JP2001154940A - Communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication terminal equipment capable of reducing a telephone charge in the mail acquisition of a dial-up connection form accompanied by the notification of mail reception from a mail server device and improving secrecy. SOLUTION: When it is notified that electronic mail is terminated to a mailbox for the present equipment opened in the mail server device from the server device by a prescribed procedure, that effect is displayed. After the call termination notification is displayed, a prescribed mail acquisition activating operation is detected and then, for the first time, the mail server device is connected through a public line and the electronic mail received and stored in the mailbox for the present equipment opened in the mail server device is acquired.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device such as a facsimile device, and more particularly, to the fact that an electronic mail has arrived in a mailbox of its own device opened in a mail server device connected to a network. When notified by a predetermined procedure from the mail server device, the mail server device is connected to the mail server device via a public line, and the electronic mail received and stored in the mailbox of the own device opened in the mail server device is obtained. To a communication terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent development of the use of the Internet, communication using electronic mail has been widely used.

[0003] The contents of an electronic mail are basically text data.
ME (Multipurpose Internet)
Standard Extension for Message Extensions
Encoding / decoding into text data by the encoding / decoding method based on SE64 or the like enables exchange by electronic mail.

When a communication terminal connected to a network transmits and receives an electronic mail, for example, in the Internet, a mail is sent from a transmission side communication terminal to a transmission side mail server with the designation of a destination mail address via the Internet. The sent e-mail is SMTP (Sim
ple Mail Transfer Protocol
The data is transferred to the mail server on the receiving side via the Internet according to a predetermined electronic mail transfer protocol such as l), and is stored in the mailbox opened for the destination mail address of the mail server on the receiving side. The receiving-side communication terminal device periodically sends a POP (Post Office Protocol) to the receiving-side mail server device.
1) Access via the Internet using a mail receiving protocol such as three protocols to obtain the electronic mail received and stored in the mailbox of the own device.

[0005] As a form in which the communication terminal device on the receiving side accesses the mail server device on the receiving side, the communication terminal device on the receiving side is not directly connected to the Internet, but is connected to a public line such as a telephone line or ISDN. There is also an access mode that is indirectly connected via a network line by a so-called dial-up connection based on the PPP protocol.

[0006] E-mail reception by such a dial-up connection does not require the constant connection to the Internet, so the cost of laying a dedicated line is not required, and the transmission and reception of E-mail via the Internet at low cost. There are advantages to using the service.

Conventionally, when a communication terminal device accesses a mail server device on the Internet via a public line through a dial-up connection and obtains an electronic mail addressed to the own device, conventionally, the electronic mail addressed to the own device is replaced with the mail. Even if it is received and stored in the mailbox of its own server device,
The mail server device does not perform spontaneous processing for mail distribution until there is access for mail acquisition from the communication terminal device corresponding to the mailbox in which the e-mail has been received and stored. The communication terminal device to which connection is to be made up is periodically connected by dial-up to check whether or not the e-mail is received and stored in the mailbox of the mail server device itself. In the case where the received e-mail is acquired and no e-mail is received, a dial-up connection must be made only for confirmation of reception, and when the e-mail is acquired, There is an inconvenience that the sender cannot transmit the received mail and obtain it without delay after the mail is received by the mail server device on the receiver.

Therefore, in a mail system using a dial-up connection, when an e-mail is received and stored in a specific mailbox, the e-mail is sent to a communication terminal device corresponding to the mailbox by a predetermined notification method. Of the incoming mail by the dial-up connection by notifying the incoming communication terminal device of the notification and automatically receiving the received mail by dial-up connection to the mail server device. Some have been improved. As a method of notifying the incoming call from the mail server device to the communication terminal device in that case, when a call is made from the mail server device to the communication terminal device via the public line, the calling number notification service provided by the public line, Notify the communication terminal device of the subscriber number on the mail server device side, and the communication terminal device sends a mail from the mail server device when the subscriber number notified at the time of receiving a call matches the number registered in advance. There is a method of determining the notification of the incoming call, a method of calling the communication terminal device from the mail server device, connecting the line, and notifying the incoming mail by a signal of a specific pattern indicating the incoming mail.

