JP3631137B2 - Internet facsimile machine and address input control method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an Internet facsimile machine and an address input control method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an Internet facsimile machine (hereinafter referred to as IFAX) as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-242326 and US Pat. No. 5,881,233 has been proposed. In such IFAX, the operator needs to input a destination mail address before transmission.
[0003]
Further, when the destination is a G3 facsimile, it is possible to request a relay from the transmission source IFAX to an IFAX near the destination G3 facsimile. When the relay IFAX requests relay from the source IFAX, the operator needs to input a relay address in which a predetermined relay command is incorporated into the IFAX mail address into the source IFAX.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, IFAX normally does not come with a dedicated keyboard for alphabet input, as is the case with conventional G3 facsimile machines. For example, the conventional IFAX can switch to alphabet input mode and use function keys for alphabet input. However, since the function key is relatively small, an input error is likely to occur when a relatively long mail address is input, and the usability of the operator is poor.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an Internet facsimile machine and an address input control method capable of easily and reliably inputting a mail address.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Book The invention determines that if the input data from the panel is only numbers, the input data is the fax number of the final destination of the relay, Input data In For relay machine Adding a domain name Succession Generate an email address, Succession An e-mail addressed to the e-mail address was sent.
[0009]
This E-mail addresses for relaying are automatically generated based on the numbers entered by the user, making it easy You can request a relay.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An Internet facsimile apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a panel having a plurality of buttons, a memory for storing a default domain name, and, if a user name is input from the panel, the default domain name as the user. A panel input control unit that generates a mail address by adding a name and a mail transmission processing unit that transmits an e-mail addressed to the mail address are employed.
[0011]
With this configuration, when the operator inputs a user name from the panel, the panel input control unit adds a default domain to the user name and generates a mail address, so that the operator need only input the user name.
[0012]
The Internet facsimile apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a panel having a plurality of buttons, a memory for storing a default domain name, and the input data when the input data from the panel does not include an at sign. A determination unit that determines that the user name is a user name, a panel input control unit that generates a mail address by adding to the user name when the determination unit determines that the input data is a user name, and a destination address of the mail address And a mail transmission processing unit that transmits the e-mail.
[0013]
With this configuration, when the operator inputs a user name from the panel, the user name does not include an at sign indicating the boundary between the address and the domain name, so the panel input control unit determines that the input data is the user name. Then, a default domain is added to the user name and a mail address is generated, so that the operator need only input the user name.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Internet facsimile apparatus including a panel having a plurality of buttons, a memory for storing a relay machine mail address, and a relay number to the FAX number when a FAX number is input from the panel. A panel input control unit that generates a relay request mail address by adding a machine mail address and a mail transmission processing unit that transmits an e-mail addressed to the relay request mail address are employed.
[0015]
With this configuration, when the operator inputs a user name from the panel, the panel input control unit adds a FAX number to the relay machine mail address and generates a relay request mail address, so that the operator can input only the FAX number. It ’s enough.
[0016]
An Internet facsimile apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a panel having a plurality of buttons, a memory for storing a default domain name, and when the input data from the panel is only numbers, the input data is relayed. A determination unit that determines that the fax number is the final destination FAX number, and when the determination unit determines that the input data is the FAX number of the final destination of relay, the relay machine mail address is added to the FAX number for relay request. A panel input control unit that generates a mail address and a mail transmission processing unit that transmits an email addressed to the relay request mail address are employed.
[0017]
With this configuration, when the operator inputs a FAX number from the panel, the FAX number consists only of a normal number. Therefore, the panel input control unit determines that this input data is the FAX number of the final destination of the relay, and relays this FAX number. Since it is added to the machine mail address and a relay request mail address is generated, the operator need only input the user name.
[0018]
In the address input control method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a user name is input from a panel, a default domain name is assigned to the user name to generate a mail address, and this mail address is processed by an email transmission process. Send to department.
