Abstract:
A communication terminal apparatus is provided that is capable of sending and receiving an e-mail, includes an e-mail address storage unit storing recipient information of an e-mail address, a mail analysis unit for analyzing whether the subject area of a received e-mail includes a first prescribed symbol, an e-mail address acquisition unit for acquiring a sender&#39;s e-mail address from the received e-mail, and an e-mail address registration unit for registering the sender&#39;s e-mail address of the received e-mail with the e-mail address storage unit where the subject area of the received e-mail includes the first prescribed symbol. The communication terminal apparatus advantageously relieves users from cumbersome task of entry of recipients&#39; e-mail addresses and makes the entry of the e-mail addresses accurately stored.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of copending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/679,875 filed Feb. 28, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a communication terminal apparatus capable of sending and receiving e-mails. 
         [0003]    A multifunction device capable of sending and receiving e-mails as well as scanning and forming images has a so-called scan-and-e-mail function for sending scanned image data as image files attached to an e-mail. The scan-and-e-mail function is frequently used by users, and is one of the functions having high utility value. The scan-and-e-mail function enables the user of the multifunction device to attach scanned image data as image files to an e-mail with the user&#39;s own e-mail address specified as the recipient&#39;s e-mail address Thus, the user can easily store the received image files in a PC or server, forward the files, and as such. 
         [0004]    The scan-and-e-mail function requires a document to be scanned for the generation of image data by the multifunction device and an e-mail address to be specified as the recipient&#39;s e-mail address with the multifunction device. To obtain the recipient&#39;s e-mail address, generally employed are methods such as follows: that the e-mail address is directly input with the use of operation buttons provided with the multifunction device when the e-mail is sent; that e-mail addresses expected to be specified as recipient&#39;s e-mail addresses are previously stored in the multifunction device as an e-mail address list so that the user may select a particular e-mail address from the list when the e-mail is sent, as described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application Publication H05-316145; and that the user pushes a one-touch button previously setting a particular e-mail address with the multifunctional device. 
         [0005]    With the direct input method as described above, however, the user is required to input a complicated e-mail address, character by character, in alphabet with the use of the operation buttons provided with the multifunction device. Even with the method of selecting an e-mail address from the list or the method of pushing the one-touch button, the user is required to input complicated e-mail addresses, character by character, in alphabet with the use of the operation buttons provided with the multifunction device at the time of previously registering e-mail addresses. That is, whichever of these prior art methods is employed, the user is required to directly input e-mail addresses by pushing the operation buttons provided with the multifunction device. 
         [0006]    This invention has been made to solve such problem that no matter which of the above methods is employed, the user is required to input complicated e-mail addresses, character by character, in alphabet by pushing the operation buttons provided with the multifunction device so as to specify a recipient&#39;s e-mail address. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    This invention relates to a communication terminal apparatus capable of sending and receiving an e-mail, including an e-mail address storage unit storing recipient information of an e-mail address, a mail analysis unit for analyzing whether the subject area of a received e-mail includes a first prescribed symbol, an e-mail address acquisition unit for acquiring a sender&#39;s e-mail address from the received e-mail, and an e-mail address registration unit for registering the sender&#39;s e-mail address of the received e-mail with the e-mail address storage unit where the subject area of the received e-mail includes the first prescribed symbol. 
         [0008]    A user can register his or her e-mail address with the e-mail address storage unit of the communication terminal apparatus by sending an e-mail containing the first prescribed symbol in the subject to the communication terminal apparatus. This invention is advantageous in relieving the user from a cumbersome task of inputting complicated e-mail addresses, character by character, in alphabet by pushing the operation buttons, and realizing a simple registration process in a shorter time. Furthermore, mistakes in inputting e-mail addresses can be avoided, and a highly convenient multifunction device is provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0010]    In the drawings: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an entire structure of a multifunctional device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing an overall operation of the multifunctional device according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a conceptual diagram showing an e-mail received externally in the first embodiment of this invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing the operation of an e-mail parser according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing the operation of a subject determination unit according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the operation of a sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing the operation of a control unit monitoring an e-mail address registration process according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing the operation of a received e-mail deletion unit according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing the operation of an e-mail generation unit according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing the operation of an e-mail sender unit according to the first embodiment of this invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a conceptual diagram showing a registration completion notification e-mail; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a block diagram showing a structure of the multifunction device according to the second embodiment of this invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a diagram for explaining a function of a display order determination unit; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart showing a displaying operation of the multifunction device according to the second embodiment of this invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram showing a structure of the multifunction device according to the third embodiment of this invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a block diagram showing an overall operation of the multifunction device according to the third embodiment of this invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is a conceptual diagram showing an e-mail received externally in the third embodiment of this invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing the operation of the subject determination unit according to the third embodiment of this invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing the operation of a sender&#39;s e-mail address registration deletion unit according to the third embodiment of this invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit monitoring an e-mail address registration deletion process according to the third embodiment of this invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is a flowchart showing the operation of the received e-mail deletion unit according to the third embodiment of this invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 22  is a flowchart showing the operation of the e-mail generation unit according to the third embodiment of this invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 23  is a flowchart showing the operation of the e-mail sender unit according to the third embodiment of this invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 24  is a conceptual diagram showing the registration deletion completion notification e-mail in the third embodiment of this invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 25  is a block diagram showing a structure of the multifunction device according to the fourth embodiment of this invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 26  is a flowchart showing an overall operation of the multifunction device according to the fourth embodiment of this invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 27  is a conceptual diagram showing an e-mail received externally in the fourth embodiment of this invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 28  is a flowchart showing the operation of the subject determination unit according to the fourth embodiment of this invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 29  is a flowchart showing the operation of the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit according to the fourth embodiment of this invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 30  is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit monitoring an e-mail address list generation process according to the fourth embodiment of this invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 31  is a flowchart showing the operation of the received e-mail deletion unit according to the fourth embodiment of this invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 32  is a flowchart showing the operation of the e-mail generation unit according to the fourth embodiment of this invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 33  is a flowchart showing the operation of the e-mail sender unit according to the fourth embodiment of this invention; and 
           [0044]      FIG. 34  is a conceptual diagram showing a print completion notification e-mail in the fourth embodiment of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0045]    Particular embodiments according to this invention is hereinafter described in details with reference to the figures. 
       The First Embodiment 
       [0046]      FIG. 1  is the block diagram showing the structure of a multifunction device according to the first embodiment of this invention. A multifunction device  100  capable of sending and receiving e-mails as well as scanning and forming images is structured as shown in  FIG. 1 . Components forming the multifunction device  100  and functions thereof are described hereinbelow. 
