Email communication system naming using a specific identification character in addition to a complete address for performing a predetermined process

• US 6,775,711 B1
• Filed: 09/01/1999
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Communications Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Communications Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Akimoto, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLETT, STEPHAN F
• Application Number:
  US09/387,514
• Time in Patent Office: 1,805 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/245, 709/246, 709/228, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• 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 2201/002 Selecting or switching between an image communication channel and a non-image communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/007 Selecting or switching between a still picture apparatus or function and another apparatus or function H04N2201/0022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0098 User intervention not otherwise provided for, e.g. placing documents, responding to an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark

Abstract

An input value from a panel is analyzed by mail address analyze means. A determination section performs determination based on the analysis result. When an identification character “@” is detected in the input value, the determination section instructs an encryption processing section to execute encryption processing, which is made to correspond to the identification character “@”. A mail transmitting section transmits data subjected to encryption processing in accordance with an e-mail transfer protocol. An operator has only to add the identification character “@” to a recipient address from the panel so that an image communication apparatus executes encryption processing. This eliminates the need for adding a new button when a new function is added to the image communication apparatus.

Claims

1. An e-mail communication apparatus, comprising:

an operation panel that is configured to input destination address data;

an acceptor that accepts image data;

a converter that converts the accepted image data into e-mail data;

a detector that detects whether or not the input destination address data includes a specific identification character in addition to a complete destination address;

an address processor that analyzes the destination address data, and extracts a destination address;

a controller that performs a predetermined process corresponding to the specific identification character, to the converted e-mail data when said detector detects the specific identification character in the input destination address data; and

a transmitter that transmits the e-mail data to the extracted destination address in accordance with an e-mail transfer protocol with the predetermined process performed when said detector detects the specific identification character, and transmits the e-mail data without performing the predetermined process, to the extracted destination address in accordance with the e-mail transfer protocol when said detector does not detect the specific identification character in the input destination address data, the predetermined process being distinct from routing and addressing processes performed by said transmitter.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation panel inputs the specific identification character so that the specific identification character is at a beginning of the destination address data.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the specific identification character comprises a @ mark.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller performs encryption processing of the e-mail data when said detector detects the specific identification character in the destination address data.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller performs JPEG conversion to the e-mail data when said detector detects the specific identification character in the destination address data.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detector is configured to detect a plurality of different specific identification characters in the destination address data.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said controller performs a plurality of predetermined processes to the e-mail data corresponding to each of the different specific identification characters.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a facsimile section that transmits the accepted image data to a destination facsimile apparatus via a public switched telephone network.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said converter, said detector, said controller and said transmitter are integrated in a LAN board, and said acceptor and said facsimile section are integrated in a facsimile body.

10. An e-mail communication apparatus comprising:

a destination address acceptor that obtains destination address data;

an acceptor that accepts image data;

a converter that converts the accepted image data into e-mail data;

a detector that detects whether or not the input destination address data includes a specific identification character in addition to a complete destination address;

an address processor that analyzes the destination address data, and extracts a destination address;

a controller that performs a predetermined process corresponding to the specific identification character, to the converted e-mail data when said detector detects the specific identification character in the input destination address data; and

a transmitter that transmits the e-mail data to the extracted destination address in accordance with an e-mail transfer protocol with the predetermined process performed when said detector detects the specific identification character, and transmits the e-mail data without performing the predetermined process, to the extracted destination address in accordance with the e-mail transfer protocol when said detector does not detect the specific identification character in the input destination address data, said predetermined process being distinct from the routing and addressing processes of said transmitter.

11. A method for communicating by e-mail, using a communication apparatus that includes an operation panel, the method comprising:

inputting destination address data from the operation panel;

accepting image data;

converting the accepted image data into e-mail data;

detecting whether or not the input destination address data includes a specific identification character in addition to a complete destination address;

analyzing the destination address data, and extracting a destination address;

performing a predetermined process corresponding to the specific identification character, to the converted e-mail data when the specific identification character is detected in the input destination address data; and

transmitting the e-mail data to the extracted destination address in accordance with an e-mail transfer protocol with the predetermined process performed when the specific identification character is detected, and transmitting the e-mail data without performing the predetermined process, to the extracted destination address in accordance with the e-mail transfer protocol when the specific identification character is not detected in the input destination address data, the predetermined process being distinct from routing and addressing processes performed by the transmitting.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the inputting of the destination address data provides that the specific identification character is at a beginning of the destination address data.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the specific identification character comprises a @ mark.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the performing of a the predetermined process comprises encryption processing the e-mail data.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the performing of a the predetermined process comprises JPEG conversion of the e-mail data.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the detecting comprises detecting a plurality of different specific identification characters in the input destination address data.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the performing of a predetermined process comprises performing a plurality of predetermined processes to the e-mail data corresponding to each of the different specific identification characters.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising transmitting the accepted image data to a destination facsimile apparatus via a public switched telephone network.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the converting, the detecting, the controlling and the transmitting are performed in a LAN board, and the accepting and the transmitting to the destination facsimile apparatus are performed in a facsimile body.

20. A method for communicating by e-mail, using a communication apparatus, the method comprising:

obtaining destination address data;

accepting image data;

converting the accepted image data into e-mail data;

detecting whether or not the input destination address data includes a specific identification character in addition to a complete destination address;

analyzing the destination address data, and extracting a destination address;

performing a predetermined process corresponding to the specific identification character, to the converted e-mail data when the specific identification character is detected in the input destination address data; and

transmitting the e-mail data to the extracted destination address in accordance with an e-mail transfer protocol with the predetermined process performed when the specific identification character is detected, and transmitting the e-mail data without performing the predetermined process, to the extracted destination address in accordance with the e-mail transfer protocol when the specific identification character is not detected in the input destination address data, the predetermined process being distinct from routing and addressing processes performed by the transmitting.