COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC MAIL TRANSMITTING METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC MAIL TRANSMITTING PROGRAM

• US 20140082708A1
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: TONEGAWA, Nobuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 10,243,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

A communication apparatus enhances security in transmitting electronic mail to a destination mail address without degrading operability. An MFP is connected to an authentication server and a mail server via a network. A user name and password are entered in a user name entry screen. The MFP requests the authentication server to authenticate the entered user name and password. When the user name and password are authenticated, the MFP is operable to acquire an e-mail address, a SMTP authentication user name, and a SMTP authentication password according to SMTP associated with the authenticated user name and password from the authentication server. The MFP requests the mail server to authenticate the acquired SMTP authentication user name and SMTP authentication password according to SMTP. When the SMTP authentication user name and the SMTP authentication password are authenticated, the MFP is operable to transmit e-mail to the mail server.

Claims

1. A scanning system capable of transmitting e-mail data including scanned image data, comprising:

an acceptance unit configured to accept first authentication information from a user;

an authentication unit configured to authenticate, using the first authentication information accepted by the acceptance unit, the user;

an obtaining unit configured to obtain second authentication information stored in association with the authenticated user in a case where the authentication of the user by the authentication unit succeeds;

a scanning unit configured to scan an image on an original, and generate corresponding image data;

an execution unit configured to execute, using the second authentication information obtained by the obtaining unit, a SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) authentication in a SMTP connection for transmitting e-mail data including the image data generated by the scanning unit;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the e-mail data to a mail server in a case where the SMTP authentication executed by the execution unit succeeds.

2. A scanning system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising;

a storing unit configured to store the second authentication information of a plurality of users;

wherein the obtaining unit obtains the second authentication information from the storing unit.

3. A scanning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the obtaining unit obtains the second authentication information from an authentication server.

4. A scanning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first authentication information includes a user name and a password.

5. A scanning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second authentication information includes a user name and a password.

6. A scanning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scanning system is included in a MFP (Multi Function Peripheral).

7. A method for a scanning system capable of transmitting e-mail data including scanned image data, the method comprising:

an acceptance step of accepting first authentication information from a user;

an authentication step of authenticating, using the first authentication information accepted in the acceptance step, the user;

an obtaining step of obtaining second authentication information stored in association with the authenticated user in a case where the authentication of the user in the authentication step succeeds;

a scanning step of scanning an image on an original, and generate corresponding image data;

an execution step of executing, using the second authentication information obtained in the obtaining step, a SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) authentication in a SMTP connection for transmitting e-mail data including the image data generated in the scanning step;

a transmitting step of transmitting the e-mail data to a mail server in a case where the SMTP authentication executed in the execution step succeeds.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first authentication information includes a user name and a password.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second authentication information includes a user name and a password.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method for a scanning system capable of transmitting e-mail data including scanned image data, the method comprising:

an acceptance step of accepting first authentication information from a user;

an authentication step of authenticating, using the first authentication information accepted in the acceptance step, the user;

an obtaining step of obtaining second authentication information stored in association with the authenticated user in a case where the authentication of the user in the authentication step succeeds;

a scanning step of scanning an image on an original, and generate corresponding image data;

an execution step of executing, using the second authentication information obtained in the obtaining step, a SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) authentication in a SMTP connection for transmitting e-mail data including the image data generated in the scanning step;

a transmitting step of transmitting the e-mail data to a mail server in a case where the SMTP authentication executed in the execution step succeeds

wherein the second authentication information includes a user name and a password.