Electric mail processing apparatus

An electric mail processing apparatus includes a communication control unit for receiving a mail from the mail server; a main storage unit for storing the mail; a determining unit for determining process contents of the mail; a process performing unit for performing the process contents on the mail; and a mail deletion instructing unit for sending a deletion instruction to the mail server to delete the mail. The determining unit determines whether a first received mail is a subsequently received mail. The communication control unit deletes the subsequently received mail when the determining unit determines that the first received mail is the subsequently received mail. The communication control unit controls the mail deletion instructing unit to send the deletion instruction to the mail server to delete the subsequently received mail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

The present invention relates to an electric mail processing apparatus for receiving and processing an electric mail such as image data and the like.

A conventional electric mail processing apparatus receives and processes image data as an electric mail sent from a mail server. The conventional electric mail processing apparatus does not send an instruction to the mail server to delete the electric mail until a printing operation is complete (refer to Patent Reference).

In the conventional electric mail processing apparatus, when it takes time longer than a specific level to process the electric mail, the conventional electric mail processing apparatus may redundantly performs a same process (such as a printing process of the electric mail or a transmission process of the electric mail to other device).

More specifically, the conventional electric mail processing apparatus may encounter a trouble such as a sheet jam during the printing operation of the electric mail. Further, the conventional electric mail processing apparatus may encounter a communication trouble during the transmission process of the electric mail to other device. When such a trouble occurs while the conventional electric mail processing apparatus processes the electric mail, the conventional electric mail processing apparatus may not be able to complete the process of the electric mail after a specific period of time.

In this case, the conventional electric mail processing apparatus sends an instruction to the mail server, so that the mail server sends the electric mail at a specific interval. In response to the instruction, the mail server sends the same electric mail to the conventional electric mail processing apparatus one more time. Accordingly, the conventional electric mail processing apparatus stores a plurality of electric mails having same contents in a storage unit thereof.

Accordingly, the conventional electric mail processing apparatus sequentially processes the electric mails having same contents and stored in the storage unit thereof. As a result, the conventional electric mail processing apparatus redundantly performs the same process (such as the printing process of the electric mail or the transmission process of the electric mail to other device). Therefore, the conventional electric mail processing apparatus consumes an extra amount of supplies such as sheets and the like, and performance of a control unit is temporarily lowered due to the redundant process.

In view of the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric mail processing apparatus capable of solving the problems of the conventional electric mail processing apparatus. In the electric mail processing apparatus, even when it takes a long time to process an electric mail, it is possible to prevent a same process from being redundantly performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain the objects described above, according to the present invention, an electric mail processing apparatus includes a communication control unit for sending a transmission request at a specific interval to a mail server to send an electric mail and receiving the electric mail sent from the mail server as a response to the transmission request as a received mail; a main storage unit for storing the received mail received with the communication control unit; a determining unit for determining specific information and process contents of the received mail; a process performing unit for performing a process of the process contents determined with the determining unit on the received mail; and a mail deletion instructing unit for sending a deletion instruction to the mail server to delete the electric mail corresponding to the received mail processed with the process performing unit.

Further, in the electric mail processing apparatus, when the communication control unit receives another electric mail from the mail server while the received mail is stored in the mail storage unit, the communication control unit is arranged to define the received mail stored in the mail storage unit as a first received mail and the another electric mail as a subsequently received mail. The determining unit is arranged to determine whether the first received mail is an equivalent to the subsequently received mail. When the determining unit determines that the first received mail is the equivalent to the subsequently received mail, the communication control unit is arranged to delete the subsequently received mail stored in the mail storage unit. Further, the communication control unit controls the mail deletion instructing unit to send the deletion instruction to the mail server to delete the another electric mail corresponding to the subsequently received mail.

In the electric mail processing apparatus of the present invention, even when it takes a long time to process an electric mail, it is possible to prevent a same process from being redundantly performed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereunder, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the accompanying drawings schematically represent shapes, sizes, and geometric relations of components only for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the accompanying drawings. Similar components in the accompanying drawings are designated with the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. First, a configuration of an electric mail processing apparatus will be explained with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3.FIG. 1is a schematic view showing a network of the electric mail processing apparatus and other devices according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a block diagram showing the electric mail processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3is a block diagram showing a control unit of the electric mail processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description, a multi function printer (referred to as an MFP1) will be explained as the electric mail processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The MFP1is an apparatus having a facsimile function, a scanner function, and a copier function, in addition to a printer function. The MFP1also has a function of receiving an electric mail (referred to as a mail) from a mail server2.

