there is the text of the e-mail,
Before printing information and corresponding to the image information to be printed
Display the body of the email on the display means,
If the email text is deleted,
The date of receipt of the e-mail corresponding to the image information to be printed, or
And a step of displaying individual information including the subject, the image information printing method.

A facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, referring to FIG. 1, a case will be described in which the present facsimile machine sends and receives an electronic mail and an attached file via the Internet. 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 the general facsimile apparatus 102 using the public line network (PSTN) 103, and by connecting to the service server 107, it can be used on a global scale. It is possible to send and receive e-mails and attached files to and from a personal computer 105 (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) or an internet facsimile apparatus 106 (hereinafter, referred to as an I-FAX) via the Internet 104 which is a computer network of the above. .

Further, the present facsimile apparatus 101 is adapted to send and receive the text of the electronic mail as text data via the service server 107 and to receive the attached file as facsimile image information.

Hereinafter, the PC 105 or the I-FA will be specifically described.
A case where an electronic mail with an attached file is received from X106 will be described. First, the operation of the service server 107 when the e-mail with the attached file is transmitted from the PC 105 to the facsimile apparatus 101 will be described.

The electronic mail with attached file created in the PC 105 is transmitted to the Internet service provider (ISP) 108 via the public line network 103 by dial-up connection. The ISP 108 transmits the e-mail with the attached file to the mail server corresponding to the address designated by the PC 105, in this case, the service server 107, via the Internet 104.
The service server 107 separates the sent electronic mail with an attached file into an electronic mail body and an attached file. Then, the service server 107 saves the text of the electronic mail as text data, and converts the separated attached file into attached image information so that it can be sent by facsimile and saves it. When the service server 107 receives a request to send an e-mail text in communication from the facsimile apparatus 101, the service server 107 sends the e-mail text as text data to the facsimile apparatus 101. Further, when the transmitted e-mail text has attached image information, the attached image information that has been converted and held is transmitted by facsimile to the facsimile apparatus 101 via the PSTN 103.

In addition, the facsimile machine 101 to the PC1
Facsimile machine 10
The electronic mail text is created in 1 and the electronic mail text created by designating a desired electronic mail address is sent to the ISP 108 via the PSTN 103, the service server 107, and the Internet 104. PC1
05 accesses ISP 108,
It is possible to receive the email sent to

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

First, the I-FAX 106 creates an electronic mail with an attached file. A conventional method is used for the method of creating an electronic mail with an attachment file by the I-FAX 106, and thus the description thereof is omitted. This I-FAX 1
The e-mail with the attachment file created in 06 is stored in the e-mail server 109. The electronic mail with the attached file stored in the electronic mail server 109 is sent to the service server 107 via the Internet 104. The operation after this is the same as the case where an electronic mail with an attached file is sent from the PC 105, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

As described above, the service server 107 once receives the e-mail with the attached file, and further stores the e-mail with the attached file in the body of the e-mail and the attached file. Then, when there is a request for sending an email from the facsimile apparatus 101, the separated email body is sent. On the other hand, the service server 107
The attached image information corresponding to the e-mail text separated by is sent to the facsimile apparatus 101 after the e-mail text is transmitted.
The service server 107 itself transmits the attached image information to the facsimile apparatus 101 by a facsimile procedure.

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

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

A function / registration button 204 is provided near the dial key 202. Function / Registration button 204
Are used when selecting a function provided in the facsimile apparatus 101. For example, it is used when the facsimile apparatus 101 is set with a so-called auto-pilot function that periodically confirms e-mail with the provider. The function / registration button 204 is also used to set an autopilot timer for setting an interval for confirming an e-mail with the provider.

The function / registration button 204 is used when switching between various reception modes. The reception mode includes a manual reception mode, a FAX / TEL switching mode (hereinafter, referred to as F / T mode), a FAX exclusive mode, and an absence mode.

