Method and apparatus for facsimile that notifies an e-mail transmission using facsimile protocol Number:6,825,955 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent A facsimile apparatus which is capable of notifying a called facsimile terminal of an electronic mail transmission includes a facsimile image transmitter and receiver, a memory, an electronic mail generator, an electronic mail transmitter and receiver, and an electronic mail controller. The memory registers a plurality of facsimile terminals to be called and stores information sets pertinent thereto, wherein each of the information sets includes a user name, a facsimile number, and an electronic mail address for an Internet communication. The electronic mail generator generates electronic mail with an image file, addressed to one of the registered facsimile terminals using the electronic mail address thereof. The electronic mail transmitter and receiver transmits the electronic mail to an Internet server of a subscribing Internet service provider and receives electronic mail from the Internet server. The electronic mail controller controls the facsimile image transmitter and receiver to transmit electronic mail and to further transmit an electronic mail transmission notice to the same one of the registered facsimile terminals using the facsimile number thereof immediately after the electronic mail transmitter and receiver sends electronic mail to the Internet server.<H transmission, facsimile, Method, and, appa, 6825955.html, Patent, pto, 6825955

Title: Method and apparatus for facsimile that notifies an e-mail transmission using facsimile protocol

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus which is capable of notifying a called facsimile terminal of an electronic mail transmission includes a facsimile image transmitter and receiver, a memory, an electronic mail generator, an electronic mail transmitter and receiver, and an electronic mail controller. The memory registers a plurality of facsimile terminals to be called and stores information sets pertinent thereto, wherein each of the information sets includes a user name, a facsimile number, and an electronic mail address for an Internet communication. The electronic mail generator generates electronic mail with an image file, addressed to one of the registered facsimile terminals using the electronic mail address thereof. The electronic mail transmitter and receiver transmits the electronic mail to an Internet server of a subscribing Internet service provider and receives electronic mail from the Internet server. The electronic mail controller controls the facsimile image transmitter and receiver to transmit electronic mail and to further transmit an electronic mail transmission notice to the same one of the registered facsimile terminals using the facsimile number thereof immediately after the electronic mail transmitter and receiver sends electronic mail to the Internet server.

Patent Number: 6,825,955 Issued on 11/30/2004 to Shibata

Inventors: Shibata; Hiroshi (Isehara, JP)
Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd. (Tokyo, JP)

Appl. No.: 204017

Filed: December 1, 1998

Foreign Application Priority Data


Dec 01, 1997 [JP]			9-330437
Jun 16, 1998 [JP]			10-168386

Current U.S. Class: 358/402 ; 358/401; 358/405; 358/407; 358/434; 379/100.06; 379/100.08; 379/100.12

Current International Class: H04N 1/00 (20060101)

Field of Search: 358/402,400,407,403,404,405,434 379/100.01,100.06,100.08,100.12 709/206,239

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


5339156	August 1994	Ishii
5608786	March 1997	Gordon
5619725	April 1997	Gordon
5754306	May 1998	Taylor et al.
5848137	December 1998	Hsiao
5859967	January 1999	Kaufeld et al.
5905777	May 1999	Foladare et al.
6020980	February 2000	Freeman
6043902	March 2000	Sato
6088125	July 2000	Okada et al.
6134582	October 2000	Kennedy
6144462	November 2000	Kaplan
6157706	December 2000	Rachelson
6208426	March 2001	Saito et al.
6230189	May 2001	Sato et al.
6266160	July 2001	Saito et al.
6268926	July 2001	Okimoto et al.
6327612	December 2001	Watanabe

Foreign Patent Documents


7154418	Jun., 1995	JP
71544118	Jun., 1995	JP
9198327	Jul., 1997	JP
10164345	Jun., 1998	JP

Primary Examiner: Williams; Kimberly
Assistant Examiner: Carter; Tia A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cooper & Dunham LLP

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a facsimile image transmitter and receiver that transmits and receives a facsimile image; a memory that registers a plurality of facsimile terminals to be called and stores information sets pertinent thereto, each of said information sets including a user name, a facsimile number, and an electronic mail address for an Internet communication; an electronic mail generator generating electronic mail that includes an attachment file of image data, said electronic mail being addressed to one of said registered facsimile terminals using said electronic mail address thereof; an electronic mail transmitter and receiver that transmits said electronic mail generated by said electronic mail generator to an Internet server of a subscribing Internet service provider and receives electronic mail from the Internet server; and an electronic mail controller that controls said electronic mail transmitter and receiver to transmit electronic mail, addressed to one of said registered facsimile terminals using said electronic mail address of the receiving terminal, to said Internet server and to further transmit an electronic mail transmission notice to said receiving terminal using said facsimile number thereof immediately after said electronic mail transmitter and receiver sends electronic mail to said Internet server.

2. The facsimile apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electronic mail controller controls an access call to said Internet server with said electronic mail transmitter and receiver to receive an incoming electronic mail upon receiving an electronic mail transmission notice notifying transmission of said incoming electronic mail from a different facsimile terminal.

3. The facsimile apparatus of claim 2, wherein said electronic mail controller performs a first try of said access call at a predetermined time after receiving said electronic mail transmission notice, and successive tries at predetermined intervals for up to a number of predetermined times when said incoming electronic mail is not found in said Internet server.

