JP3937724B2 - Document processing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a document processing method and apparatus, and more particularly to a document processing method and apparatus in an Internet fax capable of communicating information over both the Internet and a telephone line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the rapid expansion of the Internet, Internet fax machines have been seen from the viewpoint of reducing communication costs.
[0003]
Among the functions of the Internet fax machine, there is a function of facsimile transfer of documents such as electronic mail received from the Internet.
[0004]
This function is designed to allow data suitable for facsimile communication to be communicated over the Internet. According to this function,
(1) Fax and e-mail can be processed centrally.
(2) An economical and efficient system network can be realized, such as a significant reduction in communication costs.
[0005]
Incidentally, documents (files) of various formats can be attached to an e-mail and transmitted. For this reason, Internet fax machines also develop attached files in various formats and perform printout or facsimile transmission.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Now, in order to expand a document attached to an e-mail, application software corresponding to the format of the document is required. However, the format of the document is diverse, and it is practically impossible to prepare application software corresponding to all formats.
[0007]
In addition, application software is frequently upgraded, and the file format is often changed by this version upgrade, which makes it difficult to cope with it.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a document processing method and apparatus capable of handling documents in various formats without installing a lot of application software in an Internet fax machine.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 is the Internet fax document processing method which is connected to the Internet at least and has a function of transmitting / receiving e-mail and a function of receiving e-mail confidentially. When an e-mail attached with an unprocessable file format document is received, the e-mail is transferred to the conversion server. The conversion server receives the e-mail transferred from the Internet fax for confidential reception. If there is, the document attached to the e-mail is converted into a predetermined file format, and the converted document is attached to an e-mail for confidential reception and returned to the Internet fax. .
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document processing apparatus used by an Internet fax machine that is connected to the Internet and has at least a function for sending and receiving e-mails and a function for receiving e-mails confidentially. Communication means for sending and receiving electronic mail over a network, conversion means for converting a document attached to an electronic mail received from the Internet fax by the communication means into a predetermined file format, and transferred from the Internet fax When the electronic mail is for confidential reception, the electronic mail is provided with a return means for attaching the document converted by the conversion means to the confidential reception electronic mail and returning it to the Internet fax from the communication means. And
[0034]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a document processing method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0035]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a document processing system to which the present invention is applied.
As shown in the figure, this document processing system is configured by connecting a file conversion center 1 and an Internet FAX 2 via the Internet 10.
[0036]
The file conversion center 1 provides a service for processing a document in a file format that cannot be processed by the Internet FAX 2, and the Internet FAX 2 is used when a document in a file format that cannot be processed is attached to the received e-mail. Sends the document to the file conversion center 1 and requests conversion to a processable file format.
[0037]
Although the details will be described later, the main configuration of the file conversion center 1 is a file conversion server responsible for file conversion. Accordingly, the Internet FAX 2 does not necessarily need to be connected to the file conversion center 1 via the Internet 10, and a configuration may be adopted in which a file conversion server is installed in a LAN to which the Internet FAX 2 is connected to perform the same service. .
[0038]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the file conversion center 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the Internet FAX 2.
[0039]
The file conversion center 1 includes a GW (gateway) 11, a mail server 12, a conversion server 13, a log DB (database) 14, and a file DB 15, which are connected via a LAN 16. Each of these units may be configured by the same device (computer), and may be further differentiated (for example, the mail server 12 is divided into a mail transmission server and a mail reception server). As a matter of course, the GW 11 may include a firewall function, and another device may be connected to the LAN 16.
[0040]
Internet FAX 2 includes CPU 21 and RAM 22, operation display device 23, reading device 24, printing device 25, image processing device 26, image storage device 27, system control unit 28, communication control unit 29, modem 30, line switching device 31, network The apparatus includes a control device 32, a network control unit 33, a network I / F (interface) 34, and a system bus 35.
[0041]
The CPU 21 performs various control processes for the entire Internet FAX 2, and the RAM 22 is used as a work area for the CPU 21.
[0042]
Note that the control processing program executed by the CPU 21 and various data necessary for executing the control processing program are stored in the system control unit 28.
[0043]
The operation display device 23 is for operating the Internet FAX 2 and includes various operation keys and various displays. The reading device 24 is for reading a transmission original image with a predetermined resolution, and the printing device 25 is for recording and outputting an image with a predetermined resolution.
[0044]
The image processing device 26 encodes and compresses the image signal, and decodes and decompresses the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. In addition to this, processing such as development of a document attached to an e-mail is also performed.
[0045]
The image storage device 27 stores many image data and documents attached to e-mails. In addition, it also has a confidential box (a storage area accessible only to users who have rights) that stores these memories for each user.
[0046]
The communication control unit 29 is a part for controlling communication suitable for the public switched telephone network, and the network control unit 33 is a part for controlling communication connected to the network.