An answering machine button 207 is provided on the right side of the dial key 202. Answering machine button 20
Reference numeral 7 switches the state of the answering machine function of the facsimile apparatus 101 to ON / OFF. The answering machine button 207 is usually used when the operator is away from home, for example. When 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. After that, 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. In addition, the number of ringing in the answering machine mode is also set by the function / register button
Can be set by.

A display portion 215 is provided on the left side of the central portion of the panel portion 201. Display unit 215
Is composed of an LCD or the like. A screen corresponding to the state of the facsimile apparatus 101 is displayed on the display unit 215. For example, when a telephone number is input on the facsimile apparatus 101, the input telephone number is displayed on the display unit 215. Further, when the contents of the electronic mail are confirmed by the facsimile apparatus 101, the received electronic mail is displayed on the display unit 215. The display unit 215 is provided on the front side thereof with columns for displaying the functions currently installed in the facsimile apparatus 101 and which are currently selected. Specifically, columns for displaying the functions of text electronic mail, FAX for overseas using the Internet network, download of incoming melody and display of incoming call history are arranged.

The telephone directory dial 2 is provided on the front side of the display unit 215.
16 are provided. This phone book dial 216
This is used when selecting the telephone number or FAX number of the destination registered by the user in the facsimile apparatus 101. By rotating the telephone directory dial 216, the telephone number displayed on the display unit 215 is scrolled. The telephone directory dial 216 is also used when scrolling the display of a function selection screen, which will be described later, and the like.

Start / center in the telephone directory dial 216
A set button 217 is provided. The start / set button 217 is used for FAX in the facsimile apparatus 101.
It is used when starting transmission.

In the vicinity of the start / set button 217, a selection button 225 for performing processing performed by the facsimile machine 101, printing, deletion of contents stored in the storage device, FAX transmission, mail transmission, etc. is provided. Has been. When the operator selects a process to be performed with the selection button 225 and operates the start / set button 217, the desired process can be performed on the facsimile apparatus 101.

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

Next, the hardware configuration of the facsimile apparatus 101 will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 3
3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment. FIG.

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

The storage means is a ROM (Read Only Me).
mory) 402, RAM (Random Access Memory) 403
Further, a flash memory 404 (hereinafter referred to as FROM), which is a non-volatile semiconductor memory that can be erased and rewritten, is provided. The ROM 402 stores the program executed by the CPU 401. The RAM 403 is a work memory in which programs are executed and various data such as electronic mails and image files are temporarily stored. FR
As shown in FIG. 4, the OM 404 includes an e-mail body storage area 501 for storing a received e-mail body and an e-mail body for transmission, and image data for a received attachment file and an image for transmission. An image data storage area 502 for storing data and a destination address storage area 503 storing a plurality of destination electronic mail addresses
And a setting information storage area 504 for storing various settings such as a telephone number of a service server, ID information for sending an electronic mail, a password for various communications, and a current reception mode of the facsimile apparatus 101. A reception mode storage area 505 is prepared.

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

Further, the facsimile apparatus 101 is provided with a scanner 224 for reading a document and acquiring image information to be transmitted 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 an operator such as designation of a destination and a transmission start instruction. . The facsimile apparatus 101 is provided with a display unit 215 that visually displays various kinds of information such as processing contents and input information, so that the operator can easily understand the processing contents and input information.

By the way, the above-mentioned service server 107
When an e-mail with an attached file is received, the e-mail body and the attached file part are held separately. Then, the text of the e-mail is sent as text information to the facsimile apparatus 101, and the attached file is sent as attached image information which is facsimile image information by a facsimile procedure. As described above, when transmitting the attached image information, link information for associating the email body with the attached file is required. Therefore, the FROM 404 of the facsimile apparatus 101 and the service server 10
7, a link table 601 is provided. The configuration of the link table 601 will be described below with reference to FIG.

