JP3555528B2 - Attachment file display method, display method and recording medium for recording display program in e-mail - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for displaying an attached file in an e-mail, a display method, and a recording medium on which a display program is recorded, and more particularly to a method for displaying an attached file in an e-mail between terminal devices such as personal computers equipped with a printer, a display method, and a display. The present invention relates to a recording medium on which a program is recorded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic mail system, a document or an image which cannot be expressed in a text format such as a mail text is sent to a destination as an attached file. The attached file is created and stored in advance by an application program such as spreadsheet software and graphic creation software, and when an e-mail is sent, the operator selects one of the previously stored files and attaches it as an attached file. Was. Then, the destination terminal device receiving the attached file displays the screen using an application program corresponding to the attached file, thereby referring to the contents of the attached file. This makes it possible to handle documents, images, and the like that cannot be expressed in a text format.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described conventional technology has the following problems.
[0004]
The first problem is that in order to refer to the contents of the attached file, each terminal device is installed, for example, by installing an application program corresponding to the attached file on both the source terminal device and the destination terminal device. This means that the environment must be adjusted, which means that capital investment will be required.
[0005]
The second problem is that the received e-mail is stored in the storage device together with the attached file. Therefore, unless the operator deletes the attached file after referring to the contents, the terminal device which does not have a sufficient space in the storage device of the terminal device. Then, the burden increases.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method of displaying attached data in an e-mail, a display method, and a recording medium that records a display program, which solves the above problems.
[0009]
The first method for displaying an attached file in an e-mail according to the present invention is a method for displaying an attached file in an e-mail when an e-mail in which an attached file is added to an e-mail body is transmitted and received between terminal devices.
In the transmitting terminal,
Data editing means for creating a document as the attached file by a user input operation,
Image generation means for generating an image of the document created by the data editing means one page at a time;
Image compression means for compressing the image image,
A storage device for storing the compressed image,
When notified that the image generation of all pages has been completed from the image generation unit, print control information is added to the image stored in the storage device to generate print data, and the print data is followed by E-mail generation means for generating e-mail data by combining the input e-mail address and e-mail text;
Mail sending means for transferring the electronic mail data from the electronic mail generating means and transmitting the electronic mail data to the destination terminal device, and transmitting a message indicating transmission completion to the display device when the transmission is completed;
A display device for displaying the message,
In the receiving terminal device,
Temporary storage means for storing the e-mail data,
Checking whether the received data is the e-mail data, and receiving data analysis means for storing the received data in the temporary storage means if the data is e-mail data,
It is determined whether or not the print data is included in the e-mail data stored in the temporary storage means by referring to print information in the e-mail data. While separating the print data and transferring it to the print data generating means, a print notification document including the number of pages and an output destination is created based on the print control information included in the print data, and this is added to the mail body. Receiving data separating means for transferring to the data display means, and when the data transfer to the print data generating means and the data display means is completed, deleting the e-mail data stored in the temporary storage means;
The print data generating means for receiving the print data from the received data separating means, decompressing a compressed image, converting the print data into a printer language of a connected printer, and outputting the converted data to the printer;
Data display means for sending the mail text and the print notification document to a display means to display the screen,
Display means for displaying the mail text and the print notification document on a screen,
A printer for printing the print data.
[0011]
The first method for displaying an attached file in an e-mail according to the present invention is a method for displaying an attached file in an e-mail when an e-mail in which an attached file is added to an e-mail body is transmitted and received between terminal devices.
When sending the email,
A first process of creating a document as the attached file by a user's input operation;
A second process of generating an image image of the created document one page at a time;
A third process of compressing the image and storing the compressed image in a storage device;
When the generation of image images for all pages is completed, print control information is added to the image images stored in the storage device to generate print data. A fourth process for generating e-mail data collectively;
A fifth process of transferring the e-mail data and transmitting the e-mail data to the destination terminal device, and displaying a message indicating completion of the transmission on a screen when the transmission is completed,
Upon receiving the email,
A sixth process of checking whether the received data is e-mail data, and storing the received data in the temporary storage means if the received data is e-mail data;
A seventh process of determining whether or not the print data is included in the email data stored in the temporary storage unit by referring to print information in the email data;
In the seventh process, if the print data is included, the print data is separated from the e-mail data to decompress the compressed image, and the print language is changed to the printer language of the connected printer. An eighth process of converting and outputting to the printer;
Following the eighth process, a ninth process in which a print notification document including the number of pages and an output destination is created based on print control information included in the print data, and this is added to the mail text and displayed on a screen When,
And a tenth processing for deleting the e-mail data stored in the temporary storage means, following the ninth processing.
