Abstract:
A communication terminal for providing broadcast communication using electronic mail via a network. The communication terminal includes a storing unit configured to store an entry including a mail address and a function mode corresponding to the mail address in an electronic directory, a determining unit configured to determine, based on the entry in the electronic directory, a function mode of a receiver communication terminal, and a transmitting unit configured to transmit image information in a form of broadcast mail to the receiver communication terminal when the determined function mode is a first mode, and to transmit image information in a form of individual mail to the receiver communication terminal when the determined function mode is a second mode.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   This disclosure relates to a communication terminal, a method, a program and a recording medium and more particularly to communication control technology for a facsimile that communicates image information in electronic mail data format via a network through which plural communication terminals intercommunicate with an Internet protocol. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In recent years and continuing, there is a growing demand for multifunctional apparatuses, being combinations of, for example, a facsimile, a copier, and/or a printer, which enable effective use of a network. Furthermore, in addition to electronic documents which are becoming more commonly used in the office, a facsimile communication system, which uses facsimiles for transmitting image information by attaching the image information to electronic mail in compliance with a MIME format, is becoming widely used for communicating with, for example, clients outside the office. 
   As for ITU-T recommendations regarding communication standards for facsimile transmission via the Internet, there is, for example, Recommendation T.38 (Real-time type) which is a facsimile transmission procedure for transmitting image information by intercommunication of communication terminals directly connected to the Internet, and Recommendation T.37 (Store and Forward type) which is a facsimile transmission procedure for transmitting image information by first storing the image information in a mail server device and intercommunicating the mail server devices with, for example, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). 
   As for other recommendations providing facsimile communications functions complying with the ITU-T Recommendation T.37, there is, for example, a “Simple Mode” which has neither a function of confirming the functionality of a receiving destination communication terminal when transmitting a document nor a function of sending a mail confirming receipt of the document via the Internet, and a “Full Mode” which has both the function of confirming the functionality of a receiving destination communication terminal when transmitting a document and the function of sending the mail confirming receipt of the document via the Internet. 
   Furthermore, other technical standards and specifications regarding, for example, communication protocols (e.g. TCP/IP, SMTP, POP), data formats and data structures of electronic mail are provided in the RFC (Request For Comments) issued by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). 
   The Recommendation T.37 and the RFC 2305 (Simple Mode) or RFC 2532 (Full Mode) are both applied with a common electronic mail data format, to thereby allow a communication terminal complying with Recommendation T.37 to intercommunicate information with a communication terminal or workstation device that has installed a software complying with RFC 2305 or RFC 2532. 
   However, with the Recommendation T.37 and the RFC 2305, image information that is to be transmitted is bound to fixed conditions (number of horizontal pixels: 1728 pixels; resolution: 200×100 dpi or 200×200 dpi; compression: MH); and is required to be attached to an electronic mail message and use a designated mail address for transmission and receipt of the image information. This prevents image information with higher quality from being transmitted and received. 
   In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.2000-347954, a sender communication terminal compresses readout image data according to a fixed parameter, attaches the image information to an electronic mail message, and transmits the image information along with information indicating a self-controlling method, and identification information for requesting information of the function of a receiver communication terminal. In a case where the receiver communication terminal has installed a general type of electronic mail software, the attached image information is output in a form complying with the predetermined conditions. 
   In a case where the receiver communication terminal has installed a control method which is the same as that of the sender communication terminal, the image information is not required to be output by attachment to the electronic mail in compliance with predetermined conditions. Instead, the receiver communication terminal responds to the sender communication terminal by sending a message describing information on its own control method and its own capabilities. 
   The sender communication terminal generates image information including data regarding size, resolution, and/or compression of the image in accordance with the capabilities of the receiver communication terminal, attaches the image information to an electronic mail message, and re-transmits the mail, thereby enabling transmission of image information with higher quality. 
   Accordingly, the example proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.2000-347954 is able to have affinity with a receiver communication terminal that has installed a general type of electronic mail software, and also transmit images in accordance with the capabilities (image information conditions) of a receiver communication terminal when the receiver communication terminal has capabilities the same as those of the sender communication terminal. 