The link table 601 has a file number 6 which is a file name obtained by converting an attached file of an electronic mail with an attached file into an image file of TIFF format.
02 is stored. And this file number 60
Email body file number 603, which is a text-format file name containing the email body corresponding to 2
The attached file information 604 corresponding to the body file number 603 is stored. The attached file information 604 is the file name of the attached file attached to the body of the electronic mail with the attached file. Further, the link table 601 further stores subject information 6 that stores subject information corresponding to the title of the electronic mail.
05 and transmission source information 606 corresponding to the electronic mail address that is the transmission source of the electronic mail are stored. The link table 601 also stores a transfer flag 607 indicating whether or not the stored text file number 603 has been transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 101.

The link table 601 is provided for the user of the electronic mail in the service server 107 (each facsimile machine 101 in this case), and the table (not shown) corresponds to the telephone number of the facsimile machine 101 and the facsimile machine 101. The corresponding electronic mail address (or user ID) is held. When the transfer flag 607 is the information indicating that the transfer flag 607 has been transmitted, the service server 107 refers to a table (not shown) and transmits the attached image information.

The link table 601 stores an identification number 608 which is identification information for associating the separated electronic mail body with the attached image information.
By receiving this identification number 608, the facsimile apparatus 101 can associate the separately received e-mail text with the attached image information.

The link table 601 is also held in the facsimile apparatus 101 except for the transfer flag 607. As a result, the facsimile machine 101
However, it is possible to link the individual information of an email with an attachment file or the body of the email with the attached file information such as attached image information. The facsimile machine 101 is
Information indicating whether or not the electronic mail corresponding to the transfer flag 607 has been browsed, and information indicating that the transfer or reply has been made are stored.

Next, the operation of receiving the electronic mail text of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an e-mail text reception sequence diagram of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

First, the facsimile apparatus 101 which is a terminal
Dials in order to connect to the service server 107, which is the host. A dial from the facsimile device 101 closes the line between the facsimile device 101 and the service server 107. When the line is closed, the service server 107 displays the connected facsimile device 101.
It is necessary to judge whether or not the facsimile machine is an authorized user's facsimile machine. Therefore, the service server 107 transmits a signal requesting the facsimile apparatus 101 to transmit the ID and password. Facsimile apparatus 101 receives this signal and transmits the ID and password stored in FROM 404. Then, when the service server 107 determines that the sent ID and password are correct, the service server 107 normally connects. Then, the service server 107 transmits a signal indicating that the connection is normally completed to the facsimile apparatus 101. In this way, the facsimile apparatus 101 normally connects to the service server 107.

Next, the facsimile apparatus 101 sends a signal to the service server 107 to inquire whether or not there is an e-mail with an attached file transmitted from another apparatus. Service server 10 receiving this signal
Reference numeral 7 sends to the facsimile apparatus 101 a notification mail, which is various pieces of electronic mail information such as the number of files of electronic mail with attached files addressed to the facsimile apparatus 101.

Then, the facsimile apparatus 101 transmits to the service server 107 an individual information request signal for requesting individual information of the electronic mail with the attached file corresponding to the received notification mail. Upon receiving this signal, the service server 107 transmits, to the facsimile apparatus 101, information on whether or not each electronic mail with an attached file has an attached file and link information such as the identification number 608 of the link table 601. Upon receiving this signal, the facsimile apparatus 101 sends the information regarding the individual electronic mails to the FR of the facsimile apparatus 101.
It is stored in the link table 601 formed in the OM 404.

Next, the facsimile apparatus 101 starts an e-mail text receiving operation. First, the facsimile machine 10
1 sends to the service server 107 an e-mail text reception request signal instructing to send the e-mail text. The service server 107 receives this signal and sends the electronic mail text as text data to the facsimile apparatus 101. In this way, the facsimile apparatus 101 receives the email body. Then, the facsimile apparatus 101 displays on the display unit 215 the electronic mail text that is the received text data. Alternatively, the display unit 215 may display a list including the subject of the body of the received e-mail, the sender, or the like, or may only display that a new e-mail has been received.

