JP2000261494A - Fax mail server device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inform a user having transmitted an E mail about impossibility of file conversion in the case that a FAX mail server device receives an attached file of a file form which is not adaptable to the FAX mail server device in a conversion/transmission service that converts an E mail into a FAX. SOLUTION: The FAX mail server device is provided with an E mail reception means 1 that receives an E mail, an E mail conversion means 2 that converts the E mail received by the E mail reception means 1 into a data of a FAX form, a FAX transmission means 3 that transmits the data of the FAX form outputted by the E mail conversion means 2, a mail transmission reception control means 4 that controls transmission reception of the mail, and a conversion impossibility notice means 5 that informs a sender of the E mail about impossible conversion when the means 1 receives an attached file whose form is not adaptable to the E mail conversion means 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile mail server apparatus for transmitting an e-mail (e-mail) to a facsimile (facsimile) user, a facsimile mail server processing method, and the facsimile mail server processing method. And a recording medium on which a program for recording is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, e-mail has been used for various information exchanges with the development and spread of Internet and intranet technologies.

Conventionally, e-mail exchanges information using e-mail software on a workstation or personal computer. Recently, however, devices for exchanging information have increased, and PDA, mobile phones, and fax machines have been used. The number of e-mails to be processed has also increased.

[0004] In particular, in an e-mail using a facsimile apparatus, F
When sending an e-mail from an e-mail terminal (a personal computer or the like) to another facsimile apparatus to obtain AX-format print data, the e-mail is converted into facsimile-format data by a server and then transmitted through a general telephone line. To be transmitted to a FAX device. This server is called a FAX mail server device. An attached file can be attached to an e-mail. The attached file created by the application is converted into a facsimile print format by a facsimile mail server device and transmitted to the facsimile device.
The effect of receiving and viewing the attached file with the AX device can be obtained.

[0005]

However, in the FAX mail server device described in the related art, it is possible to convert an attached file created by some specified application. It is impossible to convert the attached file into FAX format data. Also, it is impossible to convert a moving image file or a computer executable file into FAX format data.

In such a case, although the recipient using the FAX cannot receive the attached file, the sender of the e-mail assumes that the attached file has arrived at the other party. There is.

[0007] In order to solve such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a means for notifying a transmission source user that there is an attached file that cannot be converted in a FAX mail server device.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a facsimile transmission processing apparatus according to the present invention informs an e-mail terminal of a transmission source that the file cannot be converted when an attached file cannot be converted. Thus, it is possible to realize a FAX mail server device that enables a sender of an E-mail to know that a recipient has failed to receive an attached file. It works.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides an e-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail, and an e-mail receiving means for converting the e-mail received by the e-mail receiving means into facsimile data. E-mail conversion means, facsimile transmission means for transmitting facsimile data output by the e-mail conversion means, e-mail transmission / reception control means for controlling the transmission / reception of e-mail, A facsimile mail server device provided with a conversion incompatibility notifying means for sending information indicating that conversion is impossible to a sender's e-mail terminal when the format cannot be converted by the converting means. Can inform the sender of the e-mail that the attached file could not be received.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an unconvertible file returning means for returning an unconverted attached file to a source e-mail terminal. This is a FAX mail server device, and with this configuration, an attached file that could not be converted can be returned to the sender of the E-mail.

[0011] The third aspect of the present invention relates to the receiving side F which informs the sender of the e-mail that there is an attached file in a format not supported by the e-mail converting means.
3. The FA according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a notification unit that has been notified that conversion is impossible, which notifies the AX device.
This is an X-mail server device. With this configuration, the FAX recipient can know that the attached file that could not be converted has been returned to the sender of the E-mail.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment at all, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a FAX mail server device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an e-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail, and 2 denotes an e-mail for converting the e-mail received by the e-mail receiving means 1 into data in a facsimile format.
The mail conversion means 3 is a facsimile transmission means for transmitting the facsimile data output by the e-mail conversion means 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a mail transmission / reception control unit that controls transmission / reception of mail.

Reference numeral 5 indicates that information indicating that conversion is not possible is sent to the source e-mail terminal (e-mail sender) when the e-mail conversion means 2 does not support the attached file format. This is a conversion impossible notification unit.

FIG. 2 shows an FA according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a flowchart which shows the X mail server processing method.
The flow of the process according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step 1, the e-mail receiving means 1 receives an e-mail. Next, in step 2, the e-mail converting means 2 converts the text to FAX.
Converted to data in the format. Next, in step 3,
Data conversion processing for converting the attached file to the FAX format is performed by the e-mail conversion means 2.

Next, in step 4, the e-mail transmission / reception control means 4 determines whether or not the format of the attached file is not compatible with the e-mail conversion means 2. In the case of an unsupported attached file format, in step 5, information indicating that conversion is impossible is sent to the transmission source e-mail terminal by the conversion incompatibility notifying means 5. in this case,
Usually, the sender is notified by e-mail.

Next, at step 6, the FAX transmission means 3 transmits the FAX to the FAX device.

