Patent Publication Number: US-2002003535-A1

Title: Image processing system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing system and method. In particular, the present invention relates to an image processing system and method for processing and transmitting an image to a portable terminal.  
       [0003] 2. Related Art  
       [0004] Recently there has been an explosion in the use of portable phones. The increase in portable phone use has been accelerated with the incorporation of services which provide services such as transmitting images to be displayed or musical tones played on the portable phone through the Internet. With the wide spread use of portable phones, various businesses providing these services for portable phones have been created. For example, a standby screen service provider has been recently established which transmits an image to a subscriber to be used as a screen standby when the portable phone is an idle or inactive state. The image is used in a similar manner as a screen saver image for personal computer. In this service, a service provider stores an image for a subscriber and then sends the subscriber an email of the Web site where the image is stored. The image is stored in a location located by the forwarded Web site address in a designated server. The subscriber can obtain the image by entering the Web site address. The above-mentioned service is a popular service with users who desire a portable phone&#39;s standby screen for themselves or their friends.  
       [0005] However, the above-mentioned service has several disadvantages. One disadvantage is that sometimes a transmitted image does not fit in the screen display of the receiving party&#39;s portable phone. Portable phones vary in size and shape depending on the maker or the model of the portable phone. As such, the transmitted image may extend beyond the portable phone&#39;s screen display and sometimes cannot be used as a standby image. Alternatively, there are instances where the transmitted image is not aesthetically pleasing because the image is too small for the screen display and incorporates unnecessary spaces in the screen display of the portable phone. In order to prevent misalignment of transmitted images for the screen display of portable phones, it is necessary to verify the size of the portable phone&#39;s screen display or to transmit a plurality of images having varying sizes. However, this approach is troublesome, and costly and leads to a decrease in the number of the subscribes to the service. Although an automatic resizing function incorporated with portable phones which fits the image on the screen display is available; this resizing function blurs the image by stretching the image to fit in the screen display. This too provides an image that is not visually pleasing.  
       [0006] Another disadvantage of the above-mentioned service is the risk of an authorized user obtaining access to the stored image. Although the service provider notifies the authorized user (subscriber) of the Web address where the image is stored, via the authorized user&#39;s portable phone, if the notified authorized user does not download the image but instead leaves the image available for a long period of time, there is a possibility that an unauthorized user may gain access to the image.  
       [0007] Further, another disadvantage of the screen is that the image can not be processed when it has been downloaded to a portable terminal and it is desirable to process the image in relation to the design of the portable terminal or a receiving party&#39;s preference. When the portable terminal is a portable phone, the portable phone is limited in terms of cost and size, compared to a personal computer since it is difficult to install software or hardware for image processing on portable phones. Accordingly, the user needs to retransmit the desired image or ask the transmitter to transmit another image. Therefore, image transmission/receipt becomes cumbersome and inefficient.  
       [0008] Moreover, although transmission of the exact same image to a plurality of people is possible, it is impossible to transmit images that have been slightly modified or varied to each person.  
       [0009] In view of the above disadvantages the invention provides an image processing system and method capable of transmitting an image so as to fit in the screen display of a portable phone of a receiving party. Moreover, the present invention provides an image processing system capable of sending an image safely to the receiving party. The present invention also makes it possible to process an image as the receiving party desires without requiring the receiving party&#39;s portable phone to have image processing capabilities. Moreover, the present invention is capable of transmitting images to a plurality of people with each image sent having minor alternations.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention an image processor includes a model designation controller for designating a model type of a portable terminal to which an image is be displayed. The image processor also includes a screen format controller for determining at least one screen format among a plurality of screen formats of the designated model, a data capacity and data format of the image. The image processor further includes an image adjuster for adjusting the image, and a transmitter for transmitting the adjusted image to a server to which the portable terminal of a receiving party has access.  
       [0011] Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate, by way of example, various features of embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012]FIG. 1 shows a network system including a first embodiment of an image processor according to the present invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 2 shows the image processor of FIG. 1 in greater detail;  
     [0014]FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram for subscriber registration of an image providing service;  
     [0015]FIG. 4 shows a virtual portable terminal displayed when a program starts in the image processor of FIG. 1;  
     [0016]FIG. 5 shows the image inputting work with the virtual portable terminal as shown in FIG. 4;  
     [0017]FIG. 6(A) shows a screen for selecting the model of the portable terminal in the virtual portable terminal when a size key is pressed as shown in FIG. 4;  
     [0018]FIG. 6(B) shows a screen display for selecting the model of the portable terminal in the virtual portable terminal with different models displayed from the screen;  
     [0019]FIG. 7 shows a screen display of a list key being pressed;  
     [0020]FIG. 8 shows a screen display of a send confirmation key being pressed from the screen of FIG. 7;  
     [0021]FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the image processing and the transmitting process of the image processor shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0022]FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of the server for image providing shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0023]FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the image processing process and transmission at the user&#39;s terminal to the image being transmitted to a receiver&#39;s portable phone by the network system of FIG. 1;  
     [0024]FIG. 12 shows a URL formed by an address forming means in the process shown in FIG. 11;  
     [0025]FIG. 13 shows a monthly subscription user making alternations in subscriber data or cancellation in the network system of FIG. 1;  
     [0026]FIG. 14 shows a network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0027]FIG. 15 shows the server (image processor) shown in FIG. 14;  
     [0028]FIG. 16 shows a flow diagram of the registration process for registering the user with the server of FIG. 15;  
     [0029]FIG. 17 shows a flow diagram of the process in which the server of FIG. 15 receives data of an image (the original image) from the user&#39;s terminal;  
     [0030]FIG. 18 shows a diagram of the process in which the original image and the processed image are received by another user via a portable phone of FIG. 14 from the server of FIG. 15;  
     [0031]FIG. 19 shows a flow diagram of the process in which the user&#39;s terminal of FIG. 14 obtains terminal version information from the server of FIG. 15;  
     [0032]FIG. 20 shows the process of processing the original image received by another user via the portable phone of FIG. 14 to have a screen with different colors at the server of FIG. 15 and receiving the processed images once again; and  
     [0033]FIG. 21 shows the process in which the server of FIG. 15 transmits a plurality of processed images obtained by subjecting different processes to the original image in each of the portable phones. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0034] One embodiment of the present invention relates to an image processor, an image processing method, an image processing system and an information recording medium and will be explained based on the drawings. While the description of this embodiment refers to a portable terminal as a portable phone by way of example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the portable terminal can be any device, for example a mobile computer.  
     [0035] One embodiment of the present invention provides an image processor including a model designator for designating a model type of a portable terminal to which an image is be displayed, a screen format controller for determining at least one screen format among a plurality of screen formats of the designated model, a data capacity and a data format of the image, an image adjuster for adjusting the image, and a transmitter for transmitting the adjusted image to a server to which a portable terminal of a receiving party has access.  
     [0036] The image processor may include a virtual portable terminal display for displaying a virtual portable terminal and a screen display for displaying a screen format of the virtual portable terminal according to the screen format which has been determined by the screen format controller, wherein the image adjuster adjusts the image in accordance with the screen format of the virtual portable terminal. The image adjuster also surrounds and adjust the image.  
     [0037] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the portable terminal is a portable phone and the virtual portable terminal is a representation of a portable phone.  
