JP5312635B2 - E-mail communication apparatus, e-mail communication method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic mail communication apparatus, an electronic mail communication method, and a program for receiving electronic data transmitted as an attachment to an electronic mail and processing the electronic data.

  In recent years, with the spread of computers and the networking of information, electronic mail that transmits and receives character information via a network has become widespread. In the electronic mail, it is possible to attach various types of files in addition to the mail text as character information. For example, Internet FAX (hereinafter abbreviated as “IFAX”) that transmits and receives images by attaching a TIFF (Tag Image File Format) file as an attached file has become widespread.

  IFAX is a technology for communicating between devices capable of converting an image read by a scanner into a TIFF format, transmitting the image from a transmitter, and reproducing and printing the image in the TIFF format from data received by the receiver. It is.

  Here, if you send a file with a large data size attached to an e-mail, the e-mail delivery will be delayed due to the load on the mail server, and if it gets worse, the entire e-mail delivery service will stop It can happen in some cases. Therefore, in general, mail servers are often set not to receive e-mails having a data size that exceeds a certain level. When an e-mail attached with an image having a large data size is transmitted from IFAX to a mail server set in this way, the mail server may cause a delivery error.

  For example, when an image is attached to an email and transmitted using a PC, it is relatively easy to check the data size of the attached image. However, in the case of IFAX, it is difficult to predict how large the data size will be when scanning and transmitting an image, and the above-described distribution error may frequently occur. high. In view of this, a technique relating to an Internet facsimile apparatus that transmits image information of a plurality of pages divided into pages has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  Also, a technique has been proposed in which, when receiving e-mail data that is transmitted by dividing a plurality of pages of image information into pages, print / transfer processing is performed in the order of pages of the original image information (see Patent Document 2). ). Furthermore, a method of combining a plurality of pieces of mail data obtained by dividing / dividing one piece of e-mail data into a plurality of e-mails by using an identifier of message / partial in MIME Content-Type is determined (for example, Non-patent documents 1 and 2).

  In addition, when an e-mail is received, a message confirmation notification (MDN) of returning a delivery confirmation mail of the e-mail receiving communication device (IFAX) to the communication device (IFAX) of the e-mail transmission source. The specification is defined by RFC2298 (Non-Patent Document 3).

JP 2000-32202 A JP 2004-236005 A

RFC2045, Internet <URL: http: ietf.org/rfc/rfc2045.txt> RFC2046, Internet <URL: http: ietf.org/rfc/rfc2046.txt> RFC2298, Internet <URL: http: ietf.org/rfc/rfc2298.txt>

  Here, when the delivery confirmation of the divided mail divided into a plurality of parts is performed, the transmission side communication device (for example, IFAX) does not need to confirm the delivery of all of the divided mails. It suffices if it is possible to confirm whether or not a single e-mail has been delivered to the receiving communication device.

  However, when the MDN format for requesting delivery confirmation is included in each divided mail, delivery confirmation is requested to the receiving communication device according to each MDN format of the plurality of divided mails.

  In such a case, each time the receiving side communication device receives the divided mail, the receiving side communication device transmits a delivery confirmation mail for the received divided mail to the transmitting side communication device. In such a configuration, the communication device on the transmission side receives a plurality of delivery confirmation mails even though it has only made one transmission request composed of a plurality of divided mails, and reception processing and the like are performed. It becomes complicated.

  In addition, even when a part of the divided mail is not actually delivered from the transmission-side communication device to the reception-side communication device, the transmission-side communication device receives one of the delivery confirmation mails. Therefore, confusion may occur without knowing whether all the divided mails have been delivered.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when an email containing transmission request information for sending an email to a predetermined destination is received, the received email is Provided are an e-mail communication apparatus, an e-mail communication method, and a program capable of suitably performing transmission confirmation without transmitting an e-mail for confirmation of delivery to a transmission source for each of a plurality of divided e-mails in the case of divided mail For the purpose.

In order to solve the above problems, an electronic mail communication device according to the present invention provides:
Receiving means for receiving a plurality of divided mails generated by dividing an email including mail header information into predetermined units;
Combining means for combining the plurality of divided mails received by the receiving means to generate the email;
Printing means for printing an image based on a file attached to the e-mail generated by the combining means;
Confirmation means for confirming whether or not a delivery confirmation request for requesting transmission of a delivery confirmation mail is included in the mail header information of the e-mail generated by the combining means;
When the receiving means receives all of the plurality of divided mails and the confirmation means confirms that the delivery confirmation request is included in the mail header information of the email generated by the combining means, the mail and transmitting means for transmitting a send us confirmation email to the email address that is included in the header information,
It is characterized by having.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an e-mail communication method according to the present invention includes:
A receiving step of receiving a plurality of divided mails generated by dividing an email including mail header information into predetermined units;
Combining a plurality of divided emails received in the receiving step to generate the email; and
A printing step of printing an image based on a file attached to the e-mail generated in the combining step;
A confirmation step for confirming whether or not a delivery confirmation request for requesting transmission of a delivery confirmation email is included in the email header information of the email generated in the synthesis step;
When all of the plurality of divided mails are received in the receiving step and the confirmation step confirms that the delivery confirmation request is included in the mail header information of the email generated in the combining step, the mail and a sending step of sending a transmission delivery receipt email to the email address included in the header information.

  According to the present invention, when an e-mail including transmission request information for sending an e-mail to a predetermined destination is received, when the received e-mail is a divided mail, a plurality of divided mails The transmission confirmation can be suitably performed without transmitting the delivery confirmation e-mail to the transmission source for each.

