Abstract:
The present invention provides a computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein an address book transmission program for causing a computer, which includes a storage that stores therein one or more pieces of address book data, to transmit the pieces of address book data to a data transmission apparatus, each of the pieces of address book data corresponding to one or more senders, the address book transmission program causing the computer to execute: a receiving step of receiving, from the data transmission apparatus, apparatus information indicating a state of the data transmission apparatus; a reading step of reading a piece of address book data that corresponds to a sender out of the pieces of address book data stored in the storage; a judging step of, based on the apparatus information received in the receiving step, specifying a use mode that shows how the data transmission apparatus uses address book data, and judging whether or not the piece of address book data read in the reading step is appropriate to the specified use mode; an editing step of, if a result of the judging step is negative, editing the read piece of address book data so as to be appropriate to the specified use mode; and a transmitting step of transmitting the edited piece of address book data to the data transmission apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based on application No. 2008-032334 filed in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an address server that manages an address book used by data transmission apparatuses for transmitting data on a data transmission/reception system, and an address book transmission program used by the address server. 
         [0004]    (2) Related Art 
         [0005]    Recently, a data transmission technique has been used in a data transmission/reception system composed of a plurality of data transmission apparatuses that are connected for transmitting/receiving data to/from one another. Each of the data transmission apparatuses is for example an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) having transmission functions such as a FAX function, an electronic mail transmission function, an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) function, and an SMB (Server Message Block) function. According to this technique, an address server centrally manages an address book in which lists of recipients&#39; addresses are registered beforehand such that any of the data transmission apparatuses included in the data transmission/reception system can refer to the recipients&#39; addresses. The data transmission apparatuses perform data transmission using the address book by downloading it from the address server. Such a technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-108479, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-244308, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-33733, and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-20049, for example. 
         [0006]    By the way, in order to further improve the convenience of the above data transmission/reception system, the applicant of the present invention suggests a mechanism in which it is possible to refer to receiving addresses respectively registered by users themselves, using the address book. According to this mechanism, each of the users registers a receiving address as an address for receiving data destined to the user in the address server, separately from the address book in which the recipients&#39; addresses are registered. By correlating the address book with the receiving address, it is possible to refer to the receiving address using the address book. When a sender of data logs into the address server, a data transmission apparatus firstly acquires the address book from the address server. When the sender transmits the data to a recipient who has registered his receiving address in the address server for receiving data destined to the recipient, the data transmission apparatus accesses the address server to acquire the latest receiving address of the recipient. The above mechanism is useful in that the recipient can have the sender transmit data to the recipient&#39;s preferred and latest receiving address, and the sender does not need to update his address book even when the receiving address of the recipient has been changed. 
         [0007]    However, when both conventional and new data transmission apparatuses are connected in the data transmission/reception system, some of the conventional data transmission apparatuses do not support the above new mechanism in which the address book and a receiving address are related with each other. As a result, such conventional data transmission apparatuses cannot appropriately perform data transmission by referring to the receiving address. 
         [0008]    Also, there is a technique in which an image such as a face photograph is stored in correspondence with a recipient&#39;s name in the address book, and the image is displayed together with the corresponding recipient&#39;s name. When the address book includes recipients having the same name, it is possible for a sender to correctly designate an intended recipient by checking a face photograph of the intended recipient. 
         [0009]    However, when both conventional and new data transmission apparatuses are connected in the data transmission/reception system, there is a case where the address book includes an image compressed in a new image compression format (for example, JPEG-2000 format). In such a case, some of the conventional data transmission apparatuses do not support this new image compression format, and as a result cannot display the image in the new image compression format included in the address book. 
         [0010]    As described above, a problem might occur that when an address book stored in the address server is inappropriate to a use mode in which a data transmission apparatus uses the address book due to the capability of the data transmission apparatus, the data transmission apparatus cannot not properly use the address book, and as a result, cannot determine a recipient&#39;s address. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, recent data transmission apparatuses support a plurality of types of languages, and display descriptions on its screen in a language that has been determined for each of the data transmission apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as a “determined language”). 
         [0012]    However, there is a case that a description language of an address book stored in the address server is different from a determined language of a data transmission apparatus. In such a case, even when this data transmission apparatus acquires the address book and displays the acquired address book, a user of the data transmission apparatus might not be able to understand items included in the displayed address book such as a recipient&#39;s name. 
         [0013]    As described above, a problem also might occur that when an address book stored in the address server is inappropriate to a use mode in which a data transmission apparatus uses the address book due to the configuration of the data transmission apparatus, the data transmission apparatus cannot not appropriately use the address book, and as a result, cannot determine a recipient&#39;s address. 