4. The facsimile apparatus of claim 2, wherein said electronic mail controller controls said facsimile image transmitter and receiver to transmit an electronic mail receipt notice to said different facsimile terminal when successfully receiving said incoming electronic mail.

5. The facsimile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communications status controller that maintains statuses of each communications operation having been made on basis of information sent back from said one of said registered facsimile terminals and that outputs updated contents of said statuses.

6. The facsimile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electronic mail transmission selector that selects either one of image data transmissions by facsimile and by electronic mail, and wherein said electronic mail controller determines a performance of said image data transmission either by facsimile or electronic mail depending upon said electronic mail transmission selector.

7. The facsimile apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said information sets stored in said memory includes an electronic mail invalidating flag and said electronic mail controller performs said image data transmission by facsimile when said electronic mail invalidating flag corresponding to said one out of said registered facsimile terminals to be called is set.

8. The facsimile apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electronic mail transmitter and receiver transmits and receives said electronic mail through at least one of a public telephone network including at least one of a public switched telephone network and an integrated services digital network, a private line, a local area network and a wide area network.

9. A facsimile apparatus comprising: transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving a facsimile image; memory means for registering a plurality of facsimile terminals to be called and storing information sets pertinent thereto, each of said information sets including a user name, a facsimile number, and an electronic mail address for an Internet communication; electronic mail generating means for generating electronic mail that includes an attachment file of image data, said electronic mail being addressed to one of said registered facsimile terminals using said electronic mail address thereof; electronic mail transmitting and receiving means for transmitting said electronic mail generated by said electronic mail generating means to an Internet server of a subscribing Internet service provider and for receiving electronic mail from the Internet server; and electronic mail controlling means for controlling said facsimile image transmitting and receiving means to transmit electronic mail, addressed to one of said registered facsimile terminals using said electronic mail address of the receiving terminal, to said Internet server and to further transmit an electronic mail transmission notice to said receiving terminal using said facsimile number thereof immediately after said electronic mail transmitting and receiving means sends electronic mail to said Internet server.

10. The facsimile apparatus of claim 9, wherein said electronic mail controlling means controls an access call to said Internet server with said electronic mail transmitting and receiving means to receive an incoming electronic mail upon receiving an electronic mail transmission notice notifying transmission of said incoming electronic mail from a different facsimile terminal.

11. The facsimile apparatus of claim 10, wherein said electronic mail controlling means performs a first try of said access call in a predetermined time after receiving said electronic mail transmission notice, and successive tries at predetermined intervals for up to a number of predetermined times when said incoming electronic mail is not found in said Internet server.

12. The facsimile apparatus of claim 10, wherein said electronic mail controlling means controls said facsimile image transmitting and receiving means to transmit an electronic mail receipt notice to said different facsimile terminal when successfully receiving said incoming electronic mail.

13. The facsimile apparatus of claim 9, further comprising communications status controlling means for maintaining statuses of each communications operation having been made on basis of information sent back from said one of said registered facsimile terminals and that outputs updated contents of said statuses.

14. The facsimile apparatus of claim 9, further comprising electronic mail transmission selecting means for selecting either one of image data transmissions by facsimile and by electronic mail, and wherein said electronic mail controlling means determines a performance of said image data transmission either by facsimile or electronic mail depending upon said electronic mail transmission selecting means.

15. The facsimile apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of said information sets stored in said memory means includes an electronic mail invalidating flag and said electronic mail controlling means performs said image data transmission by facsimile when said electronic mail invalidating flag corresponding to said one out of said registered facsimile terminals to be called is set.

16. The facsimile apparatus of claim 9, wherein said electronic mail transmitter and receiver transmits and receives the electronic mail through at least one of a public telephone network including at least one of a public switched telephone network and an integrated services digital network, a private line, a local area network and a wide area network.

17. A method for a facsimile apparatus to notify a called facsimile terminal of an electronic mail transmission comprising the steps of: providing a facsimile image transmitter and receiver which transmits and receives a facsimile image; registering a plurality of facsimile terminals to be called by storing information sets pertinent thereto, each of said information sets including a user name, a facsimile number, and an electronic mail address for an Internet communication; generating an electronic mail that includes an attachment file of image data, said electronic mail being addressed to one of said registered facsimile terminals using said electronic mail address thereof; providing an electronic mail transmitter and receiver that transmits said electronic mail generated by said generating step to an Internet server of a subscribing Internet service provider and for receiving electronic mail from the Internet server; and first controlling said facsimile image transmitter and receiver to transmit electronic mail, addressed to one of said registered facsimile terminals using said electronic mail address of the receiving terminal, to said Internet server and to further transmit an electronic mail transmission notice to said receiving terminal using said facsimile number thereof immediately after said electronic mail transmitter and receiver sends electronic mail to said Internet server.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first controlling step controls an access call to said Internet server with said electronic mail transmitter and receiver to receive an incoming electronic mail upon receiving an electronic mail transmission notice notifying transmission of said incoming electronic mail from a different facsimile terminal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said first controlling step performs a first try of said access call a predetermined time after receiving said electronic mail transmission notice, and successive tries at predetermined intervals for up to a number of predetermined times when said incoming electronic mail is not found in said Internet server.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said first controlling step controls said facsimile image transmitter and receiver to transmit an electronic mail receipt notice to said different facsimile terminal when successfully receiving said incoming electronic mail.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising a second controlling step for maintaining statuses of each communications operation having been made on basis of information sent back from said one of said registered facsimile terminals and that outputs updated contents of said statuses.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising a selecting step for selecting either one of image data transmissions by facsimile and by electronic mail, and wherein said first controlling step determines a performance of said image data transmission either by facsimile or electronic mail depending upon said electronic selecting step.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein each of said information sets stored in said storing step includes an electronic mail invalidating flag and said first controlling step performs said image data transmission by facsimile when said electronic mail invalidating flag corresponding to said one out of said registered facsimile terminals to be called is set.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein said electronic mail is transmitted and received through at least one of a public telephone network including at least one of a public switched telephone network and an integrated services digital network, a private line, a local area network and a wide area network.