Next, the facsimile apparatus 101 instructs the service server 107 to delete the information about the received electronic mail text from the electronic mail text file information 603 in the link table 601 provided in the service server 107. To send a signal. Upon receiving this signal, the service server 107 receives the link table 10
7 deletes the information about the body of the electronic mail received by the facsimile apparatus 101, and sends a signal indicating the deletion to the facsimile apparatus 101.

The facsimile apparatus 101 can be set not to delete the received e-mail text from the service server 107 when the e-mail text is received.

When the service server 107 has a plurality of e-mails addressed to the facsimile apparatus 101, the process returns to the process of transmitting the individual information request, and the process of receiving the e-mail text is completed until the reception of all the e-mail texts is completed. repeat.

As described above, the facsimile machine 101
Receives the e-mail text and disconnects the line.

Next, the image information of the attached file to the received electronic mail is transmitted from the service server 107 to the facsimile apparatus 101 in a facsimile procedure. The attached file receiving operation of the facsimile apparatus 101 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an attachment file reception sequence diagram of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

First, the facsimile apparatus 101 is dialed by the service server 107, which is a host, and the line is closed. When the line is closed, the facsimile machine 101
Transmits CED and DIS, which are the identification numbers of the facsimile apparatus 101, to the service server 107. Upon receiving this signal, the service server 107 transmits TSI that is the identification information of the service server 107 and DCS that is a transmission command that responds to the DIS. Also,
At this time, the service server 107 is the service server 1
The identification number 608 of the link table 601 of 07 is TSI.
And send it. Facsimile apparatus 101 is TSI
By extracting the identification number 608 from the received identification number 608 and matching it with the identification number 608 of the link table 601, the facsimile apparatus 101 determines which attached email information sent from now corresponds to which email body it received earlier. can do.

The service server 107 also sends a training signal for the communication control unit 405 to the facsimile apparatus 101. On the other hand, the facsimile machine 10
1 transmits to the service server 107 a CFR which is a signal indicating that the message may be transmitted.

Then, the service server 107 uses the TSI
The attached image data corresponding to the identification number 608 transmitted in step S1 is selected from the file number 602 in the link table 107 and transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 101. Then, the service server 107 transmits to the facsimile apparatus 101 an EOM indicating that the transmission of the attached image has ended. Then, the facsimile apparatus 101 transmits the received attached image to the file number 6 corresponding to the identification number 608 of the link table 601 of the facsimile apparatus 101.
Stored in 02.

Then, the facsimile apparatus 101
The MSF and DIS indicating that the attached image information is correctly received are transmitted to the service server 107, and the state returns to the state of phase B which is a pre-procedure for receiving the attached image information.

As described above, since the facsimile procedure is returned to the phase B for each attached image information to receive the attached management information and the attached image information, the line is disconnected even when there are a plurality of attached images. It is possible to repeat the series of attached image reception sequences described above without the need. As a result, it is possible to receive a plurality of pieces of attached image information in a single communication.

When the reception of all the attached images is completed, the service server 107 transmits an EOP indicating the end of the facsimile procedure to the facsimile apparatus 101. Then, the facsimile apparatus 101 that receives this signal
Sends the MCF to the service server 107. Then, the service server 107 causes the facsimile apparatus 10 to
DCN, which is a line disconnection command, is transmitted to 1 to disconnect the line, and the process is terminated.

In this way, the facsimile machine 101
However, the reception of the attached image is completed. Further, the received attached image can be easily identified from the identification number 608 included in the TSI to which received email body.

