Sending/receiving raster/image data using a multifunction product

A method and system for transferring raster/image data via a mail user agent using a multifunction device and standard Internet mail transfer mechanisms. An image is acquired in the multifunction device, the image is attached to an electronic mail message, and then sent in the electronic mail message to receiving address(es). Alternatively, an electronic mail box is polled by a mail user agent, which identifies those received messages with raster/image attachment(s) and downloads the attachment(s) to the multifunction device for printing, displaying and/or workflow insertion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The features of the disclosed embodiments relate generally to transferring raster/image data, and in particular to transferring raster/image data via Internet mail transfer mechanism.

2. Brief Description of Related Developments

Multifunction devices (MFD) have become one of the most common raster/image capture sources. Transfer of MFD captured raster/image typically takes the form of fax transmissions. It is well accepted that transfer via Internet mail transfer mechanism (i.e. email) would be more cost effective and would contribute to an increase in the transferred quality level. Cost inelasticity associated with the commodity based MFD industry, however, makes it difficult to absorb the cost associated with adding mail user agent (MUA) and mail server functionality to the MFD. This invention overcomes the cost issues by taking advantage of MUAs and mail servers that reside in computers and other devices.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

The disclosed embodiments are directed to transferring raster/image data via a mail user agent using a multifunction device. In one embodiment, the method comprises acquiring an image in the multifunction device, attaching the image to an electronic mail (email) message, and sending the image in the electronic mail message to a receiving address. In one aspect, the disclosed embodiments are directed to a method of sending and receiving an IFAX (Internet Fax or Facsimile). In one embodiment, the method comprises selecting an IFAX destination address on a multifunction device, acquiring an image in the multifunction device, and sending the IFAX including the image to an IFAX or email destination.

In another aspect, the disclosed embodiments are directed to transferring raster/image data via standard Internet mail transfer mechanisms by using a multifunction device coupled with an email application. In one embodiment, the method comprises automatically launching a mail user application or mail user agent (MUA), transferring the receiving clients destination information from the multifunction device to the mail user agent, transferring raster data from the multifunction device to the mail user agent, preparing an email message with the raster data attached for submission to the Internet and submitting the email message for transmission by an appropriate mail server.

In a further aspect the disclosed embodiments are directed to a system for transferring raster/image data. In one embodiment the system comprises a multifunction device coupled with a mail user agent, an image input device allowing images to be inputted to the multifunction device.

When the mail user agent is launched, a receiving client destination is transferred from the multifunction device to the mail user agent and the raster/image data received from the input device is transferred from the multifunction device to the mail user agent, and the mail user agent transmits an email message including the raster/image data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

As shown inFIG. 1, the system10generally comprises a multifunction device12coupled with a mail user agent23that resides on a computer14, such as for example, a personal computer. The mail user agent23generally comprises an electronic mail application (“email”).

Although the mail user agent23is described as being resident on a computer, the mail user agent can reside on any suitable device that is directly or network connected to the multifunction device12and has access to the Internet. The multifunction device12and computer14can be coupled by a communication channel18. The communication channel18can comprise any suitable connection for the transmission of electronic data and information, such as a hardware connection, an optical connection or a wireless connection. As shown inFIG. 1, the computer14can be coupled to a network16, such as for example the Internet. In alternative embodiments, the system10could include such other suitable components for both sending and receiving raster/image data using email transfer mechanisms. It is a feature of the disclosed embodiments to transfer raster/image data via email to email or Internet Fax (“IFAX”) clients by using a multifunction device coupled with an email application. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the transferring of raster/image data can generally be accomplished by automatically launching the mail user agent23as shown in step200. The receiving client(s) destination information is transferred step202from the multifunction device12to the mail user agent23. The destination information can comprise an email address. The raster/image data can then be transferred in step204from the multifunction device12to the mail user agent23. The message, which is described herein as an email message, will then be prepared in step206for submission to the Internet. The mail user agent23in conjunction with the computer14prepares the email message for submission. The email message can then be submitted in step208for transmission by an appropriate mail server.

In one embodiment, the step of automatically launching the mail user agent23can generally comprise a user activation of a user interface24of the multifunction device12that captures the intent for sending an email/IFAX. The user interface24is adapted to allow user input of the destination information. The destination information input can take the form of an email, intranet or internet address, or telephone number entry, via a combination of keystroke sequences and/or an abbreviated speed/quick dial keystroke entry, which act as reference pointers to email address(es) cached in buffers accessible to the multifunction device12or the mail user agent23. The “destination address” can be any suitable address or destination for delivery of raster/image data, including for example a telephone number, an intra or Internet address, or other network location. The multifunction device12is adapted to signal an email/IFAX send request to the mail user agent, whether connected directly or via a network. The multifunction device signaling may be initiated when the user indicates, via the user interface24, that the destination input has been completed.