In the embodiment, when the MFP1receives a mail from the mail server2, the MFP1performs a specific process (for example, a printing process, a transmission process to other device such as a file server4, and the like) on the mail in response. Note that process contents of the specific process are determined in advance according to a destination of the mail. A determining condition for determining the process contents is stored in advance in, for example, a determining condition storage unit103b(described later, refer toFIG. 2).

First, a connection relationship between the MFP1and other devices will be explained with reference toFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 1, an LAN5and an LAN6are connected through an internet7. The MFP1as the electric mail process apparatus, the mail server2, and the file server4are connected to the LAN5. A personal computer3(referred to as a PC3) is connected to the LAN6. In communication between two devices, first a device on a reception side temporarily stores data received in a storage unit thereof, and then the data are retrieved from the storage unit. The process is well known in the field of communication technology, and detailed explanations are omitted.

In the embodiment, the MFP1and the PC3have specific mail addresses, respectively. More specifically, the MFP1has a mail address “printer@example.com”, and the PC3has a mail address “user1@example.com”. The MFP1and the PC3are configured to send and receive the mail therebetween through the mail server2.

In the embodiment, the PC3sends the mail to the mail address “printer@example.com” through the mail server2, and the MFP1receives the mail from the PC3through the mail server2. When the MFP1receives the mail, the MFP1determines an address of an originator of the mail (in this case, the mail address “user1@example.com” of the PC3), and determines the process contents of the mail.

As described above, the process contents are stored in advance according to an originator of the mail. Accordingly, when the MFP1determines an address of the originator of the mail, the MFP1can determine the process contents of the mail (that is, determines what type of process is to be performed on the mail). When the MFP1determines the process contents of the mail, the MFP1performs the process of the process contents thus determined on the mail. If the MFP1receives the mail from an originator without process contents, the MFP1performs a process defined in advance as a routine process (for example, a printing process).

A configuration of the MFP1will be explained with reference toFIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 2, the MFP1includes a reception unit101, a control unit102, a storage unit103, a printing unit104, and a transmission unit105. The units are connected through a bus (not shown), respectively.

In the embodiment, the reception unit101is an interface for receiving various data including the mail from other devices (such as the mail server2, the PC3, the file server4, and the like). The reception unit101is connected to the LAN5(refer toFIG. 1), so that the reception unit101receives the mail from, for example, the mail server2through the LAN5. More specifically, the reception unit101uses a communication protocol such as POP3 (Post Office Protocol Version 3) and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) for receiving the mail.

Further, the reception unit101is connected to the control unit102through a bus (not shown). When the reception unit101receives the mail from the mail server2, the reception unit101sends the mail thus received and specific information110(refer toFIG. 4) of the mail obtained through the communication with the mail server2to the control unit102.

In the embodiment, the control unit102has a function of controlling an operation of the MFP1. The control unit102is formed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit). A detailed configuration of the control unit102will be explained later with reference toFIG. 3.

In the embodiment, the storage unit103has a function of storing various programs and data. The storage unit103is formed of an RAM (Random Access Memory), preferably an NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM). The NVRAM includes a battery disposed inside or outside an SRAM for supplying power to the SRAM, so that the SRAM stores data even when main power is not supplied to the SRAM.

In the embodiment, the storage unit103includes a specific information storage unit103a, the determining condition storage unit103b, and a main storage unit103c. A part of the storage unit103(for example, the specific information storage unit103a) may be formed of an ROM (Read Only Memory).

In the embodiment, the specific information storage unit103ais a storage unit for storing the specific information110(refer toFIG. 4) of the mail. More specifically, the specific information storage unit103aretrieves the specific information110sent from the control unit102, and stores the specific information110therein. After the specific information110is stored in the specific information storage unit103a, the specific information110is output to the transmission unit105, so that the specific information110is used for the transmission process to other devices.

FIG. 4is a schematic view showing an example of the specific information110of the mail according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 4, the specific information110includes information representing a specific number assigned to a mail main text of each mail (a message number110a) and a value110bassigned to the message number110a. In the example shown inFIG. 4, the value110bof “1” is assigned to the message number110a.

In the embodiment, the determining condition storage unit103bis a storage unit for storing in advance information defining conditions for determining the process contents of the mail (referred to as determining condition information190, refer toFIG. 11).

FIG. 11is a schematic view showing a table showing the determining condition information190according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A determining unit102bof the control unit102(refer toFIG. 3) determines the process contents of the mail according to the determining condition information190stored in the determining condition storage unit103bin advance.

As shown inFIG. 11, the determining condition information190includes information representing the originator of the mail (From information191) and information representing the process contents of the mail (process contents information192). In this case, the determining unit102bdetermines the printing process as the process contents with regard to the mail with the From information191of “user1@example.com”. Further, the determining unit102bdetermines the transmission process to the file server4as the process contents with regard to the mail with the From information191of “user2@example.com”.

