Facsimile apparatus and electronic mail server

• US 6,594,032 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikeguchi, Yoshinori, Hiroki, Shinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US09/426,885
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/402, 358/407, 358/403, 709/206, 709/207
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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

Abstract

A facsimile apparatus and electronic mail (e-mail) server capable of transmitting e-mails containing therein facsimile image data while reducing complexities. In the facsimile apparatus, when a user manually operates an “E-mail” button while letting more than one paper document for transmission be inserted into a document tray, the apparatus visually displays a destination address along with a prompt message requesting the user to input mail text data to be delivered. After the user enters such mail text together with the address and then presses a “Send” button, the apparatus operates to optically read for recognition the document as presently set in the document tray to produce corresponding graphic image information of such document (fax data), which will then be sent forth toward the e-mail server along with the destination address and text data. It becomes possible to readily perform e-mail transmission of both the text data and fax data at a time.

Claims

1. A facsimile apparatus for being operatively connected via a telephone network to an electronic mail (“

e-mail”

) server linked to the Internet, said apparatus comprising;

an input device for use in inputting information;

an e-mail button;

a transmission button; and

control means for;

(a) prompting a user to input a destination address and mail message text, in response to operation of the e-mail button,

(b) reading a document inserted into a document tray of the facsimile apparatus, in response to operation of the transmission button,

(c) dialing a telephone number assigned to the e-mail server, and

(d) transmitting to the e-mail server text data as input through said input device, fax data including a graphic image of the document, and the destination address.

2. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

an input device for use in entering information;

an e-mail button for instruction of an e-mail communication event;

a transmission button for instruction of transmission;

a line control unit for connection to a telephone network;

a display device; and

control means for;

(a) allowing the display device to display an indication prompting input of a destination address, in response to the e-mail communication event instruction,

(b) causing, in response to input of the destination address, an indication to request entry of mail message text,

(c) reading a document positioned in a document tray, in response to operation of the transmission button,

(d) dialing a telephone number assigned to an e-mail server,

(e) transmitting user information including a password, in response to a request for said user information from the e-mail server,

(f) transmitting said destination address to the e-mail server, in response to receiving a response from the e-mail server indicating that the e-mail server acquired the user information, and

(g) transmitting to the e-mail server the mail message text and fax data obtained by reading the document.

3. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing data;

an input device for inputting information;

an e-mail button for instruction of e-mail communication;

a start button for instruction of transmission;

a line control unit for connection to a telephone network;

a display device; and

control means, wherein said control means is operable to;

allow the display device to display an indication requesting input of a telephone number, in response to the e-mail communication instruction,

cause, in response to entry of the telephone number, the display device to display an indication prompting positioning of an application paper sheet of specified form onto a document tray, and

read the application paper sheet positioned onto the document tray, in response to the transmission instruction, for transmission via the telephone network to an e-mail server.

4. A method of performing an online contract with an e-mail server, comprising:

communicating a facsimile apparatus telephone number to the e-mail server,

communicating, from the e-mail server to the facsimile apparatus, a security identification (ID) assigned to the facsimile apparatus,

communicating, from the facsimile apparatus to the e-mail server, a reply and terminating communication, in response to receiving the security ID,

employing said e-mail server to call the telephone number,

if a communication link is made between the e-mail server and the facsimile apparatus, transmitting, from the e-mail server to the facsimile apparatus, a startup code indicating a server callup,

identifying, with the facsimile apparatus, the startup code and sending the telephone number and the security ID to the e-mail server, in response to identifying the startup code,

communicating, from the e-mail server to the facsimile apparatus, data indicative of e-mail service allowability, if the telephone number and security ID are received properly by the email server, and

indicating the e-mail service allowability within the facsimile apparatus in accordance with the data indicative of e-mail service allowability.

5. A method of performing an online contract abandonment with an e-mail server, comprising:

employing the e-mail server to call a facsimile apparatus at an assigned telephone number,

communicating, from the e-mail server to the facsimile apparatus, a startup code that is indicative of a server call-up,

employing the facsimile apparatus to identify the startup code and communicating, from the facsimile apparatus to the e-mail server, the telephone number and a security identification (ID),

communicating, from the e-mail server to the facsimile apparatus, data indicating e-mail service non-allowability, if the telephone number and security ID are properly received by the e-mail server, and

indicating the non-allowability of e-mail service within the facsimile apparatus in accordance with the data indicating e-mail service non-allowability.

6. A facsimile apparatus for being connected via a telephone network to an e-mail server linked to the Internet, said apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing data;

an e-mail button for instruction of e-mail communication;

a domain name button for instruction of call-up of a domain name;

a line controller for connection to the telephone network;

a display device; and

control means, wherein

said control means is operable to;

(a) allow the display device to display an indication requesting input of a destination address, in response to the e-mail communication instruction, and

(b) control the display of a domain name stored in said storage means, in response to (i) input of said destination address and (ii) the domain name call-up instruction.

7. The facsimile apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein:

said storage means stores a domain list and operation (b) includes control of the display device to display information of a single domain name, which is obtained from said domain list stored in said storage means, in response to (i) said input of said destination address and (ii) the domain name call-up instruction,

the display device displays information of another domain name obtained from the domain list, in response to a subsequent domain name call-up instruction, and

a document positioned on a document tray is read while determining a domain name in response to operation of a transmission button.

8. A facsimile apparatus for being connected via a telephone network to an e-mail server coupled to the Internet, said apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing data;

an input device for use in entering information;

an e-mail button for instruction of e-mail communications;

a send button for instruction of transmission;

a domain name button for instruction of call-up of a domain name;

a line controller for connection to the telephone network;

a display device; and

control means, wherein

said control means is operable to;

(a) allow the display device to display an indication requesting input of a destination address, in response to (i) a document disposed on a document tray and (ii) the email communication instruction,

(b) cause the display device to indicate a domain name stored in said storage means, in response to the domain name call-up instruction, and

(c) read, in response to (i) a user'"'"'s determination of a transmission destination address and (ii) operation of the send button, said document, disposed on said document tray, for transmission to the e-mail server.

9. The facsimile apparatus as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a registration button for instruction of information registration; and

a function button for activation of a function, wherein

said control means is operable to;

(a) initiate a domain registration function, in response to the e-mail communication instruction,

(b) set a function registration mode, in response to the function activation,

(c) display on the display device an indication showing domain registration in the domain registration function,

(d) let the storage means store the domain name, and

(e) display on the display device the domain name stored in said storage means, while displaying an indication requesting entry of the destination address.

10. A facsimile apparatus for being connected via a telephone network to an e-mail server coupled to the Internet, said apparatus comprising:

storage means for storing data;

an input device for use in entering information;

an e-mail button for instruction of e-mail communication;

a domain name button for instruction of call-up of a domain name;

a send button for instruction of transmission;

a registration button for instruction of information registration;

a line controller for connection to the telephone network;

a display device; and

control means, wherein

said control means is operable to;

(a) allow the display device to display an indication requesting input of a transmission destination address, in response to the e-mail communication instruction,

(b) display on the display device domain name information obtained from a domain list stored in said storage means, in response to (i) entry of said destination address and (ii) the domain name call-up instruction,

(c) read a document, disposed on a document tray, for transmission to the e-mail server, in response to the transmission instruction, and

(d) initiate a domain registration function, in response to the e-mail communication instruction, to thereby allow said display device to display an indication showing a domain registration event and cause said storage means to store a domain name.