Patent ID: 8159970

Claim:
A method of communicating image data to a second communications device from a first communications device while the first communications device is in an image communications mode of operation, comprising the steps of: checking codec information of the second communications device when receiving an image communication request, extracting the codec information of the second communications device that is not contained in the first communications device and storing the extracted codec information of the second communications device; encoding selected image data using the codec information of the second communications device; and communicating the encoded selected image data to the second communications device; wherein the selected image data is encoded with a first codec prior to the encoding operation; wherein the step of encoding selected image data using the codec information of the second communications device comprises the steps of: determining whether the first codec of the selected image data is supported by the second communications device; and if the first codec of the selected image data is not supported by the second communications device, selecting a second codec for encoding the selected image data from the codec information of the second communications device for optimizing, with respect to the selected image data, an encoding speed, a decoding speed, and/or a size of encoded data, and encoding the selected image data using the second codec.