In the embodiment, the main storage unit103cis a storage unit for storing the mail received from the mail server2to be freely readable. The mail stored in the main storage unit103cis output to the printing unit104, so that the printing process is performed thereon, or is output to the transmission unit105, so that the mail is forwarded to other devices.

In the embodiment, the printing unit104has a function of printing the mail. After the printing unit104completes the printing process of the mail, the printing unit104sends a notice of the completion of the printing process to the control unit102. Then, the control unit102sends the notice of the completion of the printing process to the mail server2through the transmission unit105.

In the embodiment, the transmission unit105is an interface for transmitting various data including the mail to other devices (such as the mail server2, the PC3, and the file server4). The transmission unit5is connected to the LAN5, so that the transmission unit105sends, for example, a deletion instruction of the mail to the mail server2.

A configuration of the control unit102of the MFP1will be explained next with reference toFIG. 3. As shown inFIG. 3, the control unit102includes a communication control unit102a, the determining unit102b, a process performing unit102c, and a mail deletion instructing unit102d. The control unit102executes a program stored in an ROM (not shown) to control the communication control unit102a, the determining unit102b, the process performing unit102c, and the mail deletion instructing unit102d.

In the embodiment, the communication control unit102ahas a function of controlling communication with other devices. More specifically, the communication control unit102arequests the mail server2(refer toFIG. 1) to send the mail at a specific interval, and receives the mail sent from the mail server2in response to the transmission request. In the following description, the mail received from the mail server2may be referred to as a received mail.

When the communication control unit102areceives the mail from the mail server2, the communication control unit102astores the specific information110(refer toFIG. 4) of the received mail thus received (the received mail) in the specific information storage unit103a, and stores the received mail in the main storage unit103c. After the control unit102performs a specific process on the received mail, the received mail stored in the main storage unit103cis deleted.

In the embodiment, the determining unit102bhas a function of determining the specific information110(refer toFIG. 4) of the received mail received with the communication control unit102aand the process contents thereof. As described above, the process contents are defined in advance according to the originator of the mail. More specifically, the determining unit102bdetermines the address of the originator of the mail, thereby determining the process contents of the mail.

An operation of the determining unit102bwill be explained in more detail. When the reception unit101receives the mail from the mail server2, the determining unit102bdetermines whether the received mail is to be processed. More specifically, the determining unit102buses the specific information110of the received mail and the specific information stored in the specific information storage unit103a(described later) to determine whether the received mail is to be processed.

When the determining unit102bdetermines that the received mail is to be processed, the determining unit102bdetermines the process contents of the received mail. As described above, the process contents are stored in advance in the determining condition storage unit103b. Accordingly, the determining unit102bdetermines whether the received mail is to be printed, or the received mail is to be forwarded to the file server4according to the process contents.

In the embodiment, the process performing unit102chas a function of performing the process of the process contents determined with the determining unit102bon the received mail stored in the main storage unit103c. More specifically, when the process performing unit102cperforms the process on the received mail stored in the main storage unit103c, the process performing unit102cdeletes the specific information110of the received mail thus processed, and deletes the received mail thus processed stored in the main storage unit103c.

An operation of the process performing unit102cwill be explained in more detail. As described above, the process performing unit102cperforms the process of the process contents determined with the determining unit102bon the received mail. When the process performing unit102cperforms the printing process of the mail, the process performing unit102cretrieves the mail from the main storage unit103c, and outputs the mail to the printing unit104. When the process performing unit102cperforms the transmission process to other device (such as the file server4, refer toFIG. 1), the process performing unit102cretrieves the mail from the main storage unit103c, and converts the mail into a data format used in a transmission destination, thereby transmitting the mail through the transmission unit105. Further, the process performing unit102cstores the specific information110of the mail in the specific information storage unit103a.

In the embodiment, the mail deletion instructing unit102dhas a function of sending a deletion instruction to the mail server2to delete the received mail processed with the process performing unit102c(referred to as a processed received mail).

An operation of the mail deletion instructing unit102dwill be explained in more detail. When the specific process (such as the printing process and the forward process to other devices) is performed on the received mail, the process performing unit102cdetects the completion of the specific process, and sends a process completion notice to the mail deletion instructing unit102d. When the mail deletion instructing unit102dreceives the process completion notice, the mail deletion instructing unit102dretrieves the specific information110of the mail (refer toFIG. 4) stored in the specific information storage unit103a, and generates the deletion instruction of the mail thus processed according to the specific information110thus retrieved.

Afterward, the mail deletion instructing unit102dsends the deletion instruction of the mail thus generated to the mail server2through the transmission unit105, thereby transmitting the deletion instruction. In this step, the mail deletion instructing unit102ddeletes the specific information110of the mail to be deleted from the specific information storage unit103a.