     [0038] The image processor may also include an image formatting controller for formatting an image to fit in the screen display of the portable terminal of the receiving party, a storage device for storing the image as a file designated by a URL; a transmitter for transmitting the file to the portable terminal of a receiving party; and a file formatting controller for forming a file designated by a URL with the file including an image and information magnifying or reducing the image to fit in the screen display of the portable terminal of the receiving party.  
     [0039] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the transmitter transmits a URL to a subscriber that created the image as well as transmits the URL to an address specified by the subscriber.  
     [0040] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the image processor further includes a storage device for storing the image as the one transmitted to the portable terminal of the receiving party.  
     [0041] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an image processing method includes a model designation step for designating a model type of a portable terminal of a receiving party to which an image is to be transmitted, a screen formatting determination step for determining at least a screen format among a plurality of screen formats of the designated model, a data capacity and data format of the image, an image adjusting step for adjusting the image to be transmitted, and a transmitting step for transmitting the adjusted image to a server to which the portable terminal of the receiving party has access.  
     [0042] The method also includes a virtual portable terminal display step for displaying a virtual portable terminal according to the screen format which has been determined by the screen format determination step, wherein in the image adjustment step the image to be transmitted is adjusted in accordance with the screen format of the virtual portable terminal; an image forming step for forming an image to fit within the screen display of the portable terminal of the receiving party; a storing step of storing the image as a file designated by a URL, a transmitting step of transmitting the file to the portable terminal; and a file forming step for forming a file designated by a URL with the file including the image and information capable of magnifying or reducing the image to fit within the screen display of the portable terminal of the receiving party.  
     [0043] According to another embodiment of the image processing method of the present invention, a URL is transmitted to a subscriber that created the image as well as transmitted to the address specified by the subscriber in the transmitting step.  
     [0044] The method further includes a storage step of storing the image as the one transmitted to the portable terminal of the receiving party.  
     [0045] According to another embodiment of the present invention an information recording medium having a program stored thereon includes a model designation step for designating a model type of a portable terminal of a receiving party to which an image is to be transmitted, a screen formatting determination step for determining at least one screen format among a plurality of screen formats of the designated model, a data capacity and data format of the image, an image adjusting step of adjusting the image to be transmitted, and a transmitting step for transmitting the adjusted image to a server to which the portable terminal of the receiving party has access.  
     [0046] The method also includes a virtual portable terminal display step for displaying a virtual portable terminal according to the screen format which has been determined by the screen format determination step, wherein in the image adjustment step the image to be transmitted is adjusted in accordance with the screen format of the virtual portable terminal; an image forming step for forming an image to fit within the screen display of the portable terminal of the receiving party, a storing step for storing the image as a file designated by a URL, a transmitting step for transmitting the file to the portable terminal; and a file forming step for forming a file designated by a URL with the file including the image and information capable of magnifying or reducing the image to fit within the screen display of the portable terminal of the receiving party.  
     [0047] According to another embodiment of the image processing method of the present invention, a URL is transmitted to a subscriber that created the image as well as transmitted to the address specified by the subscriber in the transmitting step.  
     [0048] The method further includes a storage step of storing the same image as the one transmitted to the portable terminal of the receiving party.  
     [0049] According to another embodiment of the present invention an image processing system includes an image processor having a receiver for receiving transmitter information, an address forming controller for appending the transmitter information and forming an address locating a storage location of an image, and an image processor transmitter for transmitting the image and the address, and a server for receiving the transmitted image and address, wherein said server has an address transmitter for transmitting the address to the portable terminal, and a storage for storing the transmitted image, wherein the portable terminal accesses the transmitted address and downloads the image corresponding to the transmitted address from the address transmitter to be a standby screen of the portable terminal.  
     [0050] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an image processing system includes a receiver for receiving processing directions of an image from a portable terminal of a receiving party to which the image is to be transmitted, an image processor controller for processing the image based on the processing directions, and an image transmitter for transmitting the processed image which has been processed by the image processor controller to the portable terminal of the receiving party.  
     [0051] The image processing system further includes an address transmitter for transmitting the address to a portable terminal, wherein the transmitter information is selected from the group consisting of an ID or a password for identifying the transmitter; an image processor for processing the image based on the processing directions; an image transmitter for transmitting the image processed by the image processor to the portable terminal of the receiving party; first storing device for storing the image and a second storing device for storing the image after processing.  
     [0052] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an image processor carries out a color variation process to change colors of the image or an adding process wherein additional data selected from the group consisting of characters, symbols or devices is added to the image.  
     [0053] The image processor includes an additional data selector for selecting additional data selected from the group consisting of arbitrary characters, symbols or devices each of a plurality of portable terminals, an image processor for making process images in which the additional data is added to an image, and an image transmitter for transmitting a processed image to each of a plurality of the portable terminals corresponding to the additional data.  
     [0054] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an image processing method includes an image processing directions receiving step of receiving processing directions of the image from a portable terminal to which the image is transmitted, an image processing step of processing the image based on the processing directions, and an image transmitting step of transmitting the processed image processed in the image processing step to the portable terminal of the receiving party.  
     [0055] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the image processing method further includes a first storing step for storing the image a second storing step for storing the image after being processed by the image processing step.  
     [0056] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a color variation process to change colors of the image or an adding process wherein data is selected from the group consisting of characters, symbols or devices is added to the image is carried out in the image processing step.  
     [0057] The method further includes an additional data selection step for selecting additional data selected from the group consisting of arbitrary characters, symbols or devices each of a plurality of portable terminals, an image processing step for making process images in which the additional data is added to an image, and an image transmitting step for transmitting a processed image to each of the plurality of the portable terminals corresponding to the additional data.  
     [0058] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, an image processing system includes a portable terminal to which an image is transmitted to a receiving party, a server coupled to the portable terminal through a communication channel and capable of transmitting stored images on receipt of directions from the portable terminal, wherein the server processes the image on receipt of the processing directions from the portable terminal and transmits the processed image to the portable terminal.  
     [0059] The server reads in and processes internally held images, holds the processed image, and transmits the processed image to the portable terminal.  
     [0060] The server also performs a color variation process to change colors of the image or an adding process in which data selected from the group consisting of characters, symbols or devices is added to the image.  
     [0061] According to a further embodiment of the present invention an image processing system includes a plurality of portable terminals to which an image is transmitted, a server connected with the plurality of portable terminals through a communication channel and capable of transmitting the image which is stored on receipt of the directions from the portable terminals, wherein the server selects additional data selected from the group consisting of arbitrary characters, symbols and devices each of the plurality of the portable terminals, makes processed images in which the additional data is added to the images, and transmits a processed image to each of the plurality of the portable terminals corresponding to the additional data.  
     [0062] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an information recording medium has a stored program including an image processing direction receiving step of receiving processing directions of an image from a portable terminal to which the image is transmitted, an image processing step for processing the image based on the processing directions, and an image transmitting step for transmitting the processed image processed in the image processing step to the portable terminal.  
     [0063] The information recording medium having the stored program further includes a second image holding process step of having the image held, wherein the image is read in and subjected to the processing in an image processing step, and the processed image is held at the storage location in the second image holding process step.  
     [0064] The information recording medium includes a color variation processing step to change colors of the image or an adding process for adding data of either characters, symbols or devices.  
     [0065] The information recording medium further includes an additional data selection step for selecting additional data of either arbitrary characters, symbols or devices for each of a plurality of portable terminals, an image processing step for making process images in which the additional data is added to an image, and an image transmitting step of transmitting the process images to the plurality of the portable terminals, respectively, corresponding to the additional data.  
