Printing device and method of controlling the same

• US 20030025934A1
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takamiya, Hiroyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,167,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00466 displaying finishing information, e.g. position of punch holes or staple or orientation references
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00472 using a pop-up window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID

Abstract

A printing device has multiple finishing functions and multiple e-mail accounts on a mail server in a network. Correspondence between finishing functions set by a user and e-mail accounts are stored in a printing device. An e-mail sent to each e-mail account undergoes a finishing function based on the stored correspondence in order to be printed.

Claims

1. A printing device for performing printing in accordance with a print job, which is input externally, comprising:

setting means for setting names of a plurality of input ports and functions corresponding to the plurality of input ports, respectively; and

printing means for performing print processing in accordance with a function corresponding to the input port to which the print job is input.

2. A printing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting means can set a plurality of e-mail addresses registered for the printing device as the plurality of input ports, and wherein, when an e-mail is received in one of the e-mail addresses registered for the printing device, the printing means performs print processing in accordance with the function corresponding to the e-mail address.

3. A printing device according to claim 2, wherein the e-mail address is registered by being assigned to the printing device by a mail server, which temporally stores e-mails to registered addresses, and wherein the printing means has means for reading an e-mail addressed to the printing device, which is stored in the mail server.

4. A printing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting means can set a URL (unified resource locator) of the HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) as a name of the input port, and wherein the printing means performs print processing in accordance with a function corresponding to the URL.

5. A printing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting means can set, as the function, edit functions including at least one of sort specification, duplexing specification, layout specification and booklet printing specification for an output document.

6. A method for controlling a printing device for performing printing in accordance with a print job, which is input externally, comprising:

a setting step for setting names of a plurality of input ports and functions corresponding to the plurality of input ports, respectively; and

a printing step for performing print processing in accordance with a function corresponding to the input port to which the print job is input.

7. A method for controlling a printing device according to claim 6, wherein the setting step can set a plurality of e-mail addresses registered for the printing device as the plurality of input ports, and wherein, when an e-mail is received in one of the e-mail address registered for the printing device, the printing step performs print processing in accordance with the function corresponding to the e-mail address.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the e-mail address is registered by being assigned to the printing device by a mail server, which temporally stores e-mails to registered addresses, and wherein the printing step includes a step for reading an e-mail addressed to the printing device, which is stored in the mail server.

9. A method for controlling a printing device according to claim 6, wherein the setting step can set a URL (unified resource locator) of the HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) as a name of the input port, and wherein the printing step performs print processing in accordance with a function corresponding to the URL.

10. A method for controlling a printing device according to claim 6, wherein the setting step can set, as the function, edit functions including at least one of sort specification, duplexing specification, layout specification and booklet printing specification for an output document.

13. A computer program for implementing a method for controlling a printing device according to any one of claims 6 to 10 by using a computer.

14. A computer readable memory medium for storing a computer program according to claim 13.

11. A network printing system comprising a printing device and a terminal device,

wherein the printing device comprises setting means for setting e-mail addresses and functions corresponding to the e-mail addresses, respectively;

and printing means for performing print processing in accordance with a function corresponding to an e-mail address to which a print job is input, and

wherein the terminal device comprises means for sending a print job to one of the e-mail addresses corresponding to a desired function.

12. A network printing system according to claim 11, further comprising a mail server for temporally storing e-mails addressed to the e-mail address assigned to the printing device.

15. A printing device having a plurality of e-mail accounts on a mail server, comprising:

registration means for registering finishing conditions for the plurality of e-mail accounts, respectively;

receiving means for receiving an e-mail addressed to a first e-mail account among the plurality of e-mail accounts stored in the mail server; and

print control means for printing a file attached to the e-mail received by the receiving means,

wherein the file is printed in accordance with the finishing condition, which is registered by the registration means, corresponding to the first e-mail account.

16. A printing method for using a device having a plurality of e-mail accounts on a mail server, comprising:

a registration step for registering finishing conditions for the plurality of e-mail accounts, respectively;

a receiving step for receiving an e-mail addressed to a first e-mail account among the plurality of e-mail accounts stored in the mail server; and

a print control step for printing a file attached to the e-mail received by the receiving step,

wherein the file is printed in accordance with the finishing condition, which is registered by the registration step, corresponding to the first e-mail account.

17. A printing control program executed by a computer for a device having a plurality of e-mail accounts on a mail server, comprising:

registration code for registering finishing conditions for the plurality of e-mail accounts, respectively;

receiving code for receiving an e-mail addressed to a first e-mail account among the plurality of e-mail accounts stored in the mail server; and

print control code for printing a file attached to the e-mail received by the receiving step,

wherein the file is printed in accordance with the finishing condition, which is registered by the registration code, corresponding to the first e-mail account.

18. A computer readable memory medium for storing a print control program according to claim 17.