In the embodiment, a control program stored in an ROM (not shown) to be freely readable controls an entire operation of the control unit102. Further, the control unit102operates according to time measured with a timer (not shown). Various types of information are temporarily stored in the storage unit103to be freely readable, and then are output to the units for performing a subsequent process. The sequence is well known in the information processing technology, and a detailed explanation thereof is omitted.

In the embodiment, the MFP1has the configuration described above. The MFP1is connected to the LAN5, and may be connected to a network other than the LAN5, so that the MFP1receives and sends the mail through the network.

An operation of the MFP1will be explained next with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6.FIG. 5is a schematic view showing the operation of the electric mail processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 6is a flow chart showing the operation of the electric mail processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 6shows the operation of the MFP1when the MFP1receives a mail from the mail server2.

First, a situation of taking a time longer than a specific level to process the mail will be explained with reference toFIG. 5.FIG. 5is the schematic view showing the operation of the MFP1in a case of taking a time longer than a specific level to process the mail.

As shown inFIG. 5, in step S310, a paper jam occurs in the MFP1while the MFP1is processing the mail. In this case, the MFP1becomes a state of “in process” until the paper jam is removed, so that the process is not completed.

In step S315, while the paper jam is not removed and the MFP1is in the state of “in process”, the MFP1receives another mail from the mail server2. At this moment, when the mail server2has one or more mails to be sent to the MFP1(one or more mails to be sent to the MFP1are stored in a storage unit of the mail server2), the mail server2sends the one or more mails to the MFP1. Accordingly, the MFP1receives the one or more mails from the mail server2.

In the following description, another mail received by the MFP1from the mail server2is referred to as a subsequently received mail. Note that the subsequently received mail may be a received mail already processed or to be processed with the MFP1. Further, the mail received by the MFP1from the mail server2before the MFP1receives the subsequently received mail is referred to as a first received mail. When the MFP1receives a plurality of subsequently received mails from the mail server2, the MFP1stores the subsequently received mails in the main storage unit103c(refer toFIG. 3). Accordingly, as far as the paper jam is not removed, the MFP1sequentially receives the subsequently received mails from the mail server2, and stores the subsequently received mails in the main storage unit103c.

In step S320, when the paper jam is removed, the MFP1resumes and completes the process on the mail in the state of “in process”, and performs the process on the subsequently received mails. After the MFP1completes the process on all of the subsequently received mails stored in the main storage unit103c, the operation is complete.

An operation of the control unit102of the MFP1will be explained in more detail with reference toFIG. 6.FIG. 6shows an entire operation of the control unit102.

In step S105, the control unit102of the MFP1starts operating every time when a specific period of time is elapsed. At this moment, the communication control unit102aof the control unit102determines whether it is reception timing. When the communication control unit102aof the control unit102determines that it is not the reception timing (in the case of “No”), the operation returns to step S105. In this case, the communication control unit102arepeats step S105until it becomes the reception timing.

In step S110, when the communication control unit102aof the control unit102determines that it is the reception timing (in the case of “Yes”), the communication control unit102adetermines whether a mail181(refer toFIG. 7) to be sent to the MFP1is stored in the mail server2(that is, whether the mail is stored in the storage unit of the mail server2).

FIG. 7is a schematic view showing an example No. 1 of the electric mail181to be sent to the electric mail processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 7shows the example No. 1 of the electric mail181received by the mail server2from the PC3and to be sent to the MFP1.

As shown inFIG. 7, a mail address of an originator of the mail181is shown in a first line of the mail181to be sent to the MFP1. More specifically, the mail address “user1@example.com” of the MFP1is shown as the mail address of the originator of the mail181. Further, a mail address of a destination of the mail181is shown in a second line of the mail181. More specifically, a mail address “printer@example.com” is shown as the mail address of the destination of the mail181.

Further, a subject is shown in a third line of the reception unit101. A time when the mail181is sent is shown in a fourth line of the mail181. An identification mark specific to a mail message is shown in a fifth line of the mail181. A mail format is shown in a sixth line of the mail181. More specifically, MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) version 1.0 is shown as the mail format. A type of the mail181is shown in a seventh line of the mail181. More specifically, a text written in “us-ascii” is shown as the type of the mail181. An eight line of the mail181is blank indicating a boundary between a header of the mail181and a main text. The main text is shown in a ninth line and below of the mail181.

