Electronic mail behavior with a multi-function machine

• US 20060248153A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hejza Litwiller, Debora Margaret, McCarthy, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• 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 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4433 to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, a multifunction communication system comprises a scanner and a multifunction device that processes data received from the scanner. The multifunction device comprises a user interface that allows a user to enter commands to configure at least one functional aspect of the multifunction device, wherein the user is presented with a logical progression of steps that inquire of the user information that is needed to complete an email function. An authentication component communicates with the user interface that requires a user to enter a valid username and password via the user interface to access specific functionality of the multifunction device. An email component facilitates sending one or more email messages that contain data received from the scanner. A receiving component that receives at least one email message from the multifunction device.

Claims

1. A multifunction communication system, comprising:

a scanner that receives data scanned from one or more images on a medium;

a multifunction device that processes data received from the scanner, comprising;

a user interface that allows a user to enter commands to configure at least one functional aspect of the multifunction device, wherein the user is presented with a logical progression of steps that inquire of the user information that is needed to complete an email function;

an authentication component that communicates with the user interface that requires a user to enter a valid username and password via the user interface to access specific functionality of the multifunction device;

an email component that facilitates sending one or more email messages that contain data received from the scanner, and

a receiving component that receives at least one email message from the multifunction device.

2. The system according to claim 1, further including:

an address book component that locally stores at least one group, wherein the group comprises at least one name and an associated email address.

3. The system according to claim 2, further including:

a remote application that interfaces to the address book component to at least one of add, delete, edit, print or store addresses for subsequent retrieval.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the functional aspect of the multifunction device is one of fax, email, scan and copy.

5. The system according to claim 1, further including a timing component that provides a predetermined amount of time for a user to respond to a prompt before a predetermined event occurs.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the user will be required to indicate that they wish to remain logged in after each predetermined event occurs.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one functional aspect of the multifunction device can be configured remotely via a computer application.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a customizable .com key that allows a user to at least one of access and select an email address, access and select a partial email address, access and select a text string, automatically populate the “

From;

”

field in an email message and automatically populate the “

To;

”

field in an email message.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the email component automatically sends an email of scanned data to a predetermined email address.

10. The system according to claim 1, further including an SMTP server that accepts data from the multifunction device and transmits the received data to the receiving element.

11. The system according to claim 10, further including a software application employed to configure at least one aspect of the SMTP server.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein communication with the SMTP server requires authentication utilizing one of Kerberos, Secure Sockets Layer, Message-Digest algorithm 5, NTLM and Authenticated Post Office Protocol.

13. A xerographic method for sending email via a multifunction machine, comprising:

presenting a logical progression of steps that inquire of the user information that is needed to complete an email function;

entering an email address in the “

From;

”

field;

entering an email address in the “

To;

”

field;

entering a login name;

entering a login password;

authenticating login name and password;

initiating scanning of a document; and

sending scan automatically to the user'"'"'s email address upon completion of document scan.

14. The method according to 13, wherein the scanning can be initiated at substantially any time within the method.

15. A method for sending email of a scanned document via a multifunction machine, comprising:

presenting a logical progression of steps that inquire of the user information that is needed to complete an email function;

populating the “

From;

”

field with an email address;

populating the “

To;

”

field with the email address of the “

From;

”

field;

pressing the Start key to initiate scanning of a document;

verifying the validity of the email in the “

From;

”

field;

scanning the document; and

sending an email of the document to the address in the “

To;

”

field.

16. The method according to claim 15, further including:

populating the “

To;

”

field utilizing one of an address book, a customizable .com key, manual entry via an alphanumeric keypad, selecting via a prompt to send to self, and automatically via an auto send to self feature.

17. The method according to claim 15, further including:

populating the “

From;

”

field utilizing one of authentication to automatically populate the field, manually via alphanumeric keyboard, utilizing a preset default value, selection from an address book and via a customizable .com key.

18. A method for limiting access to a multifunction device, comprising:

activating an authentication component that associates a user name and a password with a user email address;

entering a username associated with a valid account;

entering a user password associated with the username;

authenticating the username and password with the authentication component; and

allowing access to one or more functions of the multifunction device based at least in part on the authentication of the username and password.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein a “

From;

”

field is automatically populated with the email address associated with the account.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein a “

To;

”

field of the email address is populated utilizing at least one of manual entry via an alpha-numeric keyboard, selecting the address from a list utilizing a “

.com”

button, selecting the address from an address book utilizing navigation keys and automatically based at least in part on the username and user password.