25. An electronic communications system, comprising: at least two facsimile apparatus which are electronically coupled to each other, each comprising: a facsimile image transmitter and receiver that transmits and receives a facsimile image; a memory that registers a plurality of facsimile terminals to be called, including the other one of said at least two facsimile apparatus, and stores information sets pertinent thereto, each of said information sets including a user name, a facsimile number, and an electronic mail address for an Internet communication; an electronic mail generator generating electronic mail that includes an attachment file of image data, said electronic mail being addressed to one of said registered facsimile terminals using said electronic mail address thereof; an electronic mail transmitter and receiver that transmits said electronic mail generated by said electronic mail generator to an Internet server of a subscribing Internet service provider and receives electronic mail from the Internet server; and an electronic mail controller that controls said facsimile image transmitter and receiver to transmit electronic mail, addressed to one of said registered facsimile terminals using said electronic mail address of the receiving terminal, to said Internet server and to further transmit an electronic mail transmission notice to said receiving terminal using said facsimile number thereof immediately after said electronic mail transmitter and receiver sends electronic mail to said Internet server.

26. A communication system for transmitting and receiving information via a facsimile information communication system and an Internet, comprising: an electronic mail generator and transmitter that generates and transmits electronic mail including an attachment file of image data to a communication terminal via the Internet; and a facsimile information communication system controller for controlling said electronic mail generator and transmitter to transmit electronic mail, addressed to a receiving communication terminal using an electronic mail address of the receiving communication terminal server, and to further transmit an electronic mail transmission notice to said receiving communication terminal to which the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data is addressed, via the facsimile information communication system using said facsimile number of the receiving communication terminal immediately after said electronic mail is sent, the electronic mail transmission notice indicating to the receiving communication terminal to which the electronic mail is addressed, that an e-mail has been forwarded thereto.

27. A communication system as recited in claim 26, wherein the communication apparatus comprises a facsimile device.

28. A communication system as recited in claim 26, wherein the facsimile information communication system comprises a public telephone network.

29. A communication system as recited in claim 28, wherein said public telephone network comprises an Integrated Services Digital Network.

30. A communication system as recited in claim 26, wherein the electronic mail generator and transmitter transmits the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data to a first Internet service provider.

31. A communication system for transmitting and receiving information via a facsimile information communication system and an Internet, comprising: an electronic mail generator and transmitter that generates and transmits electronic mail including an attachment file of image data to a communication terminal via the Internet, wherein the electronic mail generator and transmitter transmits the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data to a first Internet service provider; a facsimile information communication system controller for transmitting to a receiving communication terminal to which the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data is addressed, via the facsimile information communication system, a notice indicating to the receiving communication terminal to which the electronic mail is addressed, that an e-mail has been forwarded thereto; and a second Internet service provider, wherein the first Internet service provider transmits the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data to the second Internet service provider, and wherein the communication terminal attempts to access and retrieve the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data from the second service provider in response to receiving the notice.

32. A communication system as recited in claim 31, wherein the first service provider and the second service provider comprise different service providers.

33. A communication system as recited in claim 31, wherein the first service provider and the second service provider comprise the same service provider.

34. A communication system as recited in claim 26, further comprising a facsimile image data generator, wherein the attachment file comprises facsimile image data generated by the facsimile image data generator.

35. A method of transmitting and receiving information via a facsimile information communication system and an Internet, comprising: providing an electronic mail transmitter to transmit electronic mail including an attachment file of image data, to a communication terminal via the Internet; and controlling said facsimile image transmitter to transmit electronic mail, addressed to a receiving communication terminal using an electronic mail address of the receiving communication terminal, and to further transmit an electronic mail transmission notice to said receiving communication terminal to which the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data is addressed via the public telephone network using said facsimile number of the receiving communication terminal immediately after said electronic mail transmitter and receiver sends the electronic mail, the notice indicating to the receiving communication terminal to which the electronic mail is addressed, that an e-mail has been forwarded thereto.

36. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the electronic mail generating and transmitting step transmits the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data to a first Internet service provider.