[0009]

However, such a problem,
In the case of a mail system in which an incoming e-mail is notified from the mail server device to the communication terminal device and the notified communication terminal device automatically dials up to the mail server device, one mail is received. Every time there is a notification of an incoming e-mail from the mail server device to the communication terminal device, a dial-up connection to the mail server device from the communication terminal device receiving the notification is performed.
For this reason, in a communication terminal device having a large number of mail receptions, there is a problem that the communication efficiency is rather lowered and the telephone charge is increased. Further, when an e-mail is automatically acquired upon receiving a notice of the e-mail reception, there is a problem that the confidentiality of the e-mail is reduced in a form in which the automatically acquired e-mail is automatically recorded on a recording sheet.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to reduce a telephone charge in obtaining a mail in a dial-up connection mode accompanied by notification of mail reception from a mail server device, and to improve confidentiality. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device capable of performing the following.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal device, wherein the mail server notifies the user that an e-mail has arrived in his / her own mailbox established in a mail server device connected to a network. Communication that connects to the mail server via a public line when the device is notified according to a predetermined procedure, and obtains e-mails received and stored in the mailbox of the own device opened in the mail server. In the terminal device, when the server device notifies that a mail has arrived in its own mailbox established in the mail server device by the predetermined procedure, incoming notification display means for displaying the fact. And an e-mail acquisition and activation operation detecting means for detecting a predetermined e-mail acquisition and activation operation; Only after the e-mail acquisition and activation operation detecting means detects the predetermined e-mail acquisition and activation operation, the e-mail acquisition and activation operation is performed by connecting to the e-mail server device via a public line and opening the e-mail device. Mail acquisition means for acquiring the electronic mail received and stored in the mailbox.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the communication terminal device according to the first aspect, further comprising a password input unit for inputting a password at the time of obtaining a mail, wherein the mail obtaining unit is provided with the incoming notification display unit. Only after the display of the incoming call notification is performed, the mail acquisition / startup operation detecting means detects the predetermined mail acquisition / startup operation, and then connects to the mail server device via the public line to enter the password. Means for notifying the server device of the password input by the means and permitting the mail distribution, and acquiring the e-mail received and stored in the mailbox of the own device opened in the mail server device. It is characterized by.

A communication terminal device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the communication terminal device according to the first aspect, further comprising password input means for inputting a password at the time of obtaining a mail, wherein the mail obtaining means includes the incoming notification display means. In the case where the predetermined mail acquisition start operation is detected by the mail acquisition start operation detection unit after the display of the incoming call notification is performed, the password input by the password input unit is correctly stored in advance. Only when the password matches the password, dial-up connection is made to the mail server device via the public line, the password input by the password input means is notified to the mail server device, and mail delivery is permitted. At the same time, the e-mail And obtaining an e-mail that is stored.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a network system including a facsimile apparatus 10 which is a communication terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an ISP server device 30 comprises:
Connected to the Internet 60 and the public network 5
Connected to 0. The facsimile machine 10 is connected to the public line network 50.

The facsimile device 10 is connected to the ISP server device 30 via the public line network 50 according to the PPP protocol.
A dial-up connection is performed to transmit an e-mail via the ISP server device 30 via the mail SMTP server device on the Internet 60 via the TCP / IP protocol and the SMTP protocol via the ISP server device 30, while the e-mail is opened on the POP server device. The e-mail received and accumulated in the mailbox of the device is acquired by the POP3 protocol.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the ISP server device 30 is also a mail server device for the facsimile device 10.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the facsimile machine 10. In FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus 10 includes a system control unit 11, a ROM 12, an RA 13, a scanner unit 14, a plotter unit 15, a clock circuit 16, and an operation display unit 1.
7, encoding / decoding unit 18, network control unit 19, fax
It comprises a data modem 20, a communication control unit 21, and a system bus 22.

Here, the system control unit 11 stores the ROM 1
2 This is a microcomputer that controls each unit of the apparatus according to the written control program while using the RAM 13 as a work area.

The ROM 12, as described above, is a read-only memory in which a control program for the system control unit 11 to control each unit of the apparatus is stored. RAM1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a random access memory used as a work area of the system control unit 11 as described above, and temporarily stores or receives image data read by the scanner unit 14 as a file for memory transmission. It is also used to temporarily store image data as a file until it is recorded by the plotter unit 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, the RAM 13 has a user ID 13a and a password 13b for authentication when a dial-up connection is made to the ISP server device 30 to obtain a received mail, and a public network of the ISP server device 30. An ISP telephone number 13c, which is a subscriber number in the circuit network, is registered and stored in advance.

