JPH10322509A - Portable facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide portable facsimile equipment which performs transmission/ reception of electronic mail data and reception of home page data and can output the contents of electronic mail data and home page data. SOLUTION: The electronic mail data are received from an electronic mail server through a digital interface 101, the received data are stored in a RAM 103, and the stored data are outputted by a printer 106. Besides, the digital interface 101 transfers the stored data through a communication path to any arbitrary connected equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving electronic mail data and receiving homepage data via a communication path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional portable terminal inputs and transmits e-mail data from a keyboard, receives e-mail data, and displays the contents thereof on an LCD (Liquid Crystals).
talDisplay), which is used to send and receive e-mail data from a destination or the like. HTML (Hyper Tex)
It is used in such a manner that homepage data described by “t Markup Language” is received and its contents are displayed on an LCD device, so that the homepage can be viewed from an outside place or the like.

[0003]

However, in the conventional portable terminal, since the display screen of the LCD device is small and the printer is not provided, it is easy to see the contents of e-mail data and the like having a large data amount. Was not. Therefore,
It is conceivable to use a portable facsimile apparatus which can print on paper and is portable for receiving e-mail data and the like.

[0004] However, in a conventional portable facsimile apparatus, it is possible to read an image on the surface of paper and transmit it as facsimile data, or receive and print facsimile data on paper. Cannot be used for sending and receiving e-mail data and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a portable facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving electronic mail data and receiving homepage data, and outputting the contents of electronic mail data and homepage data. With the goal.

[0006]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving apparatus for receiving e-mail data from an e-mail server via a communication line, and holding the e-mail data. Storage means, output means for outputting the contents of the e-mail data held in the storage means, connected to an arbitrary device via a communication path, and transferring the e-mail data held in the storage means to the device And a transfer means for performing the transfer.

[0007] With this configuration, the e-mail data is received by the receiving means, and the contents are output by the output means. Therefore, the e-mail data can be received and the contents thereof can be known even when going out. The transmitted e-mail data can be transferred to any device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided image input means for reading an image to generate image data, header data for specifying an e-mail transmission destination, and text data. Input means for inputting data, e-mail data generating means for generating e-mail data composed of header data and text data input by the input means, and image data generated by the image input means; And a transmission unit connected to a mail server via a communication path and transmitting the e-mail data generated by the e-mail data generation unit to the mail server.

With this configuration, e-mail data including the header data and text data input by the input means and the image data generated by the image input means is generated by the e-mail data generation means, and transmitted by the transmission means. Therefore, the electronic mail data including the image data can be transmitted from a destination or the like.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the e-mail data received from the mail server is text data, the output means converts the text data into a bitmap format. And print it.

With this configuration, when the received e-mail data is text data, the contents are converted into a bitmap format and printed, so that the contents of the e-mail having a large data amount can be easily read even when going out. You can see.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the output means includes data other than header data, text data, and image data in the e-mail data received from the mail server. If it is, a configuration to indicate that fact is adopted.

With this configuration, if the received e-mail data contains data other than header data, text data, and image data, for example, audio data, it is possible to know that fact.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the transfer means includes data other than header data, text data, and image data in the e-mail data received from the mail server. If the e-mail data has been sent, the electronic mail data is transferred to the designated address.

With this configuration, if the received e-mail data contains data other than header data, text data, and image data, for example, audio data, binary data, etc., the data is transferred to the specified address. The content is not lost, and the content can be retrieved again later.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input means for inputting URL data and WWW via a communication path.
U connected to the server and entered by the input means
Transmitting means for transmitting RL data to a WWW server, and a UR connected to a WWW server via a communication path;
Receiving means for receiving HTML data specified by the L data from a WWW server, image data generating means for generating image data based on the HTML data received by the receiving means, and image data generated by the image data generating means And printing means for printing an image based on the image data.

With this configuration, the home page data specified by the URL data input by the input unit is received by the receiving unit, and the content is printed by the printing unit, so that the home page can be viewed even when going out. .

