Image communication system using electronic mail and control method therefor

An electronic-mail apparatus comprising:

• electronic-mail transmission means for transmitting an electronic mail;
• image-file attachment means for attaching an image file to said electronic mail;
• reading means for reading an image;
• and
• conversion means for converting the image read by said reading means to an image file,
• wherein before said apparatus transmits an image file, said apparatus transmits an electronic mail, to inquire the image processing capability of a receiving-side apparatus, to said receiving-side apparatus.

An electronic-mail apparatus comprising:

• electronic-mail reception means for receiving an electronic mail;
• file extraction means for extracting an attachment file from said electronic mail;
• determination means for determining whether or not said attachment file is an image file;
• image processing means for processing an image file;
• and
• electronic-mail transmitting means for transmitting an electronic mail to which an image file, including image-file processing information, is attached.

A communication method for an image communication system for performing transmission/reception of an electronic mail between a plurality of communication terminals, comprising:

• an image-file attachment step of attaching an image file including image-file processing information to an electronic mail;
• an electronic-mail transmission step of transmitting said electronic mail;
• an electronic-mail reception step of receiving said electronic mail transmitted at said electronic-mail transmission step;
• a file extraction step of extracting an attachment file from said electronic mail received at said electronic-mail reception step;
• a determination step of determining whether or not the attachment file extracted at said file extraction step is an image file;
• and
• an image processing step of, if it is determined at said determination step that the attachment file is an image file, processing said image file.

A computer-readable memory containing a control program for an image communication system for performing transmission/reception of an electronic mail between a plurality of communication terminals, said program including:

• image-file attachment process procedure codes for attaching an image file including image-file processing information to an electronic mail;
• transmission process procedure codes for transmitting said electronic mail;
• electronic-mail reception process procedure codes for receiving said electronic mail transmitted at said transmission process;
• file extraction process procedure codes for extracting an attachment file from said electronic mail received at said electronic-mail reception process;
• determination process procedure codes for determining whether or not the attachment file extracted at said file extraction process is an image file;
• and
• image processing process procedure codes for, if it is determined at said determination process that the attachment file is an image file, processing said image file.