[0013]
The first recording medium of the present invention, when sending an e-mail,
A first process of creating a document as an attached file by a user input operation;
A second process of generating an image image of the created document one page at a time;
A third process of compressing the image and storing the compressed image in a storage device;
When the generation of image images for all pages is completed, print control information is added to the image images stored in the storage device to generate print data. A fourth process for generating e-mail data collectively;
And causing the computer to execute a fifth process of transferring the e-mail data and transmitting the e-mail data to the destination terminal device, and upon completion of the transmission, displaying a message indicating the completion of the transmission on a screen.
When receiving an email,
A sixth process of checking whether the received data is e-mail data, and storing the received data in the temporary storage means if the received data is e-mail data;
A seventh process of determining whether or not the print data is included in the email data stored in the temporary storage unit by referring to print information in the email data;
In the seventh process, if the print data is included, the print data is separated from the e-mail data to decompress the compressed image, and the print language is changed to the printer language of the connected printer. An eighth process of converting and outputting to the printer;
Following the eighth process, a ninth process in which a print notification document including the number of pages and an output destination is created based on print control information included in the print data, and this is added to the mail text and displayed on a screen When,
A display program for e-mail which causes a computer to execute the ninth processing and the tenth processing for deleting the e-mail data stored in the temporary storage means is recorded.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, in which an electronic mail is transmitted from a transmitting terminal such as a personal computer to a receiving terminal such as a personal computer via the Internet. Is shown.
[0017]
The transmitting terminal device includes an input unit 1 such as a keyboard, a transmitting data processing device 2 that operates under program control, a storage device 3 that stores images, a display device 4 that displays a document, and the like, And an e-mail server 5 for transmission and reception.
[0018]
The receiving terminal device includes an e-mail server 6 for sending and receiving e-mail, a receiving data processing device 7, a display device 8 for displaying a document or the like, and a printer 9 connected to the receiving data processing device 7. And
[0019]
The transmission-side data processing device 2 includes a data editing unit 21, an image generation unit 22, an image compression unit 23, an e-mail generation unit 24, a mail transmission unit 25, and a network port 26.
[0020]
The data editing unit 21 is an application program that operates on a generally used operation system, and is, for example, software such as a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a CAD. The image generating unit 22 receives the edited data such as a document by executing the printing function of the data editing unit 21 and forms an image image in units of one page. The image compression unit 23 compresses the image image of one page formed by the image generation unit 22 in a format such as JPEG or TIFF, and stores the compressed image in the storage device 3. The e-mail generating means 24 combines all the formed images into one and sets it as an e-mail transfer format. The mail sending means 25 is means for communicating with the e-mail server 5 through the network port 26 in the form of, for example, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). Displays a message indicating the completion of transmission.
[0021]
The reception side data processing device 7 includes a data display unit 71, a reception data analysis unit 72, a reception data separation unit 73, a print data generation unit 74, a network port 75, and a temporary storage unit 76. .
[0022]
The data display means 71 is generally used e-mail software. The data display means 71 inquires of the e-mail server 6 about the storage state of the e-mail, receives the e-mail if received, and displays the reception on the display device 8. I do. The received data analyzing means 72 monitors the network port 75 and determines whether the received data is electronic mail data from the protocol of the received data. When the received data is e-mail data and includes print data, the received data separating unit 73 extracts the print data and transfers it to the print data generating unit 74. In addition, of the received e-mail data, the mail body and the like other than the print data are converted into a normal e-mail and transferred to the data display means 71. The print data generation unit 74 includes a data decompression unit (not shown) and at least one type of PDL (printer language) conversion unit. The print data generation unit 74 receives the print data and compresses the data. The data is decompressed, converted into a PDL (printer language) suitable for the connected printer, and output to the printer 9.
[0023]
Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation on the transmitting side in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation on the receiving side in one embodiment of the present invention.
