System and method for incorporating image data into electronic mail documents

• US 6,253,231 B1
• Filed: 10/07/1998
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujii, Toshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/168,037
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A system and method for incorporating image data into electronic mail documents, comprising an image input device to generate image data, a processor to manipulate the image data, a text input module to receive text data, and a display module to combine the image data with the text data. The invention also includes a graphic conversion module to convert the image data into graphic data format, an e-mail conversion module to convert the graphic data and text data into an e-mail document, and means for sending the e-mail document to the Internet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for incorporating image data into an electronic document, comprising:

a conversion module configured to manipulate information data and said image data;

a processor, coupled to said apparatus, to control said conversion module and thereby produce said electronic document;

a display module configured to display said image data and said information data; and

a graphic module configured to convert said image data into graphic data, wherein said graphic module converts said image data in response to a freeze operation.

2. An apparatus for incorporating image data into an electronic document, comprising:

a conversion module configured to manipulate information data and said image data;

a processor, coupled to said apparatus, to control said conversion module and thereby produce said electronic document;

a display module configured to display said image data and said information data;

a graphic module configured to convert said image data into graphic data; and

an e-mail conversion module configured to convert said graphic data and said information data into said electronic document, wherein said e-mail conversion module converts said graphic data and said information data in response to a send option.

3. A method of incorporating image data into an electronic document comprising the steps of:

receiving said image data;

receiving information data;

processing said image data and said information data to produce said electronic document;

converting said image data into graphic data; and

displaying said graphic data and said information data, wherein said step of converting said image data is performed in response to a freeze control operation.

4. A method of incorporating image data into an electronic document comprising the steps of:

receiving said image data;

receiving information data;

processing said image data and said information data to produce said electronic document;

converting said image data into graphic data;

displaying said graphic data and said information data; and

deleting said graphic data, wherein said step of deleting is performed in response to an un-freeze control option.

5. A method of incorporating image data into an electronic document comprising the steps of:

receiving said image data;

receiving information data;

processing said image data to produce said electronic document;

converting said image data into graphic data;

displaying said graphic data and said information data;

converting said graphic document and said information data into said electronic document; and

sending said electronic document to a networked source, wherein said step of converting is performed in response to a send control option.

6. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for incorporating image data into an electronic document, by performing the steps of:

receiving said image data;

receiving information data;

processing said image data and said information data to produce said electronic document;

converting said image data into graphic data; and

displaying said graphic data and said information data, wherein said step of converting said image data is performed in response to a freeze control option.

7. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for incorporating image data into an electronic document, by performing the steps of:

receiving said image data;

receiving information data;

processing said image data and said information data to produce said electronic document;

converting said image data into graphic data;

displaying said graphic data and said information data; and

deleting said graphic data, wherein said step of deleting is performed in response to an un-freeze control option.

8. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for incorporating image data into an electronic document, by performing the steps of:

receiving said image data;

receiving information data;

processing said image data and said information data to produce said electronic document;

converting said image data into graphic data;

displaying said graphic data and said information data;

converting said graphic data and said information data into said electronic document; and

sending said electronic document to a networked source, wherein said step of converting is performed in response to a send control option.