JP2002374305A - Email printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] To provide a method for printing an e-mail received by a portable communication terminal by a simple method. A user transfers an e-mail received by a mobile communication terminal to a mail server, then accesses the mail server from the user side, and outputs the e-mail stored in the mail server from a predetermined facsimile apparatus by facsimile. Let it. As described above, since an e-mail is printed using a widely-used facsimile telephone, even a user who does not use a personal computer can print an e-mail. In addition, since there is no need to use a personal computer for printing, printing can be performed easily. Furthermore, since the user makes a telephone call for facsimile printing, the communication fee is borne by the user, and the burden on the communication company that operates the mail server is reduced. Further, there is no need to charge the user for the communication fee charged by the communication carrier, and the charge management for the user in the communication carrier providing the service is simplified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic mail printing method for printing a mail received by a portable communication terminal such as a portable telephone, and more particularly, to a method of printing a mail received by a portable communication terminal by facsimile output.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the use of electronic mail in portable telephones has become possible, and has been rapidly spreading. Some e-mails communicated by mobile phones have information that they want to record, but since the storage capacity of the mobile phone is relatively small, it is not possible to save all the received data. Therefore, those who have a personal computer (PC) that can connect to the Internet, transfer their own e-mail to the e-mail address set on the personal computer, store it on the personal computer, and if necessary, I was printing from a printer connected to my computer.

[0003]

However, if the user does not have a personal computer, he or she cannot print an e-mail using the personal computer. Also, even when using a personal computer, the e-mail received by the mobile phone is transferred to the personal computer once, received by the personal computer,
It must be printed, and the process is cumbersome.

[0004] On the other hand, as one of services provided by a mobile phone carrier (communications carrier), there is a service for transferring an e-mail received by a mobile phone to a user's home. In this type of service, a mail server of a mobile phone company that stores e-mail calls a designated facsimile number and sends it. Therefore, the communication fee becomes a burden on the mobile phone operator. This communication fee may be charged to the user as a service fee, but charging management becomes troublesome. Also,
When a general telephone line has the mail server and provides a service for sending an e-mail to a facsimile machine,
You need to sign a contract with a specific general telephone line company.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for printing an e-mail received by a portable communication terminal in a simple manner.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a user transfers an e-mail received by a portable communication terminal to a mail server, and then accesses the mail server from the user side. The electronic mail stored in the mail server is facsimile-output from a predetermined facsimile machine. As described above, since an e-mail is printed using a widely-used facsimile telephone, even a user who does not use a personal computer can print an e-mail. In addition, since there is no need to use a personal computer for printing, printing can be performed easily. Furthermore, since the user makes a telephone call for facsimile printing, the communication fee is borne by the user, and the burden on the communication company that operates the mail server is reduced.
Further, there is no need to charge the user for the communication fee charged by the communication carrier, and the charge management for the user in the communication carrier providing the service is simplified.

For example, a first e-mail printing method according to the present invention is an e-mail printing method for printing an e-mail received by a portable communication terminal, wherein a server on a network transmits the e-mail transferred from the portable communication terminal. Receiving the e-mail in one of a plurality of storage areas set, according to access to the server,
The server converts the e-mail in a predetermined storage area into a facsimile signal, transmits the facsimile signal to a predetermined facsimile apparatus, and prints the e-mail from the facsimile apparatus by facsimile output.

[0008] In a second electronic mail printing method according to the present invention, in the first method, after the electronic mail is transferred from the portable communication terminal, the facsimile apparatus makes a telephone call to the server to access the server. The server converts an electronic mail in a storage area designated by the identification information input from the facsimile apparatus into a facsimile signal and transmits the facsimile signal to the facsimile apparatus.

In a third electronic mail printing method according to the present invention, in the first method, when the server is connected to the facsimile apparatus via a predetermined communication control device, the server controls the communication control. Accessing the device, transmitting a notification of the reception of the e-mail from the mobile communication terminal to the communication control device, then disconnecting the access to the communication control device, the communication control device, when receiving the reception notification Calling the server to access the server, the server converts the e-mail in the storage area designated by the identification information input from the communication control device into a facsimile signal, and sends the facsimile signal to the communication control device. The communication control device transmits the facsimile signal to the facsimile device when receiving the facsimile signal.

[0010] In a fourth e-mail printing method according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned third method, the communication control device identifies facsimile communication for transmitting a facsimile signal and another communication different from the facsimile communication. The server transmits the reception notification using the another communication, so that the communication control device accesses the server based on the reception of the reception notification.

[0011] In a fifth e-mail printing method according to the present invention, in the fourth method, the another communication is a no-ringing communication.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system for printing an e-mail from a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
It is the flowchart. In the present embodiment, first,
Each user receives the e-mail received by the mobile communication terminal 1,
Transfer to a mail server on the network (Fig. 1,
Step S101 in FIG. 2). The mail server 2 has a so-called facsimile information service function.