         [0047]    In  FIG. 1 , an e-mail receiver unit  11  receives an e-mail from an external apparatus, not shown. An e-mail accumulation unit  12  is a memory to accumulate, i.e., hold, an e-mail received by the e-mail receiver unit  11 . An e-mail parser  13  receives the received e-mail from the e-mail accumulation unit  12 , and parses content of the received e-mail so as to extract therefrom a sender&#39;s e-mail address and a subject and to store the extracted sender&#39;s e-mail address in a sender&#39;s e-mail address accumulation unit  14  and the extracted subject in a subject accumulation unit  15 . The sender&#39;s e-mail address accumulation unit  14  receives the sender&#39;s e-mail address from the e-mail parser  13  and temporarily stores the e-mail address. The subject accumulation unit  15  receives the subject from the e-mail parser  13  and temporarily stores the subject. 
         [0048]    The subject determination unit  16  determines whether the extracted subject is the same as a subject previously registered with the subject determination unit  16 . Where the extracted subject is the same thereas, the subject determination unit  16  notifies the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18  of a registration instruction. An e-mail address storage unit  17  is a memory to additionally store a plurality of e-mail addresses. The sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18  registers the sender&#39;s e-mail address with the e-mail address storage unit  17  upon receiving the registration instruction from the subject determination unit  16 . A received e-mail deletion unit  21  deletes the received e-mail stored in the e-mail accumulation unit  12  upon receiving a notification of e-mail address registration process completion, described later, from a control unit. 
         [0049]    A control unit  22  controls the overall operation of the multifunction device, and more particularly, in the present embodiment, the control unit  22  monitors the e-mail address storage unit  17  upon receiving a notification of e-mail address registration process commencement from the subject determination unit  16 , and notifies the received e-mail deletion unit  21  and an e-mail generation unit  31  of the e-mail address registration process completion when the sender&#39;s e-mail address has been registered with the e-mail address storage unit  17 . An operation unit  23  is an operation panel for a user to operate and give instructions to the multifunction device. A display unit  24 , arranged on the operation unit  23 , is a display panel to display status and operation result of the multifunction device, thus informing the user thereof. An image scanner unit  25  is an image scanning mechanism to retrieve image data from a document to be scanned. 
         [0050]    An image generation unit  26  is a print engine mechanism for printing out prescribed image data. The e-mail generation unit  31  generates an e-mail. Particularly in the present embodiment, the e-mail generation unit  31 , upon receiving the notification of e-mail address registration process completion from the control unit  22 , generates an e-mail to be sent to the e-mail address, registered in the e-mail address registration process, with an attached transmission message for notifying the e-mail address registration completion. The e-mail sender unit  32  sends the e-mail generated by the e-mail generation unit  31  to a prescribed recipient. 
         [0051]    The operation of the multifunction device  100  according to the present embodiment will be hereinafter described.  FIG. 2  is the flowchart showing the overall operation of the multifunction device of the first embodiment. Steps S 1  through S 7  will be described in details in the order of steps with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is the conceptual diagram showing the e-mail received externally in the first embodiment of this invention. 
         [0052]    The multifunction device  100  of the present embodiment receives, for example, the e-mail shown in  FIG. 3  from an external apparatus, now shown, via the e-mail receiver unit  11 . The received e-mail is stored in the e-mail accumulation unit  12 . The received e-mail can be displayed on the display unit  24  upon operation of the operation unit  23 , and can be printed by the image forming unit  26 . The received e-mail is transferred to the e-mail parser  13 , and step S 1 , namely, the operation of the e-mail parser  13 , is performed. The operation of step S 1  will be hereinafter described in details. 
         [0053]      FIG. 4  is the flowchart showing the operation of the e-mail parser according to the first embodiment of this invention. 
         [0054]    In step S 1 - 1 , the e-mail parser  13  extracts the sender&#39;s e-mail address from the received e-mail. For example, the e-mail parser  13  extracts abcdefg@123.com from the e-mail shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0055]    In step S 1 - 2 , the e-mail parser  13  stores the extracted sender&#39;s e-mail address in the sender&#39;s e-mail address accumulation unit  14 . 
         [0056]    In step S 1 - 3 , the e-mail parser  13  determines whether the subject is included in the received e-mail. Where the subject is included therein, step S 1 - 4  is proceeded to. Where not included, this flow is terminated. In the example of  FIG. 3 , the subject “MARR” is included. 
         [0057]    In step S 1 - 4 , the e-mail parser  13  extracts the subject from the received e-mail. In the example, the subject “MARR” is extracted from the e-mail shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0058]    In step S 1 - 5 , the e-mail parser  13  stores the subject extracted from the received e-mail in the subject accumulation unit  15 , and then terminates this flow. 
         [0059]    Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the subject determination unit  16  subsequently takes over the operation, and performs step S 2 , namely, the operation of the subject determination unit  16 . Step S 2  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 5  is the flowchart showing the operation of the subject determination unit according to the first embodiment of this invention 
         [0060]    In step S 2 - 1 , the subject determination unit  16  monitors the subject accumulation unit  15  to see if the subject is stored therein. Where the subject is detected therein, step S 2 - 2  is proceeded to. The subject “MARR” should be detected in the e-mail shown in  FIG. 3  in the example. 
         [0061]    In step S 2 - 2 , the subject determination unit  16  determines whether the subject is the same as the subject previously stored in the subject determination unit  16 . Where the subject is the same thereas, step S 2 - 3  is proceeded to. Where not, this flow is terminated. In the example, suppose that the subject “MARR”, which stands for “Mail Address Registration Requirement” meaning a request for e-mail address registration and serving as a first prescribed symbol, is previously stored in the subject determination unit  16 . In such case, the subject “MARR” of the e-mail shown in  FIG. 3  is the same as the previously stored subject “MARR”, and therefore, step S 2 - 3  is proceeded to. 
         [0062]    In step S 2 - 3 , the subject determination unit  16  notifies the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18  of the registration instruction. 
         [0063]    In step S 2 - 4 , the subject determination unit  16  further notifies the control unit  22  of the e-mail address registration process commencement, and terminates this flow. 
         [0064]    Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18  subsequently takes over the operation, and performs step S 3 , namely, the operation of the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18 . Step S 3  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 6  is the flowchart showing the operation of the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit according to the first embodiment of this invention. 
         [0065]    In step S 3 - 1 , the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18  waits for receiving the registration instruction from the subject determination unit  16 . Once receiving the registration instruction, step S 3 - 2  is proceeded to. 
         [0066]    In step S 3 - 2 , the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18  additionally registers the sender&#39;s e-mail address in the sender&#39;s e-mail address accumulation unit  14  with the e-mail address storage unit  17 , and terminates this flow. 
         [0067]    Referring back to  FIG. 2 , control unit  22  subsequently takes over the operation, and performs step S 4 , namely, the operation of the control unit  22  monitoring the e-mail address registration process, while the above-mentioned step S 3  is performed. Step S 4  will be hereinafter described.  FIG. 7  is the flowchart showing the operation of the control unit monitoring the e-mail address registration process according to the first embodiment of this invention. 
         [0068]    In step S 4 - 1 , the control unit  22  waits for receiving the notification of e-mail address registration process commencement from the subject determination unit  16 , and proceeds to step S 4 - 2  upon receiving the notification. 
