Image transmission apparatus and method

• US 20050231757A1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsuda, Hideyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,243,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• 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 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An improved image transmission apparatus capable of reducing the amount of work involved in the checking and transmission operations performed by the user at the time of image data transmission, the apparatus including an address accept unit that accepts input of a first address and a second address, a reader that reads an original document to obtain data pertaining thereto, a first transmission unit that sends original document data obtained by the reader to the first address, a receiving unit that receives a reply from the first address responding to the transmission by the first transmission unit, and a second transmission unit that sends the original document data to the second address when the receiving unit receives from the first address a reply indicating acceptability of the original document data.

Claims

1. An image transmission apparatus comprising:

an address accepting unit for accepting input of a first address and a second address;

a reader for reading an original document to obtain data pertaining thereto;

a first transmission unit for sending original document data obtained by the reader to the first address;

a receiving unit for receiving a reply from the first address responding to the transmission by the first transmission unit; and

a second transmission unit for sending the original document data to the second address when the receiving unit receives from the first address a reply indicating acceptability of the original document data.

2. An image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission unit performs transmission after assigning identification information by which to specify the original document data, the receiving unit receives a reply that includes the identification information, and the second transmission unit specifies the original document data based on the received identification information and performs transmission.

3. An image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission unit sends the original document data via e-mail and the receiving unit receives the reply from the first address in the form of e-mail.

4. An image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission unit performs MDN transmission and the receiving unit receives an MDN reply.

5. An image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission unit sends e-mail including a script language description.

6. An image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the receiving unit receives a reply from the first address indicating unacceptability of the original document data, the second transmission unit does not send the original document data.

7. An image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for linking and storing history of transmission by the first transmission unit and history of transmission by the second transmission unit.

8. An image transmission method to be performed with an image transmission apparatus, the image transmission method comprising the steps of:

1) accepting input of a first address and a second address;

2) instructing to obtain original document data by reading a original document by a reader;

3) sending the original document data obtained by the reader to the first address;

4) receiving a reply from the first address responding to the transmission at the step 3; and

5) sending the original document data to the second address when a reply from the first address indicating acceptability of the original document data is received at the step 4.

9. An image transmission method according to claim 8, wherein transmission is performed at the step 3 after assigning identification information by which to specify the original document data, a reply that includes the identification information is received at the step 4, and the original document data is specified based on the received identification information and is sent at the step 5.

10. An image transmission method according to claim 8, wherein the original document data is sent via e-mail at the step 3 and the reply from the first address is received in the form of e-mail at the step 4.

11. An image transmission method according to claim 8, wherein MDN transmission is performed at the step 3 and an MDN reply is received at the step 4.

12. An image transmission method according to claim 8, wherein e-mail including a script language description is sent at the step 3.

13. An image transmission method according to claim 8, wherein, when a reply from the first address indicating unacceptability of the original document data is received at the step 4, the original document data is not sent at the step 5.

14. An image transmission method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of linking and storing history of transmission at the step 3 and history of transmission at the step 5.

15. A computer program product causing a computer to execute image transmission processing comprising the steps of:

1) accepting input of a first address and a second address;

2) instructing to obtain original document data by reading a original document by a reader;

3) sending the original document data obtained by the reader to the first address;

4) receiving a reply from the first address responding to the transmission at the step 3; and

5) sending the original document data to the second address when a reply from the first address indicating acceptability of the original document data is received at the step 4.