JP3719236B2 - E-mail server device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic mail server device that transfers electronic mail.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an Internet facsimile communication system using an Internet facsimile apparatus that transmits and receives image data via the Internet using electronic mail is an ITU-T recommendation T.27. 37. In this Internet facsimile apparatus, an e-mail including image data is transmitted by the SMTP method to an e-mail server apparatus (gateway apparatus) on the transmission side and an e-mail server apparatus (gateway apparatus) on the reception side via the Internet. The Internet facsimile machine accesses the mail server on the receiving side using the POP3 system, receives an electronic mail including image data, and prints the received image data using an image recording unit.
[0003]
Conventionally, when transmitting from a transmission terminal device such as an Internet facsimile device to a G3 facsimile device via a relay device such as an electronic mail server device using electronic mail, the transmission is performed from the transmission terminal device to the relay device. The instruction needs to be given by a transfer instruction method according to the receiving side relay apparatus.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a relay transfer, managing the transfer instruction method corresponding to all the relay devices on the receiving side on the transmitting terminal device side has a problem that the burden on the transmitting terminal device side is very heavy.
[0005]
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and greatly reduce the burden on the transmission terminal device side when relaying and forwarding an electronic mail from the transmission terminal device to the reception terminal device via the electronic mail server device. It is to provide an electronic mail server device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An e-mail server device according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a transfer instruction table including a destination selection method and a transfer instruction method according to a plurality of relay devices in an e-mail server device that transfers an e-mail; The relay device is selected by referring to the destination selection method of the transfer instruction table based on the mail destination, and the relay instruction described by the transfer instruction method based on the transfer instruction table is included for the selected relay device. And a control means for transmitting an e-mail.
[0007]
In the electronic mail server device, the destination selection method of the transfer instruction table is a destination selection method according to destination area information.
[0008]
Further, in the electronic mail server device, the transfer instruction method of the transfer instruction table includes an e-mail text description or a predetermined command description method and a command format.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
<Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is an overall communication system including an office 500 such as a company or an office, and various devices connected thereto, which includes an Internet facsimile machine 20 and an electronic mail server device 31 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
[0011]
In the present embodiment, in order to reduce the burden on the transmission terminal device side, which is a problem of the prior art, an e-mail server device 31 that is a relay device is provided, and a specific type of e-mail is transmitted from the transmission terminal device side. Thus, the electronic mail server device 31 is characterized in that a transfer instruction corresponding to the receiving terminal device side is given. Specifically, the electronic mail server device 31 includes a RAM 107 that stores a facsimile transfer instruction table 107a including a destination selection method and a transfer instruction method according to a plurality of relay devices, and the main control unit 1 receives the received electronic Based on the destination of the mail, the destination selection method of the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a is referred to select the Internet facsimile machines 20A, 20B, and 20C as relay apparatuses, and the facsimile transfer is performed to the selected Internet facsimile apparatus as the relay apparatus. An e-mail including a relay instruction described by a transfer instruction method based on the instruction table 107a is transmitted. Here, the destination selection method of the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a is a destination selection method according to the destination area information, and the transfer instruction method of the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a is an email text description or a predetermined command description method. , Including command format.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, the Internet facsimile machine 20 has a conventional facsimile communication function such as a G3 system, and also has an Internet facsimile function that transmits and receives image data using an electronic mail via the Internet 40. The main control unit 1 is specifically composed of a CPU, and is connected to the following hardware units via the bus 13 to control them, and executes various software functions to be described later. The image reading unit 2 reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data converted into black and white binary. The image recording unit 3 is an electrophotographic printer or the like, and prints out and records image data received by facsimile communication from another facsimile apparatus or the like as a hard copy. The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operating state of the Internet facsimile machine 20 and displays image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data. Do.
[0013]
The operation unit 5 includes character keys necessary for operating the Internet facsimile machine 20, a numeric keypad for dialing, speed dial keys, one-touch dial keys, various function keys, and the like. In addition, you may comprise so that a part or all of the various keys of this operation part 5 may be substituted by making the above-mentioned display part 4 into a touch panel system.
