Abstract: In a communications network, voice and facsimile calls are established between first and second and second terminals via first and second media gateways in a communications network. Each gateway is capable of autonomous transitioning between a voice over IP (VoIP) call mpde and a facsimile ov er IP (FoIP) call mode. A bearer path for the call is established via a media gateway controller. During call setup, the media gateways exchange confirmation of each gateway's capability to perform autonomous transitioning between VoIP and FoIP call modes. The call is established as a VoIP call, and, on a determination by the media gateways that a facsimile call is required, each media gateway autonomously transitions between its VoIP and FoIP call modes without the intervention of the media gateway controller.

Abstract: When a specified type of communication data is received by a specified interface, the communication data is processed into intermediate data based on a sheet-saving print format. Upon receiving print command, an image forming device executes sheet-saving printing for forming a compressed image based on the intermediate data. Because a relatively large amount of communication data can be printed out on a single page in this way, wasting of recording medium can be prevented.

Abstract: When received mail contains divided data, the divided data is stored in a RAM until it accumulates a predetermined amount. Then, the predetermined amount of divided mail data is combined to restore the undivided original data file for printing. Accordingly, the original image can be readily restored even from mail data which has been received as a plurality of pieces of mail.

Abstract: An e-mail printing method and its apparatus print an e-mail directly received from an e-mail sender. A printing apparatus is designated as/assigned a domain name, thereby providing a print destination. The print-destination domain name is included in the e-mail by the e-mail sender and the e-mail is transferred to the e-mail printing apparatus as designated by the e-mail sender using the print-destination domain name. Accordingly, a receiving mail server is bypassed, allowing quick/direct printing of the e-mail in real time, and eliminating an e-mail printing failure caused by malfunctioning of the receiving mail server.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for combining an electronic mail (email) address or addresses and/or facsimile telephone numbers into a fax message, so that when received by a server the fax document is processed and transmitted as an email attachment to the email addresses or a fax message to the telephone numbers of the intended fax recipients. This allows the user to be able to send faxes and emails from a conventional fax machine or personal computer without having an Internet connection.

Abstract: A controller for a printer is provided, being accessible using a web browser, configured to render an image of at least a portion of a print job, prior to printing, in a format viewable on a web browser; receive instructions from a user, via a web browser, as to whether or not to proceed with printing of the print job; and effect printing of the print job in response to receiving an instruction to do so via the web browser. Also provided is a printer capable of generating a proof image or images, viewable via a web browser, of a document file prior to printing. Further provided is a method of proofing a document prior to printing by accessing a printer web page using a web browser.

Abstract: A communication apparatus is connected to a terminal apparatus via a network. The communication apparatus includes a memory that stores image data and a storage period of the image data and a checker that determines whether a storage time of the image data exceeds the storage period time. A deleter deletes image data based on a determination by the checker section and a server transmits an instruction for changing the storage period to the terminal apparatus in accordance with a request by the terminal apparatus, wherein the storage period is changeable from the terminal apparatus.

Abstract: The failure mail identification section and delivery status notification mail identification section identify whether or not the received E-mail data is failure mail and delivery status notification mail, respectively. Based on the identification result, the specific information extraction section extracts information necessary for output from the E-mail data. The format conversion section converts the extracted data to facsimile data. The data edit section edits the converted data. The edited data is transmitted by the facsimile communication unit to the G3 facsimile via PSTN. This allows failure mail and delivery status notification mail to be distinguished from normal E-mail, saving recording paper.

Abstract: An image transmitting apparatus according to the invention is configured such that destination-identifying information and a data format of the image data are registered, in one set, in a one-touch transmission key so that, by operating the one-touch transmission key, the image data can be transmitted to the intended destination in the predetermined data format. Moreover, in the image transmitting apparatus of the invention, it is possible to perform image transmission via a first transmission route, e.g., for electronic mail which accepts a plurality of file formats, and image transmission via a second transmission route such as an Internet FAX route which accepts a predetermined file format only, and, in registering destination-identifying information together with a corresponding file format in a one-touch transmission key, the predetermined file format is set when the second transmission route is set as a transmission route.

Abstract: If a delivery confirmation mail has arrived, it is determined whether a delivery failure of image data transmitted is notified by the delivery confirmation mail. Only if it has been determined that the delivery failure is notified, an image based on the delivery confirmation mail is printed by a printer.