         [0069]    In step S 4 - 2 , upon receiving the notification, the control unit  22  stands by monitoring the status of the e-mail address storage unit  17 . The control unit  22  proceeds to step S 4 - 3  upon detecting the completion of the e-mail address registration process for registration with the e-mail address storage unit  17 . 
         [0070]    In step S 4 - 3 , the control unit  22  notifies the received e-mail deletion unit  21  and the e-mail generation unit  31  of the e-mail address registration process completion, meaning that the sender&#39;s e-mail address has been additionally reregistered with the e-mail address storage unit  17 , and terminates this flow. 
         [0071]    Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the received e-mail deletion unit subsequently takes over the operation, and performs step S 5 , namely, the operation of the received e-mail deletion unit  21 . Step S 5  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 8  is the flowchart showing the operation of the received e-mail deletion unit according to the first embodiment of this invention. 
         [0072]    In step S 5 - 1 , the received e-mail deletion unit  21  waits for receiving the notification of e-mail address registration process completion from the control unit  22 , and proceeds to step S 5 - 2  upon receiving the notification. 
         [0073]    In step S 5 - 2 , the received e-mail deletion unit  21  deletes the received e-mail stored in the e-mail accumulation unit  12 , and terminates this flow. 
         [0074]    Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the e-mail generation unit  31  takes over the operation, and performs step S 6 , namely, the operation of the e-mail generation unit  31 . Step S 6  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 9  is the flowchart showing the operation of the e-mail generation unit according to the first embodiment of this invention. 
         [0075]    In step S 6 - 1 , the e-mail generation unit  31  waits for receiving the notification of e-mail address registration process completion from the control unit  22 , and proceeds to step S 6 - 2  upon receiving the notification. 
         [0076]    In step S 6 - 2 , the e-mail generation unit  31  determines whether a prescribed transmission message is previously registered with the e-mail generation unit  31 . Where the prescribed transmission message is registered therewith, step S 6 - 3  is proceeded to. Where not, this flow is terminated. For example, suppose that the transmission message “Mail Address Registration Process has finished”, meaning that the e-mail address registration has been finished, is previously registered with the e-mail generation unit  31 . In such case, step S 6 - 3  is proceeded to. 
         [0077]    In step S 6 - 3 , the e-mail generation unit  31  sets the recipient&#39;s e-mail address to the e-mail address stored in the sender&#39;s e-mail address accumulation unit  14 . 
         [0078]    In step S 6 - 4 , the e-mail generation unit  31  subsequently sets the body of the e-mail to the transmission message, and terminates this flow. In the example, the body of the e-mail is set to “Mail Address Registration Process has finished”. 
         [0079]    Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the e-mail sender unit  32  takes over the operation, and performs step S 7 , namely, the operation of the e-mail sender unit  32 . Step S 7  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 10  is the flowchart showing the operation of the e-mail sender unit according to the first embodiment of this invention. 
         [0080]    In step S 7 - 1 , the e-mail sender unit  32  monitors the e-mail generation unit  31  to see if the e-mail to be sent is stored therein. Where the e-mail to be sent is stored therein, step S 7 - 2  is proceeded to. 
         [0081]    In step S 7 - 2 , the e-mail sender unit  32  determines whether the recipient&#39;s e-mail address has been set. Where the recipient&#39;s e-mail address has been set, step S 7 - 3  is proceeded to. Where not, this flow is terminated. 
         [0082]    In step S 7 - 3 , the e-mail sender unit  32  determines whether the body of the e-mail has been set. Where the body of the e-mail has been set, step S 7 - 4  is proceeded to. Where not, this flow is terminated. 
         [0083]    In step S 7 - 4 , the e-mail sender unit  32  sends the e-mail in the e-mail generation unit  31  to the specified e-mail address.  FIG. 11  is the conceptual diagram of the registration completion notification e-mail. More particularly,  FIG. 11  is the conceptual diagram showing the e-mail, as the registration completion notification e-mail of registration with the e-mail address storage unit  17 , to be sent from the e-mail sender unit  32  to the specified e-mail address. The e-mail in  FIG. 11  has the recipient&#39;s e-mail address and the sender&#39;s e-mail address having been replaced with each other when compared to the e-mail in  FIG. 3 , and furthermore, the e-mail in  FIG. 11  has the subject “Re: MARR” meaning the completion of registration and the body of the e-mail “Mail Address Registration Process has finished”. “One-touch dial number” may also be added to the subject or the body of the e-mail so as to register the e-mail address with the specified one-touch dial number such as “03”. 
         [0084]    Accordingly, the multifunction device  100  according to the present embodiment enables the user to have his or her e-mail address automatically registered with the e-mail address storage unit  17  of the multifunction device  100  by sending the e-mail containing the subject “MARR” from the user&#39;s e-mail system to the multifunction device  100  where the user wants to register his or her e-mail address with the e-mail address storage unit of the multifunction device. 
         [0085]    The multifunction device  100  according to the present embodiment of this invention stores in the e-mail address storage unit the sender&#39;s e-mail address of the received e-mail only if the subject of the received e-e-mail contains “MARR” (instruction information). A system administrator of the multifunction device is thus relieved from inquiring of each sender of received e-mails whether or not e-mail addresses thereof should be additionally registered when a large number of unnecessary e-mail messages, such as spam mails, are received. That is, the multifunction device  100  does not indiscriminately register sender&#39;s e-mail addresses of received e-mails. 
         [0086]    In order to register the e-mail address with the multifunction device  100  according to the present embodiment of this invention, the multifunction device  100  has only to receive an e-mail containing the instruction information, such as “MARR”, in the subject from the user who wants to register his or her e-mail address. Therefore, the user can register his or her e-mail address with the multifunction device  100  by sending a small size e-mail without relying on the body of the e-mail, and thus the multifunction device  100  alleviates the network load of network which e-mails for e-mail address registration pass through. 
         [0087]    The multifunction device  100  according to the present embodiment of this invention deletes the received e-mail stored in the e-mail accumulation unit after completing the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration process. Consequently, the multifunction device  100  not only occupies smaller memory space for keeping received e-mails but also quickly goes into a status ready to receive further e-mails. 
         [0088]    The multifunction device  100  according to the present embodiment of this invention sends the registration completion notification e-mail to the sender&#39;s e-mail address after completing the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration process. Consequently, the user is enabled to easily recognize that a series of registration process has been finished. 
         [0089]    As hereinabove described, the multifunction device  100  according to the present embodiment of this invention registers the user&#39;s own e-mail address with the e-mail address storage unit thereof where the user sends the e-mail containing the instruction information in the subject to the multifunction device. Furthermore, the multifunction device  100  relieves the user from a cumbersome task of inputting a complicated e-mail address through pushing the operation buttons, character by character, in alphabet. Thus, the multifunction device  100  results in a highly convenient multifunction device with shorter registration time, simpler registration process, and less likely to make mistakes in inputting the e-mail address since the multifunction device  100  registers the user&#39;s e-mail address with the e-mail address storage unit thereof where the user sends the e-mail containing the instruction information in the subject to the multifunction device  100 . 
