Abstract:
An electronic mail communication apparatus disclosed herein is connectable to a mail server and capable of transmitting electronic mail. The electronic mail communication apparatus includes; a connection test executing unit which conducts a detailed connection test necessary for establishing connection between the electronic mail communication apparatus and the mail server, in response to a first instruction; and a mail transmitting unit which conducts a simple connection test between the electronic mail communication apparatus and the mail server in response to a second instruction, and thereafter transmits electronic data as the electronic mail to the mail server when the simple connection test succeeds, wherein the simple connection test is simpler than the detailed connection test.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Applications No. 2007-251131, filed on Sep. 27, 2007, and No. 2008-151698, filed on Jun. 10, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an electronic mail communication apparatus, and particularly, to an electronic mail communication apparatus capable of transmitting electronic data as electronic mail. 
         [0004]    2. Related Background Art 
         [0005]    Some of so-called multifunction machines having a scanner function and a printer function has a function of making an image scanned by using the scanner function into a file and transmitting the image as electronic mail. The scanned image, when transmitted as electronic mail, is in a form of Tiff file or the like. 
         [0006]    If the function of transmitting electronic mail, when used, is configured to establish the connection to the mail server after all the images have been read by using the scanner function, a failure in the connection between the multifunction machine and a mail server, if any, necessitates obtaining the images again for the purpose of the re-transmission. To avoid this problem, there has been known an art in which a multifunction machine sends connection request to a mail server before obtaining images by using the scanner function, and starts reading the images by using the scanner function after the connection is formally established (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-324293). 
         [0007]    In such a method, however, since all the procedures necessary for establishing the connection between the multifunction machine and the mail server are executed immediately before the start of the image scan, communication between the multifunction machine and the mail server takes a long time, which poses a problem that a user is kept waiting during this execution of the procedures. Then, if the connection between the multifunction machine and the mail server fails, a connection error occurs after the user has been kept waiting for a long time. 
         [0008]    Further, since the multifunction machine is connected to the mail server only immediately before starting the image scan, the user cannot judge whether the setting to the mail server is correct or not before the user correctly sets the setting other than that to the mail server itself, such as the address of the electronic mail. 
         [0009]    Further, in a multifunction machine to which a portable storage medium which stores electronic data is connectable, the same problems also occur when the multifunction machine obtains the electronic data from the portable storage medium and transmits the obtained electronic data as electronic mail. 
         [0010]    Further, in a multifunction machine which has a facsimile receiving function and which is provided with an auxiliary memory storing facsimile data received by using this facsimile receiving function, the same problems occur when the facsimile data stored in the auxiliary memory is transmitted as electronic data. 
         [0011]    Further, such problems can also occur in an electronic mail communication apparatus other than the multifunction machine. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In order to accomplish the aforementioned and other objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, an electronic mail communication apparatus is connectable to a mail server and capable of transmitting electronic mail, the electronic mail communication apparatus comprises: 
         [0013]    a connection test executing unit which conducts a detailed connection test necessary for establishing connection between the electronic mail communication apparatus and the mail server, in response to a first instruction; and 
         [0014]    a mail transmitting unit which conducts a simple connection test between the electronic mail communication apparatus and the mail server in response to a second instruction, and thereafter transmits electronic data as the electronic mail to the mail server when the simple connection test succeeds, wherein the simple connection test is simpler than the detailed connection test. 