Returning to FIG. 2, the scanner section 14 has a function of 3.8.
This is for obtaining image data by reading a document image at a predetermined reading linear density such as 5 lines / mm, 7.7 lines / mm, and 15.4 lines / mm. The plotter unit 15 records and outputs the received image data and text data, and records and outputs (copy operation) the image data read by the scanner unit 5.

The clock circuit 16 measures the current time, measures the elapse of the time set in the system control unit 11, and, when the set time elapses, the system control unit 11.
To perform a timer operation for notifying by an interrupt.
The operation display unit 17 is provided with various keys such as a numeric keypad, a start key, a one-touch dial key, and various setting keys for designating a destination telephone number. The operation display unit 17 receives various operations by a user and is configured by a liquid crystal display device or the like. The display is provided with a display for displaying the operating state of the device to be notified to the user and various messages.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an arrangement configuration of the operation display unit 17 which is not shown except for parts directly related to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a ten key 17a is used for inputting a number when directly specifying a destination fax number or the like. [Yes] key 17
The b and [No] keys 17c are keys for allowing the user to make various selections of determination or cancellation. [Stop] key 17d is for instructing forcible stop of various operations. The [Start] key 17e is for instructing the start of a facsimile transmission operation or the start of a copy operation. The [Function] key 17f is used for a time-designated transmission, a department code-designated transmission, other than a one-touch dial registration function, a speed dial registration function, a user parameter setting function, and a function of the facsimile apparatus 1 as a standard facsimile apparatus. This function is for calling an extended function such as confidential transmission. Pressing the [Function] key 17f and inputting a number corresponding to each function using the numeric keypad 17a calls and executes each function. Can be.

The cursor key group 17g includes a [down arrow] key 17gd, a [left arrow] key 17gl, and a [right arrow] key 1
7gr and an [up arrow] key 17gu. [Down arrow] key 17gd and [Up arrow] key 1
7gu changes the display contents of the display 17h or scrolls the display contents up and down in accordance with the depression of each key. The [left arrow] key 17gl and the [right arrow] key 17gr are used to select items, functions, and the like displayed on the display 8h according to depression of each key. The display 17h displays the operating state of the device to be notified to the user and various messages.

The [mail reception] key 17i is
This key is used to start an operation of automatically dialing up with the P server device 30 and acquiring the angel mail received and stored in the mailbox of the own device. The indicator lamp 17j is for indicating that the ISP server device 30 has notified that the e-mail has arrived in the mailbox of its own device.

Returning to FIG. 2, the encoding / decoding unit 18 encodes and compresses the transmission image data by a predetermined encoding system such as an MH encoding system or an MR encoding system which conforms to G3 facsimile. , The received image data is MH
It decodes and decompresses data using a predetermined decoding method corresponding to the R encoding method. When image data is transmitted and received as e-mail, BASE64 or uuencode /
Encode / decode processing based on ucode is also performed.

The network control unit 19 is connected to the public line network 50, and closes / releases a DC loop of the line, detects polarity inversion of the line, detects line release, detects a dial tone, and outputs a busy tone (busy). ), Control of connection to a line such as detection of a call signal, generation of a dial pulse, and the like. Fax data modem 20 is 27
ter. 29, V.I. G3 facsimile modem function such as V.17, 32, V.I. 32ter, V.I. 34, which modulates data transmitted to the public line network 50 via the network control unit 19 and demodulates data received from the public line network 50 via the network control unit 19. is there. The fax / data modem 20
Also transmits a DTMF signal corresponding to the dialed number.

The communication control unit 21 uses the fax / data modem 20 as a fax modem and
It controls G facsimile communication by the G facsimile protocol based on Recommendation T-30. Further, the communication control unit 21 is a data link layer on the physical layer using the fax / data modem 20 as a data modem, and is a point-to-point communication protocol (PPP) which is a one-to-one communication protocol for performing cooperative negotiation.
protocol), and controls dial-up IP connection to the ISP server device 30.

