U.S. patent application number 14/293100 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-25 for method and apparatus to print e-mail according to printing environment settings corresponding to each user.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hong-seock KIM, Yong-won KWON.
Application Number | 20140285835 14/293100 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40295054 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140285835 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Hong-seock ; et
al. |
September 25, 2014 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS TO PRINT E-MAIL ACCORDING TO PRINTING
ENVIRONMENT SETTINGS CORRESPONDING TO EACH USER
Abstract
A method and apparatus to print an e-mail according to printing
environment settings corresponding to each user includes receiving
a user profile stored in the outside, setting an e-mail printing
environment by using the received user profile, and printing an
e-mail received from an e-mail server according to the set e-mail
printing environment. By doing so, users can print an e-mail
according to a printing environment desired by a user in an image
forming apparatus such as a Multi Function Printer (MFP), a
printer, or the like which supports printing of an e-mail.
Inventors: |
KIM; Hong-seock; (Seoul,
KR) ; KWON; Yong-won; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
40295054 |
Appl. No.: |
14/293100 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12141236 |
Jun 18, 2008 |
8749811 |
|
|
14293100 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.14 ;
358/1.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/1206 20130101;
G06Q 10/107 20130101; G06F 3/1243 20130101; H04N 2201/0094
20130101; G06F 3/1226 20130101; G06F 3/1288 20130101; H04N 1/0023
20130101; G06F 3/1205 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.14 ;
358/1.15 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00; G06F 3/12 20060101 G06F003/12; G06Q 10/10 20060101
G06Q010/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 24, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0074199 |
Claims
1. An e-mail printing system for providing e-mail printing setting
information to a multi function printer by a web service, the
e-mail printing system comprising: a server being configured to:
store an e-mail account corresponding to a user and corresponding
e-mail printing setting information; and a multi function printer
operable to perform at least one of a print function, a copy
function, a scan function and a fax function, the multi function
printer comprising: an interface unit being configured to receive
e-mail printing setting information corresponding to the e-mail
account and receive e-mail corresponding to the e-mail account, an
e-mail printing setting unit being configured to set an e-mail
printing environment setting, an e-mail printing unit operable to
print an e-mail, and a controller being configured to cause the
e-mail printing setting unit to set the e-mail printing environment
setting based on the received e-mail printing setting information,
and cause the e-mail printing unit to print the e-mail according to
the set e-mail printing environment setting.
2. The e-mail printing system of claim 1, wherein the e-mail
printing setting information comprises filtering information
indicating which e-mail is allowed to be printed or prohibited from
being printed.
3. The e-mail printing system of claim 2, wherein the filtering
information comprises at least one of text string information,
e-mail accounts, and servers.
4. The e-mail printing system of claim 3, wherein the multi
function printer can be registered to the server by the web
service.
5. The e-mail printing system of claim 1, wherein the multi
function printer is operable to print the e-mail according to basic
e-mail printing environment setting if the e-mail printing setting
information does not exist.
6. The e-mail printing system of claim 1, wherein the interface
unit of the multi function printer is configured to receive an
e-mail stored in the server via POP3.
7. The e-mail printing system of claim 1, wherein the interface
unit of the multi function printer is configured to receive an
e-mail stored in an e-mail server from the e-mail server.
8. The e-mail printing system of claim 1, wherein the interface
unit of the multi function printer is configured to connect the
multi function printer to the server upon application of power to
the multi function printer; and wherein the multi function printer
further comprising: an update performing unit being configured to
update the e-mail account and the corresponding e-mail printing
setting information stored in the multi function printer based on
the e-mail account and the corresponding e-mail printing setting
information stored in the server.
9. A method of printing an e-mail according to printing environment
settings, the method comprising: requesting, to a server, an e-mail
printing setting information corresponding to a e-mail account
corresponding to a user; receiving the email printing setting
information from the server; setting an e-mail printing environment
by using the received e-mail printing setting information;
receiving e-mail corresponding to the e-mail account; and printing
the e-mail according to the set e-mail printing environment.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the e-mail printing setting
information comprises filtering information indicating which e-mail
is allowed to be printed or prohibited from being printed.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the filtering information
comprises at least one of text string information, e-mail accounts,
and servers.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprising:
registering an image forming apparatus to the server by the web
service.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprising:
printing the e-mail according to basic e-mail printing environment
setting if the e-mail printing setting information does not
exist.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving e-mail comprising:
receiving the e-mail stored in an e-mail server from the e-mail
server.