   In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.2001-313778, a store and forward type network facsimile (technology) is able to transmit its capability information to a receiver communication terminal by writing capability information into a preamble part and an epilogue part of an electronic mail message defined in a multi-part form of MIME without affecting the main text of the electronic mail. Furthermore, when the message of the electronic mail is received, the sender communication terminal stores capability information relative to the mail address of the receiver communication terminal so that image information, next time, can be transmitted in accordance with the receiver communication terminal. Accordingly, image information can be transmitted with higher quality. 
   Accordingly, the example proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.2001-313778 is a store and forward type technology which is able to transmit capability information without affecting the main text of the electronic mail message, and utilize the capability information. 
   However, the example proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.2000-347954 requires an increased workload (process load) for generating compressed data, and burdens the mail server since the example employs a process of generating image information including data regarding size, resolution, and/or compression of the image in accordance with the capabilities of the receiver communication terminal, attaching the image information to an electronic mail message, and re-transmitting the electronic mail when the receiver communication terminal has capabilities the same as those of the sender communication terminal, while still achieving affinity with a receiver communication terminal that has installed a general type of electronic mail software. In addition, the re-transmission of the electronic mail increases undesired communications traffic, burdens the network, and adversely affects other communications. 
   Furthermore, since the example proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.2001-313778 conducts an update on the conditions (capability) for image information transmission by employing a full mode provided with functions including capability confirmation and acknowledgement of receipt, the example has a problem where broadcast transmission, against the will of the user, cannot be conducted due to the update of capability of the receiver communication terminal. In addition, the example has a problem of requiring that all image information files attached to the electronic mail must be the same for conducting broadcast transmission to a plurality of receiver communication terminals. 
   SUMMARY 
   In an aspect of this disclosure, a communication terminal provides broadcast communication using electronic mail via a network, the communication terminal including a storing unit configured to store an entry including a mail address and a function mode corresponding to the mail address in an electronic directory, a determining unit configured to determine, based on the entry in the electronic directory, a function mode of a receiver communication terminal, and a transmitting unit configured to transmit image information in a form of broadcast mail to the receiver communication terminal when the determined function mode is a first mode, and to transmit image information in a form of individual mail to the receiver communication terminal when the determined function mode is a second mode. 
   In the communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication terminal may be a communication terminal having a facsimile function complying with ITU-T Recommendation T.37 for full mode, wherein the first mode may be a simple mode, wherein the second mode may be the full mode. 
   In the communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, the entry may be input from a control panel of the communication terminal. 
   In the communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, the entry may be input from a Web browser of a workstation via the network. 
   In the communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the communication terminal receives a receipt confirmation mail from the receiver communication terminal, the communication terminal may obtain capability information of the receiver communication terminal, may analyze the receipt confirmation mail, and may update the electronic directory. 
   In the communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication terminal may not update the electronic directory when the function mode of the receiver communication terminal is set as the first mode. 
   Furthermore, the present invention provides communication terminal means for providing broadcast communication using electronic mail via a network, the communication terminal means including: storing means for storing an entry including a mail address and a function mode corresponding to the mail address in an electronic directory; determining means for determining, based on the entry in the electronic directory, a function mode of a receiver communication terminal means; and transmitting means for transmitting image information in a form of broadcast mail to the receiver communication terminal means when the determined function mode is a first mode, and transmitting image information in a form of individual mail to the receiver communication terminal means when the determined function mode is a second mode. 
   In the communication terminal means according to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication terminal means may be a communication terminal means having a facsimile function complying with ITU-T Recommendation T.37 for full mode, wherein the first mode may be a simple mode, wherein the second mode may be the full mode. 
   In the communication terminal means according to an embodiment of the present invention, the entry may be input from a control panel of the communication terminal means. 
   In the communication terminal means according to an embodiment of the present invention, the entry may be input from a Web browser of a workstation via the network. 
   In the communication terminal means according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the communication terminal means receives a receipt confirmation mail from the receiver communication terminal means, the communication terminal means may obtain capability information of the receiver communication terminal means, may analyze the receipt confirmation mail, and may update the electronic directory. 
