Facsimile mail apparatus

• US 5,881,233 A
• Filed: 02/28/1996
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Toyoda, Kiyoshi, Sawada, Toshihisa, Bandou, Tatsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): KEMPER, MELANIE A
• Application Number:
  US08/608,199
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.01, 395/200.04, 395/200.09, 395/200.3, 395/200.48, 395/200.36, 358/902, 358/400, 358/405, 358/440, 364/514 A, 364/514 R
• US Class Current: 709/233
• 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 1/32358 using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter H04N1/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32411 Handling instructions for routing or relaying
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32614 related to a single-mode communication, e.g. at the transmitter or at the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32641 of transmission or transmitted data, e.g. interruption or wrong number of pages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32662 remotely, e.g. to the transmitter from the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0018 via a non-image communication channel, e.g. via a computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/002 Selecting or switching between an image communication channel and a non-image communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• 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 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3267 of motion picture signals, e.g. video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3283 Compression

Abstract

An electronic mail system connected to a network includes a section for converting an image of a document surface into corresponding document image data, and a section for compressing the document image data into compression-resultant image data. The electronic mail system also includes a section for converting the compression-resultant image data into corresponding image data of a given electronic-mail format, a section for receiving information of an electronic-mail destination address, and a section for transmitting the image data of the electronic-mail format toward the electronic-mail destination address via the network. The electronic mail system may further include a section for receiving image data in an electronic mail, a section for converting the received image data into corresponding received image data of a given facsimile format, a section for expanding the received image data of the facsimile format into expansion-resultant image data, and a section for printing the expansion-resultant image data.

Claims

1. A facsimile which automatically receives facsimile data transmitted from a sender and sends image data of a paper document to an addressed destination, comprising:

an operation panel having a start-key to start a transmitting operation and an inputting key to input an electronic mail destination address;

a scanner for scanning a paper document and converting the paper document into image data;

compression means for compressing the scanned image data;

a facsimile transmitting and receiving unit which negotiates with a sender or destination facsimile before receiving or transmitting image data, for transmitting the compressed image data in a facsimile format to the destination facsimile via the telephone network and receiving a compressed image data in the facsimile format from the sender via the telephone network;

a first data converting means for converting the compressed image data into an electronic-mail format;

electronic-mail transmitting means for transmitting the compressed image data converted into the electronic-mail format to a destination address inputted from said inputting key on a network in which transmitting and receiving of an electronic-mail is possible;

electronic mail receiving means for receiving the image data converted into the electronic mail format from a sender via a communication network;

a second data converting means for converting the image data into facsimile format;

expansion means for expanding compressed image data which includes the image data received by said facsimile transmitting and receiving unit and a compressed image data converted by said second data converting means; and

a printer for printing the image data expanded by said expansion means;

wherein said operation panel, said scanner, said compression means, facsimile transmitting and receiving unit, said first data converting means, said electronic mail transmitting means, said electronic mail receiving means, said second data converting means, said expansion means and said printer are integrated into said facsimile machine, and

said scanner, said compression means, said first data converting means and said electronic mail transmitting means are sequentially operated in the order for transmit the image data in electronic mail format when said start-key is pushed after setting the paper document on said scanner and the finishing the input of the destination address of an electronic mail.

2. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

data format recognizing means for recognizing a data format from the header part of the received electronic-mail; and

a second expanding means for expanding data received by said electronic-mail receiving means according to the recognized data format.

3. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting means for detecting a specific character code sequence from the electronic-mail received by said electronic-mail receiving means; and

command executing mean for extracting a command from the received electronic-mail and for executing a process corresponding to the command when the specific character code sequence is detected.

4. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 3, wherein said command executing means extracts a list of destination addresses from the received electronic-mail, and stores the list of destination addresses in a memory when the character code sequence indicates a request to register the list of destination addresses.

5. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

facsimile transmitting and receiving means for transmitting the image data by facsimile communication via the telephone network and for receiving the image data by facsimile communication via the telephone line;

detecting means for detecting a character code sequence from the received electronic-mail indicating an instruction to forward mail by facsimile;

telephone-number detection means for detecting a telephone number from the received electronic-mail to forward the electronic mail;

means for converting the image data of the received electronic mail into facsimile format by said second converting means; and

forwarding means for enabling the facsimile transmitting and receiving means to transmit the image data converted into the facsimile format to a destination identified by the telephone number.

6. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a memory in which an electronic-mail sender address is stored, and said command executing means extracts the electronic-mail sender address from the character code of the received electronic-mail and stores the electronic-mail sender address in the memory in the case where the character code sequence indicates a request to register an electronic-mail sender address.

7. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 6, wherein said command executing means correlates the detected sender ID with the extracted sender address and stores the detected sender ID and the extracted sender address in the memory.

8. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus has a memory in which an electronic-mail address of each user who wants notification of reception of sent electronic mail is stored, said command executing means extracting a mail address for reception notification from the character code of the received electronic-mail and storing the mail address in the memory when the character code sequence indicates a mail address for receiving said notification.

9. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

reception notifying means for enabling said electronic-mail transmitting means to transmit the reception notification to the electronic-mail address when the received facsimile data includes the electronic-mail address stored in the memory.

10. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for inputting the sender address of the sender of said image date; and

result notifying means for notifying a transmitting result to the sender address using said electronic-mail transmitting means when the electronic-mail of image data is transmitted by said electronic-mail transmitting means.

11. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory for storing an electronic-mail address of each user who wants to receive notification of the electronic mail delivery; and

reception notifying means for sending notice of the reception of the electronic-mail to the electronic-mail address stored in memory by using said electronic-mail transmitting means.

12. The facsimile data apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

transmission result notifying means for detecting a result of facsimile transmitting by using said facsimile transmitting and receiving means, and for transmitting the detected transmission result to a designated terminal on said communication network by using the electronic-mail transmitting means.

13. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

reception notifying means for detecting that the data to be printed by said printing means, was received by said facsimile transmitting and receiving means and for transmitting the detection result to a designated terminal in said communication network by using the electronic-mail transmitting means.

14. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

transferring means for converting the electronic-mail format of the image data received by said electronic-mail receiving means into the facsimile format, and for transferring the image data converted into the facsimile format to a destination of a designated telephone number using said facsimile transmitting and receiving means in response to an order to transfer image data by facsimile received from electronic mail.

15. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 14, wherein said transferring means extracts an order transfer and the designated telephone number from the received electronic-mail.

16. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for inputting the electronic-mail sender address of the sender;

result notifying means for forwarding the transmission result to the electronic-mail sender address by said electronic-mail transmitting means when the electronic-mail of said image data is transmitted by said electronic-mail transmitting means.

17. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory in which an electronic-mail sender address is registered;

detecting means for detecting a character code sequence from the electronic-mail received by said electronic-mail receiving means; and

command executing means for extracting the electronic-mail sender address from the character sequence of the received mail and for registering an address of the electronic-mail sender into the memory when the character code sequence is detected from the received electronic-mail.

18. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory in which an electronic-mail address for acknowledging receipt of an electronic message is stored;

detecting means for detecting a character code sequence requesting notification of reception of the electronic-mail received by said electronic-mail receiving means;

command executing means for extracting the electronic-mail address for reception notification from the character sequence of the received mail and register the electronic-mail address for reception notification into the memory.

19. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for detecting a character code sequence indicating a transfer by facsimile from electronic mail received by said electronic-mail receiving means;

telephone-number detecting means for detecting the telephone number from said received electronic mail; and

controlling means for transferring the image data converted into facsimile format from electronic-mail format received by said electronic mail receiving means to a line representing the detected telephone number by using said facsimile transmitting and receiving means.

20. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for identifying a country of the sender from the inputted destination address;

means for providing a standard time in any country throughout the world from a determined present time;

a memory in which the sender time from any country throughout the world is stored as the standard time in the country; and

means for transmitting the data according to the standard time in the identified country.

21. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for storing a plurality of electronic-mail addresses;

means for storing and managing image data transmitted by electronic-mail for each of the electronic-mail addresses;

means for setting a pass word for each of electronic-mail addresses; and

means for outputting the stored image data when the pass word is inputted.

22. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for adding a cover sheet in which at least each electronic-mail address is described for each electronic-mail address and printing it.

23. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for inputting and outputting audio data;

means for integrating audio data and image data into integration-resultant data and means for transmitting and receiving the integration resultant data as a single electronic-mail.

24. The facsimile mail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for inputting moving-picture data;

means for integrating moving-picture data and image data into integration-resultant data; and

means for transmitting the integration-resultant data as a single electronic-mail.

25. A facsimile mail apparatus comprising:

a scanner for scanning a document and converting the document into image data;

address inputting means for inputting an electronic-mail destination address;

compression means for compressing the scanned image data;

a first data converting means for converting the compressed image data into an electronic-mail format;

electronic-mail transmitting means for transmitting the image data converted into the electronic-mail format to the destination address over a network in which transmitting and receiving of electronic-mail is possible;

a start-key means for allowing a transmitting operation to start;

transmitting controlling means for operating said scanner, said compression means, said converting means and said electronic-mail transmitting means when said start-key means is enabled;

electronic-mail receiving means for receiving the electronic-mail image data via the network in which transmitting and receiving of electronic-mail is possible;

a second data converting means for converting the received electronic-mail image data into facsimile data format;

a first expanding means for expanding the image data converted into the facsimile data format;

printing means for printing the expanded facsimile data format image data

detecting means for detecting a specific character code sequence from the electronic-mail received by said electronic-mail receiving means;

command executing mean for extracting a command from the received electronic-mail and for executing a process corresponding to the command when the specific character code sequence is detected, including extracting a list of destination addresses from the received electronic-mail, and storing the list of destination addresses in a memory when the character code sequence indicates a request to register the list of destination addresses;

wherein said detecting means detects a sender ID from the received mail, to identify the sender of the received mail, and said command executing means correlates the detected sender ID with the extracted list of destination address and stores the detected sender ID with the extracted list of destination addresses in the memory.

26. The facsimile mail apparatus of claims 25, further comprising:

means for inputting the sender ID of the sender who is going to send image data via the communication network in which transmitting and receiving electronic-mail is possible;

identifying means for identifying an inputted sender ID with a sender ID stored in the memory;

display means for displaying the registered list of destination address correlated with the sender ID when the identified sender ID is registered in the memory; and

selection means for selecting the destination address from the list of destination addresses displayed by said displaying means.

27. A facsimile mail apparatus comprising:

a scanner for scanning a document and converting the document into image data;

address inputting means for inputting an electronic-mail destination address;

compression means for compressing the scanned image data;

a first data converting means for converting the compressed image data into an electronic-mail format;

electronic-mail transmitting means for transmitting the image data converted into the electronic-mail format to the destination address over a network in which transmitting and receiving of an electronic-mail is possible;

a start-key means for allowing a transmitting operation to start;

transmitting controlling means for operating said scanner said compression means, said converting means and said electronic-mail transmitting means when said start-key means is enabled;

electronic-mail receiving means for receiving the electronic-mail image data via the network in which transmitting and receiving of electronic-mail is possible;

a second data converting means for converting the received electronic-mail image data into facsimile data format;

a first expanding means for expanding the image data converted into the facsimile data format;

printing means for printing the expanded facsimile data format image data;

detecting means for detecting a specific character code sequence from the electronic-mail received by said electronic-mail receiving means;

a memory for storing an address of an electronic mail sender;

command executing mean for extracting a command from the received electronic-mail and for executing a process corresponding to the command when the specific character code sequence is detected, including extracting the electronic-mail sender address from said character code sequence and storing the electronic-mail sender address in the memory when the character code sequence indicates a request to register an electronic-mail sender address;

wherein said command executing means correlates the detected sender ID with the extracted sender address and stores the detected sender ID and the extracted sender address in the memory; and

means for inputting the sender ID of the sender who is sending image data via the communication network in which transmitting and receiving of an electronic-mail is possible;

identifying means for identifying the inputted sender ID with the sender ID stored in the memory;

reading means for reading the registered sender address correlated with the sender ID from the memory after said sender is identified by said identifying means; and

writing means for writing the read sender address in the header of the electronic-mail of image data to be sent over said communication network.