         [0015]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling an electronic mail communication apparatus which is connectable to a mail server and which is capable of transmitting electronic mail, comprises: 
         [0016]    conducting a detailed connection test necessary for establishing connection between the electronic mail communication apparatus and the mail server, in response to a first instruction; and 
         [0017]    conducting a simple connection test between the electronic mail communication apparatus and the mail server in response to a second instruction, and thereafter transmitting electronic data as the electronic mail to the mail server when the simple connection test succeeds, wherein the simple connection test is simpler than the detailed connection test. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an example of the network configuration of a multifunction machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a multifunction machine included in the multifunction machine system in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a mail server included in the multifunction machine system in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a mail server connection test process executed in the multifunction machine according to this embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a chart showing communication between the multifunction machine and the mail server in the mail server connection test process and processing for mail transmission according to this embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a view showing an example of a function selection window displayed on a touch panel of the multifunction machine according to this embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a view showing an example of a setting mode window displayed on the touch panel of the multifunction machine according to this embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a scanned image mail transmission process executed in the multifunction machine according to this embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a view showing an example of a scan function selection window displayed on the touch panel of the multifunction machine according to this embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a view showing an example of a mail scan execution window displayed on the touch panel of the multifunction machine according to this embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating an example of an electronic data mail transmission process executed in the multifunction machine according to this embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a view showing an example of a memory function selection window displayed on the touch panel of the multifunction machine according to this embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a view showing an example of a memory-to-mail execution window displayed on the touch panel of the multifunction machine according to this embodiment; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a view showing an example of a data list display window displayed on the touch panel of the multifunction machine according to this embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiment described below does not limit the construction of the claims. 
         [0033]    In an embodiment of the present invention, a mail server connection test process is prepared in a setting mode of a multifunction machine where the setting to a mail server is made, and when a user makes the setting of the mail server, a detailed connection test between the multifunction machine and the mail server is also conducted, thereby making it possible to judge whether or not the setting for the connection therebetween is correct. Further, when the user tries to transmit image information, which is generated based on an image scanned by using a scan function, as electronic mail to the mail server, only a simple connection test between the multifunction machine and the mail server is conducted, and when receiving, from the mail server, a response to a simple command for the connection, the multifunction machine judges that the connection to the mail server can be established, and starts the scanning by the scanner function. In this manner, it is possible to reduce a user&#39;s waiting time when he/she transmits the image scanned by using the scanner function as electronic mail. 
         [0034]    Similarly, when the user tries to transmit electronic data stored in an auxiliary memory or a portable storage medium, as electronic mail to the mail server, only a simple connection test between the multifunction machine and the mail server is conducted, and when receiving a response to a simple command for the connection from the mail server, the multifunction machine judges that the connection to the mail server can be established, and starts processing for obtaining the electronic data. In this manner, it is possible to reduce a user&#39;s waiting time when the electronic data is transmitted as electronic mail. More detailed description will be given below. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  shows an example of the configuration diagram of the whole multifunction machine system including a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  shows an example of a block diagram of the internal configuration of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 3  shows an example of a block diagram of the internal configuration of a mail server according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a multifunction machine system  10  according to this embodiment includes one multifunction machine  30  or more, one computer  40  or more, and one mail server  50 , which are mutually connected via a network. In this embodiment, the network  20  is a local network, and can be a network in an arbitrary standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), for instance. 
         [0037]    Further, the mail server  50  is connected to an external network  60  such as the Internet. In this embodiment, in particular, the mail server  50  receives electronic mail transmitted from the multifunction machine  20 , and judges whether the received electronic mail is addressed to a mail address (mailbox) managed by itself or a mail address (mailbox) managed by any other mail server. Then, when the electronic mail is addressed not to a mail address managed by the mail server  50  but to a mail address managed by, for example, a mail server  70 , the mail server  50  transmits the electronic mail to the mail server  70  via the external network  60 . Incidentally, in  FIG. 1 , in addition to the mail server  50 , another mail server may be connected to the network  20 . 
         [0038]    The multifunction machine  30  has a function of facsimile transmission and facsimile receipt via a facsimile communication network  62 . Concretely, the multifunction machine  30  has a function of transmitting facsimile data to a designated destination via the facsimile communication network  62  based on an instruction from a user. The multifunction machine  30  further has a function of receiving facsimile data from another facsimile transmission apparatus connected to the facsimile communication network  62  to store and save the facsimile data or print the facsimile data. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the multifunction machine  30  according to this embodiment is a so-called multifunction printer which includes at least a scanner function unit  31  and a printer function unit  32 . The multifunction machine  30  further includes an operation unit  33 , a network interface  34 , a control unit  35 , an external storage medium interface  36 , a facsimile function unit  37 , an auxiliary memory  38 , and a facsimile communication interface  39 . The scanner function unit  31  scans a document which is set on the multifunction machine  30  by a user. Generally, the scanner function unit  31  scans a document set on an document scanning surface by a line sensor and generates image information based on the scanned image. 