37. A method of transmitting and receiving information via a facsimile information communication system and an Internet, comprising: generating and transmitting electronic mail including an attachment file of image data, to a communication terminal via the Internet, wherein the electronic mail generating and transmitting step transmits the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data to a first Internet service provider; and transmitting to a receiving communication terminal to which the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data is addressed via the public telephone network, the notice indicating to the receiving communication terminal to which the electronic mail is addressed, that an e-mail has been forwarded thereto, wherein the first Internet service provider transmits the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data to a second Internet service provider, and wherein the communication terminal attempts to access and retrieve the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data from the second service provider in response to receiving the notice.

38. A facsimile apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a recipient that the electronic mail transmission notice is sent to at the registered facsimile terminal using said facsimile number is a same recipient to which the electronic mail is sent to at the registered facsimile terminal using said electronic mail address.

39. A facsimile apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein a recipient that the electronic mail transmission notice is sent to at the registered facsimile terminal using said facsimile number is a same recipient to which the electronic mail is sent to at the registered facsimile terminal using said electronic mail address.

40. A method for a facsimile apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein a recipient that the electronic mail transmission notice is sent to at the registered facsimile terminal using said facsimile number is a same recipient to which the electronic mail is sent to at the registered facsimile terminal using said electronic mail address.

41. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 25, wherein a recipient that the electronic mail transmission notice is sent to at the registered facsimile terminal using said facsimile number is a same recipient to which the electronic mail is sent to at the registered facsimile terminal using said electronic mail address.

42. A communication system as recited in claim 26, wherein a recipient that the notice is sent to is a same recipient to which the electronic mail is sent.

43. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein a recipient that the notice is sent to is a same recipient to which the electronic mail is sent.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This application relates to a method and apparatus for image transmission, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for image transmission that sends an image by both electronic mail and facsimile and that is capable of notifying a local facsimile apparatus of an incoming electronic mail using a facsimile protocol.

2. Description of the Related Art

A unique communications apparatus has been developed recently, which is capable of transmitting and receiving facsimile image data through the Internet using its low cost communications capability. One typical example is a facsimile apparatus that has a LAN (local area network) capability. This facsimile apparatus can send a facsimile image by way of electronic mail having an attachment of image data, using various communications protocols related to the Internet, such as TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol), SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol), MIME (multipurpose Internet mail extension), and so forth.

Another typical example is a so-called Internet facsimile apparatus that can perform Internet communication using a dial-up function. More specifically, the Internet facsimile apparatus transmits and receives electronic mail with an attachment of image data via a mail box of an Internet service provider using a PPP (point-to-point protocol) protocol. In connection with this Internet facsimile application, Internet service providers have recently been developing various Internet services convenient to these Internet-capable facsimile apparatuses.

A difference between the facsimile transmission through the facsimile protocol and the electronic mail transmission through the Internet communications protocol is on a real time performance. The facsimile transmission achieves a real time operation at a relatively high level. However, the Internet communications with the electronic mail has a problem in a real time operation because in the Internet, electronic mail is relayed to a destination through an indefinite number of Internet servers. Accordingly, since electronic mail may not reach a destination Internet server in a real time fashion, a destination user may need to check with the Internet server for incoming electronic mail from time to time.

For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. JPAP7-154418 (1995) describes a technique in which a check system automatically checks a local electronic mail system for incoming electronic mail for a plurality of users in a LAN environment. This technique attempts to eliminate a problem caused by each user individually having to check the electronic mail system for incoming electronic mail. For another example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. JPAP9-198327 (1997) describes a technique in which a PC (personal computer) automatically performs a dial-up operation for connecting to an Internet server at regular predetermined time intervals to check for incoming electronic mail. This technique attempts to eliminate a problem caused by each user having to start the PC each time the user desires to check incoming electronic mail.

However, with the above-mentioned techniques, in order to receive the electronic mail in a near-instant manner, the communications terminals are required to increase a frequency with which they check for incoming electronic mail with an Internet server through the public telephone network. Therefore, the above-mentioned techniques increase the cost of communications.

It is believed that there is no system available that allows a local facsimile terminal to receive an incoming electronic mail in a near-instant manner at a relatively low communication cost.

SUMMARY

The present application provides a facsimile apparatus that is capable of notifying a called facsimile terminal of an electronic mail transmission through a public telephone network at a relatively low communication cost. In one embodiment, the facsimile apparatus includes a facsimile image transmitter and receiver, a memory, an electronic mail generator, an electronic mail transmitter and receiver, and an electronic mail controller.

The facsimile image transmitter and receiver transmits and receives a facsimile image through the public telephone network. The memory registers a plurality of facsimile terminals to be called and stores information sets pertinent thereto.

Preferably, each of the information sets includes a user name, a facsimile number, and an electronic mail address for an Internet communication.

The electronic mail generator generates electronic mail that includes an attachment file of image data and that is addressed to one of the registered facsimile terminals using the electronic mail address thereof. The electronic mail transmitter and receiver transmits the electronic mail generated by the electronic mail generator to an Internet server of a subscribing Internet service provider and receives electronic mail from the Internet server, through the public telephone network.

The electronic mail controller controls the facsimile image transmitter and receiver to transmit electronic mail, which is addressed to one of the registered facsimile terminals using the electronic mail address thereof, to the Internet server. The electronic mail controller further controls the facsimile image transmitter and receiver to transmit an electronic mail transmission notice to the same one of the registered facsimile terminals using the facsimile number thereof, through the public telephone network, immediately after the electronic mail transmitter and receiver sends electronic mail.