     [0066]FIG. 1 shows a network system including a first embodiment of an image processor according to the present invention. The network system includes a user terminal  1 , commercial provider servers  2  and  5 , image providing server  4 , portable terminal connecting server  6 , communication station  7  and portable phone  8 . Each of the devices communicates with or is coupled directly or indirectly to Internet  3 . When a user transmits image data usable for a standby screen to another user, the user processes the image data at user terminal  1 . The image data is processed at user terminal  1  so as to reformat it to fit in a screen display of portable phone  8  of a receiving party. The image data is also processed for data capacity, and data formatting of the image. Incidentally, if these parameters, the screen format, the data capacity and the data format of the image are uniformed in portable phone  8 , the parameters which are not uniformed are set.  
     [0067] According to one embodiment of the present invention, processed image data and user information entered by the user are transmitted to image providing server  4 , through commercial provider server  2  and the Internet  3 . Commercial provider server  5  has a Web site for electronic settlement and is connected to the Internet  3 . The user carries out user registration at the Web site of image providing server  4 , followed by an image transmitting procedure.  
     [0068] The image data transmitted to image providing server  4  is stored in image providing server  4 . Alternatively, image providing server  4  creates a Uniform Resource Locator (hereinafter, referred to as URL) identifying the storage location of the image, and appends the transmitted user information to an address in a predetermined format. Successively, image providing server  4  forwards the URL to portable phone  8  of a receiving party through the Internet  3 , portable terminal connecting server  6  and communication station  7 .  
     [0069] The receiving party having portable phone  8  specifies the forwarded URL. Then, the image data stored at the Web site identified by the URL is transmitted to portable phone  8  through the Internet  3 , portable terminal connecting server  6  and communication station  7 . Thus, the image data is presented as a standby screen of portable phone  8 .  
     [0070] Each process in user terminal  1 , image providing server  4  and commercial provider server  5  is explained in greater detail based on FIG. 2 to FIG. 13. FIG. 2 shows user terminal  1  which is an image processor. User terminal  1  includes a data transmitting/receiving section  11 , a control section  12 , a Read Only Memory (hereinafter, referred to as ROM)  13 , a Random Access Memory (hereinafter, referred to as RAM)  14 , a model designation section  15 , a screen format determination section  16 , a screen display section  17 , a screen adjusting section  18 , a virtual portable terminal display section  19 , a storage section  20 , a display processing section  21  and a user information holding section  22 . Each of the above-mentioned sections may utilize processors and/or controllers to perform the recited functions.  
     [0071] Data transmitting/receiving section  11  transmits image data and user information to image providing server  4 . Data transmitting/receiving section  11  may also receive an error notice, a notice on the completion of a transmission, and information to update a Web site from image providing server  4 .  
     [0072] Control section  12  controls user terminal  1  and controls the processing action of model designation section  15 . ROM  13  saves a control program of control section  12 . Control section  12  controls each section based on the control program in ROM  13 .  
     [0073] RAM  14  is a readable and writable memory where information such as model information for portable phones, image data of the portable phones (images of virtual portable terminals) and so on is stored. Accordingly, if a new model of a portable phone is on the market, information on the new portable phone such as the model name, screen format of the model, and the appearance of the portable phone can be added to RAM  14 . Moreover, portable phone information of old models can be deleted from RAM  14 .  
     [0074] Model designation section  15  receives input of each maker&#39;s portable phone model from the user. Screen format determination section  16  determines the screen format of the model, the data capacity, and the data format of the image. Screen display section  17  displays a screen of a virtual portable terminal to be displayed in accordance with the determined screen format.  
     [0075] Image adjusting section  18  adjusts an image for the standby screen of the receiving party&#39;s portable phone  8  from images of interest. Virtual portable terminal display section  19  displays an image of the virtual portable terminal which is the design of a portable phone on a screen display of image processor  1  when the user actuates the program.  
     [0076] Storage section  20  saves the image data transmitted by the user. Once storage section  10  reaches a predetermined capacity, previously saved data of images is deleted on a first in first out basis. Display processing section  21  displays a different frame when a corresponding button on the screen of the virtual portable terminal is actuated.  
     [0077] User information holding section  22  holds or stores user information specifically, an address of a receiving party and a password are held. When image data is transmitted, user information is read out from user information holding section  22  and transmitted together with the image data to image providing server  4 .  
     [0078]FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram for subscriber registration of an image providing service carried out by the user. The user carries out the subscriber registration as indicated below and then executes transmission of the image data. The user accesses the Web site for the subscriber registration stored at image providing server  4  from user terminal  1  through the Internet  3 . After accessing the Web site for the subscriber registration, the user selects a usage form of the image providing service (step S 101 ).  
     [0079] The usage form may be classified for example, into “all-day usage” in which the service is available for 24 hours and “monthly subscription” in which the service is continuously available any number of times. In the case of “all-day usage”, after the passage of 24 hours from the registration, the service is automatically canceled. On the other hand, in the case of the “monthly subscription”, the registration continues until a canceling procedure is carried out. A monthly fee is charged every month. Moreover, the “all-day usage” may be for 10-hours or 18-hour. Further, a “two-day usage” of 48-hour availability or a three-day usage of 72-hour availability may also be used.  
     [0080] After selecting the usage form, the user inputs user registration information (step S 102 ). The user registration information may include user information such as, the mail address of a receiving party, the user&#39;s password, the user&#39;s name and contact information, etc.  
     [0081] After the user inputs user registration information, a verification is made (step S 103 ). More specifically, the system verifies whether the combination of the email address and the password input by the user has already been registered or not. On the subscriber registration Web site, the system verifies the input information by communicating with usage registration table  26 . Since the service is to transmit to one email address per one registration, the same email address having a different password is another registration.  
     [0082] According to one embodiment of the present invention, one image is assigned to one URL. Accordingly, if a user who has only one user registration, transmits a plurality of images to the same address, the new image is written over the old image data.  
     [0083] As a result of the verification process in step S 103 , when a user has already registered with the system, the system indicates that the user has already registered (step S 104 ). More specifically, information is displayed to the user indicating registration has occurred as well as how long the transmitting service to the entered email address is available.  
     [0084] Alternatively, when the user is a new user and has never registered before, the new user proceeds to select a type of electronic settlement (step S 105 ). In this step, a different type of settlement is adopted depending on the “all-day usage” or the “monthly subscription”. In the case of “all-day usage”, settlement is made by utilizing a Web site providing accounting services in a prepaid-card type or ID-password type format. On the other hand, in the case of the “monthly subscription”, settlement is made by utilizing a Web site providing accounting services in a ID-password type format.  
     [0085] After the user designates a settlement method, a temporary registration process is carried out (step S 106 ). The temporary registration process may include, for example, issuance of a subscriber ID, registration of a mail address of a receiving party, password registration, usage form registration, settlement type registration, indication of temporary registration, etc. The result of the temporary registration process is stored at a usage registration table  26 .  
     [0086] After the temporary registration process has been completed, indication of the settlement contents and the entry of an ID for settlement are carried out at an electronic settlement service providing Web site  5   a  connected to image providing server  4  through the Internet  3  (step S 107 ). Afterwards, the electronic settlement process is performed (step S 108 ).  
