초록 ▼

By comprising a unit for designating a distribution destination on a network, unit for specifying data to be distributed to the designated distribution destination, unit for determining a distribution method for distributing the specified data, and unit for distributing the data to the designated di

By comprising a unit for designating a distribution destination on a network, unit for specifying data to be distributed to the designated distribution destination, unit for determining a distribution method for distributing the specified data, and unit for distributing the data to the designated distribution destination based on the determination, data is appropriately distributed by selecting a distribution method which is suitable to the amount of data to be distributed and the setting state of the network of the distribution destination.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A data processing apparatus comprising:distribution destination designation means for designating a distribution destination of data on a network;registering means for registering a plurality of servers corresponding to the distribution destination to be designated by said distribution destinatio

1. A data processing apparatus comprising:distribution destination designation means for designating a distribution destination of data on a network;registering means for registering a plurality of servers corresponding to the distribution destination to be designated by said distribution destination designation means;specifying means for specifying data to be distributed to the designated distribution destination;determination means for determining a distribution method for distributing the specified data; anddistribution means for distributing the specified data to the designated distribution destination in accordance with the distribution method determined by said determination means,wherein, in a case where said determination means determines that said distribution method comprises transmitting link information to the distribution destination, said distribution means transmits the data to one of the plurality of registered servers corresponding to the distribution destination designated by said distribution destination designation means, and consecutively transmits the link information for specifying the server and the data in the server to the distribution destination after the data is transmitted. 2. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination of the distribution method is made based on a criterion of whether or not the specified data is accessible by the designated distribution destination. 3. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination of the distribution method is made based on a criterion such that distribution of the specified data does not impose an excessive load on network communication. 4. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means determines the distribution method based on a criterion such that the specified data satisfies a setting condition of a determination procedure item of the designated distribution destination. 5. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means determines the distribution method based on at least one of the following criteria: data size, an attribute of a distribution destination network, or setting of the distribution destination. 6. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distribution means distributes the specified data as real data to the designated distribution destination in accordance with the determined distribution method. 7. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distribution means distributes the specified data as attachment data to an electronic mail to the designated distribution destination in accordance with the determined distribution method. 8. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means determines whether or not the size of the specified data is a predetermined size or larger, andin a case where the size of the specified data is the predetermined size or larger, the specified data is distributed as the link data to a distribution originator where the specified data is stored, whereas in a case where the size of the specified data is less than the predetermined size, the specified data is distributed to the distribution destination as attachment data to an electronic mail, or real data of the specified data is distributed to the distribution destination. 9. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:distribution data transfer means for transferring the specified data to another distribution destination on a network which is accessible by the distribution destination, in a case where the distribution destination is unable to access the specified data on the network; andinforming means for informing the distribution destination of the link data of the another distribution destination. 10. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for displaying brief content s of distributed data together with an icon identifying a data attribute, when data is distributed. 11. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said determination means makes a determination such that a server which is accessible by the distribution destination is detected in the network, said distribution means transmits the specified data to the detected server and distributes the link information to the distribution destination. 12. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said determination means makes a determination such that the server which is accessible by the designated distribution destination is not detected in the network, said distribution means directly distributes the specified data to the distribution destination. 13. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where data is distributed to a plurality of destinations, said distribution means detects a common server, in the network, which is accessible by the plurality of destinations, transmits the data to the detected server and distributes the link information to the plurality of destinations. 14. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a condition of the server which is accessible by the distribution destination is that a protocol used in the transmission is acceptable by a server's communication path. 15. The data processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the condition of the server which is accessible by the distribution destination is that the distribution destination is authorized to access the server. 16. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means determines whether or not the specified data is accessible by the designated distribution destination, andas a result of said determination, in a case where said determination means determines that the specified data is accessible, the link data or real data of the specified data is distributed to the distribution destination, whereas in a case where said determination means determines that the specified data is not accessible, the specified data is transmitted to the distribution destination as attachment data to an electronic mail. 17. The data processing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising distribution data obtaining means for downloading the specified data from the distribution originator or the another distribution destination based on the link data. 18. A data processing method, comprising the steps of:designating a distribution destination of data to be distributed on a network;registering a plurality of servers corresponding to the distribution destination to be designated in said step of designating;specifying data to be distributed to the designated distribution destination;determining a distribution method for distributing the specified data; anddistributing the data to the designated distribution destination in accordance with the distribution method determined in said determining step,wherein, in a case where said determination step determines that said method comprises transmitting link information to the distribution destination, said distributing step transmits the specified data to one of the registered servers corresponding to the distribution destination designated in said designating step, and consecutively transmits link information for specifying the server and the data in the server to the distribution destination after the data is transmitted. 