The facsimile apparatus 101 also has a function of transmitting an electronic mail with an attached file.
When the facsimile apparatus 101 sends an e-mail with an attached file to another communication terminal, the service server 10
Via 7. Hereinafter, the operation of the facsimile apparatus 101 transmitting an electronic mail to the service server 107 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an electronic mail transmission operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

The facsimile apparatus 101 has a function of converting attached image information into an attached file, converts attached image information into an attached file, adds the attached image information to an electronic mail, generates an electronic mail with an attached file, and transfers or transmits the electronic mail. It has become. When converting the attached image information into an attached file, the image information is converted into a file in the TIFF format as in the I-FAX 106.

The facsimile apparatus 101, which is a terminal, dials to connect to the service server 107, which is a host. The facsimile device 101 and the service server 10 are dialed from the facsimile device 101.
The line with 7 is closed. When the line is closed, the service server 107 needs to determine whether or not the connected facsimile apparatus 101 is the facsimile apparatus of the contracted user. Therefore, the service server 107 transmits a signal requesting the facsimile apparatus 101 to transmit the ID and password. Facsimile machine 10
1 receives this signal and transmits an ID and a password. Then, the service server 107 sends the received I
If it is determined that D and the password are correct, the connection is normally established. Then, the service server 107 sends a signal indicating that the connection has been normally completed to the facsimile device 10.
Send to 1. In this way, the facsimile machine 10
1 normally connects to the service server 107.

Next, the facsimile apparatus 101 sends to the service server 107 an electronic mail transmission request signal which is a signal indicating that an electronic mail will be transmitted. Upon receiving this signal, the service server 107 prepares to receive an electronic mail, and when ready, the facsimile machine 10
1 to send a signal that the e-mail may be transmitted.

Next, the facsimile apparatus 101 sends the text of the electronic mail as text to the service server 107 by electronic mail. And the service server 10
When the reception of the e-mail text is completed, the reference numeral 7 sends a signal indicating the end of reception to the facsimile apparatus 101.

Then, the facsimile apparatus 101 disconnects the line when the transmission of the e-mail with the attached file is completed. In this way, the facsimile machine 101
The e-mail with the attached file is transmitted to the service server 107. Then, the service server 107 transmits the transmitted electronic mail to another communication device having the address designated by the facsimile device 101. In this way, the transmission of the e-mail with the attached file to the other communication device of the facsimile apparatus 101 is completed.

Next, the printing operation of the attached image of the facsimile apparatus 101 will be described. This facsimile machine 1
In 01, the attached image information is simply printed in the same manner as the image information transmitted from a general facsimile apparatus. Therefore, there is a problem that the user has to print the attached image information once and then check the e-mail text corresponding to the attached image information. In order to solve this problem, the facsimile apparatus 101, when printing the attached image information, displays the e-mail body corresponding to the attached image information being printed at the same time as the attached image information is printed.
It has a configuration for displaying on 15.

The image information printing operation of the facsimile apparatus 101 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flow chart of image information printing of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

When the operator operates the operation unit 408,
The process proceeds to a process of printing the image information stored in the FROM 404 of the facsimile apparatus 101. First, the facsimile apparatus 101 determines whether or not there is any image information in the FROM 404 (ST901). If the facsimile apparatus 101 determines in ST901 that there is no image information to be printed, the printing process ends.

On the other hand, if the facsimile apparatus 101 determines in ST901 that there is image information to be printed, then the facsimile apparatus 101 must determine whether this image information is attached image information. Therefore, the facsimile apparatus 101 refers to the link table 601 in the facsimile apparatus 101 (ST902) and determines whether the image information to be printed is attached image information (ST9).
03).

In ST903, the facsimile machine 1
If 01 determines that the image information to be printed is not attached image information, it controls the printer 407 to print the image information (ST
904). Then, the facsimile apparatus 101 uses the FRO
By referring to M404, it is determined whether there is image information that is not printed (ST905).

In ST905, the facsimile apparatus 1
If it is determined that 01 is image information not printed, S
It returns to the process of T903. If the facsimile apparatus 101 determines in ST905 that there is no unprinted image information, the process ends.