In step S110, the communication control unit102adetermines whether the mail181to be sent to the MFP1is stored in the mail server2as follows. First, the communication control unit102agenerates an existence confirmation request of the mail to be sent to the MFP1(that is, an instruction to execute a confirmation process of the mail to be sent to the MFP1). Then, the communication control unit102asends the existence confirmation request to the mail server2through the transmission unit105. When the mail server2receives the existence confirmation request, the mail server2confirms the mail181to be sent to the MFP1from a group of mails stored in the storage unit thereof (not shown), and sends a confirmation result to the MFP1. Accordingly, the communication control unit102aof the MFP1receives the confirmation result from the mail server2through the reception unit101. When the communication control unit102areceives the confirmation result, the communication control unit102adetermines in response whether the mail181to be sent to the MFP1exists in the mail server2according to the confirmation result of the mail181thus received.

When the communication control unit102adetermines that the mail181to be sent to the MFP1is not stored in the mail server2in step S110(in the case of “No”), the operation is complete. When the communication control unit102adetermines that the mail181to be sent to the MFP1is stored in the mail server2in step S110(in the case of “Yes”), the communication control unit102asends the transmission request to the mail server2to send the mail181to be sent to the MFP1. When the mail server2receives the transmission request, in response, the mail server2assigns a message number182(refer toFIG. 8) to the mail181to be sent to the MFP1, and sends the message number182to the MFP1. Afterward, the mail server2sends the mail181(refer toFIG. 8) to be sent to the MFP1to the MFP1. An operation of transmitting the message number182will be explained in more detail later using a concrete example of the communication when the MFP1receives the mail181with reference toFIG. 9.

In step S115, the communication control unit102aobtains the message number182from the mail server2through the reception unit101. In step S120, the communication control unit102aobtains the mail181to be sent to the MFP1corresponding to the message number182.

When the communication control unit102areceives the message number182and the mail181to be sent to the MFP1from the mail server2in steps S115and S120, in response, the communication control unit102astores the message number182in the specific information storage unit103a. Further, the communication control unit102agenerates data180(refer toFIG. 8) combined the message number182with the mail181to be sent to the MFP1, and stores the data180in the main storage unit103c. The data180thus generated is referred to as a received mail180.

FIG. 8is a schematic view showing an example No. 2 of the received mail180sent to the electric mail processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the example, “1” is assigned in the received mail180as a value of the message number182, and an entire message is shown as the mail181to be sent to the MFP1as shown inFIG. 8.

In step S125, the determining unit102bof the control unit102determines whether the received mail180is the mail already received (that is, whether the same mail is already stored in the main storage unit103c). More specifically, the determining unit102bdetermines whether the value matching to the message number182(refer toFIG. 8) in the received mail180exists among value110bof the message number110aof the specific information110(refer toFIG. 4) stored in the specific information storage unit103a.

When the determining unit102bdetermines that the value matching to the message number182(refer toFIG. 8) in the received mail180exists among the value110bof the message number110aof the specific information110(refer toFIG. 4) stored in the specific information storage unit103ain step S125, the determining unit102bdetermines that the received mail180is the mail already stored (in the case of “Yes”). In this case, the received mail180becomes the subsequently received mail received as an equivalent to the mail already received. More specifically, the received mail180stored already in the main storage unit103cis the first received mail, and the received mail180received afterward is the subsequently received mail.

In step S126, the determining unit102bdiscards the subsequently received mail, and the operation returns to step S110, so that the control unit102repeats steps S110to S126. More specifically, the communication control unit102aof the control unit102repeatedly sends the existence confirmation request of the mail to be sent to the MFP1to obtain another mail.

When the determining unit102bdetermines that the value matching to the message number182(refer toFIG. 8) in the received mail180does not exist among the value110bof the message number110aof the specific information110(refer toFIG. 4) stored in the specific information storage unit103ain step S125, the determining unit102bdetermines that the received mail180is not the mail already stored (in the case of “No”). In this case, the received mail180becomes a non-received mail not received before the received mail180is received. In step S130, the determining unit102bstores the value of the message number182of the received mail180(referred to as an identification mark) to perform the process on the received mail180.

After step S130, in step S135, the determining unit102bdetermines whether the process contents with respect to the received mail180are the printing process (that is, what type of process is performed on the received mail180) according to the determining condition information190(refer toFIG. 11) stored in advance in the determining condition storage unit103b.

For example, as shown inFIG. 11, the printing process is defined as the process contents of the received mail180, in which “user1@example.com” is listed as the From information191. Accordingly, the determining unit102bdetermines that the process contents with respect to the received mail180are the printing process. When the address corresponding to the transmission process (such as “user2@example.com”) is listed as the From information191, the determining unit102bdetermines that the process contents with respect to the received mail180are the transmission process.

When the determining unit102bdetermines that the process contents with respect to the received mail180are the printing process in step S135(in the case of “Yes”), the process performing unit102cof the control unit102outputs the received mail180to the printing unit104. Accordingly, in step S140, the printing unit104prints a portion of the received mail180to be printed (the mail main text below the ninth line shown inFIG. 8).

