JPH10326237A - Communication terminal device with electronic mail function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a device which can have a variety of mail addresses and allows a user to easily graphs which function that a key has is effective at the time of operation by switching a key where a mail address is registered for character input, for example, with a specific key. SOLUTION: When a key where a mail address is registered is operated, the registered mail address can be specified. With, for example, the specific key, the key for specifying registered mail address is switched for character input and the mail address can be specified by inputting characters directly. In this device, a main control part 1 accepts the registration of a mail address, etc., with a one-touch key and stores it in a RAM 7. When a mail address is specified for mail transmission, it is determined whether input data of the one-touch key are characters or the mail address, etc., previously registered for the key according to whether a dial option key is pressed or not.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device having an electronic mail function such as a facsimile device having a function of connecting to an electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a computer communication network which connects a local computer communication network with a communication line and distributes e-mail via a networked Internet or the like has become widespread. The computer communication network has an excellent error correction function and can communicate with computers not only in Japan but also abroad simply by paying the communication cost to the nearest provider (a connection company to the computer communication network).

[0003] The communication procedure and communication system of the conventional G3 facsimile apparatus are different from those of the computer communication network.
Cannot directly connect to computer communication network. However, even image data such as a transmission original can be transmitted to a computer communication network by converting the image data into an electronic mail format.

When transmitting image data converted into an electronic mail format to such a computer communication network, the destination of the electronic mail can be specified by, for example, "aaaa@bbbb.c
o.jp ", a user name (aaaa), a @ mark, and a domain name (bbbb.co.jp) for specifying a network group to which this user belongs are input and designated.

[0005] The communication terminal device is generally provided with keys called speed dials and one-touch keys.
By registering the facsimile number in advance as a speed dial or a one-touch key so that the other party can be called with a small number of key inputs, it is possible to save the trouble of input and to avoid input errors.

[0006]

By the way, since a mail address includes characters and symbols in addition to numbers, characters and symbols are used for registration to one-touch keys or designation of a destination by directly inputting a mail address. And other input keys are required. On the other hand, in order to reduce the size of the device, it is necessary to minimize the number of keys.
One-touch keys for registering facsimile numbers are also used for inputting characters, symbols, and the like. However, if one key has a plurality of functions, it is difficult for the user to know which function of the key is valid at the time of operation.

Further, in the conventional facsimile machine, one mail address is registered in one one-touch key in principle. For example, when sending a mail to a plurality of destinations in broadcast transmission, many one-touch keys are operated. Therefore, it is necessary to specify the broadcast transmission destination, and the specification is complicated. Furthermore, the operation of inputting a mail address having a large number of digits is complicated, and an input error is likely to occur.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and for example, by using a predetermined key,
By switching the key in which the e-mail address is registered for character input, or by switching the key for facsimile number input to e-mail address input, and by enabling registration of a plurality of destinations for one key, Furthermore, by enabling the specification of a mail address by editing the displayed character string, various destinations can be specified, and the user can determine which of the plurality of functions of the key is valid at the time of operation. It is easy to grasp, and it is possible to specify multiple e-mail addresses as broadcast destinations with one key operation, which is easy to operate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device having an e-mail function with excellent operability that greatly reduces the number of communication terminals.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal device having an electronic mail function having an electronic mail communication function and capable of designating a transmission destination by operating a key in which a mail address is registered. A means for switching the key for character input, and a means for determining whether designation by operation of the key is based on a registered mail address or a character input mail address based on whether or not the means is switched. It is characterized by having.

A communication terminal device with an e-mail function according to the first invention enables designation of a registered mail address by operating a key in which a mail address is registered. The key for address specification is switched to character input, and the mail address can be specified by directly inputting characters. Thus, while various mail addresses can be specified, it is easy for the user to grasp whether the key is used for specifying a registered mail address or for inputting characters at the time of operation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal device having an electronic mail function, comprising: a communication terminal device having a facsimile communication function and an electronic mail communication function; Means for determining whether the input by operating the key is a facsimile number input or a mail address input based on the presence or absence of the switching.

A communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to a second aspect of the present invention enables designation of a facsimile number with a key for facsimile number input, and a key for facsimile number input for e-mail address input with a predetermined key, for example. To make it possible to specify a mail address. As a result, various destinations can be designated, and at the time of operation, the user can easily recognize whether the key is for facsimile number input or mail address input.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or second aspect, the communication terminal device with an e-mail function further comprises means for receiving registration of a plurality of e-mail addresses for one key, and a transmission destination by one operation of the key. Means for accepting the designation as a designation of a plurality of e-mail addresses registered for the key as broadcast destinations.

The communication terminal device with an e-mail function of the third invention accepts registration of a plurality of mail addresses for one key, and broadcasts the plurality of mail addresses registered for this key by one key operation. Accept as designation as destination. Thereby, a plurality of e-mail addresses can be designated as a broadcast destination by one key operation, and the operation is simple.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal device having a function of storing a character string, and displaying the character string to edit the character string. Receiving means for receiving a result of editing the character string as designation of a mail address.

A communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to a fourth aspect of the present invention displays a character string, accepts editing such as adding a character to a space of the character string, updating or deleting a character, and transmitting the edited result to a mail address. Accept as specified. As a result, a mail address having a large number of digits can be designated with a small number of inputs, and the occurrence of input errors is greatly reduced.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus with an e-mail function according to the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as the present invention apparatus). In the embodiment of the present invention, the Internet is used as a computer communication network. The main control unit 1 controls not only the hardware units of the facsimile apparatus through the bus, but also
Based on the software stored in the ROM 6, the image data of the original is encoded or decoded by an encoding method such as MH, MR, MMR or the like.
F) Execute software such as communication procedures including conversion, binary / text conversion, mail editing, modem switching, control of RS232C by AT commands, and the like.

The main control unit 1 has a one-touch key
Alternatively, the registration of a plurality of e-mail addresses and facsimile numbers is accepted and stored in the RAM 7, and as described later,
Depending on whether or not the dial option key is pressed in the specification of the mail address and facsimile number at the time of mail transmission, the input data by the one-touch key is a character such as an alphabet, a symbol or the like, or is registered in advance for the key. It is determined whether the input mail address or the facsimile number is present, and whether the input data by the ten keys or the one-touch key is the facsimile number or the Run software to determine if there is.

Further, as will be described later, the main control unit 1 provides a mail address for assisting an input operation of specifying a mail address by direct input from a one-touch key or a ten-key, not based on a mail address registered in the one-touch key. A character string such as "@" or "Co.JP" that is frequently used is displayed on the display as the default character string of the e-mail address, and the displayed character string and the displayed character string are edited using the ten keys and one-touch keys. Run the software that accepts the result as the email address specification.

In image conversion, G3 format image data is converted into TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) which is a general image format used in a computer at the time of transmission, and is converted from TIFF to G3 format image data at the time of reception. Convert to TIFF is published by Adobe Systems, and defines various Classes that handle not only black and white binary but also black and white multi-valued and full color. One of them, CLASS F, defines G3 format image data, which is image data of a manuscript in which image data of the manuscript is encoded by an encoding method such as MH, MR, or MMR. Therefore,
It can be converted to TIFF by adding TIFF header information of CLASS F to the head of G3 format image data.

In the binary text conversion, binary data is converted to text data at the time of transmission, and text data is converted to binary data at the time of reception. There are computers on the Internet that cannot handle binary data e-mail. When transmitting binary data such as TIFF image data, the data is first converted to text data so that the e-mail reaches the destination. Text data handled on the Internet
It is defined as a 7-bit code in RFC (Request For Comments) 822, a document issued by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force).

Therefore, MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mai)
l Extensions) is converted using base64 etc. According to this, 6-bit binary data is 64 characters (uppercase, lowercase alphabet, numbers, +, /)
And can be converted to text data. MIME is specified in RFC1521.

