Patent ID: 6965443

Claim:
A communication system comprising: a facsimile machine and a processor, the facsimile machine including an image reader that reads image information from a document and a communication unit that sends the image information by selecting either sending the image information via a public communication switched network or via the global Internet, the processor including: an instruction device that instructs the facsimile machine to read image information from the document, and instructs the facsimile machine to transmit the image information read by the image reader to the processor; a scan mode setting device that sets a designated scan mode for scanning the image information, wherein the scan mode includes reading resolution and scan area; a reception device that receives the image information transmitted from the facsimile machine, the image information being automatically read by the image reader in response to the instruction provided by the instruction device; a conversion device that converts the image information received by the reception device, into a format such that the image information becomes attached to an e-mail in response to the reception of the image information at the reception device; a determination device that determines whether reception of the image information by the reception device has been completed; and an e-mail transmission device that attaches the image information converted by the conversion device to the e-mail, and transmits the e-mail through the communication unit to a receiver-side apparatus via an Internet in response to the determination by the determination device that the reception of the image information by the reception device has been completed.