1. An image transmission method in an image transmission apparatus for transmitting a compressed image generated by an image compression apparatus for performing, in each color component constructing an image, a first filter process and a second filter process in a first scanning direction on the image divided into a plurality of small image areas and then a third filter process and a fourth filter process in a second scanning direction so as to obtain coefficient data of a first level, obtaining coefficient data to an Nth level by repeating the first through fourth processes, independently encoding the coefficient data in each level included in coefficient areas, created by dividing each level into a plurality of coefficient areas, based on a unit concerning the coefficient areas in each level and in each coefficient area so as to generate code words, and generating a compressed image including the code words, the image transmission method comprising the steps of: receiving a request including request information having size information concerning an image and/or area information concerning the image; reconstructing small image areas by taking out code words constituting the small image areas based on the request information, the code words being independent of one another; and transmitting a response including the small image area to a requester in each small image area reconstructed in the step of reconstructing small image areas.