E-mail type facsimile apparatus and E-mail reception method

• US 6,128,101 A
• Filed: 09/29/1998
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Communications Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Kyoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pokrzywa, Joseph R.
• Application Number:
  US09/161,747
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 395/114, 358/402, 358/407, 358/403, 358/442, 358/462, 358/1.15, 709/204, 709/206, 709/217, 709/219, 709/207, 379/88.01, 379/88.07, 379/88.17, 379/88.13, 379/93.17, 379/93.24, 379/100.01, 379/100.08, 379/100.09
• US Class Current: 358/402
• 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 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

The decision unit leaves unacceptable mail in the mail server and stores the left mail number and message ID of the latest mail in the 1st RAM as left mail number K and left mail ID, respectively. In the next access, the decision unit acquires the message ID of the Kth mail stored in the mail server and compares it with the left mail ID. If both match, the "K+1"th and subsequent pieces of mail are received. Therefore, it distinguishes the left mail and new incoming mail, avoiding repeated reception of the left mail. This makes it possible to leave E-mail in the mail server using it as a secondary storage device and distinguish the left E-mail and new incoming E-mail in subsequent accesses.

Claims

1. An internet facsimile apparatus for receiving image data through a computer network, the apparatus comprising:

a scanner adapted to scan an original to obtain image data;

a printing unit adapted to print at least one of a plurality of data;

an interface which is connected to a computer network;

a memory adapted to store the at least one of the plurality of data; and

a processor which is controllably connected to said scanner, said printing unit, said interface and said memory;

wherein;

said processor is configured to access a mail server apparatus through said interface via the computer network;

said processor is configured to store, in said memory, a number K of left mail E-mail pieces left in the mail server apparatus at last access;

said processor is configured to store, in said memory, left mail ID identification data of a last piece of a plurality of E-mail pieces left in the mail server apparatus;

said processor is configured to obtain total number N of E-mail held in the mail server apparatus, and further obtain Kth E-mail identification data of a Kth E-mail held in the mail server apparatus at next access;

said processor is further configured to compare the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data, and the total number N and the number K separately;

said processor is configured to receive an E-mail which is newer than the Kth E-mail when the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data agree;

said processor is configured to disconnect an access at the next access upon a determination of no newly received E-mail when the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data agree and when the total number N and the number K agree; and

said processor is configured to receive an E-mail having a number greater than or equal to K+1 when the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data do not agree or when the total number N and the number K do not agree.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to analyze the E-mail and decide whether or not the E-mail is acceptable;

and wherein the processor, is further configured to store in said memory, as left mail ID identification data, identification data of the E-mail which is decided as unacceptable.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to leave the E-mail in the mail server when said processor decides that the E-mail is unacceptable as a result of the analysis.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to analyze at least of an E-mail header section, a TIFF file header section and a TIFF file image file attribute of the E-mail.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to output an error message when said processor decides that the E-mail is unacceptable.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said processor is further configured to output the error message by facsimile.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to produce an error when said processor decides that the E-mail is unacceptable.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to receive all E-mail held in the mail server apparatus when the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data do not agree.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to delete at least one of the plurality of E-mail pieces held in the mail server apparatus, so that at least one E-mail piece remains in the mail server apparatus.

12. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing unit is not configured to print the E-mail which is decided as unacceptable.

8. A method for receiving an E-mail, in an Internet facsimile apparatus for receiving image data by E-mail through a computer network, by accessing a mail server apparatus connected to the computer network, the method comprising:

storing a number K of E-mail pieces left in the mail server apparatus at last access;

storing left mail ID identification data of a last piece of a plurality of E-mail pieces left in the mail server apparatus;

obtaining total number N of E-mail held in the mail server apparatus, and further obtain Kth E-mail identification data of a Kth E-mail held in the mail server apparatus;

comparing the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data, and the total number N and the number K separately;

receiving an E-mail which is newer than the Kth E-mail when the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data agree;

disconnecting an access at the next access upon a determination of no newly received E-mail when the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data agree and when the total number N and the number K agree; and

receiving an E-mail having a number greater than or equal to K+1 when the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data do not agree or when the total number N and the number K do not agree.

9. An internet facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving image data by E-mail through a computer network, the apparatus comprising:

a scanner adapted to scan an original to obtain image data;

a printing unit adapted to print at least one of a plurality of data;

an interface which is connected to a computer network;

a memory adapted to store the at least one of the plurality of data; and

a processor which is controllably connected to said scanner, said printing unit, said interface and said memory;

wherein;

said processor is configured to access a mail server apparatus through said interface via the computer network;

said processor is configured to store, in said memory, a number K of left mail E-mail pieces left in the mail server apparatus at last access

said processor is configured to store, in said memory, left mail ID identification data of a last piece of a plurality of E-mail pieces left in the mail server apparatus;

said processor is configured to obtain total number N of E-mail held in the mail server apparatus and further obtain Kth E-mail identification data of a Kth E-mail held in the mail server apparatus, at next access, from the mail server apparatus;

said processor is configured to compare the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data, and the total number N and the number K separately;

said processor is configured to disconnect an access at the next access upon a determination of no newly received E-mail when the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data agree and when the total number N and the number K agree; and

said processor is configured to receive an E-mail having a number greater than or equal to K+1 when the Kth E-mail identification data and the left mail ID identification data do not agree or when the total number N and the number K do not agree.