Patent ID: 6124939
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method for transmitting and receiving image data using a facsimile apparatus with an electronic-mail function, said facsimile apparatus comprises:an operation panel having a start-key to start a transmitting operation and an inputting key to input an electronic-mail destination address;a scanner for scanning a paper document and converting the paper document into image data;compression means for compressing the scanned image data;a facsimile transmitting and receiving unit which negotiates with a sender or a destination facsimile before receiving or transmitting image data, for transmitting the compressed image data in facsimile format to a destination facsimile via a telephone network and receiving the compressed image data in facsimile format from the sender via the telephone network;a first data converting means for converting the compressed image data into an electronic-mail format;electronic-mail transmitting means for transmitting the compressed image data converted into the electronic-mail format to a destination address input with said inputting key over a network in which transmitting and receiving of an electronic-mail is possible;electronic-mail receiving means for receiving the image data converted into the electronic-mail format from a sender via a communication network;a second data converting means for converting the image data into facsimile format;expansion means for expanding the compressed image data which include the received image data in facsimile format and the received image data in electronic-mail format to enable to be printed; anda printer for printing the image data expanded by said expansion means;wherein said operation panel, said scanner, said compression means, facsimile transmitting and receiving unit, said first data converting means, said electronic-mail transmitting means, said electronic-mail receiving means, said second data converting means, said expansion means and said printer are integrated in said facsimile apparatus,said image transmitting and receiving method comprising the steps of:scanning an image of a paper document by said scanner when said start-key is pushed after said paper document is set on said scanner and an input of an electronic-mail destination address is finished;compressing the scanned image data by said compression means;converting the compressed image data into an electronic-mail format by said first data converting means; andtransmitting by said electronic-mail transmitting means the compressed image data converted into the electronic-mail format to said electronic-mail destination address input with said inputting key.