[0014]
The ROM 6 stores various software programs that are necessary for the operation of the Internet facsimile machine 20 and executed by the main control unit 1 in advance. These programs may be recorded on a recording medium such as a floppy disk, MO, DVD-RAM, etc., and loaded into the SRAM 7 via the drive device as necessary to execute the program. The SRAM 7 is used as a working area of the main control unit 1 and stores temporary data generated when the program is executed. The compact flash (registered trademark) 8 serves as a so-called image memory and a memory as a program recording medium.
[0015]
The fax modem 10 is a modem that is connected to the public telephone network 50 via the public telephone line L1 and has a function of a fax modem for normal facsimile communication. An NCU (Network Control Unit) 11 is a hardware circuit that performs an operation of closing and opening a DC loop of an analog public telephone line L1 and having an automatic dial function. Is connected to the public telephone line L1. Here, the NCU 11 detects the ID receiving terminal activation signal and the normal telephone call signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service, and transmits the primary response signal and the secondary response signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service as necessary. can do. The NCU 11 may be connected to a baseband transmission type digital line (for example, an ISDN line) via a predetermined terminal adapter and a DSU (Subscriber Line Termination Unit: Digital Service Unit).
[0016]
The interface circuit 12 is an interface circuit that performs signal and data signal conversion and protocol conversion in order to connect the Internet facsimile machine 20 to, for example, a LAN 30 such as Ethernet (registered trademark). The device 31, the router device 32, and the client personal computers 60-1 and 60-2 are connected.
[0017]
Further, the router device 32 is connected to the other party's electronic mail server device (not shown) via the Internet 40. When the image data is sent as an attached file from the Internet facsimile machine 20 and sent by e-mail, the e-mail server 31 sends the e-mail server 31 to the e-mail server 31 through the LAN 30 and then sends the Internet mail. The mail is transmitted to the destination Internet facsimile machines 20A, 20B, and 20C via the LAN 30, the router device 32, the Internet 40, and the destination electronic mail server device (not shown). On the other hand, when Internet mail is received, it is received through the reverse route described above. Further, the Internet facsimile machines 20A, 20B, and 20C may be used as relay apparatuses to send mails to the G3 facsimile apparatuses 80A and 80B via the public telephone network 50, for example. On the other hand, in this case, when Internet mail is received, it is received through the reverse route. Here, as a method of receiving Internet net mail from the electronic mail server device 31, POP3 may be used, or may be received by SMTP. The line connection to the Internet 40 is not limited to a dedicated line, but may be a dial-up connection using the public telephone line L1.
[0018]
In FIG. 1, three Internet facsimile apparatuses 20A, 20B, and 20C are illustrated as Internet facsimile apparatuses as destination terminals or relay apparatuses, but a plurality of other Internet facsimile apparatuses may be provided. Further, although the Internet facsimile machine 20 is used as a transmission source communication terminal device, an electronic mail including image data may be transmitted from the client personal computers 60-1 and 60-2.
[0019]
The Internet facsimile machine 20 of the present embodiment configured as described above has an Internet facsimile communication function in addition to a normal G3 type facsimile communication function. In the facsimile communication function, the dot image data read by the image reading unit 2 is encoded by software in accordance with an encoding method such as MH, MR, or MMR defined in the facsimile communication standard, and then the counterpart facsimile machine On the other hand, the encoded data received from the facsimile machine of the other party is also decoded into image data by software and output from the image recording unit 3 as a hard copy.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the electronic mail server device 31 of FIG. In FIG. 2, an e-mail server device 31 includes a facsimile communication function using e-mail in addition to a conventional e-mail transfer function via the Internet 40, and relay transfer of e-mail based on the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a. It has a function. The main control unit 101 is specifically composed of a CPU and is connected to the following hardware units via the bus 113 to control them and execute various software functions to be described later. The display unit 104 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operating state of the electronic mail server device 31 and displays image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data. I do. The operation unit 105 includes character keys necessary for operating the electronic mail server device 31, a numeric keypad for dialing, various function keys, and the like. The display unit 104 described above may be configured as a touch panel so that a part or all of the various keys of the operation unit 105 may be substituted.
