JP3740828B2 - Communication terminal device with electronic mail function and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having an electronic mail transmission / reception function and a recording medium readable by an apparatus such as a computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a computer communication network (such as the Internet) that distributes electronic mail via the Internet or the like in which a local computer communication network is connected by a communication line is becoming widespread. The computer communication network is excellent in error correction function, and the user only pays the communication cost (line usage fee and connection cost to the provider) to the nearest provider (computer communication network connection provider) in Japan. Not only can it communicate with computers all over the world.
[0003]
By the way, since the conventional facsimile communication procedure is different from that of the computer communication using the computer communication network as described above, it is not possible to directly communicate from the facsimile apparatus to the computer communication network. However, even image data such as a facsimile message (original) normally transmitted / received by facsimile communication can be transmitted / received via a computer communication network by converting it into an electronic mail format.
[0004]
Under such circumstances, it is possible to send and receive a document as an e-mail by Internet communication, and a communication terminal device with an e-mail function, particularly a facsimile machine, used for such a purpose has been developed.
[0005]
When a facsimile machine equipped with an e-mail communication function receives e-mail, log in to the network, check the mailbox assigned to each e-mail address in the mail server that stores the sent e-mail, and receive it. If there is an e-mail such as a possible manuscript, download it.
[0006]
In general, a recipient sends back an acknowledgment indicating that the e-mail has arrived as an e-mail to the e-mail sender after downloading the e-mail.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the receipt confirmation is returned in the language used by the recipient, for example, Japanese, etc., the recipient of this receipt confirmation is in a country other than the country where this language is used, that is, in a foreign country. Had a problem that the contents of the receipt confirmation could not be understood.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by returning a receipt confirmation in a language corresponding to the information indicating the country name included in the e-mail address, the person who receives the receipt confirmation changes the contents of the receipt confirmation. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device with an electronic mail function that can be understood and a recording medium that can be read by a device such as a computer.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to the first aspect of the present invention stores predetermined information described in a predetermined language in storage means in association with information for identifying the language, and includes the mail included in the electronic mail. extraction and address extraction means for extracting an address, and language determining means for determining the language based on the email address extracted by said address extracting means, the predetermined information described in a language determined by該言word determining means And an information extracting unit for transmitting the predetermined information extracted by the information extracting unit to the e-mail address.
[0010]
A communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to a second invention is the communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to the first invention, wherein the language determining means extracts information indicating an area name from the mail address, and the language from the extraction result It is characterized by being determined .
[0011]
A recording medium according to a third aspect of the invention is included in the computer, the unit storing the predetermined information written in the predetermined language in association with the information for identifying the language in the storage unit, and the computer included in the e-mail Means for extracting an email address; means for causing a computer to determine a language based on the extracted email address; means for causing the computer to extract predetermined information described in the determined language ; A program including means for transmitting the extracted predetermined information to the mail address is recorded.
[0012]
According to the communication terminal device with an electronic mail function and a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention, the language is determined from the mail address included in the electronic mail, specifically, the mail address. in the language determined from information indicating the region name of the country or the like included, acknowledgment for notifying the sender that it has received the e-mail, extracts the predetermined information such as a cover page of the electronic mail (transmission information) Since the extraction result is transmitted to the e-mail address, the recipient of the information can understand the content of the information.
[0013]
For the language based on the information indicating the area name included in the e-mail address, a data table in which the information is associated with the language based on the information is provided in advance, and the corresponding language is called based on the information. This can be easily achieved. If there is no language corresponding to the information in such a data table, the predetermined information is generated in the native language used in the area indicated by the information or the first foreign language which is generally English. By doing so, the probability that the user of the said mail address understands the content of this predetermined information improves.
