Patent ID: 7555520

Claim:
A server apparatus connected to a transmitting IP apparatus, the transmitting IP apparatus transmitting an e-mail to a receiving IP apparatus via the server apparatus, the server apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store an IP address of the receiving IP apparatus in association with a telephone number of the receiving IP apparatus, the IP address of the receiving IP apparatus being distinct from an e-mail address; a receiver configured to receive the e-mail from the transmitting IP apparatus, the e-mail including the telephone number of the receiving IP apparatus; an analyzer configured to obtain, from the received e-mail, the telephone number of the receiving IP apparatus, and to obtain, from the memory, the IP address of the receiving IP apparatus associated with the telephone number of the receiving IP apparatus, the receiving IP apparatus of the IP address, being the same as the receiving IP apparatus of the telephone number; a converter configured to determine, based upon the telephone number of the receiving IP apparatus, a terminal type and a domain of the receiving IP apparatus and to determine, based upon the terminal type, the IP address of the receiving IP apparatus; and a transmitter configured to transmit the received e-mail to the receiving IP apparatus of the telephone number, based on the stored IP address of the receiving IP apparatus.