[0047]
The modem 30 includes a low-speed mode function and a high-speed mode function, and is configured to be compatible with various transmission speeds. The network I / F 34 is an interface for connecting to a LAN. The line switching control device 31 connects a plurality of external line interfaces and a plurality of internal communication circuits.
[0048]
Each component is connected to the system bus 35, and data exchange between these components is mainly performed via the system bus 35.
[0049]
Here, the operation when the Internet FAX 2 receives an e-mail will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow when the Internet FAX 2 receives an e-mail.
[0050]
The Internet FAX 2 accesses a mail server (not shown) (connected to the LAN to which the apparatus is connected or connected to the Internet 10) to check whether an electronic mail addressed to the apparatus is present (NO in Step 101 and Step 102). ). Note that this is not the case when the Internet FAX 2 includes a function as a mail server.
[0051]
If there is an e-mail addressed to the device (YES in step 102), the Internet FAX 2 confirms the presence or absence of an attached document, and if there is an attached document (YES in step 103), confirms the file type (format) ( Step 104).
[0052]
As a result, if the attached document is a file that cannot be processed (step 105), the document is transferred to the file conversion center 1 by electronic mail (step 106).
[0053]
On the other hand, the Internet FAX 2 prints or faxes when there is no attached document in the received e-mail (NO in step 103), or when the attached document can be processed (YES in step 105). Is transmitted (step 107).
[0054]
In the transfer process in step 106, certificate information that proves the identity of S / MIME or the like is attached to the electronic mail to be transferred, or the electronic mail and the attached document are encrypted as necessary. The certificate information is attached when it is necessary to prove the identity based on a contract with the file conversion center 1. The encryption process may be performed on all e-mails and attached documents. However, the encryption process may be performed and transferred only when the received e-mail has been encrypted.
[0055]
Further, when the received mail is a confidential mail addressed to a specific user (which should be stored in the confidential box), it can be set not to transfer to the file conversion center 1.
[0056]
Next, the operation of the file conversion center 1 (conversion server 13) will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the conversion server 13.
[0057]
When the mail server 12 receives the e-mail, the conversion server 13 acquires the received mail, acquires mail information such as a header (step 201), and acquires an attached document (step 202).
[0058]
Subsequently, the format of the acquired attached document is confirmed, and the file is converted into a format designated in advance (step 203). The file format designated in advance is a format determined by a contract with a person who manages Internet FAX 2, and is a file format that can be processed by Internet FAX 2. Since the contractor may specify different file formats, the conversion server 13 confirms the sender of the e-mail from the mail information acquired in step 201 and determines the file format.
[0059]
When the conversion of the file format is completed, the conversion server 13 creates an e-mail for returning the document converted to the Internet FAX 2 based on the mail information acquired in step 201 (step 204). The electronic mail is returned (step 205). This return e-mail is created so that the e-mail information acquired in step 201 includes the information used by the Internet FAX 2 for processing. An example of information used for processing by the Internet FAX 2 is information indicating that the original e-mail is a confidential mail for a specific user (stored in a confidential box), and this is used as a return e-mail. By including it, the Internet FAX 2 that has received the return e-mail can store the converted document in the confidential box.
[0060]
In the Internet FAX 2 that receives this e-mail, a document in a file format that can be processed is attached to the e-mail. Therefore, processing is performed in the order of steps 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, and 107 described above. The document is printed or transmitted by facsimile.
[0061]
By the way, the conversion server 13 records various information at the time of processing such as file conversion in the log DB 14 as a log. The recorded contents are, for example, the processing date and time, the address of the transmission source (Internet FAX 2), the type of the converted file, the file size, etc., as shown in FIG.
[0062]
Based on the log recorded here, the file conversion service is charged. As a charging method, there are a method based on the size of the converted file, a method based on the number of converted files, a method based on the type of the converted file, and the like. In addition to this, charging may be performed at a fixed amount every predetermined period, and may be performed regardless of the content of the actual conversion.
[0063]
In addition, the file conversion center 1 may execute the file conversion for free or at a discounted price using an advertisement or the like.
[0064]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the conversion server 13 when an advertisement is used.
[0065]
When the mail server 12 receives the electronic mail, the conversion server 13 acquires the received mail, acquires mail information such as a header (step 301), and acquires an attached document (step 302).
[0066]
Subsequently, the format of the acquired attached document is confirmed, and the file is converted into a format designated in advance (step 303). The file format designated in advance is a format determined by a contract with a person who manages Internet FAX 2, and is a file format that can be processed by Internet FAX 2. This file format may be specified differently by the contractor, so the conversion server 13 confirms the sender of the e-mail from the mail information acquired in step 301 and determines the file format.
[0067]
When the conversion of the file format is completed, the conversion server 13 creates an e-mail for returning the document converted to the Internet FAX 2 based on the e-mail information acquired in step 301 (step 304). Is attached (step 305). The advertisement to be attached may be the text of an e-mail or an attached document.
[0068]
Then, the electronic mail with the advertisement attached is returned via the mail server 12 (step 306).