Also, RFC821, RFC822 on TCP / IP as a network transport layer
SMTP (Simple Mail Tr) specified by
transfer of e-mails containing ordinary texts by RFC (Response Protocol)
MIME (Multi), which is a standard for Internet messages for communicating new types of e-mail such as binary mail and mail having a plurality of bodies, which is defined by the Internet Protocol (EST For Comment) 1521.
purpose Internet Message
Extensions), transmission of an e-mail containing data obtained by encoding data such as images other than ordinary text into text data, RFC 1725, RFC
POP (Post Office) defined in 1939
Protocol 3 controls the reception of an e-mail and the like. The system bus 22 is a signal line through which the above components exchange data.

The facsimile apparatuses 10 and I having the above configurations
An e-mail reception / acquisition processing procedure between the SP server devices 30 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, the ISP server device 30
It is monitored whether or not the e-mail has been received via the Internet 60 (No loop of judgment 101).
01, Yes), the received e-mail is stored in the mailbox specified from the destination mailbox in the “To:” field of the mail header portion of the received mail, and registered in advance corresponding to the destination mail address. The specified telephone number is specified (processing 102), and a call is made to the specified telephone number for a certain period of time (processing 103). In addition,
In this case, it is assumed that the e-mail received in determination 101 is addressed to (e-mail address of) facsimile machine 10.

On the other hand, in the facsimile machine 10,
It monitors whether there is an incoming call via the public line network 50 (judgment 2).
01, No loop), if there is an incoming call (Ye in decision 201)
s), the telephone number notified from the public line network 50 corresponding to the processing 103 on the ISP server device 30 side (in this case, IS
Detect the telephone number of the P server device 30 (Process 20)
2). The outgoing call detection is realized by providing the fax / data modem 20 with a calling number detection function corresponding to the calling number notification service provided by the public line network 50.

In the case of a telephone line, the calling number notification service in the public line network 50 is provided after the subscriber exchange determines the polarity of the subscriber line and notifies the incoming call that the communication terminal has made a primary response by closing the DC loop. Calling number information is notified by a modem signal from the local exchange, and after the communication terminal receiving the notification breaks the DC loop as a reception completion signal, the transmission / reception operation of a call signal, which is a normal incoming operation. Moving on to something already well-known. Calling number notification service is not limited to telephone lines.
Since it is performed in other types of network such as DN, it is possible to cope with a transmission number detection function according to the network to be actually connected. The ISP server device 3
As a method of notifying the facsimile apparatus 10 of the arrival of the e-mail from 0, in addition to the method using the calling number notification service, for example, after the ISP server apparatus 30 calls the facsimile apparatus 10 and specifies the incoming mail after the line connection, A method in which the ISP server device 30 transmits a pattern tone signal or a DTMF signal and the facsimile device 10 detects the pattern signal may be considered. It is not something to be done.

When the telephone number notified in the process 202 is detected, it is determined whether or not the detected telephone number is the ISP telephone number 13c registered and stored in the RAM 13 in advance (determination 203). If the telephone number is not the telephone number 13c (No in determination 203), it is determined that there is an incoming call from another facsimile device via the public line network 50, and the process proceeds to a normal facsimile reception process in response to the incoming call (processing 204).

In the case of the ISP telephone number 13c, it is determined that it is not an incoming call of facsimile communication but an electronic mail arrival notification, and the processing 10
In response to No. 3, the process waits until the incoming call ends (No loop in decision 205), and when the incoming call ends (Yes in decision 205).
s) Turn on the indicator lamp 17i of the incoming call notification on the operation display unit 17. Thereby, the facsimile machine 10
Of the user can know that the profitable electronic mail is received and stored in the ISP server device 30.

In the ISP server device 30, processing 1
03, the process proceeds to a process 301 in FIG. 6, and in the facsimile machine 10, after the process 206, the judgment 40 in FIG.
Move to 1.

In FIG. 6, the facsimile machine 10
Is the indicator lamp 17 lit by the process 206.
It is monitored whether the [mail reception] key is depressed by the user who has confirmed i (No loop in decision 401).
The telephone number 13c is read out, a call is made to the ISP server device 30 via the public line network 50 (process 402), and it is monitored whether or not there is a response (No loop of the judgment 403).

