Image communication system using electronic mail and control method therefor

Abstract

An image communication system including electronic-mail apparatuses each having a function to add image-file processing information to an image file attached to an electronic mail. The image processing capability of each apparatus is examined in advance. In a transmitting-side apparatus, an image file is generated in accordance with the capability, and an electronic mail, to which the image file is attached, is transmitted to a receiving-side apparatus. Further, if the image file attached to the transmitted electronic mail cannot be processed by the receiving-side apparatus, the receiving-side apparatus notifies the transmitting-side apparatus of clarified cause of,processing failure, further, transmits its image-file processing capability and the unprocessed transmitted electronic mail to the transmitting-side apparatus. Thus, efficient image-file transmission/reception can be performed.

1 . An image communication system for performing transmission/reception of an electronic mail between a plurality of communication terminals, 
 wherein a first communication terminal among said plurality of communication terminals comprising:    electronic-mail transmission means for transmitting an electronic mail;    an image-file attachment means for attaching an image file to said electronic mail;    reading means for reading an image; and    conversion means for converting the image read by said reading means to an image file,    and wherein a second communication terminal among said plurality of communication terminals comprising:    electronic-mail reception means for receiving said electronic mail;    file extraction means for extracting an attachment file from said electronic mail;    determination means for determining whether or not the attachment file extracted by said file extraction means is an image file; and    image processing means for processing said image file,    wherein said first and second communication terminals transmit/receive an electronic mail to which an image file including image-file processing information is attached.    
   
   
       2 . The image communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said image-file processing information is added to a comment-adding field in image-file format data area.  
   
   
       3 . The image communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said image-file processing information includes information on image-file processing capability of said first communication terminal.  
   
   
       4 . The image communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said image-file processing information includes information inquiring of image-file processing capability of said second communication terminal.  
   
   
       5 . The image communication system according to  claim 4 , wherein if said second communication terminal receives an electronic mail, to which an image file including information inquiring of image-file processing capability of said second communication terminal is attached, from said first communication terminal, said second communication terminal automatically generates an image file including image-file processing capability information, and transmits an electronic mail to which the image file is attached to said first communication terminal.  
   
   
       6 . The image communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said image-file processing information includes information notifying the result of processing on a received image file.  
   
   
       7 . The image communication system according to  claim 6 , wherein said image-file processing information further includes information on image processing capability of said second communication terminal.  
   
   
       8 . An electronic-mail apparatus comprising: 
 electronic-mail transmission means for transmitting an electronic mail;    image-file attachment means for attaching an image file to said electronic mail;    reading means for reading an image; and    conversion means for converting the image read by said reading means to an image file,    wherein before said apparatus transmits an image file, said apparatus transmits an electronic mail, to inquire the image processing capability of a receiving-side apparatus, to said receiving-side apparatus.    
   
   
       9 . An electronic-mail apparatus comprising: 
 electronic-mail reception means for receiving an electronic mail;    file extraction means for extracting an attachment file from said electronic mail;    determination means for determining whether or not said attachment file is an image file;    image processing means for processing an image file; and    electronic-mail transmitting means for transmitting an electronic mail to which an image file, including image-file processing information, is attached.    
   
   
       10 . The electronic-mail apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said image-file processing information is added to a comment-adding field in image-file format data area.  
   
   
       11 . The electronic-mail apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said image-file processing information includes information on image processing capability of said apparatus.  
   
   
       12 . The electronic-mail apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein if said electronic-mail reception means receives an electronic mail to which an image file including information inquiring of image-file processing capability is attached, said electronic-mail transmission means automatically returns an electronic mail accompanied by information on image-file processing capability of said apparatus.  
   
   
       13 . The electronic-mail apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein if said electronic-mail reception means receives an electronic mail to which an image file including information inquiring of image-file processing capability of a destination apparatus is attached, said image processing means performs processing on an image file to be transmitted, based on information on image-file processing capability of said destination apparatus, 
 and wherein said electronic-mail transmission means transmits an electronic mail to which an image file processed by said image processing means is attached.    
   
   
       14 . The electronic-mail apparatus according to  claim 8 , said image-file processing information includes information notifying the result of processing on a received image file.  
   
   
       15 . The electronic-mail apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said image-file processing information further includes information on image processing capability of said apparatus.  
   
