JP2002044358A - Communication device and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] In a communication device for transmitting and receiving image data attached to an e-mail, when a transmission error of the transmitted e-mail is received, the image data is automatically reproduced from the transmitted e-mail and transmitted. After performing a predetermined process for avoiding abnormalities, the image data is attached to the e-mail again and retransmitted. [Solution] Resolution Conversion Setting column 3-
In step 7, if the resolution for re-sending the e-mail is set and the Setting Available item 3-9 is checked, if a non-sendable DSN mail is returned after the original has been sent, Reduce the resolution and resubmit. If the DNS message is received even after resending at a lower resolution, stop resending and create a document retransmission error report in Japanese.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication method, and a storage medium, for example, a communication device, a communication method, and the like for converting image data into an attached file format of an electronic mail and transmitting the image data attached to the electronic mail. It relates to a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In addition to information exchange by facsimile machines and telephones using telephone lines, information exchange by electronic mail between various information terminals connected via the Internet is rapidly spreading.

In electronic mail, information can be exchanged not only in character information but also in various data formats such as image data, audio data, and computer data.

An electronic mail is created by electronic mail client software (UA: User Agent) and transmitted to a node which is a relay point of the electronic mail, for example, an electronic mail transfer device (original MTA: Mail Transfer Agent). .

[0005] Upon receiving the transmitted e-mail, the e-mail transfer device transfers the received e-mail to a second e-mail transfer device closer to the destination. When the second e-mail transfer device receives this e-mail in the same manner, it transfers this e-mail to a third e-mail transfer device closer to the destination.

[0006] E-mail transfer using this e-mail transfer device is performed one after another, as if it were a bucket brigade, until it arrives at a destination. Hereinafter, an e-mail transmission system using such a plurality of e-mail transfer devices is referred to as an e-mail transmission system.

In the above-described system, the received e-mail is stored in the auxiliary storage device of the e-mail transfer device, and then transmitted to the next e-mail transfer device.

[0008] When transmission, reception, storage, and transmission to the next e-mail transfer device are repeatedly performed using a plurality of e-mail transfer devices, finally, the e-mail is transferred to the e-mail, which is the final destination. It is stored in a storage device in the device.

When an e-mail management server device having a post office (also called a mailbox (post office box)) for managing e-mail for each e-mail user is connected, the e-mail is The data is stored in the storage device in the electronic mail transfer device instead of the storage device in the electronic mail transfer device that is the final destination.

[0010] Thereafter, the e-mail stored in any of the above storage devices is sent to an e-mail client
It is drawn to each user by the software.

As an information terminal for transmitting and receiving image data, an Internet FAX device or a facsimile server device capable of performing both facsimile transmission and reception and electronic mail transmission is becoming widespread.

The Internet FAX apparatus reads a document image as image data, converts the image data into a data format that can be transmitted by e-mail, and can transmit the data to an e-mail destination specified by the transmission side.

Conventionally, data handled by electronic mail includes:
Character information was mainstream. Therefore, the data volume of the e-mail handled by the e-mail storage and switching system was about several kilobytes to several hundred kilobytes. The setting of the upper limit of the amount of data per communication that can be handled by each electronic mail transfer device constituting the electronic mail storage and switching system is left to the system administrator managing each electronic mail transfer device, and there is no standard agreement. . Typically, it is on the order of a few megabytes.

Further, current Internet FAX machines,
In the electronic mail client software and the electronic mail transmission system, there is no communication protocol for exchanging information regarding the maximum data amount per electronic mail communication that can be handled by each electronic mail transfer device.

[0015]

As described above, when the read image data is converted into a data format that can be transmitted by e-mail using an Internet facsimile apparatus and transmitted to an e-mail destination specified by the transmission side. The problem is that the amount of data to be transmitted is large.

For example, when an original is read as binary black-and-white image data, the amount of data of several tens of kilobytes to several megabytes per original, depending on the amount of data,
In some cases, the number may be almost equal to the upper limit that the electronic mail communication system can handle per electronic mail communication.

Therefore, when transmitting many originals read at a high resolution setting using the Internet facsimile apparatus, or transmitting several tens of originals at a time while reading at a low resolution setting. Is more likely to exceed the upper limit of the amount of e-mail data that the e-mail communication system can handle.

At this time, a transmission error occurs and necessary data cannot be transmitted.

Further, as described above, in the e-mail transmission system using the e-mail transfer device as a node, the amount of data that can be handled by each node per e-mail communication varies, and its capacity can be known. Can not.

For this reason, when transmitting image data by e-mail using an Internet FAX device, each node transmits the image data with the data amount being less than the transferable amount, or the transmission data is automatically divided into a plurality of communication times. And could not send.

As a result, Internet FAX
A transmission error occurs when the device transmits data exceeding the amount of data per electronic mail that can be handled by each node.

When this transmission error occurs, the user must solve the problem. That is, the first problem in transmitting a large amount of image data as an attached file of an electronic mail in an Internet FAX apparatus is that the user needs to manage the transmission error in order to solve the transmission error.

This will be specifically described below.

If the e-mail sent by the user does not reach the other party for some reason, the e-mail transfer device sends, for example, an error notification mail as shown in FIG. 24 to the sender user.

At this time, the user reads the text of the error notification mail and, if it is determined that the error is related to the shortage of the storage device, takes action to read the original again at a lower resolution than the previous time, or In order to compensate for the shortage of the storage device, it is necessary to perform a troublesome operation such as transmitting the image data to be transmitted in a plurality of times to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted at one time and transmitting the data.

An even more troublesome problem at this time is that the error notification mail is described in English as shown in FIG. 24. Even if the user receives this mail,
A general user who is not familiar with the e-mail protocol cannot understand the contents and cannot cope with the error notification.

More specifically, in the e-mail transmission system, an error notification method for a user differs as in a) or b) below depending on which node, that is, which e-mail transfer device has caused the error. . a) When an error occurs in the original MTA A high level of technical judgment is required for interpreting the error message, communication result report, and communication log information printed by the Internet FAX device. b) When an error occurs in other than the original MTA RF of IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force)
DSN (Delivery Status No.) recommended in C1894
tifications) returned as an error in the email specified in the recommendation.

As shown in the left side lines 27 and 28 in FIG. 24, these error notification texts include an electronic mail protocol command (">>DATA") and an error code ("<<").
<552 Mail cannot be delivered, too much mail dat
a)), and most users who can understand English but are not familiar with the e-mail protocol cannot understand the error notification mail and respond accurately.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. A first object of the present invention is to convert image data so that the image data can be transmitted by e-mail, and convert the converted image data to an e-mail. When the communication device that sends and receives the notification that the transmission error occurred in the transmitted e-mail is received, the cause of the transmission error is analyzed and the cause is transmitted exceeding the transmittable data amount. If it is analyzed, the image data is reproduced from the transmitted e-mail without user's intervention, the image data is subjected to predetermined processing to avoid transmission abnormalities, and then the image data is transmitted to the e-mail again. To provide a communication device and a communication method for retransmitting by attaching to a communication device.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a communication device and a communication method for processing and outputting difficult notification contents so that the user can easily understand them when the notification of the transmission abnormality is received. .

[0031]

In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of a communication apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, image data generating means for reading an image at a desired resolution and generating image data, image data converting means for converting the image data generated by the image data generating means so that the image data can be transmitted by e-mail, A communication device comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits an e-mail attached with the image data converted by the converting unit to a network; and a receiving unit that receives an e-mail from the network, the e-mail received by the receiving unit. As a result of analyzing the received e-mail, the received e-mail is a notification that informs the transmission abnormality of the e-mail attached with the image data transmitted by the transmission unit, and the cause of the transmission abnormality exceeds the transmittable data amount. If it is analyzed that the e-mail was sent, attach the image data Image data reproducing means for reproducing the image data from the received e-mail, processing means for performing predetermined processing on the image data reproduced by the image data reproducing means to avoid the transmission abnormality, and processing by the processing means. Retransmission control means for converting the image data obtained using the image data conversion means, and controlling to retransmit the electronic mail attached with the converted image data using the transmission means. It is characterized by the following.

Also, for example, the predetermined processing is performed by using a pixel density changing means for changing a pixel density of the image data to a predetermined pixel density, by using a pixel density changing means for changing the pixel density of the image data when the transmission abnormality occurs. It is characterized by changing to a low pixel density.

Further, for example, changing to the low pixel density is characterized in that the pixel density of the image data is changed to a resolution lower than the resolution at which the image data was transmitted last time.

Further, for example, changing to the low pixel density means changing the pixel density of the image data to a reading size smaller than the reading size of the image data transmitted last time.

Further, for example, the retransmission control means is configured to set a pixel density at which the retransmission is stopped in advance, and to terminate the retransmission when the pixel density at which the retransmission is stopped is reached by the processing of the processing means. It is characterized by.

Further, for example, the apparatus further comprises retransmission image setting means for setting a resolution of the image data or an image size of the image data at the time of the retransmission. In addition, in order to achieve the above object, an embodiment according to a communication method of the present invention includes the following configuration. That is, an image data generating step of reading an image at a desired resolution to generate image data, an image data converting step of converting the image data generated in the image data generating step so that the image data can be transmitted by e-mail, A communication method comprising: a transmitting step of transmitting an e-mail attached with the image data converted by the converting step to a network; and a receiving step of receiving an e-mail from the network, wherein the e-mail received by the receiving step As a result of the analysis, the received e-mail is a notification that informs the transmission abnormality of the e-mail attached with the image data transmitted in the transmission step, and the cause of the transmission abnormality exceeds the data amount that can be transmitted. If it is analyzed that the e-mail was sent, attach the image data An image data reproducing step of reproducing the image data from the received e-mail, a processing step of performing predetermined processing on the image data reproduced by the image data reproducing step to avoid the transmission abnormality, and a processing step of the processing step. And a retransmission control step of controlling the image data to be converted using the image data conversion step and retransmitting the e-mail attached with the converted image data using the transmission step. It is characterized by the following.

