Network facsimile apparatus

• US 6,952,279 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1999
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic System Networks Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Communications Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Iida, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pokrzywa, Joseph R.
• Application Number:
  US09/314,960
• Time in Patent Office: 2,329 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/403, 358/404, 358/407, 358/440, 358/442, 358/443, 358/468, 379/93.05, 379/93.08, 379/93.14, 379/93.23, 379/93.24, 379/93.25, 379/100.01, 379/100.05, 379/100.08, 379/100.11
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 1/00214 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/218 Deletion of stored data; Preventing such deletion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3202 of communication or activity log or report
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3209 of a telephone number
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3218 of a confirmation, acknowledgement or receipt
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3221 : of a job number or identification, e.g. communication number
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 : of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

The network facsimile apparatus is able to communicate using both a public switched telephone network and a computer network, and has a facsimile section which transmits and receives an image via the public switched telephone network, a mail section which transmits and receives an e-mail via the computer network, a web server which transmits a reply to a client in response to a request from the client that is connected to said network apparatus via said computer network, a storage which is to store received, and a list generating section which generates a structured document of reception list. When the web server receives an operation request concerning a reception list from a client, the web server provides the received operation request to the list generating section.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus connected to a terminal apparatus via a network, the communication apparatus comprising:

a control panel configured to at least enter a destination address;

a memory that stores an address book including a plurality of destination addresses, the address book being stored as a HTML file;

a transmitter that transmits image data to a designated destination address which is stored in the address book, the image data being transmitted via at least one of the network or a telephone network in response to an input from the control panel;

a communicator that transmits the address book to the terminal apparatus when a request for the address book is received from the terminal apparatus, the address book being displayable at the terminal apparatus; and

a controller that, in response to an instruction from the terminal apparatus, transmits at least one input screen, associated with the address book, to the terminal apparatus, said input screen having an input field enabling modification of a destination address, said screen configured so that the address book can be modified from the terminal apparatus;

said communicator transmitting the address book and menu items to the terminal apparatus, wherein the address book and the menu items are displayed as single image at the terminal apparatus, the menu items being utilized to request the communication apparatus to transmit an input screen for changing a content of the address book;

wherein said control panel, said memory, said transmitter, said communicator, and said controller are included within a self-contained unit.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller deletes a designated destination address in the address book, in accordance with an instruction from the terminal apparatus.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller adds a destination address into the address book, in accordance with an instruction from the terminal apparatus.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller edits a designated destination address in the address book, in accordance with an instruction from the terminal apparatus.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the address book includes telephone numbers as the destination addresses.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the address book includes e-mail addresses as the destination addresses.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the address book includes a destination name and a type of communication, of each destination address, the type of communication indicating one of a facsimile communication and an e-mail communication.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, the menu items comprising an adding key that adds a destination address.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, the menu items comprising a deleting key that deletes a destination address.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, the menu items comprising an edit key that instructs editing a destination address.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the terminal apparatus comprises a personal computer.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller modifies a designated destination address, in accordance with an instruction from the terminal apparatus.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scanner and a printer.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input device configured to input image data to the communication apparatus, the input device connected to the communication apparatus independently of a connection between the communication apparatus and the network.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, the input device comprising a scanner.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, said single image displaying the address book and the menu items is configured such that selection of one of the menu items at the terminal apparatus causes the communication apparatus to transmit a related one of a plurality of images each configured to permit one of an addition to the address book, a deletion from the address book and an editing of the address book.

17. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an HTML file generating section and an e-mail communication section.

18. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus selectively communicate via the network and via the telephone network.

19. A communication method using a communication apparatus connected to a terminal apparatus via a network, the communication apparatus including a control panel, the communication method comprising:

entering at least a destination address through the control panel;

storing an address book including a plurality of destination addresses into a memory, the address book being stored as an HTML file;

transmitting image data to a designated destination address stored in the address book, the image data being transmitted via at least one of the network and a telephone network in response to an input from the control panel;

transmitting the address book to the terminal apparatus when a request for the address book is received from the terminal apparatus, the address book being displayable at the terminal apparatus; and

controlling, in response to an instruction from the terminal apparatus, transmission of at least one input screen associated with the address book, to the terminal apparatus, the input screen having an input field enabling modification of the destination address, the input screen enabling modification of the address book from the terminal apparatus,

the transmitting comprising transmitting the address book and menu items, wherein the address book and the menu items are displayed as single image at the terminal apparatus, the menu items being utilized to request the communication apparatus to transmit an input screen for changing a content of the address book,

wherein the entering, the storing, the transmitting of image data, the transmitting of the address book and the controlling are performed within a self-contained unit.

20. The communication method according to claim 19, wherein the controlling deletes a designated destination address in the address book, in accordance with an instruction from the terminal apparatus.

21. The communication method according to claim 19, wherein the controlling adds a destination address into the address book, in accordance with an instruction from the terminal apparatus.

22. The communication method according to claim 19, wherein the controlling edits a designated destination address in the address book, in accordance with an instruction from the terminal apparatus.

23. The communication method according to claim 19, wherein the address book includes telephone numbers as the destination addresses.

24. The communication method according to claim 19, wherein the address book includes e-mail addresses as the destination addresses.

25. The communication method according to claim 19, wherein the address book includes a destination name and a type of communication, of each destination address, the type of communication indicating one of a facsimile communication and an e-mail communication.

26. The communication method according to claim 19, wherein the menu items comprises adding a destination address.

27. The communication method according to claim 19, wherein the menu items comprises deleting a destination address.

28. The communication method according to claim 19, wherein the menu items comprises editing a destination address.

29. The communication method according to claim 19 further comprising providing a printer and a scanner in the communication apparatus.

30. The communication method according to claim 19, further comprising inputting image data to the communication apparatus by an input device connected to the communication apparatus independently of a connection between the communication apparatus and the network.

31. The communication method according to claim 30, the inputting comprising scanning.

32. The communication method according to claim 19, further comprising configuring the single image of the address book and menu items such that selection of a menu item at the terminal apparatus causes the communication apparatus to transmit a related one of a plurality of images, each image configured to permit one of an addition to the address book, a deletion from the address book and an editing of the address book.

33. The communication method according to claim 19, further comprising generating an HTML file and transmitting and receiving e-mail via the network.

34. The communication method according to claim 19, further comprising selectively transmitting data via the network and the telephone network.