     [0087] Next, a formal usage registration process is carried out at image providing server  4  (step S 109 ). In the formal usage registration process, indication of formal registration, valid term, settlement type, ID for settlement, etc. are stored in usage registration table  26 . After the usage registration process has been completed, the entire registration process is complete (step S 110 ).  
     [0088]FIG. 4 shows a virtual portable terminal displayed when a program starts at a user terminal  1 . A virtual portable terminal  30  which can be adjusted using a mouse connected to the user terminal  1 . The virtual portable terminal display is movable upward, downward, to the right and to the left on the screen of the user terminal  1 .  
     [0089] The virtual portable terminal  30  is provided with a display section  31 , a shutter key  32 , a zoom-up key  33 , a zoom-out key  34 , a 90° right turn key  35 , a 90° left turn key  36 , a 180° turn key  37 , frame keys  38 ,  39 , a non-frame key  40 , a size key  41 , a list key  42  and a quit key  43 .  
     [0090] The display section  31  is a window for cutting out an image or a portion of the image. The display section  31  changes in size and shape by the user&#39;s setting model on his portable phone. This mechanism will be described later.  
     [0091] The shutter key  32  reads in an image after the position of the image is specified at the display section  31 . The zoom-up key  33  magnifies the image displayed on the display section  31 . The zoom-out key  34  reduces the image displayed on the display section  31 .  
     [0092] The 90° right turn key  35  turns the image displayed on the display section  31  to the right (that is clockwise) by 90° before pressing the shutter key  32 . The 90° left turn key  36  turns the image displayed on the display section  31  to the left (that is counterclockwise) by 90° before pressing the shutter key  32 . The 180° turn key  37  turns the image surrounded at the display section  31  by 180° to be up side down before pressing the shutter key  32 .  
     [0093] The frame keys  38 ,  39  apply a design around the image displayed on the display section  31  before pressing the shutter key  32 . The frame key  38  and the frame key  39  output data of different designs, respectively. Moreover, non-frame key  40  is pressed when the design applied around the image is not necessary. In particular, non-frame key  40  is pressed in order to delete a design which was set in a previous input when images are input consecutively.  
     [0094] The size key  41  sets the model of the portable phone, the size and the coloration of the image. The list key  42  views the past image data. The quit key  43  stops the image from being transmitted. Incidentally, the above keys can be turned on using the mouse. Alternatively, the keys can be turned on using a keyboard.  
     [0095]FIG. 5 shows the image inputting work with the virtual portable terminal shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the user moves the virtual portable terminal  30  over an image  51 . The image  51  may include a character image  50 . The user then sets a transmitting image  52  desired to input in the display section  31 . Afterwards, the user activates frame key  38  and a design  53  is displayed around the transmitting image  52 . The shutter key is pressed in such a state, and then the image applied with the design  53  is input in the transmitting image  52  displayed on the display section  31 .  
     [0096] In FIG. 5, a form of the display section  31  can be set with the size key  41 . FIG. 6(A) shows a terminal setting screen displayed when the size key  41  is pressed. The terminal setting screen  60  is provided with a model selection column  61  for selecting the model of the portable terminal, a custom setting column  62  for setting the image size and the coloration, a setting confirmation key  63  and a set cancel key  64 .  
     [0097] The user can input the length and the width of the image at the custom setting column  62 . Moreover, the user can select either monochrome (two tones), monochrome (four tones), or colors (256 colors). In the model selection column  61  in FIG. 6(A), there is displayed a model  61   a  which has been set when the previous image is input. In order to alter the model  61   a,  a reversed triangle part  61   b  at the right hand of the model selection column  61  is pressed.  
     [0098] Then, as shown in FIG. 6(B), a list of models  61   c  is displayed downward in the model selection column  61 . The user can select the model which the receiving party has from the list of models  61   c.  When the model is selected by the user, the model selected is displayed in the model selection column  61 , and the numbers of the size are automatically altered. If the automatically altered numbers need to be changed, the user can manually change the sizes. Incidentally, the data capacity and the image data format which are different depending on the portable phone  8 , are set by selecting the model, although they are not shown on the screen of the user terminal  1 .  
     [0099] Thus, the user sets the image size by setting the portable phone model of the receiving party, and after setting the image coloration, the setting confirmation key  63  is pressed. And then, the display section  31  of the previously shown virtual portable terminal  30  changes to the current size and shape. Moreover, the coloration of the transmitting image  52  also changes.  
     [0100]FIG. 7 shows a list screen displayed when the list key  42  is pressed after the transmitting image  52  has been entered. On the list screen  70 , the transmitting image  52  and past images  76  are displayed. The user can confirm the transmitting image  52  and the past images  76  on the list screen  72  being displayed and transmit these images to the receiving party. Therefore, the possibility of mistakenly transmitting the same image as the past images  76  is low.  
     [0101] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, list screen  70  is provided with a delete key  72 , a send confirmation key  73 , a back key  74 , and a delete all key  75 . The delete key  72  deletes the transmitting image  52  which has been input. The send confirmation key  73  transfers the transmitting image  52  to a transmitting confirmation screen prior to transmitting. The back key  74  goes back to the screen where the virtual portable terminal  30  is displayed. The delete all key  75  deletes all the past images  76 .  
     [0102]FIG. 8 shows a transmitting confirmation screen  80  displayed when the send confirmation key  73  is pressed on the list screen  70  shown in FIG. 7. The transmitting confirmation screen  80  is provided with an address of the receiving party entry column  81 , a title entry column  82 , and an image processing column  83  including the transmitting image  52 , a transmission key  84 , and a cancel key  85 . Moreover, the image processing column  83  is provided with a size entry column  86  and a coloration designation column  87  which are same as those of the custom setting column  62  shown in FIG. 6. Moreover, the image processing column  83  is provided with a 90° right turn key  88 , a 90° left turn key  89  and a 180° turn key  90 .  
     [0103] The user enters the address of the receiving party in the column  81  before transmitting the transmitting image  52 . Moreover, the user can enter a mail title for transmitting the transmitting image  52  at the title entry column  82 . Incidentally, the title may be either a requisite entry matter or an optional entry matter.  
     [0104] The user confirms the contents of the size entry column  86  and the coloration designation column  87 , and when the user desires to specify different contents, alternations may be made in the size entry column  86  and the coloration designation column  87 . Further, the user can turn the transmitting image  52  by pressing the 90° right turn key  88 , the 90° left turn key  89  or the 180° turn key  90 .  
     [0105] The user presses the transmission key  84  after the predetermined process of the transmitting image  53  has been completed. And then, data of the transmitting image  52 , the title, the user information and so on is transmitted to the image providing server  4 . When the transmitting image  52  is transmitted, the same image data is stored and added to the past images  76 . Incidentally, in order to cancel the transmission, the transmission is stopped by pressing the cancel key  85 .  
     [0106] Next, a flow of the image processing and the transmitting process at the user terminal  1  is explained based on the flowchart of FIG. 9. First, the user actuates the program in the user terminal  1  (step S 201 ). When the program is actuated, the virtual portable terminal display section  19  displays a virtual portable terminal on the screen of the user terminal  1  (step S 202 ). Next, the user enters the portable phone model and a model designation section  15  designates the entered model (step S 203 ).  
     [0107] Afterwards a screen format determination section  16  determines the screen format of the designated model (step S 204 ). Next, a screen display section  17  displays the screen of the virtual portable terminal in accordance with the determined screen format (step S 205 ). Next, an image adjusting section  18  adjusts out the image within the display section  31  on receipt of an on-signal of the shutter key  32  (step S 206 ).  