15. An apparatus to print an e-mail according to printing
environment settings, the apparatus comprising: An interface unit
to request, to a server, an e-mail printing setting information
corresponding to an e-mail account corresponding to a user and to
receive the email printing setting information from the server and
to receive e-mail corresponding to the e-mail account; a printing
environment setting unit to set an e-mail printing environment by
using the received printing environment; An e-mail printing unit to
print the email according to the set e-mail printing environment;
and A controller to cause the e-mail printing setting unit to set
the e-mail printing environment setting based on the received
e-mail printing setting information and cause the e-mail printing
unit to print the e-mail according to the set e-mail printing
environment.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the e-mail printing setting
information comprises filtering information indicating which e-mail
is allowed to be printed or prohibited from being printed.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the filtering information
comprises at least one of text string information, e-mail accounts,
and servers.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller to cause the
e-mail printing unit to print the e-mail according to basic e-mail
printing environment setting if the e-mail printing setting
information does not exist.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the interface unit to
receive the e-mail stored in an e-mail server from the e-mail
server.
20. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having
recorded thereon a program to execute a method, the method
comprises: requesting, to a server, an e-mail printing setting
information corresponding to an e-mail account corresponding to a
user; receiving the email printing setting information from the
server; setting an e-mail printing environment by using the
received e-mail printing setting information; receiving e-mail
corresponding to the e-mail account; and printing the e-mail
according to the set e-mail printing environment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/141,236, filed on Jun. 18, 2008, which
claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) from Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2007-0074199, filed on Jul. 24, 2007, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present general inventive concept relates to a method of
printing an e-mail, and more particularly, to a method and
apparatus to print an e-mail according to printing environment
settings corresponding to each user, which are set by using a web
service.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a
conventional e-mail printing system.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional e-mail printing system
is constituted of a Multi Function Printer (MFP) 110 and an e-mail
server 120.
[0007] The MFP 110 supports Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) or
Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) and provides an e-mail
printing function. The MFP 110 connects to the e-mail server 120,
downloads an e-mail stored in the e-mail server 120, and then
prints the downloaded e-mail.
[0008] The e-mail server 120 is an e-mail server supporting POP3 or
IMAP. The e-mail server 120 temporarily stores an e-mail
transmitted from the outside, and when a request for transmission
is received from the MFP 110, the e-mail server 120 provides the
MFP 110 with the stored e-mail.
[0009] However, since the conventional e-mail printing system
provides all users with a same printing environment, an e-mail
printing environment desired by an individual user cannot be
provided. This causes undesired e-mails to be printed, thereby
depleting resources. Also, whenever an individual user attempts to
print an e-mail in a specific printing environment, the individual
user has to input a desired e-mail printing environment to an image
forming apparatus such as an MFP, a printer, or the like, which is
inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present general inventive concept provides a method and
apparatus to print an e-mail according to printing environment
settings corresponding to each user, wherein the method and
apparatus enable an e-mail printing environment to be set by using
a web service whereby users can print an e-mail according to a
respective user desired printing environment in an image forming
apparatus such as a Multi Function Printer (MFP), a printer, or the
like which are capable of using the web-service.
[0011] Additional aspects and utilities of the present general
inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description,
or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
[0012] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a method of
printing an e-mail according to printing environment settings
corresponding to each user, the method including receiving a user
profile stored externally, setting an e-mail printing environment
by using the received user profile and printing an e-mail received
from an e-mail server according to the set e-mail printing
environment.
[0013] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a
computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a
program to execute a method, the method includes receiving a user
profile stored externally, setting an e-mail printing environment
by using the received user profile, and printing an e-mail received
from an e-mail server according to the set e-mail printing
environment.
[0014] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing an
apparatus to print an e-mail according to printing environment
settings corresponding to each user, the apparatus including an
interface unit to receive a user profile stored externally, a
printing environment setting unit to set an e-mail printing
environment by using the received user profile and an e-mail
printing unit to print an e-mail received from an e-mail server
according to the set e-mail printing environment.
[0015] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing an
email printing apparatus including a printing environment setting
unit to set a respective user desired printing environment
corresponding to a user by using a web service and an e-mail
printing unit to print an e-mail based on the set user desired
printing environment.