In the mail editing, at the time of transmission, mail header information is added to the TIFF image data converted into text data to edit the data into an e-mail format. At the time of reception, the mail header information is removed from the e-mail format data, Extracts only TIFF image data converted to data. Since it is specified that predetermined header information is added to e-mail on the Internet as e-mail management information, the "From: (user's Internet e-mail address) ) ”,“ To: (Internet e-mail address of the other party) ”,“ Subject: (title) ”, etc.

The reading section 2 reads an original by using a CCD or the like and outputs image data of a black and white binary original. The recording unit 3 includes an electrophotographic printer or the like, and records image data of a document received from another G3 facsimile apparatus or the Internet.

The display unit 4 includes a liquid crystal display and the like.
The operation state of the facsimile apparatus and the image data of the document are displayed. The operation unit 5 includes ten keys, one-touch keys, various function keys, and the like necessary for operating the facsimile machine.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of the display of the display unit 4 and the key arrangement of the operation unit 5. The cursor key and the cancel key (CANCEL) are keys used when editing a default character string displayed on the display and directly inputting a mail address. Start key (STA
RT) and a stop key (STOP) are keys for instructing start / stop of communication.

The enter key (ENTER) is a key for switching between a mode for specifying a facsimile number and a mode for specifying a mail address each time the key is pressed. Dial option key (OPTION)
Is a key for switching the input mode using the numeric keypad and one-touch key to the direct input mode of the mail address, and the broadcast key (GROUP) is a key for terminating the direct input mode.

The one-touch keys are key groups 1 to 30 which are switched between a direct input mode for alphabets and symbols and a mode for designating a pre-registered mail address and facsimile number depending on whether or not a dial option key is pressed. And a group of programmable keys (P1 to P6) 31 to 36 in which a plurality of e-mail addresses and facsimile numbers are registered for the keys in order to designate a broadcast transmission destination by one key operation.

The ROM 6 stores software necessary for the operation of the facsimile machine. The RAM 7 is composed of an SRAM, a flash memory, or the like, and stores temporary data generated when executing software. The RAM 7 stores a facsimile number registered in the one-touch key, a mail address, a register for storing a broadcast transmission destination, and a default character string to be displayed on a display to assist in the work of registering the mail address. It has a register. Note that the default character string is registered in advance as a character string that is expected to be frequently used as an e-mail address, and a character string frequently used for an input e-mail address is extracted by a learning function. And may be stored in a register.

The image memory 8 is composed of a DRAM or the like, and stores image data of a document. The modem 9 is a modem for performing facsimile communication of image data of a document read by the reading unit 2 and has no data communication function. The data modem 10 is, for example, a modem for data communication that communicates image data of a document converted into an electronic mail via the Internet, and includes, for example, an external telephone terminal provided on a chip of the NCU 11 and a telephone. And a serial port of an external I / F 12 for connection to a personal computer or the like, and an RS232C connection. NCU
11 closes and opens the analog line.

Next, the operation of the device of the present invention at the time of transmission will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The user is requested to input a user code assigned to each of a plurality of users who are permitted to use the facsimile machine (step S1). When the user code is input, one of the one-touch key groups 1 to 30 is input. It is checked whether or not has been pressed (step S2). If none of the keys 1 to 30 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S4. If any key is pressed, the pressed key (for example, “A”)
The mail address (ABC.JP) registered in advance is displayed on the display and the designation as the transmission destination is accepted (step S3).

Next, it is checked whether or not any of the one-touch programmable key groups 31 to 36 has been pressed (step S4). If none of the programmable keys 31 to 36 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S6. When one of the keys is pressed, a plurality of mail addresses (XYZ.JP, MN) registered in advance for the pressed key (for example, P1)
X.JP, BBB.JP) are displayed on the display, and the designation as a broadcast destination is accepted (step S5).

It is checked whether or not the dial option key has been pressed (step S6), and if not, the flow shifts to step S11. If it is pressed, it shifts to the direct input mode of the e-mail address, and the default character string (for example, “+ @ .Co.JP ") is displayed on the display (step S7). In this example, a sign" + "is added to the beginning of the character string to indicate that the mode is the direct input mode.