The electronic mail controller can control an access call to the Internet server with the electronic mail transmitter and receiver to receive an incoming electronic mail upon receiving through the public telephone network an electronic mail transmission notice notifying transmission of the incoming electronic mail from a different facsimile terminal.

The electronic mail controller can perform a first try of the access call in a predetermined time after receiving the electronic mail transmission notice, and successive tries at predetermined intervals for up to a number of predetermined times when the incoming electronic mail is not found in the Internet server.

The electronic mail controller can control the facsimile image transmitter and receiver to transmit an electronic mail receipt notice to the different facsimile terminal when successfully receiving the incoming electronic mail.

In addition, the facsimile apparatus preferably includes a communications status controller that maintains statuses of each communications operation having been made on basis of information sent back from the one of the registered facsimile terminals and that outputs updated contents of the statuses.

In addition, the facsimile apparatus preferably includes an electronic mail transmission selector that selects either one of image data transmissions by facsimile and by electronic mail. If the facsimile apparatus includes the electronic mail transmission selector, the electronic mail controller determines a performance of the image data transmission either by facsimile or electronic mail depending upon the electronic mail transmission selector.

Preferably, each of the information sets stored in the memory includes an electronic mail invalidating flag. If each of the information sets includes an electronic mail invalidating flag, the electronic mail controller performs the image data transmission by facsimile when the electronic mail invalidating flag corresponding to the one out of the registered facsimile terminals to be called is set.

Preferably, the public telephone network includes at least one of a public switched telephone network and an integrated services digital network.

The present invention also provides an electronic communications system that is capable of routing an incoming electronic mail notification from a calling facsimile terminal to a called facsimile terminal. In one embodiment, the system includes at least two facsimile apparatus which are coupled to at least one public telephone network. Each of the facsimile apparatus includes a facsimile image transmitter and receiver, a memory, an electronic mail generator, an electronic mail transmitter and receiver, and an electronic mail controller.

The facsimile image transmitter and receiver transmits and receives a facsimile image through the public telephone network. The memory registers a plurality of facsimile terminals to be called, including the other one of said at least two facsimile apparatus, and stores information sets pertinent thereto. Preferably, each of the information sets includes a user name, a facsimile number, and an electronic mail address for an Internet communication.

The electronic mail generator generates electronic mail that includes an attachment file of image data and that is addressed to one of the registered facsimile terminals using the electronic mail address thereof. The electronic mail transmitter and receiver transmits the electronic mail generated by the electronic mail generator to an Internet server of a subscribing Internet service provider and receives electronic mail from the Internet server, through the public telephone network.

The electronic mail controller controls the facsimile image transmitter and receiver to transmit electronic mail, which is addressed to one of the registered facsimile terminals using the electronic mail address thereof, to the Internet server. The electronic mail controller further controls the facsimile image transmitter and receiver to transmit an electronic mail transmission notice to the same one of the registered facsimile terminals using the facsimile number thereof, through the public telephone network, immediately after the electronic mail transmitter and receiver sends electronic mail.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a communication system is provided for transmitting and receiving information via a facsimile information communication system and an Internet. The system comprises an electronic mail generator and transmitter that generates and transmits electronic mail including an attachment file of image data to a communication terminal via the Internet and a facsimile information communication system controller for transmitting to a communication terminal to which the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data is addressed, via the facsimile information communication system, a notice indicating to the communication terminal to which the electronic mail is addressed, that an e-mail has been forwarded thereto. The communication apparatus may comprise a facsimile device and the facsimile information communication system may comprise a public telephone network.

The electronic mail generator and transmitter may transmit the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data to a first Internet service provider. The first Internet service provider may transmit the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data to the second Internet service provider. The communication terminal attempts to access and retrieve the electronic mail including the attachment file of image data from the second service provider in response to receiving the notice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present application and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic communications system including a facsimile apparatus according to the present application;

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary local terminal information list provided to the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary electronic mail with an image file generated by the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary D-channel communications procedure made when the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 2 sends electronic mail to a local facsimile apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a table for explaining various information notices exchanged between the local facsimile apparatus and the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 2, in connection with electronic mail;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary D-channel communications procedure made when a local facsimile apparatus sends electronic mail to the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary communications report produced by the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary flowchart explaining an exemplary operation of electronic mail transmission by the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary flowchart explaining an exemplary operation of electronic mail receiving by the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary flowchart explaining an exemplary operation of the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 2 when receiving an electronic mail receipt notice from a local facsimile apparatus;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary communications procedure made through a Group 3 facsimile protocol between a local facsimile apparatus and the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 13 is an exemplary communications procedure made through a Group 4 facsimile protocol between a local facsimile apparatus and the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In describing preferred embodiments of the present application illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the present application is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner.

Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an electronic communications system which includes an exemplary embodiment of a facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present application. The electronic communications system of FIG. 1 includes the facsimile apparatus 1, a public telephone network 2, the Internet 3, an Internet server 4, a PC (personal computer) 5, a local facsimile apparatus 6, and a local Internet server 7. The facsimile apparatus 1 and the Internet server 4 are located in an area 8, for example. The PC 4, the local facsimile apparatus 6 and the local Internet server 7 are located in an area 9, for example. The area 8 is distant from the area 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus 1 is connected to the Internet server 4, the PC 5, the local facsimile apparatus 6, and the local Internet server 7, via the public telephone network 2. The public telephone network 2 may be a PSTN (public switched telephone network) or an ISDN (integrated services digital network). The facsimile apparatus 1, the PC 5, and the local facsimile apparatus 6 may access the Internet via the Internet servers 4 and the 7. Both the PC 5 and the local facsimile apparatus 6 include a dial-up communications function and are regarded as local communications terminals for the facsimile apparatus 1 to communicate with. Although only one each of typical examples of the PC 5 and of the local facsimile apparatus 6 are illustrated in FIG. 1, the electronic communications system in an actual application may include a plurality of PCs 5 and a plurality of local facsimile apparatuses 6.

The user of the facsimile apparatus 1 preferably has a subscribership contract with an Internet service provider A (not shown) for Internet services including E-mail services, and is able to communicate with the Internet server 4 provided by Internet Service provider A in the area 8. The users of the PC 5 and the local facsimile apparatus 6 preferably have a subscribership contract with an Internet service provider B (not shown) for Internet services including E-mail services, and are able to communicate with the Internet server 7 provided by Internet service provider B in the area 9. The Internet service providers A and B may not necessarily be different and may be the same entity having a plurality of the Internet servers in different locations, including the Internet servers 4 and 7. As an alternative way of providing a connection between the facsimile apparatus 1 and the Internet server 4, the facsimile apparatus 1 may be connected to the Internet server 4 through a private line, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).

Next, an exemplary configuration of the facsimile apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, facsimile apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 includes a facsimile main controller 10, a transmission/receiving status manager 11, a local terminal registration memory 12, a dial-up communications controller 13, a facsimile protocol manager 14, and a network controller 15. Further, facsimile apparatus 1 includes first, second, third, and fourth E-mail (electronic mail) service units 16-19, and a system bus 20.

The facsimile main controller 10 includes an image reading unit (not shown), such as a scanner, for reading image data from an original document (not shown), which is then handled as facsimile image data to be transmitted to the local communications terminals. The facsimile main controller 10 further includes an image writing unit (not shown), such as a laser printer, for printing onto a recording sheet (not shown) facsimile image data which has been received from one of the local communications terminals. The facsimile main controller 10 further includes a console unit (not shown), including a data entry unit (not shown) such as a keyboard, for inputting various instructions with respect to communications of facsimile or E-mail that has an attachment of a image data file. The facsimile main controller 10 further includes an encoding and decoding unit (not shown) for encoding image data to be transmitted to, and decoding image data which has been received from one of the local communications terminals. The facsimile main controller 10 controls the operations of these units included therein.

The transmission/receiving status manager 11 maintains various kinds of status information related to the transmission and receiving operations for both facsimile and E-mail. The local terminal registration memory 12 stores various kinds of information which pertain to the local communications terminals. For example, the information includes a plurality of sets of facsimile number and E-mail address for a plurality of local communications terminals, including the PC 5 and the local facsimile apparatus 6. Details of the information included in both of the transmission/receiving status manager 11 and the local terminal registration memory 12 will be explained later.

The dial-up communications controller 13 performs protocol communications operations of TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol) and PPP (point-to-point protocol), each of which is initiated when the facsimile apparatus 1 accesses the Internet server 4 of the Internet service provider A, for example, via the public telephone network 2. The facsimile protocol manager 14 performs a protocol communications operation of a regular facsimile protocol which is initiated when the facsimile apparatus 1 transmits facsimile image data to or receives facsimile image data from the local communications terminal such as the local facsimile apparatus 6, for example, via the public telephone network 2. The network controller 15 controls call transmission and call receiving operations in both ISDN and PSTN communications so as to enable the dial-up communications controller 13 to connect to the Internet server 4 of the Internet service provider A, for example, and the facsimile protocol manager 14 to connect to one of the local communications terminal, such as the local facsimile apparatus 6, for example, via the public telephone network 2. The first E-mail service unit 16 controls services for transmitting and receiving E-mail via the Internet with the help of the dial-up communications controller 13 and the network controller 15, using the communications protocols of SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol) and POP (post office protocol) of which the latest version is called POP 3. The second E-mail service unit 17 selects either one of the communications operations for transmitting image data using E-mail and the regular facsimile, and is normally set to a condition in which selection of the E-mail transmission is given a higher priority than the regular facsimile transmission.

The third E-mail service unit 18 performs operations for handling E-mail transmission information indicating that an E-mail is transmitted. Also, when a transmission of E-mail with an attachment of image data to a local communications terminal is completed, the third E-mail service unit 18 transmits the E-mail transmission information to the local communications terminal using the facsimile protocol manager 14 and the network controller 15. When receiving the E-mail transmission information from a local communications terminal, the third E-mail service unit 18 initiates operations for receiving E-mail. More specifically, the third E-mail service unit 18 accesses the Internet server 4 of the subscribing Internet service provider A in order to receive E-mail, and controls a time of such an access to the Internet server 4.