When the determining unit102bdetermines that the process contents with respect to the received mail180are the transmission process in step S135(in the case of “No”), the process performing unit102cof the control unit102converts the mail main text of the received mail180to a storage format of the file server4. The mail main text corresponds to the mail181to be sent to the MFP1(refer toFIG. 8). In the following description, the mail main text is also referred to as the mail main text181. In step S145, the process performing unit102csends the message number182of the received mail180and the mail main text181thus converted to the file server4through the transmission unit105.

After steps S140and S145, when the process performing unit102cdetects completion of the process (that is, completion of the printing process with the printing unit104or the transmission process of the message number182and the mail181with the converted format with the transmission unit105), the process performing unit102csends a completion notice of the process in response to the mail deletion instructing unit102d. When the mail deletion instructing unit102dreceives the completion notice of the process from the process performing unit102c, in response, the mail deletion instructing unit102dspecifies the message number182of the received mail180with the process thus completed.

In step S150, the mail deletion instructing unit102dsends an instruction of deleting the mail corresponding to the message number182(referred to as a mail deletion instruction) to the mail server2. When the mail server2receives the mail deletion instruction, in response, the mail server2deletes the mail corresponding to the message number182thus specified among the mails stored in the storage unit thereof (not shown).

In step S155, after step S150, the mail deletion instructing unit102ddeletes the value of the message number182of the received mail180with the process thus completed (the identification mark) from the specific information storage unit103a, thereby completing the operation.

A concrete example of communication of the MFP1when the MFP1receives the mail will be explained next with reference toFIGS. 9 and 10.FIG. 9is a schematic view showing an example No. 1 of the communication of the electric mail processing apparatus when the electric mail processing apparatus receives the electric mail according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 10is a schematic view showing an example No. 2 of the communication of the electric mail processing apparatus when the electric mail processing apparatus receives the electric mail according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9shows an operation of the MFP1when the received mail180is an equivalent to the non-received mail, andFIG. 10shows an operation of the MFP1when the received mail180is the first received mail. In the operations shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, the MFP1uses POP3 as the communication protocol for receiving the mail from the mail server2.

As shown inFIG. 9, when the received mail180is the non-received mail, the MFP1receives the mail from the mail server2; performs the printing process on the mail thus received; and deletes the mail from the mail server2after the printing process is performed on the mail as follows.

First, the MFP1(more specifically, the communication control unit102aof the control unit102) establishes TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) connection with respect to the mail server2. In establishing the TCP connection, first, in step S205, the MFP1sends an SYN command to the mail server2. In step S210, when the mail server2receives the SYN command from the MFP1, the mail server2sends an SYN•ACK command to the MFP1in response. In step S215, when the communication control unit102areceives the SYN•ACK command from the mail server2, the communication control unit102asends an ACK command to the mail server2in response. In step S220, when the mail server2receives the ACK command from the MFP1, the mail server2sends a response such as “+OK POP server ready” to the MFP1. Accordingly, the TCP connection is established between the MFP1and the mail server2.

In step S225, after the TCP connection is established, in response, the communication control unit102aof the MFP1sends to the mail server2a command such as “USER printer” indicating a user name such as “printer” necessary for connecting to the mail server2. In step S230, when the mail server2receives the command indicating the user name, the mail server2recognizes the command indicating the user name in response, and sends a response such as “+OK USER printer recognized” to the MFP1.

In step S235, in response, the communication control unit102aof the MFP1sends to the mail server2a command such as “PASS passwd” indicating a password such as “passwd” necessary for connecting to the mail server2. In step S240, when the mail server2receives the command indicating the password, the mail server2recognizes the command indicating the password in response, and sends a response such as “+OK Welcome printer” indicating a recognition result to the MFP1. Accordingly, the MFP1is ready to receive the mail181to be sent to the MFP1from the mail server2.

In the next step, the communication control unit102aof the MFP1confirms that the mail181to be sent to the MFP1is stored in the mail server2. The process corresponds to the process in step S110shown inFIG. 6. More specifically, in step S245, the communication control unit102asends to the mail server2a command such as “STAT” indicating the existence confirmation request of the mail181to be sent to the MFP1. In step S250, when the mail server2receives from the MFP1the command indicating the existence confirmation request of the mail181to be sent to the MFP1, the mail server2confirms the mail181to be sent to the MFP1from a group of the mails stored in the storage unit thereof (not shown), and sends a response such as “+OK 1 275” indicating the confirmation result to the MFP1. The response represents that the mail server2stores (receives) the mail having the message number182of “1” and a size of 275 bytes.