Abstract: An electronic-mail reception apparatus has a body and includes a facsimile receiver that negotiates with a sender before receiving image data, to receive image data in facsimile format from the sender via a telephone network. An electronic-mail receiver receives image data in an electronic mail format and character code data in the electronic mail format from a mail sender via a communication network. A converter converts the image data in the electronic mail format into image data in the facsimile format, a font section converts the character code data received by the electronic-mail receiver into image data, and an output section outputs the image data converted by the converter and the image data converted by the font section. The facsimile receiver, the electronic-mail receiver, the converter, the font section and the output section are integrated in the body of the apparatus.

Abstract: A data terminal which is coupled to a local area network includes a first facsimile communications device and a second communications device. The first communications device performs a standard facsimile communications operation with respect to an information transfer request to a different data terminal through the local area network in order to transfer facsimile image information via the different data terminal to an arbitrary facsimile machine which is connected to a public switched telephone network. The different data terminal is coupled to the local area network and the public switched telephone network. The second facsimile communications device performs the standard facsimile communications operation with the first communications device and receives information, including a telephone number of the arbitrary facsimile machine, image information to be transferred, property information of the image information, and identification information of the data terminal.

Abstract: A messaging device has a message reception component configured to receive a printable message from a message originator, and a printer that prints the received message and that also prints an origin identifier of the message originator on the print medium. After the message is printed, a user marks it up for reply to the message originator. The messaging device has an optical scanner and optical recognition logic that detects the origin identifier and that instructs the messaging device to send the annotated message back to the message originator. In addition, the optical recognition logic recognizes instructions written on handwritten cover sheets. By preparing such a cover sheet with handwritten instructions, a user can instruct the message device regarding various transmission parameters such as recipients and recipients' telephone or facsimile numbers.

Abstract: A method for routing one or more files includes determining how many pages are in an incoming file to obtain a first number of pages and how many pages of existing files are already at a one work station to obtain a second number of pages, adding the first and second numbers of pages together to get a total number of pages, and then routing the incoming file to the one work station if the total number of pages is less than or equal to a upper limit of pages.

Abstract: In an internet facsimile apparatus, a mail header receiving section receives a list n-th mail header portion of e-mail. Next, a header analyzing section analyzes the mail header portion and checks whether or not the e-mail is fragments of the e-mail obtained by dividing the e-mail. A table generating section registers the fragments in processing into a table. Thereafter, the fetching determination section checks whether or not the all fragments having the same ID are prepared. If all fragments are prepared, a data receiving section reads the fragments from a mail server sequentially from the first. Text codes of attached files included in the fragments are binary converted sequentially so as to be stored in a buffer section. A printing determination section instructs a print processing section to execute printing when there is image data corresponding to one page of an original in the buffer. This makes it possible to receive a division mail at low cost in the internet facsimile apparatus.

Abstract: A FAX-through data network includes a receiver side LAN end station and a sender side LAN end station. A first converter receives a FAX communication from the sender FAX and generates a FAX packet. The FAX packet includes a predefined session port number and a receiver FAX-network ID. A FAX-network server receives the FAX packet, extract the receiver FAX-network ID, performs a lookup of a destination IP address in a mapping table and forwards the FAX packet to the destination IP address. A second converter intercepts and identifies the FAX packet, extracts the FAX communication from the FAX packet, establish a communication with the receiver FAX without routing a signal through the PSTN and transmits the FAX communication to the receiver FAX machine. A remote access appliance control apparatus includes an appliance side LAN end station. An appliance control packet is generated by the remote network user and includes a predefined session port number, an appliance network ID and the control command.

Abstract: An electronic message retrieval system in which the electronic message, and any corresponding attachments, can be encrypted by the sender of the message and routed to the intended recipient, even if the intended recipient is in a mobile location or it is otherwise inconvenient for the recipient to receive the electronic message in the form in which it was sent. The system provides an alarm or indication to the intended recipient, wherever he or she is, that a message has been delivered, an indication of the subject of the message and who sent the message, and whether the message is encrypted. The intended recipient then has the choice of deferring retrieval of the message until a later time when he or she can log onto a secure system and decrypt the message conventionally, or providing the system with a password or “key” which will permit the system to decrypt the message, convert it into a format retrievable by the mobile recipient, i.e.

Abstract: An email communication system employed in a packet switching network environment for transmission of an email message including at least one fax message for use by fax recipient(s), through the packet switching network environment, includes a network device for communication with one or more mail servers. The mail servers are responsive to an email message having at least one tax message received from an email user. The network device receives the email message, through a forward connection, from one of the mail servers and converts the received email message into the fax message for transmission thereof to at least one fax recipient.

