Image data communication system, server system, method of controlling operation of same, and recording medium storing program for control of server system

A server system capable of communicating with a client computer via a network, comprising:

• an original-image data receiving unit for receiving the original-image data transmitted;
• an image data generating unit, which responds to receipt of the original-image data by said original-image data receiving unit, for generating reduced-data-quantity image data of same format of two stages representing at least two images possessing data quantities of at least two stages in each of which the quantity of data is less than that of the original-image data;
• and
• a unit for associating the original-image data, which has been received by said original-image data receiving unit, and the reduced-data-quantity image data that has been generated by said image data generating unit.

A method of controlling the operation of a server system capable of communicating with a client computer via a network, comprising:

• receiving original-image data that is sent;
• generating, in response to receipt of the original-image data, reduced-data-quantity image data of same format of two stages representing at least two images possessing data quantities of at least two stages in each of which the quantity of data is less than that of the original-image data;
• and
• associating the original-image data that has been received and the reduced-data-quantity image data that has been generated.

A recording medium storing a program for controlling a server system capable of communicating with a client computer via a network, said program controlling a computer of the server system so as to:

• receive original-image data that has been sent;
• generate, in response to receipt of the original-image data, reduced-data-quantity image data of same format of two stages representing at least two images possessing data quantities of at least two stages in each of which the quantity of data is less than that of the original-image data;
• and
• associate the original-image data that has been received and the reduced-data-quantity image data that has been generated.

An image data communication system in which a plurality of client computers and a server system are capable of communicating with each other via a network, wherein one of said client computers includes:

• means for specifying original-image data that is to be transmitted to said server system;
• and
• means for transmitting the original-image data, which has been specified by said means for specifying, to said server system;
• and
• said server system includes:
• means for receiving the original-image data transmitted from said means for transmitting;
• means, which responds to receipt of the original-image data by said means for receiving, for generating reduced-data-quantity image data of same format of two stages representing at least two images possessing data quantities of at least two stages in each of which the quantity of data is less than that of the original-image data;
• and
• means for associating the original-image data which has been received by said means for receiving, and the reduced-data-quantity image data that has been generated by said means for generating.

A server system capable of communicating with a client computer via a network, comprising:

• means for receiving the original-image data transmitted;
• means for generating, which responds to receipt of the original-image data by said means for receiving, for generating reduced-data-quantity image data of same format of two stages representing at least two images possessing data quantities of at least two stages in each of which the quantity of data is less than that of the original-image data;
• and
• means for associating the original-image data, which has been received by said means for receiving, and the reduced-data-quantity image data that has been generated by said means for generating.