     [0108] Next, a control section  12  receives entry of the address of the receiving party from the user (step S 207 ). A data transmitting/receiving section  11  transmits the image to the entered address (step S 208 ). Subsequently, a storage section  20  stores a copy of the transmitted image (step S 209 ). Incidentally, the copy of the image may be transmitted and the storage section  20  may store the image also.  
     [0109] Moreover, a program including a transmitting step, a model designation step, a screen format determination step, a screen display step, an image adjusting step, a virtual portable terminal display step and a storage step executing the same processing actions as those of the data transmitting/receiving section  11 , the model designation section  15 , the screen format determination section  16 , the screen display section  17 , the screen adjusting section  18 , the virtual portable terminal display section  19  and the storage section  20  which are provided to the user terminal  1 , respectively, may be incorporated. The above program may be stored in an information recording medium such as a floppy disk and a CD-ROM to be marketed.  
     [0110] The image providing server  4  which is an image processor serving as a server will be explained in greater detail based on FIG. 10. The image providing server  4  (image processor) includes a data transmitting/receiving section  111 , a control section  112 , a Read Only Memory (hereinafter, referred to as ROM)  113 , a Random Access Memory (hereinafter, referred to as RAM)  114 , a user registration processing section  115 , a program transfer section  116 , a data analysis section  117 , a registration check section  118 , a URL forming section  119 , an image forming section  120 , an image holding process section  121 , a file forming section  122 , an HTML forming section  123 , an image display section  124 , a registration processing section  125 , a usage registration table  26 , and a transmitting image table  27 . The data transmitting/receiving section  111  sends various notices to the user terminal  1  and serves both as a transmitting means to transmit image data and a formed URL and to a portable phone  8  of the receiving party and a transmitter&#39;s information receiving means to receive the transmitter&#39;s information. Moreover, the data transmitting/receiving section  111  receives the image data and mail from the user terminal  1 .  
     [0111] The control section  112  controls the entire image providing server  4 . The ROM  113  stores a control program of the control section  112 . The RAM  114  is a readable and writable memory where data such as the user&#39;s application and a program for image magnification/reduction is stored.  
     [0112] The user registration processing section  115  processes registration matters from the user and user registration is carried out. The program transfer section  116  performs a process of transferring mail data transmitted from the user to the program. The data analysis section  117  analysis a transmitter, a receiving party or the like, a time period check, a version check of application software, as well as the mail data.  
     [0113] The registration check section  118  determines the registration state of the user. The URL forming section  119  is an address forming means for appending a subscriber&#39;s ID, encrypted password, and distribution ID to an address in predetermined format and forming a URL as an image data storage location. The image forming section  120  forms an image in accordance with the display form of the portable phone to which the image is transmitted. Image forming section  120  also processes image data when an arbitrary form of the image is transmitted from the user terminal  1 . The image holding process section  121  holds the image data, magnifies/reduces information, and provides an image title, etc. The file forming section  122  forms a file in which the magnified/reduced information is stored together with the image data. Moreover, the image holding process section  121  also stores the image data in the transmitting image table  27 .  
     [0114] The HTML forming section  123  forms HTML necessary for displaying image data. Image display section  124  displays the image at a browser. The registration processing section  125  allows the user to carry out procedures for password alternation or canceling the subscription. The usage registration table  26  stores the user&#39;s registration information. Moreover, the transmitting image table  27  is a storage means to store the image data to be transmitted to the portable phone  8  of the receiving party. In addition to the image data, additional information such as the magnification/reduction information, the image title and so on may be stored therein.  
     [0115] Next, a flow of processes from the image processing process and transmission at the user terminal  1  to the image being transmitted to the receiving party&#39;s portable phone  8  will be explained based on FIG. 11. First, the user downloads a predetermined program through the Internet  3  from a program downloading site of the image providing server  4  (step S 301 ). After the program has been downloaded, the user terminal  1  becomes an image processor. The user processes and transmits the image as shown in FIG. 9 (step S 302 ). Mail including image data transmitted from the user terminal  1  and the user&#39;s information in text format is received at the image providing server  4  through the Internet  3  (step S 303 ). Next, the mail data is transferred to a program for image transmission (step S 304 ).  
     [0116] Next, the program for image transmission checks on a transmitter, a receiving party and a subject (step S 305 ). Then, a time period check is carried out (step S 306 ). That is because it cannot be proceeded when transmitted during a holding time period.  
     [0117] Next, a version check is carried out (step S 307 ). This is because the process differs depending on a version of the program downloaded by the user. Afterwards, an analysis of the mail data is executed (step S 308 ). More specifically, an analysis of text data and acquisition of the image data are carried out. Next, a check is performed regarding the user&#39;s registration state, that is the email address of the receiving party, valid term whether the user&#39;s registration has expired or not and so on (step S 309 ). More specifically, the image providing server  4  searches the usage registration table  26  and checks whether the transmitter and the email address of the receiving party are registered or not. If they are not registered, an error occurs. In such a case, the image data is abandoned. A message data indicating that an error has occurred and suggests registering the receiving party is transmitted to the transmitter&#39;s address. Moreover, if the receiving party is registered, a URL identifying a Web site where the transmitting image  52  is stored is formed (step S 311 ). In step S 311 , the address forming means of the image providing server  4  forms a URL  91  as shown in FIG. 12. The URL  91  is formed by appending the transmitter&#39;s subscriber ID  93 , encrypted password  94  and distribution ID  95  to a URL  92  in predetermined format. With the URL  92  in this predetermined format, others possibly entering the URL at random or entering it by a glance is reduced.  
     [0118] However, since the subscriber ID  93 , the encrypted password  94  and the distribution ID  95  are appended, the possibility of others entering the URL at random and stealing the image becomes extremely low. In particular, with the encrypted password  94 , an unauthorized person that steals a glance at the portable phone  8  cannot learn the URL  91 . Moreover, variations of an image are stored in unique image IDS, therefore, even if the encrypted password  94  is learned, it is not possible to steal an image and the plurality of variations of that image. Thus, the damage is to be minimized. On the other hand, the owner of the portable phone  8  only needs to designate the transmitted URL  91  and does not have the burden of unnecessarily entering the image data. But, only one of the subscriber ID  93 , the encrypted password  94 , and the distribution/image ID may be appended. In an alternative embodiment instead of the encrypted password  94 , a password which is not encoded may be employed by displaying a part for the password with an asterisks on the screen of the portable phone  8 .  
     [0119] When the URL  91  is formed in step S 311 , the image transmitting means transmits and saves the image data to a storage location of the URL  91  (step S 312 ). More specifically, the image data is transmitted and stored to the transmitting image table  27 . On the other hand, the address transmitting means transmits the URL formed in step S 311  to the portable phone  8  of the receiving party (step S 313 ). Next, the receiving party designates the URL  91  (step S 314 ). The designation reaches the image providing server  4  through a communication station  7 , the portable terminal connecting server  6  and the Internet  3 . Then, a check on the registration state is carried out at the image providing server  4  (step S 315 ). More specifically, the check is carried out by accessing the usage registration table  26  on whether it is the URL  91  including the registered address or not.  