Further, for example, the predetermined processing is performed by using a pixel density changing step of changing a pixel density of the image data to a predetermined pixel density, and by using a pixel density changing step of changing the pixel density of the image data when the transmission abnormality occurs. It is characterized by changing to a low pixel density.

Further, for example, changing the pixel density to the low pixel density is characterized in that the pixel density of the image data is changed to a resolution lower than the resolution of the previously transmitted image data.

Further, for example, changing to the low pixel density is characterized in that the pixel density of the image data is changed to a read size smaller than the previously read size of the image data.

For example, in the retransmission control step, a pixel density at which the retransmission is stopped is set in advance, and when the pixel density at which the retransmission is stopped is reached by the processing in the processing step, the retransmission is terminated. It is characterized by the following.

For example, the method further comprises a retransmission image setting step of setting a resolution of the image data or an image size of the image data at the time of the retransmission. In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the storage medium of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
An image data generating step of reading an image at a desired resolution to generate image data, an image data converting step of converting the image data generated in the image data generating step so that the image data can be transmitted by e-mail, and the image data converting step A storage medium storing a communication processing program, comprising: a transmission step of transmitting an e-mail attached with the image data converted by the network to a network; and a reception step of receiving an e-mail from the network. As a result of analyzing the e-mail received in the receiving step, the received e-mail is a notification notifying the transmission abnormality of the e-mail attached with the image data transmitted in the transmission step, The cause was that the e-mail was sent beyond the amount of data that could be sent. When analyzed, an image data reproducing step of reproducing the image data from the e-mail attached with the image data, and a predetermined method for avoiding the transmission abnormality in the image data reproduced in the image data reproducing step. A processing step of performing processing, converting the image data processed by the processing step using the image data conversion step, and retransmitting an e-mail attached with the converted image data using the transmission step And a retransmission control step of performing control as described above.

[0042]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the following description of the present embodiment, an Internet FAX apparatus and a communication method using the Internet FAX apparatus are described, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described examples.

In the following description, first, the Internet F
An outline of e-mail transmission using the AX device will be described, and then the overall configuration of the Internet FAX device and the configuration of each unit will be described.

Next, a specific method of transmitting and receiving an e-mail to which image data is attached will be described, and finally, an e-mail transmission error and its response will be described.

[E-mail Transmission Using Internet FAX Apparatus] First, using an Internet FAX apparatus to send an e-mail to a remote e-mail client via the Internet with image data attached to an e-mail An outline will be described.

FIG. 13 is an e-mail transmission system path diagram showing the logical connection relationship of basic devices constituting the e-mail transmission system and the path through which e-mail data is transmitted.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the Internet facsimile apparatus 2-3 according to the present embodiment is connected to a network to form an electronic mail transmission system.

13 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 using an example in which an e-mail created by the Internet FAX machine 2-3 is transmitted to an e-mail client 2-16.

First, the e-mail created by SourceUA 4-1 (corresponding to the Internet FAX machine 2-3) is transmitted to the So
When sent from urceUA4-1, this email will
First, OriginalMTA4-2 (E-mail server 2-
4) and stored in a predetermined location.

Next, Original MTA 4-2 sends this electronic mail to MTA 4-3 (corresponding to gateway 2-6) which is the next relay point. When receiving the e-mail, the MTA 4-3 stores the e-mail in a predetermined location, and then stores the e-mail in the sink.
Mail Receiver 4-4 (corresponding to e-mail server 2-15).

Subsequently, upon receiving the e-mail, the Sink Mail Receiver 4-4 stores the e-mail in a predetermined location, and stores the e-mail in the final destination, SinkUA 4-5 (corresponding to the e-mail client 2-16). Sent to. In this way, the e-mail created by the Internet facsimile apparatus is transmitted to a remote e-mail client via the Internet.

[Overall Configuration of Internet FAX Apparatus]
Next, referring to FIG.
Will be described.

The Internet FAX machine 2-3 includes a controller unit 2000, a scanner unit 2070, a printer unit 2095, and an operation unit 2011. The controller unit 2000 is a controller for inputting and outputting image information and device information, and includes a scanner unit 2070 as an image input device, a printer unit 2095 as an image output device, and an operation unit 201.
1, a LAN 2-1 and a public line (WAN) 2051.

Next, each unit constituting the Internet FAX machine 2-3 will be described.

[Control Unit] The CPU 2001 is a controller for controlling the entire system. RAM 2002 is
This is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 2001, and can also temporarily store image data.

The ROM 2003 is a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program.
An HDD 2004 is a hard disk drive that stores system software and image data.

[Operation Unit] The operation unit I / F 2006 is an interface to the operation unit 2012,
012 outputs the image data to be displayed to the operation unit 2012, and transmits information input by the user of the system from the operation unit 2012 to the CPU 2001.

[Information Input / Output Unit] The network unit 2010 and the modem 2050 are for inputting and outputting information. The network unit 2010 is connected to the LAN 2-1.
The odem 2050 is connected to each of the public lines 2051.

[System Bus] The devices of the control unit, the operation unit, and the information input / output unit described above are connected to the system bus 200.
7. A system bus 2007 is an image bus I / F which is a bus bridge for converting a data structure.
Through a unit 2005, the image data is connected to an image bus 2008 for transferring image data at high speed.

[Image Data Processing Unit] Image Bus 2008
(Configured with a PCI bus or IEEE 1394), six types of devices whose functions will be described below are arranged.

Raster image processor (RIP) 2
Reference numeral 060 is for expanding the PDL code into a bitmap image.

The device I / F unit 2020 performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data, and includes a scanner unit 2070 and a printer unit 20 which are image input / output devices.
95 is connected to the controller 2000.

The scanner image processing unit 2080 corrects, processes, and edits input image data, and the printer image processing unit 2090 corrects output image data to be printed, performs resolution conversion, and the like.

An image rotation unit 2030 rotates image data, and an image compression unit 2040 converts multi-valued image data into JP data.
The compression / expansion processing is performed using EG, and the binary image data is converted to J
The compression / expansion processing is performed using BIG, MMR, and MH.

[Image Input / Output Unit] The image input / output device will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The scanner unit 2070 illuminates an image on paper serving as a document and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown), thereby converting the image into raster image data 2071 into electric signal image data.

The document is placed on tray 2 of document feeder 2072.
073, and when the apparatus user gives an instruction to start reading from the operation unit 2012, the controller CPU 20
01 gives a reading instruction to the scanner unit 2070 in response to the signal 2071, and the feeder 2072 feeds the document sheets one by one and starts the document reading operation.

The printer unit 2095 prints the raster image data 2096 as an image on a sheet. The method includes an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, an ink jet method in which ink is ejected from a minute nozzle array and an image is printed directly on paper, and the like, but any method may be used. .

The print operation is started by the controller CP.
The process starts with an instruction 2096 from U2001. The printer unit 2095 is provided with a plurality of paper cassettes 2101, 2102, 2103, and 2104 for paper feeding so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected. The paper discharge tray 2111 holds printed paper.

[Operation Unit] Referring to FIG.
Will be described in detail. The LCD display unit 2013 has a touch panel sheet affixed on the LCD and displays an operation screen of the system. When a displayed key is pressed, the position information is displayed on the controller CPU2.
Tell 001.

A start key 2014 is used to start a reading operation of a document image, for example. At the center of the start key 2014, there are two LEDs 2018 of green and red.
Displays whether the start key 2014 is ready for use.

A stop key 2015 is used to stop an operation during operation, and an ID key 2016 is used to input a user ID of a user. Reset key 2017
Is used to initialize settings from the operation unit.

[Scanner Image Processing Unit] The scanner image processing unit 2080 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
The image bus I / F controller 2081 is connected to the image bus 20
08 and controls its bus access sequence,
The control and timing of each device in the scanner image processing unit 2080 are generated.

The filter processing unit 2082 is a spatial filter and performs a convolution operation. Editing unit 208
3 recognizes, for example, a closed area surrounded by a marker pen of the input image data, and performs image processing such as shadowing, shading, and negative / positive inversion on the image data in the closed area.

The scaling unit 2084 is used to change the resolution of the read image. The scaling of the raster image in the main scanning direction is enlarged or reduced by using an interpolation operation. Zooming in the sub-scanning direction is performed by changing the scanning speed of an image reading line sensor (not shown).

The table section 2085 performs table conversion for converting image data, which is read luminance data, into density data.

The binarizing unit 2086 binarizes the multi-value gray scale image data by error diffusion processing or screen processing.

The image data that has been subjected to the above-described processes is again transferred to the image bus via the image bus controller 2081.

[Printer Image Processing Unit] The printer image processing unit 2090 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
The image bus I / F controller 2091 is connected to the image bus 20
08 to control the bus access sequence,
It controls each device in the printer image processing unit 2090 and generates timing.

The resolution conversion unit 2092 performs resolution conversion for converting image data received from the LAN 2-1 or the public line 2051 into the resolution of the printer unit 2095.

The smoothing processing unit 2093 performs a process for smoothing jaggies (roughness of an image appearing at a black-and-white boundary portion such as diagonal repetition) of the image data after resolution conversion.

[Image Compression Processing Unit] The image compression processing unit 2040 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The image compression processing unit 2040 converts the raw image data into MMR (Modified M
odified Read), MR (Modified Read), MH (Modif
ied Hahuman), JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image expe)
rts Group), JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts
Group) and other functions to compress image data, MMR,
It has a function of expanding image code data such as MR, MH, JBIG, and JPEG into raw image data, and a pixel density conversion function of performing pixel density conversion of raw image data.