Next, a description will be given using an embodiment. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, an e-mail terminal (a personal computer or the like) transmits an e-mail as a pair of a text composed of character codes and an attached file including image data to another facsimile apparatus. The case will be described.

The e-mail data transmitted from the e-mail terminal reaches the facsimile mail server via the Internet or a dedicated line, and the facsimile mail server receives the data (step 1). In the FAX mail server device that has received the data, first, the body is converted into FAX format data by the E-mail conversion means 2 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 (step 2).

Next, the attached file is converted into FAX format data (step 3). Here, it is assumed that the attached file is attached data in a format that cannot be converted by the FAX mail server device, for example, a file in an execution format of a personal computer. That is, the format cannot be converted, and the conversion fails.

The mail transmission / reception control means 4 determines whether the attached file is in a format of an unsupported attached file (step 4), and the function of the e-mail conversion means 2 corresponds to the format of the sent attached file. If not, go to step 5.

If the conversion function does not support the format of the attached file, the conversion incompatibility notifying means 5 notifies the E-mail terminal that is the transmission source that the conversion is not possible (step 5). Specifically, by sending an e-mail as shown in FIG. 4 to the transmission source e-mail terminal, a notification that the conversion is impossible is performed.

As described above, in the FAX mail server device, the sender of the E-mail can know that the recipient could not receive the attached file.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a facsimile mail server apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, wherein 1 is an e-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail, and 2 is an e-mail receiving means. The e-mail converting means 3 for converting the e-mail received by the means 1 into FAX format data,
This is a FAX transmission unit that transmits AX format data.

Reference numeral 4 denotes mail transmission / reception control means for controlling transmission / reception of mail. Reference numeral 5 denotes a conversion disable notification for sending information indicating that conversion is not possible to the source e-mail terminal (e-mail sender) when the format of the attached file is not supported by the e-mail conversion means 2. Means. Reference numeral 6 denotes a non-convertible file returning unit that returns a file that could not be converted by the e-mail converting unit 2.

Since the flow chart showing the flow of the FAX mail server process according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of FIG. 2, the flow of the process will be described with reference to FIG.
Steps 1 to 4 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

If the conversion cannot be performed in step 5,
The information indicating that conversion was not possible is sent by the conversion impossible notification means 5 to the sender's e-mail terminal (e-mail sender). At this time, the non-convertible file returning means 6 attaches the attached file that could not be converted to the e-mail in which the conversion non-conformance notification was written. FIG. 7 shows an example of an e-mail that indicates a reply impossible notification when the e-mail described in the first embodiment is received.

As described above, in the FAX mail server apparatus, the attached file that cannot be converted can be returned to the sender of the E-mail.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a FAX mail server apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, wherein 1 is an e-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail, and 2 is an e-mail receiving means. The e-mail converting means 3 for converting the e-mail received by the means 1 into FAX format data,
This is a FAX transmission unit that transmits AX format data.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a mail transmission / reception control means for controlling transmission / reception of mail. Numeral 5 is a conversion disable notification means for notifying the transmission source e-mail terminal that the conversion was not possible when the e-mail conversion means 2 could not convert the attached file. Reference numeral 6 denotes a non-convertible file returning unit that returns a file that could not be converted by the e-mail converting unit 2. Numeral 7 denotes a conversion-unavailability-notified notifying unit that sends information indicating that the conversion has not been completed to the transmission source e-mail terminal to the reception-side FAX device.

The flow of FAX mail server processing according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Steps 1 to 5 are the same as those in the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, in step 6, information indicating that the conversion has failed has been reported to the transmission source e-mail terminal by the conversion failure notification means 5 to the facsimile recipient. More specifically, this is realized by adding a notification message having the content shown in FIG. 10 to the FAX data obtained by converting the E-mail into a FAX format.

As described above, in the FAX mail server apparatus, the message indicating that the attached file that could not be converted has been returned to the sender of the E-mail is displayed on the receiving side F.
The fax is sent to the AX device so that the recipient who uses the FAX device can understand it. In the present description, the flow of the second embodiment is followed, but in accordance with the flow of the first embodiment, the fact that the sender of the e-mail is notified of the conversion failure is notified by FAX.
It can also be configured to be visible to the recipient.

In the first to third embodiments of the present invention, the mode of the FAX mail server device and the method thereof has been described by way of example in terms of functional blocks and processing steps. (Hereinafter referred to as a FAX mail server processing program) is recorded on a recording medium (floppy disk, magnetic disk, optical disk, hard disk, etc.) and executed by a general-purpose computer or the like.
It is naturally possible to perform X-mail server processing, and FIG. 4 shows a hardware configuration diagram in that case.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 101 denotes a central processing unit (CPU) for executing a facsimile mail server processing program and performing other controls, and 102 for exchanging e-mail and facsimile data with an external network bus and a public telephone line which will be described later. And a communication control device, and comprises a network control device 121 and a FAX modem device 122.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a main memory typified by a RAM or the like.
A memory 104 is a file device represented by a hard disk. The storage device 104 stores a control program 141, a received mail file 142, a FAX format data file 143, and the like.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a driving device for a portable recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, and a PD, and is, for example, a DVD drive. Reference numeral 151 denotes one of the portable recording media, for example, a DVD-ROM. Reference numeral 106 denotes an internal bus for signal transmission in this configuration, and 107 denotes an external network, which is an external network bus for exchanging e-mail data. Reference numeral 108 denotes a general public line for exchanging FAX data.