Abstract: A full-mode Internet facsimile machine includes a transmitter transmitting image data by using an electronic mail message after storing original image data in a storage unit, a designating device declaring and designating an effective period when holding original image data in the storage unit as a transient effective period or a permanent effective period for each facsimile communication or for each destination, and a control unit controlling to hold the original image data in the storage unit during the designated effective period.

Abstract: Communication device such as a network scanner and a network facsimile, for transmitting image data to one or more designated addressee from a designated addressor. To facilitate setting of addressees and addressor, ID data of addressees and addressors are registered in advance and the addressees and addressors are assigned to particular one touch keys. According to the present invention, user may not register the same ID data twice both as the addressee and as the addressor. To this end, a memory 23 stores the ID data of the addressees and addressors and a data selection control output from the memory data of addressees and addressors as candidates of addressees when a user set a addressee to whom the image data is to be sent. The memory may store the data of addressees and addressors separately or all together. The selection control may be arranged to output only the data including E-mail address when the communication device is set to send the image data through E-mail.

Abstract: An Internet facsimile machine includes a receiver receiving simplified image data and information of an effective period for saving original image data by an electronic mail message and a storage unit storing the received simplified image data. The Internet facsimile machine further includes a control unit controlling to transmit an image data request for requesting high quality image data with an image quality higher than that of the received simplified image data without saving the received simplified image data in the storage unit when the received effective period is longer than a prescribed threshold.

Abstract: Together with an image forming apparatus, a method and a control program which can be applied to the image forming apparatus are disclosed in an embodiment of the invention. The image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus for printing data whose printing has been requested from a client apparatus via a network. The image forming apparatus has: identifying means for identifying a text portion and an attached file with respect to E-mail transmitted from the client apparatus, recognizing means for recognizing control data which can be disclosed in the text portion of the E-mail and control data which can be enclosed in the attached file identified by the identifying means, and control means for controlling a printing process in accordance with a recognition result of the recognizing means showing whether at least either the text portion or the attached file identified by the identifying means includes the control data or not.

Abstract: An Internet fax receiving e-mails of an Internet fax user with two or more email accounts via an Internet fax by performing a single point-to-point protocol (PPP) connection to the Internet Information on at least two e-mail accounts of a user are set in the Internet fax corresponding to email accounts of the user at email servers. The Internet fax dialing an Internet service provider via a public switched computer network, establishing a PPP connection so that the Internet fax can be connected to the Internet through the Internet service provider in response to a command for receiving the e-mails, sequentially receiving the e-mails stored in the e-mail accounts of the email servers through the Internet service provider, converting data of the received e-mails into print data to be printed by the Internet fax, and printing the print data.

Abstract: An Internet facsimile machine includes a control unit controlling to transmit image data by using an electronic mail message after storing original image data in a storage unit and to retransmit a first electronic mail message, when transmitting the first electronic mail message including simplified image data, and a return electronic email message cannot be received even after an elapsed prescribed period of time.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus includes an e-mail creation unit that creates an email including image data transmitted or received by facsimile or via an Internet, and a setting information specification unit that specifies archive setting information based on a communication type when transmitting or receiving image data. An archive unit archives the created e-mail after transmitting to a predetermined e-mail address for archiving based on the specified archive setting information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fast image fetching and processing is provided to scan an object more efficiently by a one-touch operation. The method and apparatus allows a one-touch operation to initiate a series of actions previously defined in a configuration file for each function key, including scan, print, facsimile, e-mail or OCR, thereby provide a more user friendly interface for operating the office machine.

Abstract: A communications system receives fax image data encoded with a specific facsimile data format and carrying transmission codes having no relation with image contents, converts the received fax image data into Internet-fax data in a specific format, and transfers the Internet-fax data to an Internet terminal as an in-system terminal. The communications system includes a receiver to receive the fax image data supplied via a regular communications network, a comparator to compare an encoding mode for the received fax image data and an encoding mode for the Internet-fax data for the Internet terminal, a converter to add format data for the Internet-fax data to the fax image data with no decoding of the fax image data if there is a match in the comparison, for converting the format data-added fax image data into the Internet fax data, and a transmitter to transmit the converted Internet fax data to the Internet terminal.