[0019]
With this method, when an operator inputs a user name from the panel, a default domain is added to the user name and a mail address is generated, so that the operator need only input the user name.
[0020]
In the address input control method according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, if the at-sign is not included in the input data from the panel, the input data is determined as a user name, and a default domain name is assigned to the user name. To generate an e-mail address and send this e-mail address to the e-mail transmission processing unit.
[0021]
By this method, when the operator inputs a user name from the panel, the user name does not include an at sign indicating the boundary between the address and the domain name. Since the default domain is added to the user name and the mail address is generated, the operator need only input the user name.
[0022]
In the address input control method according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when a FAX number is input from the panel, a relay machine mail address is assigned to the FAX number to generate a relay request mail address. Send the e-mail address to the e-mail transmission processing unit.
[0023]
With this method, when the operator inputs a user name from the panel, the FAX number is added to the relay machine mail address and a relay request mail address is generated. Therefore, the operator need only input the FAX number.
[0024]
In the address input control method according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, if the input data from the panel is only numbers, the input data is determined as the FAX number of the final destination of the relay, and the relay machine mail address is included in the FAX number. To generate a relay request mail address, and send this relay request mail address to the e-mail transmission processing unit.
[0025]
By this method, when the operator inputs a FAX number from the panel, the FAX number is usually composed of only numbers. Therefore, the input data is determined as the FAX number of the final destination of the relay, and this FAX number is added to the relay machine mail address. Since the relay request mail address is generated, the operator need only input the user name.
[0026]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a network on which an Internet facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention operates.
An Internet facsimile machine (hereinafter referred to as IFAX) 1 according to this embodiment is connected to a LAN 2. This LAN 2 is connected to the Internet 3. A receiving side IFAX 4 is connected to the Internet 3. In addition, the Internet 3 is connected to an IFAX (hereinafter referred to as a repeater) 5 as a repeater. The repeater 5 is connected to a public telephone network (PSTN) 6. PSTN6 is connected to G3FAX7.
[0027]
The IFAX 1 transmits / receives image information and the like to / from the IFAX 4 via the LAN 2 and the Internet 3 by electronic mail. The IFAX 1 requests the relay machine 5 to relay data to the G3 FAX 7. The relay machine 5 converts the e-mail data received from the IFAX 5 into facsimile data, and transmits this facsimile data to the G3 FAX 7.
[0028]
Hereinafter, IFAX 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware of IFAX according to the above embodiment. The CPU 11 executes a program and controls the entire apparatus. The ROM 12 stores a program executed by the CPU 11.
[0029]
The RAM 13 has a work area for executing a program and a buffer area for temporarily storing various data such as e-mails and image files.
[0030]
The FAX / voice processing unit 14 modulates facsimile data and voice, outputs the modulated data to the PSTN 6, and demodulates the modulated data received from the PSTN 6 into facsimile data and voice data.
[0031]
The scanner 15 reads a document and obtains image data. The printer 16 prints various data including the received image data.
[0032]
The LAN interface 17 executes a procedure necessary for transmitting and receiving data on the LAN 2.
[0033]
The panel 18 includes dial keys and a touch panel, and receives operations by an operator such as designation of a destination and a transmission start instruction.
[0034]
The ROM 12 stores a program, and the CPU 11 executes the program. The functions realized as a result will be described below. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing functions of IFAX according to the above embodiment.
[0035]
The IFAX 1 includes a FAX voice control unit 100, a scanner control unit 200, and a printer control unit 300, and controls each processing unit of the FAX / voice processing unit 14, the scanner 15, and the printer 16.
[0036]
The IFAX 1 includes an IFAX control unit 400 that realizes a function as IFAX. Further, the IFAX 1 includes a panel control unit 500 that controls input from the panel 18.
