Patent ID: 6411393
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A data terminal which is coupled to a local area network and a public switched telephone network, comprising:a first communications device that transmits and receives electronic mails through said local area network; a second communications device that transmits and receives facsimile image information through said public switched telephone network; a memory that stores a plurality of electronic-mail delivery control information sets, each information set being uniquely assigned to each user and including user identifiers necessary for the user to access a mail server and to receive electronic mails for the user therefrom, at least one facsimile number indicating where to deliver the electronic mails, and a flag for indicating whether an electronic-mail delivery operation is required, the flag for each control information set capable of being set by its respective assigned user, each assigned user being an electronic mail recipient; and a delivery controller that controls said first and second communications devices and said memory and that allows said data terminal to perform said electronic-mail delivery operation in accordance with information of said electronic-mail delivery control information sets, wherein during said electronic-mail delivery operation, said data terminal periodically accesses the mail server using said user identifiers and downloads electronic mail for the user from said mail server when said flag indicates that said electronic-mail delivery operation is required, and said data terminal converts the electronic mail downloaded from said mail server into facsimile image information and transmits the facsimile image information to at least one communications terminal that has a facsimile communications function using said at least one facsimile number included in said user identifiers.