  Further, according to the present invention, when a divided mail obtained by dividing electronic data including transmission request information for transmitting an electronic mail to a predetermined transmission destination is received, a plurality of divided mails are combined to be electronic Delivery confirmation indicating that at least a portion of the data has been delivered can be made appropriately.

1 is a configuration diagram of a network system in which various devices including an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are connected via a network. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of MFP 100 shown in FIG. 1. 2 is a diagram for describing a configuration of a network program owned by MFP 100. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission setting screen of the operation unit 133 when image data read by a scanner is transmitted by electronic mail. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the division | segmentation mail data transmitted in the state of the transmission setting shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining a mode that the electronic mail with which the image file was attached was divided | segmented into five division mails. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of a divided reception box displayed on the operation unit 133 when a divided mail is temporarily accumulated. FIG. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed when the division | segmentation mail 600 shown in FIG. 7 is selected and the division | segmentation list button 620 is pressed down. 8 is a flowchart for describing a retransmission request processing procedure in MFP 100 when retransmission request button 623 in the screen example of the divided reception box displayed on operation unit 133 shown in FIG. 7 is pressed. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure for receiving, combining, printing, or transferring a divided mail in MFP 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining details of a process (step S <b> 521) when all the divided mails are not collected in the divided reception box in the flowchart shown in FIG. 10. It is a figure which shows an example of the division | segmentation mail data which entered the format sentence of the MDN request | requirement in the header data of the mail before division | segmentation. FIG. 2 is a device configuration diagram of a scanner 134 and a printer 135 of the MFP 100 shown in FIG. 1.

  Hereinafter, a configuration of a network system including an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and details of communication processing in the network system will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system in which various devices including an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are connected via a network. As shown in FIG. 1, a multi-function copying machine (MFP) 100, 101, 102 is equipped with a scanner, a printer, etc., and prints data created on a copy function, facsimile transmission / reception function, and computer. A printer function is provided. The MFPs 100, 101, 102 are connected to a network 106 whose domain name is “xyz.co.jp”, and connected to a plurality of computers such as a mail server / POP server 103 or client PCs 104, 105 and various network devices. Has been. Note that the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is mounted on the MFPs 100, 101, and 102, the Mail server / POP server 103, and the client PCs 104 and 105, respectively.

  The network 106 described above is further connected to an Internet network 110 that is spread all over the world, and a network 123 having a domain name “abc.co.jp” to which the Mail server / POP server 120, the client PC 121, and the Internet FAX 122 are connected. It is connected. Note that the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is also implemented in the Mail server / POP server 120, the client PC 121, and the Internet FAX 122.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 100 is assigned a host name “copy1.xyz.co.jp” and an e-mail mail address of a device “ifax@copy1.xyz.co.jp”. Further, the MFP 101 is given a host name “copy2.xyz.co.jp” and an electronic mail address of a device “ifax@copy2.xyz.co.jp”. Further, the MFP 102 is assigned a host name “copy3.xyz.co.jp” and an electronic mail address of a device “ifax@copy3.xyz.co.jp”.

  Furthermore, general-purpose electronic mail software is installed in the client PC 104, and a mail address “yamada@xyz.co.jp” is given. Similarly, general-purpose electronic mail software is also installed in the client PC 105, and a mail address “sato@xyz.co.jp” is given. Furthermore, the Mail server / POP server 103 has functions of both a Mail server and a POP server.

  On the other hand, general-purpose electronic mail software is installed in the client PC 121, and a mail address “tanaka@abc.co.jp” is given. Also, general-purpose electronic mail software is installed in the Internet FAX, and a mail address “ifax@abc.co.jp” is given. Furthermore, the Mail server / POP server 120 has functions of both a Mail server and a POP server.

  For example, in the system shown in FIG. 1, when an e-mail is transmitted from the client PC 104 to “tanaka@abc.co.jp”, the e-mail data created by the e-mail software of the client PC 104 is a Mail server / POP server. Mail data is delivered to the mobile phone 103 by the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) protocol. Then, the e-mail data is delivered from the Mail server / POP server 103 to the Mail server / POP server 120 via the Internet network 110 by the SMTP protocol, and the “tanaka@abc.co.jp” mailbox in the server The e-mail data is stored in.

  As described above, general-purpose e-mail software is also installed in the client PC 121, and “tanaka @ existing in the Mail server / POP server 120 using the POP3 (Post Office Protocol-Version 3) protocol from the client PC 121. It is monitored at regular intervals whether or not an e-mail has arrived in the mailbox “abc.co.jp”, and when the e-mail has arrived at the server 120, the e-mail is received.

  Conversely, when an e-mail is sent from “tanaka@abc.co.jp” of the client PC 121 to “yamada@xyz.co.jp” of the client PC 104, the route opposite to the above-described route should be followed. It becomes. That is, e-mail data created by general-purpose e-mail software installed on the client PC 121 is relayed by the Mail server / POP server 120 and sent to the Mail server / POP server 103, and “yamada” in the Mail server POP server 103 is sent. The mail data is stored in the mailbox of “@ xyz.co.jp”. Then, the client PC 104 operates so as to acquire the mail data delivered by the POP3 protocol from the “yamada@xyz.co.jp” mailbox.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 1, MFPs 100, 101, and 102 each receive an image received by a facsimile (FAX) reception function or an Internet facsimile (IFAX) reception function, and a monochrome / color image read by a scanner in a general electronic mail. There are an “e-mail transmission mode” that is transmitted on the premise of sending to a destination, and an “IFAX transmission mode” that is premised on transmission to a device that conforms to the IFAX standard.

  The above-described SMTP and POP3 are used for data transmission / reception in the MFPs 100, 101, 102, and the same operation as the data transmission / reception in the client PC 104 and client PC 121 described above is performed.