In the pixel density conversion, for example, A3 image is converted to A3
Image size conversion to 400 images and 400 DPI (Dots
The resolution of (Per Inch) × 400 LPI (Lines Per Inch) is converted to the resolution of 200 DPI × 200 LPI.

The image bus I / F controller 2041 is
It is connected to the image bus 2008 to control the bus access sequence, performs timing control for exchanging data with the input buffer 2042 and the output buffer 2045, and performs image compression / decompression / pixel density conversion.
Control such as mode setting for 43 is performed.

[Image Compression Processing Procedure] The processing procedure of the image compression processing unit 2040 will be described below. First, the CPU 2001 sets the image bus I / F controller 2041 via the image bus 2008 for image compression, decompression, or pixel density conversion control.

With this setting, the image bus I / F controller 2041 operates the image compression / decompression / pixel density conversion unit 20
For 43, settings necessary for image compression, expansion, or pixel density conversion are performed.

After this setting, the CPU 2001 again permits the image bus I / F controller 2041 to transfer raw image data or image code data. According to this permission, the image bus I / F controller 2041
The transfer of image data from the RAM 2002 or each device on the image bus 2008 starts.

The transferred image data is stored in the input buffer 2
The raw image data or the image code data is temporarily stored at 042 and transferred at a constant speed in response to the image data request of the image compression / decompression / pixel density conversion unit 2043.

At this time, the input buffer 2042 is connected to the image bus I / F controller 2041 and the image compression / decompression / decompression unit.
It is determined whether raw image data or image code data can be transferred between the two pixel density conversion units 2043.

Here, when it is impossible to read the raw image data or the image code data from the image bus 2008, or the image compression / decompression / pixel density conversion unit 2043
Writing of raw image data or image code data to
If it is not possible, control not to transfer data is performed (hereinafter, this control is referred to as handshake).

Image compression / decompression / pixel density conversion unit 2043
Converts the received raw image data or image code data into
The information is temporarily stored in the RAM 2044.

The image data subjected to the image compression is immediately sent to the output buffer 2045. Output buffer 204
In step 5, the handshake is performed with the image bus I / F controller 2041 and the image compression / decompression / pixel density conversion unit 2043, and the raw image data or the image code data is transferred to the image bus I / F controller 2041.

The image bus I / F controller 2041 transfers the transferred compressed, decompressed, or pixel-density converted raw image data or image code data to the RAM 2002 or each device on the image bus 2008.

Such a series of processing is performed until there is no processing request from the CPU 2001 (when processing of the required number of pages is completed), or the image compression processing unit 204
It is repeated from 0 until a stop request is issued (for example, when an error occurs during compression and decompression).

[Image Rotation Unit] The image rotation unit 2030 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The image bus I / F controller 2031 is connected to the image bus 2008 and functions to control the bus sequence.
For setting a mode or the like to the image and an image rotation unit 203
2 to perform timing control for transferring image data.

The processing procedure of the image rotation unit will be described below.

[Image Rotation Processing Procedure] The CPU 2001 sets the image bus I / F controller 2031 for image rotation control via the image bus 2008.

With this setting, the image bus I / F controller 2041 makes settings (for example, image size, rotation direction, angle, etc.) necessary for image rotation to the image rotation unit 2032.

After making the necessary settings, the CPU 20
01 permits image data transfer to the image bus I / F controller 2041.

According to this permission, the image bus I / F controller 2031 operates the RAM 2002 or the image bus 20.
The transfer of image data is started from each device 08.

Here, as an example, 32bi
The image size to be rotated is set to 32 × 32 with t as the size.
(Bit), and the image data is transferred on the image bus 2008 in units of 32 bits (the image to be handled is assumed to be binary).

As described above, in order to obtain 32 × 32 (bit) image data, it is necessary to perform the above-described unit data transfer 32 times (from the source address 100000 to 11F000) as shown in FIG. And it is necessary to transfer image data from a discontinuous address.

The image data transferred by the discontinuous addressing is written to the RAM 2033 so that the image data is rotated to a desired angle at the time of reading.

For example, if the rotation is 90 degrees counterclockwise,
The first row of 32bi shown in FIG.
The image data 2034 of t is continuously written in the Y direction like the image data 2035 of FIG. By reading 32 bits at a time in the X direction at the time of reading, the image is rotated by 90 degrees.

32 × 32 (bit) image rotation (RAM
After the completion of the writing to the image rotation unit 2033, the image rotation unit 20
Reference numeral 32 reads the image data 2035 from the RAM 2033 in the X direction, and transfers the image data to the image bus I / F controller 2031.

The image bus I / F controller 2031 that has received the rotated image data performs RAMA or image bus 2008 by continuous addressing.
Transfer data to each device above.

Such a series of processing is repeated until there is no processing request from the CPU 2001 (when processing for the required number of pages is completed).

[Device I / F Unit] The device I / F unit 2020 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The image bus I / F controller 2021 is connected to the image bus 200
8 to control the bus access sequence, control each device in the device I / F unit 2020, and generate timing.

Further, it transmits control signals to the external scanner unit 2070 and printer unit 2095. The scan buffer unit 2022 temporarily stores the image data sent from the scanner unit 2070, and outputs the image data in synchronization with the image bus 2008.

The serial / parallel / parallel / serial conversion unit 2023 arranges or decomposes the image data stored in the scan buffer unit 2022 in order, and converts the image data into a data width of image data that can be transferred to the image bus 2008.

The parallel / serial / serial / parallel conversion unit 2024 decomposes or arranges the image data transferred from the image bus 2008 and converts the image data into a data width of image data that can be stored in the print buffer unit 2025.

The print buffer unit 2025 temporarily stores the image data sent from the image bus 2008, and outputs the image data in synchronization with the printer unit 2095.

[Scanning Procedure] The processing procedure at the time of image scanning is shown below. By synchronizing the image data sent from the scanner unit 2070 with the timing signal sent from the scanner unit 2070, the scan buffer unit 2070
22.

When the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, when the scan buffer unit 2022 receives image data of 32 bits or more, the scan buffer unit 2022 stores the image data in 32 bits by first-in first-out. The data is sent to the parallel-to-serial converter 2023 and is converted into 32-bit image data.
The data is transferred to the image bus 2008 via the controller 2021.

The image bus 2008 is connected to the IEEE 139
In the case of No. 4, the image data in the scan buffer unit 2022 is first-in first-out, and the serial-parallel / parallel-serial conversion unit 2023
To the image bus I / F
The data is transferred to the image bus 2008 via the controller 2021.

[Printing Procedure] The processing procedure for printing an image is described below. When the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, the 32-bit image data sent from the image bus 2008 is transferred to the image bus I / F controller 2021.
, And sends it to a parallel / serial / serial / parallel conversion unit 2024, decomposes the image data into the number of input data bits of the printer unit 2095,
Save to 25.

The image bus 2008 is connected to the IEEE 139.
In the case of No. 4, the serial image data sent from the image bus 2008 is transferred to the image bus I / F controller 202.
1 and sends it to a parallel-serial / serial-parallel converter 2024 to convert it into image data of the number of input data bits of the printer unit 2095,
Save to 25.

Then, in synchronization with the timing signal sent from the printer unit 2095, the image data of the print buffer unit 2025 is first-in first-out, and the printer unit 2
095.

[Connection between Internet FAX Apparatus and Network] Next, the connection between the Internet FAX apparatus 2-3 and the network according to the present embodiment and an electronic mail transmission system will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The Internet FAX device 2-3 (host name: ganon_ifax) is a LAN (Local Area N)
etwork) 2-1 (domain name: dsn.gp2dp.c)
o. jp), for example, the e-mail clients 2-2 and 2-5 and the e-mail server (host name: dsn)
mail) 2-4, gateway (host name: gate)
way) 2-6.

The LAN 2-1 is connected to the gateway 2-
6 via the LAN 2-18 (domain name: epnt.
gp2dp. co. jp) and LAN2-18
Is connected to a DNS (Domain Name System) server 2-7 and a router 2-8.

The LAN 2-18 is connected to the router 2-8 via the Internet / intranet 2-14 via the LAN 2-18.
AN2-17 (domain name: ip.co.jp), and an e-mail server 2-15 on LAN2-17.
(Host domain name: mailsrv.ip.co.j
p) and the e-mail client 2-16 (host domain name: suzuki_machine.ip.co.j)
p) is connected.

In the electronic mail server 2-4, for example,
Internet F used by user "Sekiguchi-san"
A mailbox (mailbox name: sekiguchi) for the AX device 2-3 has been opened, and an e-mail (mail account: sekiguchi @) addressed to "Sekiguchi-san" has been opened.
dsnmail. dsn. gp2dp. co. jp)
Is stored in a mailbox in the electronic mail server 2-4.

Further, in the electronic mail server 2-15, for example, a mailbox (mailbox name: suzuki) for the electronic mail client 2-16 used by the user “Mr. Suzuki” is opened, and “Suzuki” is opened. E-mail (email account name: suzu)
ki @ mailsrv. ip. co. jp) is stored in a mailbox in the electronic mail server 2-15.

Internet FAX Device 2-3 and LAN
The physical interface with 2-1 is Netw
An ork unit 2010 is connected to the LAN cable 2011 via a hub or the like.

Further, TCP / IP or the like is used as a communication protocol of the Internet. As a protocol for sending an e-mail, for example, SMTP (Simple M
ailTransfer Protocol) is used to retrieve e-mail from the e-mail server, for example, POP (Po
st Office Protocol) 3 is used.

