JP3684077B2 - COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND ITS CONTROL METHOD, COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND ITS CONTROL METHOD, COMPUTER-READABLE MEMORY - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication system that transmits and receives image data between a first communication device and a second communication device via a network, a control method thereof, a communication device, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable memory.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some conventional communication apparatuses transmit or receive image data as an attached file of an e-mail.
[0003]
In this case, the transmission side reads the image data in an e-mail format, for example, MH (modified Huffman) -encoded image data converted into an ASCII character string using the BASE64 method and converted into an ASCII character string (TIFF-F format). Create in the message body. The electronic mail to which the image data created in this way is attached is sent to a desired destination via some mail servers.
[0004]
On the other hand, on the receiving side, the attached image data is extracted from an e-mail by a procedure reverse to that at the time of transmission, and is printed out from a printer, for example.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above conventional method of attaching image data to an e-mail has a possibility that the data size of the e-mail becomes very large, and the load on the mail server also becomes large. In addition, when a plurality of destinations are designated, the load is further increased, which has a problem of adversely affecting other mail transfer processes. Furthermore, depending on the setting of the mail server through which the mail passes, there may be a case where the transfer is not accepted.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can reduce the load on a server on a network and efficiently execute image data transfer, a control method therefor, and a computer-readable memory. The purpose is to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a communication system according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A communication system for transmitting and receiving image data between a first communication device and a second communication device via a network,
The first communication device is
A first server connected to the network and managing transfer of image data on the network;
A second server connected to the network for managing image data;
Calculating means for calculating a data size of image data to be transmitted of the second communication device;
Based on the data size calculated by the calculating means, the first server or the first server and the second server are used to transmit an e-mail attached with the image data to the second communication device. Means and the second communication device include:
Receiving means for receiving an e-mail from the first communication device;
Determining means for determining whether image data is attached to the e-mail received by the receiving means;
If it is determined by the determination means that image data is attached to the e-mail, analysis means for analyzing location information indicating a resource in which the image data is managed;
Obtaining means for obtaining the image data from a resource on the network indicated by the location information analyzed by the analyzing means.
[0008]
Preferably, when the data size of the image data to be transmitted is less than a predetermined value as a result of the calculation by the calculation unit, the transmission unit sends an e-mail attached with the image data via the first server. To the second communication device.
[0009]
Preferably, when the data size of the image data to be transmitted is equal to or larger than a predetermined value as a result of the calculation by the calculating means, the transmitting means transmits the image data to the second server to send the second data An e-mail managed by the server and added with location information indicating a resource for managing the image data is transmitted to the second communication device via the first server.
[0010]
In order to achieve the above object, a control method for a communication system according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A control method for a communication system for transmitting and receiving image data between a first communication device and a second communication device via a network,
A calculation step of calculating a data size of image data to be transmitted by the second communication device;
Based on the data size calculated in the calculating step, the second communication is performed using the first server that manages the transfer of the image data on the network, or the first server and the second server that manages the image data. A transmission step of transmitting an e-mail attached with the image data to a device, and a receiving step of receiving an e-mail from the first communication device;
A determination step of determining whether image data is attached to the email received in the reception step;
When it is determined that the image data is attached to the email in the determination step, an analysis step of analyzing location information indicating a resource in which the image data is managed;
An acquisition step of acquiring the image data from the resources on the network indicated by the location information analyzed in the analysis step.
