Abstract: When images classified into groups of similar images are displayed, the similar images are efficiently displayed. For this purpose, a selection unit selects representative images representing the respective groups from the images classified into the groups. A display control unit displays a catalog of thumbnails of the representative images on display means. When a desired one of the representative images is selected in the catalog, a catalog of all the images in the group represented by the selected representative image is displayed on the display means, instead of the catalog of thumbnails of the representative images.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus capable of decoding and reducing image data encoded with an orthogonal transformation and a variable length decoding in high speed without degrading the accuracy of the reduced image data. In the method and apparatus, the image data are decoded by a variable length decoding and an inverse orthogonal transformation, and reduced to a predetermined target resolution. The image data are decoded by the variable length decoding and resolution of the decoded image data is obtained. Then, the obtained resolution is compared with the target resolution to select the low frequency components to be used for the inverse orthogonal transformation based on the comparison result. Thereafter, an optimum reduction method is selected based on the comparison result, and the decoded image data are reduced by the selected reduction method.

Abstract: E-mail transmitted from a sender terminal together with an attached image file is received by a mail server. The latter inserts a tag in the header of the image file that has been attached to the e-mail. The tag includes the name and telephone number, etc., of the sender, which have been stored in a database that archives personal information. The image file in which the sender name, etc., has been inserted is attached to the e-mail in place of the image file that was attached to the received e-mail, and this e-mail is then transmitted to the terminal of a receiving party.

Abstract: When images classified into groups of similar images are displayed, the similar images are efficiently displayed. For this purpose, a selection unit selects representative images representing the respective groups from the images classified into the groups. A display control unit displays a catalog of thumbnails of the representative images on display means. When a desired one of the representative images is selected in the catalog, a catalog of all the images in the group represented by the selected representative image is displayed on the display means, instead of the catalog of thumbnails of the representative images.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus capable of decoding and reducing image data encoded with an orthogonal transformation and a variable length decoding in high speed without degrading the accuracy of the reduced image data. In the method and apparatus, the image data are decoded by a variable length decoding and an inverse orthogonal transformation, and reduced to a predetermined target resolution. The image data are decoded by the variable length decoding and resolution of the decoded image data is obtained. Then, the obtained resolution is compared with the target resolution to select the low frequency components to be used for the inverse orthogonal transformation based on the comparison result. Thereafter, an optimum reduction method is selected based on the comparison result, and the decoded image data are reduced by the selected reduction method.

Abstract: An SMTP server 100 for relaying an e-mail which is transmitted between cellular phones and performing a lottery to award a prize to users of the cellular phones, has a receiving portion 101 for receiving the e-mail from a sender-side cellular phone 200, a sending portion 103 for sending the e-mail to a receiver-side cellular phone 300, a send information storing portion 104 for storing send information of the e-mail that is received by receiving portion 101 every cellular phone as the destination of the e-mail, and a lot-drawing portion 105 for deciding a winning probability of a drawing of lots applied to a user of the receiver-side cellular phone 300 according to the send information stored in the send information storing portion 104 and then executing a lot-drawing to the user of the receiver-side cellular phone 300.

Abstract: E-mail transmitted from a sender terminal together with an attached image file is received by a mail server. The latter inserts a tag in the header of the image file that has been attached to the e-mail. The tag includes the name and telephone number, etc., of the sender, which have been stored in a database that archives personal information. The image file in which the sender name, etc., has been inserted is attached to the e-mail in place of the image file that was attached to the received e-mail, and this e-mail is then transmitted to the terminal of a receiving party.