[0016] The user desired printing environment may include one or
more of information on a private e-mail account of the user,
filtering information indicating which e-mail is allowed to be
printed or prohibited from being printed, and information
indicating which method is to be used in printing an e-mail.
[0017] The user desired printing environment may correspond to a
user profile.
[0018] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a
method of printing an e-mail, the method including setting a
respective user desired printing environment corresponding to a
user by using a web service and printing the e-mail based on the
set user desired printing environment.
[0019] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing an
e-mail printing system including a service broker to register a
user profile correspond to a user, and a multifunctional printer
(MFP) to check whether location information of the user profile is
registered with the service broker, to connect to one of an e-mail
profile server and a user PC corresponding to the location
information based on the location information of the registered
user profile, to perform authentication on the one of the e-mail
profile server and the user PC, to receive a user profile stored in
the one of the e-mail profile server and the user PC, to interpret
the user profile, and to set an e-mail printing environment
corresponding to a respective user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The above and other features and utilities of the present
general inventive concept will become more apparent by describing
in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the
attached drawings in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a
conventional e-mail printing system;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an e-mail printing system
using a web service, according to an embodiment of the present
general inventive concept;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
MFP illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
user PC illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of printing an
e-mail by using a web service, according to an embodiment of the
present general inventive concept;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating in detail operation 510
illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating in detail operation 520
illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating in detail operation 530
illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0029] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating in detail operation 540
illustrated in FIG. 5; and
[0030] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating in detail operation 550
illustrated in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present general inventive concept, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are
described below in order to explain the present general inventive
concept by referring to the figures.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an e-mail printing system
using a web service, according to an embodiment of the present
general inventive concept.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 2, the e-mail printing system according to
the current embodiment includes a user Personal Computer (PC) 210,
an e-mail profile server 220, a service broker 230, a Multi
Function Printer (MFP) 240, and an e-mail server 250.
[0034] A user inputs a user profile to the user PC 210, and the
user profile is stored in the e-mail profile server 220 or an
internal memory device of the user PC 210. In the case where the
user profile is stored in the e-mail profile server 220, the e-mail
profile server 220 may be a service provider. In the case where the
user profile is stored in the internal memory device of the user PC
210, the user PC 210 may be a service provider. In particular, in
the case where the user profile is stored in the e-mail profile
server 220, the user PC 210 is provided with information on the
e-mail profile server 220 registered in the service broker 230,
connects to the e-mail profile server 220 by using the provided
information, and provides the connected e-mail profile server 220
with the user profile. The user PC 210 may be a desktop or laptop
computer, The user PC 210 may also be a storage medium capable of
connecting to a network.
[0035] Also, the user PC 210 scans MFPs registered in the service
broker 230, determines from among the scanned MFPs the MFP 240 that
is to use the user profile, and requests the determined MFP 240 to
perform user authentication, thereby enabling the user profile to
be applied to the desired MFP 240 so that the desired MFP 240 sets
an e-mail printing environment.
[0036] The e-mail profile server 220 stores the user profile
provided by the user PC 210, and registers a Uniform Resource
Locator (URL) of the e-mail profile server 220 in the service
broker 230, wherein the URL is location information of the user
profile. Also, when the e-mail profile server 220 receives a
request for provision of the user profile from the MFP 240, the
e-mail profile server 220 provides the MFP 240 with the requested
user profile.
[0037] The service broker 230 registers location information of the
user profile. When the service broker 230 receives a request for
the location information of the user profile from the MFP 240, the
service broker 230 provides the MFP 240 with the location
information of the requested user profile. Here, the location of
the user profile may be information indicating that the user
profile is stored in the e-mail profile server 220 or in the user
PC 210.
[0038] The MFP 240 requests the service broker 230 for the location
information of the user profile, and is provided with the location
information of the user profile from the service broker 230. Also,
the MFP 240 connects to the e-mail profile server 220 or the user
PC 210 according to the provided location information of the user
profile, thereby being provided with the user profile, and
according to the provided user profile, sets the e-mail printing
environment. Also, the MFP 240 receives an e-mail stored in the
e-mail server 250, and prints the received e-mail according to the
set e-mail printing environment. Such MFP 240 is an example of an
apparatus supporting an e-mail printing function, and image forming
apparatuses performing one or more functions from among a print
function, a copy function, a scan function, and a fax message
exchange function may substitute for the MFP 240.