[E-mail Transmission Route] Next, referring to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 12 to 14, for example, “Sekiguchi-san” sends “Suzuki-san” PC (Pe
rsonal Computer) will be described in detail.

FIG. 12 shows an Internet facsimile apparatus 2-
3 is an electronic mail destination input screen of the operation unit 2012 of FIG.
FIG. 14 shows SMT which is an e-mail transmission / reception protocol.
It is a command sequence diagram of a P protocol.

First, the Internet FAX machine 2-3
“Mr. Sekiguchi” sets a document in (Source UA in FIG. 13). Subsequently, from the operation unit 2012 in FIG. 12, “Sekiguchi-san” own e-mail account “sek
iguti @ dsnmail. dsn. gp2dp. c
o. jp ”and the destination“ Suzuki-san ”mail account“ suzuki@mailsrv.ip.co.j
"p" to "From3-2:" and "To3-3", respectively.
Set in the field.

Next, the start button 2 of the operation unit 2012
018, RDF (Recycled Document Feed
er) The document is pulled in from 2073, and the read document is converted into electronic mail data as attached image data of the electronic mail.

Further, the data converted into the e-mail data is sent to the e-mail server 2 according to the SMTP protocol (protocol for e-mail communication) shown in FIG.
4 (original MTA4-2 in FIG. 13).

Next, this transmitted e-mail is transferred from the e-mail server 2-4 to the gateway 2-6 (MTA 4-3 in FIG. 13), and the gateway 2-6
For the S server 2-7, the domain name “mailsrv.ip.co.jp” of the mail account of “Suzuki-san”
Sends a name resolution request to an IP (Internet Protocol) address.

Next, the gateway 2-6 is connected to the router 2-
The e-mail data is transferred to the e-mail server 2-15 having the IP whose name has been resolved (Sink Mail Receiver 4-4 in FIG. 13) via the SMTP protocol via the server 8.

A mail box “Suzuki” for “Mr. Suzuki” is opened in the e-mail server 2-15, and the transferred e-mail is sent to a mail account “Ms. Suzuki@mailsrv.ip. c
o. jp "is stored.

Next, the e-mail client 2-16 used by "Mr. Suzuki" (Sink UA4-5 in FIG. 13)
From the mailbox of the email server 2-15,
The e-mail with the image attached file transmitted from the Internet FAX device 2-3 is received by extracting the e-mail from the mailbox using the POP protocol.

[E-mail Destination Designation Method] Next, FIG.
2. A method of specifying an e-mail destination by an Internet FAX apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 12 shows an Internet FAX machine 2-
3 is an electronic mail destination input screen of the operation unit 2012 of FIG.
This is one of the features that best describes the features of the present invention.

When an e-mail account of the transmission source is input in the e-mail transmission source input field 3-2, the input data is inserted into the “From 3-2” of the e-mail.

As a description example, for example, “sekigu
ti @ dsnmail. dsn. gp2dp. co. j
Although the full e-mail account may be input as in "p", only the user name "sekiguchi" may be input.

In this case, “@” and Internet FA
The host domain name “dsnmail.dsn.gp2dp.c” of the e-mail server 2-4 with which the X device communicates directly
o. jp "is automatically added.

When the e-mail account of the transmission destination is input in the e-mail transmission destination input field 3-3, the input data is inserted into the e-mail "To3-3".

When a character string such as the title of a sentence is input in the subject field 3-4, the input data is inserted into the "Subject 3-4" of the e-mail.

When a comment sentence for an original to be transmitted is input in the comment field 3-5, the comment sentence becomes the text data of the electronic mail.

Although the character string input is not shown in the figure, a keyboard is displayed on the touch panel 2013 with the display device of FIG. 4 together with the e-mail destination input screen of FIG. 12 so that alphanumeric characters and kana kanji can be input. It is possible.

In the Scan Setting column 3-6, the reading resolution for reading a document is set. Selection of the resolution is set by touching a check button of each resolution, and a check mark is attached to the set resolution.

[Resolution Setting for E-mail Retransmission] The Resolution Conversion Setting column 3-7 in FIG. 12 is one of the features that best represents the features of the present invention. Set.

If the Setting Available item 3-9 is checked, and the MTA 4-3 returns a DSN mail indicating that transmission is impossible due to restrictions on the length of e-mail data after transmitting the original, the Internet FAX machine 2-
Reference numeral 3 retransmits an e-mail to which the image compression / decompression / pixel density conversion unit 2043 has attached image data whose resolution is lower than the previous image data.

At this time, the minimum resolution is set to Resolution Con.
Set in the version Setting column 3-7. On the other hand, Setting D
If the isable item 3-8 is checked, the retransmission function does not function even if an unsendable DSN message is received.

In the example of FIG. 12, 400 × 400 DPI
(Dots Per Inch) resolution and 200 × 200 DPI resolution check boxes are checked. In this case, when the document is stored, for example, 6
When image data is read at a resolution of 00 × 600 DPI and transmitted, if the data is to be retransmitted, the image data is first converted to a resolution of 400 × 400 DPI and retransmitted.

[0151] Even in this retransmission, if a transmission error occurs, it is retransmitted at a resolution of 200 x 200 DPI.

Even if image data is retransmitted at a resolution of 200 × 200 DPI, if a DNS message is received, retransmission is stopped and a document retransmission error report, an example of which is shown in FIG. 15, is printed.

[Setting of Original Size for E-mail Retransmission]
Document Size Conversion Setting column 3-11 in FIG.
Is used to set the size of a retransmitted document, and is one of the features that best represents the features of the present invention.

If the Setting Available item 3-13 is checked, a DSN indicating that transmission of the original is impossible from the MTA 4-3 due to restrictions on the length of e-mail data after the original is transmitted.
When the mail is returned, the Internet FAX device 2
-3 is smaller than the document size of the previously transmitted image data by the image compression / decompression / pixel density conversion unit 2043 and retransmitted. The minimum document size at that time is Docume
Set in the nt Size Conversion Setting column 3-11.

On the other hand, if the Setting Disable item 3-13 is checked, the retransmission function does not function even if an untransmittable DSN message is received. In the example of FIG.
Since the check boxes of the selection items 4 and A4 are marked with check marks, for example, when the image data is read in the A3 size at the time of document storage and transmitted, the B4
It is converted to image data of the size and retransmitted.

In this retransmission, if a transmission error occurs, the next retransmission is performed in A4 size. If a DNS message is received even for retransmission using A4 size image data, retransmission is stopped and the document retransmission error report shown in FIG. 15 is printed.

[Setting of control mode when retransmitting e-mail]
The Mode Setting column 3-15 in FIG. 12 is a screen for setting a control mode at the time of retransmission.

The control mode setting at the time of retransmission is specifically realized by checking / unchecking “Retransmit Inf. Store” item 3-16.

This set value is determined in step S8-9 in FIG. 20A.
Is used to determine whether the “e-mail retransmission information storage mode” is valid or invalid.

When the “e-mail retransmission information storage mode” is set to be valid, the retransmission function functions, and when it is not set, it becomes invalid and does not function.

The setting of validity / invalidity of the retransmission of the other terminal document is specifically realized by checking / unchecking the “Message ID Check” item 3-17.

When "No" is set, the Internet FAX machine 2-3 can resend the DSN mail for the electronic mail with the image data transmitted by another terminal on behalf of the terminal.

On the other hand, in the case of "ON", only the DSN mail for the electronic mail with image data transmitted by the Internet FAX machine 2-3 is resent.

The check mark / not check value of the “Message ID Check” item 3-17 is used to set the validity / invalidity of the “message ID check mode” in step S12-9 in FIG. 19C.

The set value of the “Message ID Check” item 3-17 is “Message ID Check Mode” 15 in FIG.
-5 is stored. This setting value is not the document reservation unit,
The setting affects all subsequent DSN mail reception.

In the screen shown in FIG.
Depending on whether the value of “Check mode” 15-5 is enabled or disabled,
"Message ID Check" item 3-17 is displayed as a check mark.

This corresponds to “Message ID Check” item 3-1.
This is for allowing the user to confirm the state of No. 7 and for enabling the change at the time of document transmission reservation.

[E-mail Transmission: When Normal] Internet FAX Device 2-3 (Source UA4--FIG. 13)
1) to the e-mail server 2-4 (Original in FIG. 13)
An e-mail transmission protocol for transmitting an e-mail to the MTA 4-2) will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 14 shows a case where the transmission of the e-mail has been completed normally. FIG. 14 shows an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer) of an e-mail exchange procedure recommended by the IETF.
Protocol).

The sending side 5-1 is the Internet FAX machine 2-3, the receiving side 5-2 is the E-mail server 2-4, and the Internet FAX machine 2-3 is the party A and the e-mail server 2-4 is the party B. .

[0171] First Party is required to provide the second party with the SMT using the TCP / IP procedure.
When a session is established with the port number 25 of P (step S5-3), the second party returns a normal response (step S5).
-4).

Next, Party A has its own host name “FaxMailMac”.
"hine" to the customer (step S5-5), the customer confirms that the host is a service target, and returns a normal response to the customer (step S5-6).

Next, Party A sends the e-mail sender address "fax_mail_machine @ mail_
srv. ccc. dd. ee "(step S5--
7), Party B returns a normal response to Party A (Step S5-
8).

Next, Party A sends the received facsimile image to the electronic mail destination “ffff @ mail” to which the electronic mail data is sent.
_Srv. cc. dd. ee ”(Step S
5-9) B returns a normal response to Party A (Step S5-
10).

Next, Party A notifies Party B of the start of the transfer of the e-mail (Step S5-11), and Party B returns a Party A normal response (Step S5-12).

