JP3551719B2 - Communication terminal device with e-mail function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication terminal device with an e-mail function such as a facsimile device having a function of connecting to an e-mail.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a computer communication network that 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 (connection company to the computer communication network).
[0003]
Since the communication procedure and communication method of the conventional G3 facsimile apparatus are different from those of the computer communication network, it cannot be directly connected to the 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.
[0004]
When a facsimile machine equipped with an e-mail communication function receives mail, it accesses the network and stores the transmitted mail in the hard disk of the mail server. Check your mailbox and download any available email.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when the mailbox is checked, for example, the data following the mail header includes the character code of the subject (title) of the mail, and the character code including the code for identifying itself is included. If it is detected that the mail is returned from the network due to unknown destination, the original must be read again in order to resend the unreachable mail (Returned Mail).
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the transmitted mail is stored in a mailbox including its own address as a destination , and is used for resending undelivered mail. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device with an e-mail function such as a facsimile device which does not require the original to be read again for resending the mail.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
E-mail function-equipped communication terminal apparatus of the present invention is a communication terminal device having an electronic mail communication function, and a facsimile communication function, and means for specifying, including its destination in the mail address to send, its destination a mail is delivered to send specified to the and means for transmitting the transmitted mail and mail Rume over mailbox to store identification information of the email, and detecting means for undeliverable mail in said mailbox, comparing means for comparing the identification information identifying information and the mailbox undelivered mail the undelivered mail detecting unit detects that stores, when the result of comparison by the comparing means matches the mailbox storage characterized by comprising a transmitting means for causing retransmission of email you are.
[0010]
According to the present invention , when transmitting an e-mail, for example, the user designates his / her own address as the destination of the carbon copy, distributes the transmitted e-mail to his / her own mailbox, and saves it in the mailbox as original data for retransmission / transfer. .
Therefore, the memory of the device can be saved.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus with an e-mail function according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the present apparatus). In the embodiment of the present invention, the Internet is used as a computer communication network.
The main control unit 1 not only controls the hardware units of the facsimile apparatus through the bus, but also encodes the image data of the original by an encoding method such as MH, MR, MMR, etc. based on the software stored in the ROM 6. Alternatively, software such as communication procedures including encoding / decoding to be decoded, image (TIFF) conversion, binary text conversion, mail editing, modem switching, control of RS232C by AT commands, and the like to be described later are executed.
[0012]
As will be described later, the main control unit 1 logs in to the network using the user's login ID and password, checks the mailbox, and, if it finds Returned Mail, stores the transmitted mail for retransmission / forwarding for a predetermined time. It is checked based on the Subject whether or not the Returned Mail document data is stored in the image memory 8 to be stored or as a mail addressed to itself in a network mailbox. If the document data is stored, The original data is resent by e-mail communication or facsimile communication.
[0013]
In image conversion, at the time of transmission, G3 format image data is converted into TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) which is a general image format used in a computer, and at the time of reception, TIFF is converted into G3 format image data. . 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, full color, and the like. CLASS F, which is one of them, defines G3 format image data, which is image data of a document obtained by encoding image data of a document by an encoding method such as MH, MR, or MMR. Therefore, the image data can be converted to TIFF by adding TIFF header information of CLASS F to the head of the G3 format image data.
[0014]
In binary / text conversion, binary data is converted into text data at the time of transmission, and text data is converted into 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 so that the e-mail reaches the destination, the data is temporarily converted to text data. Text data handled on the Internet is defined as a 7-bit code in RFC (Request For Comments) 822, which is a document issued by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force).
[0015]
Therefore, conversion is performed by using base64 of MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) or the like. According to this, the 6-bit binary data is replaced with one of 64 characters (upper and lower case alphabets, numbers, +, /) and can be converted to text data. MIME is specified in RFC1521, etc.
[0016]
In the mail editing, at the time of transmission, mail header information is added to the TIFF image data converted to text data to edit it into an e-mail format, and at the time of reception, the mail header information is removed from the e-mail format data and converted to text data Only the extracted TIFF image data is taken out. Since it is specified that predetermined header information is added to electronic mail on the Internet as electronic mail management information, at the time of transmission, “From: (user's Internet e-mail address) ), "To: (Internet e-mail address of the other party)", "Subject: (in this example, login user ID, 4-digit serial number, page number)".
After "Cc: (carbon copy)", a destination to which the same mail is transmitted can be specified in addition to the original destination specified by "To:".
[0017]
The reading unit 2 reads a document by a CCD or the like and outputs image data of a black and white binary document. The recording unit 3 includes an electrophotographic printer or the like, and prints out image data of a document received from another G3 facsimile apparatus or the Internet.
