JP3597149B2 - Email printing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an e-mail printing method for printing e-mail received by a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone, and more particularly, to a method of printing e-mail received by a mobile communication terminal by facsimile output.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the use of e-mail in mobile phones has become possible and is rapidly spreading. Some e-mails communicated by mobile phones have information that they want to record and keep, but since the storage capacity of the mobile phone is relatively small, it is not possible to save all the received data. Therefore, those who have a personal computer (PC) that can connect to the Internet should forward their own e-mail to the e-mail address set on the personal computer, store it on the personal computer, and if necessary, I was printing from a printer connected to my computer.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if you do not have a personal computer, you cannot print an e-mail using a personal computer. Further, even when using a personal computer, the electronic mail received by the mobile phone must be transferred to the personal computer once, further received by the personal computer, and then printed, which is troublesome.
[0004]
On the other hand, as one of services of a mobile phone carrier (communications carrier), there is a service of transferring an e-mail received by a mobile phone to a user's home. In this type of service, a mail server of a mobile phone company that stores e-mail calls a designated facsimile number and transmits it. Therefore, the communication fee becomes a burden on the mobile phone operator. This communication fee may be charged to the user as a service fee, but charging management becomes troublesome. Further, when a general telephone line has the mail server and provides a service of transmitting an electronic mail to a facsimile machine, it is necessary to make a contract with a specific general telephone line company.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for printing an e-mail received by a mobile communication terminal in a simple manner.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a user transfers an e-mail received by a mobile communication terminal to a mail server, and thereafter accesses the mail server from the user side, and stores the e-mail stored in the mail server. Is output from a predetermined facsimile machine by facsimile. As described above, since an e-mail is printed using a widely-used facsimile telephone, even a user who does not use a personal computer can print an e-mail. In addition, since there is no need to use a personal computer for printing, printing can be performed easily. Further, since the user makes a telephone call for facsimile printing, the communication fee is borne by the user, and the burden on the communication company that operates the mail server is reduced. Further, there is no need to charge the user for the communication fee charged by the communication carrier, and the charge management for the user in the communication carrier providing the service is simplified.
[0007]
For example, a first e-mail printing method according to the present invention is an e-mail printing method for printing an e-mail received by a mobile communication terminal,
A server on a network receives the e-mail transferred from the mobile communication terminal, stores the e-mail in one of a plurality of set storage areas,
In response to the access to the server, the server converts an e-mail in a predetermined storage area into a facsimile signal and transmits the signal to a predetermined facsimile device,
The e-mail is printed by facsimile output from the facsimile apparatus.
[0008]
In a second electronic mail printing method according to the present invention, in the first method, after transferring the electronic mail from the portable communication terminal, the facsimile apparatus accesses the server by making a telephone call to the server, and Converts an electronic mail in a storage area designated by the identification information input from the facsimile apparatus into a facsimile signal and transmits the facsimile signal to the facsimile apparatus.
[0009]
In a third e-mail printing method according to the present invention, in the first method, when the server is connected to the facsimile device via a predetermined communication control device, the server accesses the communication control device. Sending a notification of reception of an e-mail from the mobile communication terminal to the communication control device, and thereafter disconnecting access to the communication control device,
The communication control device, upon receiving the reception notification, calls the server and accesses the server, and the server sends an e-mail in a storage area specified by the identification information input from the communication control device. Is converted to a facsimile signal and transmitted to the communication control device. When the communication control device receives the facsimile signal, the communication control device transmits the signal to the facsimile device.
[0010]
In a fourth e-mail printing method according to the present invention, in the third method, the communication control device identifies a facsimile communication transmitting a facsimile signal and another communication different from the facsimile communication,
The server transmits the reception notification using the another communication, so that the communication control device accesses the server based on the reception of the reception notification.
[0011]
A fifth e-mail printing method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the fourth method, the another communication is a no-ringing communication.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system for printing an electronic mail from a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart thereof. In the present embodiment, first, each user transfers the e-mail received by the mobile communication terminal 1 to a mail server on the network ((1) in FIG. 1, step S101 in FIG. 2). The mail server 2 has a so-called facsimile information service function.
[0013]
The facsimile information service is an information transmission service using a facsimile. When a user dials a specified telephone number with a facsimile apparatus and pushes a number in accordance with a voice guidance that flows, the facsimile apparatus can receive necessary information.