Next, Party A transfers the e-mail data to Party B (Step S5-13). Further, Party A notifies Party B that the transfer of the e-mail has been completed (Step S5-1).
4), and B returns a normal response to Party A (step S5-1).
5).

Next, Party A notifies Party B of the end of the SMTP session (Step S5-16).
A normal response is returned (step S5-17).

Lastly, Party A notifies Party B of the release of the session (Step S5-18).

The transmission mechanism of the e-mail on the network is as described with reference to FIG.

[E-mail Transmission: In Case of Abnormality]
FIG. 16 shows a case where the Internet FAX device 2-3 transmits an e-mail data with image data, the receiving side returns an error exceeding the limit of the received data length to the transmitting side, and the e-mail transmission ends abnormally. Is shown.

The receiving-side electronic mail server 2-4 (Original MTA 4-2 in FIG. 4), which is the receiving-side device 6-2, exceeds the data receiving length limit during data reception (step S6-4). Upon reception, a server error response indicating that the reception data length limit has been exceeded (step S6-5) is transmitted to the Internet FAX device 2-3 which is the transmission-side device 6-1.

For example, “Di” at the end 1-1 on the left side of FIG.
agnostic-Code: SMTP; 534 Mail cannot be deli
"534" of "vered, Message too big for system" indicates an error code, and "Message too big for syst"
em ”indicates an error message that has exceeded the limit of the reception data length.

[Reception of E-mail] SMTP (Simple M
ail transfer protocol), the Internet FAX device 2-3 receives
It has the same function as the receiving device 5-2 in FIG. 14 and the receiving device 6-2 in FIG.

Further, the Internet FAX machine 2-3
Is an IETF (Internet Engineering Taskfor) for extracting an e-mail received from an e-mail user's mailbox established in the e-mail server 2-4.
ce), POP3 (Post Office Protocol)
version3) Although it has a protocol, it is not necessary to explain a detailed protocol procedure of POP3 in order to explain the features of the present invention, so that it is omitted.

[Error Processing: Reception of DSN Message]
The conversion of e-mail data at the time of error processing will be described with reference to FIGS. 24, 16, and 17. FIG.

FIG. 24 is an example of a DSN message (text data) transmitted when the reception data length limit is exceeded.

An e-mail transmitted from the Internet FAX machine 2-3 passes through the e-mail server 2-4 and the gateway 2-6, and is transmitted by the gateway 2-6.
It is assumed that a received data length over error of step S6-5 in FIG. 16 has occurred during transmission to the remote e-mail server 2-15.

In this case, the gateway 2-6 ends the SMTP session after receiving this error. Next, when the gateway 2-6 generates the DSN mail shown in FIG. 24, the DSN mail passes through the e-mail server 2-4 which is the reverse route to the route transmitted from the Internet FAX device 2-3. Internet FA
It is sent to the X device 2-3.

In the example of FIG. 24, the e-mail transmitted from the Internet FAX machine 2-3 which is the transmission source includes:
24, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-4 in FIG. 24 are attached.

FIG. 16 shows a state in which the gateway 2-6 transmits an e-mail to the e-mail server 2-15.
5 illustrates an SMTP message sequence when the received data length over error of step S6-5 is received.

[Error Processing: Conversion of DSN Message]
FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a conversion program for the received e-mail data. In step S7-2, an e-mail header is generated, and information 1-2 shown in FIG. 24 is generated.

"Message-Id: <199808"
171030. TAA20109 @ ganon_ifa
x. dsn. gp2dp. co. jp>"is information that the Internet FAX device 2-3 attaches to make it easy to identify the e-mail transmitted by itself.

"Ganon_ifax.dsn.gp2
dp. co. jp "is the Internet FAX machine 2-
3 is the host domain name, and is "19808081710".
30. TAA 20109 "is an ID generated from year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and random number every time an electronic mail is transmitted, and is attached for easy identification.

"To: suzuki @ mailsrv.
ip. co. “jp” is the e-mail transmission destination input field 3-3 in FIG. 12, and is the e-mail account of “Suzuki-san” of the transmission destination.

"From: sekiguchi @ dsn.
gp2dp. co. "jp" is the e-mail account of "Mr. Sekiguchi" input in the e-mail transmission source input field 3-2 in FIG.

"Subject: Catalog materials for IFAX"
Is the subject column 3-4 in FIG. 12 and is the title of the sentence.

"Content-Type: multipart / mixed;"
Indicates that the transmitted e-mail is composed of a plurality of partial data. In this example, the file is composed of a TIFF file storing text data of the text data and image data stored in the document.

"Boundary =" == _ 903316784
"= 903316784 == _" of == "" is a delimiter line indicating a delimiter of the partial data.

In FIG. 24, "== _ 903316784 == _" is inserted in the first line and the last line of 1-3 and 1-4.

Next, in step S7-3, text data is generated, and information 1-3 shown in FIG. 24 is generated. In the body data, "Content-Type: text / plain; charset = i
so-2022-jp ”and“ Content-Transfer-Encodin
Then, a blank line is added as "g: 7bit", and then the SIFT-JIS character string input in the comment field 3-5 in FIG. 12 is converted into an ISO2022 code expanded into Japanese and inserted as electronic mail data. On the other hand, if the conversion of all pages is not completed in step S7-4, the process proceeds to step S7-5, where the TIF generated for each page of the original, which is the transmission image, is generated.
F file (file name "ScanPage1.ti
f ″ binary file) is converted from binary to ASCII by the BASE64 conversion program,
4 is added to the <Tiff Image> section.

[0241] 1-4 in FIG. 24 indicates that the following header indicating that the TIFF file "ScanPage1.tif" has been converted to BASE64 is <Tiff Image
> Is added prior to the section.

In the BASE64 conversion, a binary 6-bit value from 0 to 63 is converted from ASCII "A" to "Z", "
a "to" z "," + "," / "are binary to ASCII conversion algorithms.

Note that “=” is added to the 2-bit dummy bit “00” added by the conversion. 4
“==” for bit dummy bit “0000”
Is added.

Upon completion of the process in the step S7-5, the process returns to the step S7-4. If the next image data exists, it is checked in the step S7-4 and the step S-5 is executed again. In this case, although not shown in FIG. 24, 1-5 is added following 1-4 in FIG.

In the example of FIG. 24, since there is only one page of the transmission image, the conversion of the previous page is completed in step S7-4, and the electronic mail data conversion processing ends in step S7-6.

[Error Processing: Extraction of Attached Image Data from DSN Mail by Reverse Conversion] Next, FIGS. 18A and 18B
The reverse conversion of electronic mail data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B are one of the figures which best show the features of the present invention, and describe in detail the inverse conversion of the e-mail data in step S9-8 in FIG. 20C (a).

FIGS. 18A and 18B show an error notification mail D for the e-mail transmitted by the communication device 2-3.
It is a flowchart of the program which implement | achieves the e-mail data reverse conversion means for extracting attached image data from SN mail.

The contents of the DSN mail are the same as those described above for the electronic mail data conversion means as shown in FIG.

The contents of the image data attached to the DSN mail are the same as those of the gateway 2-6 that transmitted the DSN mail.
Is the same as the image data received and failed to be transferred to the e-mail server 2-15.

That is, the original image data is sent to an e-mail client such as the communication device 2-3 (Source in FIG. 4).
UA4-1). D received
The SN mail is stored in HDD 2004 as a file.

Now, the method of the electronic mail data reverse conversion 10-1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 18A and 18B.

At step S10-2, the received DSN mail file of FIG. 24 is searched, and at step S10-3.
If the end of the file is detected in step S10-
The program proceeds to S18, where it is determined that no image file of the page has been detected, and the process proceeds to step S10-19 to end the process.

In step S10-3, if the end of the file is not detected, in step S10-4, “Content-Typ
e: "field name is detected, and if detected (line 14 in FIG. 24), the process proceeds to step S10-5, and if not detected, the process proceeds to step S10-2.

In step S10-5, a search in the field is performed. If the end of the field is detected in step S10-6, the process proceeds to step S10-2.
If the end of the field is not detected, step S10
At -7, the "Multipart / Mixed" type and subtype are detected.

If it is detected in step S10-7, the process proceeds to step S10-8, and if it is not detected,
It moves to step S10-5.

In step S10-8, the file is continuously searched. If the end of the file is detected in step S10-9, the process proceeds to step S10-36, and the page image data storage end flag is checked. Step S
If the flag is ON at 10-36, step S10-
The process proceeds to step S37, and otherwise proceeds to step S10-18.

On the other hand, if the end of the file is not detected in step S10-9, the flow shifts to step S10-10 to detect an area delimiter line parameter "Boundary:".
If detected (line 15 in FIG. 24), step S1
The process proceeds to 0-11, and if not detected, step S10-
Move to 8.

In the step S10-11, "Boundar
y: “the value of the delimiter line that is the value of“ TAA04217.9 ”
03349521 / gateway. epnt. gp2
dp. co. jp "is stored in the RAM 2002 as a delimited character string line.

Next, the flow advances to step S10-12, where "" of the delimiter line stored in step S10-11 is stored in the file.
TAA04217.903334921 / gatewa
y. epnt. gp2dp. co. jp "is found, and if the end of the file is detected in step S10-13, the process proceeds to step S10-18.

If the end of the file is not detected in step S10-13, the flow advances to step S10-14 to detect a delimiter character string line.
The process proceeds to 0-15, and if not detected, step S10
Shift to -12.

In step S10-15, the file is continuously searched. If the end of the file is detected in step S10-16, the process proceeds to step S10-18. If not, the process proceeds to step S10-17. move on.