         [0014]    The present invention is made in view of the above problems. In a system in which, a data transmission apparatus receives an address book stored in an address server and uses the received address book, the present invention aims to make it possible for the data transmission apparatus to determine a recipient&#39;s address, even when the address book stored in the address server is inappropriate to a use mode in which the data transmission apparatus uses the address book due to a problem of the capability or the configuration of the data transmission apparatus. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In order to achieve the above problem, an aspect of the present invention provides a computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein an address book transmission program for causing a computer, which includes a storage that stores therein one or more pieces of address book data, to transmit the pieces of address book data to a data transmission apparatus, each of the pieces of address book data corresponding to one or more senders, the address book transmission program causing the computer to execute: a receiving step of receiving, from the data transmission apparatus, apparatus information indicating a state of the data transmission apparatus; a reading step of reading a piece of address book data that corresponds to a sender out of the pieces of address book data stored in the storage; a judging step of, based on the apparatus information received in the receiving step, specifying a use mode that shows how the data transmission apparatus uses address book data, and judging whether or not the piece of address book data read in the reading step is appropriate to the specified use mode; an editing step of, if a result of the judging step is negative, editing the read piece of address book data so as to be appropriate to the specified use mode; and a transmitting step of transmitting the edited piece of address book data to the data transmission apparatus. 
         [0016]    Also, in order to achieve the above problem, another aspect of the present invention provides an address book transmission method for causing a computer, which includes a storage that stores therein one or more pieces of address book data, to transmit the pieces of address book data to a data transmission apparatus, each of the pieces of address book data corresponding to one or more senders, the address book transmission method comprising: a receiving step of receiving, from the data transmission apparatus, apparatus information indicating a state of the data transmission apparatus; a reading step of reading a piece of address book data that corresponds to a sender out of the pieces of address book data stored in the storage; a judging step of, based on the apparatus information received in the receiving step, specifying a use mode that shows how the data transmission apparatus uses address book data, and judging whether or not the piece of address book data read in the reading step is appropriate to the specified use mode; an editing step of, if a result of the judging step is negative, editing the read piece of address book data so as to be appropriate to the specified use mode; and a transmitting step of transmitting the edited piece of address book data to the data transmission apparatus. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, in order to achieve the above problem, another aspect of the present invention provides an address server that transmits pieces of address book data to a data transmission apparatus, the address server comprising: a storage that stores therein one or more pieces of address book data, each of the pieces of address book data corresponding to one or more senders; a receiver operable to receive, from the data transmission apparatus, apparatus information indicating a state of the data transmission apparatus; a reader operable to read a piece of address book data that corresponds to a sender out of the pieces of address book data stored in the storage; a judge operable to, based on the apparatus information received by the receiver, specify a use mode that shows how the data transmission apparatus uses address book data, and judge whether or not the piece of address book data read by the reader is appropriate to the specified use mode; an editor operable to, if a result of the judgment by the judge is negative, edit the read piece of address book data so as to be appropriate to the specified use mode; and a transmitter operable to transmit the edited piece of address book data to the data transmission apparatus. 
         [0018]    With the above structure, by causing a computer to execute the address book transmission program of the present invention, the computer functions as an address server, specifies a use mode in which a data transmission apparatus uses an address book. When the address book stored in the computer is inappropriate to the use mode, the computer edits the address book so as to be appropriate to the use mode, and transmits the edited address book to the data transmission apparatus. Accordingly, even when an address book stored in the computer is inappropriate to a use mode in which a data transmission apparatus uses the address book due to a problem of the capability or the configuration of the data transmission apparatus, the data transmission apparatus can determine a recipient&#39;s address using the address book. 
         [0019]    Also, in the address book transmission program, the storage further stores therein receiving addresses respectively corresponding to recipients&#39; names, each of the pieces of address book data includes, with respect to each of the recipients&#39; names, one of a receiving address and a reference instruction for referring to a receiving address corresponding to the recipient&#39;s name among the receiving addresses stored in the storage, if the read piece of address book data includes at least one reference instruction with respect to at least one of the recipients&#39; names, the judging step judges, based on the apparatus information, whether or not the use mode shows that the data transmission apparatus receives a receiving address corresponding to the at least one of the recipients&#39; names stored in the storage to use the corresponding receiving address, and the editing step edits the piece of address book data to extract the corresponding receiving address from the storage and replace the reference instruction with the corresponding receiving address. 
         [0020]    With this structure, when a data transmission apparatus is not capable of using a function for receiving a receiving address registered by a recipient stored in the computer to designate the received receiving address as an address of the recipient, the computer edits an address book by inserting the receiving address into the address book, and transmits the edited address book to the data transmission apparatus. Accordingly, the data transmission apparatus can refer to the inserted receiving address by acquiring data of the address book. Therefore, even when an address book is inappropriate to a use mode in which a data transmission apparatus uses the address book, the data transmission apparatus can determine a recipient&#39;s address using the address book. 
         [0021]    Also, in the above address book transmission program, the read piece of address book data includes an item described in a prescribed language, the apparatus information indicates a determined language that has been determined for the data transmission apparatus, the judging step judges, based on the apparatus information, whether or not the use mode shows that the data transmission apparatus uses the prescribed language as the determined language, and the editing step edits the piece of address book data to convert the item described in the prescribed language into the item described in a common language. 