   In the communication terminal means according to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication terminal means may not update the electronic directory when the function mode of the receiver communication terminal means is set as the first mode. 
   Furthermore, the present invention provides a communication method for providing broadcast communication with a communication terminal using electronic mail via a network, the method including the steps of: a) storing an entry including a mail address and a function mode corresponding to the mail address in an electronic directory; b) determining, based on the entry in the electronic directory, a function mode of a receiver communication terminal; and c) transmitting image information in a form of broadcast mail to the receiver communication terminal when the determined function mode is a first mode, and transmitting image information in a form of individual mail to the receiver communication terminal when the determined function mode is a second mode. 
   In the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication terminal may be a communication terminal having a facsimile function complying with ITU-T Recommendation T.37 for full mode, wherein the first mode may be a simple mode, wherein the second mode may be the full mode. 
   In the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the entry may be input from a control panel of the communication terminal. 
   In the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the entry may be input from a Web browser of a workstation via the network. 
   In the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the communication terminal receives a receipt confirmation mail from the receiver communication terminal, the communication terminal may obtain capability information of the receiver communication terminal, may analyze the receipt confirmation mail, and may update the electronic directory. 
   In the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication terminal may not update the electronic directory when the function mode of the receiver communication terminal is set as the first mode. 
   Furthermore, the present invention provides a program to be installed or executed by a computer for providing broadcast communication with a communication terminal using electronic mail via a network, the program including: a storing function for storing an entry including a mail address and a function mode corresponding to the mail address in an electronic directory; a determining function for determining, based on the entry in the electronic directory, a function mode of a receiver communication terminal; and a transmitting function for transmitting image information in a form of broadcast mail to the receiver communication terminal when the determined function mode is a first mode, and transmitting image information in a form of individual mail to the receiver communication terminal when the determined function mode is a second mode. 
   In the program according to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication terminal may be a communication terminal having a facsimile function complying with ITU-T Recommendation T.37 for full mode, wherein the first mode may be a simple mode, wherein the second mode may be the full mode. 
   In the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the entry may be input from a control panel of the communication terminal. 
   In the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the entry may be input from a Web browser of a workstation via the network. 
   In the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the communication terminal receives a receipt confirmation mail from the receiver communication terminal, the communication terminal may obtain capability information of the receiver communication terminal, may analyze the receipt confirmation mail, and may update the electronic directory. 
   In the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication terminal may not update the electronic directory when the function mode of the receiver communication terminal is set as the first mode. 
   Furthermore, the present invention provides a computer readable recording medium including the program according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
   Other aspects and further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing showing the entire structure of a facsimile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a structure of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a table showing an exemplary data structure of an electronic directory according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a registration screen for registering function mode and capability information of a receiver communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing a process for registering a mail address, a function mode, and capability information of a receiver communication terminal by employing a registration screen according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a process (part  1 ) of performing broadcast transmission using electronic mail according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing a process (part  2 ) of performing broadcast transmission using electronic mail; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a receipt confirmation mail transmitted from a receiver communication terminal to a sender communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing a process for updating an electronic directory according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the following, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing the entire structure of a facsimile communication system  1000  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the facsimile communication system  1000  shown in  FIG. 1 , a local area network (LAN) system  60  ( 60   a ,  60   b ) is connected to the Internet  10  via a router  50  ( 50   a ,  50   b ), the LAN system  60  is connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN)  20  via a communication terminal  80  ( 80   a ,  80   b ), and the PSTN  20  is connected to a G3 facsimile apparatus  70 . 
   The LAN system  60  is connected to plural workstations  30  ( 30   a ,  30   b ), mail servers  40  ( 40   a ,  40   b ), routers  50  ( 50   a ,  50   b ), and communication terminals  80  ( 80   a ,  80   b ), to thereby provide a facsimile communication system. 
   The communication terminals  80  ( 80   a ,  80   b ) employ Internet Protocols (IP), such as for the Internet and an Intranet, in accordance with Recommendation T.37 (store and forward type procedure) for exchanging image information with electronic mail. 