[0024]
First, the operation on the transmitting side will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0025]
An original such as a document as an attached file to be transmitted is created by the input unit 1 and the data editing unit 21 (step S101 in FIG. 2).
[0026]
Next, the print function of the data editing unit 21 outputs the print data to the image generation unit 22 one page at a time (step S102).
[0027]
The image generation unit 22 receives one page of data and generates an image (step S104). The generated image image is passed to the image compression unit 23 together with the print control information, and is subjected to image compression and stored in the storage device 3 (Steps S105 and S106).
[0028]
The operations of steps S102 to S106 are repeated until all pages output by the data editing unit 21 are completed. When all pages have been converted into images, the data editing unit 21 instructs the image generation unit 22 to end printing (step S103).
[0029]
The image generation unit 22 notified of the end of printing (end of imaging of all pages) passes control to the e-mail generation unit 24, and the e-mail generation unit 24 performs print control on the compressed image stored in the storage device 3. Information is added and the print data is combined into one (step S107).
[0030]
Further, the e-mail generating means 24 issues an instruction to input an e-mail address (step S108). When the address is entered, the user is prompted to enter the mail text (step S109). When the input of the mail body is completed, the e-mail generating unit 24 generates the e-mail data by combining the envelope, the mail header, the mail body, the print data, and the print information (step S110).
[0031]
The e-mail generating means 24 passes the generated e-mail data to the mail sending means 25. Next, the mail sending means 25 communicates with the electronic mail server 5 through the network port 26 using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), and sends out the generated electronic mail when transmission is possible (step S111). . Further, when the mail sending is completed, the mail sending means 25 displays a message indicating the completion of sending on the display device 4 (step S112).
[0032]
Next, the operation on the receiving side will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0033]
An instruction to confirm and receive an e-mail is sent from the data display means 71 to the e-mail server 6 by an operator's e-mail reception operation or periodically when the data display means 71 is set to receive automatically. When there is a received mail in the e-mail server 6, the data display means 71 starts receiving data via the network port 75. The reception data analysis means 72 constantly monitors the network port 75, and analyzes the protocol when data reception starts (step S201).
[0034]
When the analyzed protocol is communication by POP (Post Office Protocol), the received command is analyzed. If it is not a POP, it ignores it and continues data reception (steps S202 and S203).
[0035]
Subsequent to step S203, the reception data analysis unit 72 checks whether the analyzed command is a RETR command, that is, e-mail data. If the received command is not a RETR command, the command is ignored and data reception is continued (step S204).
[0036]
If the received data is a RETR command in step S204, the received data analyzing means 72 determines that the data being received is electronic mail data, passes control to the received data separating means 73, and temporarily stores the contents of the electronic mail. It is stored in the means 76. The received data separating means 73 to which the control has been passed analyzes the mail data (step S205).
[0037]
Subsequent to step S205, the received data separating unit 73 determines whether or not the analyzed mail data includes print data with reference to the print information in the e-mail data. If the print data is not included, the process proceeds to step S211 and the received data separating unit 73 outputs the e-mail text to the data display unit 71 (steps S206 and S211).
[0038]
If the print data is included in step S206, the received data separating unit 73 separates the print data from the e-mail data (step 207).
[0039]
The separated print data is passed from the received data separating unit 73 to the print data generating unit 74. When all the data is received by the print data generating unit 74, the compressed image is expanded and connected. The data is converted into PDL (printer language) of the printer and output to the printer 9 (step S208).
[0040]
The received data separating unit 73 creates a print notification document (number of pages, output destination) , which is information of print data, based on the print control information included in the print data, and adds this to the mail text to display the data. The data is transferred to the means 71 and displayed on the display device 8 by the data display means 71 (step S209).
[0041]
After step S209 or step S211, the received data separating unit 73 deletes the e-mail data stored in the temporary storage unit 76 in step S205 (step S210). As a result, the e-mail data stored in the temporary storage means 76 is deleted after the display or the print processing, and the capacity of the storage device of the terminal device can be reduced.
[0042]
Next, a specific example will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example when an e-mail is generated in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example when an e-mail is separated in one embodiment of the present invention.