[0014]
In addition, the email address included in the email as described above is not limited to the email address of the sender, destination, etc. included in the header information of the email, but is included in the body of the email, for example. May be an e-mail address.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a facsimile apparatus FAX, FAX, FAX as a communication terminal apparatus with an electronic mail function according to the first embodiment and an Internet NTW to which these facsimile apparatuses FAX, FAX, FAX are connected. It is a block diagram.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, NTW is the Internet as a part of a computer communication network (network), and many providers PR and PR as servers of the Internet NTW are connected to the Internet NTW. In order to simplify the description, a configuration in which two providers PR and PR are simply connected is shown.
[0017]
The provider PR is connected with facsimile apparatuses FAX, FAX, and FAX as clients. For the same reason as described above, three facsimile apparatuses FAX, FAX, and FAX are shown. Note that the connection form between each facsimile machine FAX and the Internet NTW is not limited to that described above, and a router, a public telephone line exchange (switching office), etc. are interposed between each facsimile machine FAX and the provider PR. It is good also as the structure currently made.
[0018]
Each facsimile machine FAX has an e-mail transmission / reception function, and includes a main control unit 1, a reading unit 2, a recording unit 3, a display unit 4, an operation unit 5, a ROM 6, a RAM 7, an image memory 8, a modem 9, and an NCU. 11. An external storage / reading unit 16 is provided.
[0019]
The main control unit 1 is composed of an MPU, and not only controls the hardware parts of the facsimile machine FAX through the bus 13, but also image data of facsimile messages (originals) based on a computer program stored in the ROM 6. Encoding / decoding that encodes / decodes images using MH, MR, MMR, etc., TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) conversion, binary text conversion, mail editing, modem switching, RS232C with AT command A computer program such as a communication procedure including control is executed.
[0020]
The reading unit 2 reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data converted into monochrome binary. The recording unit 3 includes an electrophotographic printer or the like, and prints out (records) data received from another facsimile machine FAX by facsimile communication, data received by Internet communication, and the like as a hard copy.
[0021]
The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operational status of the facsimile machine FAX, and displays the original or e-mail to be sent, the received original or e-mail, etc. Do.
[0022]
The operation unit 5 includes keys such as a character key, a numeric keypad, an abbreviated dial key, a one-touch dial key, and various function keys necessary for operating the facsimile apparatus FAX. In addition, it is also possible to substitute a part or all of the various keys of this operation part 5 by making the above-mentioned display part 4 into a touch panel system.
[0023]
The ROM 6 stores in advance various computer programs necessary for the operation of the facsimile apparatus FAX.
[0024]
The RAM 7 is composed of SRAM or the like, and stores temporary data generated when the computer program is executed, as well as an address / language correspondence table 71, a key / language correspondence table 72, a language / transmission guidance correspondence table 73, which will be described later, Various data tables such as a language / reception confirmation correspondence table 74 are stored in advance. Note that these data tables may be input from the operation unit 5. A configuration using a flash memory for the RAM 7 is also possible. In this case, the stored contents are not lost even when the power is cut off due to a power failure, movement of the facsimile apparatus FAX, or the like.
[0025]
The image memory 8 is configured using a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted or received image data.
[0026]
The modem 9 is connected to the bus 13 and has a function as a FAX modem capable of facsimile communication, and also functions as a data communication modem capable of Internet communication. Similarly, the modem 9 is connected to an NCU (Network Control Unit) 11 connected to the bus 13. The NCU 11 is hardware for closing and opening the analog line L, and connects the modem 9 to the analog line L as necessary.
[0027]
In addition, you may make it connect to the digital line of a baseband transmission system by providing DSU (Digital Service Unit: Subscriber Line Termination Device).
[0028]
The external storage reading unit 16 such as a card reader includes an insertion slot for a recording medium M such as an IC card using a mask ROM, reads a computer program from the recording medium M inserted into the insertion slot, and stores it in the RAM 7. Store.
[0029]
2 is a schematic diagram showing an address / language correspondence table 71, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a key / language correspondence table 72, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a language / transmission guidance correspondence table 73, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a language / reception confirmation correspondence table 74.