[0011]
In order to achieve the above object, a computer readable memory according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A computer-readable memory storing a program code for controlling a communication system that transmits and receives image data between a first communication device and a second communication device via a network,
A program code of a calculation step of calculating a data size of image data to be transmitted of the second communication device;
Based on the data size calculated in the calculating step, the second communication is performed using the first server that manages the transfer of the image data on the network, or the first server and the second server that manages the image data. A program code of a transmission step of transmitting an e-mail attached with the image data to a device, and a program code of a reception step of receiving an e-mail from the first communication device;
A program code of a determination step for determining whether image data is attached to the email received in the reception step;
When it is determined that the image data is attached to the email in the determination step, the program code of the analysis step for analyzing the location information indicating the resource in which the image data is managed;
Program code of an acquisition step of acquiring the image data from the resource on the network indicated by the location information analyzed in the analysis step.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, a communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A communication device that transmits and receives image data to and from another communication device via a network,
A first server connected to the network and managing transfer of image data on the network;
A second server connected to the network for managing image data;
Calculating means for calculating the data size of the image data to be transmitted;
And a transmission unit configured to transmit the image data to either the first server or the second server based on the data size calculated by the calculation unit.
[0013]
Preferably, the first server is an e-mail server, and the second server is a WWW server,
When the data size calculated by the calculating means is less than a predetermined value, an e-mail attached with the image data is transmitted to the e-mail server. When the data size is greater than a predetermined value, the image data is sent to the WWW server. Send.
[0014]
Preferably, the transmission means includes generation means for generating an e-mail to which location information indicating a resource of the image data is added when the image data is transmitted to the WWW server.
The electronic mail generated by the generating means is transmitted to the electronic mail server.
In order to achieve the above object, a communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A communication device that transmits and receives image data to and from another communication device via a network,
Receiving means for receiving e-mail;
Determining means for determining whether image data is attached to the e-mail received by the receiving means;
If it is determined by the determination means that image data is attached to the e-mail, analysis means for analyzing location information indicating a resource in which the image data is managed;
Acquisition means for acquiring the image data from resources on the network indicated by the location information analyzed by the analysis means.
[0015]
In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling a communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A control method for a communication device that transmits and receives image data to and from another communication device via a network,
A calculation step of calculating the data size of the image data to be transmitted;
A transmission step of transmitting the image data to either the first server that manages the transfer of the image data on the network or the second server that manages the image data based on the data size calculated in the calculation step With.
[0016]
In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling a communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A control method for a communication device that transmits and receives image data to and from another communication device via a network,
A receiving process for receiving e-mail;
A determination step of determining whether image data is attached to the email received in the reception step;
When it is determined that the image data is attached to the email in the determination step, an analysis step of analyzing location information indicating a resource in which the image data is managed;
An acquisition step of acquiring the image data from a resource on the network indicated by the location information analyzed in the analysis step.
[0017]
In order to achieve the above object, a computer readable memory according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A computer readable memory storing a program code for controlling a communication device that transmits and receives image data to and from another communication device via a network,
A program code of a calculation process for calculating the data size of the image data to be transmitted;
A transmission step of transmitting the image data to either the first server that manages the transfer of the image data on the network or the second server that manages the image data based on the data size calculated in the calculation step Program code.
[0018]
In order to achieve the above object, a computer readable memory according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A computer readable memory storing a program code for controlling a communication device that transmits and receives image data to and from another communication device via a network,
A program code of a receiving process for receiving an e-mail; and
A program code of a determination step for determining whether image data is attached to the email received in the reception step;
When it is determined that the image data is attached to the email in the determination step, the program code of the analysis step for analyzing the location information indicating the resource in which the image data is managed;
Program code of an acquisition step of acquiring the image data from a resource on the network indicated by the location information analyzed in the analysis step.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a CPU which controls the entire apparatus. A ROM 102 stores various programs such as a control program for the CPU 101. Reference numeral 103 denotes a RAM which stores various data such as program control variables and is used as a data work area. An image memory 104 is constituted by a DRAM or the like and stores image data. An image reading unit 105 includes an image sensor, a document transport mechanism, and the like, and optically reads a document image and converts it into electrical image data.
