System for segmenting large files in an SMTP network including a digital input scanner
View Patent ↗In a digital scanner or other source for sending documents by electronic mail to a client, the size of the document is determined and a calculation is made of how many segments the document must be divided into. If the required number of segments is so large as to present a risk of flooding a network, a warning is displayed to a user. The system is particularly useful in the context of scanning to e-mail full-color images.
1. A method of conveying a document to an electronic mail server, comprising:
determining a document size of a document desired to be sent;
calculating a number of segments into which the document is to be divided;
comparing the calculated number of segments to a maximum number of segments, thereby comparing the document size to a maximum document size; and
if the document size is not more than the maximum document size, sending the document to the electronic mail server.
2. The method of claim 1 , the calculating step including taking into account a maximum segment size.
3. The method of claim 2 , the maximum segment size being related to a maximum attachment size known to be allowed by the electronic mail server.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
reading an amount of traffic associated with the electronic mail server; and
determining the maximum number of segments based on the amount of traffic.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
holding the document for sending to the electronic mail server until a predetermined time if the document is larger than a threshold document size.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
scanning a hard-copy image; and
obtaining the document at least in part from the scanning step.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising
estimating the data size of the document as a result of an attribute of the scanning step.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising
changing a resolution of the document, thereby decreasing the document size.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the changing step occurs if the document is larger than a threshold document size.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
communicating to a user in response to determining that the document size is greater than predetermined threshold size.
11. A digital hard-copy scanning apparatus, comprising:
a scanner for scanning a hard-copy image and obtaining a document at least in part therefrom;
means for determining a size of the document, and said means including means for calculating a number of segments into which the document is to be divided and comparing the calculated number of segments to a maximum number of segments; and
means for sending the document to an electronic mail server if the size of the document is not more than a maximum size.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising
means for holding the document for sending to the electronic mail server until a predetermined time if the document is larger than a threshold document size.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising
means for estimating the data size of the document as a result of an attribute of a scanning operation.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising
means for changing a resolution of the document, thereby decreasing the document size.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a resolution-changing operation occurs if the document is larger than a threshold document size.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising
means for communicating to a user in response to determining that the document size is greater than predetermined threshold size.