   Furthermore, the communication terminals  80  ( 80   a ,  80   b ) perform facsimile communication with the G3 facsimile apparatus  70  via the PSTN  20 . 
   The exchange of data performed among the workstations  30  ( 30   a ,  30   b ), the mail servers  40  ( 40   a ,  40   b ), and the communication terminals  80  ( 80   a ,  80   b ) via the LAN system  60 , and via the Internet are performed by applying a combination of transfer protocols up to the transport layer referred to as TCP/IP and communication protocols that are situated on layers higher than the transport layer. 
   In the exchange of electronic mail, a communication protocol referred to as SMTP is applied as the higher layer communication protocol. 
   In this embodiment, electronic mail is transmitted according to the store and forward type procedure in which electronic mail is first stored in the mail server  40  ( 40   a ,  40   b ) and then transmitted to a receiver destination. In a case where the mail address appended to the electronic mail has a network address that is set for each LAN system  60  ( 60   a ,  60   b ), the electronic mail is directly stored in a corresponding mail server  40  ( 40   a ,  40   b ). In a case where the mail address appended to the electronic mail has no network address that is set for each LAN system  60  ( 60   a ,  60   b ), the electronic mail is first transmitted to the Internet  10  via the routers  50  ( 50   a ,  50   b ), and is then transmitted from the Internet  10  (using a transfer function) to the mail server  40  ( 40   a ,  40   b ) having the network address corresponding to the mail address of the electronic mail. 
   For example, in a case where electronic mail is transmitted from a user in one LAN  60   a  to another user in another LAN  60   b , the electronic mail is first stored in the mail server  40   a , then transmitted to the Internet  10  via the router  50   a , and then transmitted and stored in the mail server  40   b  via the router  50   b.    
   Meanwhile, workstations  30  ( 30   a ,  30   b ) and communication terminals  80  ( 80   a ,  80   b ) periodically query the mail server  40  ( 40   a ,  40   b ) for acknowledgement of receipt of electronic mail addressed to its own user. When electronic mail addressed to the user is stored in the mail server  40  ( 40   a ,  40   b ), the workstations  30  ( 30   a ,  30   b ) and the communication terminals  80  ( 80   a ,  80   b ) receive the electronic mail from the mail server  40  ( 40   a ,  40   b ) and notify the user of the receipt. 
   Here, the workstations  30  ( 30   a ,  30   b ) and the communication terminals  80  ( 80   a ,  80   b ) are supplied with a protocol such as POP for querying the mail servers  40  ( 40   a ,  40   b ) about the receipt of electronic mail addressed to the user. 
     FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an exemplary structure of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , the communication terminal  80 , having a facsimile communication function complying with Recommendation T.37, includes a control part  81 , a RAM part  82 , a parameter RAM  83 , a clock part  84 , a scanner part  85 , a plotter part  86 , a control display part  87 , a encoding/decoding part  88 , an image storage part  89 , a communication control part  90 , a G3 facsimile modem  91 , a NIC (Network Interface Card) part  92 , and a communication information management part  93 . 
   Furthermore, the control part  81 , the RAM part  82 , the parameter RAM  83 , the clock part  84 , the scanner part  85 , the plotter part  86 , the control display part  87 , the encoding/decoding part  88 , the image storage part  89 , the communication control part  90 , the G3 facsimile modem  91 , the NIC part  92 , and the communication information management part  93  are connected to an internal bus  94 , to thereby enable exchange of data via the internal bus  94 . 
   The control part  81  perform various controls and processes, for example, the control of the entire communication terminal  80 , the control of the components of the communication terminal  80 , the process of the facsimile transmission procedure complying with the Recommendation T.38 procedure, and/or the process of the store and forward type transmission procedure complying with the Recommendation T.37 procedure. 
   The RAM part  82  holds a control program executed by the control part  81  and various data that are necessary for executing the control program, and provides a work area for the control part  81 . 
   The parameter RAM part  83  stores various information items and management tables of the communication terminal  80 , and is backed up by a battery (not shown) so that such parameters are not lost from power shut down due to unexpected reasons or to safety reasons. 