  In the “Email transmission mode”, the MFPs 100, 101, and 102 can transmit an image in a JPEG format or a PDF (Portable Document Format) file when a color image is read by the scanner. In the “Email transmission mode”, the MFPs 100, 101, and 102 can transmit a TIFF or PDF image when a black and white image is read by the scanner. When an e-mail is sent from these devices to the e-mail address “yamada@xyz.co.jp” assigned to the client PC 104, the client PC 104 receives the e-mail using the POP3 protocol and uses a general-purpose image viewer. An image can be displayed.

  In these devices, in the “IFAX transmission mode”, the image read by the scanner is transmitted as TIFF format image according to RFC2301 to other MFPs and Internet FAX 122 conforming to the IFAX standard using the SMTP and POP3 protocols. The

  In these apparatuses, image data received by the scanner, FAX, and IFAX receiving function on the transmission side is received by a remote receiver, and the received image is printed by a remote printer or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of MFP 100 shown in FIG. In the following, only the MFP 100 of the MFPs shown in FIG. 1 will be described, but the other MFPs 101 and 102 have the same configuration as the MFP 100.

  In FIG. 2, a CPU 130 is a control circuit that controls the entire system of the MFP 100 using a program stored in the ROM 131 and a temporary storage area of the RAM 132 that functions as a memory.

  The operation unit 133 includes an LCD display panel and hard keys such as a start key and a numeric keypad. The operation unit 133 displays various buttons using a touch panel on the LCD and detects a position where the user touches the button with a finger. And a unit for smoothly executing user operations based on the user operation.

  The scanner 134 is a unit that converts image data of a document into electrical data by photoelectric conversion. FIG. 13 is a device configuration diagram of the scanner 134 and the printer 135 of the MFP 100 shown in FIG. In the scanner 134, the document is transported from the document feeder 250 onto the platen glass 211, and when the document is transported onto the platen glass 211, the lamp 212 is turned on to start the movement of the scanner unit 213 to expose the document. Scan. Reflected light from the original is guided to the CCD image sensor 218 by mirrors 214, 215, and 216 and a lens 217, converted into an electrical signal, and converted to digital data by an A / D conversion circuit. Then, after the document reading operation is completed, the document on the platen glass 211 is discharged.

  On the other hand, the printer unit 135 is a unit that prints electrical image data on recording paper. In the printer unit 135, laser light corresponding to the electrical image data is emitted from the laser light emitting units 313, 314, 315, and 316, and this laser light is irradiated to the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327, and 328. A latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on 326, 327, and 328. Developers 321, 322, 323, and 324 are attached to the latent image portions of the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327, and 328, and the paper feeding cassette 360, Recording paper is fed from 361 and 362 and conveyed to the transfer unit, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327, and 328 is transferred to the recording paper. The recording paper on which the developer is placed is conveyed to the fixing unit 335, and the developer is fixed to the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 335. The recording sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 335 is discharged to a discharge tray 371 by a discharge roller 336.

  In FIG. 2, the image processing circuit 136 includes a large-capacity image memory, an image rotation circuit, a resolution scaling circuit, a code / composite circuit such as MH, MR, MMR, JBIG, and JPEG. Various image processing such as trimming and masking can be executed. The hard disk 137 is a large-capacity recording medium connected via an interface such as SCSI or USB, and other recording media such as an MO can be used in addition to the hard disk.

  Further, in FIG. 2, a network I / F 138 is a circuit that executes a network data link for connecting to a network line such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or token ring represented by 10BASE-T and 100BASE-T.

  Furthermore, the formatter unit 139 includes a parallel interface conforming to IEEE 1284, a PC I / F circuit such as a USB, and the like from PDL (Page Description Language) data received from the PC through the PC I / F circuit or the network I / F circuit. This is a rendering circuit for creating image data, performing image processing with the image processing circuit 136, and printing with the printer 135.

  The fax unit 140 is a facsimile I / F circuit that is connected to a telephone line and includes circuits such as an NCU (Network Control Unit) and a MODEM (Modulator / DEModulator).

  In MFP 100, image data read by scanner 134 is subjected to image processing by image processing circuit 136, transmitted to another facsimile apparatus via a telephone line, or received from another facsimile apparatus. The image processing circuit 136 performs image processing and operates to print with the printer 135.

  The scanner 134, the printer 135, the image processing circuit 136, the formatter unit 139, and the fax unit 140 described above are connected by a high-speed video bus 143 different from the CPU bus 142 from the CPU 130 so that image data can be transferred at high speed. It is configured.

  Further, the MFP 100 realizes a copy function by performing an image process on the image data read by the scanner 134 by the image processing circuit 136 and printing the read image by the printer 135.

  Further, the MFP 100 performs image processing on the image data read by the scanner 134 by the image processing circuit 136, and creates an image according to RFC 2301 by the Send function that transmits the data from the network I / F to the network, or by the image processing circuit 136. However, there is an IFAX function for transmitting and receiving data using an electronic mail protocol.

  Furthermore, in FIG. 2, a power control circuit 141 is a circuit that controls the power consumed by the MFP 100, and reduces the power consumption of the apparatus by lowering the temperature of a heater or the like, or by turning off power to circuits that are not used. Can be reduced. The MFP 100 includes a “sleep (SLEEP) 1 state” in which the power supply control circuit 141 stops energization of the operation unit 133 and the fixing temperature adjustment circuit of the printer 135, and “sleep 2” in which the energization of most circuits including the CPU 130 is stopped. State "exists.

  Although the power consumption of the sleep 1 state is greater than that of the sleep 2 state, when the activation is instructed, the sleep 1 state starts up more quickly than the sleep 2 state, and immediately starts up and becomes usable. This is a sleep state that requires immediate responsiveness. Note that when the sleep 2 state is entered, the CPU 130 also stops, so the software control of the MFP 100 stops.

