Communication system and communication apparatus building the system

• US 7,280,239 B2
• Filed: 07/27/1998
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sekiguchi, Kenzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Moe; Aung S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, ANDREW H
• Application Number:
  US09/123,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,361 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/403, 358/407, 358/434, 358/438, 358/440, 358/442, 358/443, 358/468, 709/206, 709/238, 709/239, 709/240, 379/100.08, 379/100.09, 379/100.13, 379/100.15
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 1/0022 involving facsimile protocols or a combination of facsimile protocols and computer data transmission protocols
• 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 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 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Facsimile image data received from a normal facsimile apparatus connected to a general telephone network can be transmitted as an e-mail to the e-mail address of a computer network such as a LAN or the like designated by the source facsimile apparatus. An apparatus has a LAN I/F (6-14) for connecting to the LAN, and a line I/F (6-6) for connecting to the public telephone network. Upon reception of a remote instruction from the public telephone network, a CPU (6-3) converts received facsimile image data into e-mail data, and transmits the converted e-mail data to the e-mail address designated by the received remote instruction.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

means for connecting to a computer network;

means for connecting to a public telephone network;

facsimile reception means for receiving facsimile image data from a transmitting source via the public telephone network;

returning means for returning a message in response to a request received from the transmitting source via the public telephone network;

first instruction reception means for receiving an instruction generated based on said message returned by said returning means;

second instruction reception means for receiving an instruction indicating a facsimile communication without reception of the instruction by said first instruction reception means;

recognition means for recognizing a telephone number of the transmitting source and a reception date of the facsimile image data received by said facsimile reception means;

conversion means for converting the received facsimile image data into an image file, and converting the image file and text data of reception result including the telephone number of the transmitting source and the reception date of the facsimile image data recognized by said recognition means into e-mail data in which the image file is one part and the text data of reception result is another pan under MIME format;

processing means for processing the facsimile image data received by said facsimile reception means without performing the converting by said conversion means in a case where said second instruction reception means receives the instruction; and

transmission means for transmitting the e-mail data comprising the image file of facsimile image data converted by said conversion means and the text data of reception result including the telephone number and the reception date recognized by said recognition means, in a case where the instruction is received by said first instruction reception means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said returning means return the response message as voice guidance information.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said instruction reception means receives the instruction by a tone signal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the tone signal is a DTMF signal.

5. A method for a communication apparatus comprising:

connecting to a computer network;

connecting to a public telephone network;

receiving facsimile image data from a transmitting source via the public telephone network;

returning a message in response to a request received from the transmitting source via the public telephone network;

receiving first instruction generated based on said message returned by a returning means;

receiving second instruction indicating a facsimile communication without reception of said first instruction received by said first instruction reception step;

recognizing a telephone number of the transmitting source and a reception date of the facsimile image data received by said facsimile reception step;

converting the received facsimile image data into an image file, and converting the image file and text data of reception result including the telephone number of the transmitting source and the reception date of the facsimile image data recognized by said recognition step into e-mail data in which the image file is one part and the text data of reception result is another part under MIME format;

processing the received facsimile image data without performing said converting in a case where said second instruction is received; and

transmitting the e-mail data comprising the image file of facsimile image data converted by said conversion step and the text data of reception result including the telephone number and the reception date recognized by said recognition step, in a case where said first instruction is received.

6. A computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon for a communication apparatus, the computer program comprising:

program code means for connecting to a computer network;

program code means for connecting to a public telephone network;

program code means for receiving facsimile image data from a transmitting source via the public telephone network;

program code means for returning a message in response to a request received from the transmitting source via the public telephone network;

program code means for receiving first instruction generated based on said message returned by a returning means;

program code means for receiving second instruction indicating a facsimile communication without reception of said tint instruction received by said first instruction reception code means;

program code means for recognizing a telephone number of the transmitting source and a reception date of the facsimile image data received by said facsimile reception code means;

program code means for converting the received facsimile image data into an image file, and converting she image file and the data of reception result including the telephone number of the transmitting source and the reception date of the facsimile image data recognized by said recognition code means into e-mail data in which she image file is one part and the text data of reception result is another part under MIME format;

program code means for processing the received facsimile image data without performing converting by said converting code means in a case where said second instruction is received; and

program code means for transmitting the e-mail data comprising the image file of facsimile image data converted by said conversion code means and the text data of reception result including the telephone number and the reception date recognized by said recognition code means, in a case where the instruction is received by said first instruction reception code means.