[0043]
First, a specific example at the time of generating an e-mail will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, on the transmission side, when transferring a document created by a word processor or the like, the image generating means 22 converts document data output by the printing function of the word processor into an image as a document image (A401). ). Further, the image data compressed by the image compression means 23 is stored in the storage device 3 (A402). Next, e-mail data is generated by combining the e-mail address (A403) and the e-mail text (A404) input by the e-mail generation means 24 with the compressed image (A405).
[0044]
Next, a specific example at the time of e-mail separation will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, on the receiving side, when the received data analyzing unit 72 determines that the received data is e-mail data, the received data separating unit 73 determines whether the received e-mail data contains print data. Is determined based on the presence or absence of the print information of A501. As a result of the determination, if there is print data, the print data is separated into electronic mail data (A503) including the mail text and print data (A502). At the time of separation, the received data separation unit 73 creates a print notification document (page number, output destination, etc.) based on the print control information included in the print data (A502), (A503) and transfer to the data display means 71. The print data (A502) is transferred from the received data separation unit 73 to the print data generation unit 74, and the print data generation unit 74 expands the compressed print data and converts it to PDL (printer language) (A504). Is transferred to the printer 9.
[0045]
In the above description, the transmission source and the transmission destination are described on a one-to-one basis. Further, the same effect can be obtained in an electronic mail system using another protocol prepared for electronic mail. If the receiving side periodically refers to the e-mail server, it can function as a print server.
[0046]
Furthermore, by setting in advance the print data generating means to set the output destination of the print data to the printer or the data display means on the receiving side, the output destination of the print data is not the printer but the data display means. The display may be displayed on a display device. In this case, in step S208 of FIG. 3, "the separated print data is passed from the reception data separation unit 73 to the print data generation unit 74, and when the print data generation unit 74 receives all the data, it is compressed. The description that "the output data is decompressed and converted to PDL (printer language) of the connected printer and output to the printer 9" is described as "the separated print data is received data separation means 73". Is passed to the print data generating means 74, and when the print data generating means 74 receives all the data, the compressed image is decompressed and output to the data display means 71. "
[0047]
In this case, since the print data, the mail text, and the print notification document are both sent to the data display means 71, the data display means 71 has a function of combining them. Alternatively, a plurality of data display means may be provided, and the data display means for receiving the print data and the data display means for receiving the mail text and the print notification document may be separated. When the data display means is divided, the data may be multi-displayed on the same screen or may be switched and displayed. Alternatively, a plurality of display devices may be provided and displayed separately. Since these operations are known as a display method of a personal computer, detailed description thereof is omitted here.
[0048]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0049]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a computer 10 and a recording medium 11. The configuration of the computer 10 is basically the same as the data processing device described in the embodiment of the present invention in FIG. The recording medium 11 records a display program used for transmission and reception. The recording medium 11 may be a magnetic disk, an optical recording disk, a semiconductor memory, or another recording medium. The display program is read from the recording medium 11 into the computer 10 and controls the same operation as in the embodiment of the present invention.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention converts the attached file portion of the e-mail into print data in the form of an image on the sending terminal device and transmits the converted data. Alternatively, the contents are displayed on the screen, so that the contents of the attached file can be viewed even if the application program used for creating the attached file in the transmitting terminal device is not installed in the receiving terminal device. Therefore, attached files can be transmitted and received without being aware of the environment of the destination terminal device, and there is no need to unify the types of application programs to be installed in each terminal device. Etc., and the capacity of the storage device can be reduced by reducing the number of application programs to be installed.