[0021]
The ROM 106 stores various software programs that are necessary for the operation of the electronic mail server device 31 and executed by the main control unit 101 in advance. The RAM 107 is composed of SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, or the like, and is used as a working area for the main control unit 1 to store temporary data generated when the program is executed. Here, the RAM 107 stores a facsimile transfer instruction table 107a described later in detail. When a flash memory is used as the RAM 107, the contents of the data are not lost even when the power is cut off due to a power failure, movement of the device, or the like. The hard disk drive 108 stores image data to be transmitted or received image data.
[0022]
The fax modem 110 is a modem that is connected to the public telephone line L2 and has a function of a fax modem for normal facsimile communication. An NCU (Network Control Unit) 111 is a hardware circuit that performs an operation of closing and opening a DC loop of an analog public telephone line L2 and having an automatic dial function. Is connected to the public telephone line L2. Here, the NCU 111 detects the ID reception terminal activation signal and the normal telephone call signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service, and transmits the primary response signal and the secondary response signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service as necessary. can do. The NCU 111 may be connected to a baseband transmission type digital line (for example, an ISDN line) via a predetermined terminal adapter and a DSU (Subscriber Line Termination Unit: Digital Service Unit).
[0023]
Further, the LAN interface 112 is connected to the LAN 30 and receives signals and data from the LAN 30, while transmitting signals and data to the LAN 30 to execute interface processing such as signal conversion and protocol conversion.
[0024]
The electronic mail server device 31 configured as described above has a facsimile communication function using electronic mail and a conventional facsimile communication function such as the G3 system in addition to the electronic mail transfer function via the Internet 40. A relay transfer function based on the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a is provided.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the client personal computers 60-1 and 60-2 (generally referred to as reference numeral 60) in FIG. Here, the client personal computers 60-1 and 60-2 have the same configuration.
[0026]
In FIG. 3, a client personal computer 60 is constituted by a known personal computer, and executes processing such as transmission / reception of e-mail, generation and recording of image data and character data. In this embodiment, as an example, the client personal computer 60 is used as a terminal device that transmits or receives facsimile image data. The main control unit 201 is specifically composed of a CPU, and is connected to the following hardware units via the bus 213 to control them, and executes various software functions to be described later. In this client personal computer 60, an image reading unit 202 and an image recording unit 203 are optionally provided. The image reading unit 202 reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data converted into monochrome binary data. To do. The image recording unit 203 is, for example, an electrophotographic printer device. The image data received from the Internet facsimile machines 20, 20A, 20B, and 20C by facsimile communication is printed and recorded as a hard copy, or character data is recorded. To do. The display unit 204 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operation state of the client personal computer 131A, and displays the image data of the original to be transmitted and the received image data. Do. The operation unit 205 is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse, and is used for inputting character data and instruction commands.
[0027]
The ROM 206 stores various software programs that are necessary for the operation of the client personal computer 131A and executed by the main control unit 201 in advance. The RAM 207 is composed of SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, or the like, and is used as a working area for the main control unit 201 to store temporary data generated when the program is executed. Furthermore, the hard disk drive 208 is a storage device that contains a recording medium, and stores an application program to be executed and an image memory. The LAN interface 212 is connected to the LAN 30 and receives signals and data from the LAN 30, while transmitting signals and data to the LAN 30 to execute interface processing such as signal conversion and protocol conversion.
[0028]
The client personal computer 60 configured as described above may send mail to, for example, the G3 facsimile apparatus 80A or 80B using the electronic mail server apparatus 31 and the Internet facsimile apparatus 20A, 20B, or 20C as a relay apparatus. .
[0029]
In FIG. 1, each of the Internet facsimile machines 20A, 20B, and 20C is further connected to a public telephone network 50, and two G3 facsimile apparatuses 80A and 80B each having only a G3 facsimile function are connected to the public telephone network 50. ing.