         [0022]    With this structure, when a determined language of a data transmission apparatus is different from a description language of an address book stored in the computer, the computer edits the address book to convert a description of the address book stored in the computer into a common language description, and transmits the edited address book to the data transmission apparatus. The common language is a language whose description can be generally understood by most of users, and is for example English. Fonts of the common language are stored in data transmission apparatuses specified by each of countries, as a standard specification. Accordingly, for example, there is a possibility that when items of an address book are described in Japanese and a determined language of a data transmission apparatus is a language other than Japanese, even if the data transmission apparatus receives data of this address book, a user of the data transmission apparatus might not be able to understand the items described in Japanese. In such a case, since the Japanese description is converted into a description in a common language, the user can understand the description of the items and perform operations for selecting a recipient&#39;s name. Therefore, even when an address book is inappropriate to a use mode in which a data transmission apparatus uses the address book, the data transmission apparatus can determine a recipient&#39; address using the address book. 
         [0023]    Also, in the above address book transmission program, the read piece of address book data includes image data in a prescribed data format, the judging step specifies, based on the apparatus information, as the use mode, one or more data formats according to which the data transmission apparatus is able to display the image data when displaying the piece of address book data, and judges whether or not the use mode shows that the data transmission apparatus is able to display image data in the prescribed data format, by judging whether or not the prescribed data format is included in the specified data formats, and the editing step edits the piece of address book data to convert the prescribed data format of the image data into one of the specified data formats. 
         [0024]    With this structure, when a data transmission apparatus does not support a data format of image data included in an address book stored in the computer, the computer edits the address book to convert the data format of the image data into a data format according to which the data transmission apparatus can display the image, and transmits the edited address book to the data transmission apparatus. Accordingly, since the data transmission apparatus can display the image included in the received address book, a user of the data transmission apparatus can select a recipient by checking the displayed image. Therefore, even when an address book is inappropriate to a use mode in which a data transmission apparatus uses the address book, the data transmission apparatus can determine a recipient&#39;s address using the address book. 
         [0025]    Also, in the above address book transmission program, the read piece of address book data includes image data having a prescribed resolution, the judging step specifies, based on the apparatus information, as the use mode, one or more resolutions according to which the data transmission apparatus is able to display the image data when displaying the piece of address book data, and judges whether or not the use mode shows that the data transmission apparatus is able to display image data having the prescribed resolution, by judging whether or not the prescribed resolution is included in the specified resolutions, and the editing step edits the piece of address book data to convert the prescribed resolution of the image data into one of the specified resolutions. 
         [0026]    With this structure, when a data transmission apparatus does not support a resolution of an image included in an address hook stored in the computer, the computer edits the address book to convert the resolution of the image into a resolution according to which the data transmission apparatus can display the image, and transmits the edited address book to the data transmission apparatus. Accordingly, since the data transmission apparatus can display the image included in the received address book, a user of the data transmission apparatus can select a recipient by checking the displayed image. Therefore, even when an address book is inappropriate to a use mode in which a data transmission apparatus uses the address book, the data transmission apparatus can determine a recipient&#39;s address using the address book. 
         [0027]    Also, in the above address book transmission program, the read piece of address book data includes, with respect to each of recipients&#39; names, one of a piece of monochrome image data and a piece of color image data, if the piece of address book data includes at least one piece of color image data with respect to at least one of the recipients&#39; names, the judging step judges, based on the apparatus information, whether or not the use mode shows that the data transmission apparatus is able to display color image data, and the editing step edits the piece of address book data to convert the color image data into monochrome image data. 
         [0028]    With this structure, when a data transmission apparatus is not capable of displaying color image and an address book stored in the computer includes color image data, the computer edits the address book to convert the color image data into monochrome image data, and transmits the edited address book to the data transmission apparatus. Accordingly, since the data transmission apparatus can display, as a monochrome image, the color image included in the received address book data, a user of the data transmission apparatus can select a recipient by checking the displayed monochrome image. Therefore, even when an address book is inappropriate to a use mode in which a data transmission apparatus uses the address book, the data transmission apparatus can determine a recipient&#39;s address using the address book. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a specific embodiment of the invention. In the Drawings: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a data transmission system that includes an address server  100 , an MFP  200 , and a PC  300 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the structure of the address server  100 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  shows a personal address book Al according to a first embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  shows a recipient setting address book A 2 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  shows aversion information table T 1  according to the first embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing operations of the address server  100  according to the first embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  shows examples of personal address books displayed by the MFP  200  according to the first embodiment; 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  shows a personal address book A 6  according to a second embodiment; 
           [0038]      FIG. 9  shows a version information table T 2  according to the second embodiment; 
           [0039]      FIG. 10  is a first flow chart showing operations of an address server  400  according to the second embodiment; and 
           [0040]      FIG. 11  is a second flow chart showing operations of the address server  400  according to the second embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0041]    The following describes embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. 
       First Embodiment 
     (1. Structure) 
     (1-1. System Structure) 
       [0042]      FIG. 1  shows a data transmission system that includes an address server  100  according to a first embodiment, a plurality of MFPs  200 A to  200 C, and a PC (Personal Computer)  300  that are connected with each other via a LAN (Local Area Network). 
         [0043]    Each of the MFPs  200 A to  200 C is an example of a data transmission apparatus. Although three MFPs are shown in  FIG. 1  for convenience, the number of MFPs to be included in the data transmission system is not limited to three. When the MFPs  200 A to  200 C are not distinguished from each other, the MFPs  200 A to  200 C are collectively referred to as an MFP  200 . 