The data stored in the file device is
The information may be stored in various combinations with the main memory 103, the hard disk, and the drive device of the portable recording medium. For example, the control program 141 is stored in the hard disk in advance, but may be stored in the main memory 103 to obtain an execution speed. In addition, the received mail file 142 and FAX
The format data file 143 may also be temporarily stored in the main memory 103 in terms of execution speed. Also, by recording the received mail file 142 and the FAX format data file 143 on a portable storage medium, the mail can be used by another FAX mail server device.

In addition, there are various types of FAX mail server devices, such as being pre-stored on a hard disk and being prepared on a floppy disk each time.

The FAX mail server processing program is recorded on a portable recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, a floppy disk, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, so that the FAX mail server processing function is portable.
Distribution is promoted, and the user can easily implement this FAX mail server process anywhere without having to be restricted to a general-purpose computer, and the practical effect is great.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the sender of the e-mail can know that the receiver could not receive the attached file by the configuration described in claim 1. Is obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an unconvertible file returning means for returning an unconverted attached file to a transmission source e-mail terminal. By doing so, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that an attached file that cannot be converted can be returned to the sender of the e-mail.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, it is provided that the sender of the e-mail is notified that there is an attached file that could not be converted. With the configuration including the conversion-unavailable notification unit that notifies the FAX user, the FAX receiver can know that the attached file that could not be converted has been returned to the sender of the E-mail. Is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a fax mail server device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a fax mail server processing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a received e-mail according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram when the embodiment of the present invention is executed by a general-purpose computer or the like;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail for notifying a sender according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a fax mail server device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an attached file that cannot be converted into an e-mail notification of a sender is attached according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a fax mail server device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a fax mail server processing method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a notification for notifying a receiver that the conversion has not been performed to the sender according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 E-mail receiving means 2 E-mail conversion means 3 FAX transmission means 4 E-mail transmission / reception control means 5 Conversion impossible notification means 6 Conversion impossible file return means 7 Conversion impossible notification notice means 101 CPU 102 Communication control device 103 Main memory (RAM ) 104 File device 105 DVD drive 106 Internal bus 107 External network bus 108 General public line 121 Network control device 122 FAX modem device 141 Control program 142 Received mail file 143 FAX format data file 151 DVD-ROM

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B089 GA15 JA31 JB16 KA04 KA12 KH04 LA11 5C062 AA02 AB38 AC28 AC29 AC41 AC42 AC43 AE00 AF00 BA00 BD09 5K030 HA06 HB04 HB16 JT05 KA06 LB16 LD12 MB18 9A001 JJ14 JJ27

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An e-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail,
The e-mail received by the e-mail receiving means is sent to the FA
E-mail conversion means for converting the data into X-format data;
FAX transmission means for transmitting FAX data output by the mail conversion means, mail transmission / reception control means for controlling transmission / reception of mail, and the format of the attached file sent cannot be converted by the e-mail conversion means. A facsimile mail server device comprising: a conversion incompatibility notifying unit that sends information indicating that conversion is impossible to a transmission source e-mail terminal in the case of a format. 2. The FAX mail server device according to claim 1, further comprising a non-convertible file return means for returning an unconverted attached file to an e-mail terminal of the transmission source. 3. The receiving side F notifies the sender of the e-mail that there is an unsupported attached file.
3. The FA according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a notification unit that has been notified that conversion is impossible, which notifies the AX device.
X mail server device. 4. A step of receiving an e-mail, a step of converting the e-mail into facsimile data, and a step of judging whether or not the format of the sent attached file is an unsupported file format. And a step of transmitting information indicating that data cannot be converted to a transmission source e-mail terminal, and a step of transmitting the converted FAX data. 5. A step of receiving an e-mail, a step of converting the e-mail into facsimile data, and a step of judging whether or not the format of the sent attached file is an unsupported file format. And sending information indicating that data conversion is impossible to the sending e-mail terminal by attaching attached data that could not be converted, and transmitting the converted facsimile data. A fax mail server processing method to be implemented at least. 6. A step of receiving an e-mail, a step of converting the e-mail into facsimile data, and a step of judging whether or not the format of the sent attached file is an unsupported file format. And notifying the sending e-mail terminal of information indicating that data conversion is not possible by attaching attached data that could not be converted, and the sender of the e-mail not being able to convert the data. Notifying the email recipient of the notification to
Transmitting the converted facsimile data. 7. A step of receiving an e-mail, a step of converting the e-mail into facsimile data, a step of judging whether or not the file format is not supported, and information indicating that data cannot be converted. Mail server processing which records in a computer readable format a facsimile mail server processing program for causing a computer to execute a step of notifying the sending e-mail terminal and a step of transmitting the converted facsimile data. A storage medium on which a program is recorded.