[0030]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a of FIG. The facsimile transfer instruction table 107a in FIG. 4 includes, for each e-mail address of the relay apparatus, a transfer instruction method and command format that are transfer instruction methods, and application of transfer indicating a destination selection method. Here, in the destination selection method, depending on the area information of the phone number,
(A) For local transfers,
(B) Toll (06) For transfer,
(C) Toll (03) For transfer,
(D) For other general long distance transfers,
(E) For overseas transfer,
(F) For facsimile network transfer,
The e-mail address of the relay apparatus is selected by classifying into (g) emergency transfer and (h) other general transfer. Further, the transfer instruction method of the transfer instruction method includes a “text description” that describes the transfer instruction in the e-mail body, a description method that uses the command “RCPT” in the SMTP command description, and the like. Further, the command format of the transfer instruction method includes a method of instructing a destination terminal using a telephone number or an electronic mail address including the telephone number, as shown in FIG.
[0031]
FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing an embodiment of the operation of the communication system of FIG. In FIG. 5, in the first embodiment 301, the client personal computer 60-1 transmits, for example, a relay transfer instruction e-mail as shown in Table 1 to the e-mail server device 31 via the LAN 30.
[0032]
[Table 1]
An example of relay transfer instruction e-mail from the client personal computer 60-1 to the e-mail server apparatus 31 which is a relay apparatus ---------- ―――――――――――
From: client1@sample.co.jp
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 16:04:22 +0900
To: server@sample.co.jp
Subject: SAMPLE MAIL
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart / mixed; boundary = "= _ SAMPLE_ ="
-= _ SAMPLE_ =
Content-Type: text / plain; charset = "us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
+ 1-123-456-7890
+ 1-234-567-8901
06-6666-6666
03-3333-3333
-= _ SAMPLE_ =
Content-Type: image / tiff; name = "faximage.tif"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename = "faximage.tif"
SUkqAAgAAAAQAP4ABAABAAAAAgAAAAABBAABAAAAwAYAAAEBBAABAAAAYwQAAAIB
AwABAAAAAQAAAAMBAwABAAAACQAAAAYBAwABAAAAAAAAAAoBAwABAAAAAgAAABEB
BAABAAAA4AAAABIBAwABAAAAAQAAABUBAwABAAAAAQAAABYBBAABAAAAYwQAABcB
(Omitted)
/ wKQuNGMMC7Y0DBMMNQgUf8CXvwXioNiXjy07JzuASj / AvZ744qc3aIjZ / bgsLlg
dsEcwP8CpeY / 6Z6fNE20b6V1LJc0iVz0KR2siq1Vn + U78q + cEhYFgwKaDA9bI5Zp
NmjJVTHVlbXVfP8C / wUAAARj / wI =
-= _ SAMPLE _ =-
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
[0033]
In the example of the electronic mail in Table 1, the telephone number of the destination as the transfer destination is described from the 10th line to the 13th line, and there is image data attached to the last part. When this e-mail is received, the e-mail server device 31 refers to the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a, for example, when processing the telephone number addressed to the United States on the 10th line of this e-mail. The Internet facsimile machine 20A having the electronic mail address “ifax06@sample.co.jp” is selected, and the electronic mail (an example thereof is shown in Table 2) using the transfer instruction method specified in the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a. ) And the image data attached thereto is transmitted to the Internet facsimile machine 20A.
