US Patent 7212304 Sending/receiving raster/image data using a multifunction product

A method and system for transferring raster/image data via a mail user agent using a multifunction device and standard Internet mail transfer mechanisms. An image is acquired in the multifunction device, the image is attached to an electronic mail message, and then sent in the electronic mail message to receiving address(es). Alternatively, an electronic mail box is polled by a mail user agent, which identifies those received messages with raster/image attachment(s) and downloads the attachment(s) to the multifunction device for printing, displaying and/or workflow insertion.