In step S10-17, "Conten
If a t-Type: "field name is detected (line 18 on the right page of FIG. 24), the process proceeds to step S10-20.
If not detected, the process proceeds to step S10-15.

In step S10-20, the field is searched. If the end of the field is detected in step S10-21, the flow advances to step S10-15. If the end of the field is not detected in step S10-21, the process proceeds to step S10-22, where "Image / Tif" indicating the TIFF image file is displayed.
The type and subtype name of f ″ are detected, and if detected, the process proceeds to step S10-23.
Move to step S10-20.

[0225] In step S10-23, the file is continuously searched, and if the end of the file is detected in step S10-24, the process proceeds to step S10-18. If the end of the file is not detected in step S10-24, the process proceeds to step S10-25 to extract a binary text file conversion encoding scheme for converting the file content into a text code file for electronic mail transfer. , “Content-Transfer-Encoding:”
Performs field name detection.

In step S10-25, if a field name is detected (line 31 on the right page of FIG. 24), the flow advances to step S10-26.
It moves to 10-23.

In step S10-26, the type in the field is extracted (in the 31st line in FIG. 24, the encoding method is "Base64").
Then, the process proceeds to step S10-28, and if the end of the file is detected in step S10-28, the process proceeds to step S10-18.

If it is determined in step S10-28 that the end of the file is not detected, the flow advances to step S10-29 to detect a blank line (a line including only a carriage return or a line field).
Returning to -27, if detected, step S10-30
Proceed to.

In step S10-30, the line following the detected blank line is encoded in the type of the “Content-Transfer-Encoding:” field (here, referred to as an electronic mail transfer code). It is stored in the RAM 2002 or the HD 2004 as the first row position.

(In FIG. 24, "<Ti
ff Image> ”. In FIG. 24,“ <
Tiff Image>"is expressed in one line, but actually there are a plurality of lines of Base64 encoded data.) Next, the process proceeds to step S10-31, where a file search is continuously performed, and in step S10-32, the file The end is detected, and if detected, the process proceeds to step S10-18, and if not detected, the process proceeds to step S10-33.

In step S10-33, a blank line is detected. If a blank line is detected (the 36th line on the right page in FIG. 24), the flow advances to step S10-34 to proceed to step S10-33.
The data from the line 30 to the position before the blank line is encoded data for electronic mail transfer and stored in the RAM 2002 or the HD 2004 as an electronic mail transfer code file.

Next, the electronic mail transfer code file is input and the BAS described in the electronic mail conversion means is input.
Performs inverse conversion (decoding) of the E64 conversion program, and
RAM 2002 as IFF file (image file)
Alternatively, it is stored in the HD 2004.

Then, the flow advances to step S10-35 to turn on the page image data storage end flag indicating that the conversion of the image file for one page is completed, and then to step S10-8. [Error Processing: Error Notification Mail Analysis] FIGS. 19A to 1
FIG. 9D is one of the diagrams which best show the features of the present invention, and is a detailed flowchart of the error notification mail analyzing means in step S9-4 of FIG. 20C.

Analysis of the error notification mail will be described with reference to FIGS. 19A to 19D.

In step S11-1, when the communication device 2-3 receives the error notification mail, it stores it in the RAM 2002 or the HDD 2004. In step S11-2, this electronic mail data file (for example, the DSN in FIG.
Search for a character string from the beginning of the mail file).

Next, in step S11-3, the end of the file is searched for. If the end of the file is found, the process proceeds to step S11-20, where the electronic mail being analyzed is sent to the notification device 2-3. To indicate that this is not an error notification e-mail to be resent with reduced pixel density,
“Non-error notification mail” is set as the analysis result A on M2002, the process proceeds to step S11-21, and a series of processes ends.

If the end of the file is not found in step S11-3, the process proceeds to step S11-4, where multimedia data such as a character file, various image files, and audio files are transmitted in the same electronic mail. A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail E
xtensions), a "MIME-Version" field is detected.
Returning to 1-2, if it is detected (for example, line 13 on the left page in FIG. 1), the process proceeds to step S11-5.

In step S11-5, the file is continuously searched, and in step S11-6, if the end of the file is detected, the process proceeds to step S11-20.
If the end of the file is not detected, step S11-7.
Go to "Content-
Detect the "Type" field name.

If a field name is detected in step S11-7 (for example, the 14th line on the left page in FIG. 1), the process proceeds to step S11-8. If not, the process proceeds to step S1-7.
Return to 1-5.

In step S11-8, “Content-Typ
The parameter in the "e" field is searched. If the end of the field is detected in step S11-9, the process returns to step S11-5, and the "Content-Type" field is searched again.

If the end of the field is not detected in step S11-9, the flow shifts to step S11-10, where "multipart / repo"
rt "type and subtype are detected, and if detected (for example, the 14th line on the left page of FIG. 1), step S11-
Proceed to step S11, and if not detected, return to step S11-8.

In step S11-11, the field is searched. If the end of the field is detected in step S11-12, the process returns to step S11-5.
If not, the process proceeds to step S11-13.

In step S11-13, “report-typ
The e "parameter is detected, and if it is not detected (for example, the 14th line on the left page of FIG. 1), the process returns to step S11-11, and if detected, the process proceeds to step S11-14.

In step S11-4, "report-typ
Whether the value of the “e” parameter is “delivery-status” is detected, and if it is detected (for example, the 14th line on the left page of FIG. 1), it is determined that the mail is a DSN (Delivery Status Notification) mail. The process proceeds to step S11-15, and if not detected, returns to step S11-11.

In step S11-15, the file search is continuously performed. In step S11-16, the end of the file is searched.
Move to 1-20.

If it is determined in step S11-16 that the end of the file has not been detected, the flow advances to step S11-17.
The "Action" field is detected, and if not detected, the process returns to step S11-15. If detected (for example, the 35th line on the left page of FIG. 1), step S11-1 is performed.
Proceed to 8.

In the step S11-18, it is checked whether or not the type of the "Action" field is "failed".
If "d", the process proceeds to step S11-19, and "failed"
If not, the process proceeds to step S11-22.

In the step S11-22, the RAM 200
2. In the area of the analysis result A on the above, "Normal delivery mail" indicating that the DSN message is not an error notification message for the mail normally delivered is set. Next, step S
Proceeding to 11-23, “Normal delivery completed” is set in the analysis result B on the RAM 2002, and step S1 in FIG. 19C is set.
Proceed to 2-9.

On the other hand, in step S11-19, the RAM
An “error notification mail” is set in the analysis result A on 2002. Next, the process proceeds to step S12-1 in FIG. 19C,
The file search is continuously performed, and step S12-2 is performed.
If the end of the file is detected, the process proceeds to step S11-20 in FIG. 19B.

If the end of the file is not detected in step S12-2, the flow advances to step S12-3, where "Stat
The "us" field is detected, and if not detected, the process returns to step S12-1. If detected (line 36 on the left page in FIG. 1), the process proceeds to step S12-4.

In step S12-4, a search in the field is performed. If the end of the field is not detected in step S12-5, the process proceeds to step S12-6, and if detected, the process proceeds to step S12-22. .

In the step S12-22, the RAM 200
In step S12-23, "other error" is set in the analysis result B on "2", and "no image attached" is set in the analysis result C on the RAM 2002, and a series of processing is performed in step S12-24. finish.

On the other hand, in step S12-6, “Statu
s "field type is" 5.2.3 "(" Message l
ength exceeds administrative limit ”(message length limit set by the system administrator of the e-mail server), and if detected, step S12
The flow shifts to -8, and if not detected, step S12-7.
Proceed to.

In step S12-7, the type of the “Status” fall degree is “5.3.4” (“Message too big”).
for system "message is too large)
If detected (line 36 on the left page of FIG. 1), step S1
Proceeding to 2-8, if not detected, step S12-4
Return to

In the step S12-8, the RAM 2002
In the above analysis result B, "message length over" indicating that retransmission is necessary is set. Next, the process proceeds to step S12-9 to check whether or not to perform "message ID check".
Proceed to step S10, if no check is to be performed, step S1
Move on to 2-15.

When the “message ID check” is performed, an error notification mail (DSN message) received only for an electronic mail transmitted from the communication device 2-3.
And resend it with the resolution of the attached image file lowered. On the other hand, when the “message ID check” is not performed, even if an error notification e-mail is sent to an e-mail transmitted by another e-mail client, if the attached image is attached to the error notification e-mail, the communication device 2- 3 lowers the resolution and resends.

[0257] From step S12-10, the communication device 2
-3 checks the "Message Id" field to determine whether it is an error notification mail for the transmitted e-mail.

In step S12-10, a file search for shifting to the "Status" field line is performed.
In step 11, if the end of the file is detected,
The process proceeds to step S11-20, and if not detected,
Proceed to step S12-12.

In step S12-12, “Messag
The e-Id "field name is detected. If the field name is not detected, the process returns to step S12-10. If the field name is detected, the process proceeds to step S12-13.

In step S12-13, “Message-I
The value of the "d" field is extracted, and then, in step S12-
At 14, the "message ID base" 15-1 of the management data of FIG. 22, which is the retransmission information management method of the communication device 2-3.
The host domain name “ganon_ifax.dsn.gp2dp.c of the communication device 2-3 set in the
o. jp "is included.

When the host domain name is included (see FIG. 1)
(10th line on the right page), the process proceeds to step S12-15, and if the host domain name is not included, the process proceeds to step S11-20 in FIG. 19B.

By the way, the generation of the message ID of the e-mail transmitted from the communication device 2-3 is performed using the "message I"
"D base" 15-1 is used.

From step S12-15, it is checked whether an image file is attached to the error notification mail.