Abstract: A facsimile machine includes a receiver receiving image data, a first setting device setting a forwarding destination to some of the image data received by the receiver and a first transmitter transmitting the image data to the forward destination set by the first setting device. The facsimile machine also includes a second transmitter transmitting the image data not set with the forwarding destination by the first setting device to a prescribed forwarding destination.

Abstract: When an E-mail address is inputted, it is judged whether the E-mail address is an address registered in advance. If this judgment result is positive, an image read by a scan section is stored in a server 111, and an E-mail, with a URL indicating a location of the stored image, addressed to the E-mail address is generated. If the judgment result is negative, an E-mail addressed to the E-mail address and with an image read by the scan section is generated. The generated E-mail is transmitted.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus includes an image data communication unit that transmits and receives image data, an accumulation unit that accumulates transmitted and received image data, and a transmission unit that transmits the image data accumulated in the accumulation unit to an e-mail address for archiving. A controller determines whether a predetermined execution time is coming and transmits the image data accumulated in the accumulation unit to the transmission unit.

Abstract: This invention allows the use of standard e-mail systems by a document capture system to solicit document metadata from a user. The document capture system sends an e-mail to the user associated with the captured document. The e-mail body contains the names of the metadata properties supported by the repository system for the captured document. An attachment to the e-mail consists of a screen resolution image of the first page of the captured document to remind the user about the particular document for which metadata is being requested. The user edits a reply email body to supply metadata values for each of the metadata property names. When the user sends the reply, the document capture system extracts the metadata values from the e-mail body and stores the supplied metadata values and the captured document into the repository.

Abstract: In an electronic imaging apparatus, image information of an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident is stored in image information storing means in a format dependent upon a type of the applied storage device. Provided therein are communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image information generated in this apparatus or the other equivalent apparatuses while an operation mode of the apparatus is set for communication and switch means for causing the communication means to start a communication mode operation.

Abstract: An Internet facsimile apparatus includes an interface accepting remote commands sent by e-mail, a processor permitting or rejecting the remote commands based on a domain name or an e-mail address associated with the remote commands, and a processor executing the remote commands.

Abstract: Electronic mail is sent from an external device to an image forming apparatus to call for updating of the data stored in a memory of the image forming apparatus. Upon reception of the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus downloads updating data from a device on a network on the basis of the contents of the electronic mail. Based on the downloaded updating data, the image forming apparatus executes updating processing for the data stored in the memory.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for reliable and customer-friendly delivery of documents. One method of the present invention include the steps of: producing document data for printing documents; accepting requests to print selected documents; determining whether a selected document is accepted for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery; printing documents accepted for non-electronic delivery; and electronically delivering documents accepted for electronic delivery.

Abstract: An information providing server has information on plural printers. The information providing server provides a user of a portable terminal with the information on the plural printers by sending the information on the plural printers to the portable terminal. The portable terminal sends an e-mail to which a file to be printed is attached to a printer selected by the user. Each of the plural printers has a plurality of print conditions to which different e-mail addresses are respectively assigned. The printer that has received an e-mail specifies a print condition from an e-mail address indicating the destination of the e-mail. The printer then prints the file attached to the received e-mail under the specified print condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is an Internet FAX apparatus which, after receiving an Internet address from a certain destination, can communicate with the same destination in later transmission or during communication by connecting to a LAN and switching to an Internet FAX mode requiring no communication charge. An Internet facsimile apparatus on the receiving side transmits its Internet facsimile function and Internet address on an NSF signal in a standard protocol of G3 facsimile transmission and/or transmits its telephone number, Internet facsimile function, and Internet address on TSI and NSS signals in the standard protocol of G3 facsimile communication. The Internet facsimile apparatus registers an Internet facsimile function and Internet address of a partner apparatus as destination data.

Abstract: The generation and usage of workflows for processing data on a printing device includes receiving a request to create a workflow for a printing device. One or more operations that may be included in the workflow are displayed, and user-selection of at least one of the one or more operations is received. The user-selected operations are added to the workflow, and a user-selection of an order in which multiple ones of the user-selected operations are to be performed is received. When the creation of the workflow is completed, an indication of such is received and the workflow is saved. According to another aspect, a request to process data is received, the appropriate workflow identified, and the data processed by performing the operations in the sequence in an order identified by the sequence.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus includes a unit that transmits or receives image data, a storage unit that stores transmitted and received image data in an archive device located in or out of the facsimile apparatus by specifying a storage location, and a storage location memory unit that stores an image data storage location corresponding to a record of a communication management log generated in transmitting or receiving image data.

