IP Library Granted Patent US 6,982,801
Granted Patent B1
US 6,982,801 · App. 09/611,365 · Granted Jan 3, 2006

Internet facsimile apparatus and e-mail receiving method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,982,801
App. No.
09/611,365
Granted
Jan 3, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

A blank determining section performs scanning of a text part of e-mail when receiving e-mail. The scanning of text part is carried out up to a next boundary. After the end of scanning, the blank determining section determines whether or not there is any code other than unprintable codes such as a blank, a tab, a line feed, and the like. Since the text part is composed of only a line feed, the blank determining section clears data of the text part from a mail reception memory area. An image part is normally printed. As a result, the printing of text part is skipped, and only the image part is printed. This makes it possible to prevent a useless output and an output of inconvenient information.

Claims (28)

1. An Internet facsimile apparatus, comprising:

an interface configured to receive e-mail;

a printer configured to print the e-mail; and

a controller configured to:

determine whether the received e-mail includes a text part when it is determined that the received e-mail comprises a multipart structure; and

determine whether the text part includes only a predetermined code, the received e-mail being printed without printing a text part page when it is determined that the text part includes only the predetermined code.

2. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined code comprises a code representing a space.

3. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined code comprises a code representing a tab.

4. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined code comprises a code representing a line feed.

5. An Internet facsimile apparatus, comprising:

an interface configured to receive e-mail;

a printer configured to print the e-mail; and

a controller configured to:

determine whether the received e-mail includes a text part when it is determined that the received e-mail comprises a multipart structure;

determine whether the text part includes only a predetermined code; and

determine whether image data is attached to the received e-mail, the image data being printed without printing a text part page when it is determined that the text part includes only the predetermined code.

6. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the predetermined code comprises a code representing a space.

7. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the predetermined code comprises a code representing a tab.

8. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the predetermined code comprises a code representing a line feed.

9. An e-mail receiving method, comprising:

receiving e-mail;

determining whether the received e-mail includes a text part when it is determined that the received e-mail comprises a multipart structure; and

determining whether the text part includes only a predetermined code, the received e-mail being printed without printing a text part page when it is determined that the text part includes only the predetermined code.

10. An e-mail receiving method, comprising:

receiving e-mail;

determining whether the received e-mail includes a text part when it is determined that the received e-mail comprises a multipart structure;

determining whether the text part includes only a predetermined code; and

determine whether image data is attached to the received e-mail, the image data being printed without printing a text part page when it is determined that the text part includes only the predetermined code.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded May 23, 2003
From: MATSUSHITA GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
To: PANASONIC COMMUNICATIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 014081/0220 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2000
From: SAITO, KYOJI
To: MATSUSHITA GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, IMC.
Reel/Frame 010915/0182 →