  The CPU 130 is activated by a communication request from an external I / F such as the network I / F 138, the formatter unit 139, and the fax unit 140 shown in FIG. It is released from the state and enters the sleep 1 state. When an image is formed from communication data from the external I / F and the image is input to the printer 135, the sleep 1 state is canceled and the standby state is set. Thereafter, the printing process ends and a predetermined time elapses in the standby state, or when the power saving key 411 is pressed to enter the sleep 1 state, and after the predetermined time elapses in the sleep 1 state, the sleep state continues. It becomes the state of 2.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing the configuration of the network program owned by MFP 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the network program configuration in the MFP 100 is largely divided into three-layer programs such as an IP (Internet Protocol) 200, a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / UDP (User Datagram Protocol) 201, and various protocols 202 in the application layer. Can be separated.

  First, the IP 200 is an Internet protocol layer that provides a service for sending a message from a transmission host to a destination host in cooperation with a relay node such as a router. In the IP 200, a destination address for transmitting data and a destination address for receiving data are managed, and a routing function for managing the route in the network to the destination host according to the address information is executed. .

  The TCP / UDP 201 is a transport layer that provides a service for delivering a message from a transmission application process to a reception application process. TCP is a connection-type service and guarantees high reliability of communication. On the other hand, UDP is a connectionless service and does not guarantee reliability.

  Various protocols 202 in the application layer define a plurality of protocols. These protocols include FTP (File Transfer Protocol) as a file transfer service, SNMP as a network management protocol, and LPD as a server protocol for printer printing. Directory database that manages HTTPd, WWW (World Wide Web) server protocol, e-mail transmission / reception protocol SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), mail download protocol POP3 (Post Office Protocol-Version 3), user e-mail address, etc. LDAP (Lightweight), a protocol for accessing Directory Access Protocol) exists. In addition, a Kerberos authentication program defined by RFC1510 is also installed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission setting screen of the operation unit 133 when the image data read by the scanner 134 is transmitted by e-mail. In MFP 100, the document size read by scanner 134 can be designated as the reading size. For example, the size setting unit 500 can specify paper sizes such as A3, A4, A5, B4, B5, 11 × 17, LTR, STMT, and their orientations. As shown in FIG. 4, “automatic” is currently set, and a value detected by the document detection sensor existing in the scanner 134 is read.

  The resolution setting unit 501 can specify the resolution at which the scanner 134 reads an image. For example, from 200 × 100, 200 × 200, 200 × 400, 300 × 300, 400 × 400, and 600 × 600 dpi. Can be specified. Note that the default value of the resolution is 200 × 200, for example, but currently 600 × 600 dpi is set.

  Further, the detailed setting unit 502 can specify detailed operations at the time of scanning such as density setting at the time of scanning, document type specification, double-sided reading, page continuous shooting specification, image quality adjustment, and the like.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, in the To field 503 of the e-mail transmission destination, when selecting a destination, it is possible to select from destinations registered in the address book. Similarly, in the Cc field 504, when a destination is selected, a destination registered in the address book can be selected. Further, in the Bcc field 505, when selecting a destination, it is possible to select from destinations registered in the address book. Since the maximum number of destinations is, for example, 256, the total of the number of destinations selected in the To field 503, the number of destinations selected in the Cc field 504, and the number of destinations selected in the Bcc field 505 is a maximum of 256. The number of recipients is limited, and no more destinations can be entered.

  Furthermore, in FIG. 4, a subject input unit 506 and a text input unit 507 are fields for inputting a subject and a mail text to be given to an electronic mail to be transmitted. For example, in the operation unit 133, when each setting field is selected, a soft keyboard can be displayed and a character string can be input.

  Furthermore, in FIG. 4, a transmission data size upper limit setting unit 510 is a part for setting the maximum size of e-mail data allowed when an e-mail is transmitted. The e-mail data exceeding the set data size is divided into a plurality of e-mails and transmitted as will be described later. That is, as a result, an e-mail having a data size larger than the limit value is not transmitted. When “0” is set as the limit value, the limit value may be set to operate without limitation, and the e-mail may not be divided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case of adding a restriction when sending with the size of the e-mail data to be sent has been described, but in addition to that, conversion to an image size such as a TIFF file or JPEG file to be sent The data size limitation may be dealt with.

  Further, as described above, the upper limit value of the transmission data size can be changed for each transmission operation by setting it on the transmission setting screen shown in FIG. 4, but if it is not necessary to change for each transmission operation, the device information management It may be set as a part. When the upper limit value is changed for each destination, the upper limit value may be set for each destination in the address book, for example.

  Furthermore, a start key 509 shown in FIG. 4 is a hard key installed beside the operation unit 133. When the user presses this key, the scanner 134 is driven, and the read image is transmitted. A blue and red LED 508 is mounted in the center of the start key 509. When no transmission destination is designated, the red LED is lit to inform the user that the scanner 134 cannot be driven even when the start key 509 is pressed. On the other hand, when even one transmission destination is designated, the blue LED is lit to inform the user that the scanner can be driven.

  Furthermore, the power saving key 511 shifts to the sleep state as described above by the power control circuit 141 when the key is pressed in the standby state, and enters the standby state when the key is pressed during the sleep state. A hard key that can be restored.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a state in which an e-mail attached with an image file is divided into five divided mails. As shown in FIG. 6, the e-mail data includes a mail header 850, a mail body 851, first page image data 852, second page image data 852, third page image data 854, and fourth page image data. 855 includes image data 856 for the fifth page. As shown in FIG. 8, the e-mail is divided into five, [1/5] divided mail 860, [2/5] divided mail 861, [3/5] divided mail 862, [4 / 5] split mail 863 and [5/5] split mail 864.