[0014]
The mail server 2 has a facsimile information area for each user, and stores the transferred e-mail in the facsimile information area of the user ((2) in FIG. 1, step S102 in FIG. 2). Thereafter, the user accesses the facsimile information area using a facsimile machine installed at home or a convenience store, for example, a telephone with a facsimile function (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a facsimile telephone) 3 ((3) in FIG. 1, Step S103 in FIG. 2). Specifically, the user makes a call from the facsimile telephone 3 to a telephone number set to the mail server, and inputs identification information corresponding to his / her own facsimile information area according to, for example, a voice guide. I do. The identification information is, for example, a telephone number of a mobile phone. Further, it is preferable that a password set in advance for each user is input. The mail server 2 converts the e-mail data stored in the facsimile information area corresponding to the input identification information into a facsimile signal (step S104 in FIG. 2) and transmits the signal to the connected facsimile telephone 3 (step S104 in FIG. 2). (4) in FIG. 1 and step S105 in FIG. 2). When the facsimile telephone 3 receives the facsimile signal, it prints out on a predetermined paper ((5) in FIG. 1, step S106 in FIG. 2).
[0015]
The user may select and print an e-mail stored in the facsimile information area. For example, in the voice guide, first, the number of electronic mails stored in the facsimile information area is notified, and the user inputs the number of the desired electronic mail (for example, the latest mail is “1”, and the next oldest is “1”). (Like "2"). Alternatively, only the title of the stored e-mail may be output by facsimile with a number attached first, and the user may view it and input the required e-mail number.
[0016]
As described above, in the present embodiment, an e-mail is printed using a widely-used general facsimile telephone. Therefore, even a user who does not use a personal computer can print an e-mail. It becomes possible. In addition, since there is no need to use a personal computer for printing, printing can be performed easily. Further, the present embodiment is also compared with a conventional service that outputs an e-mail by facsimile by making a call from the mail server side (for example, a so-called “remote mail” service provided by NTT DoCoMo, a mobile phone operator). In this case, since the user makes a telephone call, the communication fee is borne by the user, and the burden on the communication company that operates the mail server 2 is reduced. In addition, unlike the conventional service, there is no need to charge the user for the communication fee charged by the communication carrier, and the charge management for the user in the communication service provider providing the service is simplified (when the user is charged, In other words, only the basic fee for each user needs to be charged, and there is no need to set a pay-as-you-go fee according to the service usage for each user.) In this case, there is no need to contract with a specific general telephone line company.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method of printing an e-mail received by a mobile communication terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart thereof. In the present embodiment, a network control unit (NCU: Network Control Unit) for controlling the telephone line is installed at the user's house, and is automatically transferred to the mail server 2 under the control of this network control unit. A case where an electronic mail is printed by a facsimile telephone will be described.
[0018]
The network controller 4 has, for example, a so-called no-ringing function, and identifies communication using the no-ringing function (no-ringing communication) and normal communication (telephone communication or facsimile communication). The no-ringing communication is communication that does not use a ring tone of a telephone, and is generally used to remotely read a meter such as electricity, gas, or water from a meter reading center and transmit the data. The network controller 4 can identify the no-ringing communication by detecting the gentle inversion of the line voltage polarity (slow polarity reversal) and a predetermined no-ringing signal. Slow reversal means that the polarity is reversed over a predetermined period of time.
[0019]
Then, in the present embodiment, when the mail server 2 receives the electronic mail transferred from the mobile communication terminal 1 ((1) in FIG. 3, step S201 in FIG. 4), it stores it in the facsimile information area. ((2) in FIG. 3, step S202 in FIG. 4), a notification of reception is sent to the network controller 4 using communication different from the normal telephone communication (for example, no ringing communication) as described above (FIG. 3 (3), step S203 in FIG. 4). When notifying the reception notification, the mail server 2 temporarily disconnects the line (step S204 in FIG. 4).
[0020]
On the other hand, upon receiving the reception notification, the network controller 4 automatically makes a call to the mail server 2 according to the predetermined information included in the reception notification and accesses the facsimile information area ((4) in FIG. 3, Step S205 in FIG. 4).
[0021]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of data of a reception notification from the mail server 2. In FIG. 5, the reception notification includes a notification code indicating a reception notification notifying that an electronic mail has been received, a telephone number of the mail server 2, identification code information of a facsimile information area of the user, a password, and the like. The notification code may be a command that prompts the network controller 4 to access the mail server 2.
[0022]
Upon receiving the reception notification, the network controller 4 calls the telephone number addressed to the mail server 2 included in the reception notification, and after connecting to the mail server 2, identifies the identification information and the password corresponding to the facsimile information area included in the reception notification. Notify. At this time, the network controller 4 puts the connected facsimile telephone on the hook.