In step S12-15, the file is continuously searched. In step S12-16, the end of the file is searched. If the end of the file is detected,
The process proceeds to step S12-23, where "no image attached" is set in the analysis result C area on the RAM 2002, and a series of processes ends in step S12-241.

On the other hand, if the end of the file is not detected in step S12-16, the flow advances to step S12-17 to detect "Content-Type" and "Content-Type".
Is detected (line 18 or 31 in the right diagram of FIG. 1).
(Line), the process proceeds to step S12-18, and if not detected, returns to step S12-15.

In step S12-18, “Content-Ty
Extract the type and subtype in the “pe” field,
If "image / tiff" indicating the TIFF image file is included in step S12-19, step S1
The process proceeds to 2-20, where “image attachment” is set in the analysis result C area on the RAM 2002, and the process ends in step S12-21.

On the other hand, if "image / tiff" is not included, the flow shifts to step S12-23, where the RAM 2002
“No image attachment” is set in the above analysis result C area, and a series of processing is ended in step S12-241.

[Reading and Transmission of Original] FIGS. 20A to 20
The reading and transmission of a document will be described with reference to FIG.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are flowcharts of a program for reading and transmitting an original.
FIG. 20D is a flowchart of a program for realizing retransmission control. FIG. 22 is a structural diagram of the retransmission management data.
D2004.

FIGS. 20A to 20D are one of the drawings which best show the features of the present invention, and a method of reading and transmitting an original will be described in detail below.

First, steps S8-2 and S8-
In step 3, the destination information and the original reading information are obtained by the above-described destination designating means, and the empty record [i] 15-16 of the retransmission management data stored in the RAM 2002 shown in FIG. 22 is obtained.

Next, in step S8-4, the original is set on the original feeder 2072 and the original is read. Next, in step S8-5, the image data of the read original is converted to an image compression / decompression / density conversion unit. The data is MMR-coded by 2040 and stored in the RAM 2002 and the HDD 2004.

Next, in step S8-7, the conversion processing of the e-mail data shown in FIG. 17 is performed. Next, step S
Proceeding to 8-8, the host domain name “ganonifax.dsn.gp2” of the communication device 2-3 stored in the “message ID base” 15-1 of the retransmission management data in FIG.
dp. co. jp "and time information such as year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and millisecond, and the message ID (for example," 199808171030.TAA201 on line 10 in the right diagram of FIG. 24)
09 @ ganon_ifax. dsn. gp2dp. c
o. jp ") is generated, and the character string excluding" @ "and the host domain name is stored in the" message ID "of the empty record [i] 15-16 of the retransmission management data in FIG.

Next, proceeding to step S8-9, if the “Retransmit Inf. Store” item 3-16 in FIG. 12 is checked, it is determined that the electronic mail retransmission information is stored, and the process proceeds to step S8-17. If not, the process proceeds to step S8-10.

In step S8-17, step S8-
Record [i] 15-16 in FIG. 22 obtained in 2 and 3
The “Message ID” 15-6 and “Re
The information set in the “Solution Conversion Setting” column 3-7 is changed to “Minimum Resolution” 15-7 and “Document Conversion” in FIG.
The information set in the “Size Conversion Setting” column 3-11 is set in “Minimum Document Size” 15-8.

If the check mark of the “Document Delete After Tx” item 3-18 in FIG. 12 is on, to delete the image after transmission, the “presence / absence of image storage” 15-10
Is set to "No image storage", and if not checked, "With image storage" is set.

[Image file name] 15-11 includes FIG.
In the TIFF file name stored in step S8-5 of 0A, time invalid information is set in “transmission time” 15-12 so as not to become a data clear target, and “resolution previously transmitted” 15-13 is The resolution of the image file at the time of the first or retransmission of the document is set, and the document size of the image file at the time of the first or retransmission of the document is set in "previous transmitted document size" 15-14.

In the scan setting column 3-6, the reading resolution at the time of reading the original is set. Selection of the resolution is set by touching a check button of each resolution, and a check mark is attached to the set resolution. There is only one resolution setting.

Next, after step S8-17, control is passed to step S8-10.

[0280] In step S8-10, the transmission processing of the e-mail transmission means described above is performed.
At 11, check whether or not the transmission process has been completed normally.
If the operation ends normally, the process moves to step S8-18.

On the other hand, if the processing does not end normally in step S8-11, the flow advances to step S8-12, and an error message "message length over" similar to the error codes indicated by 12-6 and 12-7 in FIG. 19C. Is checked during the transmission session, and if so, the process moves to step S8-22.

If no message is received in step S8-12, the flow advances to step S8-13 to perform error processing other than "message length over". Next, step S8-1
In step 4, the record [i] 15-16 in FIG. 22 obtained in steps S8-2 and S3 is returned to the free space management of the retransmission management data, and the file generated in step S8-5 is deleted.
Next, the process proceeds to step S8-15, where the retransmission error report shown in FIG. 15 is printed, and the process proceeds to step S8-16, where a series of processes is ended.

On the other hand, from step S8-11 to step S8
If the process proceeds to step 8-18, the document retransmission report shown in FIG. 21 is printed when the document is retransmitted instead of at the time of reading and transmitting the document. Mode is enabled.

If valid in step S8-19, the process proceeds to step S8-21. If not valid, the process proceeds to step S8-20 to delete the e-mail retransmission information and the image file in the same manner as in step S8-14. Is performed, and the process proceeds to step S8-16 to end a series of processes. When the process proceeds to step S8-21, the date and time when transmission is completed is set in 15-12 in FIG.
Proceeding to 16, the series of processing ends.

On the other hand, from step S8-12 to step S8
If the process proceeds to 8-22, the “lowest resolution” of FIG.
-7 is compared with the resolution of the previously transmitted image, and the "minimum original size" 15-7 in FIG. 22 is compared with the original document size of the previously transmitted image. Then, the process proceeds to -15, where the retransmission error report shown in FIG. 15 is printed, and the process proceeds to step S8-16 to end a series of processes.

If it is determined in step S8-22 that both have not reached the minimum, the process proceeds to step S8-23. If the “e-mail retransmission information storage mode” is invalid, the process proceeds to step S8-16. A series of processing ends.

If it is valid in step S8-23, the flow advances to step S8-24, and the "lowest resolution" 15-
7 or the "lowest document size" 15-8, the image is converted to an image of the resolution and the document size of the next lower value, and the resolution and the document size are respectively set to the "previous transmitted resolution" 15-1 in FIG.
After setting 3 and "document size transmitted in previous figure" 15-14, the process returns to step S8-7.

[Retransmission Control] Next, FIG. 20C and FIG.
The retransmission control method will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

First, in step S9-2, an e-mail reception process (described in the reception of the e-mail) is performed. In step S9-3, if the end of reception is detected, the process proceeds to step S9-2.
The process proceeds to 9-4, and if there is no detection, the process returns to step S9-2, and the detection of reception is continued.

In step S9-4, the error notification mail analysis processing shown in FIG. 19 is executed.
At -5, if the analysis result A on the RAM 2002 is not “error notification mail”, the process proceeds to step S9-21,
A bitmap is developed as an ordinary e-mail and output to the printer unit 2095, or a TIFF file is stored in the HDD 2004, and a series of processing ends.

On the other hand, if the analysis result A in step S9-5 is “error notification mail”, step S9-6.
To check if the analysis result B on the RAM 2002 is an error such as "message length over" which requires retransmission with a smaller image data amount.

If it is determined in step S9-6 that the error requires retransmission, the flow advances to step S9-7. If the error does not need to be retransmitted, the flow advances to step S9-17 to perform other error processing other than the retransmission processing. Perform, then step S9
The process proceeds to -21, where normal post-reception processing is performed, and the series of processing ends.

On the other hand, in step S9-7, if the analysis result C of the error notification mail analysis processing is "image attached" to the error notification mail, the flow shifts to step S9-8.

If “error image attachment” is not included in the error notification mail, the flow shifts to step S9-14, and FIG.
"@" Is added to the "message ID" of each record of the management data of
n_ifax. dsn. gp2dp. co. jp ") is compared with the received message ID, and a search is made for a match.

If there is no matching record in step S9-15, it is determined that there is no corresponding image, and the flow shifts to step S9-18 to check for a matching record. If the image has been stored, the process proceeds to step S9-16.

[0296] In step S9-16, the image file of the "image file name" of the matched record is set as the retransmission image, and the flow advances to step S9-10. On the other hand, in step S9-8, based on the received DSN mail as the error notification mail, the e-mail reverse conversion shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B is performed, and the image attached to the DSN mail is extracted. Or HDD2
004, set as a retransmission image, and
Go to 9-10.

In step S9-10, if the resolution of the transmission image is smaller than that of the system setting and the document size of the transmission image is smaller than that of the system setting, step S9-
Move to 18. Or, the resolution of the transmission image is equal to or less than the “previous transmission resolution” of the record of the management data with the same message ID, and the transmission image document size is the “last transmission document size” of the management data record with the same message ID. If so, the process proceeds to step S9-18. If the above conditions are not satisfied in step S9-10, the process proceeds to step S9-11.

In step S9-18, the management record in FIG. 22 corresponding to the received e-mail and the image file name of "image file name" 15-11 managed by the record are deleted.

Next, the flow advances to step S9-19, and as shown in FIG.
Generate a bitmap for the document retransmission error report
Output to the printer unit 2095, and in step S9-20,
A series of processing ends.

On the other hand, in step S9-11, the resolution after transmission density conversion of the transmission image is determined by selecting a resolution lower than the transmission image from the "minimum resolution" of the record of the management data with the same system ID or message ID. I do.

Alternatively, a document size smaller than the transmission image is selected from the “minimum document size” of the record of the management data having the same system setting or message ID, and
The original size of the transmission image after the density conversion is determined.

