Communication control apparatus and a communication control method

• US 20020019876A1
• Filed: 08/02/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Communications Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Maruta, Matsutoshi, Akimoto, Masao
• Granted Patent: US 7,111,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A communication control apparatus detects a predetermined signal type in accordance with SMTP protocol from a first interface section connected to an IFAX. The communication control apparatus controls communication with the IFAX in accordance with the SMPT protocol when the predetermined signal type is detected. On the other hand, the communication control apparatus controls communication with a server via a second interface section connected to a network, to which the IFAX is connected. The network is managed by the server. The communication control apparatus receives email data from the IFAX, converts it into HTML data, and transmits the HRML data to the server. Accordingly, the communication control apparatus is capable of enabling the IFAX to operate on the network managed by a HTTP protocol.

Claims

1. A communication control apparatus, comprising:

a first interface section connected to a network that is controlled by a server in accordance with a HTTP protocol;

a second interface section connected to an Internet facsimile apparatus;

a SMTP processing section that controls communication with the Internet facsimile apparatus in accordance with a SMTP protocol;

a HTTP processing section that controls communication with the server in accordance with the HTTP protocol;

an email communication section that receives email data from the Internet facsimile apparatus in accordance with the control of said SMTP processing section;

a HTML processing section that converts the email data to HTML data; and

a HTML communication section that transmits the HTML data to the server in accordance with the control of said HTTP processing section.

2. A communication control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a signal type detection section that detects a type of a signal transmitted via the first interface section, wherein when said signal type detection section detects reception of predetermined signal type from the Internet facsimile apparatus, said HTTP processing section starts controlling communication with the server in accordance with the HTTP protocol and said SMTP processing section controls communication with the Internet facsimile apparatus in accordance with the SMTP protocol.

3. A communication control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said HTTP process section starts controlling a communication with the server in accordance with HTTP protocol when HELO signal, which is a command signal in accordance with the SMPT protocol, is received from the Internet facsimile apparatus.

4. A communication control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an encryption processing section that encrypts the email data received by said email communication section;

wherein said HTML processing section converts the email data encrypted by said encryption process section into HTML data.

5. A communication control apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

an IC card that stores information necessary for an encryption process by said encryption processing section; and

a slot section into which said IC card is insertable;

wherein said encryption processing section encrypts email data in accordance with the information stored in said IC card, when said IC card is inserted to said slot section.

6. A communication control apparatus, comprising:

a first interface section connected to a network that is controlled by a server in accordance with a HTTP protocol;

a second interface section connected to Internet facsimile apparatus;

a POP3 processing section that controls a communication with said Internet facsimile apparatus in accordance with a POP3 protocol;

a HTTP processing section that controls communication with the server in accordance with a HTTP protocol;

a HTML communication section that receives HTML data including email data from the server in accordance with the control of said HTTP processing section;

a HTML processing section that extracts the email data from the HTML data; and

an email communication section that transmits the email data to the Internet facsimile apparatus in accordance with the control of said POP3 processing section.

7. A communication control apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a signal type detection section that detects a type of signal transmitted through said first interface section;

wherein said HTTP processing section starts communication with the server in accordance with the HTTP protocol and said POP3 processing section controls communication with the Internet facsimile apparatus in accordance with the POP3 protocol when said signal type detection section detects transmission of a predetermined type of the signal from the Internet facsimile apparatus.

8. A communication control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said HTTP process section starts controlling communication with the server in accordance with HTTP protocol when said signal type detection section receives a signal USER, which comprises a command signal in accordance with the POP3 protocol from the Internet facsimile apparatus.

9. A communication control apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a decryption processing section that decrypts encrypted email data when the email data extracted from the HTML data by said HTML processing section is encrypted email data;

wherein said email communication section transmits the email data decrypted by said decryption processing section to the Internet facsimile apparatus.

10. A communication control apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

an IC card that stores information necessary for decryption by said decryption processing section; and

a slot section to which said IC card is inserted;

wherein said decryption processing section decrypts email data in accordance with the information stored in said IC card when said IC card is inserted to said slot section.

11. A communication control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said IC card stores email address information and said HTML communication section transmits the HTML data corresponding to the email data received to the email address information stored in said IC card when said IC card is inserted in said slot section.

12. A communication control method, comprising:

detecting a predetermined type of the signal in accordance with SMTP protocol from a first interface section connected to an Internet facsimile apparatus;

controlling communication with the Internet facsimile apparatus in accordance with the SMPT protocol when the predetermined type of signal is detected;

controlling communication with a server in accordance with HTTP protocol via a second interface section connected to a network managed by the server in accordance with HTTP protocol;

receiving email data from the Internet facsimile apparatus in accordance with the SMPT protocol;

converting the email data to HTML data; and

transmitting the HTML data to the server in accordance with the HTTP protocol.

13. A communication control method, comprising:

detecting a predetermined type the signal in accordance with POP3 protocol from a first interface section connected to Internet facsimile apparatus;

controlling communication with the Internet facsimile apparatus in accordance with the POP3 protocol when the predetermined type of signal is detected;

controlling communication with a server in accordance with HTTP protocol with a server via a second interface section connected to a network managed by the server in accordance with HTTP protocol;

receiving HTML data including email data from the server in accordance with the HTTP protocol;

extracting the email data from the HTML data; and

transmitting the extracted email data to the Internet facsimile apparatus in accordance with the POP3 protocol.