[0051]
Further, since the received e-mail data is automatically deleted from the temporary storage means after being output to the screen display device and the printer, the capacity of the storage device of the terminal device can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation on a transmitting side according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation on the receiving side according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example when e-mail is generated according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example when e-mail is separated in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input means 2 Transmission-side data processing apparatus 21 Data editing means 22 Image generation means 23 Image compression means 24 E-mail generation means 25 E-mail transmission means 26 Network port 3 Storage device 4, 8 Display device 5, 6 E-mail server 7 Receiving side Data processing device 71 Data display means 72 Received data analysis means 73 Received data separation means 74 Print data generation means 75 Network port 76 Temporary storage means 9 Printer 10 Computer 11 Recording medium

Claims (3)

A method of displaying an attached file in an e-mail when an e-mail with an attached file added to an e-mail body is transmitted and received between terminal devices,
In the transmitting terminal,
Data editing means for creating a document as the attached file by a user input operation,
Image generation means for generating an image of the document created by the data editing means one page at a time;
Image compression means for compressing the image image,
A storage device for storing the compressed image,
When notified that the image generation of all pages has been completed from the image generation unit, print control information is added to the image stored in the storage device to generate print data, and the print data is followed by E-mail generation means for generating e-mail data by combining the input e-mail address and e-mail text;
Mail sending means for transferring the electronic mail data from the electronic mail generating means and transmitting the electronic mail data to the destination terminal device, and transmitting a message indicating transmission completion to the display device when the transmission is completed;
A display device for displaying the message,
In the receiving terminal device,
Temporary storage means for storing the e-mail data,
Checking whether the received data is e-mail data, and receiving data analysis means for storing the received data in a temporary storage means if the data is e-mail data,
It is determined whether or not the print data is included in the e-mail data stored in the temporary storage means by referring to print information in the e-mail data. While separating the print data and transferring it to the print data generating means, a print notification document including the number of pages and an output destination is created based on the print control information included in the print data, and this is added to the mail body. Receiving data separating means for transferring to the data display means, and when the data transfer to the print data generating means and the data display means is completed, deleting the e-mail data stored in the temporary storage means;
Receiving the print data from the received data separating unit, performs decompression of the compressed image being, said print data generation means for output to the printer is converted into the printer language of connected printer,
Data display means for sending the mail text and the print notification document to a display means to display the screen,
Display means for displaying the mail text and the print notification document on a screen,
A method for displaying an attached file in an electronic mail, comprising: a printer for printing the print data. A method of displaying an attached file in an e-mail when an e-mail with an attached file added to an e-mail body is transmitted and received between terminal devices,
When sending the email,
A first process of creating a document as the attached file by a user's input operation;
A second process of generating an image image of the created document one page at a time;
A third process of compressing the image and storing the compressed image in a storage device;
When the generation of image images for all pages is completed, print control information is added to the image images stored in the storage device to generate print data. A fourth process for generating e-mail data collectively;
A fifth process of transferring the e-mail data and transmitting the e-mail data to the destination terminal device, and displaying a message indicating completion of the transmission on a screen when the transmission is completed,
Upon receiving the email,
A sixth process of checking whether the received data is e-mail data, and storing the received data in the temporary storage means if the received data is e-mail data;
A seventh process of determining whether or not the print data is included in the email data stored in the temporary storage unit by referring to print information in the email data;
In the seventh process, if the print data is included, the print data is separated from the e-mail data to decompress the compressed image, and the print language is changed to the printer language of the connected printer. An eighth process of converting and outputting to the printer;
Following the eighth process, a ninth process in which a print notification document including the number of pages and an output destination is created based on print control information included in the print data, and this is added to the mail text and displayed on a screen When,
And a tenth process for deleting the email data stored in the temporary storage means, following the ninth process. When sending an email,
A first process of creating a document as an attached file by a user input operation;
A second process of generating an image image of the created document one page at a time;
A third process of compressing the image and storing the compressed image in a storage device;
When the generation of image images for all pages is completed, print control information is added to the image images stored in the storage device to generate print data. A fourth process for generating e-mail data collectively;
And causing the computer to execute a fifth process of transferring the e-mail data and transmitting the e-mail data to the destination terminal device, and upon completion of the transmission, displaying a message indicating the completion of the transmission on a screen.
When receiving an email,
A sixth process of checking whether the received data is e-mail data, and storing the received data in the temporary storage means if the received data is e-mail data;
A seventh process of determining whether or not the print data is included in the email data stored in the temporary storage unit by referring to print information in the email data;
In the seventh process, if the print data is included, the print data is separated from the e-mail data to decompress the compressed image, and the print language is changed to the printer language of the connected printer. An eighth process of converting and outputting to the printer;
Following the eighth process, a ninth process in which a print notification document including the number of pages and an output destination is created based on print control information included in the print data, and this is added to the mail text and displayed on a screen When,
A recording medium characterized by recording a display program in an e-mail that causes a computer to execute, following the ninth processing, a tenth processing for deleting the e-mail data stored in the temporary storage means.

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