       The Second Embodiment 
       [0090]    Although not specifically shown in the first embodiment, e-mail addresses stored in the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 1 ) are displayed in the display unit  24  ( FIG. 1 ) sorted in alphabetical order when the user requests to display an e-mail address list with the use of the operation unit  23  ( FIG. 1 ) in the first embodiment. The user then selects an e-mail address that the e-mail is to be sent to from the displayed e-mail address list with the use of a scroll function of the operation buttons on the operation unit  23  ( FIG. 1 ). With such e-mail address selection method, however, it may be troublesome for the user to specify the recipient&#39;s e-mail address. Especially where the user has registered e-mail addresses having a prefix of v or w, the more e-mail addresses are contained in the e-mail address list, it is the more likely that the user finds it troublesome to select an e-mail address. 
         [0091]    The second embodiment is structured to display the latest registered e-mail address at the top of the display unit where e-mail addresses are requested to be displayed within less than the prescribed time after the e-mail address registration so that the e-mail address can be easily selected where the user wants to use the e-mail address right after its registration. On the other hand, e-mail addresses are displayed in ordinary alphabetical order where e-mail addresses are requested to be displayed not less the prescribed time after the e-mail address registration. The multifunction device according to the present embodiment is structured as follows to achieve the above mentioned purpose. 
         [0092]      FIG. 12  is the block diagram showing the structure of the multifunction device according to the second embodiment of this invention. A multifunction device  200  capable of sending and receiving e-mails as well as scanning and forming images is structured as shown in  FIG. 12 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the multifunction device  200  includes a registration time determination unit  42 , an information selection unit  43  for selecting information registered within the prescribed time, and a display order determination unit  44  in addition to those that the multifunction device  100  ( FIG. 1 ) has. Furthermore, a register A, a register B, and a register C are arranged in a control unit  41 , corresponding to the control unit  22  ( FIG. 1 ) of the first embodiment. The other components are the same as the first embodiment except the above. Thus, only the components different from the first embodiment are hereinbelow described in details. 
         [0093]    The control unit  41  controls the entire operation of the multifunction device  200 , and particularly in the present embodiment, the control unit  41  includes the register A, the register B, and the register C in the interior of the control unit  41  in addition to functions of the control unit of the first embodiment. The register A keeps a time as to when the latest registered e-mail address was registered with the e-mail address storage unit  17 . The register B keeps a current time. The register C keeps the prescribed time which the register C is set to. The control unit  41  performs a prescribed control program stored in a ROM, not shown, and initiates the registration time determination unit  42 , the information selection unit  43 , and the display order determination unit  44 . 
         [0094]    The registration time determination unit  41  determines the time as to when the e-mail address stored in the e-mail address storage unit  17  was registered. The information selection unit  43  determines (namely, selects the e-mail address) whether the e-mail address stored in the e-mail address storage unit  17  was registered within less than the prescribed time stored in the above mentioned register C before the current time kept in the register B. The display order determination unit  44  determines the order of the e-mail addresses stored in the e-mail address storage unit  17  based on prescribed rules as follows. 
         [0095]    The prescribed rules are as follows. Rule 1: Where the registration time of the latest registered e-mail address stored in the e-mail address storage unit  17  is within less than the prescribed time stored in the register C before the current time, the latest registered e-mail address is put at the top, and the rest of e-mail addresses are sorted in alphabetical order. Rule 2: Where the registration time of the latest registered e-mail address stored in the e-mail address storage unit  17  is not less than the prescribed time stored in the register C before the current time, all the e-mail addresses are sorted in alphabetical order. 
         [0096]    The display order determination unit  44  will be hereinafter described with reference to the figures.  FIG. 13  is the diagram for explaining the function of the display order determination unit. TABLE A shows the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 12 ) displayed on the display unit  24  ( FIG. 12 ) as they are. TABLE B shows the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 12 ) after a sort is performed based on the Rule 1 of the prescribed rules. TABLE C shows the e-mail address storage unit  17  after a sort is performed based on the Rule 2 of the prescribed rules. In TABLE B and TABLE C, an e-mail address in an elongated circle is the latest registered e-mail address. 
         [0097]    As shown in TABLE A, the e-mail address list is displayed in alphabetical order regardless of the registration time of e-mail address where the e-mail addresses stored in the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 12 ) are displayed on the display unit  24  ( FIG. 12 ) as they are. As shown in TABLE B, where the latest registered e-mail address in the elongated circle was registered within less than the prescribed time stored in the register C before the current time, the latest registered e-mail address is displayed at the top and the rest of e-mail addresses are displayed in alphabetical order. As shown in TABLE C, where the latest registered e-mail address in the elongated circle was registered not less than the prescribed time stored in the register C before the current time, all of the e-mail addresses are displayed in alphabetical order. 
         [0098]    The operation of the multifunction device according to the second embodiment will be hereinafter described. The multifunction device  200  according to the present embodiment is capable of sending and receiving e-mails as well as scanning and forming images. The registration of the sender&#39;s e-mail address of the received e-mail, the deletion of the received e-mail from the accumulation unit, and the transmission of the e-mail address registration completion notification e-mail to the sender&#39;s e-mail address are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus are omitted for brevity. 
         [0099]      FIG. 14  is the flowchart showing the displaying operation of the multifunction device according to the second embodiment of this invention. The displaying operation of the multifunction device  200 , including the operations of the registration time determination unit  42 , the information selection unit  43 , and the display order determination unit  44 , which are initiated and generated by the control unit  41 , will be described from step S 5 - 1  to S 5 - 9  in the order of steps with reference to the  FIG. 12 . 
         [0100]    In step S 5 - 1 , the control unit  41 , upon detecting the completion of the e-mail address registration process with the e-mail address storage unit  17 , waits for the display request of the e-mail address list from the user via the control unit  23 , and proceeds to step S 5 - 2  upon receiving the display request. 
         [0101]    In step S 5 - 2 , the registration time determination unit  42  reads and sends to the control unit  41  the time as to when the latest registered e-mail address was registered with the e-mail address storage unit  17 . 
         [0102]    In step S 5 - 3 , the control unit  41  receives from the registration time determination unit  42  the time as to when the latest registered e-mail address was registered, and stores the registration time in the register A. 
         [0103]    In step S 5 - 4 , the control unit  41  reads out the current time from a clock in the control unit  41 . 
         [0104]    In step S 5 - 5 , the control unit  41  stores the current time in the register B. 
         [0105]    In step S 5 - 6 , the information selection unit  43  determines whether the latest registered e-mail address was registered within less than the prescribed time, such as within less than 30 minutes, before the current time. Where the latest registered e-mail address was registered within less than the prescribed time, step S 5 - 7  is proceeded to. Where the latest registered e-mail address was registered not less than the prescribed time, step S 5 - 8  is proceeded to. That is, the difference between the register B and the register A is compared with the register C. In the example, if the difference between the register B and the register A is 15 minutes, step S 5 - 7  is proceeded to. If the difference is 45 minutes, step S 5 - 8  is proceeded to. 