         [0040]    The printer function unit  32  prints printing data transmitted from the computer  40  to the multifunction machine  30  or prints information generated based on an image scanned by the scanner function  31 . Generally, it makes the printing data or the information generated based on the image into printable data, and prints the data by a print engine such as a laser printer or an inkjet printer. 
         [0041]    The operation unit  33  is used when a user inputs various kinds of instructions to the multifunction machine  30 . In this embodiment, the operation unit  33  includes, for example, a touch panel on which various kinds of information are displayed and to which a user can input the instructions by touching it. 
         [0042]    The network interface  34  connects the multifunction machine  30  to the network  20 . The control unit  35  controls the whole multifunction machine  30 . In this embodiment, the control unit  35  is provided with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) which is a main control body, a RAM (Random Access Memory) which is a volatile memory storing information necessary for the control, a ROM (Read Only Memory) which is a non-volatile memory storing programs for the control, an electrically rewritable EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM), and so on. In this embodiment, in particular, programs for executing a mail server connection test process, a scanned image mail transmission process, and an electronic data mail transmission process, which will be descried later, are stored in the ROM, and pieces of information necessary for executing these processes are temporarily stored in the RAM. 
         [0043]    The external storage medium interface  36  is an interface used to connect a portable storage medium PMD to the multifunction machine  30 . That is, a user can temporarily connect the portable storage medium PMD to the multifunction machine  30  via the external storage medium interface  36 . The portable storage medium PMD is an example of an external storage medium of the multifunction machine  30 , and typical examples thereof are a USB memory, a memory card, a flexible disk, and the like. Further, the external storage medium interface  36  is an example of a connection function unit for enabling the portable storage medium PMD as the external storage medium to be connected to the multifunction machine  30 , and it is compliant with the specification adapted to the kind of the connected portable storage medium PMD. 
         [0044]    In this embodiment, for example, by operating the operation unit  33 , a user can read electronic data stored in the portable storage medium PMD and have the printer function unit  32  execute printing based on the electronic data. Further, by operating the operation unit  33 , a user can read electronic data stored in the portable storage medium PMD and transmit the electronic data as electronic mail via the mail server  50 . 
         [0045]    The facsimile function unit  37  executes various controls for realizing the facsimile function in the multifunction machine  30 . Specifically, the multifunction machine  30  is connected to the aforesaid facsimile communication network  62  via the facsimile communication interface  39 . Therefore, the facsimile function unit  37  realizes the facsimile receiving function by receiving facsimile data from the facsimile communication network  62  via the facsimile communication interface  39  and having the facsimile data printed by the printer function unit  32 . Further, the facsimile function unit  37  realizes the facsimile receiving function also by receiving facsimile data from the facsimile communication network  62  via the facsimile communication interface  39  and having the facsimile data stored as electronic data in the auxiliary memory  38 . In this embodiment, the auxiliary memory  38  is, for example, a mass storage device such as a hard disk drive. Therefore, even electronic data with large data size can be stored in large quantity in the auxiliary memory  38 . 
         [0046]    The facsimile function unit  37  further realizes the facsimile transmitting function by converting information, which is generated based on an image scanned by the scanner function unit  31 , into facsimile data and transmitting the facsimile data to the facsimile communication network  62  based on an instruction from a user. A destination of the transmission using the facsimile transmitting function, that is, the fax number is designated by a user operating the operation unit  33 . 
         [0047]    Further, in this embodiment, electronic data that the facsimile function unit  37  has stored in the auxiliary memory  38  can be transmitted as electronic mail. Specifically, by operating the operation unit  33 , a user can read the electronic data stored in the auxiliary memory  38  and transmit the electronic data as electronic mail via the mail server  50 . Details of a concrete user&#39;s operation and the processing contents in the multifunction machine  30  at this time will be described later. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the mail server  50  includes at least a network interface  51 , a control unit  52 , and an information storage unit  53 . The network interface  51  connects the mail server  50  to the network  20  and the external network  60 . The control unit  52  controls the whole mail server  50 . In this embodiment, the control unit  52  is provided with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a main control body, a RAM (Random Access Memory) which is a volatile memory storing information necessary for the control, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) which is a non-volatile memory storing programs for the control. 