The facsimile information service is an information transmission service using a facsimile. When a user dials a designated telephone number with a facsimile apparatus and pushes a number in accordance with a voice guidance that flows, the facsimile apparatus can receive necessary information. .

The mail server 2 has a facsimile information area for each user, and stores the transferred e-mail in the facsimile information area of the user (see FIG. 1).
Step S102 in FIG. 2). Thereafter, the user accesses the facsimile information area using a facsimile machine installed at home or a convenience store, for example, a telephone with a facsimile function (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a facsimile telephone) 3 (FIG. 1, FIG. 2). Step S10
3). Specifically, the user makes a call from the facsimile telephone 3 to a telephone number set to the mail server, and inputs identification information corresponding to his / her own facsimile information area according to, for example, a voice guide. I do. The identification information is, for example, a telephone number of a mobile phone. Further, it is preferable that a password preset for each user is input. Mail server 2
Converts the e-mail data stored in the facsimile information area corresponding to the input identification information into a facsimile signal (step S104 in FIG. 2) and transmits it to the connected facsimile telephone 3 (FIG. 1). Step S105 in FIG. 2). When the facsimile telephone 3 receives the facsimile signal, it prints out on a predetermined paper (step S106 in FIG. 1, FIG. 2).

Note that the user may select and print an electronic mail stored in the facsimile information area. For example, in the voice guide, first, the number of electronic mails stored in the facsimile information area is notified, and the user inputs the desired electronic mail number (for example,
The latest mail may be entered as "1" and the next oldest as "2". Alternatively, only the title of the stored e-mail may be output by facsimile with a number attached first, and the user may view the e-mail and input the required e-mail number.

As described above, in the present embodiment, an e-mail is printed using a widely used general facsimile telephone, so that even a user who does not use a personal computer can print an e-mail. It is possible to do. In addition, since there is no need to use a personal computer for printing, printing can be performed easily. Further, a conventional service of making an e-mail facsimile by making a telephone call from the mail server side (for example, NT which is a
"Remote mail" service provided by T-DOCOMO)
In this embodiment, since the user makes a telephone call, the communication fee is borne by the user, and the mail server 2
The burden on the telecommunications carriers that operate is reduced. In addition, unlike the conventional service, it is not necessary to charge the user for the communication fee charged by the communication carrier, and the charge management for the user in the communication service providing the service is simplified. It is only necessary to charge a basic fee that is uniform for each user, and there is no need to set a pay-as-you-go fee according to the service usage for each user.)
In this case, there is no need to contract with a specific general telephone line company.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of printing an electronic mail received by a portable communication terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart thereof.
In the present embodiment, a network control unit (NCU: Network Control Unit) for controlling the telephone line is installed at the user's house, and is automatically transferred to the mail server 2 under the control of the network control unit. A case where an electronic mail is printed by a facsimile telephone will be described.

The network controller 4 has, for example, a so-called no-ringing function, and distinguishes between communication using the no-ringing function (no-ringing communication) and normal communication (telephone communication or facsimile communication). The no-ringing communication is a communication that does not use a ring tone of a telephone, and is generally used to remotely read meters such as electricity, gas, and water from a meter reading center and transmit the data. The network controller 4 can identify the no-ringing communication by detecting a gentle inversion of the polarity of the line voltage (slow polarity reversal) and a predetermined no-ringing signal. Slow reversal means that the polarity is reversed over a predetermined period of time.

In this embodiment, when the mail server 2 receives the electronic mail transferred from the portable communication terminal 1 (step S201 in FIG. 3, FIG. 4), it stores it in the facsimile information area. (FIG. 3,
In step S202 in FIG. 4, the reception notification is notified to the network controller 4 using communication different from the normal telephone communication as described above (for example, no ringing communication) (step S203 in FIG. 3, FIG. 4). ). When notifying the reception notification, the mail server 2 temporarily disconnects the line (step S204 in FIG. 4).

On the other hand, upon receiving the reception notification, the network controller 4 automatically makes a call to the mail server 2 according to the predetermined information included in the reception notification, and accesses the facsimile information area (FIG. 3). Step S20 in FIG.
5).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data of a reception notification from the mail server 2. In FIG. 5, the reception notification is
It includes a notification code indicating a reception notification for notifying that an electronic mail has been received, a telephone number of the mail server 2, identification code information of a facsimile information area of a user, a password, and the like. The notification code may be a command that prompts the network controller 4 to access the mail server 2.

When receiving the reception notification, the network controller 4 makes a call to the telephone number addressed to the mail server 2 included in the reception notification, and after connecting to the mail server 2, identifies the facsimile information area included in the reception notification. Provide information and password. At this time, the network controller 4 puts the connected facsimile telephone on the hook.