[0022]
Reference numeral 106 denotes an operation panel, which includes a display unit for notifying the user of display using an LCD, an LED, and the like, keys for executing various operations, and the like. An image recording unit 107 records received image data and file data on a recording medium. Reference numeral 108 denotes a LAN interface, which performs control for connecting this apparatus to the LAN. An image format conversion unit 109 converts various formats of image data. An e-mail format conversion unit 110 converts text data and image data into e-mail format data. Reference numeral 111 denotes an e-mail format analysis unit which analyzes the contents of e-mail format data. Reference numeral 112 denotes a bus that interconnects the various components.
[0023]
Next, a network system including the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system including the communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0025]
Reference numerals 201 and 202 denote communication apparatuses 1 and 2 each including the communication apparatus of FIG. 1 described above, and are connected to LANs 207 and 208, respectively. Reference numerals 203 and 205 denote e-mail servers, which provide e-mail distribution services to communication devices in the same LAN, a PC (personal computer) (not shown), and a WS (workstation) (not shown). Reference numeral 204 denotes a WWW server that transfers data uploaded from a terminal in the same LAN in response to a request from a partner to which the data is connected using the HTTP protocol. Reference numeral 206 denotes the Internet, which connects the LAN 207 and the LAN 208 to each other.
[0026]
The LANs 207 and 208 are each connected to the Internet 206 via a router device (not shown), but may be configured to be directly connected by a dedicated line or the like.
[0027]
Next, transmission / reception processing executed by the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0028]
Here, a case where an e-mail attached with image data is transmitted from the communication apparatus 1 to the communication apparatus 2 will be described as an example.
[0029]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a transmission process executed by the communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0030]
First, when a document is set on the image reading unit 105, a transmission destination address of the document is input from the operation panel 106, and when it is detected that a transmission operation start instruction is issued by a transmission start button or the like, the image reading unit 105 receives an image memory. The image data is transferred to 104 (step S101). Next, the image format conversion unit 109 converts the image data stored as raw data (image data in which one pixel corresponds to one bit) into an MH (Modified Huffman) code (step S102).
[0031]
This MH code is a compression code method used in a facsimile apparatus used in a conventional telephone line, and is a method suitable for compressing binary image data. Of course, other code systems such as MR, MMR, JBIG, and TIFF-F used in various communication apparatuses may be used.
[0032]
Next, the data size of the encoded data obtained after encoding all the documents set in the image reading unit 105 is obtained. The obtained data size is compared with a preset setting value (a limit value of the amount of image data to be transmitted) (step S103). This set value can be set arbitrarily, but it must be within the allowable range of all e-mail servers through which the e-mail to be sent passes. In addition, when it is necessary to further convert the format when sending by e-mail, it is necessary to decide in consideration of the increase or decrease of the data amount at this time.
[0033]
In step S103, when the obtained data size is less than the set value (YES in step S103), the encoded data is converted into an e-mail format by the e-mail format conversion unit 110 (step S104). Then, the destination information and the like are attached to the e-mail and transferred to the e-mail server 205 (step S105).
[0034]
On the other hand, if the obtained data size is equal to or larger than the set value in step S103 (NO in step S103), the image data read by the image reading unit 105 is converted into the GIF format by the image format conversion unit 109 (step S106). . The GIF format is a standard format for image data on the Internet 206, and is usually supported by most information browsing application software. Of course, other image formats such as JPEG format may be used.
[0035]
A unique file name is assigned to the image data converted into the GIF format, and the image data is transferred under a predetermined directory (resource) of the WWW server 204 using the FTP protocol (step S107). At this time, security-related information such as a password may be exchanged as necessary. At this time, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the image data transferred to the directory of the WWW server 204 is determined. A URL is a unique address for information on the Internet 206. For example, the name of the WWW server 204 is “www.server1.co.jp”, the directory is dir1, and the image data is gazo1. In the case of gif, the URL of this image data is “http://www.server1.co.jp/dir1/gazou1.gif”.
[0036]
Next, the e-mail format conversion unit 110 converts the URL into text format as text data (step S108). Then, the destination information is attached to the e-mail and transferred to the e-mail server 205 (step S109).