         [0049]    The information storage unit  53  is a unit where authentication information of users managed by the mail server  50 , destinations represented by electronic mail addresses managed by the mail server  50 , electronic mail stored in mailboxes managed by the mail server  50 , and so on are stored and held. In this embodiment, the information storage unit  53  is, for example, an auxiliary memory such as a hard disk drive. 
         [0050]    Next, the mail server connection test process executed in the multifunction machine  30  according to this embodiment will be described based on  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the mail server connection test process according to this embodiment, and  FIG. 5  is a chart illustrating an example of a communication protocol between the multifunction machine  30  and the mail server  50  in the mail server connection test process. 
         [0051]    The mail server connection test process shown in  FIG. 4  is executed by the control unit  35  in the multifunction machine  30 , and more concretely, this process is realized by the CPU, which is provided in the control unit  35 , reading a mail server connection test process program from the ROM, which is also provided in the control unit  35 , and executing this program. 
         [0052]    The mail server connection test process is activated when a user sets the multifunction machine  30  to a setting mode and inputs to the multifunction machine  30  an instruction for starting a process where a detailed connection test necessary for establishing the connection between the multifunction machine  30  and the mail server is conducted. For example, it is assumed that a function selection window W 10  as a main menu is displayed on a touch panel  100  of the operation unit  33  as shown in  FIG. 6 . In the example in  FIG. 6 , a copy function select button B 10 , a printer function select button B 12 , a scanner function select button B 14 , a memory data obtaining function select button B 15 , and a machine setting button B 16  are displayed on the function selection window W 10 . 
         [0053]    When the user touches the copy function select button B 10  in this state, the multifunction machine  30  enters a copy mode, and when the user touches the printer function select button B 12 , the multifunction machine  30  enters a mode where printing data received from the computer  40  is printed. When the user touches the scanner function select button B 14  on the function selection window W 10 , the multifunction machine  30  enters a mode where the scanner function unit  31  is used, and when the user touches the memory data obtaining function select button B 15 , the multifunction machine  30  enters a mode where electronic data stored in the portable storage medium PMD or the auxiliary memory  38  is transmitted as electronic mail. 
         [0054]    On the other hand, when the user touches the machine setting button B 16 , the multifunction machine  30  enters the setting mode where various kinds of settings of the multifunction machine  30  are made, and displays a setting mode window W 20  shown in  FIG. 7  on the touch panel  100  of the operation unit  30 . 
         [0055]    In the example in  FIG. 7 , a mail sender setting button B 20 , an authentication setting button B 22 , a mail server setting button  24 , and a mail server connection test button  26  are displayed on the setting mode window W 20 . When the user touches the mail sender setting button B 20  in this state, the multifunction machine  30  enters a mail sender setting mode, where the user can set his/her own mail address. When the user touches the authentication setting button B 22 , the multifunction machine  30  enters an authentication setting mode, where the user can set his/her own authentication information (user ID, a password, and the like). When the user touches the mail server setting button B 24 , the multifunction machine  30  enters a mail server setting mode, where the user can set IP address, the port number, and the like of the mail server. These pieces of information set in these modes are stored and held in the aforesaid EEPROM of the control unit  35 . On the other hand, when the user touches the mail server connection test button  26 , the mail server connection test process in  FIG. 4  is activated. 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the mail server connection test process is started, the multifunction machine  30  establishes the connection to the mail server  50  (Step S 10 ). An example where SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used as the communication protocol will be described. In this case, the multifunction machine  30  is a sender SMTP client and the mail server  50  is a recipient SMTP server. 
