Facsimile Device Error Mail Recognition Without Paper Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internet-facsimile devices fail to effectively inform users of transmission errors without wasting paper, as they either require extra memory to save transmitted emails or do not print error messages when set to prevent paper waste.
Innovation Solution
A facsimile device with an e-mail receiving unit, an attached-file discriminating unit, and error print determining unit that prints only the body part of an irregular email lacking an attached file, allowing users to recognize transmission errors without unnecessary paper usage or memory storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the facsimile device is set not to print body parts of emails, then paper waste is prevented, but error mails cannot be recognized by users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the email processing into two distinct paths: one for emails with attached files (normal facsimile transmissions) and one for emails without attached files (error mails). By discriminating between these two types based on the presence of attached files, the system selectively prints only the necessary portions - body parts for error mails without attachments, and only attached files for normal mails with attachments - thus preventing paper waste while ensuring error recognition.
2Reliability
If transmitted emails are saved to detect error mails, then error mail detection is enabled, but extra memory volume is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the key identifying feature of error mails - the absence of attached files - and uses this extracted characteristic for detection purposes. Instead of saving and comparing entire email contents, the system only needs to check whether an attached file is present or absent in received emails, significantly reducing memory requirements while maintaining reliable error mail detection.
3Volume of stationary object
If transmitted emails are deleted to save memory, then memory usage is reduced, but error mail detection becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a clear rule before email reception: error mails are identified by the absence of attached files. This preliminary classification criterion allows the system to detect error mails in real-time upon receiving an email, without needing to retain previous transmitted emails in memory for comparison. The detection capability is built into the reception process itself.
Data Source
AI summary
It is intended to provide a facsimile device and a program product for facsimile printing capable of surely making a user know receipt of an irregular e-mail such as an error mail or the like, without requiring extra volume of memory, while preventing waste of paper. When an e-mail is received, there is detected whether a printing mode is set or a not-printing mode is set for a body part of an e-mail in #2. Even though a not-printing mode is set for a body part of an e-mail (#2: No), the body part is printed in #8 in case the e-mail is not accompanied by an attached file of predetermined format (#5: No). Therefore, even if a not-printing mode is set, the facsimile device can make a user know receipts of irregular mails such as an error mail, an e-mail without an attached file of predetermined format, and rough causes of the irregular mails.