         [0044]    The address server  100  is a general-purpose computer such as a workstation computer, and functions as an address server by executing an address book transmission program which is described later. The address server  100  stores, in a storage device included therein, personal address book data and recipient setting address book data which are described later. A user creates personal address book data and recipient setting address book data using the PC  300 , and stores the created personal address book data and recipient setting address book data in the address server  100 . At least one of these address books is received and used by the MFP  200  for specifying an address of a recipient to which data is transmitted. 
         [0045]    The MFP  200  has a function for transmitting image data using various transmission methods such as FAX and e-mails via the LAN and other wide area networks which are not shown in the figure. The image data is for example image data generated by scanning documents, image data stored therein, and image data transmitted by a sender from the PC  300 . The MFP  200  includes both conventional MFPs and new MFPs, which often have different versions. Functions of the MFP  200  differ depending on version. For example, an MFP  200  with a new version has a function for specifying a recipient&#39;s address by receiving and using personal address book data and recipient setting address book data that are stored in the address server  100 . On the other hand, an MFP  200  with a conventional version has a function for specifying a recipient&#39;s address by receiving and using personal address book data stored in the address server  100 , and does not have a function for specifying a recipient&#39;s address by receiving and using recipient setting address book data stored in the address server  100 . Also, it is possible to determine a language for displaying characters in the MFP  200 . For example, it is possible to select English as a determined language for displaying characters. It is generally considered that most of users can understand English descriptions. Also, as a standard specification, English fonts are stored in MFPs specified by each of countries. In addition to English, it is possible to select Japanese as a determined language for displaying characters, for example. Here, in the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the MFP  200 A has a version including a function for specifying a recipient&#39;s address by receiving and using personal address book data and recipient setting address book data that are stored in the address server  100 , and a determined language of the MFP  200 A is Japanese. The MFP  200 B has a version including a function for specifying a recipient&#39;s address by receiving and using personal address book data stored in the address server  100 , and does not have a function for specifying a recipient&#39;s address by receiving and using recipient setting address book data stored in the address server  100 , and a determined language of the MFP  200 B is Japanese. The MFP  200 C has a version including a function for specifying a recipient&#39;s address by receiving and using a personal address book and a recipient setting address book data that are stored in the address server  100 , and a determined language of the MFP  200 C is English. 
         [0046]    Note that when the MFP  200  performs communication with the address server  100 , the MFP  200  transmits apparatus information showing a state thereof to the address server  100 . The apparatus information includes version information showing a version of the MFP  200  and determined language information showing a language determined for the MFP  200 . Accordingly, the address server  100  is notified of the version and the determined language of the MFP  200 . 
       (1-2. Structure of Address Server  100 ) 
       [0047]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the structure of the address server  100 . 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the address server  100  includes a storage unit  101 , a control unit  102 , a RAM (Random Access Memory)  106 , a communication unit  107 , and an external interface  108 . 
         [0049]    The storage unit  101  is a storage medium such as a hard disk, and stores therein a personal address book Al, a recipient setting address book A 2 , a version information table T 1 , and a language conversion dictionary D. 
         [0050]    The personal address book Al includes personal address books in which recipients are registered by each of users. The personal address book Al here includes, as an example, address books respectively registered by five users TANAKA, SUZUKI, YOSHIDA, OHTA, and YAMAMOTO. 
         [0051]    The recipient setting address book A 2  includes address books respectively registered by the users themselves, as recipient setting addresses for receiving data destined to the users. The recipient setting address book A 2  here includes, as an example, recipient setting address books respectively registered by the five users TANAKA, SUZUKI, YOSHIDA, OHTA, and YAMAMOTO. 
         [0052]    The version information table T 1  shows functions supported by the MFP  200  for each version. 
         [0053]    Note that the names of the above five users included in the personal address book A 1  and the recipient setting address book A 2  are Japanese people names, and are described in Japanese language. 
         [0054]    The language conversion dictionary D is a dictionary for converting a particular language description of items included in a personal address book into another language description. In the first embodiment, the language conversion dictionary D is used as a dictionary for converting Japanese descriptions or the like into English descriptions (descriptions in Roman characters), for example. 
         [0055]    The control unit  102  controls each operation of the address server  100 , and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  103  and a ROM (Read Only Memory)  104 . 
         [0056]    The CPU  103  performs processing by reading programs from the ROM  104  and executing the read programs. 
         [0057]    The ROM  104  stores therein programs to be executed by the CPU  103 , and particularly stores therein an address book transmission program  105 . 
         [0058]    The address book transmission program  105  is a control program to be executed in order for the address server  100  to transmit the personal address book A 1  and the recipient setting address book A 2  to the MFP  200 . The address book transmission program  105  includes a reading unit  105   a , a use mode judgment unit  105   b , an address book edition unit  105   c , and a transmission instruction unit  105   d.    
         [0059]    The read unit  105   a  reads the personal address book A 1  from the storage unit  101  into the RAM  106 . 
         [0060]    The use mode judgment unit  105   b  specifies a function supported by the MFP  200  based on the version information received from the MFP  200  via the external interface  108  and the communication unit  107  and the version information table T 1 , and specifies a determined language of the MFP  200  based on the language setting information received from the MFP  200  likewise, and judges whether the specified function and determined language of the MFP  200  support the personal address book A 1 . 