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portable facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, this portable facsimile apparatus includes a digital interface 101, a ROM (Read Only Me
memory) 102, RAM (Random Accesses)
s Memory) 103, operation unit 104, display unit 10
5, a printer 106, a scanner 107, and a control unit 108 interconnected by a bus.

The digital interface 101 is a device for transmitting and receiving data to and from other facsimile machines, computers and the like via a public telephone line. The digital interface 101 includes a receiving unit, a transferring unit,
And transmission means.

The ROM 102 is a memory that holds programs and the like that are processed by the control unit 108.

The RAM 103 is a memory used for storing received e-mail data and for working the control unit 108. The RAM 103 corresponds to a storage unit.

The operation unit 104 is a device for the user to input e-mail reception instruction data, e-mail transmission instruction data, print instruction data, and the like. This operation unit 104
Corresponds to the input means.

The display unit 105 is constituted by a liquid crystal display or the like, and is a device for displaying characters, images and the like in accordance with instructions from the control unit 108.

The printer 106 is a device for printing characters, images, and the like according to instructions from the control unit 108.
The printer 106 and the display unit 105 correspond to an output unit. Further, the printer 106 corresponds to a printing unit.

The scanner 107 reads a character, image, or the like on the surface of an object such as paper in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 108, and reads a TIFF (Tagged Image File F).
or the like to generate image data such as image data and transmit the image data to a bus. The scanner 107 corresponds to an image input unit.

The control unit 108 comprises a CPU or the like, instructs the scanner 107 to read an image, instructs the printer 106 to print, instructs the display unit 105 to display a screen, and
1 is instructed to transmit data. The control unit 108
Receives image data from the scanner 107, receives input data from the operation unit 104, and receives received data via the digital interface 101. Further, the control unit 108 processes image data received from the scanner 107, processes data input from the operation unit 104,
The received data received from the digital interface 101 is processed. Further, the control unit 108 controls the operation unit 10
A process for generating e-mail data from the data received from the scanner 4 and the image data received from the scanner 107 is performed. Further, the control unit 108 performs a process of generating image data based on the HTML data received from the digital interface 101. This control unit 108
It corresponds to an e-mail data generation unit and an image data generation unit.

Next, the system configuration of the other party to which the portable facsimile machine transmits and receives data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a destination to which the portable facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention transmits and receives data.

In FIG. 2, the partner system is LA
N (Domain Name S) interconnected by N (Local Area Network)
service) server 201 and a PC (Persona)
l Computer) 202 and mail server 203
Internet facsimile machine 204 and PPP
(Point to Point Protocol)
It comprises a server 205 and a modem 206 connected to the LAN via the PPP server 205. Further, the Internet facsimile machine 204 and the modem 206 are respectively connected to public telephone lines. Furthermore,
The LAN is connected to the Internet and an in-house network via a router. On the other hand, the mobile phone 20
7 is connected to the above system by wireless.

Next, the operation of transmitting e-mail data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an e-mail data transmission operation in the control unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

When receiving the instruction data for transmitting the e-mail data from the operation unit 104, the control unit 108 starts the control shown in FIG.

First, the control unit 108 receives, from the operation unit 104, e-mail address data for specifying the transmission destination input by the user. Then, the control unit 108 sets the e-mail address data as header data (S
301).

Next, the control unit 108 receives, from the operation unit 104, either selection data or character data for selecting a fixed phrase input by the user. Then, if the received data is the selection data, the control unit 108 outputs the fixed form data corresponding to the selection data to the RO.
The data is read from M102 to be the mail text data. If the received data is character data, the control unit 108 sets the character data as mail body data (S302).

Next, the control unit 108 instructs the scanner 107 to read an image, and receives image data from the scanner 107. Then, the control unit 108 sets this image data as attached data (S303). The control unit 108 generates e-mail data from the data received as described above.

Next, the control unit 108 controls the PPP server 20
5 to the digital interface 101 to make a connection by PPP, and instruct the digital interface 101 to call the telephone number of the PPP server 205, and make a call using the mobile phone (S30).
4). Then, the control unit 108 waits for connection with the PPP server 205 (S305).