  When sending the divided mail, a partial mail header similar to the mail header 850 in which destination information is described at the top of each mail and a MIME identifier indicating that the electronic mail is a divided mail Information such as a division ID, a division number, and a division total number that are uniquely assigned to each division mail is added and transmitted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the divided mail data transmitted in the transmission setting state illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 5, the parts from the first line to the 13th line are mail headers for delivering the divided mail. In the From line of the third row, an e-mail address assigned to the MFP 100 is described. The Subject in the fourth line is data obtained by converting the character string input by the subject input unit 506 into the encoded-word format defined by RFC2047. Further, To in the fifth line is the destination-selected data in the To field 503, the Cc field 405 is the data selected in the Cc field 505, and the Bcc field 407 is data about the destination selected in the Bcc field 505. Data in word format. The 10th line is data indicating the MDN format included in the mail for which an e-mail transmission confirmation request is made from the transmission source communication apparatus.

  In addition, “Content-Type: message / partial;” on the 12th line indicates that this mail is a divided mail, and the first of the mail divided into five by “number = 1; Total = 5”. Indicates the second data. Furthermore, “id =” 20041110104508.0000. TxNo. 0105 @ copy3. xyz. co. “jp ″” indicates the divided id number of the divided mail composed of the date, time, the transmission reception number counted up each time it is transmitted, and the domain name of the transmitter. Note that mail with the same id number is regarded as a divided mail obtained by dividing the same mail.

  Next, the data from the 15th line to the 44th line indicate the substance data of the divided mail (that is, the first data of the mail divided into five). First, the parts from the 15th line to the 25th line are the mail headers of the divided emails corresponding to the mail header 850, the From line in the 17th line, To in the 19th line, Cc in the 20th line, The Bcc and the like in the 22nd row are the same as the From in the 3rd row, the To in the 5th row, the Cc in the 6th row, and the Bcc in the 8th row.

  In addition, since the subject in the 18th row is the subject before being divided, the character string “material transmission” input by the subject input unit 506 is data in the encoded-word format. On the other hand, since the subject in the fourth row is a subject of a divided mail, the character string “[1/5]” is added to the head of this character string, and the characters “[1/5] send material” This is data in which the column is in encoded-word format.

  Further, the 30th and 31st lines are text data obtained by converting the text input by the text input unit 507 into a JIOS code, and correspond to the mail text 851. Since this mail body is Japanese text data, data of “Content-Type: text / plain; charset =“ ISO-2022-JP ”” is added to the 28th line.

  Furthermore, the data from the 38th line to the 44th line correspond to the data 852 up to the first page, and the data read from the scanner is the file name Image. This is a TIFF image file as tif and BASE64 encoded data of this file. This is clearly stated in the 34th, 35th, and 36th lines. For the data on the second page or more, similar mails are generated and transmitted with division numbers of 2, 3, 4, and 5. That is, the number of the 12th number is changed to 2, 3, 4, 5 respectively, and the Message-ID in the 9th row is different for each mail, and the parts such as the mail header are common.

  Note that mail data having the same division id number is extracted and combined in the order indicated by the number, so that it can be synthesized as mail data before being divided.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen example of the divided reception box displayed on the operation unit 133 when the divided mail is temporarily accumulated. As shown in FIG. 7, currently, three different divided mails 600, 601, and 602 are stored in the divided reception box. In FIG. 7, the subject 610 is the subject of each received split mail. In the case of the split mail shown in FIG. 5, the subject in the fourth row indicating the subject of the split mail or the subject of the mail before splitting. The 18th line Subject is displayed.

  Since the divided mail 600 can receive the first mail of the divided mail, the Subject on the 18th line which is the subject of the divided mail is displayed. Further, since the divided mails 601 and 602 cannot receive the first mail of the mail, the fourth line Subject, which is the subject of each divided mail, is displayed.

  In FIG. 7, the destination 611 indicates the sender of the e-mail. If the first mail of the divided mail can be received, the From information in the 17th line is substituted and the first mail cannot be received. In this case, the value of the From information shown in the third line which is the From information of the divided mail is substituted.

  Further, the number of received messages 612 is a value indicating the total number of mails having the same division ID and the number of mails that can be received. For example, the divided mail 600 has a total of five mails and the number of mails that can be received is three. It shows that it is communication. Furthermore, the reception time 613 indicates the reception time when each divided mail is first received.

  Furthermore, the split list button 620 is a button for executing list display of the selected split mail one by one. The print button 621 and the send button 622 are a button for printing and sending a synthesized mail after the selected divided mails are synthesized. These will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. Further, the resend request button 623 is a button for requesting the sender to resend when all the divided mails are not prepared. This will be described later with reference to FIG. Furthermore, in FIG. 7, arrow keys 624 and 625 are keys for the operator to scroll the screen when there are many divided mails displayed in a list and all cannot be displayed and enumerated at once.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen displayed when the divided mail 600 shown in FIG. 7 is selected and the divided list button 620 is pressed. In FIG. 8, three mails of divided mails 660, 661, and 662 are displayed. All the lists displayed on the screen shown in FIG. 8 have the same division ID, and the value is displayed in the division ID 650. Note that the value indicated by the division ID is created based on the data in the ninth row shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, the other party 651 is the same data as the other party 611, and shows the sender information of the e-mail. The subject 652 is subject information of the divided mail, and is subject information in the fourth row in FIG. The division number 653 is the division number of the divided mail and is the number / total value in the 12th row. It should be noted that since the total value is allowed even if it is not entered except for the last divided mail, the total value may not be entered.