On the other hand, in the ISP server device 30,
It is monitored whether there is an incoming call via the public line network 50 (No loop of decision 301), and if there is an incoming call corresponding to the process 402 in the facsimile machine 10 (decision 301)
Yes), a line is established in response to the incoming call (process 302).

In response to the process 302, in the facsimile machine 10, the determination 403 becomes Yes, a dial-up IP connection is performed, and the user ID 13 for authentication is used.
a and the password 13b are notified (process 404).

The ISP server device 30 confirms the validity of the notified user ID and password in response to the process 404 in the facsimile device 10 (process 3).
03). If the user ID and password do not match those registered in advance and are not OK (N in decision 304)
o), reject mail delivery (process 305). On the other hand, in the facsimile device 10, the ISP server device 30
When the distribution is rejected by the processing 305 in (determination 4)
(05, Yes), the process ends.

In the ISP server device 30, if the user ID and password match those registered in advance and are OK (Yes in decision 304), the e-mail for the facsimile device 10 that has been received and stored is transmitted by facsimile. It is distributed to the device 10 (process 306).

On the other hand, in the facsimile machine 10, if the delivery is not rejected in the judgment 405 (No in the judgment 405), the e-mail to be delivered is received corresponding to the process 306 in the ISP server device 30 (process 40).
6).

Then, the received e-mail is recorded and output on the recording paper by the plotter unit 15 (step 407), and the indicator lamp of the incoming call notification turned on in step 206 is turned off (step 408).

As a result, I as a mail server device
Even if the SP server device 30 notifies that the e-mail has arrived in its own mailbox, the mail acquisition start operation is performed by pressing the [mail reception] key 17i without dial-up connection unconditionally. Only then can an e-mail received and stored in the own mailbox be obtained by dial-up connection. Therefore, it is possible to allow the user to determine the timing of acquiring the e-mail, and to take a flexible measure such as acquiring the e-mail at once after a plurality of e-mails are accumulated or acquiring the e-mail after a time period when the communication fee is low. Telephone charges can be reduced. In addition, since the dial-up connection for acquiring the mail is not performed unless the user performs the mail acquisition start operation by pressing the [mail reception] key 17i, the acquired mail is automatically recorded on the recording paper by the plotter unit 15. Also, confidentiality can be maintained because the user who has performed the acquisition operation is on the side of the device.

Further, the processing procedure from the judgment 401 to the processing 408 shown in FIG. 6 can be replaced with the processing procedure shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the facsimile machine 10 monitors whether the [mail reception] key is pressed by the user who has checked the indicator lamp 17i turned on in the process 206 (No loop of the judgment 601). When pressed (Yes in determination 601), a password input process is performed (process 602).

Here, a specific processing procedure of the password input processing of the processing 602 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, first, a display D01 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display 17h (process 801). While prompting the input of the four-digit password using the numeric keypad 17a,
The input control for displaying and storing the input number on the display D01 is continued (process 802) until a four-digit number is input (No loop of the judgment 803), and when the four-digit number is input ( The determination 803 is Yes), and the password input process ends. Thereby, the password input by the user can be obtained.

Returning to FIG. 7, after the input password is obtained by the process 602, the process shifts to the process 701 of FIG.
The ISP telephone number 13c is read from the ISP 13 and a call is made to the ISP server device 30 via the public line network 50 (process 701), and it is monitored whether or not there is a response (No in decision 702).
loop).

On the other hand, in the ISP server device 30,
It is monitored whether there is an incoming call via the public line network 50 (No loop of decision 301), and if there is an incoming call corresponding to the process 701 in the facsimile machine 10 (decision 301)
Yes), a line is established in response to the incoming call (process 302).

In response to the process 302, in the facsimile machine 10, the determination 702 becomes Yes, a dial-up IP connection is performed, and the user ID 13 for authentication is used.
a and the password input in the process 602 is notified (process 703).

The ISP server device 30 confirms the validity of the notified user ID and password in response to the process 703 in the facsimile device 10 (process 3).
03). If the user ID and password do not match those registered in advance and are not OK (N in decision 304)
o), reject mail delivery (process 305). On the other hand, in the facsimile device 10, the ISP server device 30
When the distribution is rejected by the process 305 in (No. 7
(04, Yes), the process ends.

In the ISP server device 30, if the user ID and the password match those registered in advance and are OK (Yes in decision 304), the electronic mail for the facsimile device 10 that has been received and stored is transmitted by facsimile. It is distributed to the device 10 (process 306).