Next, the image is transmitted to the determined resolution and original size by the image compression / decompression density conversion / density conversion unit 204.
0 is used to perform coarse density conversion.

Then, the flow advances to step S9-12. If the e-mail retransmission information storage mode is set to be valid, the resolution and the document size, which are the pixel density information of the conversion destination, are respectively associated with the management data in FIG. The record is set to “resolution transmitted last time” and “document size transmitted last time”, and the process proceeds to step S9-13. On the other hand, if the e-mail retransmission information storage mode is invalid, nothing is performed and step S9-1 is performed.
Move to 3.

At step S9-13, at step S9-
The e-mail data of FIG. 17 described above is converted from the twelve image data, and the process proceeds to step S8-10 in FIG. 20A.

Although the present invention has been described as a communication device in the present specification, the present invention can be realized on a personal computer.

[Data Clear] FIG. 23 is one of the diagrams which best show the features of the present invention and is a flowchart of a program for realizing data clear. The data clear method will be described below in detail.

The data clear is performed first in step S16-
In step 2, it is checked whether one minute has elapsed. If one minute has not elapsed, the process waits. When one minute has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S16.
Go to -3.

In step S16-3, the "number of registered records" 15-2 in FIG. 22 is set in the search counter. Next, the process proceeds to step S16-4, where record [1] is set to the search pointer, and the process proceeds to step S16-5.

At step S16-5, it is checked whether or not the search counter exceeds 0.
Return to 2. On the other hand, when the search counter exceeds 0, the process proceeds to step S16-6, and the elapsed time is calculated by subtracting the "transmission time" of the record of the management data pointed to by the search pointer from the current time.

Next, the flow advances to step S16-7, and if the elapsed time is less than the "clear time" in FIG. 22, the flow shifts to step S16-10. On the other hand, the elapsed time is shown in FIG.
If the time is equal to or longer than the "clear time" of step S2, step S16-8
Then, it is checked whether the document of the record pointed to by the search pointer matches the communicating record 15-4 in FIG.

In step S16-8, if the record matches, the current record is being communicated, the flow proceeds to step S16-10. If not, the flow proceeds to step S16-9, and the "image file" of the document of the record indicated by the search pointer is read. Is deleted, the record is made an empty record, and the number of registered records is decremented (-1).

In the next step S16-10, the search counter is decremented. In the next step S16-11, the search pointer is updated to the next record.
Move to 5.

As described above, the communication device 2-3 automatically interprets the contents of the error notification mail in response to the error notification mail, reduces the pixel density, and retransmits the error notification mail without user intervention. Further, by realizing a function of printing a report that can be easily interpreted by the user, the user can reliably and easily send an e-mail with an attached image to the other party without overlooking the error notification mail.

[0314]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), a device including one device (for example, Personal computer, digital copying machine, etc.).

An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 17 to 20 and 23 described above.

[0318]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Converting the image data so that it can be transmitted by e-mail, and in a communication device that transmits and receives the converted image data by attaching it to an e-mail, upon receiving a notification that a transmission abnormality has occurred in the transmitted e-mail, Analyze the cause of the transmission error, and if the cause is analyzed as being transmitted beyond the amount of data that can be transmitted, play the image data from the transmitted e-mail without user intervention,
It is possible to provide a communication device and a communication method for performing predetermined processing for avoiding transmission abnormalities on the image data, and then attaching the image data to an e-mail again and retransmitting the same.

[0319] Further, it is possible to provide a communication device and a communication method for processing and outputting a difficult notification content so that the user can easily understand the content when the notification of the transmission abnormality is received.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a network connection configuration diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall block diagram of the present system.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a scanner unit, a printer unit, and an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is an external view of an operation unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a scanner image processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a printer image processing unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an image compression processing unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an image rotation unit.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an image rotation process.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an image rotation process.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a device I / F unit.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a destination input screen of the communication device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an electronic mail transmission system route diagram.

FIG. 14 is a command sequence diagram when the SMTP protocol is normal.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a text example of a document retransmission error report.

FIG. 16 is a command sequence diagram when a message length over error of the SMTP protocol occurs.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an electronic mail data conversion program.

FIG. 18A is a flowchart of the electronic mail data reverse conversion means.

FIG. 18B is a flowchart of the electronic mail data reverse conversion means.

FIG. 19A is a flowchart of the error notification mail analysis means.

FIG. 19B is a flowchart of the error notification mail analysis means.

FIG. 19C is a flowchart of the error notification mail analysis means.

FIG. 19D is a flowchart of the error notification mail analysis means.

FIG. 20A is a flowchart of a document reading and transmitting unit.

FIG. 20B is a flowchart of the document reading and transmitting means.

FIG. 20C is a flowchart of the retransmission control means.

FIG. 20D is a flowchart of the retransmission control means.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of the text of a document retransmission report.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a retransmission management data structure.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a data clear unit.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a DSN message (error notification message).

[Explanation of symbols]

 2-1 LAN 2-2 E-mail client 2-3 Internet FAX machine 2-4 E-mail server 2-5 E-mail client 2-6 Gateway 2-7 DNS server 2-8 Router 2-14 Internet / intranet 2- 15 E-mail server 2-16 E-mail client 2-17 LAN

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An image data generating means for reading an image at a desired resolution to generate image data, an image data converting means for converting the image data generated by the image data generating means so that the image data can be transmitted by e-mail, A communication device comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits an e-mail attached with the image data converted by the image data converting unit to a network; and a receiving unit that receives an e-mail from the network. As a result of analyzing the received e-mail, the received e-mail is a notification notifying the transmission abnormality of the e-mail attached with the image data transmitted by the transmission means, and the amount of data that can be transmitted due to the cause of the transmission abnormality If it is analyzed that the e-mail has been sent beyond Image data reproducing means for reproducing the image data from an e-mail attached with: a processing means for performing predetermined processing for avoiding the transmission abnormality on the image data reproduced by the image data reproducing means; and the processing means Retransmission control means for converting the image data processed by the image data conversion means, and controlling to retransmit the electronic mail attached with the converted image data using the transmission means, A communication device comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is performed by using a pixel density changing unit that changes a pixel density of the image data to a predetermined pixel density, and is lower than a pixel density of the image data when the transmission abnormality occurs. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication density is changed to a pixel density. 3. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein changing the pixel density to the low pixel density changes the pixel density of the image data to a resolution lower than the resolution of the image data transmitted last time. . 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein changing the pixel density to the low pixel density includes changing the pixel density of the image data to a read size smaller than a previously read size of the image data. Communication device. 5. The retransmission control unit sets a pixel density at which the retransmission is stopped in advance, and terminates the retransmission when the pixel density at which the retransmission is stopped is reached by the processing of the processing unit. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the communication device is a communication device. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a retransmission image setting unit configured to set a resolution of the image data or an image size of the image data at the time of the retransmission.
The communication device according to claim 5. 7. An image data generating step of reading an image at a desired resolution to generate image data, and an image data converting step of converting the image data generated in the image data generating step so that the image data can be transmitted by e-mail. A transmitting step of transmitting an e-mail attached with the image data converted by the image data converting step to a network,
A receiving step of receiving an e-mail from a network, as a result of analyzing the e-mail received in the receiving step, the received e-mail is the image data transmitted in the transmitting step. This is a notification notifying the transmission abnormality of the attached e-mail, and if it is analyzed that the transmission abnormality is due to the transmission of the e-mail exceeding the amount of data that can be transmitted, the electronic data attached with the image data is transmitted. An image data reproducing step of reproducing the image data from an email; a processing step of performing a predetermined process for avoiding the transmission abnormality on the image data reproduced by the image data reproducing step; The image data is converted using the image data conversion step, and the converted image data is Communication method characterized by having a retransmission control step of controlling to retransmit via mail the transmission step. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined processing is performed using a pixel density changing step of changing a pixel density of the image data to a predetermined pixel density, and is lower than a pixel density of the image data when the transmission abnormality occurs. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the communication density is changed to a pixel density. 9. The communication method according to claim 8, wherein changing the pixel density to the low pixel density includes changing the pixel density of the image data to a resolution lower than the resolution at which the image data was transmitted last time. . 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein changing the pixel density to the low pixel density includes changing the pixel density of the image data to a read size smaller than the previously transmitted read size of the image data. Communication method. 11. In the retransmission control step, a pixel density at which the retransmission is stopped is set in advance, and when the pixel density at which the retransmission is stopped is reached by the processing in the processing step, the retransmission is terminated. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein
Alternatively, the communication method according to claim 10. 12. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a retransmission image setting step of setting a resolution of the image data or an image size of the image data at the time of the retransmission. The communication method described. 13. An image data generating step of reading an image at a desired resolution to generate image data, and an image data converting step of converting the image data generated in the image data generating step so that the image data can be transmitted by e-mail. A storage medium storing a communication processing program, comprising: a transmission step of transmitting an e-mail attached with the image data converted by the image data conversion step to a network; and a reception step of receiving an e-mail from the network. The communication processing program, as a result of analyzing the e-mail received in the receiving step, the received e-mail is a notification notifying a transmission abnormality of the e-mail attached with the image data transmitted in the transmitting step. When the cause of the transmission error exceeds the amount of data that can be transmitted, the If it is analyzed that the image data has been deleted, an image data reproducing step of reproducing the image data from the e-mail attached with the image data; and avoiding the transmission abnormality in the image data reproduced in the image data reproducing step. A processing step of performing a predetermined process for converting the image data processed in the processing step using the image data conversion step, and using the transmission step to send an e-mail attached with the converted image data. A retransmission control step of performing control to retransmit the data.