[0030]
The address / language correspondence table 71 shown in FIG. 2 includes country information, language information, and country name information. The country information is a part of the e-mail address, and is described by a two-letter alphabet following a period (also called a dot) such as “.jp”. When these two characters are “jp” as described above, for example, “Japan (Japan)” is indicated, and information indicating the country name corresponding thereto is the above-mentioned country name information. For example, “.de” is Germany, “.ca” is Canada, etc. As the language information, the language (native language) of the country indicated in the country name information is set to “1: English”, “2: Japanese”, “3: German”, “4: French”, “5: It is described with numerical values such as “Italian”, “6: Spanish”, etc., and the language name is described after the numerical value as a supplementary note. The country information is “other”, the corresponding language information is “1: English”, and the country name information is “unknown”.
[0031]
The key / language correspondence table 72 shown in FIG. 3 has key information, mail address information, and language information. The key information corresponds to each key provided in the operation unit 5, and here, a part of the information associated with the character key is shown. The mail address information describes a mail address registered in advance. Since the language information is the same as the language information in the address / language correspondence table 71 described above, description thereof is omitted. Note that the initial setting of the language information is “unregistered”, indicating that there is no language information associated with each key information or each mail address.
[0032]
The language / transmission guide correspondence table 73 shown in FIG. 4 includes language information and transmission guide information. In the transmission guidance information, the text of the transmission guidance corresponding to each numerical value as language information is described in a text format. In the language corresponding to each language information described above, “Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.”, It is written as “I am indebted every time”.
[0033]
The language / acknowledgement correspondence table 74 shown in FIG. 5 includes language information and receipt confirmation information. Since the language information is the same as the language information in the address / language correspondence table 71 described above, a description thereof will be omitted. However, the receipt confirmation information includes text of receipt confirmation corresponding to each numerical value as language information in a text format. It is written in the language according to each language information, such as "I received your letter."
[0034]
The facsimile apparatus FAX according to the present embodiment has the hardware configuration as described above, and transmits and receives image data mainly converted into TIFF files as e-mails as well as general G3 system facsimile communication functions. It has a function to do. In other words, it is possible to convert the original image data to be facsimile-communicated into text using MIME or the like, convert it to a TIFF file, and send / receive it as an electronic mail via the Internet.
[0035]
Further, the facsimile apparatus FAX according to the present embodiment extracts the mail address of the sender of the received electronic mail, and returns the receipt confirmation in a language corresponding to the country information included in the mail address. In addition, when an e-mail is transmitted, a transmission guide is attached to the e-mail in a language corresponding to the mail address of the destination. However, since such communication-related functions are stored in the ROM 6 as a computer program, such functions will be described below.
[0036]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the main control unit 1 accompanying the transmission of the e-mail. First, as the original set on the reading unit 2 is read, the image data of the original is stored in the image memory 8 (step 1). As the character key provided on the operation unit 5 is pressed by the user, mail address information and language information corresponding to the key information in the key / language correspondence table 72 are registered based on the pressed character key. (Step 2). If the information corresponding to the character key is not registered, the address / language search process is executed to read the language information corresponding to the mail address (step 3), and the information corresponding to the character key is registered. If yes, the mail address and language information corresponding to the key information in the key / language correspondence table 72 is read (step 4).
[0037]
After step 3 or 4, the transmission guide information corresponding to the read language information is read from the language / transmission guide correspondence table 73 (step 5), and the provider PR in which the facsimile machine FAX has a connection contract to the Internet NTW (Step 6). Log-in is to connect to the provider PR by dialing the telephone number specified by the provider PR and sending the user ID, password, etc. supplied in advance from the provider PR. A dial-up IP connection (or disconnection) process is used.
