Communication apparatus, transmission program, computer readable medium storing a transmission program, transmission method and communication system for reliably transmitting image data

A program for transmitting image data to a server apparatus, said program causing a computer to function as:

• receiving means for receiving a plurality of image data and accompanying communication information;
• primary storage means for temporarily storing said image data and communication information, said primary storage means being adapted for high-speed forwarding;
• secondary storage means having a storage capacity greater than-that of said primary storage means;
• forwarding means for converting said image data to a standard format and forwarding said standard format image data together with said communication information;
• network communication means connected to a server apparatus via a network for transmitting said standard format image data together with said communication information to said server apparatus;
• and
• retransmitting means operable in case of a failure of transmission, wherein said retransmitting means saves said image data and communication information stored in said primary storage means in said secondary storage means, deletes said image data from said primary storage means, converts the saved image data into a standard format, retransmits the standard format image data together with said communication information to said server apparatus and repeats retransmission in case of a failure of the preceding retransmission.

A computer readable medium storing a program for transmitting image data to a server apparatus, said program causing a computer to function as:

• receiving means for receiving a plurality of image data and accompanying communication information;
• primary storage means for temporarily storing said image data and communication information, the primary storage means being adapted for high-speed forwarding;
• secondary storage means having a storage capacity greater than that of said primary storage means;
• forwarding means for converting said image data to a standard format and forwarding said standard format image data together with said communication information;
• network communication means connected to a server apparatus via a network for transmitting said standard format image data together with said communication information to said server apparatus;
• and
• retransmitting means operable in case of a failure of transmission, wherein said retransmitting means saves said image data and communication information stored in said primary storage means in said secondary storage means, deletes said image data from said primary storage means, converts the saved image data into a standard format, retransmits the standard format image data together with said communication information to said server apparatus and repeats retransmission in case of a failure of the preceding retransmission.

A method of transmitting image data to a server apparatus using a preprogrammed computer, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving image data and accompanying communication information;
• storing said image data and communication information in a primary storage means adapted for a high-speed forwarding;
• converting said image data to a standard format and forwarding said standard format image data together with said communication information;
• carrying out network communications for transmitting said standard format image data together with said communication information to said server apparatus via a network;
• in case of a failure of transmission, saving said image data and communication information stored in said primary storage means in said secondary storage means having a storage capacity greater than that of said primary storage means and deleting said image data in said primary storage means;
• and
• converting the saved image data into a standard format, retransmitting the standard format image data together with said communication information to said server apparatus and repeating retransmission in case of a failure of the preceding retransmission.

A communication system comprising:

• at least one communication apparatus having a primary storage means for temporarily storing image data and accompanying communication information received through a public telephone line;
• a server apparatus connected to said communication apparatus via a network;
• and
• at least one user terminal connected to said server apparatus via said network,
• said communication apparatus having a secondary storage means such that said image data and accompanying communication information are saved in said secondary storage means are deleted from said primary storage means in case of a failure of a transmission to said server apparatus.