         [0057]    The processing at Step S 10  corresponds to connection request T 1  and connection response T 2  which is a response to the connection request T 1 , in  FIG. 5 . When transmitting the connection request T 1  to the mail server  50 , the multifunction machine  30  uses, for example, TCP port number  25 . The TCP port number used for the connection request T 1  can be arbitrarily set in the mail server  50  in some case, and when the TCP port number is set in the mail server  50 , the multifunction machine  30  transmits the connection request T 1  by using the predetermined TCP port number that is set. However, when the TCP port number cannot be set in the mail server  50  or when such setting is not made therein, the multifunction machine  30  transmits the connection request T 1  by using the TCP port number  25 . Setting information necessary for the connection request T 1  is input to the multifunction machine  30  in the mode entered when the aforesaid mail server setting button B 24  is touched. The mail server  50  receiving the connection request T 1  transmits the connection response T 2  indicating the normal acceptance of the connection request T 1 , to the multifunction machine  30  by return. 
         [0058]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the multifunction machine  30  sends a connection greeting to the mail server  50  according to the SMTP protocol (Step S 12 ). The processing at Step S 12  corresponds to connection greeting T 3  and normal response T 4  which is a response to the connection greeting T 3 , in  FIG. 5 . In the connection greeting T 3 , the multifunction machine  30  transmits its own host name to the mail server  50  by using a HELO command. The mail server  50  receiving the connection greeting T 3  transmits the normal response T 4  indicating the normal acceptance of the connection greeting T 3  by return to the multifunction machine  30 . 
         [0059]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the multifunction machine  30  transmits the authentication information to the mail server  50  (Step S 14 ). The processing at Step S 14  corresponds to authentication information T 5  and authentication permission T 6  which is a response to the authentication information T 5 , in  FIG. 5 . In the transmission of the authentication information T 5 , the multifunction machine  30  transmits the user ID and password to the mail server  50 . Information necessary for the transmission of the authentication information T 5  is input to the multifunction machine  30  in the mode entered when the aforesaid authentication setting button B 22  is touched. The mail server  50  receiving the authentication information T 5  judges whether or not the received user ID and password match a registration user ID and a registration password which are registered in advance. 
         [0060]    Concretely, the mail server  50  judges whether or not the user ID included in the received authentication information T 5  is present among the registration user IDs stored in the information storage unit  53 , and when the received user ID is present therein, it also judges whether or not the password included in the received authentication information T 5  matches a registration password which is stored in the information storage unit  53  in correspondence to the registration user ID. When these received user ID and password match the registration user ID and the registration password which are registered in advance in the information storage unit  53 , the mail server  50  transmits the authentication permission T 6  by return to the multifunction machine  30 . When the received user ID and password match none of the registration user IDs and the registration passwords registered in advance in the information storage unit  53 , the mail server  50  transmits authentication rejection by return to the multifunction machine  30 , so that the mail server connection test process turns out to be a failure. 
         [0061]    Incidentally, the transmission of the authentication information at Step S 14  can be omitted when the mail server  50  does not demand for the authentication processing of the multifunction machine  30 . 
         [0062]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the multifunction machine  30  sends the setting of the mail sender to the mail server  50  (Step S 16 ). The processing at Step S 16  corresponds to mail sender setting T 7  and normal response T 8  which is a response to the mail sender setting T 7 , in  FIG. 5 . In the transmission of the mail sender setting T 7 , the multifunction machine  30  transmits a mail address of the transmitting end (that is, an electronic mail address of this user) to the mail server  50  by using a mail command. The mail address of the transmitting end is input to the multifunction machine  30  in the mode entered when the aforesaid mail sender setting button B 20  is touched. The mail server  50  receiving the mail sender setting T 7  checks the format of the received mail address of the transmitting end and thereafter stores it in the information storage unit  53  and transmits the normal response T 8  indicating the normal receipt of the mail address of the transmitting end, by return to the multifunction machine  30 . 
         [0063]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the multifunction machine  30  notifies the user of the result of the mail server connection test (Step S 18 ). Specifically, when the processing from Step S 10  to Step S 16  is normally executed and the connection between the multifunction machine  30  and the mail server  50  is established, the multifunction machine  30  notifies the user of a success in the connection test. On the other hand, when the connection between the multifunction machine  30  and the mail server  50  cannot be established due to some error occurring in the course of Step S 10  to Step S 16 , the multifunction machine  30  notifies the user of a failure in the connection test. At this time, the reason for the occurrence of the error, such as, for example, the error in the authentication at Step S 14  can be appended to the notification to the user. 