[0038]
Upon completion of the login, the transmission guide information read in step 5 is sent to the mail address previously input from the operation unit 5 as a destination (step 7). Subsequently, the image data of the document stored in the image memory 8 in step 1 is converted into text using MIME or the like and converted into a TIFF file, and then sent as an e-mail to the same destination (step 8). Then, when the transmission is completed, the user logs out (step 9) and ends.
[0039]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the main control unit 1 associated with the reception of the e-mail. First, the facsimile machine FAX logs in to the provider PR that has a connection contract with the Internet NTW (step 1), checks the mailbox assigned to the own apparatus in the provider PR, and stores the e-mail to be received in the RAM 7 (Step 2). Next, the “acknowledgment confirmation reply setting” in which whether or not the user confirms the receipt confirmation is returned using the operation unit 5 (step 3). If the setting is ON, the download is performed in step 2 The sender's mail address described after “From:” of the e-mail is extracted (step 4).
[0040]
Then, the address / language search process is executed to read the language information corresponding to the mail address (step 5), and the receipt confirmation information corresponding to the read language information is read from the language / reception confirmation correspondence table 74 (step). 6). Subsequently, the read receipt confirmation information is transmitted with the mail address extracted in step 4 as a destination (step 7). As the transmission is completed, the user logs out (step 8) and ends. Also, if “Reception Confirmation Reply Setting” is OFF in Step 3, the process is also ended.
[0041]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the main control unit 1 associated with the address / language search processing. First, three characters including dots such as “. ??” are extracted from the last character of the mail address (step 1). Here, “?” Indicates an arbitrary alphanumeric character. Next, referring to the address / language correspondence table 71, it is confirmed whether or not country information that matches the extracted three characters is registered (step 2). The language information corresponding to the information is read (step 3), and the process returns. If not registered, "1" (English), which is language information corresponding to the "other" country information, is read (step 4) and the process returns.
[0042]
In the above embodiment, the facsimile apparatus FAX as the communication terminal apparatus with the electronic mail function is configured to send the receipt confirmation information and the transmission guide information based on the mail address. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Instead, for example, the provider PR interposed in the middle of the transmission / reception route of the e-mail may be configured to send the receipt confirmation information and the transmission guide information instead of the facsimile machine FAX.
[0043]
Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, an embodiment in the case where the communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to the present invention has a configuration like a personal computer will be described in detail based on the drawings shown below. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a personal computer PC, PC, PC as an electronic mail function-equipped communication terminal device according to the second embodiment and the Internet NTW to which these personal computers PC, PC are connected. It is.
[0044]
In FIG. 9, NTW is the Internet as a part of a computer communication network (network), and the Internet NTW is connected to a number of providers PR and PR as connection servers to the Internet NTW. In the embodiment, in order to simplify the description, a configuration in which two providers PR and PR are simply connected is shown.
[0045]
The provider PR is connected with personal computers PC, PC, and PC as clients. For the same reason as described above, three personal computers PC, PC, and PC are shown. Note that the connection form between each personal computer PC and the Internet NTW is not limited to that described above, and a router, a public telephone line switch (exchange office), etc. are interposed between each personal computer PC and the provider PR. It is good also as the structure currently made.
[0046]
Each personal computer PC has an electronic mail transmission / reception function, and includes a main control unit 1, a recording unit 3, a display unit 4, an operation unit 5, a modem 9, a storage unit 10, an external storage reading unit 16, and the like.
[0047]
The main control unit 1 is composed of an MPU, and not only controls the hardware parts of the personal computer PC through the bus 13, but also converts the image data of the document to MH, based on the computer program stored in the storage unit 10. Communication procedures including encoding / decoding, encoding (decoding), image (TIFF) conversion, binary text conversion, mail editing, modem switching, RS232C control by AT command, etc., encoded by MR, MMR, etc. Run the computer program.
[0048]
The recording unit 3 includes an electrophotographic printer or the like, and prints out (records) data received from another personal computer PC by facsimile communication, data received by Internet communication, and the like as a hard copy.