Next, the control unit 108 waits for the user to press the start key and to receive the instruction data for starting the transmission of the electronic mail data (S306). When the transmission instruction data is input from the user in this manner, the control unit 1
08 communicates with the PPP server 205 and It waits for connection by the 42 protocol (S307).

Next, the control unit 108 controls the PPP server 20
5 and wait for connection by PPP (S308).

Further, the control unit 108 controls the mail server and the P
It waits for connection by OP (Post Office Protocol) (S309).

As described above, P with the mail server 203
When the connection by the OP is made, the control unit 108
The e-mail data including the header data obtained in Step 1, the mail body data obtained in Step S302, and the attached data obtained in Step S303 is transmitted to the mail server (Step S31).
0). After that, the control unit 108 ends the processing.

Next, the operation of receiving e-mail data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an e-mail data receiving operation in the control unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Upon receiving the instruction data for receiving the e-mail data from the operation unit 104, the control unit 108 starts the control shown in FIG.

First, the control unit 108 controls the mail server 20
In order to establish a POP connection with the third party, the digital interface 101 is instructed to call the telephone number of the PPP server 205, and the call is made by the mobile phone (S40).
1). Then, the control unit 108 waits for connection to the PPP server 205 by PPP (S402). Further, the control unit 108 waits for a connection by the POP to the mail server 203 (S403).

As described above, P with the mail server 203
When the connection is established by the OP, the control unit 108 receives data indicating the number of electronic mail data from the mail server 203 (S404). The control unit 108 determines whether the number of e-mail data obtained in this way is one or more (S405).

Then, if there is one or more e-mail data, control unit 108 shifts the processing to S406, and if there is no e-mail data, ends the processing. If there is one or more e-mail data, the control unit 108 receives the e-mail data from the mail server 203 (S40).
6).

Next, the control unit 108 determines whether or not the attached data exists in the e-mail data received in S406 (S407). Then, if the attached data exists, the processing is performed to further check the contents thereof in S408.
Otherwise, the process ends. If the attached data exists, the control unit 108 determines that the attached data is
It is determined whether the data is FF data (S408). If the data is TIFF data, the control unit 108 shifts the processing to S409. Otherwise, the display unit 105 indicates that data other than TIFF data exists as attached data.
Is displayed, and the process ends.

When the control unit 108 determines that the TIFF data is attached as attached data by the above processing, the control unit 108 writes the TIFF data into the RAM 103 (S409). After that, the control unit 108 ends the processing.

The control unit 108 can also transfer the received e-mail data to an arbitrary transfer destination by inputting transfer instruction data from the operation unit 104 after the processing of S 409 is completed.

Next, the operation of receiving and printing homepage data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a homepage data reception and printing operation in the control unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Upon receiving the instruction data for receiving the homepage data from the operation unit 104, the control unit 108
The control shown in FIG. 5 is started.

First, the control unit 108 controls the digital interface 101 to connect to the homepage server.
Is instructed to call the telephone number of the PPP server 205 (S501). Then, the control unit 108
The connection with the PP server 205 is made (S502). PPP
When the connection with the server 205 is made, the control unit 108
The user waits for the start key to be pressed and the instruction data to start receiving the homepage data to come from the operation unit 104 (S503). Upon receiving the instruction data to start receiving the homepage data, the control unit 108
Communicates with the PPP server 205 It waits for connection by the 42 protocol (S504). Further, the control unit 108
Waits for a connection by the PPP to the PPP server 205 (S505).

When the PPP connection with the PPP server 205 is established by the above processing, the control unit 108 transmits a URL (Uniform) from the user via the operation unit 104.
Resource Locator data is received (S506). When receiving the URL data from the user, the control unit 108 transmits the received URL data to the WW
The data is transmitted to a W (World Wide Web) server (S507). Then, the control unit 108 receives the homepage data specified by the URL data from the WWW server (S508).

Next, the control unit 108 waits for the user to press the print key and input instruction data for printing the contents of the homepage data (S509).
When the print instruction data is received in this manner, the control unit 108
Directs the printer 106 to print an image based on the received homepage data (S510). After that, the control unit 108 ends the processing.

