Image data communications device and method

• US 20040184083A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Communications Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Communications Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Hidehiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,995,856 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: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• 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 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0018 via a non-image communication channel, e.g. via a computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0098 User intervention not otherwise provided for, e.g. placing documents, responding to an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

An image data communication apparatus is connected to an image data source and to a network, and transmits image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network. The e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message. The image data is attached to the e-mail as an openable document. The image data communication apparatus comprises a memory which stores information regarding an identification of at least one user of the image data communication apparatus and a mail address of the at least one user, and a panel section which selects the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory. The image data communication apparatus comprises a controller which sets information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user selected by the panel section, into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached.

Claims

1. An image data communication apparatus connected to an image data source and to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, the image data attached to the e-mail as an openable document, the image data communication apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store information regarding an identification of at least one user of the image data communication apparatus and a mail address of the at least one user;

a panel section configured to select the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory; and

a controller configured to set the information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user selected by the panel section, into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine the information regarding the identification of the user, and the mail address of the user set into the mail message of the e-mail can be utilized as a destination for a reply to the e-mail, the reply being sent from the receiving apparatus.

2. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data source comprises a scanner connected to the image data communication apparatus.

3. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the panel section comprises a personal computer connected to the image data communication apparatus.

4. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the personal computer displays an HTML document for storing the information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user in the memory.

5. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

6. An image data communication apparatus connected to an image data source and to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, the image data attached to the e-mail as an openable document, the image data communication apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store information regarding an identification of at least one user of the image data communication apparatus and a mail address of the at least one user;

a panel section configured to select the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory; and

a controller configured to set the information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user selected by the panel section, into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine the information regarding the identification of the user, and a reply to the e-mail can be sent to the user without requiring input of the mail address of the user at the receiving apparatus, the reply being sent from the receiving apparatus.

7. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image data source comprises a scanner connected to the image data communication apparatus.

8. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the panel section comprises a personal computer connected to the image data communication apparatus.

9. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the personal computer displays an HTML document for storing the information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user in the memory.

10. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

11. An image data communication apparatus connected to an image data source and to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, the image data attached to the e-mail as an openable document, the image data communication apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store information regarding an identification of at least one user of the image data communication apparatus and a mail address of the at least one user; and

a panel section configured to select the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory;

a controller configured to set the information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user selected by the panel section, into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine the information regarding the identification of the user, and a reply to the e-mail is returned to the mail address of the user.

12. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image data source comprises a scanner connected to the image data communication apparatus.

13. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the panel section comprises a personal computer connected to the image data communication apparatus.

14. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the personal computer displays an HTML document for storing the information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user in the memory.

15. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

16. An image data communication apparatus connected to an image data source and to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, the image data communication apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store information regarding an identification of at least one user of the image data communication apparatus and a mail address of the at least one user;

a panel section configured to select the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory; and

a controller configured to set the information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user selected by the panel section, into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached.

17. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the image data source comprises a scanner connected to the image data communication apparatus.

18. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the panel section comprises a personal computer connected to the image data communication apparatus.

19. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the personal computer displays an HTML document for storing the information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user in the memory.

20. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

21. An image data communication apparatus connected to a network, the image data communication apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, the image data attached to the e-mail as an openable document;

a memory configured to store information regarding an identification of at least one user of the image data communication apparatus and a mail address of the at least one user;

a panel section configured to select the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory; and

a controller configured to set the information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user selected by the panel section, into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine the information regarding the identification of the user, and the mail address of the user set into the mail message of the e-mail can be utilized as a destination of a reply to the e-mail, the reply being sent from the receiving apparatus.

22. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

23. An image data communication apparatus connected to a network, the image data communication apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, the image data attached to the e-mail as an openable document;

a memory configured to store information regarding an identification of at least one user of the image data communication apparatus and a mail address of the at least one user;

a panel section configured to select the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory;

a controller configured to set the information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user selected by the panel section, into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine-the information regarding the identification of the user, and a replay to the e-mail can be sent to the user without requiring input of the mail address of the user at the receiving apparatus, the reply being sent from the receiving apparatus.

24. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the. image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

25. An image data communication apparatus connected to a network, the image data communication apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, the image data attached to the e-mail as an openable document;

a memory configured to store information regarding an identification of at least one user of the image data communication apparatus and a mail address of the at least one user;

a panel section configured to select the information regarding the identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory;

a controller configured to set the information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user selected by the panel section, into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine the information regarding the identification of the user, and a reply to the e-mail is returned to the mail address of the user.

26. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

27. An image data communication apparatus connected to a network, the image data communication apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message;

a memory configured to store information regarding an identification of at least one user of the image data communication apparatus and a mail address of the at least one user;

a panel section configured to select the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory;

a controller configured to set information regarding the identification of the user and the mail address of the user selected by the panel section, into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached.

28. The image data communication apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

29. A method for controlling an image data communication apparatus connected to an image data source and to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, the image data attached to the e-mail as an openable document, a memory storing the information regarding the identification of at least one user and a mail address of the at least one user, the method comprising:

selecting the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory;

setting the selected information regarding the identification of the user and the selected mail address of the user into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine the information regarding the identification of the user, and the mail address of the user set into the mail message of the e-mail can be utilized as a destination of a reply to the e-mail at the receiving apparatus, the reply being sent from the receiving apparatus.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

31. A method for controlling an image data communication apparatus connected to an image data source and to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, the image data attached to the e-mail as an openable document, a memory storing the information regarding the identification of at least one user and a mail address of the at least one user, the method comprising:

selecting the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory;

setting the selected information regarding the identification of the user and the selected mail address of the user into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine the information regarding the identification of the user, and a replay to the e-mail can be sent to the user without requiring input of the mail address of the user at the receiving apparatus, the reply being sent from the receiving apparatus.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

33. A method for controlling an image data communication apparatus connected to an image data source and to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, the image data attached to the e-mail as an openable document, a memory storing the information regarding the identification of at least one user and a mail address of the at least one user, the method comprising:

selecting the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory;

setting the selected information regarding the identification of the user and the selected mail address of the user into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine the information regarding the identification of the user, and a reply to the e-mail is returned to the mail address of the user.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

35. A method for controlling an image data communication apparatus connected to an image data source and to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, a memory storing the information regarding the identification of at least one user and a mail address of the at least one user, the method comprising:

selecting the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory;

setting the selected information regarding the identification of the user and the selected mail address of the user into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

37. A method for controlling an image data communication apparatus connected to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, an image data being attached to the e-mail as an openable document, a memory storing the information regarding the identification of at least one user and a mail address of the at least one user, the method comprising:

selecting the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory;

setting the selected information regarding the identification of the user and the selected mail address of the user into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine the information regarding the identification of the user, and the mail address of the user set into the mail message of the e-mail can be utilized as destination for a reply to the e-mail, the reply being sent from the receiving apparatus;

transmitting the image data attached to the e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

39. A method for controlling an image data communication apparatus connected to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, an image data being attached to the e-mail as an openable document, a memory storing the information regarding the identification of at least one user and a mail address of the at least one user, the method comprising:

selecting the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user in the memory;

setting the selected information regarding the identification of the user and the selected mail address of the user into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine the information regarding the identification of the user, and a replay to the e-mail can be sent to the user without requiring input of the mail address of the user at the receiving apparatus, the reply being sent from the receiving apparatus;

transmitting the image data attached to the e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

41. A method for controlling an image data communication apparatus connected to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, an image data being attached to the e-mail as an openable document, a memory storing the information regarding the identification of at least one user and a mail address of the at least one user, the method comprising:

selecting the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory;

setting the selected information regarding the identification of the user and the selected mail address of the user into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached, whereby opening, at the receiving apparatus, of the attached image data is not required to determine the information regarding the identification of the user, and a reply to the e-mail is returned to the mail address of the user;

transmitting the image data attached to the e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.

43. A method for controlling an image data communication apparatus connected to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, a memory storing the information regarding the identification of at least one user and a mail address of the at least one user, the method comprising:

selecting the information regarding an identification of at least one user and the mail address of the at least one user stored in the memory;

setting the selected information regarding the identification of the user and the selected mail address of the user into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached;

transmitting the image data attached to the e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the image data attached to the e-mail is converted into a format for e-mail transmission.