Ricoh Technology Research, Inc.

Naoki Wakasugi

A data terminal which is coupled to a local area network and a public switched telephone network includes first and second communications devices that transmit and receive electronic mails through the local area network and facsimile image information through the public switched telephone network, respectively. The data terminal further includes a memory and a delivery controller. The memory stores a plurality of electronic-mail delivery control information sets, each information set being uniquely assigned to each user and including user identifiers necessary for the user to access a mail server and to receive electronic mails for the user, at least one facsimile number where to deliver the electronic mails, and a flag for indicating whether an electronic-mail delivery operation is required. The delivery controller controls the delivery operation, during which the data terminal accesses the mail server using the user identifiers to receive electronic mails for the user when the flag indicates the electronic-mail delivery operation is required and then the data terminal converts the electronic mails into facsimile image information. The controller then transmits the facsimile image information to at least one communications terminal that has a facsimile communications function using the at least one facsimile number included in the user identifiers.

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Sagamihara, Japan

Naoki Wakasugi