         [0106]    In step S 5 - 7 , the display order determination unit  44  determines to arrange the latest registered sender&#39;s e-mail address at the top of the e-mail address storage unit  17 , and sort the remaining e-mail addresses in alphabetical order. 
         [0107]    On the other hand, in step S 5 - 8 , the display order determination unit  44  determines to sort all the registered e-mail addresses in alphabetical order. 
         [0108]    In step S 5 - 9 , the control unit  41  sorts the e-mail addresses in the e-mail address storage unit  17  based on the decision of the display order determination unit  44 , and sends the sorted e-mail addresses to the display unit  24  to have the display unit  24  display the sorted e-mail addresses, and then terminates this flow. The result of the sorted e-mail addresses is shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0109]    In the above example, although only a single latest registered e-mail address is arranged to be displayed at the top of the list, it may also be configured to display at the top of the list a plurality of all the e-mail addresses that have been newly registered within less than a certain time such as, e.g., 30 minutes before the display request upon searching for such newly registered e-mail addresses. Such configuration may be effective for a multifunction peripheral (MFP) used in a large office. 
         [0110]    As hereinabove described, the multifunction device according to the present embodiment displays the latest registered e-mail address at the top when operated to display the e-mail addresses right after the e-mail address registration, and thus, the user who wants to select the e-mail address right after the user has registered the e-mail address is relieved from a cumbersome task of searching for the e-mail address by pressing the operation buttons previously equipped with the multifunction device. Therefore, the user can register and use the e-mail address in a simple process in a shorter time as well as avoid making mistakes in inputting e-mail addresses. Thus, the present embodiment provides a highly convenient multifunction device. 
       The Third Embodiment 
       [0111]    In the first embodiment, the user sends the e-mail containing the subject “MARR” from the user&#39;s e-mail system to the multifunction device  100  ( FIG. 1 ) so that the user&#39;s e-mail address is automatically additionally registered with the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 1 ) where the user wants to register his or her e-mail address in the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 1 ). In an actual situation in which the multifunction device is used, the user may want to delete the registration of e-mail address which was once registered. Taking such situation into account, the present embodiment has an e-mail address registration deletion function in addition to the functions of the multifunction device of the first embodiment. To achieve such purpose, the multifunction device according to the third embodiment is structured as follows. 
         [0112]      FIG. 15  is the block diagram showing the structure of the multifunction device according to the third embodiment of this invention. A multifunction device  300  capable of sending and receiving e-mails as well as scanning and forming images is structured as shown in  FIG. 15 . Only functions of the multifunction device  300  which are added or different from the first embodiment will be hereinafter described. Components having the same functions as the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted for brevity. 
         [0113]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , the subject determination unit  54  determines whether the subject extracted by the e-mail parser  13  is the same as the subjects contained in the subject determination unit  54 . Where the subject is the same thereas, the subject determination unit  54  gives the registration instruction to the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18 , or a registration deletion instruction (newly added in the third embodiment) to a sender&#39;s e-mail address registration deletion unit  56 . The sender&#39;s e-mail address registration deletion unit  56  deletes (newly added in the third embodiment) the registration of the sender&#39;s e-mail address from the e-mail address storage unit  17  upon receiving the notification of registration deletion instruction (newly added in the third embodiment) from the subject determination unit  54 . A received e-mail deletion unit  57  deletes the received e-mail stored from the e-mail accumulation unit  12  upon receiving the notification of e-mail address registration process completion, as will be described below, or a notification of e-mail address registration deletion process completion (newly added in the third embodiment), as will be described below. 
         [0114]    A control unit  58  controls the entire operation of the multifunction device. The control unit  58  monitors the e-mail address storage unit  17  upon receiving the notification of e-mail address registration process commencement from the subject determination unit  54 . The control unit  58 , upon finding that the sender&#39;s e-mail address has been registered with the e-mail address storage unit  17 , notifies the received e-mail deletion unit  57  and an e-mail generation unit  59  of the e-mail address registration process completion. Furthermore, the control unit  58  monitors the e-mail address storage unit  17  upon receiving the notification of e-mail address registration deletion process commencement (newly added in the third embodiment) from the subject determination unit  54 . The control unit  58 , upon detecting that the sender&#39;s e-mail address has been deleted from the e-mail address storage unit  17 , notifies the received e-mail deletion unit  57  and the e-mail generation unit  59  of the e-mail address registration deletion process completion (newly added in the third embodiment). 
         [0115]    The e-mail generation unit  59  generates an e-mail. The e-mail generation unit  59 , upon receiving the notification of e-mail address registration process completion, generates the e-mail to be sent to the e-mail address registered in the e-mail address registration process with an attached message for the purpose of notifying the e-mail address registration completion. Furthermore, the e-mail generation unit  59 , upon receiving the notification of e-mail address registration deletion process completion, generates the e-mail to be sent to the e-mail address whose registration has been deleted by the e-mail address registration deletion process with an attached message for the purpose of notifying the e-mail address registration deletion completion. 
         [0116]    The multifunction device  300  according to the present embodiment of this invention will be hereinafter described.  FIG. 16  is the block diagram showing the overall operation of the multifunction device according to the third embodiment of this invention. Step S 21  trough step S 27  will be described in details in the order of steps with reference to  FIG. 16 . Please note that although the multifunction device  300  according to the present embodiment can perform the e-mail address registration just as the multifunction device  100  according to the first embodiment, the e-mail address registration process is omitted from the below description to avoid redundancy, and the below description will be focused on the e-mail address registration deletion process.  FIG. 17  is the conceptual diagram showing the e-mail received externally in the third embodiment of this invention. 
         [0117]    As shown in  FIG. 16 , the multifunction device  300  according to the present embodiment receives the e-mail shown in  FIG. 17  from an external apparatus, not shown, via the e-mail receiver unit  11 . The received e-mail is stored in the e-mail accumulation unit  12 . The received e-mail can be displayed on the display unit  24  and printed by the image forming unit  26  upon the operation of the operation unit  23 . In such occasion, the received e-mail is transferred to the e-mail parser  13 , and step S 21 , namely, the operation of the e-mail parser  13 , is performed. The operation of step S 21  is omitted from the description as being the same as step S 1 , namely, step S 1 - 1  through step S 1 - 5 , which has already been described in the first embodiment. 
         [0118]    Referring back to  FIG. 16 , the subject determination unit  54  takes over the operation, and performs step S 22 , namely, the operation of the subject determination unit  54 . Step S 22  will be describe in details.  FIG. 18  is the flowchart showing the operation of the subject determination unit according to the third embodiment of this invention. 
         [0119]    In step S 22 - 1 , the subject determination unit  54  monitors the subject accumulation unit  15  to see if the subject is stored therein. The subject determination unit  54  proceeds to step S 22 - 2  upon detecting the subject stored therein. In the example of  FIG. 17 , the subject “MARC” should be detected. 
