Data transmission apparatus, data transmission method and data transmission program

• US 20020141380A1
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Koguchi, Masatsugu
• Granted Patent: US 7,548,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• 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 1/32368 Functions of a still picture terminal memory associated with transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33307 prior to start of transmission, input or output of the picture signal only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data

Abstract

A data transmission apparatus capable of transmitting image data to a recipient using recipient'"'"'s desired transmission parameters regardless of whether the recipient resides inside or outside an intranet to which the apparatus is connected, wherein the recipient is requested via an e-mail to designate the desired transmission parameters through the most appropriate transmission medium that is set in consideration of the recipient'"'"'s location. Specifically, the transmission medium is set to a Web browser if the recipient resides inside the intranet to which the apparatus is connected, while it is set to an e-mail if the recipient resides outside the intranet.

Claims

1. A data transmission apparatus for transmitting image data over a network, the data transmission apparatus comprising:

an image reader for obtaining image data by reading an original document;

a storage device in which the image data obtained is stored;

request means for requesting that a recipient to which the image data stored in the storage device is to be sent designates contents of conversion processes to be performed to the image data;

first receiving means for receiving recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes;

second receiving means for receiving the recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes via a transmission medium different from that used by the first receiving means;

switching means for switching receiving means that receives the recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes to the first or second receiving means depending on the recipient;

conversion means for, based on the contents of the conversion processes designated, performing the conversion processes to the image data stored in the storage device; and

transmission means for sending to the recipient the image data that has undergone the conversion processes.

2. A data transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the request means have mail transmission means for sending an e-mail to request the recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes.

3. A data transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first receiving means receive the recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes based on an instruction sent from the recipient via a setting screen that is used to designate the contents of the conversion processes and that was referred to by the recipient based on information that was attached to the e-mail and indicates location of data for the setting screen,

and wherein the second receiving means receive the recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes via an e-mail that was returned from the recipient in response to the e-mail sent by the mail transmission means.

4. A data transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the switching means switch receiving means that receives the recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes to the first receiving means when a domain name in an e-mail address of the recipient is identical to a domain name in an e-mail address of a sender, and to the second receiving means when the domain name in the e-mail address of the recipient is different from the domain name in the e-mail address of the sender.

5. A data transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion processes include at least a resolution conversion process, a color conversion process or a file format conversion process.

6. A data transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising recipient change receiving means for receiving an instruction to change the recipient,

and wherein the transmission means send the image data that has undergone the conversion processes to a new recipient when the recipient is changed.

7. A data transmission method for transmitting image data over a network, the data transmission method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining image data by reading an original document;

b) storing the image data obtained in a storage device;

c) requesting that a recipient to which the image data stored in the storage device is to be sent designates contents of conversion processes to be performed to the image data;

d) receiving designation of the contents of the conversion processes via one of multiple different transmission media specified depending on the recipient;

e) performing the conversion processes to the image data stored in the storage device based on the contents of the conversion processes designated; and

f) sending to the recipient the image data that has undergone the conversion processes.

8. A data transmission program that causes a computer to execute a process comprising the steps of:

a) requesting that a recipient to which image data is to be sent designates contents of conversion processes to be performed to the image data;

b) setting a transmission medium, by which recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes is received, to a first transmission medium or to a second transmission medium depending on the recipient;

c) receiving the recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes via the transmission medium set at step (b);

d) performing the conversion processes to the image data to be sent based on the contents of the conversion processes designated; and

e) sending the image data that has undergone the conversion processes to the recipient.

9. A data transmission program according to claim 8, wherein request for the recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes at step (a) is made through transmission of an e-mail.

10. A data transmission program according to claim 9, wherein the recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes is received at step (c) via an instruction sent from the recipient using a setting screen that is used to designate the contents of the conversion processes and that was referred to by the recipient based on information that was attached to the e-mail and indicates location of data for the setting screen if the transmission medium is set to the first transmission medium at step (b), and the recipient'"'"'s designation of the contents of the conversion processes is received at step (c) via an e-mail returned in response to the e-mail sent at step (a) if the transmission medium is set to the second transmission medium at step (b).

11. A data transmission program according to claim 10, wherein, at step (b), the transmission medium is set to the first transmission medium when a domain name in an e-mail address of the recipient is identical to a domain name in an e-mail address of a sender, and the transmission medium is set to the first transmission medium when the domain name in the e-mail address of the recipient is different from the domain name in the e-mail address of the sender.

12. A data transmission program according to claim 8, wherein the process to be executed by the computer further comprises a step of receiving an instruction to change the recipient, and when the recipient is changed, the image data that has undergone the conversion processes is sent to the new recipient at step (e).

13. A recording medium readable by a computer in which the data transmission program recited in claim 8 is stored.