[0037]
Next, reception processing executed by the communication apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0038]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a reception process executed by the communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0039]
First, it connects to the e-mail server 205 (step S201). Next, the electronic mail server 205 is inquired about the presence or absence of an electronic mail message addressed to its own apparatus (step S202). If there is no e-mail addressed to the own apparatus (NO in step S202), the process is terminated. On the other hand, if there is an e-mail addressed to the own apparatus (YES in step S202), the e-mail message 205 is requested to be transferred to the e-mail server 205 (step S203). Next, an electronic mail is acquired according to the request (step S204).
[0040]
Next, the e-mail format analysis unit 111 determines whether there is image data attached to the e-mail (step S205). For this determination, for example, in the case of an electronic mail compliant with MIME (Internet message standard (RFC1521, 1522)) (RFC: Request for comment), first, the Content-Type header field is referred to. If the image type indicated by the Content-Type header field obtained by the reference is an image type that can be processed by the own device (YES in step S205), the attached image data is extracted and the image format is extracted. The data is converted into raw data by the conversion unit 109 (step S206). The converted image data is printed out by the image recording unit 107 (step S207).
[0041]
On the other hand, if there is no image data attached to the e-mail in step S205 (NO in step S205), the presence / absence of a URL indicating image data is determined from the text data portion of the e-mail (step S208). If there is no URL (NO in step S208), the process ends. On the other hand, if there is a URL (YES in step S209), connection is made to the WWW server 204 indicated by the URL (step S209). Next, the image data indicated by the URL is acquired by the HTTP protocol (step S210). Next, the acquired image data is converted into raw image data by the image format converter 109 (step S211). The converted image data is printed out by the image recording unit 107 (step S212).
[0042]
In the above-described embodiment, the acquired image data is printed out. However, the image data may be displayed on a display.
[0043]
As described above, according to the present invention, when transmitting image data having a large data size that is inconvenient for transmission via an email server, the image data is attached to the email server and transmitted. Instead, the image data is registered so as to be managed by the WWW server. Then, a URL indicating the registered location (resource) is transmitted to the other party by electronic mail. As a result, the load on the email server is reduced, and the image data can be transmitted to the transmission partner without being limited by the capabilities and limitations of the email server, and the operation is also equivalent to the operator. No special operation is required.
[0044]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even if it is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). You may apply.
[0045]
Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for implementing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the.
[0046]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0047]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0048]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0049]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication system, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable memory capable of reducing the load on a server on the network and efficiently transferring image data.
[0051]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system including a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a transmission process executed by the communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a reception process executed by the communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 Image Memory 105 Image Reading Unit 106 Operation Panel 107 Image Recording Unit 108 LAN Interface 109 Image Format Conversion Unit 110 Email Format Conversion Unit 111 Email Format Analysis Unit

Claims (9)

A communication system for transmitting and receiving image data between a first communication device and a second communication device via a network,
The first communication device is
A first server connected to the network and managing transfer of image data on the network;
A second server connected to the network for managing image data;
Calculating means for calculating a data size of image data to be transmitted of the second communication device;
Conversion means for converting the image data into a predetermined format based on the data size calculated by the calculation means;
As a result of calculation by the calculation means,
a) When the data size of the image data to be transmitted is less than a predetermined value, an e-mail attached with the image data is transmitted to the second communication device via the first server,
b) When the data size of the image data to be transmitted is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the image data converted into a predetermined format by the converting means is transmitted to the second server and managed by the second server, Transmitting means for transmitting an e-mail with location information indicating a resource for managing image data to the second communication device via the first server ;
The second communication device is
Receiving means for receiving an e-mail from the first communication device;
Determining means for determining whether or not location information indicating a resource for managing image data is added to the e-mail received by the receiving means;
If it is determined by the determination means that location information indicating a resource for managing image data is added to the e-mail, an analysis means for analyzing the location information indicating the resource for which the image data is managed;
An acquisition unit that acquires the image data from a resource on the network indicated by the location information analyzed by the analysis unit. The predetermined format is a standard format corresponding to software for browsing information on the Internet.