  Further, in FIG. 8, a data size 654 is a data size of each divided mail, and a reception time 655 is a time when each divided mail is received. Furthermore, the return key 658 is a key for closing the screen shown in FIG. 8 and returning to the screen shown in FIG. 7. The scroll keys 656 and 657 have a large number of lists and display them all at once. This is a key for the operator to scroll the screen when it cannot be done.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for illustrating a retransmission request processing procedure in MFP 100 when retransmission request button 623 in the divided reception box screen example displayed on operation unit 133 shown in FIG. 7 is pressed.

  First, when the retransmission request button 623 is pressed and a retransmission request is received, a division ID is acquired from the list selected on the screen shown in FIG. 7 (step S701). Next, a search is performed for a division number (unarrival number) of a division mail that has not been acquired from the division IDs that are the same as the division ID obtained in step S701 (step S702). Then, a retransmission request mail for the divided mail that has not been acquired is created and transmitted to the transmission source (step S703), and the retransmission request process is terminated.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure for receiving, combining, printing, or transferring a divided mail in MFP 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In MFP 100, an SMTP reception process is started upon receiving an STMP request from network I / F 138 (step S500). Here, when the MFP 100 is in the sleep 2 state when receiving the SMTP request from the network I / F 138, the CPU 130 is activated by the interrupt signal from the network I / F 138, and the sleep state is set by the power supply control circuit 141. Is released. Therefore, an instruction for prohibiting the CPU 130 from entering the sleep 2 state is issued by the SMTP request (step S501), and as a result, the CPU 130 enters the sleep state until the next sleep (SLEEP) is permitted. There is no. Then, the MFP 100 receives e-mail data (SMTP reception) using the SMTP protocol (step S502).

  On the other hand, a timer interrupt signal is input to the CPU 130 every predetermined time by a timer (not shown), and processing for receiving POP is started (step S503). In response to this interrupt signal, when the MFP 100 is in the sleep 2 state, the CPU 130 is activated and the power supply control circuit 141 releases the sleep 2 state. Then, an instruction is issued to prohibit the CPU 130 from entering the sleep 2 state (step S504). As a result, the CPU 130 does not enter the sleep state until the next sleep (SLEEP) is permitted. Then, the MFP 100 receives e-mail data stored in the Mail server / POP server (POP reception) by the POP3 protocol (step S505).

  The e-mail data received by the MFP 100 by the SMTP reception (step S502) or the POP reception (step S503) is a mail of the message / partial format described in the 12th line of FIG. 5 after the MIME data is analyzed. (Step S506), and if there is a description of message / partial, it is determined that the mail is a divided mail.

  If it is determined in step S506 that it is a divided mail (Yes), the divided mail is stored in the divided reception box (step S507), and if it is determined that it is not a divided mail (No), the image extraction process in step S510. Transition to.

  When the divided mail is stored in the divided reception box in step S507, it is checked whether or not all the pieces of the divided mail are collected due to the storage (step S508). As a result, if all the divided mails are not complete (No), the process (step S521) when all the divided data are not complete is performed using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S508 that all the pieces of the divided mail have been prepared (Yes), the MFP 100 extracts the data from the divided mails in the order of the divided numbers and combines the data by combining them in order ( Step S509) and the process proceeds to Step S510.

  In step S510, image information extraction processing is similarly performed from the electronic mail combined in step S509 or the received undivided normal mail. In the present embodiment, mail data that has been previously BASE64 or uencoded is decoded and converted into a TIFF file, and image data is extracted from the converted TIFF file. When text data exists in the e-mail, the text information is rasterized into image data.

  After the image data is extracted in step S510, it is determined whether or not the sender of the e-mail has made an MDN (Mail Delivery Notification) request (step S511). As a result, when the request for notification of opening confirmation is made (Yes), a reply indicating OK is transmitted in response to the request for notification of opening confirmation (MDN request) (step S512). On the other hand, when no MDN request is made (No) or when OK is transmitted in step S512, OK is recorded in the reception log (step S513).

  Further, in the network system according to the present embodiment, when the values of To, Form, and Subject of the received electronic mail are certain values, the image data is transferred to those destinations (including the system box). There is a transfer function. Therefore, the transfer conditions for these data are searched and acquired (step S514). Then, the acquired transfer information is compared with the values of the To, From, and Subject fields set in the header field of the e-mail (step S515). As a result, when the values of the To, From, and Subject fields match the transfer condition (Yes), the data transfer process is executed (step S516).

  On the other hand, if the values of the To, From, and Subject fields do not match the transfer conditions (No) in step S515, it is determined whether or not to perform system box storage processing (step S517). In step S517, if the transfer destination is set in the system box or if printing is not possible because the printer 135 has no printing paper, the system box storage is selected (Yes), and the system box storage process is executed. (Step S518). Note that after the system box storage process is executed, the process proceeds to the process of step S520. On the other hand, when the system box storage is not performed (No), the print processing of the rasterized image of the mail body and the image extracted from the attached TIFF file is performed (step S519), and the process proceeds to the process of step S520. .

  In step S520, the power control circuit 141 allows the MFP 100 to shift to the standby state (that is, the sleep state) and ends the process. When the transition to the sleep state is permitted, the power control circuit 141 enters the power saving state of the above-described sleep 1 or sleep 2 state according to the state of the printer such as the temperature or the state of other circuits.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the details of the process (step S521) when all the divided mails are not collected in the divided reception box in the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the previous divided mail or transmitting the retransmission request mail (step S601). As a result, if the predetermined time has not elapsed (No), the reception standby of the above-described STMP reception (step S500) or POP reception (step S503) is performed.