The display unit 4 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and displays an operation state of the facsimile apparatus and image data of a document.
In this embodiment, the titles or destinations of the mails stored in the image memory 8 or the mailbox are displayed in a list on the LCD, and the user is allowed to select the mail to be resent / forwarded from the list.
[0018]
The operation unit 5 includes ten keys, speed dial keys, one-touch dial keys, various function keys, and the like necessary for operating the facsimile machine.
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.
[0019]
As will be described later, when the user's own mail address is designated as the destination of the carbon copy, and the outgoing mail is stored in the mailbox of the network for resending / forwarding, the subject, date, and destination address of the outgoing mail are stored in the RAM 7. Is provided.
Further, the RAM 7 is provided with a table in which a facsimile number of a transmission destination can be registered in association with a mail destination.
[0020]
The image memory 8 is formed of a DRAM or the like, and the main control unit 1 transmits, for example, when its own address is specified after “Cc:” of the mail, or when the facsimile number is registered in association with the address. When sending an e-mail to the destination, original data including the Subject, date and time, and destination address of the transmitted e-mail are sent for retransmission when a Returned Mail is found in the mailbox or for transfer to another destination of the same e-mail. , For a preset time. At this time, the facsimile number registered in the table of the RAM 7 in association with the destination is stored in the image memory 8 together with the original data. Alternatively, the facsimile number may be read from the correspondence table between the mail address and the facsimile number with reference to the destination address stored in the RAM 7 and retransmitted.
[0021]
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 for communicating 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.
The NCU 11 closes and opens the analog line.
[0022]
Next, the operation of the apparatus of the present invention when checking a mailbox will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the mailbox is checked and a Returned Mail is detected (step S1), it is determined whether or not the original data for retransmission / transfer is stored in the DRAM (image memory 8) (step S2). If it is stored, the subject of the original document included in the mail body following the header of the Returned Mail is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 7 (step S3), and the subject is stored in the DRAM as the original data of the document data stored in the DRAM. Compare with the Subject (Step S4).
[0023]
If a matching Subject exists, it is determined whether or not the facsimile number of the destination is registered, that is, whether or not the facsimile number is stored in the image memory 8 together with the original data (step S5). If not, the document data in the image memory 8 is retransmitted as a mail (step S6).
If the facsimile number has been registered, it is highly probable that the cause of the “Returned Mail” is an incorrect destination, so the process shifts to the process of retransmitting the document data in the image memory 8 by the facsimile procedure (step S7). .
If the original data is retransmitted in step S7 or S8, for example, a message such as "Retransmission has been completed for" Subject: xxxx "" is printed (step S8) or displayed.
[0024]
If the result of the determination in step S2 indicates that the original data for retransmission / transfer is not stored in the DRAM, or the result of the determination in step S5 that the original data of the matching Subject is not stored in the DRAM, the Returned Mail is set. Download and print out (step S9), and notify the user of the existence of the Returned Mail. The user causes the apparatus to read the original document of the non-delivery mail again, and retransmits the original by mail communication or facsimile communication.
When the resending or printing out of the mail is completed, a command to delete the Returned Mail of the mailbox is sent to the network (step S10).
[0025]
Next, an operation at the time of mail transmission when original data for mail retransmission / transfer is stored in the DRAM and an operation of retransmitting / transferring the mail using the same will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. I do.
When the user enters a user number (step S11), designates a destination by one-touch key designation, direct entry of characters, etc. (step S12), and presses a start key (step S13), the user's mail address is carbon copied. It is determined whether the destination is designated as (Cc) (step S14).
[0026]
If Cc has been designated, a request is made for character input of the title of the document (step S15), and the document data stored in the image memory 8 is transmitted by mail to a destination other than the Cc designation (step S16).
If the user's e-mail address is designated as Cc, the original data is not deleted from the image memory 8 but is stored for a predetermined period of time even after the e-mail is transmitted (step S17).
On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S14 indicates that the user's mail address has not been designated as Cc, the document data in the image memory 8 is mailed to all the specified destinations (step S18), and the document data is transferred to the image memory. 8 (step S19).
[0027]
As described above, the original data for resending / forwarding is stored in the image memory 8 at the time of sending an e-mail, and when resending a Returned Mail or transferring the same e-mail to another destination, the user sends the e-mail. When the mode is entered (step S21) and a user number is input (step S22), it is determined whether or not a document is set on the document table (step S23).
