US 7,321,442 B2
Image data communications device and method
Hidehiko Ogawa, Kanagawa (Japan)
Assigned to Panasonic Communications, Co., Ltd., Fukuoka (Japan)
Filed on Jan. 30, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/767,763.
Application 10/767763 is a continuation of application No. 09/461402, filed on Dec. 15, 1999, granted, now 6,710,894.
Claims priority of application No. 11-056493 (JP), filed on Mar. 04, 1999.
Prior Publication US 2004/0252336 A1, Dec. 16, 2004
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 1/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 358—1.15  [358/402; 358/440; 379/100.08] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image data communication apparatus connected to a network, and transmitting image data attached to an e-mail to a receiving apparatus via the network, the e-mail including a mail from command and a mail message, the image data communication apparatus comprising;
a scanner configured to scan the image data;
a memory configured to store a default e-mail address, the memory being within the image data communication apparatus;
a panel configured to input an e-mail address of a user into the image data communication apparatus, the panel including a start actuator; and
a controller configured to control the scanner to scan the image data and to convert the scanned image data into a format for e-mail transmission in response to operation of the start actuator,
the controller being further configured to set the default e-mail address into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached when the e-mail address of the user is not input by the panel,
the controller being further configured to set the e-mail address of the user, input by the panel, into the mail message of the e-mail to which the image data is attached when the e-mail address of the user is input by the panel, the e-mail address of the user being distinct from an e-mail address of the image data communication apparatus, whereby the e-mail address of the user set into the mail message of the e-mail is utilized as a destination of a reply to the e-mail, the reply being sent from the receiving apparatus, the reply being returned to the e-mail address of the user, and not being returned to e-mail address of the image data communication apparatus.