         [0064]    For such notification, the notification contents may be displayed on the touch panel  100 , for instance. However, when information to be notified to the user cannot be displayed on the touch panel  100  because its volume is large, the notification contents may be printed by the printer function unit  32  for this notification to the user. 
         [0065]    Here, the mail server connection test process according to this embodiment is finished. 
       &lt;Scanned Image Mail Transmission Process&gt; 
       [0066]    Next, a scanned image mail transmission process executed in the multifunction machine  30  according to this embodiment will be described based on  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the scanned image mail transmission process according to this embodiment. 
         [0067]    The mail transmission process shown in  FIG. 8  is executed by the control unit  35  in the multifunction machine  30 , and more concretely, this process is realized by the CPU, which is provided in the control unit  35 , reading a mail transmission process program from the ROM, which is also provided in the control unit  35 , and executing the read program. 
         [0068]    The mail transmission process is activated when a user sets the multifunction machine  30  to a mail-to-scan mode and inputs to the multifunction machine  30  an instruction for starting the scan of a document. For example, when the user touches the scanner button B 14  on the aforesaid function selection window W 10  in  FIG. 6 , a scan function selection window W 30  shown in  FIG. 9  is displayed on the touch panel  100 . 
         [0069]    In the example in  FIG. 9 , a scan-to-file button B 30 , a scan-to-fax button B 32 , and a scan-to-mail button B 34  are displayed on the scan function selection window W 30 . When the user touches the scan-to-file button B 30  on the scan function selection window W 30 , the multifunction machine  30  enters a mode where image information generated by scanning by the scanner function unit  31  is transferred to and stored in a save destination folder designated by the user. Further, when the user touches the scan-to-fax button B 32  on the scan function selection window W 30 , the multifunction machine  30  enters a mode where image information generated by scanning by the scanner function unit  31  is facsimiled to the fax destination number designated by the user. 
         [0070]    When the user touches the scan-to-mail button B 34  on the scan function selection window W 30 , the multifunction machine  30  enters a mode where image information generated by scanning by the scanner function unit  31  is transmitted to an electronic mail address designated by the user. In this embodiment, when the user touches the scan-to-mail button B 34 , a mail scan execution window W 40  shown in  FIG. 10  is displayed on the touch panel  100 . 
         [0071]    When the user touches a mail address setting button B 40  on the mail scan execution window W 40 , the multifunction machine  30  enters a mode where the user designates an address to which image information generated based on an image scanned by using the scanner function unit  31  is to be transmitted as electronic mail. On the other hand, when the user touches a scan execution button B 42  after setting a document on an auto document feeder (ADF), the mail transmission process in  FIG. 8  is activated. 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the mail transmission process is started, the multifunction machine  30  establishes connection to the mail server  50  (Step S 30 ). The processing at Step S 30  corresponds to the connection request T 1  and the connection response T 2  which is a response to the connection request T 1 , in  FIG. 5 . As described above, in the connection request T 1 , the multifunction machine  30  transmits the connection request T 1  to the mail server  50  by using, for example, the TCP port number  25 . Alternatively, when the TCP port number is set in the mail server  50 , the multifunction machine  30  transmits the connection request T 1  by using the predetermined TCP port number that is set. The mail server  50  receiving the connection request T 1  transmits the connection response T 2  indicating the acceptance of the connection request T 1  by return to the multifunction machine  30 . 
         [0073]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the multifunction machine  30  judges whether or not the connection to the mail server  50  has succeeded (Step S 32 ). Concretely, when receiving, from the mail server  50 , the connection response T 2  indicating the normal acceptance of the connection request T 1 , the multifunction machine  30  judges that the connection to the mail server  50  has succeeded. On the other hand, when the connection response T 2  cannot be received within a predetermined time, the multifunction machine  30  judges that the connection to the mail server  50  has failed. When the connection to the mail server  50  has failed (Step S 32 : NO), the multifunction machine  30  notifies the user of the failure in the connection to the mail server  50  (Step S 34 ). For this notification, for example, a message to the effect that the connection has failed may be displayed on the aforesaid touch panel  100 , or a message to the effect that the connection has failed may be printed by the printer function unit  32 . Then, this mail transmission process is finished. 