[0069]
By the way, as described above, the Internet FAX 2 sometimes attaches certificate information that proves its identity to an electronic mail transferred to the file conversion center 1. Therefore, the operation of the file conversion server 13 in this case will be described. Further, in the above description, the case where the encryption process is performed on the e-mail to be transferred has been described. However, the encryption process itself is not different from the conventional technique, and thus the description is omitted.
[0070]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the conversion server 13 when certificate information is attached.
[0071]
When the mail server 12 receives the e-mail, the conversion server 13 acquires the received mail, acquires mail information such as a header (step 401), and confirms the certificate information (step 402).
[0072]
If the identity is confirmed as a result of the confirmation and it is determined that the mail is from the Internet FAX 2 contracted in advance (YES in Step 403), an attached document is acquired (Step 404).
[0073]
Subsequently, the format of the acquired attached document is confirmed, and the file is converted into a format designated in advance (step 405). The file format designated in advance is a format determined by a contract with a person who manages Internet FAX 2, and is a file format that can be processed by Internet FAX 2. This file format may be specified differently by the contractor, so the conversion server 13 confirms the sender of the e-mail from the mail information acquired in step 401 and determines the file format.
[0074]
When the conversion of the file format is completed, the conversion server 13 creates an e-mail for returning the document converted to the Internet FAX 2 based on the mail information acquired in step 401 (step 406), and the document is attached. The electronic mail is returned via the mail server 12 (step 407).
[0075]
On the other hand, if the identity cannot be confirmed based on the certificate information, or if it is determined that the email is from a person other than the contractor (NO in step 403), the subsequent processing is not performed.
[0076]
The file conversion center 1 provides conversion of the file format as a service. The file conversion center 1 stores the converted document or the document before conversion in the file DB 15 and also provides a service that responds to a retransmission request from the Internet FAX 2. be able to. In this case, an identification number for identifying the document is assigned to the e-mail that returns the converted document, and the document is stored in the file DB 15 in association with the identification number.
[0077]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the conversion server 13 when there is a document retransmission request.
[0078]
When the mail server 12 receives the e-mail, the conversion server 13 acquires the received mail and acquires mail information such as a header (step 501).
[0079]
If the electronic mail is a request for resending a document (YES in step 502), the specified document is searched from the file DB 15 based on the identification information included in the mail information acquired in step 501 ( Step 503).
[0080]
Subsequently, the retrieved document is acquired, and the format of the acquired document is confirmed. If the document is stored in a file format other than the format specified in advance, the file format is converted (step 504).
[0081]
When the conversion of the file format is completed, the conversion server 13 creates an e-mail for returning the (converted) document to the Internet FAX 2 based on the mail information acquired in step 501 (step 505). The attached electronic mail is returned via the mail server 12 (step 506).
[0082]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when an unprocessable file format document is attached to an e-mail received by Internet FAX, the document is transferred to the file conversion center, and the file conversion center Since it is configured so as to be converted into a desired file format and sent back to the Internet FAX, documents of various file formats can be handled without preparing a large number of application software on the Internet FAX side.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a document processing system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a file conversion center 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the Internet FAX 2;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow when the Internet FAX 2 receives an e-mail.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the conversion server 13;
6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a log recorded in a log DB 14. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation of the conversion server 13 when an advertisement is used.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the conversion server 13 when certificate information is attached.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation of the conversion server 13 when there is a document retransmission request.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 File conversion center 2 Internet FAX
10 Internet 11 GW (Gateway) 11
12 Mail server 13 Conversion server 14 Log DB
15 File DB
16 LAN
21 CPU
22 RAM
23 Operation display device 24 Reading device 25 Printing device 26 Image processing device 27 Image storage device 28 System control unit 29 Communication control unit 30 Modem 31 Line switching device 32 Network control device 33 Network control unit 34 Network I / F
35 System Bus

Claims (2)

In an Internet fax document processing method that is connected to the Internet at least and has a function of sending and receiving e-mails and a function of receiving e-mails confidentially,
When the Internet fax receives an e-mail attached with a document in an unprocessable file format, the e-mail is transferred to the conversion server,
When the electronic mail transferred from the Internet fax is for confidential reception, the conversion server converts the document attached to the electronic mail into a predetermined file format and receives the converted document in confidential reception. A document processing method comprising: attaching to an e-mail for use and returning to the Internet fax. In a document processing apparatus used by an Internet fax machine that is connected to at least the Internet and has a function of sending and receiving e-mails and a function of receiving e-mails confidentially,
Communication means for sending and receiving e-mail to and from the Internet fax via a network;
Conversion means for converting a document attached to an e-mail received from the Internet fax by the communication means into a predetermined file format;
If the electronic mail transferred from the Internet fax is for confidential reception, a return means for attaching the document converted by the conversion means to the confidential reception electronic mail and returning it from the communication means to the Internet fax And a document processing apparatus.

Images