[0034]
[Table 2]
An example of an e-mail for relay transfer instruction from the e-mail server device 31 to the Internet facsimile machine 20A ----------- ―――――
From: server@sample.co.jp
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 18:04:22 +0900
To: ifax06@sample.co.jp
Subject: SAMPLE MAIL
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart / mixed; boundary = "= _ SAMPLE_ ="
-= _ SAMPLE_ =
Content-Type: text / plain; charset = "us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
RCPT TO: FAXNO = <+ 1-123-456-7890>
-= _ SAMPLE_ =
Content-Type: image / tiff; name = "faximage.tif"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename = "faximage.tif"
SUkqAAgAAAAQAP4ABAABAAAAAgAAAAABBAABAAAAwAYAAAEBBAABAAAAYwQAAAIB
AwABAAAAAQAAAAMBAwABAAAACQAAAAYBAwABAAAAAAAAAAoBAwABAAAAAgAAABEB
BAABAAAA4AAAABIBAwABAAAAAQAAABUBAwABAAAAAQAAABYBBAABAAAAYwQAABcB
(Omitted)
/ wKQuNGMMC7Y0DBMMNQgUf8CXvwXioNiXjy07JzuASj / AvZ744qc3aIjZ / bgsLlg
dsEcwP8CpeY / 6Z6fNE20b6V1LJc0iVz0KR2siq1Vn + U78q + cEhYFgwKaDA9bI5Zp
NmjJVTHVlbXVfP8C / wUAAARj / wI =
-= _ SAMPLE _ =-
―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
[0035]
In response to the e-mail in Table 2, the Internet facsimile machine 20A encodes the image data of the e-mail using a predetermined facsimile encoding method based on the received e-mail, and then designates the designated G3 facsimile apparatus. Facsimile transmission to 80A. In the first embodiment, the electronic mail server device 31 processes and forwards other destination telephone numbers in the same manner.
[0036]
In the second embodiment 302 of FIG. 5 as well, the client personal computer 60-1 transmits an e-mail with a relay transfer instruction attached with image data to the e-mail server apparatus 31, and in response to this, Referring to the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a, a predetermined Internet facsimile machine 20B is selected, an e-mail is created using the transfer instruction method specified in the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a, and the image data is attached and selected. Is transmitted to the Internet facsimile machine 20B. In response to this, the Internet facsimile machine 20B encodes the image data of the e-mail using a predetermined facsimile encoding method based on the received e-mail, and then transmits the facsimile to the designated G3 facsimile apparatus 80B. Send.
[0037]
Conventionally, some Internet facsimile machines can analyze a specific character string specified in a received electronic mail or address information specified on an SMTP command in an SMTP reception type apparatus and transfer the electronic mail to a facsimile. Some have a function. However, in these devices, the instruction method for transferring the mail to the facsimile may be different for each device, and even in the same device, the designation method is different for POP reception and SMTP reception. . Therefore, an electronic mail server device 31 that is a transfer relay device is provided in order to instruct a terminal device having a different instruction method to perform facsimile transfer using the same designation method. This e-mail server device 31 is a communication device having means for sending and receiving e-mail and means for registering various information unique to each Internet facsimile, that is, a transfer instruction method and e-mail sending and receiving method. For example, if the transfer instruction method is a type in which a transfer instruction is described in electronic mail data, a location (in the text, mail header) and a format in which transfer instruction information is described are registered. On the other hand, when a transfer instruction is issued using an SMTP command, the SMTP command name and parameter format are registered. A transfer instruction may be given to the electronic mail server device 31 in a fixed format, and an electronic mail address of an Internet facsimile device to be transferred may be designated. May be automatically assigned to the transfer relay device. Furthermore, if the maximum number of transfers is different in each Internet facsimile machine, such information is also registered in the transfer relay device, and a transfer instruction is given to the optimum Internet facsimile machine according to the transfer number specified by the user. You can also Alternatively, an area code or the like may be assigned to each Internet facsimile apparatus, and a transfer instruction designated by the user may be assigned to the Internet facsimile apparatus corresponding to each area code. Alternatively, a transfer instruction designated by the user may be assigned to a plurality of Internet facsimile machines in order to simply perform the transfer process in parallel. Further, if the result of the transfer process is centrally managed in the electronic mail server device 31, the efficiency of communication management can be improved. In this way, the user can issue a transfer instruction without considering the difference between each Internet facsimile apparatus, and an optimal transfer system can be constructed as a network.
[0038]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the e-mail server device 31 includes the RAM 107 that stores the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a including the destination selection method and the transfer instruction method according to a plurality of relay devices. The control unit 1 refers to the destination selection method of the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a based on the destination of the received electronic mail, selects the Internet facsimile machines 20A, 20B, and 20C as relay apparatuses, and is the selected relay apparatus. An electronic mail including a relay instruction described by a transfer instruction method based on the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a is transmitted to the Internet facsimile apparatus. Therefore, by providing the electronic mail server device 31, it is possible to select an appropriate relay device based on the facsimile transfer instruction table 107a and to instruct the relay device to transfer using an appropriate transfer instruction method. This eliminates the need for the transmission terminal device to be aware of the transfer function on the reception side, and facilitates the creation of relay instruction e-mails.
