Multi-function image forming apparatus with improved scan-to-email function

1. A scan-to-email method of transmitting image data of an original document with email in a multi-function image forming apparatus connected with a network, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of pieces of OCR area information defining OCR areas of original documents of different types, each OCR area information including address area information defining an address area where an address is described, and body area information defining a body area where a body is described;

reading an image of the original document with an image read device of the multi-function image forming apparatus to obtain the image data of the original document,

extracting image data of an address area of the original document from the image data of the original document according to the designated one of the plurality of pieces of OCR area information;

performing character recognition to the extracted image data of an address area of the original document to obtain a character string of the address area of the original document;

setting the obtained character string as address information of the email;

extracting image data of a body area of the original document from the image data of the original document according to the designated one of the plurality of pieces of OCR area information;

performing character recognition to the extracted image data of a body area of the original document to obtain a character string of the body area of the original document;

setting the obtained character string as body information of the email;

transmitting the email; and

registering body information to each of the plurality pieces of OCR area information;

wherein whether or not a number of characters in the obtained character string of the body area of the original document is equal to or greater than a third predetermined number is determined, and

when the number of characters in the obtained character string of the body area of the original document is equal to or greater than the third predetermined number, the obtained character string of the body area of the original document is set as the body information of the email, and

when the number of characters in the obtained character string of the body area of the original document is not equal to or greater than the third predetermined number, the body information registered to the designated one of the plurality of pieces of OCR area information is set as the body information of the email.

2. A computer readable medium storing computer program instructions which when executed by a computer perform a scan-to-email operation of transmitting image data of an original document with email in a multi-function image forming apparatus connected with a network, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of pieces of OCR area information defining OCR areas of original documents of different types, each OCR area information including address area information defining an address area where an address is described, and body area information defining a body area where a body is described;

reading an image of the original document with an image read device of the multi-function image forming apparatus to obtain the image data of the original document,

extracting image data of an address area of the original document from the image data of the original document according to the designated one of the plurality of pieces of OCR area information;

performing character recognition to the extracted image data of an address area of the original document to obtain a character string of the address area of the original document;

setting the obtained character string as address information of the email;

extracting image data of a body area of the original document from the image data of the original document according to the designated one of the plurality of pieces of OCR area information;

performing character recognition to the extracted image data of a body area of the original document to obtain a character string of the body area of the original document;

setting the obtained character string as body information of the email;

transmitting the email; and

registering body information to each of the plurality pieces of OCR area information;

wherein whether or not a number of characters in the obtained character string of the body area of the original document is equal to or greater than a third predetermined number is determined, and

when the number of characters in the obtained character string of the body area of the original document is equal to or greater than the third predetermined number, the obtained character string of the body area of the original document is set as the body information of the email, and

when the number of characters in the obtained character string of the body area of the original document is not equal to or greater than the third predetermined number, the body information registered to the designated one of the plurality of pieces of OCR area information is set as the body information of the email.

3. A multi-function image forming apparatus connected with a network, comprising:

an image read device configured to read an image of an original document to obtain image data of the original document;

an OCR device configured to recognize characters included in the original document based on the obtained image data of the original document;

an OCR area information storage device configured to store a plurality of pieces of OCR area information defining OCR areas of original documents of different types, each OCR area information including address area information defining an address area where an address is described, and body area information defining a body area where a body is described; and

an email transmission device configured to:

extract image data of an address area of the original document from the image data of the original document according to the designated one of the plurality of pieces of OCR area information,

perform character recognition to the extracted image data of the address area of the original document to obtain a character string of the address area of the original document;

set the obtained character string as address information of the email;

extract image data of a body area of the original document from the image data of the original document according to the designated one of the plurality of pieces of OCR area information;

perform character recognition to the extracted image data of the body area of the original document to obtain a character string of the body area of the original document; and

set the obtained character string as body information of the email;

a registration device configured to register body information to each of the plurality pieces of OCR area information;

a transmission device configured to transmit the email; and a computer readable medium including computer executable instructions to:

determine whether or not a number of characters in the obtained character string of the body area of the original document is equal to or greater than a third predetermined number, and

to set when the number of characters in the obtained character string of the body area of the original document is equal to or greater than the third predetermined number, the obtained character string of the body area of the original document as the body information of the email, and

to set when the number of characters in the obtained character string of the body area of the original document is not equal to or greater than the third predetermined number, the body information registered to the designated one of the plurality of pieces of OCR area information as the body information of the email.