The transfer of the destination information can be initiated by receipt of an acknowledgement from the mail user agent23. The transfer of the destination information can comprise the multifunction device12retrieving the email address(es) cached in buffers accessible to the multifunction device12and referenced by the abbreviated speed/quick dial sequence. This is followed by the transfer of the retrieved email address(es) to the mail user agent23. In one embodiment, the transfer of the destination information can occur by transferring the abbreviated speed/quick dial sequence to the mail user agent23and then retrieval, by the mail user agent23of the email address(es) cached in buffers accessible to the mail user agent23and referenced by the abbreviated speed/quick dial sequence. The transfer of destination information can also occur by a transfer of the email address(es), which was entered via a combination of keystroke sequences, to the mail user agent23.

The transfer of the raster/image data from the multifunction device12to the mail user agent23generally comprises activating a subsystem of the multifunction device12, which is adapted to acquire the images. The acquisition of the images can comprise initiating a scan job to acquire the images from the scanner within the multifunction device12or a scanner accessible to the multifunction device, or locating images previously stored in buffers accessible to the multifunction device12. It must be noted that the step of initiating a scan job may also comprise the step of feeding a document into an automatic document feeder.

The captured images can then be encoded with attributes suitable for the receiving client or attributes suitable for transfer of the image to the mail user agent23. The step of encoding can include, but is not restricted to, compressing and file formatting. The client attributes can in one embodiment have been cached within buffers accessible to the multifunction device12or a set of default attributes may be used. The sending to multiple receivers with different attribute requirements may be accommodated by making multi copies of the images, followed by encoding according to the different set of cached attributes. Alternatively, subsequent to the transfer of the encoded images to the mail user agent23, the mail user agent23would recode the image(s) in accordance with client attributes cached within buffers accessible to the mail user agent23or in accordance with a default set of attributes. The sending to multiple receivers with different attribute requirements results in the transfer of only one copy of the images across the multifunction device12/mail user agent23interface. The mail user agent23will generate the required number of copies in associated encoding prior to transmission.

The preparation of the email message for submission to the Internet would conform to appropriate IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) Request for Comments (RFC) specifications. This can comprise generation of a mail message by the mail user agent23, attaching the formatted image(s) within the email message body and constructing the appropriate message headers. In one embodiment, a text message may be added to the body of the mail message. It must be noted that upon receiving such a message, an automatic IFAX receiver may or may not render the text message contained within the message body.

The submission of the message for transmission generally comprises addressing the envelope with Internet address(es) of the receiving client(s) and submitting the address message via an appropriate simple mail transfer protocol (“SMTP”) server. In one embodiment, a subject in any appropriate message header type information can be inserted as well.

The multifunction device12can include for example, a multifunction peripheral device or xerographic print/copy system. The images, which can also be referred to as documents, are acquired204by the multifunction device12. In one embodiment, the multifunction device12can include a scanner that can scan the images. In alternate embodiments, the images can be inputted into the multifunction device12in any suitable manner, such as for example, by electronic file transfer. Once acquired, the images and job information also referred to as the “document” can be transferred206to the computer14. The “job information” as referred to herein can include, for example, the destination address, client attributes, file type and size, and any text message or note.

When receiving raster/image data, referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, the inbox of the mail user agent23is automatically scanned/polled at predetermined intervals, step302. The inbox of the mail user agent23is scanned for messages that designate raster file attachments. These raster file attachments can include Tag Image File Format (“TIFF”) files that are referenced for use in the IFAX standards and are among the most likely designated attachments. However, in alternate embodiments any suitable raster file attachment, such as JPEG or PDF may be designated. The designated attachment(s) may be identified by their file extension(s) and/or Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (“MIME”) content-type(s). For TIFF files, the file extensions may be one of .tif, .tiff, .tiff-fx or any other suitable extension defined in an appropriate IETF RFC, while the MIME content-types may be one of image/tiff or image/tiff-fx or any other suitable MIME content-type defined in an appropriate IETF RFC. A copy of the designated attachment(s) can be transferred304to the multifunction device12. The file wrapper(s) are unwrapped and the attachments are decompressed306. Alternatively, file wrapper removal is performed prior to transfer. It is also conceivable that re-coding, to a set of encodings that are more suitable for transfer, will occur prior to the transfer to the multifunction. The transferred attachment, and optionally the message body, can then be processed for printing and/or displaying via the multifunction device12printing subsystem or any suitable printer or accessible display. In an alternate embodiment, the attachment can also be received and downloaded in any suitable manner, including for example, an electronic file transfer, for workflow insertion or displaying/printing at an appropriate time.