Abstract: A printing system that includes a personal computer and a printer is described. The printer includes a local control panel and operates both as a server and a printer. The printer serves a program to the personal computer upon request. The program enables the personal computer to print a document using the printer. The program also enables the personal computer to display a virtual printer control panel while the printer is printing the document. The user of the personal computer can access various features of the printer by interacting with the virtual printer control panel.

Abstract: A system to retrieve information pertaining to an imaging apparatus. The system includes an imaging apparatus having an information retrieval signal generator configured to generate an information retrieval signal. The system further includes a communication device connectable to an information network. The system has a processor configured to execute a series of computer executable instructions, and a memory device containing an information retrieval program. The information retrieval program includes a series of computer executable instructions to detect the information retrieval signal. In response to detecting the information retrieval signal, the information retrieval program directs the controller to retrieve from the information network, via the communication device, information pertaining to the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A method of delivering a facsimile, including: providing a printed form for entering a message thereon using a sensing device adapted to read coded data on the form; receiving, in a computer system, interaction data representing interaction of the sensing device with the coded data, the interaction data allowing the message to be electronically captured in the computer system; and transmitting the message to a designated recipient address for facsimile delivery.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing print jobs or other data stored in an e-mail enabled printing device wherein a user may distribute the print jobs or data using the e-mail enabled printer or by accessing an e-mail enabled printer with a browser capable network component.

Abstract: In a mailbox information table, respective processing is registered in a way to correspond to each subaddress of an F code. Image data of a facsimile with an attached F code containing a subaddress registered in the information table is stored in a corresponding mailbox in a mailbox group. A special mailbox table stores a processing corresponding to a facsimile with an attached F code having a subaddress not registered in the information table. If the subaddress in the attached F code of a received facsimile is not registered in the information table, the image data of that facsimile is stored in a special mailbox. After this, the processing which is registered for the special mailbox is performed.

Abstract: A network communication control apparatus that converts data from a facsimile apparatus into e-mail to transmit to another communication apparatus, and converts e-mail from another communication apparatus into facsimile data to transmit to the facsimile apparatus, the network communication control apparatus further stores managing data that includes whether transmission to/from facsimile apparatus from/to another communication terminal is complete, determines whether the un-transmitted managing data is stored at a predetermined timing, and notifies the sender regarding the un-transmitted data, when the un-transmitted managing data is stored, according to the content of data. This is to allow the sender to be easily and automatically notified when the data transmission is incomplete, and to improve the reliability of the network communication control apparatus.

Abstract: A FAX receiving unit is an interface with the call originating FAX. A delivery management table is stored with a service code for designating a kind of a FAX mail service and a condition requested by the call originating FAX and also a telephone number of the destination FAX. A service subscriber table records the telephone number and the FAX-ID for every subscriber. A message accumulation unit stores the FAX message and the FAX-ID of the call originating FAX. A service control unit registers the delivery management table with the service code and the telephone number of the destination FAX received by the FAX receiving unit from a transmitting FAX and accumulates the FAX message and the FAX-ID of the call originating FAX in the message accumulation unit. The service control unit acquires a corresponding FAX-ID by retrieving the service subscriber table on the basis of the destination FAX telephone number of which the call originating FAX notifies and replies it to the call originating FAX.

Abstract: A method of delivering a facsimile, including: providing a printed form for entering a message thereon using a sensing device adapted to read coded data on the form; receiving, in a computer system, interaction data representing interaction of the sensing device with the coded data, the interaction data allowing the message to be electronically captured in the computer system, and transmitting the message to a designated recipient address for facsimile delivery.

Abstract: A method of delivering a facsimile, including: providing a printed form for entering a message thereon using a sensing device adapted to read coded data on the form; receiving, in a computer system, interaction data representing interaction of the sensing device with the coded data, the interaction data allowing the message to be electronically captured in the computer system; and transmitting the message to a designated recipient address for facsimile delivery.

Abstract: A scanner is provided which reads an image written on a white board and generates image data indicative of the image. The image data generated by the scanner is transferred via a LAN or the Internet under the control of a CPU.

Abstract: A method for composition and transmission of an electronic mail message including: printing a document to facilitate composition and transmission of the electronic mail message; composing the electronic mail message on the document utilizing a sensing device adapted to read coded data in the document; transmitting interaction data from the sensing device to a computer system, the interaction data representing interaction of the sensing device with the coded data to allow the message to be electronically captured in the computer system; and transmitting the message to at least one recipient address.