         [0120]    In step S 22 - 2 , the subject determination unit  54  determines whether the subject is the same as the subject previously registered with the subject determination unit  54 . Where the subject is the same thereas, step S 22 - 3  is proceeded to. Where not, this flow is terminated. In the example, suppose that the subject “MARC”, which stands for “Mail Address Registration Clear” meaning a request for e-mail address registration deletion and serving as a second prescribed symbol, is previously stored in the subject determination unit  54 . In such case, the subject “MARC” of the e-mail shown in  FIG. 17  is the same as the previously stored subject “MARC”, and therefore, step S 22 - 3  is proceeded to. 
         [0121]    In step S 22 - 3 , the subject determination unit  54  notifies the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration deletion unit  56  of the registration deletion instruction. 
         [0122]    In step S 22 - 4 , the subject determination unit  54  notifies the control unit  58  of the e-mail address registration deletion process commencement meaning that the process has started to delete the registration of the sender&#39;s e-mail address from the e-mail address storage unit  17 , and terminates this flow. 
         [0123]    Referring back to  FIG. 16 , the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration deletion unit  56  takes over the operation, and performs step S 23 , namely, the operation of the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration deletion unit  56 . Step  23  will be described in details.  FIG. 19  is the flowchart showing the operation of the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration deletion unit according to the third embodiment of this invention. 
         [0124]    In step S 23 - 1 , the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration deletion unit  56  waits for receiving the registration deletion instruction from the subject determination unit  54 , and proceeds to step S 23 - 2  upon receiving the registration deletion instruction. 
         [0125]    In step S 23 - 2 , the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration deletion unit  56  deletes the registration of the e-mail address stored in the sender&#39;s e-mail address accumulation unit  14  from the e-mail address storage unit  17 , and terminates this flow. 
         [0126]    Referring back to  FIG. 16 , the control unit  58  takes over the operation. The step S 24 , namely, the operation of the control unit  58  monitoring the e-mail address registration deletion process, is performed while the above described step S 23  is performed. Step S 24  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 20  is the flowchart showing the operation of the control unit monitoring the e-mail address registration deletion process according to the third embodiment of this invention. 
         [0127]    In step S 24 - 1 , the control unit  58  waits for receiving the notification of e-mail address registration deletion process commencement from the subject determination unit  54 , and proceeds to step S 24 - 2  upon receiving the notification. 
         [0128]    In step S 24 - 2 , the control unit  58 , upon receiving the notification, stands by monitoring the status of the e-mail address storage unit  17 . The control unit  58  proceeds to step S 24 - 3  upon detecting the completion of e-mail address registration deletion process for deletion from the e-mail address storage unit  17 . 
         [0129]    In step S 24 - 3 , the control unit  58  notifies the received e-mail deletion unit  57  and the e-mail generation unit  59  of the notification of e-mail address registration deletion process completion meaning that the registration of the sender&#39;s e-mail address has been deleted from the e-mail address storage unit  17 , and terminates this flow. 
         [0130]    Referring back to  FIG. 16 , the received e-mail deletion unit  57  takes over the operation, and performs step S 25 , namely, the process of the received e-mail deletion unit  57 . Step S 25  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 21  is the flowchart showing the operation of the received e-mail deletion unit according to the third embodiment of this invention. 
         [0131]    In step S 25 - 1 , the received e-mail deletion unit  57  waits for receiving the notification of e-mail address registration deletion process completion from the control unit  58 , and proceeds to step S 25 - 2  upon receiving the notification. 
         [0132]    In step S 25 - 2 , the received e-mail deletion unit  57  deletes the received e-mail stored in the e-mail accumulation unit  12 , and terminates this flow. 
         [0133]    Referring back to  FIG. 16 , the e-mail generation unit  59  takes over the operation, and performs step S 26 , namely, the operation of the e-mail generation unit  59 . Step S 26  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 22  is the flowchart showing the operation of the e-mail generation unit  59  according to the third embodiment of this invention. 
         [0134]    In step S 26 - 1 , the e-mail generation unit  59  waits for receiving the notification of e-mail address registration deletion process completion, and proceeds to step S 26 - 2  upon receiving the notification. 
         [0135]    In step S 26 - 2 , the e-mail generation unit  59  determines whether a prescribed transmission message is registered with the e-mail generation unit  59 . Where the prescribed transmission message is registered therewith, step S 26 - 3  is proceeded to. Where not, this flow is terminated. For example, suppose that the transmission message, “Mail Address Clear Process has finished” meaning the completion of e-mail address registration deletion, is previously registered with the e-mail generation unit  59 . In such case, step S 26 - 3  is proceeded to. 
         [0136]    In step S 26 - 3 , the e-mail generation unit  59  sets the recipient&#39;s e-mail address of the e-mail to the e-mail address stored in the sender&#39;s e-mail address accumulation unit  14 . 
         [0137]    In step S 26 - 4 , the e-mail generation unit  59  subsequently sets the body of the e-mail to the transmission message, and terminates this flow. In the example, the body of the e-mail is set to “Mail Address Clear Process has finished”. 
         [0138]    Referring back to  FIG. 16 , the e-mail sender unit  60  takes over the operation, and performs step S 27 , namely, the process of e-mail sender unit  60 . Step S 27  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 23  is the flowchart showing the operation of the e-mail sender unit according to the third embodiment of this invention. 
         [0139]    In step S 27 - 1 , the e-mail sender unit  60  monitors the e-mail generation unit  59  to see if the e-mail to be sent is contained therein. Where the e-mail to be sent is contained therein, the e-mail sender unit  60  proceeds to step S 27 - 2 . 
         [0140]    In step S 27 - 2 , the e-mail sender unit  60  determines whether the recipient&#39;s e-mail address has been set. Where the recipient&#39;s e-mail address has been set, the e-mail sender unit  60  proceeds to step S 27 - 3 . Where the recipient&#39;s e-mail address has not been set, the e-mail sender unit  60  terminates this flow. 
         [0141]    In step S 27 - 3 , the e-mail sender unit  60  determines whether the body of the e-mail has been set. Where the body of the e-mail has been set, the e-mail sender unit  60  proceeds to step S 27 - 4 . Where not, the e-mail sender unit  60  terminates this flow. 
         [0142]    In step S 27 - 4 , the e-mail sender unit  60  sends the e-mail in the e-mail generation unit  59  to the specified recipient&#39;s address.  FIG. 24  is the conceptual diagram showing the registration deletion completion notification e-mail in the third embodiment of this invention.  FIG. 24  shows the conceptual diagram showing the e-mail, as the registration deletion completion notification e-mail of deletion of registration from the e-mail address storage unit  17 , to be sent to the recipient&#39;s e-mail address specified by the e-mail sender unit  60 . The e-mail in  FIG. 24  has the recipient&#39;s e-mail address and the sender&#39;s e-mail address having been replaced with each other when compared to the received e-mail in  FIG. 17 , and furthermore, the e-mail in  FIG. 24  has the subject “Re: MARC” meaning the completion of registration deletion and the body “Mail Address Clear Process has finished”. “One-touch dial number” may also be added to the subject or the body of the e-mail so as to delete the registration of the specified one-touch dial number such as “03”. 
