Electronic mail-capable communication terminal device and electronic mail communication method

• US 6,101,244 A
• Filed: 06/11/1998
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US09/096,310
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100.08-100.15, 379/100.01, 379/100.17, 379/93.24, 379/93.05-93.08, 358/402, 358/407, 358/440, 358/442, 358/468
• US Class Current: 379/100.08
• 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 1/33323 transmission mode only, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33346 adapting to a particular standardised protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0022 Selecting or switching between an image communication mode and a non-image communication mode H04N2201/002 takes precedence
• 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 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33364 Type of modulation; Type of channel, e.g. digital or analog; Type of communication, e.g. half-duplex or full-duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data

Abstract

A communication terminal device which can send data by means of electronic mail or facsimile. The communication terminal device first tries to send the data by electronic mail over a network. In the meantime, the electronic mail address and facsimile number corresponding to a recipient are both stored in a memory. When a predetermined response is not received from the network during a network connection operation, or when there is mail returned in the sender'"'"'s mailbox, the communication terminal device dials the facsimile number of the recipient and transmits the mail image data via facsimile communication.

Claims

1. A communication terminal device comprising:

a first transmission section for transmitting electronic mail to a recipient over a network;

a storage device for storing a copy of the electronic mail transmitted to a recipient in a predetermined area;

a detection section for detecting presence of returned mail in a mailbox;

a comparison section for comparing the returned mail with the electronic mail stored in the predetermined area of the storage device; and

a second transmission section for retransmitting the electronic mail stored in the predetermined area of the storage device when the comparison section determines that the returned mail and the stored mail are the same.

2. The communication terminal device of claim 1, wherein the communication terminal device transmits a copy of the electronic mail being transmitted to the recipient to the communication terminal device itself as an recipient, and wherein the predetermined area of the storage device is a mailbox associated with the communication terminal device on the network.

3. The communication terminal device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is an memory associated with the communication terminal device.

4. The communication terminal device of claim 1, wherein the comparison section compares a predetermined portion of information included in the returned mail with a predetermined portion of information included in the electronic mail stored in the predetermined area of the storage device.

5. A method for electronic mail transmission and facsimile communication comprising:

A) transmitting electronic mail to a recipient;

B) copying and storing the electronic mail in a predetermined storage area;

C) detecting presence of returned mail in a mailbox;

D) comparing the returned mail with the electronic mail stored in the predetermined storage area to determine whether they are the same; and

E) retransmitting the electronic mail stored in the predetermined storage area to the recipient in the form of electronic mail or facsimile data if the returned mail and the mail stored in the predetermined storage area are the same.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step B) includes transmitting a copy of the electronic mail being transmitted to the recipient to the communication terminal device itself as a recipient, and wherein the predetermined storage area is a mailbox associated with the communication terminal device on the network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined area is an memory associated with the communication terminal device.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein step D) includes comparing a predetermined portion of information included in the returned mail with a predetermined portion of information included in the electronic mail stored in the predetermined storage area.