[0037]
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the IFAX control unit of the IFAX according to the above embodiment. The scanner control unit 200 sends raw image data (for example, bitmap data) read by the scanner 16 to the IFAX control unit 400. Reading of the original by the scanner 16 is performed for each page of the original, and thus raw image data is generated for each page of the original. In the IFAX control unit 400, the raw image data is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 401 in a compression format such as MH to obtain compressed data. These compressed data are converted into one TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) file by the TIFF conversion unit 402. The TIFF file is attached to the multipart mail by the e-mail creating unit 403 according to, for example, MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension), and an I-FAX mail is generated.
[0038]
The created I-FAX mail is transmitted to the mail server via the LAN interface 17 by the mail transmission unit 404 according to, for example, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).
[0039]
On the other hand, in the IFAX control unit 400, when the mail receiving unit 405 receives the I-FAX mail via the LAN interface 17, the binary conversion unit 406 converts the attached file included in the I-FAX mail from the text code to the binary data. To obtain a TIFF file. The obtained TIFF file is expanded by the TIFF expansion unit 407 to obtain compressed data. These compressed data are decompressed by the compression / decompression unit 401 to obtain raw image data. This raw image data is printed by the printer 16.
[0040]
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the IFAX panel according to the above embodiment.
The panel 18 includes a display unit 501 made of, for example, an LCD at the top. Below the display unit 501, a print setting unit 502 is provided in which a plurality of print setting buttons 502a to 502d for performing print settings such as print density, character size, halftone and finished stamp.
[0041]
A memory button 503, a function button 504, a quick dial button 505, and an internet button 506 are arranged below the print setting unit 502 in order from the left side.
[0042]
Below these buttons 503 to 506, a one-touch dial section 508 in which a plurality of one-touch dial buttons 507 are arranged is provided. Further, a program communication unit 510 in which a plurality of program buttons 509 are arranged is provided below the one-touch dial unit 508.
[0043]
Under the program communication unit 510, a redial / pause button 511, a shortening button 512, a sub address / hook button 513, a clear / monitor volume button 514, a set button 515, and a monitor button 516 are arranged in order from the left side. Yes.
[0044]
On the lower side of these buttons 511 to 516 and on the left side of the panel 18, a numeric keypad 518 in which a plurality of numeric keys 517 are arranged is provided. A stop button 519, a copy button 520, and a start button 521 are arranged on the left side of the numeric keypad 518.
[0045]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the panel control unit of the IFAX according to the above embodiment. The panel control unit 500 includes an input data analysis unit 601 that analyzes input data. The input data analysis unit 601 analyzes the input data and sends the result to the determination unit 602. The input data analysis unit 601 analyzes whether or not the input data includes an at sign “@”, that is, whether or not the input data is a user name. Further, it is analyzed whether or not the input data is only numbers, that is, whether or not the input data is a FAX number.
[0046]
The determination unit 602 determines the subsequent processing based on the result of the analysis by the input data analysis unit 601 and whether or not the internet button 506 of the panel 18 is pressed.
[0047]
When the input data is a user name, the default domain adding unit 603 adds a default domain name 604 stored in the RAM 13 to the user name to obtain a mail address, and sends this to the e-mail creating unit 403.
[0048]
In addition, when the input data is a FAX number, the relay machine address adding unit 605 obtains a relay mail address by adding the relay machine mail address 606 stored in the RAM 13 to the FAX number, and relays ahead of the input FAX number. Is added to the back of the domain name for relay, a mail address in the form of FAX # FAX number @ domain name is generated, and this is sent to the e-mail creating unit 403.
[0049]
The default domain registration unit 607 registers the default domain name input from the panel 18 in the RAM 13 in the registration mode. Similarly, the relay machine address registration unit 608 registers the relay machine mail address input from the panel 18 in the RAM 13.
[0050]
The RAM 13 is provided with an address indicating a default domain flag 609. When the default domain flag 609 is on, the default domain adding unit 603 adds a default domain to the input data. Further, the RAM 13 is provided with an address for storing the password 610, and when the e-mail is transmitted to the relay machine, the e-mail creating unit 403 adds the password to the text portion of the e-mail. ing.