The mail server 2 converts the mail data stored in the facsimile information area corresponding to the received identification information into a facsimile signal (step S in FIG. 4).
206), and transmits it to the facsimile telephone 3 via the network controller 4 (FIG. 3, step S20 in FIG. 4).
7). Since the network controller 4 receives a general facsimile signal from the mail server 2, it transmits the received facsimile signal to the facsimile telephone 3, and the facsimile telephone 3 prints out the facsimile signal on predetermined paper. (Step S208 in FIG. 3, FIG. 4).

As described above, also in the present embodiment, the electronic mail received by the portable communication terminal 1 is printed out by the facsimile telephone 3 by facsimile output. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the network controller 4 automatically accesses the mail server 2 by using the network controller 4 capable of distinguishing between no ringing communication and facsimile communication, and is stored in the facsimile information area. And output the e-mail from the facsimile phone by facsimile.

In the present embodiment, the mail server 2 makes a telephone call when transmitting the reception notification to the network controller 4, so that the mail server 2 (communication carrier) bears the communication fee. However, the reception notification is completed within the charging unit time (for example, 1 minute or 3 minutes), and thereafter,
Since the communication is cut off, the burden on the communication carrier is minimized.

Further, when transmitting an electronic mail to a user's facsimile apparatus by facsimile signal, advertisement data registered in advance may be added. Further, the added advertisement may include, for example, the user's age, gender,
An optimal advertisement may be selected according to various conditions such as an address and a hobby (these are registered in the mail server 2 in advance).

The facsimile apparatus in each of the above-described embodiments is not limited to a facsimile telephone, and may be, for example, a facsimile dedicated apparatus or a copy and use apparatus.

Further, the communication for transmitting the reception notification from the mail server 2 to the network controller 4 is not limited to the no-ringing communication, but is another communication that can be distinguished from the normal facsimile communication by the network controller 4 by the facsimile signal. I just need.

The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but extends to the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, an e-mail is printed using a widely used facsimile telephone, so that even a user who does not use a personal computer can print an e-mail. It becomes possible. In addition, since there is no need to use a personal computer for printing, printing can be performed easily. Further, since the user makes a telephone call for facsimile printing, the communication fee is borne by the user, and the burden on the communication company that operates the mail server is reduced. Further, there is no need to charge the user for the communication fee charged by the communication carrier, and the charge management for the user in the communication carrier providing the service is simplified. In this case, there is no need to contract with a specific general telephone line company.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system for printing an electronic mail from a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a processing flowchart according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system for printing an e-mail from a mobile communication terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data of a reception notification from the mail server 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 mobile communication terminal 2 mail server 3 facsimile phone 4 network controller (communication controller)

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 1/32 H04N 1/32 Z F term (reference) 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA12 AA13 AB22 AB38 AB42 AC41 AC42 AC43 BA04 BB03 5C075 AB90 BB11 CA14 CD25 5K030 GA18 HA06 HC01 HC09 JT05 JT09 KA01 KA06 LB16

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An electronic mail printing method for printing an electronic mail received by a mobile communication terminal, wherein a server on a network receives the electronic mail transferred from the mobile communication terminal, and stores a plurality of storage areas in a plurality of storage areas. The server converts the electronic mail in a predetermined storage area into a facsimile signal and transmits the electronic mail to a predetermined facsimile apparatus in response to access to the server, and the facsimile apparatus An e-mail printing method, wherein the e-mail is printed by facsimile output. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the electronic mail is transferred from the portable communication terminal, the facsimile apparatus accesses the server by making a call to the server, and the server receives the e-mail from the facsimile apparatus. An e-mail printing method comprising: converting an e-mail in a storage area designated by identification information into a facsimile signal; and transmitting the facsimile signal to the facsimile apparatus. 3. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein when the server is connected to the facsimile apparatus via a predetermined communication control device, the server accesses the communication control device and receives a signal from the portable communication terminal. The communication control device transmits an e-mail reception notification to the communication control device, and thereafter disconnects access to the communication control device.When the communication control device receives the reception notification, the communication control device makes a telephone call to the server to the server. Accessing, the server converts the e-mail in the storage area specified by the identification information input from the communication control device into a facsimile signal and transmits the facsimile signal to the communication control device, and the communication control device Receiving an e-mail and transmitting the received e-mail to the facsimile machine. 4. The communication control device according to claim 3, wherein the communication control device identifies a facsimile communication transmitting a facsimile signal and another communication different from the facsimile communication, and the server uses the different communication. An e-mail printing method, wherein the communication control device accesses the server based on the reception of the reception notification by transmitting the reception notification. 5. The electronic mail communication method according to claim 4, wherein said another communication is a no-ringing communication.