Patent ID: 8379254

Claim:
An image communications apparatus comprising: an image-data receiving unit that receives image data from other image communication apparatus; a storing unit that stores therein the image data; an output unit that outputs the image data stored in the storing unit; a reading unit that reads the image data output by the output unit; a character-string extracting unit that extracts a first character string from the image data read by the reading unit and a second character string from the image data stored in the storing unit; a difference extracting unit that extracts a difference between the first character string fro the image data read by the reading unit and the second character string from the image data stored in the storing unit; a difference determining unit that determines whether the difference extracted by the difference extracting unit satisfies a predetermined condition; and a control unit that controls a transmission of a message to the other image communication apparatus indicating that the image data output by the output unit is different from the image data received by the receiving unit, if a result of determination by the difference determining unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition.