Data transmission device, data transmission method, and data transmission program

• US 20050289126A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Koguchi, Masatsugu
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4426 involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

The MFP used as a data transmission device authenticates a data entering person as a specific user in correspondence with a specific data input, searches data receiving addresses related to the authenticated user among the data receiving addresses of each user registered in the address book, assigns the searched data receiving addresses as transmission destinations, and transmits the data to the assigned transmission destinations.

Claims

1. A data transmission device, comprising:

an address storing unit for storing each user'"'"'s data receiving addresses;

a user authentication unit for authenticating a data entering person as a specific user in correspondence with a specific data input;

an address searching unit for searching the data receiving addresses related to the user authenticated by said user authentication unit;

an address assigning unit for assigning the data receiving addresses searched by said address searching unit as transmission destinations; and

a transmitting unit for transmitting the data to the transmission destinations assigned by said address assigning unit.

2. A data transmission device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

an image reader for obtaining image data by scanning a document, wherein

said transmitting unit transmits the image data obtained by said image reader to the transmission destinations assigned by said address assigning unit.

3. A data transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the data receiving addresses related to said authenticated user are said authenticated user'"'"'s data receiving addresses.

4. A data transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said address searching unit searches data receiving addresses of said authenticated user and data receiving addresses of other users who approve receiving of data from said authenticated user, and

said address assigning unit assigns as transmission destinations the data receiving addresses selected by said authenticated user among said authenticated user'"'"'s data receiving addresses and the data receiving addresses of other users searched by said address searching unit.

5. A data transmission device as claimed in claim 4, wherein

said address assigning unit assigns the data receiving addresses of the authenticated user who is authenticated by said user authentication unit as transmission sources when the data receiving addresses of said other users are assigned as transmission destinations.

6. A data transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said data receiving addresses include e-mail addresses.

7. A data transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said data receiving addresses include specified addresses in the user'"'"'s computer.

8. A data transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said data receiving addresses include specified addresses in a FTP server.

9. A data transmission device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

an address displaying unit capable of displaying the data receiving addresses searched by said address searching unit wherein

said address displaying unit displays data receiving addresses in a predetermined order of priority where a plurality of data receiving addresses are obtained by said address searching unit.

10. A data transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said address storing unit is connected to said address assigning unit and said transmitting unit via a network.

11. A data transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said address searching unit is connected to said address assigning unit and said transmitting unit via a network.

12. A data transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said user authentication unit is connected to said address assigning unit and said transmitting unit via a network.

13. A data transmission method comprising the steps of:

1) storing each user'"'"'s data receiving addresses;

2) authenticating a data entering person as a specific user in correspondence with a specific data input;

3) searching the data receiving addresses related to the authenticated user;

4) assigning the searched data receiving address as transmission destinations; and

5) transmitting the data to the assigned transmission destinations.

14. A recording medium storing a data transmission program, said data transmission program causing a computer to execute a process comprising the steps of:

1) authenticating a data entering person as a specific user in correspondence with a specific data input;

2) searching the data receiving addresses related to the authenticated user among each user'"'"'s data receiving addresses stored in the address storing unit;

3) assigning the searched data receiving address as transmission destinations; and

4) transmitting the data to the assigned transmission destinations.