In this embodiment, an example in which a default character string is automatically displayed when a dial option key is pressed has been described. A character string is registered, and if the dial option key is only pressed, the entire character string is directly input, and if the one-touch key is pressed in addition to the dial option key, it is registered A default character string may be displayed to assist the input operation of the mail address.

The user is requested to edit the default character string displayed on the display, such as inputting and deleting characters using a one-touch key, a numeric keypad, a cursor key, and a cancel key (step S8). The editing result is accepted as the specification of the e-mail address (step S9). It is checked whether or not the broadcast key has been pressed (step S10). If the broadcast key has not been pressed, a default character string is displayed on the display and the user is requested to directly input the next mail address (step S7).
・ S8).

If the broadcast key has been pressed, the direct input mode is terminated, and it is checked whether the enter key has been pressed (step S11). If the enter key has not been pressed, the process returns to step S2, where another registered mail address is designated by the one-touch key, and another mail address is directly input by switching with the dial option key (steps S2 to S10).

If the enter key is pressed, the user is requested to directly input a facsimile number using the numeric keypad and to specify a registered facsimile number using the one-touch key (step S12). It is checked whether or not the enter key has been pressed again (step S13), and if it has been pressed, the facsimile number designation / input mode is terminated and the process returns to step S2, where another registered mail address is designated by the one-touch key. Then, the mode shifts to a mode of direct input of another mail address by switching with the dial option key.

If the enter key has not been pressed, it is checked whether the start key has been pressed (step S14).
If not pressed, the user is requested to input a facsimile number using the numeric keypad and one-touch key (step S1).
2). If the start key has been pressed, mail transmission and facsimile transmission are performed to the specified destination (step S15).
).

[0039]

According to the communication terminal device with the electronic mail function of the first invention, the key in which the mail address is registered is switched to the character input by, for example, a predetermined key, so that various mail addresses can be designated. This provides an excellent effect that the user can easily grasp whether the key is used for specifying a registered mail address or for inputting a character at the time of operation.

The communication terminal device with the electronic mail function of the second invention switches the key for inputting the facsimile number to the input for the mail address using, for example, a predetermined key. There is an excellent effect that the user can easily recognize whether the key is for facsimile number input or mail address input at the time.

The communication terminal device with an e-mail function of the third invention enables registration of a plurality of destinations for one key, so that a plurality of mail addresses can be designated as a broadcast destination by one key operation. It has an excellent effect that operation is easy.

The communication terminal device with an e-mail function of the fourth invention enables designation of a mail address by editing a displayed character string, so that a mail address having a large number of digits can be specified with a small number of inputs and an input mistake can be made. It has an excellent effect of greatly reducing the occurrence.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a display unit and a key arrangement of an operation unit of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation at the time of transmission of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation at the time of transmission of the device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main control unit 4 Display unit 5 Operation unit 6 ROM 7 RAM 10 Data modem 12 External I / F

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A communication terminal device having an electronic mail communication function and capable of specifying a destination by operating a key in which a mail address is registered, means for switching the key for character input, and switching of the means Means for determining whether designation by operation of the key is based on a registered mail address or a mail address entered by a character based on the presence or absence of the key. 2. A communication terminal device having a facsimile communication function and an e-mail communication function, comprising: means for switching a key for inputting a facsimile number for inputting a mail address; and operating the key based on whether or not the means is switched. Means for determining whether the input by the user is a facsimile number input or a mail address input. 3. A means for accepting registration of a plurality of mail addresses for one key, designation of a transmission destination by one operation of the key, and transmission of a plurality of mail addresses registered for the key. 3. The communication terminal device with an e-mail function according to claim 1, further comprising: means for accepting the designation as a destination. 4. A system comprising: means for storing a character string; means for displaying the character string to accept editing of the character string; and means for receiving the result of editing the character string as designation of a mail address. The communication terminal device with an e-mail function according to 1 or 3.