System having facsimile devices receiving E-mails from terminal computers by monitoring mail boxes associated with the devices in predetermined intervals to detect arrival of mail

Claim 1

An information processing system comprising a plurality of consumer terminals, a transfer device connected to the consumer terminals via a transmission line for processing information from each consumer terminal and for transferring the information to an address, and a plurality of receiver devices connected to the transfer device via a transmission line for receiving information from the consumer terminals via the transfer device, each said consumer terminal including read/record means for reading and recording image information sent in form of an electric signal through the communication line, means for reproducing and displaying images corresponding to the electric signal read out or recorded by said read/record means, output means for converting image data on information selected from said image information into an electric signal and for outputting it onto the transmission line, and control means for controlling all means of said consumer terminal, said transfer device including read/record means for reading and recording the electric signal from said output means of said consumer terminal, time counter means for counting a predetermined period of time, detector means for monitoring said read/record means in predetermined intervals to detect image information stored therein, means for identifying one of said receiver devices to which said image information detected by said detector means should be transferred, transfer counter means for counting how often said image information is transferred to the identified receiver device, output means for converting the image information detected by said detector means into an electric signal and for outputting it to the identified receiver device, and control means for controlling all means of said transfer device, each said receiver device including read/record means for reading and recording said electric signal sent from said transfer device, means for reproducing the electric signal read or recorded by the read/record means into image information and for outputting it onto a recording medium, and control means for controlling all means of said receiver device.