[0039] The e-mail server 250 stores an e-mail transmitted from an
external location, and when the e-mail server 250 receives a
request for transmission of the e-mail from the MFP 240, the e-mail
server 250 transmits the e-mail to the MFP 240.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a
MFP 240 illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the MFP 240 includes an interface
unit 310, an authentication processing unit 320, a storage unit
330, a printing environment setting unit 340, an update check unit
350, an update performing unit 360, an e-mail printing unit 370, a
bootstrap unit 380, and a responder unit 390.
[0042] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, based on protocols such as
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), or Simple Object Access
Protocol (SOAP), the interface unit 310 connects to a service
provider such as the e-mail profile server 220 and the user PC 210,
and receives a desired user e-mail profile, thereby providing the
printing environment setting unit 340. Also, the interface unit 310
connects to the service broker 230, and based on Web Service
Definition Language (WSDL), receives location information on a
location of a stored user profile. Also, the interface unit 310
receives an e-mail stored in the e-mail server 250 via POP3,
thereby providing the e-mail printing unit 370.
[0043] The authentication processing unit 320 performs
authentication to the e-mail profile server 220 or the user PC 210
which are connected via the interface unit 310, and checks whether
the authentication is successful. Only when the authentication is
successful, the authentication processing unit 320 allows the
interface unit 310 to receive the user profile stored in the e-mail
profile server 220 or the user PC 210. At this time, a method of
performing the authentication by the authentication processing unit
320 is selected between a method of performing user authentication
by directly receiving user information via a panel of the MFP 240,
and a method of performing user authentication by connecting to the
user PC 210 via the interface 310.
[0044] The storage unit 330 stores the user profile received by the
interface unit 310. Such a stored user profile may be provided to
the update check unit 350, thereby being used in checking whether
the user profile has been updated, or provided to the printing
environment setting unit 340, thereby being used in setting an
e-mail printing environment corresponding to each user.
[0045] The printing environment setting unit 340 interprets the
user profile received by the interface unit 310, and sets an e-mail
printing environment corresponding to each user of the MFP 240. For
example, the e-mail printing environment to be set includes
information on private e-mail accounts of users, filtering
information indicating which e-mail is allowed to be printed or
prohibited from being printed, and information indicating which
method is to be used in printing an e-mail. However, when the user
profile received by the interface unit 310 does not exist, the
printing environment setting unit 340 uses basic information stored
in the MFP 240, and sets the e-mail printing environment.
[0046] The update check unit 350 checks whether updating the user
profile stored in the storage unit 330 is necessary. For this
purpose, the update check unit 350 may compare receipt date of the
user profile stored in the storage unit 330 to registration date of
the user profile registered in the service broker 230, and as a
result of the comparison, when two dates are different with each
other, the update check unit 350 may judge whether updating the
user profile is necessary.
[0047] As a result of the check by the update check unit 350, if
the update is necessary, the update performing unit 360 connects to
the e-mail profile server 220 or the user PC 210 via the interface
unit 310, receives a user profile, and overwrites the user profile
stored in the storage unit 330 with the received user profile,
thereby updating a user profile.
[0048] The e-mail printing unit 370 prints an e-mail received by
the interface unit 310, according to the e-mail printing
environment set corresponding to each user by the printing
environment setting unit 340.
[0049] When power is initially supplied to the MFP 240, the
bootstrap unit 380 informs the service broker 230 that the MFP 240
is an apparatus providing a web service e-mail print function, and
makes the MFP 240 registered in the service broker 230.
[0050] When the responder unit 390 receives a request for scan of
MFPs providing an e-mail printing function from the user PC 210,
the responder unit 390 responds to the user PC 210 that the MFP 240
provides the e-mail printing function.
[0051] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a
user PC 210 illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0052] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the user PC 210 includes an
interface unit 410, a user input unit 420, a registration unit 430,
a profile storage unit 440, a profile providing unit 450, a MFP
scan unit 460, a MFP determination unit 470, and a user
authentication unit 480.
[0053] Based on protocols such as HTTP or SOAP, the interface unit
410 connects to the e-mail profile server 220 and the MFP 240, and
transmits a user profile stored in the profile storage unit 440.