     [0120] As a result of the registration state check, in a case where it is not registered, an error indication is made at the portable phone  8 , while in a case where it is registered, the image data is obtained from the transmitting image table  27  (step S 316 ). Subsequently, an HTML is formed (step S 317 ). The image data is displayed (step S 318 ). The image data is transmitted to the portable phone  8  for display on its standby screen (step S 319 ). Incidentally, the address forming means and the address transmitting means may be provided to the user terminal  1  instead of being provided to the image providing server  4 . In such a case, a transmitter&#39;s information receiving means which is provided to the user terminal  1  receives the subscriber ID and the password entered by the user and then they are appended to a predetermined address so as to form the URL  91  as shown in FIG. 12.  
     [0121] In this way, it is not necessary to provide the address forming means to the image providing server  4 . But, when the data amount in the user terminal  1  needs to be as small as possible, as explained in FIG. 11, the address forming means is desirably provided to the image providing server  4 .  
     [0122] The image displayed at the URL  91  can be viewed only from a specific portable phone  8 . The image providing server  4  maintains the portable phone&#39;s peculiar IDs. The image providing server  4  when accessed for viewing an image from the portable phone  8 , compares the portable phone peculiar IDs which are maintained and the ID of the accessing portable phone, and only when they match the image is displayed. When the image providing server  4  does not maintain the portable phone&#39;s peculiar IDs, or when the ID of the accessing portable phone does not match, the image can be displayed by entering the password which has been set in usage registration by the portable phone  8 . In a case where the image is displayed with the password, the ID of the accessing portable phone is saved in the image providing server  4 . A receiving party can changes his portable phone by sending a request the form of an email instructing the server to change his phone. Alternative, the receiving party can email the server user the new portable phone and the server will know that the receiving party has a new telephone number.  
     [0123] Next, a flow of proceedings of the subscriber&#39;s data alternation and cancellation carried out by a monthly subscription user will be explained based on FIG. 13. The user logs onto an exclusive Web site for subscribers on the image providing server  4  from the user terminal  1  (step S 401 ). In step S 401 , logging-in is made possible by the user entering a mail address of a receiving party and password. Next, user authentication is carried out at the exclusive Web site for the subscribers (step S 402 ). More specifically, registration data from the usage registration table  26  is searched. If the user is not registered, an error indication is transmitted to the user&#39;s terminal  1 . If the user is registered, an exclusive Web page is displayed to the subscriber. When the user selects transmitting address alternation on the exclusive Web page for (step S 403 ) the address alternation process is carried out (step S 404 ). Moreover, when the user selects password alternation on the exclusive Web page (step S 405 ), the password alternation process is carried out (step S 406 ).  
     [0124] On the other hand, when the user selects cancellation proceeding on the exclusive Web page (step S 407 ), a monthly settlement cancellation process is carried out at an electronic settlement service providing site  5   a  at a commercial provider server  5  (step S 408 ). Subsequently, the cancellation process is carried out at the exclusive Web page (step S 409 ). Following step S 404 , step S 406  or step S 409 , a storage or delete process of registration data in the usage registration table  26  is performed so that the process of alternation/cancellation is complete (step S 410 ).  
     [0125] The image processor, the image processing method, the image processing system and the information recording medium according to the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, at least one of the virtual portable terminal display section  19  and the storage section  20  may not be provided at the user terminal  1 . In a case where the virtual portable terminal display section  19  is not provided, an image is adjust in a screen format based on the model designated at the model designation section  15  without a portable phone being displayed. Even in such an alternative manner, the image in accordance with the screen display of the portable phone  8  of the receiving party is set.  
     [0126] However, when the image is adjusted in a state where the virtual portable terminal is displayed, it is possible for a transmitter to transmit the image after confirming how it is set on the receiving party&#39;s portable phone  8 . Accordingly, it is preferable to provide the virtual portable terminal display section  19 .  
     [0127] Moreover, in a case where the storage section  20  is not provided, the transmitted image is not saved in the user terminal  1 ; however, in a case of frequently transmitting images to the same destination and so on, it is better that the transmitter grasps whether the image has been already transmitted or not. Accordingly, it is preferable to provide the storage section  20 .  
     [0128] Moreover, the virtual portable terminal display step may display the entered model of the portable phone after entering the model because of the above reasons. Incidentally, it may be an information recording medium having a stored program including a transmitting step, a model designation step, a screen format determination step, a screen display step and an image adjusting step and not including at least one step of a virtual portable terminal display step and a storage step.  
     [0129] Moreover, instead of the display of the virtual portable terminal, an image of another image reading apparatus such as a camera may be displayed so that the transmitting image  52  is cut by the tripping action of the shutter. Moreover, without the storage section  20  being provided at the user terminal  1 , a storage means may be located in a remote area through the Internet  3 . In such a case, the transmitted image is stored in a storage section at the remote area.  
     [0130] Moreover, in the above mentioned embodiment, the user terminal  1  transmits a URL  91  to the portable phone  8  of the receiving party and transmits the image data to the transmitting image table  27 ; however, instead of transmitting the URL  91 , the image data may be directly transmitted to the portable phone  8 .  
     [0131] Moreover, the program downloaded by the user may be free or may not be free. New image data may be included in the program downloaded by the user. In such a case, it is not necessary for the user to input image data from a different homepage with image processor  1  or have photographs scanned in with a scanner.  
     [0132] Another embodiment of the image processor, the image processing method, the image processing system and the information recording medium according to the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. In this embodiment, an example with a portable phone as a portable terminal of a receiving party will be described, but the portable terminal may be a small communication terminal such as a mobile computer.  
     [0133] According to an embodiment invention an image processing system includes a user terminal  1 , a commercial provider server  2 , Internet  3 , a communication station  7 , a portable phone  8  and a server  9  which is a image processor as shown in FIG. 14. When the user transmits image data which can be used for a standby screen to a receiving party or the user oneself (hereinafter, an example of the other user will be explained), the image data is processed by image processor  1  of the user. The image data is processed so as to correspond to the screen format of the portable phone  8  as a portable terminal of the receiving party, the data capacity and the image data format. If some of the parameters of the screen format, the data capacity, the image data format are uniformed with the portable phone  8 , the items which are not uniformed may be set.  
     [0134] Thus, processed image data and user information entered by the user are transmitted to the server  9  through the commercial provider server  2  and the Internet  3 . Incidentally, the user carries out user registration at a Web site for user registration provided by server  9  followed by an image transmitting procedure.  
     [0135] The image data transmitted by the user is saved once on server  9 . On the other hand, server  9  may append user&#39;s information to an address in a predetermined format and creates a URL which locates a storage location of the image data. Subsequently, the server  9  forwards the URL to the portable phone  8  of the receiving party through the Internet  3  and the communication station  7 .  
     [0136] When the receiving party of the portable phone  8  designates the forwarded URL from server  9 , the image data stored at the location located by the URL is transmitted to the portable phone  8  through the Internet  3 , the portable terminal connecting server  6  and the communication station  7 . Thus, the image data is presented on the standby screen of the receiving party&#39;s portable phone  8 .  
     [0137] Server  9  is a server connected with the portable phone  8  through the Internet  3  and capable of transmitting the stored image (the original image) on receipt of directions from the portable phone  8 . Moreover, the server  9  processes the original image on receipt of the directions to process the original image from the portable phone  8 , and holds and transmits the processed image (process image) to the portable phone  8 . According to one embodiment of the present invention, the image data may be transmitted to the portable phone  8  without once holding the processed image.  
