Electronic-mail apparatus

• US 6,826,266 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1995
• 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: Toyoda, Kiyoshi, Bando, Tatsuo, Sawada, Toshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US10/287,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20030059010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100-1-1, 379/100.06, 379/100-8-1, 379/100-2-1, 379/100-6-1, 379/93.24, 379/93.08, 379/93.15, 709/206, 358/400, 358/402, 358/442-443, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 379/100.08
• 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 apparatus includes an electronic-mail receiver that receives electronic mail from a mail sender via a communication network, a converter that converts the electronic mail into printable image data, and a printer that prints the converted image data. Further, the electronic mail apparatus includes a processor that transmits an error message to the mail sender when electronic mail that the electronic-mail receiver receives is not applied at the electronic-mail apparatus. The electronic-mail receiver, the converter, the printer and the processor are integrated in the electronic-mail apparatus.

Claims

1. An electronic-mail apparatus comprising:

an electronic-mail receiver that receives electronic mail from a mail sender via a communication network;

a detector that determines, based upon data in a header of the electronic mail, whether or not the received electronic mail is printable image data;

a converter that converts the electronic mail into a format of printable image data when the detector determines that the received electronic mail is printable image data;

a printer that prints the converted image data; and

a processor that, when the detector determines that the electronic mail that said electronic-mail receiver receives is not printable image data, transmits an error message to the mail sender,

wherein said electronic-mail receiver, said detector, said converter, said printer and said processor are integrated in the electronic-mail apparatus.

2. The electronic-mail apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operational panel that designates an electronic mail destination address;

an accepter that accepts image data to be transmitted; and

an electronic-mail transmitter that transmits the accepted image data to an electronic mail destination address designated by said operational panel, via the communication network.

3. The electronic-mail apparatus according to claim 1, the data in the header indicating whether or not image data is attached to the electronic mail.

4. An electronic-mail apparatus comprising:

an electronic-mail receiver that receives electronic mail from a mail sender via a communication network;

a detector that determines, based upon data in a header of the electronic mail, whether or not the received electronic mail is printable image data;

a converter that converts the electronic mail into a format of printable image data when the detector determines that the received electronic mail is printable image data;

an output section that outputs the converted image data; and

a processor that, when the detector determines that the electronic mail that said electronic-mail receiver receives is not printable image data, transmits an error message to the mail sender,

wherein said electronic-mail receiver, said detector, said converter, said output section and said processor are integrated in the electronic-mail apparatus.

5. An electronic-mail apparatus comprising:

an electronic-mail receiver that receives electronic mail from a mail sender via a communication network;

a detector that determines, based upon data in a header of the electronic mail, whether or not the received electronic mail is printable image data;

a converter that converts the electronic mail into a format of printable image data when the detector determines that the received electronic mail is printable image data;

a printer that prints the converted image data; and

a processor that, when the detector determines that the electronic mail that said electronic-mail receiver receives is not printable image data, generates an error message,

wherein said electronic-mail receiver, said detector, said converter, said printer and said processor are integrated in the electronic-mail apparatus.

6. An electronic-mail apparatus comprising:

an electronic-mail receiver that receives electronic mail from a mail sender via a communication network;

a detector that determines, based upon data in a header of the electronic mail, whether or not the received electronic mail is printable image data;

a converter that converts the electronic mail into a format of printable image data when the detector determines that the received electronic mail is printable image data;

an output section that outputs the converted image data; and

a processor that, when the detector determines that the electronic mail that said electronic-mail receiver receives is not printable image data, generates an error message,

wherein said electronic-mail receiver, said detector, said converter, said output section and said processor are integrated in the electronic-mail apparatus.

7. A method for receiving electronic mail, using an electronic-mail apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving electronic mail from a mail sender via a communication network;

determining, based upon data in a header of the electronic mail, whether or not the received electronic mail is printable image data;

converting the electronic mail into a format of printable image data when it is determined that the received electronic mail is printable image data;

printing the converted image data; and

transmitting an error message to the mail sender when it is determined that the received electronic mail is not printable image data,

wherein the receiving, the determining, the converting, the printing and the transmitting are performed in the electronic-mail apparatus.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

designating an electronic mail destination address;

accepting image data to be transmitted; and

transmitting the accepted image data to the designated electronic mail destination address, via the communication network.

9. A method for receiving electronic mail, using an electronic-mail apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving electronic mail from a mail sender via a communication network;

determining, based upon data in a header of the electronic mail, whether or not the received electronic mail is printable image data;

converting the electronic mail into a format of printable image data when it is determined that the received electronic mail is printable image data;

outputting the converted image data; and

transmitting an error message to the mail sender when it is determined that the received electronic mail is not printable image data,

wherein the receiving, the determining, the converting, the outputting and the transmitting are performed in the electronic-mail apparatus.

10. A method for receiving electronic mail, using an electronic-mail apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving electronic mail from a mail sender via a communication network;

determining, based upon data in a header of the electronic mail, whether or not the received electronic mail is printable image data;

converting the electronic mail into a format of printable image data when it is determined that the received electronic mail is printable image data;

printing the converted image data; and

generating an error message when it is determined that the received electronic mail is not printable image data,

wherein the receiving, the determining, the converting, the printing and the generating are performed in the electronic-mail apparatus.

11. A method for receiving electronic mail, using an electronic-mail apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving electronic mail from a mail sender via a communication network;

determining, based upon data in a header of the electronic mail, whether or not the received electronic mail is printable image data;

converting the electronic mail into a format of printable image data when it is determined that the received electronic mail is printable image data;

outputting the converted image data; and

generating an error message when it is determined that the received electronic mail is not printable image data,

wherein the receiving, the determining, the converting, the outputting and the generating are performed in the electronic-mail apparatus.