   The clock part  84  outputs information of the current time. 
   The scanner part  85  reads out the image of a document with a prescribed resolution. 
   The plotter part  86  records and outputs an image with a prescribed resolution. 
   The control display part  87 , which is employed for controlling the communication terminal  80 , includes a control panel provided with various control keys and a display part for displaying various information items. 
   The encoding/decoding part  88  encodes (compresses) image information based on, for example, MH, MR, or MMR, and decodes the encoded image information. 
   The image storage part  89  stores image information which is in a state compressed by the encoding/decoding part  88 . 
   The communication control part  90  is connected to the G3 facsimile modem  91  for connecting the communication terminal  80  to the PSTN  20  based on the G3 facsimile transmission procedure, and to the NIC part  92  for connecting the communication terminal  80  to the LAN  60 . 
   The G3 facsimile modem  91  has a low speed modem function (e.g. V.21 modem) for exchanging signals based on facsimile transmission procedures and a high speed modem function (e.g. V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27 ter modem) for exchanging mainly image information. 
   By exchanging data with the G3 facsimile modem  91 , the communication control part  90  performs facsimile communication (Recommendation T.38) with the G3 facsimile apparatus  70 . 
   The NIC part  92  connects the communication terminal  80  to the Ethernet (Registered Trademark) cable of the LAN  60 , so as to perform, for example, application of protocols such as TCP/IP, SMTP/POP, and conversion into MIME. Accordingly, the NIC part  92  provides a function as an interface with the Internet  10 , and ensures a function for performing the store and forward type transmission procedure. 
   The communication information management part  93  serves to save and manage file attributes (e.g. file number, mail address) and other communication related information. 
   Next, an exemplary structure of an electronic directory stored in the parameter RAM part  83  of the communication terminal  80  is described. 
     FIG. 3  shows an exemplary data structure of an electronic directory  100 . The electronic directory  100 , including the items given below, registers the mail address of a receiver communication terminal, the function mode (distinction between the simple mode and the full mode), and capability information.
         Mail Address Item  100   an:          
   This item stores mail addresses of the receiver communication terminal  80 .
         Function Mode Item  100   bn:          

   This item stores information indicating whether to use a function of responding to an electronic mail inquiring about the capability of the receiver communication terminal and about the acknowledgement (confirmation) of the transmitted mail. Even for a communication terminal complying with the full mode, the function of responding to the inquiries will not be used when the function mode is set to simple mode. On the other hand, when the function mode is set to full mode, an electronic mail is transmitted in response to the inquiry about the acknowledgement of mail.
         Function Information Item  100   cn:          

   This item stores capability information (e.g. resolution, image size, compression) when the receiver communication terminal  80  complies with full mode. 
   Next,  FIG. 4  shows an example of a registration screen when registering the function mode and the capability information of the receiver communication terminal  80 . In  FIG. 4 , a registration screen  200  includes a mail address input area  201  for setting the mail address of the receiver communication terminal  80 , simple and full mode buttons  202 ,  203  for setting the function mode, and an end button  205 . Furthermore, when the full mode button is pressed, capability buttons  204  for designating corresponding capabilities (e.g. resolution, image size, compression) are displayed. 
   The registration screen  200  is displayed by depressing a control key on a control panel of a control display part of a sender communication terminal. Alternatively, the registration screen  200  may be activated from a Web browser of the workstation  30  connected to the LAN  60 , thereby allowing each of the items set by the registration screen to be set and registered in the electronic directory  100 . 
     FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing a process of registering the mail address, the function mode, and the capability information of the receiver communication terminal from the registration screen  200  shown in  FIG. 4 . A case where the registration process is performed by using a control panel of the communication terminal  80  is described below. 
   When an operator commands registration in the electronic directory with the control panel, the registration screen  200  shown in  FIG. 4  is displayed (Step S 110 ). The registration screen  200  remains displayed until the operator inputs the necessary items and depresses the end button  205  (Step S 120 ). 