[0039]
<Modification>
In the above embodiment, an example of the Internet facsimile machine 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a telephone set or a data communication apparatus connected to a public network such as a public telephone network or a public digital network. The present invention can be applied to communication terminal devices including the above.
[0040]
In the above embodiment, the public telephone network is used as the circuit switching network. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a public digital circuit network, a mobile phone network, or the like may be used. Further, although the Internet 40 is used as a packet switching network, the present invention is not limited to this, and an IP switching network unique to a telecommunications carrier may be used.
[0041]
In the above embodiment, the transfer instruction is described in the e-mail body, but may be described in the HTML language. Further, a file in which the instruction content is described may be attached to the e-mail.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the e-mail server device of the present invention, in the e-mail server device for transferring e-mail, a transfer instruction table including a destination selection method and a transfer instruction method corresponding to a plurality of relay devices is stored. And a storage device that selects the relay device by referring to the destination selection method of the transfer instruction table based on the destination of the received e-mail, and the transfer instruction method based on the transfer instruction table for the selected relay device And a control means for transmitting an electronic mail including the relay instruction described in 1. Here, the destination selection method of the transfer instruction table is preferably a destination selection method according to the area information of the destination, and the transfer instruction method of the transfer instruction table is preferably a text description of an email or a predetermined Includes command description method and command format. Accordingly, by providing the electronic mail server device, it is possible to select an appropriate relay device based on the transfer instruction table and to instruct the relay device to transfer using an appropriate transfer instruction method. This eliminates the need for the transmission terminal device to be aware of the transfer function on the reception side, and facilitates the creation of relay instruction e-mails.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall communication system including a business establishment 500 including an Internet facsimile machine 20 and an electronic mail server device 31, and various devices connected thereto, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the electronic mail server device 31 of FIG.
3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the client personal computer 60 of FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a facsimile transfer instruction table 107a in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing an example of operation of the communication system of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... main control part,
2. Image reading unit,
3 ... image recording unit,
4 ... display part,
5 ... operation part,
6 ... ROM,
7 ... RAM,
8 ... Compact Flash (registered trademark),
10. Fax modem,
11 ... NCU,
12 ... Interface circuit,
13 ... Bus
20, 20A, 20B, 20C ... Internet facsimile machine,
30 ... LAN,
31. E-mail server device,
32 ... Router device,
33 ... Printer device,
40 ... Internet,
50 ... public telephone network,
60-1, 60-2 ... Client personal computer,
80A, 80B ... G3 facsimile machine,
101 ... main control unit,
104 ... display section,
105 ... operation unit,
106 ... ROM,
107 ... RAM,
107a ... facsimile transfer instruction table,
108: Hard disk drive,
110: Fax modem,
111 ... NCU,
112 ... interface circuit,
113 ... Bus,
201 ... main control unit,
202 ... an image reading unit,
203 ... Image recording unit,
204 ... display section,
205 ... operation unit,
206 ... ROM,
207 ... RAM,
208: Hard disk drive,
212 ... interface circuit,
213 ... Bus,
500 ... offices,
L1, L2 ... Public telephone line.

Claims (3)

In an electronic mail server device for transferring electronic mail, storage means for storing a transfer instruction table including a destination selection method and a transfer instruction method according to a plurality of relay devices, and the transfer instruction table based on the destination of the received electronic mail Control means for selecting a relay device with reference to the destination selection method and transmitting an e-mail including a relay instruction described by the transfer instruction method based on the transfer instruction table to the selected relay device. An electronic mail server device characterized by that. 2. The electronic mail server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the destination selection method of the transfer instruction table is a destination selection method according to destination area information. 3. The e-mail server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer instruction method of the transfer instruction table includes an e-mail body description or a predetermined command description method and a command format.

Images