         [0061]    In a case where the use mode judgment unit  105   b  judges that one of the function and the determined language of the MFP  200  does not support the personal address book A 1 , the address book edition unit  105   c  edits the personal address book A 1  read into the RAM  106  so as to be supported by the one of the function and the determined language of the MFP  200 . 
         [0062]    The instruction unit  105   d  instructs the communication unit  107  to transmit the personal address book A 1  stored in the RAM  106  to the MFP  200 . 
         [0063]    The RAM  106  is a work memory that temporarily stores therein data while the CPU  103  executes a program stored in the ROM  104 . 
         [0064]    The communication unit  107  performs data processing for transmitting and receiving data via the external interface  108 . Specifically, the communication unit  107  performs data processing based on the Ethernet or a TCP/IP protocol, and transmits, to the control unit  102 , data received from the MFP  200  via, the external interface  108 , and transmits, to the external interface  108 , data transmitted from the control unit  102 . 
         [0065]    The external interface  108  is for example a LAN adapter, and is between the LAN and the address server  100 . 
       (2. Address Book) 
       [0066]    The following describes the personal address book A 1  and the recipient setting address book A 2  that are stored in the storage unit  101 . 
       (2-1. Personal Address Book A 1 ) 
       [0067]      FIG. 3  shows the personal address book A 1 , which is displayed in the MFP  200  for convenience. 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the personal address book A 1  is composed of a plurality of address books in which recipients are registered by each of users.  FIG. 3  selectively shows personal address books A 1 T and A 1 S respectively registered by TANAKA (A 1   a  described in Japanese) and SUZUKI (A 1   b  described in Japanese). 
         [0069]    In the personal address book A 1 T of TANAKA (A 1   a ), names of SUZUKI (A 1   c  described in Japanese), YOSHIDA (A 1   d  described in Japanese), OHTA (A 1   e  described in Japanese), and YAMAMOTO (A 1   f  described in Japanese) are registered as recipients. Also, in the personal address book of TANAKA (A 1   a ), an e-mail address “ohta@xxxx.xx” (A 1   g ) is registered as an address of OHTA (A 1   e ), and a fax number “072-XXXX-XXXX” (A 1   h ) is registered as an address of YAMAMOTO (A 1   f ). With respect to addresses of SUZUKI (A 1   c ) and YOSHIDA (A 1   d ), flags are turned on that indicate that recipient setting addresses respectively registered in recipient setting address books by SUZUKI (A 1   c ) and YOSHIDA (A 1   d ) are used as addresses for receiving data destined from TANAKA. The MFP  200  displays a description “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” (A 1   i  described in Japanese) on address fields corresponding to the flags. If the description “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” is displayed on an address field corresponding to a recipient, a recipient setting address registered by the recipient is used. 
       (2-2. Recipient Setting Address Book A 2 ) 
       [0070]      FIG. 4  shows the recipient setting address book A 2 . 
         [0071]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the recipient setting address book A 2  is composed of a plurality of address books respectively registered by the users themselves, as recipient setting addresses for receiving data destined to the users.  FIG. 4  selectively shows recipient setting address books A 2 S and A 2 Y respectively registered by SUZUKI (A 2   a  described in Japanese) and YOSHIDA (A 2   b  described in Japanese). 
         [0072]    In the recipient setting address book of SUZUKI (A 2   a ), an address “http://xxx.xxx/WebDAV” (A 2   c ) based on the WebDAV (Web-based Distributed Authorizing and Versioning) standard is registered as a recipient setting address having a primary priority. Also, an e-mail address “suzuki@xxxx.xx” (A 2   d ) is registered as a recipient setting address having a second priority. Furthermore, a mobile phone e-mail address “suzuki@xxxx.mobile.xx” (A 2   e ) is registered as a recipient setting address having a third priority. 
         [0073]    Also, in the recipient setting address book of YOSHIDA (A 2   b ), a fax number “072-YYYY-YYYY” (A 2   f ) is registered as a recipient setting address having a primary priority, and an e-mail address “yoshida@xxx.xx” (A 2   g ) is registered as a recipient setting address having a second priority. 
       (2-3. How to Use Address Books) 
       [0074]    Here, the following describes how to use the personal address book A 1  and the recipient setting address book A 2 . 
         [0075]    In order to transmit predetermined data, the MFP  200  connects to the address server  100 , and receives personal address book data registered by a user from the address server  100 . The MFP  200  designates addresses registered in the personal address book, and transmits the predetermined data to the designated addresses. 
         [0076]    When the received personal address book includes a recipient whose address is described as “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” in an address field corresponding to the recipient, the MFP  200  again connects to the address server  100  immediately before transmitting the predetermined data, and receives, from the address server  100 , a registered recipient setting address of the recipient whose address is described as “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” in the corresponding address field of the personal address book. The MFP  200  designates the received recipient setting address, and transmits the data to the designated recipient setting address. 