     [0138] The server  9  is capable of carrying out a color variation process to change colors of the original image or an adding process to add additional data of either characters, symbols or devices to the original image. The detail thereof will be described later.  
     [0139] Moreover, the server  9  is capable of transmitting one image to a plurality of portable phones  8 . The server  9  selects additional data of either arbitrary characters, symbols, or devices and makes process images in which each additional data is added to the original image. Thereafter, the server  9  transmits the processed image to each of the portable phone  8  corresponding to the additional data. Thus, the server  9  not only holds and transmits the original image but also serves as an image processor to process images based on the directions from the portable phone  8 . Moreover, the server  9  transmits even different images to portable phones  8 , respectively instead of transmitting the same image to a plurality of the portable phones  8 . Therefore, the server  9  in this embodiment of the image processing system performs the functions of the image providing server  4  illustrated in the first embodiment, the portable terminal connecting server  6  and the user terminal  1 .  
     [0140] Server  9  will be described, in greater detail below in FIGS. 2 and 10. Server  9  includes a data transmitting/receiving section  111 , a control section  112 , a Read Only Memory (hereinafter, referred to as ROM)  113 , a Random Access Memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM)  114 , a user registration process section  115 , a program transfer section  116 , a data analysis section  117 , a registration check section  118 , a URL forming section  119 , an image forming section  120 , an image holding process section  121 , a file forming section  122 , an HTML forming section  123 , an image display section  124 , a registration process section  125 , a usage registration table  26 , a transmitting image table  27 , an image process section  126 , a second image holding process section  127  and an additional data selection section  128 .  
     [0141] The data transmitting/receiving section  111 , the control section  112 , the ROM  113 , the RAM  114 , the program transfer section  116 , the data analysis section  117 , the URL forming section  119 , the image forming section  120 , the image holding process section  121 , the file forming section  122 , the HTML forming section  123 , the image display section  124 , the registration process section  125 , the usage registration table  26  and the transmitting image table  27  perform the same functions as described in FIG. 10.  
     [0142] However, the data transmitting/receiving section  111  includes both an image process direction receiver to receive directions to process an image from the portable phone  8  and an image transmitter to transmit the processed image which has been processed to the portable phone  8 . The data transmitting/receiving section  111  is capable of transmitting the processed images which have different additional data added depending on each portable phone  8 . Moreover, the data transmitting/receiving section  111  also receives the image data from the user terminal  1  and the user&#39;s data entered through the Web site.  
     [0143] The image process section  126  provides a color variation process to change colors of the original image or an addition process to add additional data of either characters, symbols or devices to the original image based on process directions from a portable phone  8 . The image process section  126  is capable of, for example, changing the background of the original image or appending an arbitrary string of characters generated by a random number to the original image.  
     [0144] The second image holding process section  127  processes the original image and the processed images held in the transmitting image table  27 . Moreover, the transmitting image table  27  is an image holding means to hold not only the original image transmitted from the user terminal  1  but also the processed images having been subject to processing based on the directions of the portable phone  8 . The additional data selection section  128  selects additional data such as characters, symbols or devices.  
     [0145] The user registration process section  115  temporarily registers a beginning user as well as carries out formal registration followed by the temporary registration. The registration check section  118  checks whether the user has been temporally registered or not, or formally registered or not.  
     [0146] Next, a flow of data processing among the user terminal  1 , the portable phone  8  and the server  9  will be explained. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the flow of the registration process for registering the user. First, the user accesses a Web site provided by the server  9  with the user terminal  1  (step S 501 ). Next, the user enters registration contents in a predetermined page of the Web site (step S 502 ) and transmits a signal to execute the registration to the server  9  (step S 503 ). The server  9  having received the signal to execute registration determines whether predetermined matters which are necessary for the temporary registration of the user have been entered (step S 504 ). As a result, in a case where all the predetermined matters has not been entered, the user registration process section  115  of the server  9  creates an error indication (step S  505 ) and the error indication is displayed to the user terminal  1 . The registration entry screen also returns.  
     [0147] On the other hand, in a case where all of the entries have been made, the server  9  recommends confirming the registration contents (step S 506 ) and determines whether the user has already been temporarily registered or not (step S 507 ). As a result, when the user has been temporarily registered, the process goes to step S 505 . On the other hand, when the user has not been registered, the server  9  carries out temporary registration (step S 508 ). Next, the server  9  transmits a temporary registration complete notice mail to user terminal  1  (step S 509 ), while user terminal  1  receives the temporary registration complete notice transmitted in S 509  (step S 511 ). Thus, the user&#39;s temporary registration is completed.  
     [0148] Next, a process in which the temporarily registered user carries out formal registration will be explained. A URL for formal registration (official registration) is indicated on the temporary registration complete notice received in step S 511 . Thus, the user seeking formal registration accesses a Web page of the indicated URL in the temporary registration complete notice mail (step S 551 ). Server  9  then determines whether the user having accessed is temporarily registered or not (step S 552 ). As a result, when the user has not been registered, server  9  indicates an error (step S 553 ).  
     [0149] On the other hand, when the user has been temporarily registered, the server displays a registration contents confirmation screen at user terminal  1  (step S 554 ). Server  9  confirms the registration contents (step S 555 ) and carries out formal registration (step S 556 ). Next, server  9  transmits a formal registration complete notice mail to user terminal  1  (step S 557 ). Server  9  displays a formal registration completion screen (step S 558 ), while user terminal  1  receives the formal registration complete notice mail transmitted in S 557  (step S 559 ). Thus, the user&#39;s formal registration process is completed.  
     [0150]FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating the process in which the server  9  receives data of an image (the original image) from user terminal  1 . The user inputs an image at user terminal  1  (step S 601 ) and gives directions to transmit the data to server  9  (step S 602 ). Then, authentication of the user is carried out between the server  9  and the user terminal  1  (step S 603 ). Next, the user terminal  1  transmits the receiving party&#39;s information and the data of the original image to the server  9  (step S 604 ). The server  9  checks on a connecting party (step S 605 ), performs a version check of the terminal (step S 606 ), and analyzes and obtains the receiving party&#39;s information and the data of the original image which have been transmitted (step S 607 ). Next, the server  9  checks on the receiving party&#39;s registration state (step S 608 ), and saves the distribution data (the original image data) (step S 609 ).  
     [0151] Next, the server  9  sends an electronic mail in which a URL is sent to the receiving party (step S 610 ). Moreover, the server  9  transmits a notification to the user, indicating that data of the original image has been transmitted to the receiving party (step S 611 ). The user receives the above mentioned notice notification at the user terminal  1  (step S 612 ). Next, when the user requests server  9  for information of each terminal version or data of advertisement (step S 613 ), the server  9  checks on the terminal version (step S 614 ), and obtains the information of each terminal version and the data of advertisement (step S 615 ). Server  9  transmits the information of each version or the data of advertisement to user terminal  1  (step S 616 ). User terminal  1  receives the above mentioned data transmitted by server  9  (step S 617 ) and displays the same (step S  618 ). Incidentally, steps from step S 613  to step S 618  may be omitted.  