When it is determined in ST903 that the image information to be printed by the facsimile apparatus 101 is attached image information, the facsimile apparatus 101 refers to the link table 601 again (ST906) and sets the attached image information identification number 608. It is determined whether there is a corresponding e-mail text (ST907).

In ST907, the facsimile machine 1
When 01 determines that the image information to be printed has an email body, the email body corresponding to the image information to be printed is displayed on the display unit 215 (ST908).

Here, the image displayed in ST908 is shown in FIG. By displaying a diagram like this,
The operator can know the reception date, the subject, the digest, and the content of the email body, which are the individual information of the email currently being printed.

In this way, when the attached image information is printed, the e-mail text corresponding to the attached image information is displayed. Therefore, the user simply gives a print instruction, and the e-mail text and the image information to be printed are displayed. You can know the correspondence with.

On the other hand, in ST907, when it is determined that the image information printed by the facsimile apparatus 101 does not include the electronic mail text, the individual information corresponding to the identification number of the attached image stored in the link table 601 is displayed on the display unit 215. It is displayed (ST909). Then, the facsimile machine 1
01 shifts to the processing of ST904.

In this way, even if the body of the e-mail is deleted, the individual information of the e-mail is displayed, so that it can be confirmed that it is the attached image information, and it is not the image information sent from a general facsimile. Can inform you.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, when printing the attached image information corresponding to the electronic mail, the electronic mail text corresponding to the attached image information being printed is displayed at the same time as the printing process. It can be displayed on the section 215. As a result, when the attached image information is printed, the e-mail text corresponding to the attached image information is displayed.
The user can know the correspondence between the body of the electronic mail and the image information to be printed simply by giving a print instruction.

Next, a modified example of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be described. According to the present invention, when the attached image information is printed, the image information printed on the display unit 215 is attached image information in order to inform that the image information to be printed is attached image information. The contents of the email, etc.) are displayed.

However, the above-mentioned facsimile machine 101
When you print the received image information, it simply prints from the earliest received time, so when you print the image information that was received in the memory, Print in early order. Therefore, even when the attached image information and the normal image information are mixedly received, they are printed in the order of reception. Therefore, in the above-described embodiment, when the normal image information and the attached image information are received in a mixed manner, the user must check the display unit 215 for confirmation until the last image information is output. I won't.

Therefore, the modification of the present invention is improved so that the confirmation of the attached image information can be confirmed without waiting for the completion of the printing operation.

A modified example of the image information printing operation of the facsimile apparatus 101 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the operator operates the operation unit 408,
The process proceeds to a process of printing the image information stored in the FROM 404 of the facsimile apparatus 101. First, facsimile apparatus 101 determines whether or not there is any image information in FROM 404 (ST1101). If the facsimile apparatus 101 determines in ST1101 that there is no image information to be printed, the printing process ends.

On the other hand, in ST1101, when the facsimile apparatus 101 determines that there is image information to be printed,
Next, the facsimile apparatus 101 needs to determine whether or not this image information is attached image information. Therefore, the facsimile apparatus 101 refers to the link table 601 in the facsimile machine 101 (ST1102) and determines whether the image information to be printed from now on is the attached image information which is the image of the attached file (ST1103).

When it is determined in ST1103 that the image information to be printed by the facsimile apparatus 101 is the attached image information of the attached file, in ST1104, ST906 of FIG.
~ The same processing as ST908 is performed. In ST1105, in order to distinguish the unattached image information and the attached image information that has been printed, the link table 601 is updated by adding information indicating that the image is printed to the link table 601 corresponding to the attached image information that has been printed. To do.

On the other hand, if the image information printed in ST1103 is not attached image information, it is determined by referring to the link table 601 whether all attached image information has been printed.

If it is determined that all the attached image information has not been printed, the process returns to ST1101.