         [0077]    Note that the MFP  200  that supports the recipient setting address books is capable of performing a first operation for designating a recipient&#39;s address included in a personal address book and a second operation for receiving the personal address book A 1  and then receiving the recipient setting address book A 2  to designate a recipient setting address included in the recipient setting address book A 2 . The MFP  200  that does not support the recipient setting address books is capable of performing the first operation, but is incapable of performing the second operation. 
       (3. Version Information Table) 
       [0078]      FIG. 5  shows the version information table T 1 . 
         [0079]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the version information table T 1  stores therein versions of the MFP  200  and flags each indicating whether the MFP  200  supports the recipient setting address book, in correspondence with each other. According to  FIG. 5 , the MFP  200  with Ver. 01. 01 does not support the recipient setting address books. The MFPs  200  with Ver. 01. 02, Ver. 01. 03, and Ver. 02. 01 support the recipient setting address books. 
       (4. Operations) 
       [0080]    The following describes operations of the address server  100 . 
         [0081]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing the operations of the address server  100 .  FIG. 6  shows the operations performed when the address server  100  receives a download request for the personal address book A 1  from the MFP  200 . 
         [0082]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , upon receiving a download request for a personal address book of a user (hereinafter referred to as a “request user”) (Step S 100 : YES), the address server  100  receives apparatus information of the MFP  200  (Step S 101 ). Note that the MFP  200  usually transmits version information and language setting information thereof in response to the download request for the personal address book. 
         [0083]    The address server  100  reads data of a personal address book corresponding to the request user from the storage unit  101  into the RAM  106  (Step S 102 ), and judges whether the personal address book includes a recipient whose address is described as “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” in an address field corresponding to the recipient (Step S 103 ). 
         [0084]    If the personal address book includes the recipient whose address is described as “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” (Step S 103 : YES), the address server  100  judges whether or not the MFP  200  supports the recipient setting address book A 2  based on the version information of the MFP  200  received in Step S 101  and the version information table T 1  stored in the storage unit  101  (Step S 104 ). 
         [0085]    If the MFP  200  does not support the recipient setting address book A 2  (Step S 104 : NO), the address server  100  reads, from the recipient setting address book A 2 , a recipient setting address registered by the recipient, and inserts the read recipient setting address into the corresponding address field of the personal address book stored in the RAM  106  (Step S 105 ). As a result, the description “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” in the address field of the personal address book stored in the RAM  106  is edited to be the recipient setting address. 
         [0086]    If the personal address book of the request user does not include the recipient whose address is described as “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” (Step S 103 : NO), or if the MFP  200  supports the recipient setting address book A 2  (Step S 104 : YES), the address server  100  does not edit the personal address book. 
         [0087]    Then, the address server  100  checks a description language of the personal address book of the request user (Step S 106 ), and judges whether or not the description language of the personal address book of the request user is conformable to a determined language of the MFP  200 , based on the language setting information received in Step S 101  (Step S 107 ). 
         [0088]    If the description language of the personal, address book of the request user is unconformable to the determined language of the MFP  200  (Step S 107 : NO), the address server  100  converts the description of the recipients&#39; names included in the personal address book stored in the RAM  106  into a description in Roman characters, with reference to the language conversion dictionary D (Step S 108 ). 
         [0089]    If the description language of the personal address book of the request user is conformable to the determined language of the MFP  200  (Step S 107 : YES), the address server  100  does not edit the personal address book. 
         [0090]    Then, the address server  100  transmits the personal address book stored in the RAM  106  to the MFP  200  (Step S 109 ). If the personal address book has not been edited in both Step S 105  and Step S 108 , the personal address book to be transmitted to the MFP  200  in Step S 109  is what has been read in Step S 102  and not edited. If the personal address book has been edited in either of Step S 105  and Step S 108 , the personal address book to be transmitted to the MFP  200  in Step S 109  is what has been edited. 
       (5. Specific Example) 
       [0091]    The following describes a specific example of a personal address book to be transmitted to the MFP  200  and displayed by the MFP  200  as a result of the operations shown in  FIG. 6  performed by the address server  100 . 
         [0092]      FIGS. 7A to 7C  show examples of personal address books displayed by the MFP  200 . The examples here show cases where a request user of the MFP  200  is TANAKA. 
         [0093]      FIG. 7A  shows a personal address book A 3 T of TANAKA (A 3   a ) to be transmitted in a case where edition has not been performed in both of Step S 105  and Step S 108 . This personal address book A 3 T is the same as the personal address book A 3 T of TANAKA stored in the storage unit  101 . This is because this personal address book has not been edited. 
         [0094]      FIG. 7B  shows a personal address book A 4 T to be transmitted in a case where edition has been performed in Step S 105 . In this personal address book A 4 T, the address of SUZUKI described as “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” in the personal address book A 3 T shown in  FIG. 7A  is edited to be the address “http://xxx.xxx/WebDAV” (A 2   c ) registered in the recipient setting address book A 2 S shown in  FIG. 4 . Also, the address of YOSHIDA described as “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” in the personal address book A 3 T shown in  FIG. 7A  is edited to be the fax number “072-YYYY-YYYY” (A 2   f ) registered in the recipient setting address book A 2 Y shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0095]      FIG. 7C  shows a personal address book to be transmitted in a case where edition has been performed in Step S 108 . This personal address book has been edited such that all descriptions in Japanese are converted into descriptions in Roman characters (“TANAKA” is converted from A 3   e  to A 5   e,  “SUZUKI” is converted from A 3   a  to A 5   a , “YOSHIDA” is converted from A 3   c  to A 5   c , “OHTA” is converted form A 3   f  to A 5   f,  and “YAMAMOTO” is converted from A 3   g  to A 5   g ). In this personal address book, the descriptions “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” are converted from Japanese (A 3   b  and A 3   d ) to English (A 5   b  and A 5   d ). This is because a determined language of the MFP  200  is English and the MFP  200  is configured to display descriptions in English based on a flag indicating that the MFP  200  supports the recipient setting address books. 