  On the other hand, if the predetermined time has elapsed (Yes), it is determined whether or not the re-request mail has been transmitted (step S602). As a result, if the re-request mail has not been sent (Yes), the division number (unarrival number) of the divided mail that has not been acquired from the same division ID is searched (step S603). Then, an unacquired split mail retransmission request mail is created and transmitted to the transmission source (step S604), and the above-described reception standby is performed.

  On the other hand, if the re-request mail has already been transmitted in step S602 (No), a process of searching for the same divided mail ID as the divided mail that has passed a predetermined time is performed (step S605). Then, it is determined whether or not the divided mail having the same divided ID obtained by the search includes the first mail of number = 1 in the twelfth line shown in FIG. 5 (step S606).

  As a result, when it is determined that there is no head mail (No), mail header information in which the sender information of the received divided mail other than number is 1 is extracted (step S607). Next, the character string data is rasterized into an image using the font data specified in the image data (step S608), and the process proceeds to step S614.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S606 that the first mail exists (Yes), the same divided mails are arranged in the order of the numbers in the 12th row shown in FIG. 5, and the numbers are combined in order from 1 to the existing number. Processing is performed (step S609). By this processing, mail data is restored as shown in FIG. 6, but a portion that has not arrived cannot be restored.

  For example, in FIG. 6, when only [5/5] mail 864 has not arrived, the mail text and data from page 1 to page 7 can be combined. However, it is impossible to synthesize the eighth page image.

  [1/5] Mail 860 to [3/5] Mail 862 could be received, but [4/5] Mail 363 could not be received, the mail text and one page The images on pages 5 to 5 can be synthesized, but the images on pages 6 to 8 cannot be synthesized.

  Further, although [1/5] mail 360 to [2/5] mail 361 can be received, [3/5] mail 362 cannot be received, the mail text and one page are received. 3 images can be synthesized, but images from the 4th page to the 8th page cannot be synthesized.

  Furthermore, if the [1/5] mail 360 can be received but the [2/5] mail 361 cannot be received, the mail text and the image on the first page can be combined. Although it is possible, images from the 2nd page to the 8th page cannot be synthesized.

  Furthermore, if the [1/5] mail 360 cannot be received, all information and images cannot be combined. However, even in this case, since the mail header information of the [2/5] mail 361 to the [5/5] mail 364 includes information such as sender information, subject, and transmission time, these Information can be printed. Thus, even when an image cannot be printed, there is an advantage that the sender can be specified and the sender can be requested to retransmit.

  Among the mails obtained by combining the divided mails in step S609, the mail header corresponding to the 15th to 25th line parts shown in FIG. 5 and the character string data of the mail body in the 30th and 31st lines are acquired (step S610). . The character string data is rasterized into an image using font data specified in the image data (step S611), and the process proceeds to step S612.

  In step S612, it is determined whether image data 852 to 859 shown in FIG. 6 exists. As a result, when image data exists (Yes), image information extraction processing is performed (step S613), and the process proceeds to step S614. In step S613, the part of the image data that has been synthesized as indicated by reference numerals 852 to 859 in FIG. 6 is decoded by the BASE64 encoded or uencoded part and converted into a TIFF file. Further, when the created TIFF file is in a multi-page format, a process of converting to a single page TIFF file is performed. In this case, halfway page data is deleted and the conversion process is interrupted. In addition, even if the last halfway image data is data that is cut off in the middle of the page, such as MH, MR, MMR, etc., the portion established as one line of the image is treated as image data, and an image that is less than one line It may be deleted.

  In step S614, it is determined whether the sender of the e-mail has made an MDN request. As a result, when an MDN request is made (Yes), NG is transmitted (step S615). Note that the transmission of NG is performed by notifying the transmission source (ifax@copy1.xyz.co.jp), for example, by e-mail including a text indicating that a transmission error has occurred. The e-mail may be further notified of information for identifying a divided mail that has not arrived among the divided mails. In addition, by notifying the sender (ifax@copy1.xyz.co.jp) of information that identifies unsent split mail, the sender is notified of at least one of the emails that were the source of multiple split mails. It is also notified that the part has been delivered to the recipient (ifax@abc.co.jp). On the other hand, when no MDN request is made (No) or when NG is transmitted in step S615, NG is recorded in the reception log (step S616).

  Next, the acquired transfer condition is compared with the values of the To, From, and Subject fields set in the header field of the e-mail (step S617). As a result, when the values of the To, From, and Subject fields match the transfer condition (Yes), the data transfer process is executed (step S618).

  On the other hand, if the values of the To, From, and Subject fields do not match the transfer conditions (No) in step S617, it is determined whether or not to perform system box storage processing (step S619). In step S619, if the transfer destination is set in the system box or if printing is not possible because the printer 135 has no printing paper, the system box storage is selected (Yes), and the system box storage process is executed. (Step S620). Note that after the system box storing process is executed, the process proceeds to step S622. On the other hand, when the system box storage is not performed (No), the print processing of the rasterized image of the mail body and the image extracted from the attached TIFF file is performed (step S621), and the process proceeds to step S622. .

  In step S622, the mail with the same division ID is deleted and the process ends. In this embodiment, the e-mail receiving method has been described using SMTP and POP reception. However, an e-mail receiving method may be used using a protocol such as IMAP.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when a delivery confirmation request is included in a normal e-mail, a delivery confirmation mail is returned in response to the reception, and for each divided mail, a delivery confirmation is immediately received. A delivery confirmation mail was sent only when two or more divided mails were prepared without sending mail. For example, when all the divided mails are collected, a delivery confirmation mail is sent that is normal, and when only a part is collected, an arrival confirmation mail that is not normal is sent. .