Next, a display example displayed on the display unit at the time of connection with the mail server will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example when the mail server is connected to the display unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

When the connection to the mail server is started according to the connection instruction data from the user, the display unit 105 displays characters prompting the input of a login name, a password, and a user name.

Further, when the user inputs the data of the login name and the user name, the input login name and the user name are displayed on the display unit 105 (FIGS. 6A and 6B). . When the password is input, “*” is displayed on the display unit 105 (FIG. 6C).

Next, a display example displayed on the display unit when mail data is received will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example when receiving mail data on the display unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

When the reception of the electronic mail data is started by the input of the instruction data from the user, the display unit 105 displays
A character string indicating that the mail is being received is displayed (FIG. 7A). If there is no e-mail data, a character string indicating that there is no e-mail data is displayed on the display unit 105 (FIG. 7B). On the other hand, when there is one or more e-mail data, a character string indicating the number is displayed (FIG. 7C). Then, the content of the e-mail is displayed on the display unit 105 (FIG. 7D).

Next, a display example displayed on the display unit when homepage data is received will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example when receiving homepage data on the display unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, a character string of a URL input by the user is displayed on the display unit 105 (FIG. 8A). Subsequently, a character string indicating that it is being connected to the WWW server specified by the URL is displayed on the display unit 105 (FIG. 8B). When the connection is completed, a character string indicating that is displayed on the display unit 105 (FIG. 8).
(C)). Further, when the print key is pressed after the homepage data reception is completed, a character string indicating that the contents of the homepage is being printed is displayed on the display unit 105 (FIG. 8D).

As described above, according to the portable facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, an electronic mail including image data can be transmitted and received, and the received electronic mail data is transferred to another arbitrary apparatus. You can also. Also,
Upon receiving the homepage data, an image based on the homepage data can be printed.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, while sending and receiving electronic mail data including image data,
The contents of the e-mail data can be output. Also, if the received e-mail data contains an attached file other than the image data, it is transferred to the designated address, so that its contents are not lost and can be retrieved again later. Further, the homepage data can be received and the image can be printed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portable facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a destination to which the portable facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention transmits and receives data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an e-mail data transmission operation in the control unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an e-mail data receiving operation in the control unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a homepage data reception and printing operation in the control unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing a display example when a mail server is connected to a display unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view showing a display example when receiving mail data on the display unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view showing a display example when receiving homepage data on the display unit of the portable facsimile apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Digital Interface 102 ROM 103 RAM 104 Operation Unit 105 Display Unit 106 Printer 107 Scanner 108 Control Unit 203 Mail Server 204 Internet Facsimile Machine 205 PPP Server 206 Modem 207 Mobile Phone 208 Mobile FAX

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/21 H04L 11/20 101B 1/32

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A receiving means for receiving e-mail data from an e-mail server via a communication line, a storage means for holding the received e-mail data, and a content of the e-mail data stored in the storage means. A portable facsimile machine comprising: an output unit for outputting; and a transfer unit connected to an arbitrary device via a communication path and transferring the electronic mail data held in the storage unit to the device. 2. An image input means for reading an image to generate image data, an input means for inputting header data for specifying an e-mail destination, and text data, and an input means for inputting the text data. E-mail data generating means for generating e-mail data comprising the header data and the text data thus obtained and the image data generated by the image input means; and a mail server connected via a communication path to the e-mail data. 2. The portable facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the electronic mail data generated by the generation unit to the mail server. 3. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein when the e-mail data received from the mail server is text data, the output means converts the text data into a bitmap format and prints the data. Facsimile machine. 4. An output means for displaying, when the e-mail data received from the mail server includes data other than header data, text data, and image data, that fact. The portable facsimile apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The transfer means transfers the e-mail data to a designated address when the e-mail data received from the mail server includes data other than header data, text data, and image data. The portable facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 6. An input unit for inputting URL data, a transmission unit connected to a WWW server via a communication path, and transmitting the URL data input by the input unit to the WWW server, and a communication path. H is connected to a WWW server via a URL and specified by the URL data.
Receiving means for receiving TML data from a WWW server; image data generating means for generating image data based on HTML data received by the receiving means;
A printing unit for printing an image based on the image data generated by the image data generating unit.