As shown in ST1101 to ST1106, if there is print data, the link table 601
While the attached image information is only printed with reference to, the information regarding the email corresponding to the attached image information being printed is displayed on the display unit 215 while the attached image information is being printed. It is possible to collectively confirm only the attached image information first without continuing to confirm until all of the image information to be printed is printed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in ST1106 that all the attached image information has been output, then the image information other than the attached image information (the image information received from the normal facsimile apparatus 102).
For printing, the process moves to ST1107.

Then, in the processing of ST1107 to ST1109, only the image information received from the unprinted facsimile apparatus 102 is collectively printed.

As described above, when the attached image information and the normal image information are mixedly received, the attached image information and the normal image information are divided and the attached image information is printed first. The user can confirm the attached image information destination without waiting for all the image information to be printed.

Further, although the example in which the attached image information is printed first is shown here, the process of printing only the normal image information other than the attached image information may be performed first. When printing only normal image information first, display that there is attached image information during printing to let the user know that the attached image information is received. After printing is completed, the attached image information is printed together. By doing so, the user can collectively confirm only the attached image information, and can obtain the same effect as the above configuration.

The link table 601 correlates the identification information of the notified image transmission mail with its individual information.
The attached image information received by the facsimile communication means on the link table 601 and the individual information of the acquired image transmission mail are associated with each other, based on the mail analysis means to be stored in and the identification information of the image transmission mail acquired by the communication control unit 405. C has a function as a link means for performing a process of attaching and a function as a print control means for controlling the printing of the text of the e-mail and the attached image information.
It may be provided in the PU 401, or a dedicated processing unit having each of these functions may be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, even if the image information received from the ordinary facsimile apparatus and the image information attached to the electronic mail are received in a mixed manner, the attached image information should be printed together in advance. Therefore, the user can check the attached image information first without waiting for all the image information to be printed.

[0109]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even when the image information received from a general facsimile machine and the attached image information are mixed, when the attached image information is printed, the e-mail text corresponding to the attached image information that is being printed at the same time as the printing process is displayed on the display unit. Since it is displayed on the screen, it is possible to identify whether or not this image is attached image information while the user is printing the image information.

[Brief description of 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 above embodiment.

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

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

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

FIG. 6 is an e-mail text reception sequence diagram of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of an attachment file reception of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an e-mail transmission operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of image information printing of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image displayed on a display unit when the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment is printing image information.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a modified example of image information printing of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

101, 102 facsimile machines 103 public line 104 Internet 105 PC 106 I-FAX 107 service server 108 ISP 109 e-mail server 401 CPU 404 FROM 405 Communication control unit 215 Display 222 handset