  Here, when the divided mail is synthesized in the above processing (for example, step S509 in FIG. 10), as described above, the format text of the MDN request (for example, the Disposition- of the 10th line in FIG. 5) is added to all of the plurality of divided mails. In addition to writing “Notification-To”, the format of the MDN request is not written in each header data of the divided mail, but the format text of the MDN request is written in the header data of the mail before the division. Good.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the divided mail data in which the format text of the MDN request is entered in the mail header data before the division. By using the divided mail data as shown in FIG. 12 instead of the divided mail data as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to confirm that the MDN request has been made to the mail for the first time after the divided mails are synthesized. it can. The processing procedure in this case is the same as the flowchart shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 described above, and there is a part that can be determined for the first time after the data synthesis in step S509 whether or not there is an MDN request in step S511. Different.

  Accordingly, when a divided mail obtained by dividing electronic data including transmission request information for transmitting an e-mail to a predetermined destination is received, at least a part of the electronic data is synthesized by combining the plurality of divided mails. Delivery confirmation indicating that the delivery has been performed can be appropriately performed.

  FIG. 5 shows a “Disposition-Notification to” statement indicating a delivery confirmation request (MDN request) in each mail header of a plurality of divided mails. FIG. 12 shows a delivery confirmation request in the mail header before division. A sentence indicating (MDN request) was entered. On the other hand, a sentence indicating a delivery confirmation request (MDN request) is entered in the header of each mail of a plurality of divided mails, and a sentence indicating a delivery confirmation request (MDN request) is entered in the header of the mail before the division. A possible embodiment is also conceivable. The processing procedure in this aspect is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 described above, and whether or not there is an MDN request in step S511 is determined in the delivery confirmation request ( It may be performed by confirming whether a sentence indicating (MDN request) is included or a sentence indicating a delivery confirmation request (MDN request) is entered in the header of the mail before division.

  Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, the present invention can take embodiments as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, or a storage medium (recording medium). The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a single device or an apparatus composed of a single device. In the above embodiment, when all of the divided mails are not complete, the sender is requested to retransmit the divided mail that has not arrived (steps S602 to 604), but this step is omitted. It is also good. In this case, even if there are unsent split mails, they can be quickly processed by combining (combining) the received split mails.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when all the divided mails are not prepared, the divided mails are combined (combined) when a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the previous mail or sending the retransmission request mail. However, a key for instructing the composition of the divided mail is provided on the operation unit 133, and the composition of the divided mail is performed in response to the combination instruction by pressing the key before receiving all of the divided mail. (Combination) may be performed.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when there is a delivery confirmation request (MDN request) in the e-mail, the receipt of the e-mail is confirmed when the e-mail is received, but other forms may be used. . For example, in the case of IFAX, it is assumed that an e-mail is printed (image formation) by the printer 135, so that image data related to the e-mail is printed by the printer unit 135 (for example, a developer corresponding to the image data) It is also possible to confirm that an e-mail has been received by the recording paper having the toner image fixed to the paper discharge tray 371). In this case, step S512 in FIG. 10 is executed after step S519, and step S615 in FIG. 11 is executed after step S621.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in the figure) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is directly or remotely supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus Is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

100, 101, 102 MFP
103, 120 Mail server / POP server 104, 105, 121 Client PC
106, 123 Network 110 Internet network 122 Internet FAX
130 CPU
131 ROM
132 RAM
133 Operation Unit 134 Scanner 135 Printer 136 Image Processing Circuit 137 Hard Disk 138 Network I / F
139 Formatter unit 140 Fax unit 141 Power control circuit

Claims (5)

Receiving means for receiving a plurality of divided mails generated by dividing an email including mail header information into predetermined units;
Combining means for combining the plurality of divided mails received by the receiving means to generate the email;
Printing means for printing an image based on a file attached to the e-mail generated by the combining means;
Confirmation means for confirming whether or not a delivery confirmation request for requesting transmission of a delivery confirmation mail is included in the mail header information of the e-mail generated by the combining means;
When the receiving means receives all of the plurality of divided mails and the confirmation means confirms that the delivery confirmation request is included in the mail header information of the email generated by the combining means, the mail and transmitting means for transmitting a send us confirmation email to the email address that is included in the header information,
An e-mail communication apparatus comprising:   The electronic mail communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the delivery confirmation mail when the printing unit prints an image. The electronic mail communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit rasterizes and prints a mail text included in the electronic mail generated by the combining unit. A receiving step of receiving a plurality of divided mails generated by dividing an email including mail header information into predetermined units;
Combining a plurality of divided emails received in the receiving step to generate the email; and
A printing step of printing an image based on a file attached to the e-mail generated in the combining step;
A confirmation step for confirming whether or not a delivery confirmation request for requesting transmission of a delivery confirmation email is included in the email header information of the email generated in the synthesis step;
When all of the plurality of divided mails are received in the receiving step and the confirmation step confirms that the delivery confirmation request is included in the mail header information of the email generated in the combining step, the mail method of controlling an electronic mail communication device; and a transmission step of transmitting a transmission delivery receipt email to the email address included in the header information. On the computer,
A receiving step of receiving a plurality of divided mails generated by dividing an email including mail header information into predetermined units;
Combining a plurality of divided emails received in the receiving step to generate the email; and
A printing step of printing an image based on a file attached to the e-mail generated in the combining step;
A confirmation step for confirming whether or not a delivery confirmation request for requesting transmission of a delivery confirmation email is included in the email header information of the email generated in the synthesis step;
When all of the plurality of divided mails are received in the receiving step and the confirmation step confirms that the delivery confirmation request is included in the mail header information of the email generated in the combining step, the mail a program characterized by executing a transmission step of transmitting a transmission delivery receipt email to the email address included in the header information.

Images