[0051]
Next, an e-mail transmission operation in IFAX 1 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing each step of e-mail transmission in IFAX according to the above embodiment.
[0052]
The operator places an original on the original placement table of IFAX 1 and then depresses the Internet button 506 on the panel 18 (ST701). In this case, the panel control unit 500 switches the input mode of the panel 18 to the character string input mode. As a result, the operator can input a character string such as alphabets and symbols using the one-touch dial button 507 and the program button 509 on the panel 18.
[0053]
Next, the operator inputs a destination from panel 18 (ST702). Next, the start button 521 is pressed down to instruct the start of transmission processing (ST703).
The input data analysis unit 601 of the panel control unit 500 analyzes the input data (ST704). The input data analysis unit 601 sends this analysis result to the determination unit 602.
[0054]
Determination section 602 first determines whether or not the input data consists only of numbers (ST705). If the input data is not only numbers, that is, if the input data is composed of alphabets and / or symbols, it is determined whether or not an at sign “@” is included in the input data (ST706). Here, when the at mark is not included, the determination unit 602 determines that the input data is the user name of the mail address.
[0055]
Next, the determination unit 602 accesses the address of the default domain flag 609 in the RAM 13, and determines whether the default domain flag 609 is on (ST707). If the default domain flag 609 is on in ST707, the determination unit 602 Instruct to send the input data to the default domain adding unit 603. Default domain adding section 603 adds a default domain to input data, that is, a user name (ST708). Default domain adding section 603 sends the generated mail address to e-mail creating section 403 of IFAX control section 400 (ST709).
[0056]
Email creation section 403 creates a header by designating this email address in the destination field [To:] or [Cc:] (ST709). Further, e-mail creating section 403 adds a text part and a data part to the header to create an e-mail, and mail transmitting section 404 sends this e-mail (ST710).
[0057]
When the default domain flag is off in ST707, the determination unit 602 determines that the input data does not conform to the format of the mail address, and thus determines an input error, and performs error processing (ST711).
[0058]
On the other hand, in ST705, when an at mark is included in the input data, determination section 603 determines that the input data is a mail address, skips ST706 and ST707, and proceeds to ST708 to determine the mail address. An e-mail addressed to the e-mail is created and transmitted (ST710).
[0059]
In ST704, when determining section 603 determines that the input data is only numbers, it transmits the input data to repeater address adding section 605. Relay machine address adding section 605 adds the input data, that is, the FAX number to the relay machine address according to the relay mail address form, and creates a relay mail address (ST712). For example, if a telephone number of OOXX is input, a relay mail address called FAX # XXXXXX @ relay machine domain name is generated.
[0060]
Next, in e-mail creating section 403 of IFAX control section 400 of IFAX 1, password 610 fetched from RAM 13 is added to the first line of the e-mail text section (ST713). Thereafter, e-mail creating section 403 creates a header and creates an e-mail (ST709). The electronic mail created by mail transmission section 404 is transmitted (ST710).
[0061]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the steps of registering the default domain name in IFAX according to the above embodiment.
First, when the operator depresses a specific button, panel control section 500 enters a registration mode (ST801). Next, when the operator inputs a default domain name from panel 18, default domain registration section 607 of panel control section 500 registers the input default domain name at a predetermined address in RAM 13 (ST802). Thereafter, default domain registration section 607 turns on the default domain flag (ST803). Panel control unit 500 then turns off the registration mode (ST804). The repeater address registration by the repeater address registration unit 608 is performed in substantially the same manner.
[0062]
As described above, according to IFAX 1 according to the above embodiment, the input data analysis unit 601 analyzes the input data from the panel 18, and based on the analysis result, the determination unit 602 determines that the input data is an email address. When the user name is determined to be the user name, the default domain adding unit 603 takes the default domain name from the RAM 13 and adds it to the user name. As a result, the operator only needs to input the user name, so the destination mail address can be input easily and without error from the panel 18 which is relatively difficult to input.