The communication system according to claim 1. A control method for a communication system for transmitting and receiving image data between a first communication device and a second communication device via a network,
A calculation step of calculating a data size of image data to be transmitted by the second communication device;
A conversion step of converting the image data into a predetermined format based on the data size calculated in the calculation step;
As a result of the calculation step,
a) When the data size of the image data to be transmitted is less than a predetermined value, an e-mail attached with the image data is transmitted to the second communication device via the first server,
b) When the data size of the image data to be transmitted is a predetermined value or more, the image data converted into a predetermined format in the conversion step is transmitted to the second server and managed by the second server, A transmission step of transmitting an e-mail with location information indicating a resource in which image data is managed to the second communication device via the first server ;
A receiving step of receiving an e-mail from the first communication device;
A determination step of determining whether or not location information indicating a resource for managing image data is added to the email received in the reception step;
When it is determined that location information indicating a resource in which image data is managed is added to the e-mail in the determination step, an analysis step of analyzing location information indicating a resource in which the image data is managed;
An acquisition step of acquiring the image data from the resource on the network indicated by the location information analyzed in the analysis step. The predetermined format is a standard format corresponding to software for browsing information on the Internet.
The communication system control method according to claim 3. A computer-readable memory storing a program code for controlling a communication system that transmits and receives image data between a first communication device and a second communication device via a network,
A program code of a calculation step of calculating a data size of image data to be transmitted of the second communication device;
Based on the data size calculated in the calculation step, the program code of the conversion step for converting the image data into a predetermined format,
As a result of the calculation step,
a) When the data size of the image data to be transmitted is less than a predetermined value, an e-mail attached with the image data is transmitted to the second communication device via the first server,
b) When the data size of the image data to be transmitted is a predetermined value or more, the image data converted into a predetermined format in the conversion step is transmitted to the second server and managed by the second server, A program code of a transmitting step of transmitting an e-mail with location information indicating a resource in which image data is managed to the second communication device via the first server ;
A program code of a receiving step for receiving an e-mail from the first communication device;
A program code of a determination step for determining whether or not location information indicating a resource for managing image data is added to the email received in the reception step;
The program code of the analysis step for analyzing the location information indicating the resource in which the image data is managed when it is determined that the location information indicating the resource in which the image data is managed is added to the e-mail in the determination step When,
A computer readable memory comprising: an acquisition step program code for acquiring the image data from a resource on the network indicated by the location information analyzed in the analysis step. A communication device that transmits and receives image data to and from another communication device via a network,
A first server connected to the network and managing transfer of image data on the network;
A second server connected to the network for managing image data;
Calculating means for calculating the data size of the image data to be transmitted;
Conversion means for converting the image data into a predetermined format based on the data size calculated by the calculation means;
As a result of calculation by the calculation means,
a) When the data size of the image data to be transmitted is less than a predetermined value, an e-mail attached with the image data is transmitted to the second communication device via the first server,
b) When the data size of the image data to be transmitted is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the image data converted into a predetermined format by the converting means is transmitted to the second server and managed by the second server, A communication apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit an electronic mail to which location information indicating a resource in which image data is managed is added to the second communication apparatus via the first server . The predetermined format is a standard format corresponding to software for browsing information on the Internet.
The communication apparatus according to claim 6. The first server is an email server, and the second server is a WWW server;
When the data size calculated by the calculating means is less than a predetermined value, an e-mail attached with the image data is transmitted to the e-mail server. When the data size is equal to or larger than the predetermined value , the converting means has a predetermined format. The communication apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the image data converted into is transmitted to the WWW server. The transmission means includes generation means for generating an e-mail to which location information indicating a resource of the image data is added when the image data is transmitted to the WWW server,
The communication apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the electronic mail generated by the generation unit is transmitted to the electronic mail server.

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