         [0143]    Accordingly, the multifunction device according to the present embodiment enables the user to have the registration of his or her e-mail address deleted from the e-mail address storage unit of the multifunction device by sending the e-mail containing the instruction information in the subject, which is different from that of the first embodiment, to the multifunction device according to the present embodiment. That is, the user can delete his or her e-mail address registered with the multifunction device upon sending an e-mail to the multifunction device. Thus, the user is relieved from the cumbersome task of deleting the registration of e-mail address by pushing the operation buttons provided with the multifunction device. Therefore, the multifunction device according to the present embodiment enables e-mail address deletion in a shorter time and with a simple method, and a highly convenient multifunction device is thus provided. 
       The Fourth Embodiment 
       [0144]    In the first embodiment described above, the multifunction device  100  is made to automatically register the user&#39;s e-mail address with the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 1 ) of the multifunction device  100  ( FIG. 1 ) upon receiving the e-mail containing the subject “MARR” sent from the user&#39;s e-mail system to the multifunction device  100  ( FIG. 1 ) where the user wants to have his or her e-mail address registered with the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 1 ) of the multifunction device  100  ( FIG. 1 ). Furthermore, the multifunction device  300  is made to automatically delete the registration of the user&#39;s e-mail address from the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 15 ) of the multifunction device  300  ( FIG. 15 ) upon receiving the e-mail containing the subject “MARC” sent from the user&#39;s e-mail system to the multifunction device  300  ( FIG. 1 ) where the user wants to delete the registration of his or her e-mail address, previously registered with the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 15 ), from the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 15 ). In the fourth embodiment, the multifunction device is enabled to print out the e-mail address list of e-mail addresses previously stored in the e-mail address storage unit  17  so that the user can review the e-mail address list prior to the registration (described in the first embodiment) or the deletion of registration. Such multifunction device according to the fourth embodiment of this invention is structured as follows. 
         [0145]      FIG. 25  is the block diagram showing the structure of the multifunction device according to the fourth embodiment of this invention. A multifunction device  400  capable of sending and receiving e-mails as well as scanning and forming images is structured as shown in  FIG. 25 . Only functions of the multifunction device  400  which are added or different from the first embodiment will be hereinafter described. Components having the same functions as the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted for brevity. 
         [0146]    In  FIG. 25 , a subject determination unit  71  determines whether the subject extracted by the e-mail parser  13  is the same as the subject previously registered with the subject determination unit  71 . Where the subject extracted is the same thereas, the subject determination unit  71  gives the registration instruction to the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18 . For example, suppose that the subject extracted is “MALP” which stands for “Mail Address List Print”. In such case, the subject determination unit  71  gives a list generation instruction to a list generation unit  72  (newly added in the fourth embodiment). The list generation unit  72  (newly added in the fourth embodiment), upon receiving the list generation instruction from the subject determination unit  71 , generates the e-mail address list of e-mail addresses stored in the e-mail address storage unit  17 , and have an image forming unit  75  print out the e-mail address list. 
         [0147]    An e-mail generation unit  73  generates an e-mail. Particularly in the present embodiment, the e-mail generation unit  73 , upon receiving a notification of e-mail address list generation process completion, generates the e-mail to be sent to the e-mail address stored in the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18  with an attached message for the purpose of notifying that the e-mail address list has been printed out. The e-mail sender unit  74  sends the e-mail generated by the e-mail generation unit  73  to the prescribed recipient&#39;s address. 
         [0148]    The image forming unit  75  is a print engine mechanism to print out prescribed image data. Particularly in the present embodiment, the image forming unit  75  outputs the e-mail address list based on the instruction of the list generation unit  72 . A control unit  76  controls the entire operation of the multifunction device. Particularly in the present embodiment, the control unit  76 , upon receiving a notification of e-mail address list generation process commencement, monitors the image forming unit  75  to see if the e-mail address list has been printed. If the e-mail address list has been printed, the control unit  76  notifies the received e-mail deletion unit  21  and the e-mail generation unit  73  of the e-mail address list generation process completion. 
         [0149]    The multifunction device  400  according to the present embodiment of this invention will be hereinafter described.  FIG. 26  is the flowchart showing the overall operation of the multifunction device according to the fourth embodiment of this invention. Step S 31  through step S 37  will be described in details in the order of steps with reference to  FIG. 25 . Please note that although the multifunction device  400  according to the present embodiment can perform the e-mail address registration just as the multifunction device  100  according to the first embodiment, the e-mail address registration process is omitted from the below description to avoid redundancy, and the below description will be focused on the e-mail address list generation process.  FIG. 27  is the conceptual diagram showing the e-mail received externally in the fourth embodiment of this invention. 
         [0150]    The multifunction device  400  according to the present embodiment of this invention receives an e-mail shown in  FIG. 27  from an external apparatus, not shown, via the e-mail receiver unit  11 . The received e-mail is stored in the e-mail accumulation unit  12 . The received e-mail can be displayed on the display unit  24  and printed by the image forming unit  75  upon the operation of the operation unit  23 . The received e-mail is transferred to the e-mail parser  13 , and step S 31 , namely, the operation of the e-mail parser  13 , is performed. Step S 31  is the same as step S 1 , namely, step S 1 - 1  through step S 1 - 5 , described in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted for brevity. 
         [0151]    Referring back to  FIG. 26 , the subject determination unit  71  takes over the operation, and performs step S 32 , namely, the operation of the subject determination unit  71 . Step S 32  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 28  is the flowchart showing the operation of the subject determination unit according to the fourth embodiment of this invention. 
         [0152]    In step S 32 - 1 , the subject determination unit  71  determines whether the subject is the same as the subject previously registered with the subject determination unit  71 . Where the subject is the same thereas, step S 32 - 3  is proceeded to. Where not, this flow is terminated. Suppose that the subject “MALP”, which stands for “Mail Address List Print”, is previously stored in the subject determination unit  71 . In such case, the subject “MALP” of the e-mail shown in  FIG. 27  is the same as the previously stored subject “MALP”, and therefore, step S 32 - 3  is proceeded to. 
         [0153]    In step S 32 - 3 , the subject determination unit  71  notifies the list generation unit of the list generation instruction. 
         [0154]    In step S 32 - 4 , the subject determination unit  71  notifies the control unit  76  of the e-mail address list generation process commencement, meaning that the process for generation the e-mail address list has started, and terminates this flow. 
         [0155]    Referring back to  FIG. 26 , the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18  takes over the operation, and performs step S 33 , namely, the operation of the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18 . Step S 33  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 29  is the flowchart showing the operation of the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit according to the fourth embodiment of this invention. 
         [0156]    In step S 33 - 1 , the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18  stands by keeping the e-mail address in the sender&#39;s e-mail address accumulation unit  14 . 