   Here, when the full mode button  203  is pressed, the capability buttons  204  designating various capabilities (e.g. resolution, image size, compression) are displayed. When the simple mode button  202  is pressed, the capability buttons  204  are not displayed. 
   Using the input mail address as a key, a search for a corresponding entry is performed by searching through the electronic directory  100  (Step S 130 ). 
   When the corresponding entry is found (YES in Step S 140 ), the items input by the operator (e.g. function modes distinguishing the use of either the simple mode or the full mode; and/or capabilities including, for example, resolution, image size, compression when the full mode is selected) are stored in the corresponding entry, and the electronic directory  100  is updated (Step S 150 ). After Step S 150 , the process is finished. 
   When no corresponding entry is found (NO in Step S 140 ), the items input by the operator (e.g. function modes distinguishing the use of either the simple mode or the full mode; and/or capabilities including, for example, resolution, image size, compression when the full mode is selected) are stored in a vacant entry in the electronic directory  100 , and the electronic directory  100  is updated (Step S 160 ). After Step S 160 , the process is finished. 
   In a case of performing the registration process from the workstation  30 , a Web browser of the workstation  30  is used to activate the registration screen of the communication terminal  80 . Then, the above-described processes of inputting the mail address, the function mode, and the capabilities of the receiver communication terminal  80 , searching through the electronic directory  100 , storing the input items, and updating the electronic directory  100  are executed. 
   Next, a process of the sender communication terminal  80  broadcasting electronic mail via the Internet is described with the flowcharts shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
   First, a document is placed on the scanner part  85  (YES in Step S 200 ), and remains until all of the receiver mail addresses for broadcast transmission are set (Step S 210 ). 
   After the receiver mail addresses are set, a search for a corresponding entry is performed by searching through the mail address item  100   an  in the electronic directory  100  using the set mail address as a key (Step S 220 ). 
   When the function mode of the corresponding entry stored in the function mode item  100   bn  is the simple mode (YES in Step S 230 ), the mail address of the corresponding entry is added to a broadcast transmission list (Step S 240 ), and the process advances to Step S 260 . 
   On the other hand, when the function mode of the corresponding entry stored in the function mode item  100   bn  is the full mode (NO in Step S 230 ), the mail address and the capability information stored in the capability information item  100   cn  are added to a full mode transmission list (Step S 250 ), and the process advances to Step S 260 . 
   Next, it is determined whether all of the mail addresses set by the operator have been subjected to processes of Step S 220  through Step S 240  or Step S 250  (Step S 260 ). When there are still unprocessed mail addresses remaining (NO in Step S 260 ), the process returns to Step S 220 . 
   When all of the mail addresses set by the operator are subjected to processes of Step S 220  through Step S 240  or Step S 250  (YES in Step S 260 ), the sender communication terminal  80  remains in a stand-by state until transmission is directed by depression of a start key in the control display part  87  (Step S 270 ). 
   When transmission is directed (YES in Step  270 ), the scanner part  85  reads out an image of a document, and the image storage part  89  stores the image information of the read out document (Step S 280 ). 
   Then, electronic mail addressed to the mail addresses in the broadcast transmission list is formed with the image information stored in the image storage part  89  attached thereto (S 290 ). 
   On the other hand, electronic mail addressed to the mail addresses in the full mode transmission list is also formed with the image information stored in the image storage part  89  attached thereto (S 290 ). In this case, however, the attached image information is individually processed according to the capability information (e.g. resolution, image size, compression) of the receiver communication terminal of each mail address. 
   Then, the electronic mail messages formed in Step S 290  are transmitted to the mail servers  40 . The mail addresses transmitted in full mode are stored in the communication information management part  93  (Step S 300 ). 
   After transmission of the electronic mail, it is determined whether the electronic mail has been properly transmitted by checking the mail servers  40  of the sender communication terminals (Step S 310 ). When it is determined that the electronic mail has not been transmitted properly (NO in Step S 310 ), the transmission is determined as an error, and the process is finished. 
   When it is determined that the electronic mail has been transmitted properly (YES in Step S 310 ), the process is finished if there are no mail addresses stored in the communication information management part  93  (no electronic mail transmitted in full mode) (NO in Step S 320 ). 