[0063]
If the determination unit 602 determines that it is a mail address instead of a user name, in this example, if the input data includes an at-sign, the input data is designated as the destination in the e-mail creation unit 403 and the header Instruct to create. Therefore, it is sufficient for the operator to input the mail address without any awareness.
[0064]
The determination unit 602 enables the default domain adding unit 603 when the default domain flag 609 is on, so that the default domain name can be used according to the needs of the operator. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, since the default domain registration unit 607 turns on the default domain flag 609 when the default domain name 604 is registered in the RAM 13, the default domain addition unit 607 is registered when the default domain name is registered. 603 can be automatically enabled.
[0065]
Further, according to IFAX 1 according to the above-described embodiment, when only the number is input from panel 18 after Internet button 506 of panel 18 is pressed, determination unit 602 inputs the FAX number of the final destination of the relay. I think it was done. In this case, the relay address adding unit 605 adds the FAX number to the relay machine mail address stored in the RAM 13 to generate a relay address. The e-mail creating unit 403 creates a header by designating this relay address as a destination. Therefore, the operator only has to input the FAX number by pressing the Internet button 506, so that it is not necessary to input a relatively long relay address from the panel 18. As a result, the operator can input a relay request from the panel 18 that is relatively difficult to input to the relay machine easily and without error.
[0066]
The relay request process described above is performed when the operator inputs a FAX number after pressing down the Internet button 506. Therefore, when the operator inputs a FAX number without pressing the Internet button 506, normal facsimile transmission is performed. Since this is done, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to force the operator to perform an extra operation.
[0067]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the Internet facsimile apparatus having the G3 / G4 FAX and IFAX functions has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to an Internet facsimile apparatus having only the IFAX function. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to an information processing terminal such as a copier, a network scanner, a network printer, an image multifunction peripheral, and a personal digital assistant (PDA) equipped with an IFAX function.
[0068]
The present invention also includes a storage medium storing a program executed by the CPU for executing the same processing as the Internet facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment. Furthermore, the present invention is also applicable to a personal computer that is connected to a scanner and includes a network communication unit and executes a program stored in the storage medium.
[0070]
【The invention's effect】
Book According to the invention, when the input data from the panel is only numbers, it is determined that the input data is the fax number of the final destination of the relay, Input data In For relay machine Adding a domain name Succession Since the email address is generated, the user Without entering all relay email addresses You can request a relay.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a network in which an Internet facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention operates.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing IFAX hardware according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing functions of IFAX according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an IFAX control unit of IFAX according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an IFAX panel according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing functions of a panel control unit of IFAX according to the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing each process of e-mail transmission in IFAX according to the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing steps for registering a default domain name in IFAX according to the embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Internet facsimile machine (IFAX)
2 LAN
3 Internet
18 panels
400 IFAX control unit
500 Panel control unit
601 Input data analysis unit
602 judgment unit
603 Default domain addition part
605 Repeater address adding unit
607 Default domain registration part
608 Repeater address registration section

Claims (2)

A panel having a plurality of buttons, a memory for storing the domain name for the relay station, and a determination unit that determines that the input data is a fax destination final destination number when the input data from the panel is only a number when the determination unit generates a medium-mail address for splicing by adding the repeater for the domain name of the input data to the input data when it is determined that the FAX number of the final destination of the relay repeater address adding unit When, Internet facsimile apparatus characterized by comprising: a mailer unit to send an e-mail to the in email address for splicing destined. The input data If the input data from the panel is only numbers determines the FAX number of the final destination of the relay, to generate a medium-mail address for splicing by adding a domain name for repeater to the input data, the address input control method characterized by sending a medium mail address for relay to the signal unit sending e-mail.

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