         [0157]    Referring back to  FIG. 26 , the control unit  76  takes over the operation, and performs step S 34 , namely, the operation of the control unit  76  monitoring the e-mail address list generation process, from the e-mail address list generation process commencement to the e-mail address list generation process completion. Step S 34  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 30  is the flowchart showing the operation of the control unit monitoring the e-mail address list generation process according to the fourth embodiment of this invention. 
         [0158]    In step S 34 - 1 , the control unit  76  waits for receiving the notification of e-mail address list generation process commencement from the subject determination unit  71 , and proceeds to step S 34 - 2  upon receiving the notification. 
         [0159]    In step S 34 - 2 , the control unit  76 , upon receiving the notification, stands by monitoring the image forming unit  75 . The control unit  76  proceeds to step S 34 - 3  upon detecting the completion of e-mail address list generation process. 
         [0160]    In step S 34 - 3 , the control unit  76  terminates this flow upon notifying the received e-mail deletion unit  21  and the e-mail generation unit  73  of the e-mail address list generation process completion meaning that the sender&#39;s e-mail address list has been printed by the image forming unit  75 . 
         [0161]    Referring back to  FIG. 26 , the received e-mail deletion unit  21  takes over the operation, and performs step S 35 , namely, the operation of the received e-mail deletion unit  21 . Step S 35  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 31  is the flowchart showing the operation of the received e-mail deletion unit according to the fourth embodiment of this invention. 
         [0162]    In step S 35 - 1 , the received e-mail deletion unit  21  waits for receiving the notification of e-mail address list generation process completion from the control unit  76 , and proceeds to step S 35 - 2  upon receiving the notification. 
         [0163]    In step S 35 - 2 , the received e-mail deletion unit  21  terminates this flow upon deleting the received e-mail stored in the e-mail accumulation unit  12 . 
         [0164]    Referring back to  FIG. 26 , the e-mail generation unit  73  takes over the operation, and performs step S 36 , namely, the operation of the e-mail generation unit  73 . Step S 36  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 32  is the flowchart showing the operation of the e-mail generation unit according to the fourth embodiment of this invention. 
         [0165]    In step S 36 - 1 , the e-mail generation unit  73  waits for the notification of e-mail address list generation process completion from the control unit  76 , and proceeds to step S 36 - 2  upon receiving the notification. 
         [0166]    In step S 36 - 2 , the e-mail generation unit  73  determines whether a prescribed transmission message is previously stored in the e-mail generation unit  73 . Where the prescribed message is stored therein, step S 36 - 3  is proceeded to. Where not, this flow is terminated. For example, suppose that a message “Your Printing Requirement has finished”, meaning that the e-mail address list has been printed, is previously stored in the e-mail generation unit  73  as a transmission message. In such case, it is proceeded to step S 36 - 3 . 
         [0167]    In step S 36 - 3 , the e-mail generation unit  73  sets the recipient&#39;s e-mail address of the e-mail to the e-mail address stored in the sender&#39;s e-mail address registration unit  18 , as described in step S 33 - 1 . 
         [0168]    In step S 36 - 4  the e-mail generation unit  73  terminates this flow upon setting the body of the e-mail to the transmission message. For example, the body of the e-mail is set to “Your Printing Requirement has finished”. 
         [0169]    Referring back to  FIG. 26 , the e-mail sender unit  74  takes over the operation, and performs step S 37 , namely the operation of the e-mail sender unit  74 . Step S 37  will be hereinafter described in details.  FIG. 33  is the flowchart showing the operation of the e-mail sender unit according to the fourth embodiment of this invention. 
         [0170]    In step S 37 - 1 , the e-mail sender unit  74  monitors the e-mail generation unit  73  to see if the e-mail to be sent is contained therein. Where the e-mail to be sent is contained therein, S 37 - 2  is proceeded to. 
         [0171]    In step S 37 - 2 , the e-mail sender unit  74  determines whether the recipient&#39;s address has been set. Where the recipient&#39;s address has been set, it is proceeded to step S 37 - 3 . Where not, this flow is terminated. 
         [0172]    In step S 37 - 3 , the e-mail sender unit  74  determines whether the body of the e-mail has been set. Where the body of the e-mail has been set, it is proceeded to step S 37 - 4 . Where not, this flow is terminated. 
         [0173]    In step S 37 - 4 , the e-mail sender unit  74  sends the e-mail in the e-mail generation unit  73  to the specified e-mail address.  FIG. 34  is the conceptual diagram showing the print completion notification e-mail in the fourth embodiment of this invention. More particularly,  FIG. 34  is the conceptual diagram showing the e-mail to be sent to the e-mail address specified by the e-mail sender unit  74  as the e-mail for notifying that the e-e-mail address list has been printed. The e-mail in  FIG. 34  has the recipient&#39;s e-mail address and the sender&#39;s e-mail address having been replaced with each other when compared to the e-mail in  FIG. 27 , and furthermore, the e-mail in  FIG. 34  has the subject “Re: MALP” meaning the completion of printing and the body “Your Printing Requirement has finished”. 
         [0174]    As hereinabove described, the fourth embodiment enables the user to print out the e-mail address list stored in the e-mail address storage unit  17  and to review the e-mail address list before the user additionally registers (as described in the first embodiment) or deletes the registration (as described in the second embodiment) of the user&#39;s own e-mail address. Thus, a highly convenient multifunction device is provided. 
         [0175]    In the first embodiment, the subject determination unit  16  ( FIG. 1 ) has a function to determine whether the subject extracted from the received e-mail is the same as the previously registered subject, registered by a subject registration function, and to register the sender&#39;s e-mail address with the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 1 ). However, the multifunction device can also be easily configured to allow the body of the e-mail, instead of the subject, to include the instruction information so as to achieve a similar function where the instruction information extracted from the body of the received e-mail is the same as the previously registered instruction information. Furthermore, although alphabetical letters, such as “MARR”, in the subject are recognized in the described embodiments, it can also be configured to use characters and marks, such as, e.g., a star and a black circle, to obtain a similar function. 
         [0176]    In the second embodiment, the e-mail addresses are displayed in alphabetical order. However, it can also be easily configured to enable to the e-mail address list to be sorted in reverse alphabetical order, in the order of e-mail address registration time, in the reverse order thereof, in Japanese hiragana order, or in the order of vowels or consonants previously defined in each country. 
         [0177]    In the third embodiment, the subject determination unit  54  ( FIG. 15 ) has a function to determine whether the subject extracted from the received e-mail is the same as the previously registered subject, registered by the subject registration function, and to delete the registration of sender&#39;s e-mail address from the e-mail address storage unit  17  ( FIG. 15 ). However, the multifunction device can also be easily configured to allow the body of the e-mail, instead of the subject, to include the instruction information so as to achieve a similar function where the instruction information extracted from the body of the received e-mail is the same as the previously registered instruction information. 
         [0178]    Although this invention is herein described where the invention is applied to the multifunction device capable of reading and forming images, this invention is not limited to the described embodiment. That is, this invention can be applied to any communication terminal apparatuses having a function to send and receive e-mails. 
         [0179]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.