Referring toFIG. 4, in one embodiment, a multifunction device42does not need to be connected to a computer to send or receive raster/image data. This embodiment can be referred to as a stand-alone mode. In this mode, the multifunction device42, similar to device12ofFIG. 1, is adapted to connect to an Internet service provider or some form of network based service44. The connection48can be established by any suitable means, including, for example, a dial up connection, ISDN connection or DSL connection. Once the connection48is established between the multifunction device42and the service44, the raster/image data and destination information can be sent or transmitted as described herein.

In one embodiment, the multifunction device12ofFIG. 1can include a button or activation device26that is adapted to cause the multifunction device12to send or receive raster/image data automatically. The button26can comprise a switch located on a control panel of the multifunction device12or a “soft button” associated with a software program or application. In an alternate embodiment any suitable switch can be used. By activating the button26the user can send an IFAX from the coupled multifunction device12or automatically check all unopened received electronic mails for designated files or attachments. A designated file type and any associated email note can be downloaded or reproduced by the multifunction device12. In one embodiment, the multifunction device12comprises a printer or any suitable display/rendering device.

Referring toFIG. 1, activation of some form of an Internet function/button or device26can cause the multifunction device12to automatically address and send the raster/image data to a designated receiver or prepare a message including raster/image data for manual addressing and sending by the user. Generally, the raster/image data transfer application can be invoked or activated by activating some form of an Internet button or key, or key combination that is defined on the multifunction device. The user can then be prompted to load or transfer the document or image to be sent by the multifunction device. If the document or image is not in an electronic form this can include placing the document in a scanner device that is part of or attached to the multifunction device. Where a scanner is used, the raster/image data can be captured via, for example, a TWAIN™ driver supplied with the multifunction device. The captured image can be encoded with a suitable set of encodings. The encoding method can include the TIFF-FX (IETF RFC 2301 or future replacements there of) S-profile for black/white documents and the TIFF-FX C-profile for color documents. In alternative embodiments, any suitable set of encoding standards or methods can be used.

Activation of the Internet function can also cause the user's electronic mail user agent to open. This can include automatically opening a blank email note. The image can be acquired by the mail user agent from the multifunction device and attached to the email note. This can include acquiring a scanned image from the attached multifunction device scanner using predefined image capture criteria. The scanned image can be encoded appropriately and attached to the blank email note.

In one embodiment the features of the disclosed embodiments could include or be incorporated in a Windows™ based application or software that is adapted to automatically send and receive raster/image data using a multifunction product or device.

The present invention may also include software and computer programs incorporating the process steps and instructions described above that are executed in different computers. In the preferred embodiment, the computers are connected to the Internet.FIG. 5is a block diagram of one embodiment of a typical apparatus incorporating features of the present invention that may be used to practice the present invention. As shown, a computer system50may be linked to another computer system52, such that the computers50and52are capable of sending information to each other and receiving information from each other. In one embodiment, computer system52could include a server computer adapted to communicate with a network54, such as for example, the Internet. Computer systems50and52can be linked together in any conventional manner including a modem, hard wire connection, or fiber optic link. Generally, information can be made available to both computer systems50and52using a communication protocol typically sent over a communication channel or through a dial-up connection on ISDN line. Computers50and52are generally adapted to utilize program storage devices embodying machine-readable program source code, which is adapted to cause the computers50and52to perform the method steps of the present invention. The program storage devices incorporating features of the present invention may be devised, made and used as a component of a machine utilizing optics, magnetic properties and/or electronics to perform the procedures and methods of the present invention. In alternate embodiments, the program storage devices may include magnetic media such as a diskette or computer hard drive, which is readable and executable by a computer. In other alternate embodiments, the program storage devices could include optical disks, read-only-memory (“ROM”) floppy disks and semiconductor materials and chips.

Computer systems50and52may also include a microprocessor for executing stored programs. Computer50may include a data storage device56on its program storage device for the storage of information and data. The computer program or software incorporating the processes and method steps incorporating features of the present invention may be stored in one or more computers50and52on an otherwise conventional program storage device. In one embodiment, computers50and52may include a user interface57, and a display interface58from which features of the present invention can be accessed. The user interface59and the display interface58can be adapted to allow the input of queries and commands to the system, as well as present the results of the commands and queries.

The features of the disclosed embodiments generally provide for allowing a user to use a multifunction device, such as for example a xerographic system, to send and receive raster/image data. The disclosed embodiments allow a user to automatically send raster/image data from a multifunction device via a simple and user friendly interface. All received emails can be automatically checked for designated raster/image file attachments and automatically printed/displayed or downloaded as appropriate.

In other alternate embodiments, the mail user agent23functionalities as described above may be implemented in some form of network based service16/54or an Internet service provider44.