         [0074]    On the other hand, when the connection to the mail server  50  has succeeded (Step S 32 : YES), the multifunction machine  30  cuts off the connection to the mail server  50  (Step S 36 ). 
         [0075]    Next, the multifunction machine  30  executes scan processing and file generation processing (Step S 38 ). Specifically, the scanner function unit  31  scans a document that the user sets on the automatic document feeder and its image is made into a file in a Tiff format or the like. 
         [0076]    Then, after scanning all the documents set on the automatic document feeder, the multifunction machine  30  performs processing for transmitting the image information in the form of a file, as electronic mail to the mail server  50 . As described above, a destination to which the electronic mail is to be transmitted is a mail address that the user has set in the mode entered when the mail address setting button B 40  is touched. When this processing for the mail transmission is completed, the mail transmission process is finished. 
       &lt;Electronic Data Mail Transmission Process&gt; 
       [0077]    Next, an electronic data mail transmission process executed in the multifunction machine  30  will be described based on  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the electronic data mail transmission process according to this embodiment. 
         [0078]    In the scanned image mail transmission process described with reference to  FIG. 8 , after judging that the connection to the mail server  50  has succeeded (Step S 32 : YES) and cutting off the connection to the mail server  50 , the multifunction machine  30  executes the scan processing and the file generation processing, but in this electronic data mail transmission process, the multifunction machine  30  obtains electronic data designated by a user and performs processing for mail transmission. In other respects, the electronic data mail transmission process is the same as the above-described scanned image mail transmission process. 
         [0079]    The electronic data mail transmission process in  FIG. 11  is activated when the user sets the multifunction machine  30  to an electronic data transmission mode, designates electronic data to be transmitted, and instructs the mail transmission. For example, when the user touches the memory data obtaining function select button B 15  on the aforesaid function selection window W 10  in  FIG. 6 , a memory function selection window W 50  shown in  FIG. 12  is displayed on the touch panel  100 . 
         [0080]    In this embodiment, a memory-to-print button B 50  and a memory-to-mail button B 52  are displayed on the memory function selection window W 50 . After touching the memory-to-print button B 50  on the memory function selection window W 50 , the user can designate electronic data to be printed by a subsequent operation, so that the electronic data can be printed by the printer function unit  32 . The electronic data to be printed is stored in, for example, the portable storage medium PMD or is stored in the auxiliary memory  38 . 
         [0081]    After touching the memory-to-mail button B 52  on the memory function selection window W 50 , the user can transmit electronic data that he/she designates by a subsequent operation, as electronic mail. In this embodiment, when the user touches the memory-to-mail button B 52 , a memory-to-mail execution window W 60  shown in  FIG. 13  is displayed on the touch panel  100 . 
         [0082]    When the user touches a mail address setting button B 60  on the memory-to-mail execution window W 60 , the multifunction machine  30  enters a mode where a destination to which the electronic data is to be transmitted as electronic mail is designated. Specifically, when the user touches the mail address setting button B 60 , the multifunction machine  30  enters the mode where the electronic mail address of the transmission destination is designated. 
         [0083]    On the other hand, when the user touches a data select button B 62 , a data list display window W 70  shown in  FIG. 14  is displayed on the touch panel  100 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , a list of electronic data stored in the auxiliary memory  38  is displayed on the data list display window W 70 . When the portable storage medium PMD is connected to the multifunction machine  30 , a list of electronic data stored in the portable storage medium PMD is also displayed on the data list display window W 70 . How the electronic data to be transmitted is selected from the displayed electronic data may be any, and for example, for the selection, the file name of the electronic data displayed on the touch panel  100  may be touched, or an arrow key or a selection key, not shown, provided on the operation unit  33  may be used. Further, the file name of the already selected electronic data may be highlighted. 
         [0084]    A send button B 70  is further provided on the data display list window W 70 , and when the user touches the send button B 70  after selecting one electronic data or more to be transmitted, the electronic data mail transmission process in  FIG. 11  is activated. 