   
       16 . A communication method for an image communication system for performing transmission/reception of an electronic mail between a plurality of communication terminals, comprising: 
 an image-file attachment step of attaching an image file including image-file processing information to an electronic mail;    an electronic-mail transmission step of transmitting said electronic mail;    an electronic-mail reception step of receiving said electronic mail transmitted at said electronic-mail transmission step;    a file extraction step of extracting an attachment file from said electronic mail received at said electronic-mail reception step;    a determination step of determining whether or not the attachment file extracted at said file extraction step is an image file; and    an image processing step of, if it is determined at said determination step that the attachment file is an image file, processing said image file.    
   
   
       17 . A computer-readable memory containing a control program for an image communication system for performing transmission/reception of an electronic mail between a plurality of communication terminals, said program including: 
 image-file attachment process procedure codes for attaching an image file including image-file processing information to an electronic mail;    transmission process procedure codes for transmitting said electronic mail;    electronic-mail reception process procedure codes for receiving said electronic mail transmitted at said transmission process;    file extraction process procedure codes for extracting an attachment file from said electronic mail received at said electronic-mail reception process;    determination process procedure codes for determining whether or not the attachment file extracted at said file extraction process is an image file; and    image processing process procedure codes for, if it is determined at said determination process that the attachment file is an image file, processing said image file.    
   
   
       18 . A communication apparatus comprising: 
 generating means for generating an image file including information on image-file processing capability of said apparatus; and    transmission means for attaching said image file generated by said generating means to an electronic mail and transmitting said electronic mail.    
   
   
       19 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said image file has a comment field where comment information can be set, and wherein said generating means sets said information on image-file processing capability in said comment field.  
   
   
       20 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 electronic-mail reception means for receiving an electronic mail;    discrimination means for discriminating whether or not an image file, attached to said received electronic mail, includes information on image-file processing capability of a receiving-side apparatus; and    storage means for, if said image file, attached to said received electronic mail, includes said information on image-file processing capability of said receiving-side apparatus, extracting said information on image-file processing capability from said image file and storing said extracted information in correspondence with said receiving-side apparatus,    wherein said generating means generates an image file attached to an electronic mail, based on said information stored in correspondence with said receiving-side apparatus.    
   
   
       21 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein before said transmission means transmits said image file, said transmission means attaches an image file including information inquiring of image-file processing capability of a destination apparatus to an electronic mail, and transmits said electronic mail.  
   
   
       22 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 electronic-mail reception means for receiving an electronic mail,    wherein when an electronic mail, to which an image file including information inquiring said image-file processing capability is attached, is received, said generating means automatically generates an image file including information on image-file processing information of said apparatus.    
   
   
       23 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 electronic-mail reception means for receiving an electronic mail,    wherein said generating means generates an image file including information notifying the result of processing on an image file attached to a received electronic mail.    
   
   
       24 . The communication apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 electronic-mail reception means for receiving an electronic mail,    wherein said generating means generates an image file including information notifying the result of processing on an image file attached to a received electronic mail and information on image-file processing capability of said apparatus.    
   
   
       25 . A control method for a communication apparatus comprising: 
 a generating step of generating an image file including information on image-file processing capability of a transmitting-side communication apparatus; and    a transmission step of attaching said image file generated at said generating step to an electronic mail and transmitting said electronic mail.    
   
   
       26 . The control method according to  claim 25 , wherein said image file has a comment field where comment information can be set, and wherein at said generating step, said information on image-file processing capability of said apparatus is set in said comment field.  
   
   
       27 . The control method according to  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a discrimination step of discriminating whether or not an image file, attached to a received electronic mail, includes information on image-file processing capability of a receiving-side apparatus; and    a storage step of, if said image file, attached to said received electronic mail, includes said information on image-file processing capability, extracting said information on image-file processing capability from said image file and storing said extracted information in correspondence with said receiving-side apparatus,    wherein at said generating step, an image file attached to an electronic mail is generated based on said information stored in correspondence with said receiving-side apparatus.    
   
   
       28 . The control method according to  claim 25 , further comprising an inquiry step of transmitting an electronic mail to which an image file including information inquiring of image-file processing capability of a receiving-side apparatus is attached, prior to said transmission step.  
   
   
       29 . The control method according to  claim 28 , further comprising a response step of, if an electronic mail transmitted at said inquiry step is received from another communication apparatus, automatically transmitting an electronic mail to which an image file including information on image-file processing capability of said communication apparatus to said other communication apparatus.  
   
   
       30 . The control method according to  claim 25 , wherein at said generating step, an image file including information notifying the result of processing an image file attached to a received electronic mail is generated.  
   
   
       31 . The control method according to  claim 25 , wherein at said generating step, an image file including information notifying the result of processing an image file attached to a received electronic mail and information on image-file processing capability of said communication apparatus is generated.