[0023]
The mail server 2 converts the mail data stored in the facsimile information area corresponding to the received identification information into a facsimile signal (step S206 in FIG. 4), and sends it to the facsimile telephone 3 via the line network controller 4. It is transmitted ((5) in FIG. 3, step S207 in FIG. 4). Since the network controller 4 receives a general facsimile signal from the mail server 2, it transmits the received facsimile signal to the facsimile telephone 3, and the facsimile telephone 3 prints out the facsimile signal on predetermined paper. ((6) in FIG. 3, step S208 in FIG. 4).
[0024]
As described above, also in the present embodiment, the e-mail received by the mobile communication terminal 1 is printed out by facsimile by the facsimile telephone 3. Further, in the present embodiment, the network controller 4 automatically accesses the mail server 2 by using the network controller 4 capable of distinguishing between no ringing communication and facsimile communication, and is stored in the facsimile information area. And output the e-mail from the facsimile phone by facsimile.
[0025]
In this embodiment, the mail server 2 makes a telephone call when transmitting the reception notification to the network controller 4, so that the mail server 2 side (communication carrier) bears the communication fee. The transmission of the reception notification is completed within the charging unit time (for example, 1 minute or 3 minutes), and then the communication is disconnected, so that the burden on the communication carrier is minimized.
[0026]
In addition, when an electronic mail is transmitted to a user's facsimile apparatus by a facsimile signal, advertisement data registered in advance may be added. Further, as the advertisement to be added, an optimal advertisement may be selected according to various conditions such as the age, gender, address, and hobby of the user (these are registered in the mail server 2 in advance).
[0027]
The facsimile apparatus in each of the above-described embodiments is not limited to a facsimile telephone, and may be, for example, a facsimile-dedicated apparatus or a copy-and-copy apparatus.
[0028]
Further, the communication for transmitting the reception notification from the mail server 2 to the network controller 4 is not limited to the no-ringing communication, but may be any other communication that the network controller 4 can distinguish from the normal facsimile communication based on the facsimile signal. .
[0029]
The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but extends to the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an e-mail is printed using a widely-used facsimile telephone, so that a user who does not use a personal computer can print an e-mail. In addition, since there is no need to use a personal computer for printing, printing can be performed easily. Further, since the user makes a telephone call for facsimile printing, the communication fee is borne by the user, and the burden on the communication company that operates the mail server is reduced. Further, there is no need to charge the user for the communication fee charged by the communication carrier, and the charge management for the user in the communication carrier providing the service is simplified. In this case, there is no need to contract with a specific general telephone line company.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system for printing an electronic mail from a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a processing flowchart according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system for printing an electronic mail from a mobile communication terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data of a reception notification from the mail server 2.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile communication terminal 2 Mail server 3 Facsimile telephone 4 Network controller (communication controller)

Claims (4)

In an email printing method for printing an email received by a mobile communication terminal,
A server on a network receives the e-mail transferred from the mobile communication terminal, stores the e-mail in one of a plurality of set storage areas,
After transferring the e-mail from the mobile communication terminal, the facsimile machine accesses the server by making a call to the server,
The server converts the e-mail of the storage area specified by the identification information input from the facsimile device into a facsimile signal, transmits the e-mail to the facsimile device, and facsimile-outputs the e-mail from the facsimile device. e-mail printing method, characterized in that the printing. In an email printing method for printing an email received by a mobile communication terminal,
A server on a network receives the e-mail transferred from the mobile communication terminal, stores the e-mail in one of a plurality of set storage areas,
When the server is connected to the facsimile machine via a predetermined communication control device, the server accesses the communication control device and sends a notification of reception of an e-mail from the mobile communication terminal to the communication control device. , After which disconnects access to the communication control device, the communication control device, upon receiving the reception notification, calls the server to access the server,
The server converts the e-mail of the storage area specified by the identification information input from the communication control device into a facsimile signal and transmits the facsimile signal to the communication control device, and the communication control device receives the facsimile signal. An e-mail printing method, wherein the e-mail is printed by transmitting the e-mail to the facsimile apparatus and outputting the e-mail from the facsimile apparatus by facsimile . In claim 2 ,
The communication control device, facsimile communication that transmits a facsimile signal, and different communication different from the facsimile communication is identified, the server transmits the reception notification using the another communication, An e-mail printing method, wherein the communication control device accesses the server based on the reception of the reception notification. In claim 3 ,
The method according to claim 1, wherein the another communication is a no-ringing communication.

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