       (6. Conclusion) 
       [0096]    As described above, when an MFP  200  does not support a function for determining a recipient&#39;s address using the recipient setting address book A 2 , a personal address book of a user of the MFP  200  is edited such that a recipient setting address registered by the recipient is inserted into an address field corresponding to the recipient in the personal address book. Then, the edited personal address book is transmitted to the MFP  200 . 
         [0097]    Also, when a determined language of an MFP  200  differs from a description language of a personal address book of a request user, the personal address book is edited to convert a description of items in a prescribed language into a description in a common language. Then, the edited personal address book is transmitted to the MFP  200 . 
         [0098]    Accordingly, even when an address book stored in the address server is inappropriate to a use mode in which a data transmission apparatus uses the address book due to a problem of the capability or the configuration of the data transmission apparatus, the data transmission apparatus can determine a recipient&#39;s address using the address book. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0099]    The following describes an address server  400  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0100]    In the first embodiment, the address server  100  edits the personal address book A 1  depending on a determined language of an MFP  200  and whether the MFP  200  supports the recipient setting address book A 2 . In the second embodiment, when the personal address book A 1  includes an image, the address server  400  edits the personal address book A 1  depending on whether an MFP  200  supports the image. 
         [0101]    The following describes the address server  400 , focusing on the difference from the address server  100 . 
         [0102]    The structure of the address server  400  is substantially the same as the structure of the address server  100  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Data stored in a personal address book and a version information table stored in the storage unit  101  of the address server  400  are different from those of the address server  100 . 
       (1. Personal Address Book A 6 ) 
       [0103]      FIG. 8  shows a personal address book A 6  according to the second embodiment. 
         [0104]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the personal address book A 6 T according to the second embodiment is composed of a plurality of address books in which recipients and images corresponding thereto are registered each of users.  FIG. 8  selectively shows a personal address book A 6 T registered by TANAKA (A 6   a  described in Japanese). 
         [0105]    In the personal address book of TANAKA (A 6   a ), SUZUKI (A 6   b  described in Japanese), YOSHIDA (A 6   c  described in Japanese), OHTA (A 6   d  described in Japanese), and YAMAMOTO (A 6   e  described in Japanese) are registered as recipients. Also, images of face photographs (A 6   f  to A 6   i ) respectively corresponding to the recipients and addresses (A 6   j  to A 6   m ) of the recipients are registered. Furthermore, as addresses of OHTA (A 6   d ) and YAMAMOTO (A 6   e ), an e-mail address (A 6   l ) and a fax number (A 6   m ) are respectively registered. Also, flags are turned on that indicate that recipient setting addresses respectively registered in recipient setting address books by SUZUKI (A 6   b ) and an address of YOSHIDA (A 6   c ) are used as addresses for receiving data destined from TANAKA. The MFP  200  displays the description “FOLLOW RECIPIENT&#39;S SETTING” (A 6   j  and A 6   k  described in Japanese) in address fields corresponding to the flags. 
       (2. Version Information Table T 2 ) 
       [0106]      FIG. 9  shows a version information table T 2  according to the second embodiment. 
         [0107]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the version information table T 2  according to the second embodiment stores therein versions of the MFP  200 , a data format of image data supported (can be displayed) by the MFP  200 , the maximum resolution supported (can be displayed) by the MFP  200 , and a flag indicating whether color images are supported (can be displayed) by the MFP  200 , in correspondence with each other. 
         [0108]    According to  FIG. 9 , an MFP  200  with Ver. 01. 01 supports monochrome image data having a maximum resolution of 20×20 in JPEG format and GIF format. An MFP  200  with Ver. 01. 02 and an MFP  200  with Ver. 01. 03 support monochrome image data having a maximum resolution of 25×25 in JPEG format, JPEG 2000 format, and GIF format. An MFP  200  with Ver. 02. 01 supports monochrome and color image data having a maximum resolution of 30×30 in JPEG format and JPEG 2000 format. 
       (3. Operations) 
       [0109]    The following describes operations of the address server  400 . 
         [0110]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are flow charts showing the operations of the address server  400 .  FIGS. 10 and 11  show the operations performed when the address server  400  receives a request for a personal address A 6  book from the MFP  200 . 
         [0111]    As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , upon receiving a download request for a personal address book of a request user (Step S 200 : YES), the address server  400  receives version information and language setting information of the MFP  200  (Step S 201 ), and reads data of a personal address book corresponding to the request user from the storage unit  101  into the RAM  106  (Step S 202 ). Processing performed in Steps S 200  to S 202  is the same as processing performed in Steps S 100  to S 102  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0112]    The address server  400  judges whether or not the personal address book stored in the RAM  106  includes an image (Step S 203 ). 