The fourth E-mail service unit 19 encodes image data read by the scanner into a MIME (multipurpose Internet mail extension) format so that the image data can be attached to E-mail for transmission. Also, the fourth E-mail service unit 19 decodes image data which is attached to a received E-mail into a TIFF (tagged image file format) file which is readable by PCS (personal computers), including the PC 5. The bus 20 interconnects the above-described units so as to allow bidirectional communications between the units.

The facsimile apparatus 1 is configured as described above. In addition, this configuration for the facsimile apparatus 1 is provided also to the local facsimile apparatus 6 which has a general configuration of the facsimile machine. Furthermore, this configuration may also be provided to the PC 5 which has a general configuration of the personal computer.

For the sake of clarity, in the following description, units of the local facsimile apparatus 6 which are similar to those of the facsimile apparatus 1 are given the same unit names and the numeral references as those of the facsimile apparatus 1 but with a suffix of "a" to each numeral reference, such as the facsimile main controller 10a, for example.

Next, an exemplary operation of E-mail transmission with an attachment of image data between the facsimile apparatus 1 and the local facsimile apparatus 6 is explained with reference to FIGS. 3-8. In the following description, the public telephone network 2 is the ISDN.

The local terminal registration memory 12 of the facsimile apparatus 1 includes a local terminal information list 30 which contains a plurality of information sets associated with a plurality of local communications terminals including the PC 5 and the local facsimile apparatus 6. In the local terminal information list 30 of FIG. 3, each of the information sets in a row includes various kinds of information pertaining to a specific local communications terminal. The information includes a local terminal number 31 representing an identification number to be used within the facsimile apparatus 1. Further, the information includes a user name 32 representing a user name, a facsimile number 33 representing a facsimile number, and an E-mail address 34 representing an E-mail address of the specific local communications terminal. The information further includes a provider's number 35 which represents a telephone number of an Internet server of a subcontracting Internet provider, and an E-mail invalidating flag 36 representing a condition in which the image data transmission by E-mail is canceled and the image data transmission by facsimile is performed.

For example, if the local facsimile apparatus 6 is registered as 1 in the local terminal number 31, the user name thereof is ABC as indicated in the user name 32, the facsimile number thereof is 06-1234-5678 as indicated in the facsimile number 33, the E-mail address thereof is abcd@oooo.co.jp as indicated in the E-mail address 34, and the telephone number of the Internet server 4 of the subscribing Internet service provider A is 03-9999-9999 as indicated in the provider's number 35. In addition, the E-mail invalidating flag is set to 1, which means that the image data transmission is performed by facsimile, as indicated in the E-mail invalidating flag 36.

The exemplary E-mail transmission operation starts when an original document is placed on the scanner of the facsimile apparatus 1. Then, when an operator inputs 1 through the console unit to designate the local facsimile apparatus 6 from among various local communications terminals registered in the local terminal number 31 of the local terminal information list 30 of the local terminal registration memory 12, the facsimile main controller 10 reads a corresponding E-mail address, abcd@oooo.co.jp, from the E-mail address 34. The facsimile main controller 10 then sets an address for E-mail transmission to abcd@oooo.co.jp. Then, upon a press of a start button on the console unit, the facsimile main controller 10 controls the scanner to read the original document and stores the read image data as input image data.

Further, the facsimile main controller 10 instructs the fourth E-mail service unit 19 to encode the input image data into the MIME format, for example, so that the input image data can be attached to an E-mail. At the same time, the facsimile main controller 10 controls the first E-mail service unit 16 to generate an E-mail which is addressed to abcd@oooo.co.jp. The facsimile main controller 10 then attaches the input image data in the MIME format to the E-mail generated by the first E-mail service unit 16. FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary E-mail 40 generated in the above described way. The exemplary E-mail 40 of FIG. 4 includes an attachment file 40a which is the input image data in the MIME format.

Then, the first E-mail service unit 16 initiates a call through the network controller 15 to 03-9999-9999 which is the telephone number for the Internet server 4 of the Internet provider A to which the facsimile apparatus 1 has the subscribership contract. After the connection between the facsimile apparatus 1 and the Internet server 4 is established, the dial-up communications controller 13 initiates the PPP and TCP/IP protocols. Then, the first E-mail service unit 16 sends a user identification for identifying a sender of the E-mail 40 and a command for sending the E-mail 40 to abcd@oooo.co.jp to the Internet server 4.

In this way, the facsimile apparatus 1 transmits the E-mail 40 including the attachment file 40a to the Internet service 4, via the public telephone network 2. The facsimile apparatus 1 is previously provided with the information of the user identification and the command to be sent to the Internet server 4 during the above-described operation. Also, the facsimile apparatus 1 automatically generates all the text data included in the E-mail 40 other than the attachment file 40a.