     [0152]FIG. 18 is a flow diagram illustrating the process in which the receiving party receives the original image and processes the image from server  9  with the portable phone  8 . The portable phone  8  of the receiving party receives the electronic mail transmitted by the server in step S 610  (step S 651 ). The receiving party accesses the Web site of the URL indicated in the electronic mail (step S 652 ). The server  9  performs an analysis of the URL and authenticates of the user (step S 653 ). Next, the server  9  obtains the image data transmitted by the user from the transmitting image table  27  (step S 654 ). Further, the server  9  obtains information of the portable phone  8  which has accessed (step S 655 ) and obtains distribution information of the portable phone  8  (step S 656 ).  
     [0153] The server  9  determines information of the image data to be outputted (step S 657 ). Next, the server converts or processes the image in view of the information of the portable phone  8  of receiving party and the image data information (step S 658 ). Next, the server  9  holds the image (step S 659 ) and creates a Web page for displaying the image (step S 660 ). Next, the server  9  transmits the image to the portable phone  8  (step S 661 ). The portable phone  8  receives the image data from the server  9  (step S 662 ), temporally holds the image (step S 663 ), and has the image displayed on the display section of the portable phone  8  (step S 664 ).  
     [0154] Next, the portable phone  8  determines whether process directions to process the displayed image (this is to be the original image) have been given or not from the other user (step S 665 ). Without the process directions given, the portable phone  8  holds the image (step S 666 ), to finish the process. On the other hand, when the process directions are given, the portable phone  8  transmits the process directions from the other user to the server  9  (step S 667 ). Then the server  9  receives the process directions (step S 668 ). Next, the server  9  selects additional data to be added to the original image (step S 669 ). This selection is made based on information on the other user&#39;s portable phone and the process directions from the other user and so on. And the server  9  carries out a processing process to append the additional data to the original image (step S 670 ).  
     [0155] Next, the server  9  holds the obtained image in step S 670  (this is referred to as the process image in a transmitting image table  27  (step S 671 ) followed by creating a Web page for displaying the image (step S 672 ), transmitting the process image to the portable phone  8  (step S 673 ). Next, the portable phone  8  receives the process image (step S 662 ). Steps following step S 662  are same as the previously described steps. That is, when the other user desires to process the process image furthermore, each process from step S 665  to step S 673  is to be repeated.  
     [0156]FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a flow of process for the user terminal  1  obtaining terminal version information. First, a user accesses the server  9  through the user terminal  1  and carries out authentication of the user (step S 701 ). Next, the user requests the server  9  for the updated terminal information (step S 702 ). The server  9  checks on the terminal version (step S 703 ), and obtains information of each version and data of advertisement (step S 704 ). Server  9  transmits the information of each version and the data of advertisement to the user terminal  1  (step S 705 ). The user terminal  1  receives the above mentioned data transmitted from the server  9  (step S 706 ) and renews the terminal information (step S 707 ).  
     [0157]FIG. 20 is a view for explaining a process in which the other user has an original image  130  received by the portable phone  8  processed into a screen of different colors at the server  9  and receives the processed images  131 ,  132  which have been processed again. When the other user designates a URL displayed at the portable phone  8 , the original image  130  held at the transmitting image table  27  of the server  9  is received at the portable phone  8  through the data transmitting/receiving section  111 . When the color of the original image  130  is desired to change, the other user designates a color of interest to the server  9 . Then the designation is transmitted to an image process section  126  through the data transmitting/receiving section  111 . The image process section  126  reads the original image  130  out from the transmitting image table  27  and changes colors to form a different image (process image)  131 . Next, a second image holding process section  127  holds the processed image  131  at the transmitting image table  27 . Next, the processed image  131  is transmitted to the portable phone  8  through the data transmitting/receiving section  111 .  
     [0158] When the other user wishes to process the processed image  131  further more, the image process section  126  performs a similar process to that of the original image  130  to form a different processed image  132 . The processed images  131 ,  132  also are held at the transmitting image table  27  in addition to the original image  130 . Incidentally, in the processing process after the second time the original image  130  may be processed or the very previous process image may be processed. That is, the processed image  132  may be an image processed based on the original image  130  or may be an image processed based on the processed image  131 .  
     [0159] Thus, the other user can obtain images to which various alternations are added only by giving directions to the server  9  without having software for image processing in his or her own portable phone  8 . Therefore, it is possible to improve a processing speed of image compared to a case of image processing with the portable phone  8 . Moreover, since all the operation needs to be conducted is directing conditions of processing on the portable phone  8 , operations conducted by the other user are simplified.  
     [0160]FIG. 21 is a view for explaining a process in which a server  9  transmits a plurality of processed images  141 ,  142 ,  143  which are obtained by subjecting an original image  140  to different processes to portable phones  8   a,    8   b,    8   c,  respectively. An image process section  126  reads out the original image  140  from the transmitting image table  27 , while an additional data selection section  128  selects additional data  151 ,  152 ,  153  decided according to the other user. The additional data  151 ,  152 ,  153  is read out from an additional data holding section which is not shown. Next, the image process part  126  performs a process to add the additional data  151 ,  152 ,  153  transmitted from the additional data selection section  128  to the original image  140 .  
     [0161] Next, the second image holding process section  127  holds processed images  141 ,  142 ,  143  at the transmitting image table  27 . The processed image  141  herein is an image in which the additional data  151  is added to the original image  140 . Moreover, the processed image  142  is an image in which the additional data  152  is added to the original image  140 . Further, the processed image  143  is an image in which the additional data  153  is added to the original image  140 . Next, the processed images  141 ,  142 ,  143  are transmitted to portable phones  8   a,    8   b,    8   c  to which they are to be transmitted, respectively, through the data transmitting/receiving section  111 .  
     [0162] Thus, the server  9  is capable of transmitting different processed images  141 ,  142 ,  143  to the plurality of the portable phones  8   a,    8   b,    8   c.  Therefore, the process image  141  and so on is available as an image being attached with a lottery for a prize. Moreover, it is possible to send the processed image  141  etc. with the other user&#39;s name in.  
     [0163] Moreover, an information recording medium having a saved program including an image process directions receiving step (step S 668 ) to receive directions to process an image from the portable phone  8 , an image process step (step S 669 ) to process the image based on the process directions, and an image transmitting step (step S 673 ) to transmit the process image which has been processed in the image process step to the portable phone  8  is inserted to the server  9 , thereby the internal program may be executed. Further, the program further including a second image holding process step (step S 671 ) to have the image held, wherein in the image process step (step S 670 ) the image is read in and processed and in the second image holding process step (step S 671 ) the information recording medium may hold the process image at the storage location.  
     [0164] Moreover, one image is transmittable to a plurality of portable phones  8 . An information recording medium having a stored program including an additional data selection step (step S 669 ) to select additional data each of the plurality of the portable phones  8 , an image process step (step S 670 ) to make the process image in which the additional data is added to the image, and image transmitting step (step S 673 ) to transmit the process image to respective portable phone  8  according to the additional data, is inserted to the server  9 , whereby the internal program may be executed.  
     [0165] Moreover, the processing of the image is not limited to alternation of colors in the image background or appendage of numbers. It also includes alternation of colors of human hairstyle, alternation of human in size and other alternations such as a change of background itself.  
     [0166] As the foregoing, the image processor, the image processing method, the image processing system and the information recording medium according to the present invention are useful to transmit an image so as to fit in a portable phone screen of a receiving party, and further to safely transmit the image to the receiving party. Moreover, the image processor, the image processing method, the image processing system and the information recording medium according to the present invention are useful for a receiver of image data without the receiving device having image processing capabilities and further in transmitting image to a plurality of user they are useful to transmit images with slight changes each person.