19. The data processing method according to claim 18, wherein the determination of the distribution method is made based on a criterion of whether or not the specified data is accessible by the designated distribution destination. 20. The data processing method according to claim 18, wherein the determination of the distribution method is made based on a criterion such that distribution of the specified data does not impose an excessive load on network communication. 21. The data proces sing method according to claim 18, wherein in said determination step, the distribution method is determined based on a criterion such that the specified data satisfies a setting condition of a determination procedure item of the designated distribution destination. 22. The data processing method according to claim 18, wherein in said determination step, the distribution method is determined based on at least one of the following criteria: data size, attribute of distribution destination network, or setting of the distribution destination. 23. The data processing method according to claim 18, wherein in said distribution step, the specified data is distributed as real data to the designated distribution destination in accordance with the determined distribution method. 24. The data processing method according to claim 18, wherein in said distribution step, the specified data is distributed as attachment data to an electronic mail to the designated distribution destination in accordance with the determined distribution method. 25. The data processing method according to claim 18, wherein in said determination step, it is determined whether or not the specified data is accessible by the designated distribution destination, andas a result of said determination, in a case where it is determined that the specified data is accessible, the link data or real data of the specified data is distributed to the distribution destination, whereas in a case where it is determined that the specified data is not accessible, the specified data is transmitted to the distribution destination as attachment data to an electronic mail. 26. The data processing method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:transferring the specified data to another distribution destination on a network which is accessible by the distribution destination, in a case where the distribution destination is unable to access the specified data on the network; andinforming the distribution destination of the link data of the another distribution destination to the distribution destination. 27. The data processing method according to claim 18, further comprising a display control step of displaying brief contents of distributed data together with an icon identifying a data attribute, when data is distributed. 28. The data processing method according to claim 18, wherein when a determination is made in said determination step such that a server which is accessible by the distribution destination is detected in the network, the specified data is transmitted to the detected server, and the link information is distributed to the distribution destination. 29. The data processing method according to claim 18, wherein when a determination is made in said determination step such that a server which is accessible by the designated distribution destination is not detected in the network, the specified data is directly distributed to the distribution destination. 30. The data processing method according to claim 18, wherein in a case where data is distributed to a plurality of destinations, in said distribution step, a common server which is accessible by the plurality of destinations is detected in the network, the data is transmitted to the detected server, and the link information is distributed to the plurality of destinations. 31. The data processing method according to claim 18, wherein a condition of the server which is accessible by the distribution destination is that a protocol used in the transmission is acceptable by a server's communication path. 32. The data processing method according to claim 31, wherein the condition of the server which is accessible by the distribution destination is that the distribution destination is authorized to access the server. 33. The data processing method according to claim 18, wherein in said determination step, it is determined whether or not the size of the specified data is a predetermined size or larger, andin a case where the size of the specified data is the predetermined size or larger, the specified data is distributed as the link data to a distribution originator where the specified data is stored, whereas in a case where the size of the specified data is less than the predetermined size, the specified data is distributed to the distribution destination as attachment data to an electronic mail, or real data of the specified data is distributed to the distribution destination. 34. The data processing method according to claim 33, further comprising a distribution data obtaining step of downloading the specified data from the distribution originator or the another distribution destination based on the link data. 35. A storage medium storing program codes for causing a computer to execute a data processing method which controls data distribution on a network, said program comprising the steps of:a distribution destination designation step of designating a distribution destination of data on the network;a registering step of registering a plurality of servers corresponding to the distribution destination to be designated by said distribution destination designation step;a specifying step of specifying data to be distributed to the designated distribution destination;a determination step of determining a distribution method for distributing the specified data; anda distribution step of distributing the specified data to the designated distribution destination in accordance with the distribution method determined in said determination step,wherein, in a case where said determination step determines that said method comprises transmitting link information to the distribution destination, said distributing step transmits the specified data to one of the registered servers corresponding to the distribution destination designated in said designating step, and consecutively transmits link information for specifying the server and the data in the server to the distribution destination after the data is transmitted. 36. The storage medium according to claim 35, wherein when a determination is made by said determination step such that a server which is accessible by the distribution destination is detected in the network, said distribution step transmits the specified data to the detected server and distributes the link information to the distribution destination. 37. The storage medium according to claim 35, wherein when a determination is made by said determination step such that a server which is accessible by the designated distribution destination is not detected in the network, said distribution step directly distributes the specified data to the distribution destination. 38. The storage medium according to claim 35, wherein in a case where data is distributed to a plurality of destinations, said distribution step detects a common server, in the network, which is accessible by the plurality of destinations, transmits the specified data to the detected server and distributes the link information to the plurality of destinations. 39. The storage medium according to claim 35, wherein a condition of the server which is accessible by the distribution destination is that a protocol used in the transmission is acceptable by a server's communication path. 40. The storage medium according to claim 39, wherein the condition of the server which is accessible by the distribution destination is that the distribution destination is authorized to access the server.