   In a case where electronic mail is transmitted in full mode (YES in Step S 320 ), the sender communication terminal awaits a response mail confirming receipt from the receiver communication terminal for a prescribed period (Step S 330 , S 340 ). 
   When there is no response mail within the prescribed period (YES in Step S 330 ), the mail address stored in the communication information management part  93  is eliminated (Step S 350 ), and the process is finished. 
   When there is a response mail within the prescribed period (NO in Step S 330 ), the process proceeds to Step S 340 . When the mail address of the sender of the response mail matches with the mail address stored in the communication information management part  93  (YES in Step S 340 ), the matching mail address in the communication information management part  93  is eliminated, and the process proceeds to Step S 360 . On the other hand, when the mail address of the sender of the response mail does not match with the mail address in the stored in the communication information management part  93  (NO in Step S 340 ), the response mail is discarded, and the process returns to Step S 330 . 
   In Step S 360 , the matching response mail is analyzed, and the mail address and the capability information of the recipient are obtained. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the response mail has a header part, a main text part, and a capability information part (e.g. resolution, image size, compression). 
   Then, the electronic directory  100  is updated according to the obtained mail address and the capability information (Step S 370 ). After the update, the process returns to Step S 330  for receiving further response mail. 
   Next, a process of updating the electronic directory  100  according to the capability information obtained from the response mail (see Step S 370  of  FIG. 7 ) is described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 9 . 
   First, the mail address of the receiver communication terminal is obtained from a part of the header part of the response mail indicating the sender of the response mail (In this example, the part of “From:”), and the mail address item  100   an  in the electronic directory  100  is searched for a corresponding entry by using the extracted mail address as a key (Step S 500 ). 
   Then, a function mode of the corresponding entry is obtained from the function mode  100   bn  (Step S 510 ). 
   Then, when the obtained function mode is a Simple Mode (YES in Step S 520 ), the process is finished. 
   Meanwhile, when the obtained function mode is a Full Mode (No in Step S 520 ), the capability information (e.g. resolution, image size, compression) in the response mail is stored in the capability information item  100   cn  of the corresponding entry, so that the electronic directory  100  is updated (Step S 530 ). After the update, the process is finished. Returning to  FIG. 6 , when the function mode of the corresponding entry stored in the function mode item  100   bn  is the simple mode (YES in Step S 230 ), the mail address of the corresponding entry is added to a broadcast transmission list (Step S 240 ), and the process advances to Step S 260 . 
   On the other hand, when the function mode of the corresponding entry stored in the function mode item  100   bn  is the full mode (NO in Step S 230 ), the mail address and the capability information stored in the capability information item  100   cn  are added to a full mode transmission list (Step S 250 ), and the process advances to Step S 260 . 
   Accordingly, in a case where an operator wishes a sender communication terminal to perform broadcast transmission to receiver communication terminals which function in simple mode and to receiver communication terminals which function in full mode, a single transmission instruction enables the sender communication terminal to perform the broadcast transmission with respect to receiver communication terminals designating simple mode transmission and also to receiver communication terminals designating full mode transmission. 
   The functions of the above-described facsimile communication system and the communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention can also be provided in the form of a program, which program can be recorded in a recording medium, such as a CD-ROM, installed in a communication terminal, and executed by the CPU of the communication terminal. 
   The program for performing the above-described functions and the recording medium having the program therein are also included in the present invention. 
   It is to be noted that the recording medium on which the program is recorded may be, for example, a semi-conductor medium (e.g. ROM, non-volatile memory), an optical medium (e.g. DVD, MO, MD, CD), and/or a magnetic medium (e.g. magnetic tape, flexible disk). 
   Furthermore, the program according to an embodiment of the present invention may not only be provided in the form of a program performing the above-described functions, but also be a program instructing, for example, an operating system, and/or another application program to perform the above-described functions. 
   Further, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but various variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
   The present application is based on Japanese Priority Application No.2003-189985 filed on Jul. 2, 2003, with the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.