Also, the interface unit 410 connects to the service broker 230,
and based on WSDL, provides URL information of the user PC 210,
wherein the URL information is location information on a location
of a stored user profile.
[0054] The user input unit 440 is input with a user profile from a
user, and provides the e-mail profile server 220 with the input
user profile via the profile storage unit 440 or the interface unit
410.
[0055] In the case where the user profile input via the user input
unit 420 is stored in the profile storage unit 440, the
registration unit 430 provides the service broker 230 with the URL
information of the user PC 210 that is the location information on
the location of the stored user profile, via the interface unit
410.
[0056] The profile storage unit 440 stores the user profile input
via the user input unit 420. When the profile providing unit 450
receives a request for provision of the user profile from the MFP
240, the profile providing unit 450 provides the MFP 240 with the
user profile stored in the profile storage unit 440 via the
interface unit 410.
[0057] The MFP scan unit 460 scans MFPs providing an e-mail
printing function. To be more specific, the MFP scan unit 460
attempts to connect to the service broker 230 via the interface
unit 410, and as a result of the attempt, when the MFP scan unit
460 succeeds in establishing a connection, the MFP scan unit 460
scans the MFPs which provide the e-mail printing function and are
stored in the service broker 230. However, when the MFP scan unit
460 fails in establishing the connection, the MFP scan unit 460
scans MFPs providing an e-mail printing function, wherein the MFPs
are from among MFPs which are connected via a network.
[0058] From among the MFPs scanned by the MFP scan unit 460, the
MFP determination unit 470 determines the MFP 240 input via the
input unit 420 to be a MFP to which the user profile is to be
applied so as to print an e-mail.
[0059] When the MFP 240 requires user authentication, in
correspondence to this request, the user authentication unit 480
provides user authentication information. At this time, the user
authentication information may be user authentication information
input via the user input unit 420.
[0060] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of printing an
e-mail by using a web service, according to an embodiment of the
present general inventive concept.
[0061] A MFP 240, used in the method with reference to FIG. 5, is
an example of an apparatus supporting an e-mail printing function,
and image forming apparatuses performing one or more functions from
among a print function, a copy function, a scan function, and a fax
message exchange function may substitute for the MFP 240. Also, a
user PC 210 includes desktop and laptop computers, and a storage
medium capable of connecting to a network may substitute for the
user PC 210.
[0062] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, in operation 510, a user profile
input to the user PC 210 is stored in an e-mail profile server 220
or the user PC 210, and location information on a location of the
stored user profile is registered in a service broker 230. The
location information on the location of the stored user profile
indicates one of URLs of the e-mail profile server 220 and the user
PC 210. Particularly, in order to store the user profile in the
e-mail profile server 220, the user PC 210 provides the e-mail
profile server 220 with a user profile generated by a user, and the
e-mail profile server 220 stores the provided user profile.
[0063] In operation 520, the MFP 240 connects to the e-mail profile
server 220 and updates a user profile stored in the MFP 240. To be
more specific, when power is supplied to the MFP 240, the MFP 240
connects to the service broker 230 and registers the MFP 240. Then,
the MFP 240 obtains location information on currently registered
user profiles from the service broker 230. The MFP 240 connects to
the e-mail profile server 220 by using the obtained location
information, and according to the user profile stored in the e-mail
profile server 220, updates the user profile stored in the MFP
240.
[0064] In operation 530, the user PC 210 scans MFPs supporting an
e-mail printing function, and selects a MFP 240 to be used from
among the scanned MFPs. To be more specific, the user PC 210
connects to the service broker 230, scans registered MFPs, selects
the MFP 240 to be used in printing an e-mail from among the scanned
MFPs, and requests setting of a private e-mail account in the
selected MFP 240.
[0065] In operation 540, the MFP 240 selected in operation 530
receives the user profile stored in the e-mail profile server 220,
and according to the received user profile, sets an e-mail printing
environment.
[0066] In operation 550, the MFP 240 prints an e-mail according to
the e-mail printing environment set in operation 540.