On the other hand, in the facsimile machine 10, if the delivery is not rejected in the judgment 704 (No in the judgment 704), the e-mail to be delivered is received corresponding to the process 306 in the ISP server device 30 (process 70).
5).

Then, the received e-mail is recorded and output on the recording paper by the plotter unit 15 (step 706), and the indicator lamp of the incoming call notification turned on in step 206 is turned off (step 707).

As a result, even if it is notified that an e-mail has arrived in the mailbox of its own device, the dial-up connection is not made unconditionally and the [mail reception] key 17i
Is pressed, a mail-up operation is performed, and a dial-up connection is made for the first time after the password has been entered, and the entered password is notified and mail distribution is permitted only when mail delivery is permitted and stored in the mailbox of the local device. Since the received e-mail is obtained, if an invalid password is input, it becomes impossible to obtain the received e-mail, and the confidentiality can be further improved.

Also, the processing procedure shown in FIG. 7 of the processing procedures shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 which can be replaced with the processing procedure of judgment 701 to processing 708 shown in FIG. 6 is replaced with the processing procedure shown in FIG. It is also possible.

In FIG. 11, the facsimile machine 10
Is the indicator lamp 17 lit by the process 206.
It is monitored whether or not the [email reception] key is pressed by the user who has confirmed i (No loop of decision 901). When the key is pressed (Yes of decision 901), the password input processing specifically shown in FIG. (Step 902).

After the input password is obtained by the process 902, the input password is collated with the password 13b registered in the RAM 3 in advance (process 9).
03), as a result of the comparison, if the input password and the registered password 13b do not match (N in decision 904).
o) After an error message such as "password is invalid" is displayed on the display 17h for a certain period of time (step 90).
5) Return to the judgment 901 to make the operation again. When an incorrect password is repeatedly input several times, the process may be forcibly terminated to prevent accidental password matching.

If the input password and the registered password 13b match (Yes in decision 904), the process shifts to the process 701 in FIG. In this case, the processing 703 in FIG.
The entered password notified by
It is the same as the password 13b registered in the RAM 13.

As a result, even if it is notified that an e-mail has arrived in the mailbox of the own device, the mail acquisition start operation by pressing the [mail reception] key 17i without unconditional dial-up connection is performed. If the password is entered and the entered password is correct, an invalid password is entered because the dial-up connection is performed for the first time to obtain the e-mail received and stored in the mailbox of the own device. In this case, it becomes impossible to obtain the received mail, and the confidentiality can be further improved.

In this embodiment, the mail acquisition and activation operation is performed by pressing the [mail reception] key 17i. However, the present invention is not limited to the form of the mail acquisition and activation operation. For example, other forms such as a touch operation on a touch panel or a combination operation by pressing a [function] key 17f and inputting a predetermined number may be used. Also, the display of the incoming mail notification,
Not only the form by lighting of the indicator lamp 17j,
For example, other forms such as displaying a message on the display 17h may be used. The communication procedure when the facsimile apparatus 10 connects to the ISP server apparatus 30 as a mail mail server apparatus and obtains mail is not limited to the dial-up IP connection. The present invention is similarly applicable to a unique dial-up procedure such as acquisition.

In the embodiment described above, the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited by the contents of data exchanged by e-mail, The present invention is similarly applicable to communication terminal devices that transmit and receive by mail.