[0049]
The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operating state of the personal computer PC, and displays a document or e-mail to be transmitted, a received document or e-mail, etc. Do.
[0050]
The operation unit 5 includes a keyboard necessary for operating the personal computer PC. In addition, it is also possible to substitute a part or all of the key operations of the operation unit 5 by using the touch panel system for the display unit 4 described above.
[0051]
The storage unit 10 as a storage means is composed of a readable / writable magnetic disk and stores in advance various computer programs necessary for the operation of the personal computer PC, as well as the address / language correspondence table 71, key / language described above. Various data tables such as a correspondence table 72, a language / transmission guide correspondence table 73, and a language / reception confirmation correspondence table 74 are stored in advance.
[0052]
The modem 9 is a data fax modem that functions not only as a FAX modem capable of facsimile communication but also as a data communication modem capable of Internet communication. The modem 9 is connected to the bus 13 and closed with the analog line L. The knotting and opening operations are performed.
[0053]
In addition, you may make it connect with the digital line of a baseband transmission system by providing DSU (Subscriber Line Termination Unit: Digital Service Unit).
[0054]
The external storage reading unit 16 is a disk drive of a recording medium M such as a flexible disk or a CD-ROM. The external storage reading unit 16 reads a computer program from the recording medium M inserted in the disk drive and stores it in the storage unit 10.
[0055]
The personal computer PC as the communication terminal device with an electronic mail function in the second embodiment has the hardware configuration as described above, and a function of transmitting / receiving electronic mail encoded by various methods in addition to the normal facsimile communication. have. Accordingly, since transmission / reception of an original document and transmission / reception of an e-mail can be performed in the same procedure as the facsimile apparatus FAX of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to those of the first embodiment and the description is omitted. To do.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, in the communication terminal device with an electronic mail function and the recording medium readable by the device according to the present invention, the language is determined from the mail address included in the electronic mail. in the language determined from information indicating the region name of the country or the like contained in the extracted receipt confirmation to inform the sender that it has received the e-mail, the predetermined information such as a cover page of the electronic mail (transmission information) Then, by transmitting the extraction result to the e-mail address, the present invention has an excellent effect such that the recipient of the information can understand the contents of the information.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a facsimile apparatus as a communication terminal apparatus with an electronic mail function according to Embodiment 1 and the Internet to which these facsimile apparatuses are connected.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an address / language correspondence table;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a key / language correspondence table;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a language / transmission guidance correspondence table 73;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a language / reception confirmation correspondence table;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a main control unit accompanying transmission of an e-mail.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the main control unit accompanying reception of an e-mail.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a main control unit in association with address / language search processing;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a personal computer as a communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to a second embodiment and the Internet to which the personal computer is connected.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Main controller 6 ROM
7 RAM
9 Modem
10 Memory
16 External memory reader
FAX Fax machine M Recording medium
PC personal computer

Claims (3)

Predetermined information described in a predetermined language is stored in a storage unit in association with information for identifying a language,
An address extracting means for extracting an e-mail address included in the e-mail;
Language determination means for determining a language based on the email address extracted by the address extraction means ;
Information extracting means for extracting predetermined information described in the language determined by the language determining means;
A communication terminal device with an electronic mail function, comprising: transmission means for transmitting predetermined information extracted by the information extraction means to the mail address. The communication terminal device with an electronic mail function according to claim 1, wherein the language determining means extracts information indicating an area name from the mail address and determines a language from the extraction result. Means for causing a computer to store predetermined information written in a predetermined language in a storage unit in association with information for identifying the language;
Means for causing a computer to extract an email address contained in the email;
Means for causing a computer to determine a language based on the extracted email address ;
Means for causing a computer to extract predetermined information written in a determined language ;
A computer-readable recording medium , wherein a program is recorded that includes means for causing a computer to transmit the extracted predetermined information to the mail address.

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