[0067] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating in detail operation 510
illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0068] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, in operation 610, the user PC
210 is input a user profile in the form of XML from a user. The
user profile includes an address of an e-mail server to be used,
and basic information such as identification (ID) and password of
an e-mail account to be used in the e-mail server. Also, the user
profile may include information related to usage of an e-mail
filtering function, wherein the information is information on a
text string, e-mail accounts, or servers which should not be
printed or which are allowed to be printed. Through the e-mail
filtering function, setting spam mails or the like not to be
printed, or to set only a desired e-mail to be printed by users is
possible.
[0069] In operation 620, the user PC 210 is input by a user whether
or not to store the input user profile in the e-mail profile server
220.
[0070] If the user PC 210 is input in operation 620 that the user
profile is not stored in the e-mail profile server 220, the user PC
210 stores the user profile input in operation 610 in the user PC
210 in operation 630.
[0071] When the user PC 210 stores the user profile in operation
630, the user PC 210 connects to the service broker 230 and
registers location information of the user profile in the service
broker 230 in operation 640. At this time, the location information
of the user profile may be URL of the user PC 210.
[0072] If the user PC 210 is input in operation 620 that the user
profile is stored in the e-mail profile server 220, the user PC 210
attempts to authenticate the e-mail profile server 220, and as a
result of the attempt, determines whether the authentication is
successful in operation 650.
[0073] When the authentication is successful in operation 650, in
operation 660, the user PC 210 provides the e-mail profile server
220 with the user profile input in operation 610.
[0074] In operation 670, the e-mail profile server 220 stores the
user profile provided in operation 660, connects to the service
broker 230, and registers location information of the user profile
in the service broker 230. At this time, the location information
of the user profile may be URL of the e-mail profile server
220.
[0075] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating in detail operation 520
illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0076] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, when power is supplied to the
MFP 240 in operation 710, the MFP 240 attempts to connect to the
service broker 230 and determines whether the connection is
successful.
[0077] In operation 720, as a result of the determination in
operation 710, when the connection to the service broker 230 is
successful, the MFP 240 informs the service broker 230 that the MFP
240 provides a web service e-mail print function, and registers the
MFP 240.
[0078] In operation 730, when there is a user profile stored within
the MFP 240, the MFP 240 checks whether the user profile is
necessary for being updated. For this purpose, the MFP 240 may
check the necessity of the update by comparing date of the user
profile stored within the MFP 240 to date of the user profile
registered in the service broker 230.
[0079] As a result of the check in operation 730, when the update
is necessary, the MFP 240 connects to the e-mail profile server 220
or the user PC 210 in which the user profile is stored, and
receives the user profile in operation 740.
[0080] In operation 750, the MFP 240 updates the user profile
stored within the MFP 240 by using the user profile received in
operation 740. If a user profile is not stored within the MFP 240,
the user file may be updated by storing the user profile received
in operation 740 in the MFP 240.
[0081] In operation 760, the MFP 240 sets printing environment
corresponding to each user by using the user profile updated in
operation 750.
[0082] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating in detail operation 530
illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0083] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, in operation 810, the user PC
210 attempts to connect to the service broker 220, and determines
whether the connection is successful.
[0084] As a result of the determination in operation 810, if the
connection to the service broker 230 fails, the user PC 210 scans
usable MFPs via a network of the user PC 210 in operation 820.
[0085] As a result of the determination in operation 810, if the
connection to the service broker 230 is successful, the user PC 210
scans MFPs which provide an e-mail print function and are
registered in the service broker 230 in operation 830.
[0086] In operation 840, the user PC 210 determines a MFP 240 from
among the MFPs scanned in operations 820 and 830, wherein the MFP
240 is to use the user profile.
[0087] In operation 850, the user PC 210 performs user
authentication on the MFP 240 determined in operation 840. At this
time, a method of performing communication between the user PC 210
and the MFP 240, and thereby performing the user authentication may
be used as a method of performing user authentication. Another
method of receiving authentication information from a user via a
panel of the MFP 240 may be used. The reason of performing the user
authentication is to allow only users having access rights to the
MFP 240 to use the MFP 240. Such user authentication may be omitted
as necessary.
[0088] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating in detail operation 540
illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0089] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 9, in operation 910, the MFP 240
attempts to connect to the service broker 230, and as a result of
the attempt, checks whether the connection is successful.
[0090] As a result of the check in operation 910, if the connection
to the service broker 230 fails, the MFP 240 sets an e-mail
printing environment of the MFP 240 according to basic settings
stored in an internal memory device of the MFP 240 in operation
920.