[0066]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the mail server device notifies the user that the e-mail has arrived in his / her own mailbox, unconditional dial-up connection is not performed. Since the dial-up connection is performed only after the predetermined mail acquisition start operation is performed and the electronic mail received and stored in the mailbox of the own device is obtained, the user can determine the timing of obtaining the electronic mail. Flexible response, such as acquiring received mail immediately after notification of incoming call, leaving it as it is, collecting multiple e-mails later and collectively acquiring them, or acquiring it after a time when communication charges are cheaper Can be taken. This makes it possible to reduce telephone charges. In addition, since the dial-up connection for mail acquisition is not performed unless the user performs the predetermined mail acquisition start operation, the acquired mail is automatically recorded on a recording sheet or displayed on a display. Even if there is, the effect that the confidentiality can be improved because the user who has performed the acquisition operation is on the side of the device is obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if it is notified that an e-mail has arrived in the mailbox of the own device, the predetermined mail acquisition activation is unconditionally performed without dial-up connection. Only when an operation is performed and a password is entered, dial-up connection is made, and the entered password is notified and e-mail delivery is permitted, and the e-mail stored in the mailbox of the Therefore, if an incorrect password is input, it is impossible to obtain the received mail, and the confidentiality can be further improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if it is notified that an e-mail has arrived in the mailbox of its own device, the predetermined mail acquisition and activation is unconditionally performed without dial-up connection. If an operation is performed and the password is entered and the entered password is correct, an invalid password is entered if dial-up connection is to be performed for the first time to obtain the e-mail received and stored in the mailbox of the local device. In such a case, it is not possible to obtain the received mail, and not only the effect that the confidentiality can be further improved is obtained, but also whether the password is correct before the dial-up connection for obtaining the received mail is performed. If the password is incorrect and the password is incorrect, the dial-up connection will not be made. Waste it is not things like come perform,
Unnecessary telephone charges can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system including a facsimile device as a communication terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents stored in a RAM of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement configuration of an operation display unit of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an electronic mail reception / acquisition processing procedure between the facsimile apparatus and the ISP server apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows, together with FIG. 5, reception of an electronic mail between the facsimile apparatus and the ISP server apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
It is a flowchart which shows an acquisition processing procedure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure which can be replaced with the processing procedure of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure that can be replaced with the processing procedure of FIG. 6 together with FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a specific processing procedure of a password input process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a display example in the processing procedure of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure that can be replaced with the processing procedure of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Facsimile apparatus 11 System control part 12 ROM 13 RAM 13a User ID 13b Password 13c ISP telephone number 14 Scanner part 15 Plotter part 16 Clock circuit 17 Operation display part 17a Numeric keypad 17b [Yes] key 17c [No] key 17d [Stop] key 17e [Start] key 17f [Function] key 17g Cursor key group 17gd [Down arrow] key 17gl [Left arrow] key 17gr [Right arrow] key 17gu [Up arrow] key 17h Display 17i [Receive mail] key 17j Indicator lamp Reference Signs List 18 encoding / decoding unit 19 network control unit 20 fax / data modem 21 communication control unit 22 system bus 30 ISP server device 40 mail server device 50 public network 60 Internet

Claims (3)

[Claims] When a notification is received from a mail server that informs the user that a mail has been received in his or her own mailbox established in a mail server connected to a network by a predetermined procedure, the mail server is notified to the mail server. A communication terminal device that is connected via a public line and obtains e-mails received and stored in a mailbox of the own device opened in the mail server device, wherein the own device opened in the mail server device When the server device notifies the user that the e-mail has arrived in the mailbox by the predetermined procedure, an incoming notification display means for displaying the notification, and a mail acquisition start operation for detecting the predetermined mail acquisition start operation Detection means, and after the incoming notification is displayed by the incoming notification display means, Only after the predetermined mail acquisition start operation is detected, the e-mails connected to the mail server device via a public line and received and stored in the mailbox of the own device opened in the mail server device. A communication terminal device, comprising: a mail acquisition unit that acquires a mail. 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a password input unit for inputting a password at the time of obtaining the mail, wherein the mail obtaining unit displays the incoming notification by the incoming notification display unit, and then displays the incoming notification by the mail obtaining start operation detecting unit. Only when a predetermined mail acquisition activation operation is detected, the mail server device is connected via the public line, the password input by the password input means is notified to the server device, and mail distribution is permitted. In case,
2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal device acquires the electronic mail received and stored in the mailbox of the own device established in the mail server device. And a password input unit for inputting a password at the time of obtaining the mail, wherein the mail obtaining unit displays the incoming notification by the incoming notification display unit, and then displays the incoming notification by the mail obtaining activation operation detecting unit. Only when a predetermined mail acquisition start operation is detected and the password input by the password input means matches a correct password stored in advance, dial the mail server device via the public line. When the connection is made up, the password input by the password input unit is notified to the mail server device, and when mail distribution is permitted, the mail is received and stored in the mailbox of the own device opened in the mail server device. 2. The communication according to claim 1, wherein the received e-mail is obtained. Communication terminal device.