Network facsimile device

• US 7,403,311 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kagawa, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles; Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Worku; Negussie
• Application Number:
  US09/978,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20020048048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,471 Days
• Field of Search: 358/402, 358/1.15, 358/407, 358/403, 358/434, 358/468, 358/442, 358/400, 379/93.23, 379/93.24, 379/100.09, 379/100.08, 379/93.07, 379/100.12, 379/217
• US Class Current: 358/474
• 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 1/00912 Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3204 of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3208 of an e-mail or network address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

A network facsimile device capable of Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) receiving, via a network, electronic mail (email) to which facsimile image data is attached, the network facsimile device includes domain registration means for registering a domain of an address of the network facsimile device, and email address registration means for registering a plurality of email addresses indicating the network facsimile device. The network facsimile device receives email when an address attached to such email is the network facsimile device domain and is one of the plurality of email addresses registered in the email address registration means.

Claims

1. A network facsimile device comprising:

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) receiving means for receiving, via a network, electronic mail (email) to which facsimile image data is attached;

domain registration means for registering a domain of an address of the network facsimile device;

email address registration means for registering a plurality of email addresses indicating the network facsimile device; and

controlling means, wherein the controlling means determines whether the address attached to the email is in the network facsimile device domain and is one of the plurality of email addresses registered in the email address registration means, and controls the network facsimile device to receive the email when the address attached to the email is in the network facsimile device domain and is one of the plurality of email addresses registered in the email address registration means, and

wherein the SMTP receiving means receives email addressed to the network facsimile device domain registered in the domain registration means and one of the plurality of email addresses registered in the email address registration means.

2. The network facsimile device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising forwarding address registration means for marching and registering the plurality of email addressees indicating the network facsimile device with the forwarding addresses for forwarding email sent to one of the plurality of email addresses,

wherein the network facsimile device forwards electronic mail to a recipient whose forwarding address corresponds to the email address of the received email sent to the network facsimile device.

3. The network facsimile device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising sender data acquisition and registration means for acquiring and registering data relating to the sender of email sent to the network facsimile device,

wherein the network facsimile device forwards the data relating to the sender at the same time as the network facsimile device forwards email to a recipient whose forwarding address corresponds to the email address of the received email sent to the network facsimile device.

4. The network facsimile device as claimed in claim 3, wherein data relating to the sender includes the sender'"'"'s email address and the network facsimile device forwards email to a recipient'"'"'s email address using the sender'"'"'s email address as a parameter.

5. The network facsimile device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of registered email addresses are associated with respective forwarding addresses of respective users of said network facsimile device.

6. The network facsimile device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of registered email addresses is associated with a plurality of forwarding addresses.

7. The network facsimile device of claim 6, wherein when an email addressed to said one of said plurality of registered email addresses is received, the received email is forwarded to each of the plurality of forwarding addresses.

8. The network facsimile device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of email addresses are rewritably registered.

10. The network facsimile device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of registered email addresses are addresses of respective users of said network facsimile device domain.

9. A network facsimile device capable of Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) receiving, via a network, electronic mail (email) to which facsimile image data is attached, the network facsimile device comprising:

an email address storage unit configured to register a domain of an address of the network facsimile device, and register a plurality of email addresses indicating the network facsimile device; and

a controller, wherein the controller determines whether an address attached to an email is in the network facsimile device domain and is one of the plurality of email addresses registered in the email arddress storage unit, and controls the network facsimile device to receive the email when the address attached to the email is in the network facsimile device domain and is one of the plurality of email addresses registered in the email address storage unit.