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic mail with an attached file sent
Separates the email into an email body and attachments
The body text is stored as text data and the attached file
Convert the file part to image information that can be sent by facsimile and write it.
The service server that you remember
When receiving the request to send
Send a notification email indicating the number of attached files to
Send the e-mail text as text data,
After that, the image information is faxed to the fax machine.
Facsimile used in communication system to send by procedure
An apparatus, for receiving the attachments and common identification information granted to the received and corresponding to the e-mail text and this remains the email body text data sent from the service server email Receives the image information sent from the receiving means and the general facsimile machine ,
Alternatively, when the e-mail receiving means receives the e-mail text, it corresponds to the image information and the attached file obtained by converting the attached file sent from the service server separately from the e-mail text. By storing in the link table the facsimile communication means for receiving the identification information according to a facsimile procedure and the electronic mail text and the image information having the same identification information, the electronic mail text and the corresponding electronic mail text are stored. Link means for associating with the image information, storage means for storing the e-mail text and the image information, and printing the image information stored in the storage means by referring to the link table It is determined whether the e-mail text corresponding to the image information is present, and the image information to be printed is processed. If there is the e-mail text,
And a print control unit for printing the image information to be printed and reading the electronic mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed from the storage unit and displaying it on a display unit. 2. Electronic mail with attached file sent
Separates the email into an email body and attachments
The body text is stored as text data and the attached file
Convert the file part to image information that can be sent by facsimile and write it.
The service server that you remember
When receiving the request to send
Send a notification email indicating the number of attached files to
Send the e-mail text as text data,
After that, the image information is faxed to the fax machine.
Facsimile used in communication system to send by procedure
An apparatus, for receiving the attachments and common identification information granted to the received and corresponding to the e-mail text and this remains the email body text data sent from the service server email Receives the image information sent from the receiving means and the general facsimile machine ,
Alternatively, when the e-mail receiving means receives the e-mail text, it corresponds to the image information and the attached file obtained by converting the attached file sent from the service server separately from the e-mail text. By storing in the link table the facsimile communication means for receiving the identification information according to a facsimile procedure and the electronic mail text and the image information having the same identification information, the electronic mail text and the corresponding electronic mail text are stored. Link means for associating with the image information, storage means for storing the e-mail text and the image information, and printing the image information stored in the storage means by referring to the link table It is determined whether or not the e-mail text corresponding to the image information is present, and the image information to be printed is processed. If there is the e-mail text,
When the image information to be printed is printed and the e-mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed is read from the storage means and displayed on the display means, while the corresponding e-mail text is deleted, And a print control unit that displays individual information including a reception date or a subject of the electronic mail corresponding to the image information to be printed, the facsimile apparatus. 3. Electronic mail with attached file sent
Separates the email into an email body and attachments
The body text is stored as text data and the attached file
Convert the file part to image information that can be sent by facsimile and write it.
When the service server to remember receives a transmission request of the email body from the facsimile device, it sends a notification email indicating the number of attached files to the facsimile device and sends the email body as text data, and then in image information printing method for use in a communication system for transmitting facsimile procedure image information to the facsimile apparatus receives the electronic mail text sent from the service server while the text data and the e-mail text and this The step of receiving the identification information commonly given to the attached file corresponding to the above, and the step of receiving the image information sent from a general facsimile apparatus or receiving the email text by the email receiving means. Apart from this e-mail text, the notification mail from the service server A step of receiving the image information obtained by converting the attached file sent separately and the identification information corresponding to the attached file according to a facsimile procedure, and associating the email text and the image information having the same identification information with each other. And storing the image information in the link table by associating the email text with the image information corresponding thereto, storing the email text and the image information, and printing the stored image information. At this time, referring to the link table, determining whether or not there is the e-mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed, and if there is the e-mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed, Printing the image information to be printed and displaying the e-mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed on a display means. Image information printing method, characterized in that the. 4. An electronic mail with an attached file sent
Separates the email into an email body and attachments
The body text is stored as text data and the attached file
Convert the file part to image information that can be sent by facsimile and write it.
The service server that you remember
When receiving the request to send
Send a notification email indicating the number of attached files to
Send the e-mail text as text data,
After that, the image information is faxed to the fax machine.
Image information printing method used in the communication system to send by procedure
In law, receiving said attachments and identification information provided in common to the corresponding the electronic mail text sent from the service server to the received and the e-mail text remains text data When receiving image information sent from a general facsimile apparatus or receiving an electronic mail text by the electronic mail receiving means, the electronic mail text is sent from the service server separately from the notification mail. A step of receiving the image information obtained by converting the attached file and the identification information corresponding to the attached file according to a facsimile procedure, and storing the email text and the image information having the same identification information in a link table in association with each other. By associating the e-mail text with the image information corresponding thereto. A step of storing the electronic mail text and the image information, and whether or not there is the electronic mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed by referring to the link table when printing the stored image information And the electronic mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed is printed, the image information to be printed is printed and the electronic mail text corresponding to the image information to be printed is displayed on the display means. On the other hand, when the corresponding e-mail text is deleted, a step of displaying individual information including a reception date or a subject of the e-mail corresponding to the image information to be printed is included. How to print image information.