         [0113]    If the personal address book includes the image (Step S 203 : YES), the address server  400  checks a data format of the image (Step S 204 ), and further judges whether or not the MFP  200  supports the data format of the image, based on the version information of the MFP  200  received in Step S 201  and the version information table T 2  (Step S 205 ). 
         [0114]    If the MFP  200  does not support the data format of the image (Step S 205 : NO), the address server  400  converts the data format of the image data included in the personal address book stored in the RAM  106  into a data format supported by the MFP  200  (Step S 206 ). As a result, the format of the image included in the personal address book of the request user is edited to be a format according to which the MFP  200  can display the image. 
         [0115]    If the MFP  200  of the request user supports the data format of the image (Step S 205 : YES), the address server  400  does not edit the personal address book. 
         [0116]    Then, the address server  400  checks a resolution of the image (Step S 207 ), and judges whether the MFP  200  supports the resolution of the image, based on the version information of the MFP  200  received in Step S 201  and the version information T 2  (Step S 208 ). 
         [0117]    If the MFP  200  does not support the resolution of the image (Step S 208 : NO), the address server  400  converts the resolution of the image included in the personal address book stored in the RAM  106  into a resolution supported by the MFP  200  (Step S 209 ). As a result, the format of the image included in the personal address book of the request user is edited to be a format according to which the MFP  200  can display the image. 
         [0118]    If the MFP  200  of the request user supports the resolution of the image (Step S 208 : YES), the address server  400  does not edit the personal address book. 
         [0119]    Then, if the image is a color image (Step S 210 : YES) the address server  400  judges whether or not the MFP  200  supports color images, based on the version information of the MFP  200  received in Step S 201  and the version information T 2  (Step S 211 ). 
         [0120]    If the MFP  200  does not support color images (Step S 211 : NO), the address server  400  converts the color image included in the personal address book stored in the RAM  106  into a monochrome image (Step S 212 ). As a result, the format of the image included in the personal address book of the request user is edited to be a format according to which the MFP  200  can display the image. 
         [0121]    If the image included in the personal address book of the request user is a monochrome image (Step S 210 : NO), or if the MFP  200  of the request user supports color images (Step S 211 : YES), the address server  400  does not edit the personal address book. 
         [0122]    Also, if the personal address book of the request user does not include an image (Step S 203 : NO), the address server  400  does not edit the personal address book. 
         [0123]    Then, the address server  400  transmits the personal address book stored in the RAM  106  to the MFP  200  (Step S 213 ). If the personal address book has not been edited in any of Steps S 206 , S 209 , and S 212 , the personal address book to be transmitted to the MFP  200  in Step S 213  is what has been read in Step S 202  and has not been edited. If the personal address book has been edited in either of Steps S 206 , S 209 , and S 212 , the personal address book to be transmitted to the MFP  200  in Step S 213  is what has been edited. 
       (4. Conclusion) 
       [0124]    As described above, when an MFP  200  does not support a data format or a resolution of an image included in the personal address book A 6 , the personal address book is edited to convert the data format or the resolution of the image into a data format or a resolution supported by the MFP  200 . Then, the edited personal address book is transmitted to the MFP  200 . 
         [0125]    Also, if an image included in the personal address book A 6  is a color image and an MFP  200  is capable of displaying only monochrome images, the personal address book is edited to convert the color image into a monochrome image, and then transmits the edited personal address book is transmitted to the MFP  200 . Accordingly, since the data transmission apparatus can display the image included in the received address book, a user of the data transmission apparatus can select a recipient by checking the displayed image. Therefore, even when an address book is inappropriate to a use mode in which a data transmission apparatus uses the address book, the data transmission apparatus can determine a recipient&#39;s address using the address book. 
         [0126]    &lt;Supplementary Description&gt; 
         [0127]    While the data transmission apparatus of the present invention has been described based on the first and second embodiments, it is possible to add various modifications to the structures shown in the embodiments. 
         [0128]    (1) In the first and second embodiments, the data transmission apparatus according to the present invention has been described by taking an example of an MFP. However, the data transmission apparatus is not limited to the MFP. The present invention is applicable to apparatuses having a function for transmitting any type of data such as images, sounds, and texts. 
         [0129]    (2) In the first and second embodiments, the examples of the address server  100  have been shown in which the users (TANAKA, SUZUKI, YOSHIDA, OHTA, and YAMAMOTO) are in one-to-one correspondence with the personal address books. However, without limiting to this, a single personal address book may correspond to a plurality of users. 
         [0130]    (3) The address book transmission program  105  shown in the first and second embodiments may be recorded in a variety of computer-readable recording media, and may be produced and distributed. Such media include a magnetic disk such as a magnetic tape and a flexible disk, an optical recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, an MO, and a PD, and a, recording medium such as a flash memory. 
         [0131]    Also, the address book transmission program  105  may be transmitted via a network such as the Internet, broadcasting, electronic communication lines, satellite communication, or the like. 
         [0132]    Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included, therein.