A method of transmitting an information transfer request from a client data terminal
which is coupled to a local area network to a called data terminal which is coupled
to the local area network and a public switched telephone network includes the
steps of collecting, storing, generating, creating, sending, and transmitting.
The collecting step collects information sets of communication capabilities of
different data terminals on the local area network on the client data terminal.
The storing step stores the information sets into a memory. On the client data
terminal, the generating step generates data of facsimile image information with
reference to one of the information sets pertaining to the called data terminal.
The creating step creates on the client data terminal an information transfer request
for requesting transmission of the facsimile image information to an arbitrary
facsimile machine connected to the public switched telephone network. The sending
step sends the information transfer request from the client data terminal to a
communications controller. The transmitting step transmits the information transfer
request from the communications controller to the called data terminal through
the local area network upon a completion of the sending step.