         [0085]    In the electronic data mail transmission process shown in  FIG. 11 , processing for connection between the multifunction machine  30  and the mail server  50  (Step S 30 ) and processing when the connection is judged as a failure (Step S 34 ) are the same as those of the above-described scanned image mail transmission process in  FIG. 8 . Here, only other different points will be described. 
         [0086]    When the connection to the mail server  50  succeeds at Step S 32  (Step S 32 : YES), the multifunction machine  30  cuts off the connection to the mail server  50  (Step S 56 ). 
         [0087]    Next, the multifunction machine  30  executes processing for obtaining electronic data of a file selected by the user (Step S 58 ). For example, when the user has designated electronic data stored in the portable storage medium PMD, the multifunction machine  30  obtains, from the portable storage medium PMD, the electronic data designated by the user. When the user has designated electronic data stored in the auxiliary memory  38 , the multifunction machine  30  obtains the electronic data stored in the auxiliary memory  38 . Incidentally, when the user has designated a plurality of electronic data, the plural electronic data are obtained. 
         [0088]    Next, the multifunction machine  30  executes processing for transmitting the electronic data obtained at Step S 58 , as electronic mail to the mail server  50  (Step S 60 ). As described above, a destination to which the electronic mail is to be transmitted is an electronic mail address set by the user in the mode entered when the mail address setting button B 60  is touched. When this processing for mail transmission at Step S 60  is completed, the mail transmission process is finished. 
         [0089]    As described above, according to the multifunction machine  30  of the multifunction machine system according to this embodiment, it is possible to conduct the detailed connection test between the multifunction machine  30  and the mail server  50  by the mail server connection test process. In particular, the mail server connection test process can be executed even before the information such as the transmission destination of the electronic mail is input, providing that this mail server connection test process comes after the user inputs the information necessary for the connection to the mail server, such as the IP address of the mail server and the setting of the mail sender. Therefore, it is possible to conduct the connection test between the multifunction machine  30  and the mail server  50  by executing the mail server connection process, without the user&#39;s input of the information such as the transmission destination of the electronic mail. 
         [0090]    Further, since the connection test for the connection to the mail server  50  has been completed when the user tries to transmit electronic mail, it is possible to start the scan processing (Step S 38 ) using the scanner function unit  31  or the electronic data obtaining processing (Step S 58 ), only by conducting, at Step S 30  in the mail transmission process, a simple connection test to check whether or not the connection to the mail server  50  is possible. Specifically, in the explanatory chart of the communication protocol in  FIG. 5 , when receiving the connection response T 2 , which is a response to the connection request T 1 , from the mail server  50 , the multifunction machine  30  judges that the connection to the mail server  50  can be normally established and can execute the scan processing, without executing the subsequent processing for establishing the connection. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the waiting time until the scanning is started after the user touches the scan execution button B 42 . Further, it is possible to reduce the waiting time until the electronic data is obtained after the user designates the electronic data to be transmitted and touches the transmission button B 70 . 
         [0091]    It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, the above embodiment describes the example where the present invention is applied to the multifunction machine  30  as an example of an electronic mail communication apparatus, but the present invention is applicable to other kinds of electronic mail communication apparatuses. 
         [0092]    Further, in the above embodiment, the present invention is described, taking as an example, the case where the communication protocol between the multifunction machine  30  and the mail server  50  is SMTP, but the present invention is also applicable to the case where another communication protocol is used. 
         [0093]    Further, as for the mail server connection test process, the scanned image mail transmission process, and the electronic data mail transmission process, programs for executing these processes may be distributed in the form of a recording medium, by being recorded in a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read. Only Memory), a ROM, or a memory card. In this case, it is possible to realize the above-described embodiment by the multifunction machine  30  reading the programs recorded in this recording medium and executing the read programs. 
         [0094]    Further, the above embodiment describes the example where the mail server connection test process, the scanned image mail transmission process, and the electronic data mail transmission process are realized by software, but these processes may be realized by hardware such as ASIC (Application Specific IC). Alternatively, these processes may be realized by the cooperation of software and hardware.