[0091] As a result of the check in operation 910, if the connection
to the service broker 230 is successful, the MFP 240 checks whether
location information of the user profile is registered in the
service broker 230 in operation 930. As a result of the check, when
the location information of the user profile is not registered, the
MFP 240 proceeds to operation 920 and sets an e-mail printing
environment of the MFP 240 according to basic settings stored in an
internal memory device of the MFP 240.
[0092] As a result of the check in operation 930, when the location
information of the user profile is registered, the MFP 240 connects
to the e-mail profile server 220 or the user PC 210 which
correspond to the location information in operation 940.
[0093] In operation 950, the MFP 240 performs authentication on the
e-mail profile server 220 or the user PC 210 which are connected in
operation 940, checks whether the authentication is successful, and
as a result of the check, when the authentication fails, the MFP
240 proceeds to operation 920.
[0094] As a result of the check in operation 950, when the
authentication is successful, the MFP 240 receives a user profile
stored in the e-mail profile server 220 or the user PC 210 in
operation 960.
[0095] In operation 970, the MFP 240 interprets the user profile
received in operation 960, and sets an e-mail printing environment
corresponding to each user of the MFP 240. For example, such e-mail
printing environment corresponding to each user is about
information on private e-mail accounts of users, e-mail filtering
related to which e-mail is allowed or filtered, a method of
printing an e-mail, and the like.
[0096] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating in detail operation 550
illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0097] Referring to FIG. 10, in operation 1010, the MFP 240 is
input whether to print an e-mail according to e-mail printing
environment set corresponding to each user or basic printing
environment of the MFP 240.
[0098] When the MFP 240 is input so as to print an e-mail according
to the basic printing environment of the MFP 240 in operation 1010,
the MFP 240 connects to an e-mail server basically set in the MFP
240 in operation 1020.
[0099] In operation 1030, the MFP 240 receives an e-mail stored in
the connected e-mail server, and prints the received e-mail
according to the basic printing environment.
[0100] When the MFP 240 is input so as to print an e-mail according
to the e-mail printing environment set corresponding to each user
in operation 1010, the MFP 240 performs user authentication, and
when the user authentication fails, the MFP 240 proceeds to
operation 1020 in operation 1040. At this time, a method of
performing the user authentication is one of a method of directly
being input user information via a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
panel of the MFP 240 and thereby performing the user
authentication, and a method of connecting to the user PC 210 by
the MFP 240 and thereby performing the user authentication. Such
user authentication operation may be omitted as necessary.
[0101] When the user authentication is successful in operation
1040, the MFP 240 connects to the e-mail server 250 according to
the e-mail printing environment set corresponding to each user in
operation 1050.
[0102] In operation 1060, the MFP 240 receives an e-mail stored in
the e-mail server 250 connected in operation 1050, and prints the
received e-mail according to the e-mail printing environment set
corresponding to each user.
[0103] As described above, a method of printing an e-mail according
to the printing environment corresponding to each user according to
the present general inventive concept enables the e-mail printing
environment to be set by using the web service, whereby users can
conveniently set a desired e-mail printing environment in an image
forming apparatus such as a MFP or a printer which provide the web
service, and print an e-mail.
[0104] Also, once the printing environment corresponding to each
user is set, the set printing environment can be identically set in
all image forming apparatuses supporting the present general
inventive concept, without causing users to perform additional
operations.
[0105] Since the method of printing the e-mail according to the
printing environment corresponding to each user according to
various embodiments of the present general inventive concept
provides e-mail printing environment differential corresponding to
each user, users can print only desired e-mails, thereby greatly
decreasing resource depletion.
[0106] The general inventive concept can also be embodied as
computer-readable codes on a computer readable recording medium.
The computer-readable medium can include a computer-readable
recording medium and a computer-readable transmission medium. The
computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that
can store data which can be thereafter read by a computer system.
Examples of the computer readable recording medium include
read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs,
magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The
computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over
network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code
is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. The
computer-readable transmission medium can transmit carrier waves or
signals (e.g., wired or wireless data transmission through the
Internet). Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments to
accomplish the present general inventive concept can be easily
construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the present
general inventive concept pertains.
[0107] Although various embodiments of the present general
inventive concept have been illustrated and described, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in
these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit
of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in
the appended claims and their equivalents.
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