After completing the transmission of E-mail, the first E-mail service unit 16 performs an operation for disconnecting the line with the Internet server 4 using the network controller 15. Then, the first E-mail service unit 16 instructs the third E-mail service unit 18 to start an E-mail transmission notifying operation so that an E-mail transmission notice is sent to the local facsimile apparatus 6. More specifically, in the E-mail transmission notifying operation, the third E-mail service unit 18 reads 06-1234-5678 corresponding to the local terminal number 1 from the facsimile number 33 of the local terminal information list 30. Then, the third E-mail service unit 18 instructs the network controller 15 to initiate a call to 06-1234-5678, which is the number for the local facsimile apparatus 6. During a time of establishing a connection with the local facsimile apparatus 6, the third E-mail service unit 18 executes an E-mail transmission notifying communications protocol which has communications steps as indicated in FIG. 5.

In the E-mail transmission notifying communications protocol of FIG. 5, the facsimile apparatus 1 starts to establish a connection with the local facsimile apparatus 6 by sending in Step S001 a SETUP message to the public telephone network 2 which is the ISDN. The SETUP message includes information of a non-restricted BC (bearer capability), a CPN (called party number) indicating 06-1234-5678, and a UUI (user--user information) indicating an E-mail transmission notice. Upon receiving the information from the facsimile apparatus 1, the ISDN transfers in Step S002 the information of the non-restricted BC and the UUI of the E-mail transmission notice to the CPN which is 06-1234-5678.

In this way, the third E-mail service unit 18 of the facsimile apparatus 1 sends an E-mail transmission notice through the network controller 15 to the local facsimile apparatus 6 via the public telephone network 2 which is the ISDN. Such an E-mail transmission notice is one of notices sent from the facsimile apparatus 1 to a local communications terminal in a connecting condition therewith. Some exemplary notices including the E-mail transmission notice are shown in a table I of FIG. 6. As shown in the table I of FIG. 6, each notice includes a plurality of information sets in rows which include a notice type 51 representing types of notices such as an E-mail transmission notice sent from a calling party, a calling party E-mail address 52 representing an E-mail address of the calling party, a calling party facsimile number 53 representing a facsimile number of the calling party, and a transmission time 54 representing a date and time of an execution of E-mail transmission. For example, in the example being explained, an exemplary E-mail transmission notice of FIG. 6 includes fax@oooo.co.jp as the calling party E-mail address, 03-5555-5555 as the calling party facsimile number 53, and 10:10/01.01.1997 as the transmission time 54.

When the third E-mail service unit 18 sends the E-mail transmission notice to the local facsimile apparatus 6 in Step S001, as described above, the transmission/receiving status manager 11 holds the status information that the E-mail is sent but a delivery of the E-mail is not confirmed.

After transferring the SETUP message to the local facsimile apparatus 6 in Step S002, the ISDN sends in Step S003 a CALL PROCEEDING message back to the facsimile apparatus 1. The local facsimile apparatus 6 receives the SETUP message sent from the ISDN using the network controller thereof and recognizes the E-mail transmission notice with the third E-mail service unit based on the UUI of the received SETUP message. Then, in Step S004, the local facsimile apparatus 6 sends a RELEASE COMPLETE message back to the ISDN in order to refuse the call from the facsimile apparatus 1. At this time, the RELEASE COMPLETE message includes a normal disconnection as a cause and an E-mail transmission notice acknowledgment as the UUI. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the E-mail transmission notice acknowledgment as the UUI includes abcd@oooo.co.jp of the calling party E-mail address 52, 06-1234-5678 of the calling party facsimile number 53, and 10:10/01.01.1997 of the transmission time 54.

Then, in Step S005, the ISDN sends a DISCONNECT message to the facsimile apparatus 1 in order to transfer the information of the normal disconnection as the cause and the E-mail transmission notice acknowledgment as the UUI from the local facsimile apparatus 6. After that, the facsimile apparatus 1 sends a RELEASE message in Step S006 so as to complete the call, and the ISDN sends a RELEASE COMPLETE message in Step S007 back to the facsimile apparatus 1. Accordingly, the facsimile apparatus 1 and the local facsimile apparatus 6 end the E-mail transmission notifying communications protocol. In this way, the E-mail transmission notice and the acknowledgment thereto can be exchanged between the facsimile apparatus 1 and the local facsimile apparatus 6 via a D-channel that exchanges control messages in the ISDN without performing communications via a B-channel that exchanges digital messages in the ISDN. As a result, the local facsimile apparatus 6 can be aware of an incoming E-mail.

Upon receiving the E-mail transmission notice from the facsimile apparatus 1, the local facsimile apparatus 6 instructs the third E-mail service unit thereof to perform an operation for receiving the incoming E-mail, using the dial-up communications controller and the network controller of the local facsimile apparatus 6. In the E-mail receiving operation, the third E-mail service unit of the local facsimile apparatus 6 accesses the Internet server 7 of the subscribing Internet service provider B so as to receive the incoming E-mail, using the telephone number for the Internet server 7 stored in the local terminal registration memory and the access timing registered in the third E-mail service unit of the local facsimile apparatus 6.

In the above-mentioned E-mail receiving operation, the local facsimile apparatus 6 starts to access the Internet server 7 of the subscribing Internet service provider B a predetermined time, for example, ten minutes, after receiving the E-mail transmission notice, in order to receive the incoming E-mail. In a case that the local facsimile apparatus 6 does not receive the incoming E-mail from the Internet server 7 because the incoming E-mail has not yet reached the Internet server 7, the local facsimile apparatus 6 repeats the access to the Internet server 7 at predetermined intervals of t