When the communication control unit102aof the MFP1confirms that the mail181to be sent to the MFP1is stored in the mail server2, the communication control unit102areceives the message number182of the mail181from the mail server2through the reception unit101. The process corresponds to the process in step S115shown inFIG. 6. More specifically, in step S255, the communication control unit102asends to the mail server2in response a command such as “RETR1” indicating the transmission request to send the mail181to be sent to the MFP1, so that the communication control unit102areceives the mail181with the message number182of “1”.

In step S260, when the mail server2receives from the MFP1the transmission request of the mail181to be sent to the MFP1, in response, the mail server2sends a response such as “+OK 275 octets” to the MFP1, and then sends the mail181to be sent to the MFP1to the MFP1. Accordingly, the communication control unit102areceives the mail181from the mail server2through the reception unit101. The process corresponds to the process in step S120shown inFIG. 6. In the description, it is supposed that the main storage unit103cstores one or more of the received mails180.

As described above, the received mail180stored already in the main storage unit103cis defined as the first received mail, and the received mail180received afterward is defined as the subsequently received mail. Accordingly, in the following description, it is possible to distinguish the received mail180stored already in the main storage unit103cfrom the mail181with the message number182received in steps S250and S260.

In the next step, when the MFP1(more specifically, the determining unit102bof the control unit102) receives the message number182and the mail181in steps S250and S260, in response, the determining unit102bdetermines whether the value matching to the message number182(refer toFIG. 8) in the subsequently received mail exists among the value110bof the message number110aof the specific information110(refer toFIG. 4) stored in the specific information storage unit103a. Accordingly, the determining unit102bof the control unit102determines whether the received mail180is the mail already received. The process corresponds to the process in step S125shown inFIG. 6.

When the determining unit102bdetermines that the value matching to the message number182(refer toFIG. 8) in the received mail180exists among the value110bof the message number110aof the specific information110(refer toFIG. 4) stored in the specific information storage unit103a, the determining unit102bdetermines that the received mail180is the mail already stored, and sends an instruction of restricting the process execution (referred to as a restriction instruction) to the process performing unit102c. Then, the determining unit102bdiscards (deletes) the subsequently received mail. The process corresponds to the process in step S126shown inFIG. 6.

When the determining unit102bdetermines that the value matching to the message number182(refer toFIG. 8) in the received mail180does not exist among the value110bof the message number110aof the specific information110(refer toFIG. 4) stored in the specific information storage unit103a, the determining unit102bdetermines that the received mail180is the non-received mail. Accordingly, the determining unit102bdoes not send the restriction instruction, so that the process performing unit102cperforms the process on the subsequently received mail. In this case, the determining unit102bstores the message number182of the received mail180(the identification mark, refer toFIG. 4) in the main storage unit103c. The process corresponds to the process in step S130shown inFIG. 6.

As described above,FIG. 9shows the operation of the MFP1when the subsequently received mail is determined to be the non-received mail. Accordingly, in this case, the determining unit102bdetermines the subsequently received mail as the mail to be processed. Note that even when the received mail180is not stored in the main storage unit103c, the determining unit102bdetermines the subsequently received mail as the mail to be processed.

In the next step, when the determining unit102bdetermines the subsequently received mail as the mail to be processed, in response, the determining unit102bdetermines whether the process contents with respect to the received mail180are the printing process according to the determining condition information190(refer toFIG. 11) stored in the determining condition storage unit103b. The process corresponds to the process in step S135shown inFIG. 6.

In the next step, when the determining unit102bdetermines that the process contents with respect to the received mail180are the printing process, the determining unit102bsends information indicating the printing process to the process performing unit102cas the determination result of the process contents of the received mail180. When the process performing unit102creceives the information indicating the printing process, in response, the process performing unit102coutputs the contents of the received mail180to the printing unit104, so that the printing unit104prints an image thereof. The process corresponds to the process in step S140shown inFIG. 6.

In the next step, when the determining unit102bdetermines that the process contents with respect to the received mail180are the transmission process, the determining unit102bsends information indicating the transmission process to the process performing unit102cas the determination result of the process contents of the received mail180. When the process performing unit102creceives the information indicating the transmission process, in response, the process performing unit102cconverts the format of the mail main text of the received mail180. Then, the process performing unit102csends the message number182of the received mail180and the mail181thus converted to the file server4through the transmission unit105. The process corresponds to the process in step S145shown inFIG. 6.

In the next step, when the process performing unit102cdetects the completion of the process (that is, the completion of the printing process with the printing unit104or the transmission process of the message number182and the mail181with the converted format with the transmission unit105), in response, the process performing unit102csends the completion notice of the process to the mail deletion instructing unit102d. When the mail deletion instructing unit102dreceives the completion notice of the process from the process performing unit102c, in response, the mail deletion instructing unit102dspecifies the message number182of the received mail180with the process thus completed.