[0028]
When the original is not set, the title (or destination) of the original data stored in the image memory 8 is displayed on the LCD of the display unit 4 in a list, and the user designates a number from the list to specify the title. Selects the mail to be resent / forwarded (step S24). Since the cause of the Returned Mail is often an error in the destination, the user is allowed to specify the destination of the mail by directly inputting characters or the like (step S25), and when the user presses the start key, the mail transmission is started (step S26). ).
[0029]
On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S23 is that a document is set, normal transmission is performed, so the process proceeds to step S25, where the user specifies the destination of the e-mail by specifying one-touch keys, directly inputting characters, or the like. (Step S25) When the start key is pressed, mail transmission is started (Step S26).
[0030]
Next, an operation at the time of mail transmission when original data for resending / forwarding a mail is stored in a mailbox on a network, and an operation of resending / forwarding a mail using the same are shown in flowcharts of FIGS. It will be described based on the following.
When the user inputs the user number (step S31), specifies the destination by one-touch key specification, direct input of characters, etc. (step S32), and presses the start key, the user's mail address is changed to the carbon copy (Cc). It is determined whether or not the destination is specified (step S33).
[0031]
If Cc has been designated, a request is made for character input of the title of the document (step S34), and the subject of the transmitted mail is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 7 (step S35). Thereafter, the document data in the image memory 8 is transmitted to all designated destinations by mail (step S36), and the document data in the image memory 8 is deleted.
On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S33 is that the user's mail address has not been designated as Cc, the document data in the image memory 8 is sent to all designated destinations by mail (step S36), and the document data is transferred to the image memory. Erase from 8.
[0032]
As described above, the same mail is designated by specifying its own mail address at the time of mail transmission so that the original data for retransmission / transfer is stored in the mailbox of the network so that the same mail is delivered. When the user resends or forwards the same mail to another destination, the user shifts to the mail transmission mode (step S41), enters a user number (step S42), and determines whether or not a document is set on the platen. It is determined (step S43).
[0033]
When the original is not set, the list of the subjects stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 7 is displayed on the LCD of the display unit 4 and the user designates the number by the number in the list display, and the user retransmits / transfers. An e-mail to be selected is selected (step S44).
Since the cause of the Returned Mail is often an error in the destination, the user is allowed to specify the destination of the e-mail by directly inputting characters or the like (step S45), and when the user presses the start key (step S46), the selection is made in step S44. A mail of the subject matching the subject obtained is retrieved from the network mailbox (step S47).
[0034]
It is checked whether the corresponding mail in the mailbox is a missing page or an undelivered mail (step S48). If the received mail is not a missing page or undelivered mail, this mail is downloaded from the network (step S49). A mail is transmitted to the destination specified in S45.
On the other hand, as a result of the check in step S48, if the corresponding mail is a missing page or an unreachable mail, an error is displayed (step S50), or the process is ended after printing.
[0035]
If the result of determination in step S43 is that a document is set, normal transmission is performed, so the user specifies the destination of the mail by specifying one-touch keys, directly inputting characters, etc. (step S52), and starting. When the key is pressed (step S53), mail transmission is started (step S51).
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
When transmitting a mail , the communication terminal device with an e-mail function of the present invention designates its own destination, for example, as a destination of the carbon copy, distributes the transmitted mail to its own mailbox, and transmits the original data for retransmission / transfer. Is stored in the mailbox, so that the user does not need to read the original again for retransmission of the non-delivery mail, and has an excellent effect that the memory of the apparatus can be saved .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an operation of the device of the present invention when checking a mailbox.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart (stored in an image memory) of an operation of the device of the present invention at the time of transmitting a mail.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation of the device of the present invention at the time of mail retransmission / transfer using mail stored according to the procedure of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart (save in a mailbox) of an operation of the device of the present invention at the time of sending a mail.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an operation of the apparatus of the present invention at the time of resending and transferring mail using the mail stored according to the procedure of FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main control part 2 Reading part 3 Recording part 5 Operation part 6 ROM
7 RAM
10 Data modem 12 External I / F

Claims (1)

In a communication terminal device having an e-mail communication function and a facsimile communication function,
Means for specifying the destination of the mail to be sent , including its own address ,
Means for transmitting an e-mail to a mailbox that stores the transmitted e-mail and identification information of the e-mail , which is a distribution destination of the e-mail transmitted by designating its own destination ;
And detection means of undelivered mail in the mail box,
Comparing means for comparing the identification information which the undelivered mail identification information the undelivered mail detecting unit detects mailbox is stored,
A transmission unit for resending the mail stored in the mailbox when the comparison result by the comparison unit matches, a communication terminal device with an e-mail function.

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