In step S265, the mail deletion instructing unit102dsends a command such as “DELE1” indicating the instruction of deleting the mail corresponding to the message number182to the mail server2. The process corresponds to the process in step S150shown inFIG. 6. The command “DELE1” represents the instruction of deleting the mail with the message number182of “1”.

In step S270, when the mail server2receives the command indicating the instruction of deleting the mail, in response, the mail server2sends a response such as “+OK Message1marked for Deletion” relative the command indication the instruction of deleting the mail to the MFP1.

In the next step, when the MFP1(more specifically, the communication control unit102aof the control unit102) receives the response relative to the instruction of deleting the mail, in response, the communication control unit102adeletes the message number182stored in the specific information storage unit103a. The process corresponds to the process in step S155shown inFIG. 6.

In step S280, the MFP1sends a command such as “QUIT” indicating connection termination to the mail server2. When the mail server2receives the command indicating the connection termination from the MFP1, in response, the mail server2sends a response such as “+OK” relative to the command indicating the connection termination to the MFP1.

In the next step, the communication control unit102aof the MFP1disconnects the TCP connection established with the mail server2. In step S285, the communication control unit102asends a command such as “FIN” indicating the disconnection of the TCP connection to the mail server2. In step S290, when the mail server2receives the “FIN” command from the MFP1, in response, the mail server2sends a command “ACK” to the MFP1. In step S295, the mail server2sends the command “FIN” to the MFP1. In step S300, when the MFP1receives the command “FIN” from the mail server2, in response, the MFP1sends the command “ACK” to the mail server2, thereby completing the disconnection of the TCP connection. Through the steps described above, the control unit102of the MFP1completes the operation.

As described above, after step S260, the determining unit102bof the control unit102determines whether the received mail180is the mail already received (refer to step S125shown inFIG. 6). When the determining unit102bdetermines that the received mail180is the mail already received, the MFP1performs step S275after step S260as shown inFIG. 10without performing steps S265and S270(refer toFIG. 9). More specifically, the communication control unit102aof the MFP1stops receiving the received mail180. Other operation of the MFP1is similar to that shown inFIG. 9.

In the embodiment, the MFP1performs the printing process or the transmission process to the file server4on the received mail180. Note that the MFP1is capable of performing other process (for example, a process of forwarding the received mail with another mail, a facsimile transmission process, a process of storing in the storage unit103, and the like).

As described above, in the embodiment, the MFP1determines whether the received mail180received from the mail server2is the mail already received. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the printing process and the like from redundantly performing on the received mail180more than once.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. In the second embodiment, the MFP1does not perform steps S125and S126(refer toFIG. 6), and instead performs step S106(refer toFIG. 12). In the second embodiment, the MFP1has a configuration similar to that of the MFP1in the first embodiment (refer toFIG. 2). An operation of the MFP1in the second embodiment different from that in the first embodiment will be explained, and explanations of similar steps are omitted.

The operation of the MFP1will be explained with reference toFIG. 12.FIG. 12is a flow chart showing the operation of the electric mail processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, after step S105, in step S106, the communication control unit102aof the control unit102(or the determining unit102bor the process performing unit102c) determines whether the process performing unit102cis performing the process on the received mail180. When the communication control unit102adetermines that the process performing unit102cis performing the process on the received mail180(in the case of “Yes”), the operation returns to step S105. In this case, the communication control unit102a(or the determining unit102bor the process performing unit102c) repeats steps S105and S106until the process performing unit102ccompletes the process on the received mail180.

When the communication control unit102adetermines that the process performing unit102cis not performing the process on the received mail180(in the case of “No”), the operation proceeds to step S110. In step S110, the communication control unit102adetermines whether the mail to be sent to the MFP1is stored in the mail server2.

In step S120, the communication control unit102areceives the received mail180. Then, the determining condition storage unit103bperforms step S130without performing the steps S125and S126(refer toFIG. 6). In other words, the determining condition storage unit103bdoes not determine whether the received mail180is the mail already received. Further, there is not the subsequently received mail, so that the determining condition storage unit103bdoes not discard (delete) the subsequently received mail in step S126. Accordingly, in step S130, the determining condition storage unit103bstores the identification mark immediately after step S120.

As described above, in the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the printing process and the like from redundantly performing on the received mail180more than once. Further, in the second embodiment, the transmission of the mail to the mail server2is stopped while the control unit102is performing the process on the received mail180, thereby eliminating unnecessary communication between the MFP1and the mail server2.

In the embodiments described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and may be applicable to various modifications and alterations.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-001738, filed on Jan. 7, 2009, is incorporated in the application by the reference.